Consuming vitamins that operate as antioxidants will help protect against nerve damage in your eyes. Antioxidants fight free radicals that can lead to eye conditions including glaucoma and nerve damage to the optical nerve, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Properly nourishing your eyes with eye-healthy vitamins may not prevent nerve damage, but can lessen the progression. Taking food supplements or eating nutrient-rich foods offer natural approaches to protect your eyes.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A plays a major role in maintaining your visual health, according to the National Institutes of Health. This nutrient makes sure your eye surface linings stay healthy and operate properly. Vitamin A protects your eyes against damaging free radicals while helping to regulate your immune system. Help protect your eyes against nerve damage by consuming your vitamin A as part of a multivitamin supplement, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Or, vitamin A can be consumed via dietary sources. Richly-colored fruits and vegetables provide plant-based sources of this eye-healthy nutrient in the form of a carotenoid known as beta carotene. Nutrient-rich plant foods include melons, tomatoes, pineapples, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits such as oranges, berries and mango. Animal foods rich in vitamin A include whole milk, low-fat and nonfat dairy fortified with vitamin A and liver.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C plays an essential role in keeping your entire body healthy. The nutrient plays a major role in wound healing and fighting free radicals. Vitamin C can lessen the advancement of eye nerve damage. The nutrient can slow down the progression of vision loss and age-related macular degeneration, according to the National Institutes of Health. Getting the proper amount of vitamin C in your daily routine can lessen your chances of developing glaucoma, damage to the optical nerve, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. As a food supplement, the Center recommends taking between 500 to 1,000 mg daily of this nutrient. Vitamin C can be combined with other minerals and vitamins or taken alone. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables will increase your vitamin C intake since most of these foods contain the nutrient. Foods that are especially rich in this nutrient include berries, citrus, broccoli, sweet peppers and cherries.
Lutein
Lutein, a carotenoid, can help protect your eye nerves through its antioxidant properties. Lutein is classified as a major carotenoid that can protect against oxidative damage, according to the National Institutes of Health. Persons with higher levels of this carotenoid significantly reduce risks of developing age-related macular degeneration. Lutein occurs naturally in your eye's macula. Lutein is a eye-healthy component of vitamin A that can lower your risk of developing glaucoma and other age-related eye diseases. As a food supplement, consuming between 2 to 6 mg daily of this eye-healthy nutrient is recommended by the University of Maryland Medical Center. Dietary sources of lutein include green leafy vegetables such as turnip and collard greens, spinach and romaine lettuce.
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