Folic acid is a B vitamin, also known as vitamin B-9 and folate. Like other B vitamins, folic acid helps turn food into energy, but this nutrient also helps cells form and grow properly, as well as helps your body use iron effectively. Folic acid may have some possible effects on your vision, particularly if you have a deficiency in the nutrient. However, folic acid may not help reduce the risk of the most common causes of blindness.
Deficiency
A deficiency in folate may lead to a form of optic neuropathy, such as optic neuritis. Common symptoms of this condition include vision loss and changes in color perception. If you have a risk for low levels, your doctor may recommend taking folic acid supplements to reduce the likelihood of associated vision loss and other symptoms of a B-9 deficiency. Your doctor will tell you how much folic acid to take each day, based on your diet and general health.
Vision
Many eye conditions can lead to blindness. For example, macular degeneration damages your central vision, a condition that results from the breakdown of cells in the tissue that lines the inner, back part of your eye. Other conditions that can lead to blindness include cataracts and glaucoma. Folic acid does not have any known connection in preventing or treating these eye diseases.
Other Nutrients
Even though folic acid may not play a role in preventing eye conditions that can lead to blindness, you may want to discuss other beneficial nutrients with your doctor. A diet rich in vitamins C, E and A, along with lutein, zinc and selenium may help prevent vision-threatening conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts.
Considerations
Do not begin taking folic acid or any other dietary supplement without first consulting your doctor. If you suspect you have a deficiency in vitamin B-9, your doctor can perform blood tests to determine the amount of the nutrient you have in your blood, and treatment will be recommended based on these findings.
If you experience vision loss or other changes in your vision, contact your doctor immediately. Do not rely on nutrients to restore your vision, even if you suspect a folate deficiency. Your doctor can diagnose the cause for your vision changes and help you formulate the appropriate treatment plan.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid); Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; May 2009
- Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health; Folate; April 2009
- "NIH MedlinePlus"; Leading Causes of Blindness; Summer 2008
- PubMed Health; Optic Neuritis; August 2009
- "Clinical Neurotoxicology"; Michael R. Dobbs; 2009
- American Optometric Association; The Visionary Diet; Elizabeth Somer, RD
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