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Eye and vision health supplements -

Specifically, vitamin A helps you see a full spectrum of light, as the vitamin produces pigments in the retina. It can also keep your eyes from drying out. You can find vitamin A in foods such as salmon, broccoli, fortified breakfast cereals, eggs and carrots.

You have probably heard of the magic of carrots. Yes, it's true -- carrots are great for your eyes. Carrots and other vividly colored fruits and vegetables are high in beta carotene, which is a compound that your body uses to make vitamin A.

Beta carotene is also available in a supplement form, although it isn't as common as vitamin A and is often more expensive. Vitamin C is like sunscreen for your eyes -- it helps to protect them from UV damage.

The more you spend outside and under the sun, the greater the risk for damage. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology , too long in the sun can cause irreversible damage. Vitamin C can also lower your risk of cataracts , a disease that causes the lens of your eyes to become cloudy.

However, while a recent study found that vitamin C supplementation was effective in patients who were already vitamin C deficient, more studies need to be conducted to truly understand the relationship between vitamin C and a lower risk of cataracts.

In addition to getting enough vitamin C, avoid tanning beds, and if you are outside, wear sunglasses and a hat to protect your eyes. Optometrists regularly recommend their patients omega-3s -- and if a patient isn't getting enough of these fatty acids in their diet -- a supplement.

Omega-3s are mainly found in fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, mackerel or herring and some nuts and seeds. The American Optometric Association points to omega-3s as a nutrient that can slow the progress of age-related macular degeneration.

Studies have found that it can also help prevent dry eye disease. These nutrients are great for both conditions due to their anti-inflammatory effects. Another powerful antioxidant, vitamin E is vital to all our cells and cell functions.

It helps to protect our bodies from cancer-causing free radicals and plays an important role in vision. Studies have shown that vitamin E can help protect the retinas from free radicals that can cause eye disease. However, vitamin C, another antioxidant, has more properties that help regeneration.

Vitamin E can only help to protect the cells already there. Vitamin E can also slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration. The American Optometric Association recommends IU a day. Zinc is found in almost all multivitamins because it is such an essential nutrient to the body.

It is used to boost the immune system and help the body heal from wounds quickly. Zinc also aids in eye health. Zinc helps vitamin A create melanin a pigment that protects the eyes and may shield the eyes from age-related macular degeneration.

The American Optometric Association recommends 40 to 80 mg a day to slow the progression. Lutein and zeaxanthin are known for being important for our eyes. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids and found in red and yellowish fruits and vegetables, as these compounds give the produce their vibrant colors.

Carotenoids , also powerful antioxidants, are vital to eye health. They protect the eyes from free radicals that can cause damage. Lutein and zeaxanthin, specifically, have been found to prevent damage to retinas.

These carotenoids can also slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration. The American Optometric Association recommends a daily amount of 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin. While you can find lutein and zeaxanthin in supplement form, one bottle is on the pricier side.

You may find it better, easier and more affordable to just eat more fruits and vegetables. Most vitamins and supplements are generally considered safe for people to take, as they're nutrients that your body naturally requires.

However, you should always talk to your doctor before starting any supplements. Some vitamins and supplements can interact with various medications.

Especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a medical provider first. Your doctor should be able to guide you safely to the best supplements and dosages. Vitamins for your eyes are especially helpful when you are vitamin deficient in any of the essential vitamins for vision. Join Now.

Not everyone over 50 needs to take a supplement to preserve their vision. But some nutrients seem to be essential for healthy eyes. The superstars of eye nutrition are disease-fighting antioxidants like vitamins C and E, which reduce damaging oxidation and protect the eyes from conditions like AMD and glaucoma.

Here are the six top vitamins that promote eye health and the best ways to get them. Because many vitamins and supplements can interact with prescription drugs , make sure you check with your doctor before starting any new ones.

Vitamin A is absolutely essential for vision, Johnson says. A deficiency can cause night blindness, particularly among older individuals, and if it progresses, permanent blindness can result. Privacy Policy.

Luckily, deficiencies are rare in the United States, likely because many processed foods like breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamins. Liver and dairy products such as milk are great natural sources of vitamin A.

To get beta carotene which gets converted into vitamin A in the body , look for any orange vegetable, such as carrots, winter squash or sweet potatoes. Target Optical. Vitamin E is also essential for eye health. Like other antioxidants, vitamin E helps prevent damage from free radicals and eye disease.

So be sure to give plant-based oils, nuts, sunflower seeds and avocado a place on the menu. And there are other pluses. In a study looking at diet and the risk of cataract progression, researchers found a diet rich in foods with vitamins C could cut risk of cataract progression by a third.

Citrus fruits are the classic choices for vitamin C, Andreoli says. But kiwi, strawberries, broccoli, kale and bell pepper also are abundant sources. Give the eye-healthy combo a try with a spinach and strawberry salad with an olive oil and vinegar dressing and sunflower seeds.

The spinach and strawberries have vitamin C — along with a number of other healthy nutrients — and the olive oil and sunflower seeds contain vitamin E. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Zinc is a part of many enzymes that are needed for good vision and the integrity of eye tissue, Johnson says.

You can find it in beans, lentils, seeds, meat, seafood, eggs and dairy products. These nutrients, part of the carotenoid family of plant pigments, are found naturally in eye tissue.

That makes them particularly important to the prevention of AMD. Lutein and zeaxanthin are often found together in foods. The healthful fats in fish may be as helpful for your eyes as they are for your heart. That leads to symptoms like burning, stinging and a gritty sensation.

Some studies also show that people who get higher amounts of omega-3s from foods may have a lower risk of developing AMD. Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines are top sources of these healthy fats. Plant sources include flaxseed, walnuts and chia seeds, and flaxseed, soybean and canola oils.

Flaxseed oil did the trick for Santa Barbara, California, resident Barry Maher, 66, who started taking it after developing dry eye in his 40s. Beth Howard is a North Carolina—based health and lifestyle writer.

She has written for dozens of publications, including U. Discover AARP Members Only Access. Already a Member? Supplements that don't lower cholesterol.

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The 3 Supplements You Might Actually Need After 50 When it comes to vitamins and minerals, there's no need to take multiple pills. Recommended for You.

Many vitamins and nutrients help support supplemehts eye function. Deficiencies can affect your vision. Effective antifungal therapy Electrolyte Balance Management are complex organs Electrolyte Balance Management vison many different vitamins and nutrients to function properly. Common conditions, such as diabetic retinopathyage-related macular degeneration AMDglaucomaand cataractscan impact your eyes. Though a variety of different factors cause these conditions, nutrition seems to have an influence on all of them — at least in part. Can vitamins and cision benefit your Suplements health and vision? Keep reading Supplements learn more about supplements and eye health. Plenty of claims are made about the positive effects of supplements on vision and eye health, but very few research studies support these claims. One exception is the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies AREDS and AREDS2. These are large studies conducted by the National Eye Institute.