Do your eyes have the antioxidants they need to promote your vision? The sense of sight is perhaps the most crucial of the five human senses. Its health goes together with overall body health, but some nutrients are more important for eyesight.

For instance, antioxidants are essential nutrients beneficial for your eye health. Experts believe that they can lower the risk of getting severe eye conditions. Antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin are vital for eye health. Others include zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

They may reduce your chances of getting:

Age Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Eating antioxidant-rich foods and supplements can reduce your risk of developing macular degeneration. The macula is the part of the eye that provides sharp vision. It contains cells with high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin that protect your eyes against damage from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can wear out your cells, causing disease and aging.

Experts believe that a drop in lutein and zeaxanthin can damage eye health with time. You can get lutein and zeaxanthin from leafy dark-green vegetables. For example, spinach and kale are the top two sources of lutein and zeaxanthin. Other dietary sources include lettuce, broccoli, green peas, and egg yolks.

You may also need to take macular degeneration supplements such as MacuHealth® to help rebuild and strengthen the macula. Talk to your eye doctor before trying any AMD supplement.

Cataracts

Antioxidants may prevent cataracts from developing. They help stop cloudy layers of scar tissue from forming behind your eye lens. These layers form when excess free radicals destroy the lens protein and scar the tissue that makes up the eye lens.

Vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin from food and supplements are effective in fighting free radicals. These nutrients are present in fruits and vegetables that are bright red, orange, yellow, and dark green. Examples include tomatoes, oranges, mangoes, cantaloupe, watermelon, carrots, bell peppers, kale, and spinach.

Dry Eye Disease

Changing your diet can help your dry eye. To help improve your dry eye symptoms, focus on nutrients that stimulate your eye health. Among other things, vitamin A helps keep your eye cells healthy and able to work well. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that your eyes need to produce tears for lubrication.

Foods like oily fish contain the most vitamin A. They also contain omega-3 fatty acids that help in producing healthy tears. A supplement rich in omega-3 fatty acids like HydroEye® may also help. Consult your eye doctor before using it.

Conclusion

If you have any eye condition mentioned above, antioxidants may slow it down. If your eyes are healthy, antioxidants may reduce your risk of getting eye diseases. The key is to get these antioxidants in a healthy, seasoned diet. Your eye doctor can also prescribe helpful supplements.

Other vitamins and minerals can also play a significant part in keeping your eyes healthy. Do not forget about your physical well-being. Foods that keep your entire body well and strong will most likely keep your eyes healthy.

For more on how antioxidants optimize your eye health, call Advanced Eyecare Center PC at 515-303-4488 to reach our office in Urbandale, Iowa.