Maintaining proper eye health is important for obvious reasons. Changes in vision cannot only cause difficulty with day-to-day tasks, they can also signify an underlying health condition and vitamin deficiencies. However, certain vitamins may improve eye health and symptoms of such vision problems as floaters, night blindness, blurred vision, halos and blind spots.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A, also known as retinol, produces the pigments in the retina of the eye. Vitamin A is essential to good vision, especially in low light, according to MedlinePlus. Vitamin A is found in whole milk, animal livers and some fortified foods such as breakfast cereals. A vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, a condition in which people are unable to see at night or in reduced lighting. Consuming vitamin A can help avoid this permanent condition.
Beta-Carotene
Beta-carotene is a type of carotenoid. Carotenoids are dark-colored dyes found in plant foods such as red peppers. MedlinePlus explains that carotenoid turns into vitamin A when eaten, which can help protect eyes. Beta-carotene is also an antioxidant, which is a substance that can protect cells from damage caused by free radicals that contribute to aging and the disease process. In a study conducted by the National Eye Institute, results showed that taking high levels of antioxidants such as beta-carotene and zinc could reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and an antioxidant. Vitamin C is essential for the formation of connective tissues such as collagen production found in cornea of the eye. Vitamin C also promotes healthy skin, bones and blood vessels, such as the delicate capillaries of the retina, according to Dr. Gary Heiting of AllAboutVision.com. Vitamin C is not produced in the body and excess vitamin C is excreted from the body through urine, so people require foods rich in vitamin C in order to avoid a vitamin C deficiency. People can consume vitamin C in foods such as citric fruits, watermelon, red peppers, strawberries, broccoli and orange juice.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is another antioxidant and also one of the vitamins used during the National Eye Institute's study, titled the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, or AREDS, which showed a 25 percent decrease in risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration. People can add vitamin E to their diet by eating sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, almonds, peanuts and mangos, according to All About Vision.
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