Your eye is one of the most complex organs in your body. Various physical structures and physiological processes enable you to see clearly. In order to maintain the health of your eye and keep your vision clear, make sure you get all necessary vitamins that play a role in your vision.
Vitamin A
Your vision is a complex physiological process. When light reaches your eye, it travels to the back of your eye to a structure called the retina. The retina contains various proteins that are essential for vision. Vitamin A is a large component of two proteins in the retina, called rhodopsin and iodopsin. Rhodopsin is located in the eye cells, known as rods, and iodopsin is located in the eye cells, known as cones -- the latter which allow you to see color and light correctly. Without vitamin A, you would not be able to see. "Nutrition and You" by Joan Salge Blake notes that vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of blindness in children worldwide.
Vitamin C
A cataract is defined as a clouding of the lens of your eye. Cataracts cause blurry vision, double vision, loss of night vision and abnormal glare. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, cataracts are the leading visual impairment worldwide. Decreased vitamin C levels in the lens of your eye have been associated with the development of cataracts. Increased dietary intake of vitamin C has been linked to decreased incidences of cataracts, although the Linus Pauling Institute notes that vitamin C intake must be higher than 300mg per day for years before a protective effect becomes apparent.
Vitamin E
Like vitamin C, vitamin E has been linked to lower incidences of cataracts. A study done by the Journal of Opthalmology found that lens clarity was better in people who took vitamin E supplements and had higher levels of vitamin E in their bloodstream. Vitamin E intake has also been linked to decreased incidences of another eye disorder called age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. Two separate studies by the British Medical Journal found that those with high levels of vitamin E in their blood had a 20 percent lower risk of developing AMD than those with had low vitamin E levels. Because vitamin E is an antioxidant, it is believed that the destruction of free radicals helps prevent damage to the eye.
References
- Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamin C
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin E
- "Nutrition and You"; Joan Salge Blake; 2008
- Medline Plus: Cataract
