Vitamins and minerals cannot restore vision, but nutrients may help to prevent or slow certain eye diseases. For example, macular degeneration causes permanent loss of vision, and the only known way to prevent the condition is with nutrients. In addition, nutrients may prevent or slow cataract growth, helping you avoid surgery to remove the cataract. Knowing the nutrients you should be getting can help you take steps to protect your vision.
ARED Studies
An area at the back of the eye called the macula plays a crucial role in your vision. Damage to the cells that make up macular tissue causes macular degeneration, a condition that often leads to permanent loss of vision. In 2004, the National Eye Institute estimated that some 1.75 million people had macular degeneration, and by 2020, nearly 3 million may have some form of this condition.
A 2001 study by the National Eye Institute showed that certain nutrients, when taken together in high doses, could reduce the occurrence of advanced macular degeneration damage by 25 percent. These nutrients include zinc and vitamins E, C and A. The study also recommended copper to prevent a copper deficiency that could occur in conjunction with high doses of zinc. A second study of macular degeneration is evaluating the role of lutein and omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of macular degeneration.
Other Prevention
Anti-oxidants such as vitamins A, C and E, along with lutein may help to prevent cataracts, a common condition that results from the natural aging process. Inside your eye you have a lens, and this may become harder and opaque as you grow older, causing a loss of vision. The anti-oxidant nutrients may help slow or prevent the breakdown of the lens, preserving vision.
In addition, omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent retinopathy, a condition that damages the retina, the back lining of the eye. This condition may lead to permanent changes in vision, including blindness.
Treatment
In some cases, nutrients may help treat conditions that cause vision loss, such as retinitis pigmentosa. This retinal condition often appears in childhood and progresses to blindness by early adulthood. Treatments do not reverse this condition, but in 1993 the National Eye Institute reported that vitamin A could slow the progression of the disease.
Considerations
If you have an eye condition or risk factors for eye disease, do not begin using supplements or increasing your dietary intake of vitamins unless you first consult your doctor. She can help you determine the nutrients you need and whether you need to make dietary changes or use supplements. High doses of nutrients could interfere with medical treatment of other health problems or react with medications you are taking. Your doctor will help you identify the safest way for you to protect your vision.
References
- American Optometric Association: Diet & Nutrition
- National Eye Institute: The AREDS Formulation and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Clinical Trials.gov; Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2); June 2006
- National Eye Institute; Prevalence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the United States; 2004
- National Institutes of Health; NIH News; Omega-3 Fatty Acids Protect Eyes Against Retinopathy, Study Finds; June 2007
- National Eye Institute; Information for Doctors Who Follow Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa; June 1993
Member Comments