healthy family

protect your vision

supplements to support eye health

With every year that passes, your chances for vision loss go up. By age 65, one in every eight adults will experience at least some compromised vision. The top causes of impaired vision include cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Here’s how you can help preserve your eyesight.

Cataracts

The clouding of the lens of the eye, which is the calling card of cataracts, is the top cause of correctable reduced vision. Antioxidants offer protection against the development and progression of cataracts. Topping the list are vitamins C and E and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. According to early studies, riboflavin (vitamin B2) may also help.

Age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness, is a progressive disorder affecting the central part of the retina, called the macula. As with cataracts, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin are heavy lifters here. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil also merit mention. Diets that include fish regularly, as well as this nutrient in supplement form, guard against AMD and can sometimes help certain people regain lost vision.

Glaucoma

If you’re over 60, you’re at high risk of glaucoma—the condition that increases pressure in the eye, which can result in blindness. Supplementing with the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been shown to reduce pressure in the eye, based on research in a population who already had glaucoma. In addition, plenty of vitamin C is linked to protection from developing glaucoma.

Diabetic retinopathy

People with diabetes (both Type 1 and Type 2) are at higher risk of diabetic retinopathy. Blood sugar levels under tight control is the most important way to minimize the risk of this vision hazard. A few supplements can provide support, and once again several antioxidants (including lutein) claim top billing for being beneficial for diabetic retinopathy. In one study, a daily antioxidant supplement that included vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 improved eye health. ●

SELECTED SOURCES “The age-related eye disease 2 study: Micronutrients in the treatment of macular degeneration” by A. Gorusupundi, Advances in Nutrition, 1/17/17 • “The association between dietary intake of antioxidants and ocular disease” by A. Braakhuis et al., Diseases, 1/30/17 • “Circulating

levels of reactive oxygen species in patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and the influence of antioxidant supplementation…”

by D. Domanico et al., Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 1/15 • “Effect of

lutein supplementation on visual function in nonproliferative diabetic

retinopathy” by P.C. Zhang et al., Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 5/17 • “Effects of oral supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plus antioxidants in pseudoexfoliative glaucoma…” by S. Romeo Villadóniga et al., Journal of Ophthalmology, 9/17/18 • “What do we know about the macular pigment in AMD…” by R. Arunkamar et al., Eye, 5/18

Victoria Dolby Toews, MPH, is a journalist specializing in evidencebased, integrative medicine. She received her Master of Public Health degree from OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. She is the author or coauthor of numerous books.