Vitamin K is a nutrient that aids in healthy bones and also helps your blood clot properly. Few people have a vitamin K deficiency since bacteria that live in your intestines make vitamin K and many foods contain vitamin K. You can prevent or slow down the advancement of some eye conditions with certain nutrients. Knowing whether specific nutrients, such as vitamin K, promote healthy eyes will help you make the right supplement and food choices for your eyes.
Eye Disease
Vitamin K does not prevent or slow down any type of eye disease. However, the lutein and other nutrients found in many of the foods that contain vitamin K may help prevent eye conditions such as macular degeneration. Lutein is a pigment commonly found in dark green, leafy vegetables, and these lutein-rich food sources also contains significant amounts of vitamin K.
Blood Thinners
People at risk for blood clots may need to take anticoagulant medications that reduce the clotting mechanisms of vitamin K. If you take anticoagulant medications such as warfarin, your doctor will tell you to monitor your intake of foods rich in vitamin K. A high intake of these nutrient-rich foods could reduce the effects of the medication, and this may result in blood with an increased risk for dangerous blood clots. A diet low in vitamin K may increase the blood thinning effects, and this could increase your risk for bleeding.
Diet
If you have macular degeneration or have a risk for developing the condition, such as a strong family history, your eye doctor may recommend that you eat plenty of leafy, dark green vegetables, as well as other foods that provide lutein and other beneficial nutrients. You may need to work with your general health doctor to come up with a diet plan that will meet the needs for healthy eyes and the safety of the medications you take. Your doctor will have you keep track of the foods you eat that contain vitamin K, and you will need to eat the same amount of these foods each day. Your doctor will adjust your blood thinning medication accordingly. If you need to alter your intake of vitamin K-rich foods, inform your doctor before making the dietary changes.
Considerations
Even though vitamin K will not directly protect your eyes, a variety of foods such as spinach, kale, chard, collard greens and mustard greens in your diet will provide you with a variety of nutrients that help prevent eye disease. If you cannot eat the necessary amounts of these vegetables due to medication interactions, your doctor may recommend a supplement that contains beneficial nutrients such as vitamin C, E, beta carotene and zinc. You should read the product's label carefully to make sure the supplement does not contain vitamin K.
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