Nutrition and Eye Health
Nutrition and Eye Health
Get the nutrients to fight AMD
It is established that certain lifestyle changes, including an eye-healthy AMD diet, can help slow the onset or progression of age-related macular degeneration.
By eating a diet rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein and zeaxanthin you will be consuming the nutrients thought to be most valuable to eye health.
These can be found in a variety of
healthy foods including:
• Fruits
• Fresh fish
• Green leafy vegetables
You can get these nutrients either through your diet or your eye care professional may recommend supplementing your diet with an ocular vitamin, such as Vitalux® Vitamins, specifically designed to help maintain healthy vision. Find out more.
Foods to avoid
Foods that are unhealthy in general also aren’t healthy for AMD. Avoid ultra-processed foods. They raise your risk of obesity and high cholesterol, both of which increase your chances of AMD.
Antioxidants and Omega-3
Antioxidants
Fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidant vitamins and minerals (carotenoids, vitamins C and E, and zinc) may play a special role in eye health.
These help protect your body from damage caused by destructive molecules called "free radicals." These destructive molecules are created during your body's normal processes. In excess, however, free radicals can cause oxidative stress, which is thought to play a role in the development of macular degeneration. Antioxidants play a key role in neutralizing free radicals and reducing oxidative stress.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids may also be important for eye health. The two omega-3 fatty acids that are believed to be the most relevant to ocular health are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosatetraenoic acid). DHA and EPA are long-chain fatty acids. In the eye, they are believed to help fight against age-related conditions by slowing free radical production and may also work together to reduce inflammation.
Fish is an excellent dietary source of omega-3. In fact, studies have shown that eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce the risk of macular degeneration progression.
Talk to your eye care professional about the possible benefits of taking a vitamin supplement containing
omega-3 fatty acids.
Lutein and zeaxanthin
Lutein is a carotenoid pigment found in fruits and vegetables, and makes up the bulk of the pigment contained in
the macula. Its partner, zeaxanthin, is a carotenoid that helps maintain eyesight in conditions such as age-related
macular degeneration.
Lutein is found in the lens and in the retina of the eye and is closely related to zeaxanthin. It is believed to protect the eye from the oxidative stress that breaks down healthy tissue.
Lutein can be found in yellow fruits and vegetables and dark leafy greens including:
• Spinach
• Kale
• Mangoes
• Broccoli
Your eye care professional may recommend supplementing your diet with an eye vitamin, such as Vitalux® Vitamins, specifically designed to provide the body with lutein and zeaxanthin to help maintain healthy vision.
Vitamin Supplements, AREDS, and AREDS2
For your eyes
Following a healthy diet may help delay AMD, but it is difficult to attain all of the vitamins and minerals that promote healthy eyes through diet alone. Your eye care professional may recommend taking ocular vitamins.
AREDS and AREDS2
The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) sponsored by the National Eye Institute (NEI) in 2001 identified a formula of vitamins and minerals that support eye health in conditions like AMD. In 2006, the same research group began a second study called AREDS2. They tested adding the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, adding omega-3 fatty acids, reducing zinc, and removing beta-carotene.
What is so special about these supplements?
AREDS/AREDS2 found that high daily doses of certain vitamins and minerals in a specific formulation support eye health in conditions like AMD. Your eye care professional may recommend that you take a supplement such as Vitalux® Vitamins, which contain high levels of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals—including lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids.
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