Your eye holds a natural lens which sits near the front of your eye, just behind the iris. As part of the natural aging process, the lens will thicken and turn yellow. This condition, called a cataract, gradually results in vision changes. In advanced stages, eyeglasses will not improve your vision, but an eye surgeon can remove the cataract. In order to prevent surgery, some people take vitamins to prevent or slow down the progression of cataracts.
Cause and Effect
The lens in your eye is made of protein and water, arranged in such a way that the light passing through the lens lands directly on your retina. With age, the proteins in the lens clump together, and light passing through the lens scatters, resulting in blurry vision. Once the proteins clump together, vitamins, nutrition or other remedies will not reverse cataract growth.
Prevention
Even though vitamins will not reverse cataract damage, vitamins may play a role in preventing cataracts or slowing down their progression. Vitamins C and E may help prevent or slow down this process, but you will need more than the recommended daily allowance of these vitamins for protection, explains the American Optometric Association.
The recommended daily allowance of vitamin C ranges between 75 to 90 mg daily, but in order to help prevent or slow progression of cataracts, you need to have more than 250 mg of vitamin C each day. Vitamin E intake should reach around 22 International Units, but for possible cataract benefits, you need more than 100 International Units.
Food Sources
Many foods contain significant amounts of vitamin C. One medium orange contains around 80 mg of vitamin C, and 1 cup of orange juice provides 124 mg. Other foods with vitamin C include grapefruit, cantaloupe, strawberries, broccoli and green peppers.
You may have a more difficult time eating high amounts of vitamin E. Dietary sources for vitamin E include many nuts and seeds, such as almonds. One-fourth cup of almonds contains almost 14 International Units of vitamin C. Other foods include sunflower seeds, peanuts and corn oil.
Supplements
Many pharmacies carry supplements that contain high amounts of vitamin C and E, as well as other nutrients that may promote healthy eyes and cataract prevention. Supplements that contain these nutrients often have a label indicating "eye vitamin" or a similar designation. Your pharmacist or eye doctor can help you locate an appropriate supplement.
Considerations
Talk with your eye doctor to determine if you should increase your intake of vitamin C and E, or if you should take supplements that contain these vitamins. She will help you determine a diet or supplement that may help you protect your eyes from cataract damage.
