Eyes are uniquely sensitive to nutrients. Eating healthily can significantly lower your risk for age-related macular degeneration.

Disease affects the macula, an area in the inner back layer of retina that allows us to read, drive, or see straight lines clearly. Damage to this region causes central vision to become blurry and distorted without impacting peripheral (side) vision.

Lutein

Lutein is an antioxidant carotenoid (yellow-colored pigment) and primary visual pigment found in the macula of your eye, along with zeaxanthin. Together, they filter high-energy blue wavelengths that damage retinas and optic nerves from vision loss, protecting eyes from vision loss. Lutein belongs to a group of 600 naturally occurring carotenoids called xanthophylls; benefits include improving eye health, decreasing age-related macular degeneration risk and cataract progression as well as slow progression of these conditions – dietitians can assist clients in getting optimal amounts through diet.

As humans do not produce lutein and zeaxanthin naturally, consuming these eye-healthy nutrients is vital. Both nutrients can be found deposited in high quantities in the macula region of retina – known as macular pigment optical density or MPOD and a good indicator of eye health.

Studies indicate that lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce both the risk of macular degeneration as well as protect existing cases, by protecting against oxidative damage, filtering high-energy blue wavelengths of light, and decreasing retinal cell death rates. This process could happen through inhibiting oxidative damage repair mechanisms as well as filtering these wavelengths out and decreasing rates of retinal cell death.

Nutritionally, LUTEIN can be found in egg yolks, dark green vegetables such as kale and spinach, corn, kiwi fruit, peas, and peppers, as well as supplements like Source Naturals LUTEIN WITH FLORA GLO(r), which contains these two xanthophylls along with beta-carotene and vitamin C from marigold flowers, purified through an exclusive process and free from yeast, gluten, dairy products, eggs soy artificial colors flavors; also suitable for children’s use! In one study sponsored by National Institutes of Health published JAMA Ophthalmology showed supplementation reduced macular degeneration progression by 41-87%!

Zeaxanthin

Zeaxanthin, like lutein, is a carotenoid pigment that filters blue light and protects eyes from UV damage. Zeaxanthin can be found naturally in spinach, corn, paprika and eggs – it is also available as dietary supplements – while studies have also demonstrated it may slow wet age-related macular degeneration progression when combined with other vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, E, Zinc or Omega 3 Fatty Acids; thus making a balanced diet essential.

On Monday, researchers published the findings of their new study showing that taking 20 mg zeaxanthin supplements reduced long-term incidence rates for wet AMD among patients with unilateral neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Their results were published in Ophthalmology & Therapy journal. While carotenoid supplements can mitigate risk in appropriate patients for neovascular AMD risk management, this is the first research showing this particular effect using 20mg supplements instead.

Zeaxanthin is one of the two primary xanthophyll carotenoids found in human retina. It can be found in green leafy vegetables, orange and yellow fruits such as carrots and other fruits as well as goji berries; in addition it serves as a natural plant dye and food additive.

The National Eye Institute-funded Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Trials Trials (CATT) study demonstrated that an optimal mix of nutritional supplements – such as antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, plus vitamins A, C and E — significantly decreases risk for wet age-related macular degeneration. Furthermore, such an approach could prove cost effective; authors estimate a routine zeaxanthin supplementation program could save both patients and insurers an estimated $6 billion over 11 years according to this estimate by this approach alone!

Vitamin C

An adequate intake of vitamins A, C, E and omega-3 fatty acids in your diet can help protect against age-related eye conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. You should also incorporate foods containing lutein, zeaxanthin and zinc for overall eye health benefits.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that provides protection from oxidative stress to eyes, as well as aiding blood vessels within them. Furthermore, it contributes to producing other essential eye nutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin that benefit eye health. Oranges, kiwi fruit, lemons and strawberries contain high concentrations of Vitamin C.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are essential in the maintenance of healthy eyes as they filter out harmful blue light to lower risk for cataracts and macular degeneration. Leafy green vegetables like kale, romaine lettuce, turnip greens and collards contain many sources of lutein for maximum benefits to eye health.

As part of a healthy diet, eating fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel, trout and herring is also key in order to boost omega-3 fatty acid intake and support retinal health as well as maintain eye lubrication layers that keep eyes moisturized and comfortable.

Zinc is an essential nutrient for eye health, thought to help delay dry AMD progression. Zinc participates in producing rhodopsin pigment which allows eyes to adapt quickly to changing light conditions. You can get more Zinc through oysters, red meat, poultry and nuts as well as supplements containing this mineral.

Vitamin E

As people get older, their risk for eye problems increases; taking antioxidant vitamins and minerals and following a healthy diet low in added sugars, salts and fats may help decrease that risk. Together these strategies may extend vision longevity.

Vitamin E is an invaluable antioxidant, protecting retinas from oxidative damage and believed to slow progression of age-related macular degeneration in some studies. You can find Vitamin E in food sources like sunflower seeds, almonds, vegetable oils and wheat germ.

Studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish such as tuna and salmon may help lower your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, however care must be taken when choosing high quality fish oil to ensure it’s free of mercury or other contaminants.

Poor health habits like smoking and heavy drinking can contribute significantly to eye disease. Smokers are more prone to cataracts and macular degeneration; heavy alcohol consumption directly damages the optic nerve, leading to vision loss.

As America ages, it is vital that individuals prioritize eye health. Eating plenty of vegetables, fruits and essential vitamins and minerals such as lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin C is especially essential to protecting eyesight against macular degeneration and slowing its effects. It may even prevent and treat some eye diseases altogether!

Vitamin D

Eye health requires proper nutrition in order to operate at its optimal levels, particularly among older adults. Deficits in nutrients may lead to vision problems that worsen with time – including cataract, dry eyes and AMD (age-related macular degeneration). A healthy diet provides adequate vitamins and minerals essential for eye health; nutritional supplements may be considered but only after consulting your physician first.

AMD causes central vision impairment that makes it hard to see fine details, drive or recognize faces. The condition is caused by the breakdown or thinning of the macula, an area of light-sensitive retina tissue which focuses images onto the center of your visual field. Although usually both eyes are affected at once, sometimes only one eye initially becomes affected. Dry macular degeneration is the most prevalent form of AMD and begins when small yellow deposits called drusen accumulate under the retina; over time these deposits erode it completely resulting in blurred or blinding central vision.

Studies have demonstrated the power of anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals to halt the progression of dry AMD. According to research conducted by Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), beta-carotene, vitamins C & E, lutein/zeaxanthin & zinc combined can reduce advanced AMD risk by about 25% for individuals at high risk.

Diet is one of the best ways to protect your eyesight, with citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits being particularly high in vitamin C and leafy greens like kale and spinach being excellent sources of lutein and zeaxanthin. Salmon and tuna fish provide omega-3 fatty acids which have been proven to lower risk of macular degeneration as well as dry eye syndrome. Nuts like almonds and walnuts contain vitamin E and zinc – two components linked with eye health.