Top Nutrients That Promote Good Eye Health

*Remunerated Post*

Having healthy eyes goes hand in hand with ensuring your overall health is in tip-top condition. It is one of your essential senses, so protecting your eyes throughout your lifetime is vital. What we eat plays a significant role in how healthy our eyes are, and there are key nutrients to help boost that area. Take a look at some of the things you need in your diet to stay in the best eye health.

Vitamin A

Deficiency in vitamin A is a common cause of blindness across the globe. The vitamin helps to maintain your eye’s light-sensing cells. People that don’t get enough vitamin A could experience night blindness and dry eyes. Vitamin A is mainly found in animal products. Still, you can also get Provitamin A carotenoids from some plant-based sources such as carrots and kale.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids contain sources of DHA and EPA that are essential for healthy eyes. Your retina has high amounts of DHA and supports its function. This nutrient is also important for brain and eye development in children. Omega-3 fatty acids are typically found in oily fish. There are also many microalgae supplements available for a plant-based option.

Vitamin C

Most people know that vitamin C is essential for many areas of the body, but it’s also important for eye health. This nutrient is suggested to help keep the aqueous humor (the liquid around the eye) healthy. Cataracts sufferers are said to have lower antioxidant levels, so improving this intake could prevent this eye condition. Vitamin C is found in a wide range of fruits and vegetables, including kale, broccoli, and citrus fruits.

Zinc

Zinc is suggested to play a role in slowing the development of macular degeneration. Your eyes contain high levels of this nutrient, so ensuring you get enough of it is vital for good eye health. Zinc is found in fish and meat and many plant-based sources.

Common eye conditions

There are some common eye conditions to consider when thinking about what you eat and how it helps. As you get older, the chance of developing them increases. The most common eye health conditions include:

Cataracts

This condition makes your eyes appear clouded and affects vision. Age-related cataracts are one of the leading causes of sight impairment, but there are treatments such as having cataract lenses surgery to improve vision.

Glaucoma

This condition causes the optical nerve’s degeneration – it may also cause issues with poor vision or blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy

This condition is associated with diabetes and can cause sight impairment and blindness. High blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina.

Other conditions include:

• Dry eye disease
• Macular degeneration

Lifestyle and diet play an important role in keeping your eyes healthy. It’s also vital to get them checked by an eye doctor regularly to ensure issues do not develop over time. A diet full of the above nutrients plus many other healthy foods will give you the best chance of keeping your health in top condition.