There are vitamins that can help keep your eyes healthy and enhance night vision, but when it comes to eye floaters, scientists have found no vitamin-rich foods or supplements that seem to help. Eye floaters aren't painful, but they can be annoying or distracting. The spots may seem to be in front of your eyes, but they're actually floating inside them and move when you do.
Floaters
Floaters can appear as small dots, circles lines, cobwebs or clouds in your vision and may be more apparent when you're looking at a plain background, such as a white wall or blue sky. Your eye is filled with vitreous gel that gives it its shape, and floaters are tiny bits of cellular debris within that jelly-like fluid. The spots you see are the shadows these bits cast on the retina. Sometimes you may see what appear to be flashing lights or lightning streaks. These flashes occur when the vitreous gel pulls on the retina.
Vitamins and Floaters
Little research has been done in the area of nutrition and floaters. Dr. Stuart Richer, an ocular nutrition researcher and member of the American Optometric Association Health Promotion Committee, says the subject has been largely ignored by eye care professionals. He notes that there are no recommendations about vitamins from professional organizations or included in medical journals. Dr. Robert N. Frank, a professor of ophthalmology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, agrees that there are no vitamins that have a known impact on floaters
Age-related Eye Problems
Being over the age of 50 puts you at greater risk for developing floaters, and vitamins may help with other age-related eye problems. Dr. Frank notes that there has been convincing research to show that high doses of anti-oxidants, such as vitamins A, C and E can slow the progression of macular degeneration when taken along with zinc supplements. The vitamins and minerals had no effect on cataracts, another problem associated with aging eyes. Vitamin A is important for eye health in general and also helps to enhance night vision, which can get worse as you age. Dr. Richer notes that there is some speculation that vitamin C may one day be shown to help with floaters, but there is no evidence -- just theory.
Warning
Floaters are usually harmless and come and go without treatment. Having a few is not uncommon. If you notice a flood of new floaters, especially if you also see flashes or light or lose your peripheral vision, call an eye specialist immediately. Don't try to treat yourself with vitamins or medications. These could be signs of a retinal tear or detachment, and you could lose your sight if you wait even a few days to seek treatment. In rare cases, if floaters are particularly numerous and bothersome, a surgical or laser procedure may be recommended. However, these treatments can carry serious risks, such as retinal detachment and cataract.
References
- Dr. Stuart Richer, Ocular Nutrition Researcher and member of the American Optometric Association Health Promotion Committee
- Dr. Robert N. Frank, professor of ophthalmology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
- MayoClinic.com: Eye Floaters
- American Optometric Association: Spots and Floaters
- American Academy of Opthalmology: What are Floaters and Flashes?
- MayoClinic.com: Vitamin A
