Vitamins and minerals are vital for clear and accurate vision. Diabetics have a high risk for complications that can impair vision, including glaucoma, cataracts, retinopathy and blindness. Getting sufficient amounts of the vitamins and minerals associated with eyesight can help you improve your vision and lower your risk or slow down the progression of complications. Consult your doctor about your diet and the types of vitamins and minerals that can enhance your eye care.
Vitamin A
Vitamins and minerals are vital for clear and accurate vision. Diabetics have a high risk for complications that can impair vision, including glaucoma, cataracts, retinopathy and blindness. Getting sufficient amounts of certain vitamins and minerals associated with eyesight can help you improve your vision and lower your risk or slow down the progression of complications. Consult your doctor about your diet and the types of vitamins and minerals that can enhance your eye care.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects cells from harmful chemicals and toxins and can prevent development of cataracts, a condition that affects the lens of your eyes and makes your vision cloudy, blurry and dark. Diabetics are 60 percent more likely to get cataracts than non-diabetics and tend to suffer from the condition at a younger age than normal. High intakes of vitamin C can increase blood levels of the antioxidant and protect against development of cataracts, according to research by scientists at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in England and published in the "Journal of Nutrition" in 2002. Vitamin C is found in fruits and vegetables.
Zinc
Zinc is a trace element your body needs for growth and development, neurological function, reproduction and immune response to infections. Zinc is found in shell fish, fin fish, meat, dairy, nuts and legumes. A deficiency of zinc is associated with night blindness and swelling and clouding of the corneas. Research by scientists at the Retinal Institute of Louisiana in New Orleans and published in "Current Eye Research" in July 2008 found taking 25 mg of zinc-monocysteine supplement twice daily is associated with improved macular function in comparison to a placebo in persons with dry age-related macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is characterized by destruction of your central vision which affects your ability to read and drive an automobile.
Magnesium
Magnesium plays a vital role in cellular structure and communication signaling to and from other cells and may also protect you from glaucoma. Magnesium is in fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and whole grains. People with diabetes may have an increased urinary loss of magnesium, which can result in eye disorders such as glaucoma, a condition characterized by build-up of pressure in your eyes that affects the amount of blood that can reach the retina and optic nerve. In fact, diabetics are 40 percent more likely to suffer from glaucoma than non-diabetics. Research by scientists at Fatih University in Turkey and published in the January-February 2010 issue of the "European Journal of Ophthalmology" found oral magnesium therapy may provide improvement in the vision in patients with glaucoma.
References
- American Diabetes Association; Complications; 2010
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; Vitamin A; Drake, V.; November 2007
- National Eye Institute; How We See; 2011
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Vitamin C Is Associated with Reduced Risk of Cataract in a Mediterranean Population; Maria Pastor Valero, et al.; Jun 2002
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; Zinc; Emily Ho, P.D.; February 2008
- "Current Eye Research"; A Randomized, Prospective, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of a Novel Zinc-Monocysteine Compound in Age-Related Macular Degeneration; David Newsome; Jul 2008
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