What do you think of when you hear the phrase “eye health?” Munching on carrots? Wearing sunglasses? Concerns about glaucoma? Which supplements help? All of these are good thoughts, and we'd like to review some of the many natural ways you can keep your eye on your eye health and help prevent eye concerns associated with aging.
Supplements for Eye Health
Vitamin A: You may laugh about the reference to carrots and eye health, but they are a rich source of beta-carotene, a provitamin A carotenoid that helps maintain the eyes’ photoreceptors. Without enough vitamin A, you could experience dry eyes, blindness, or other serious eye problems. Although vitamin A deficiency is rare, it’s still important to be sure you get an adequate amount daily, which is 900 and 700 micrograms for men and women, respectively. Dark green leafy vegetables, as well as yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, are excellent sources. Multivitamins typically contain the RDA of this vitamin.Lutein and zeaxanthin: Both of these antioxidants are carotenoids that are concentrated in the central part of the retina (called the macula). They protect your eyes against harmful blue light. Research indicates that taking lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of developing aging macular degeneration. You can often find these antioxidants together in supplement form, but they also are found in spinach, kale, parsley, green peas, pistachios, sweet corn, and red grapes.
