Vision is one of the most important senses, and it allows us to see the world and enjoy all the sights that it has to offer. Despite eyesight being essential, eye health is often overlooked. These complex organs require tons of vitamins and other nutrients to function properly, especially as people age. One of the best ways to keep them healthy and prevent eye diseases is by adding vitamin-rich food to one’s nutritional regimen.

Vitamin A
One of the most important vitamins for eye health is vitamin A. It plays a crucial role in helping one maintain a clear vision by ensuring a clear cornea. The cornea is a protective layer that covers the outside of the eye, including the iris and the pupil. It is transparent and allows light to enter the eyes. Vitamin A is also essential for producing rhodopsin—a protein that helps us see clearly in low-light conditions. Insufficient vitamin A in the body can affect one’s ability to see. In some cases, it can also lead to the development of rare and severe conditions such as xerophthalmia. This is a progressive eye disease that starts with night blindness and eventually leads to loss of vision. One can get their daily dose of vitamin A from the right sources, such as sweet potatoes and other green leafy vegetables. A vitamin A-rich meal plan can help one prevent age-related eye conditions like cataracts or macular degeneration.

Vitamin E
Most people understand the role of vitamin A in eye health; however, few are aware that even vitamin E helps one maintain clear vision and eye health. Studies have found that degeneration that occurs in eye health can be linked to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between the antioxidants and the free radicals in the body. Vitamin E provides essential antioxidants that can help prevent the damage caused by free radicals. Studies have also shown how vitamin E can help those affected by conditions such as macular degeneration or cataracts. However, more research has to be done to understand exactly how it helps. Foods rich in vitamin E are nuts, seeds, salmon, and avocados.

Vitamin B
Several different kinds of B vitamins are essential for the body. For eye health, one should try to get sufficient amounts of vitamins B6, B9, and B12 from food or supplements. The combination of these B vitamins can help lower the level of homocysteine—a protein associated with inflammation in the body and known to lead to eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration. Additional research is required to understand the role of B vitamins in maintaining eye health, but adding them to meals can also benefit one’s overall health and well-being.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C, like vitamin E, is an antioxidant that can help the body fight against free radicals and the resulting oxidative stress. Vitamin C is also required in the body to produce collagen that helps maintain the structure of the eye. Studies have found that vitamin C can help reduce the risk of developing eye conditions like cataracts. Foods rich in vitamin C include broccoli, bell peppers, and citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges.

Ensuring one gets the required amount of these nutrients can help their eyes stay healthy; however, food choices may not be able to treat preexisting conditions. Additionally, while some severe eye conditions can call for treatment measures like surgery, other conditions like astigmatism and myopia can be managed through corrective measures like contact lenses. One of the most common symptoms of different conditions is unclear vision or loss of eyesight. One way to treat this loss of eyesight is with the help of contact lenses. People can get special kinds of eyeglasses or contact lenses based on their vision or eye condition. One can find contact lenses for astigmatism, hyperopia, presbyopia, and even myopia.