We all want a quick fix or magic bullet to cure whatever ails us. Today’s emphasis on healthy living has led many to believe that vitamins and supplements are the be-all-end-all answer for health issues as minor as acne to those as major as cancer. Many people believe that taking specific vitamins and minerals will even improve their vision. Unfortunately, while a healthy diet may reduce your risk of developing cataracts or slow the progress of age-related macular degeneration, it will not eliminate your need for contact lenses or glasses if you have myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism.
According to information on WebMD, vitamin C, vitamin E and other antioxidants may reduce your risk of developing cataracts. As 60 percent of adults over the age of 60 experience some degeneration of vision due to cataracts, this is good news. Study researchers tracked cataract development in their subjects over a period of five years. The risk of cataracts was 60 percent lower among those who took a multivitamin containing vitamin C or vitamin E. However, this reduced risk was only associated with the vitamins when taken for more than ten years.
According to a study cited in a 2008 issue of ScienceDaily, individuals suffering from age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, may benefit from specifically formulated vitamin and mineral supplements. The supplement recommended was developed as part of the 2001 Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). It was comprised of a specific formula of antioxidants including vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and zinc. Among the individuals participating in the study, the risk of progression from AMD to advanced AMD was reduced by 25 percent. More than 80 million Americans are at risk for advanced AMD and the destruction of central vision the disease entails.
Another study reported on in a 2009 issue of ScienceDaily found that a combination of vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folic acid decreases the risk of developing AMD in women. AMD has been linked to high blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine and dysfunction of blood vessel linings. Treatment with vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folic acid reduced homocysteine levels in the study participants. This reduced their blood vessel dysfunction.
Vitamin A also appears to be important to eye health. It is an anti-infective retinoid that strengthens the immune system. It also enables your body to produce rhodopsin, the pigment visible in your retinas. Your retinas are light sensitive. Rhodopsin allows them to perceive light, enabling you to see. If your diet lacks vitamin A, it may be detrimental to your overall vision. Decreased production of rhodopsin has been linked to nyctalopia, or night blindness.
Talk to your doctor about your diet and what multivitamin he or she recommends. While taking a vitamin or supplement will never enable you to ditch your glasses or flush your contact lenses, it may help to reduce your risk of developing age-related eye diseases. If you want perfect or near perfect vision without corrective eyewear, the only sure answer is LASIK.