Should You Take Vitamins for Eye Health?

Eye issues can stem from a variety of different things and there’s no question that vitamin deficiencies can cause eye problems. You may ask yourself: Do I need vitamins or supplements as a result?

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If your diet is missing the key vitamins or nutrients you need on a day-to-day basis — or you have a diagnosed deficiency that increases your disease risk — your doctor may recommend taking supplements.

“But for most people, they aren’t necessary for eye health,” says ophthalmologist Richard Gans, MD. “You can get the vitamins you need through your diet. And there is little evidence connecting vitamin supplements with improved eye health.”

There’s one exception for a specific eye condition: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). If you have AMD, talk to your ophthalmologist about whether supplements are appropriate.

Research has shown that people with AMD might benefit from taking specific vitamins. Another study determined that taking certain vitamins in high concentrations slows the progression of this condition in a large percentage of people. However, the study notes that taking these vitamins can only slow the disease. Unfortunately, no vitamins can prevent it from forming in the first place.

The National Eye Institute updated their guidelines recently for AMD in their study called the AREDS 2 (Age Related Eye Disease Study) with the following recommendations:

500 milligrams vitamin C.
400 IU vitamin E.
2 milligrams copper.
80 milligrams zinc.
10 milligrams lutein.
2 milligrams zeaxanthin.

Be sure to consult with your doctor first before taking any supplements.

Little evidence of other disease links

For other eye conditions, the evidence is limited.

“Many simply haven’t been evaluated as thoroughly as AMD with regard to diet and nutrition, so there’s no strong recommendation for taking vitamin supplements for them,” Dr. Gans says. “As for glaucoma, there is little evidence that vitamins have any impact on this condition.”

One study found that omega-3s from fish oil supplements didn’t have any beneficial results for dry eye and were no better than a placebo.

Get your vitamins through your food

In general, it’s best to eat a diet with a full complement of nutrition to ensure you aren’t vitamin-deficient. That’s true not only for your eye health, but also for your overall health.

For example, leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, mustard greens and others offer many of the vitamins and nutrients that are good for eye health.

Likewise, if you want to boost your omega-3 intake, you can find it in fatty fish and many types of nuts and seeds. Sprinkle nuts and seeds onto your salads or eat them as snacks to get a quick boost of nutrients.

Carrots are also high in vitamin A, which is important in retina metabolism. To reap the benefits, get your daily dose of vitamin A by munching on carrots during your busy day.

“But beyond vitamin A, carrots don’t hold any magical properties for eye health,” says Dr. Gans. “That may come as a surprise if you were told growing up that rabbits never wear glasses.”