Many of us have problems with vision, which could easily be avoided if we protect our eyes every day by providing the body with essential vitamins. All organs in our body need vitamins for normal functioning, some of which directly affect the quality of vision. For example, the deficit of vitamin A can cause blurred vision, but in excess, which is also unfavorable, it can cause negative effects. For good vision we also need B vitamins, vitamin C, and potassium.

Dr. William Boothe suggests that our eyes need antioxidants - vitamins that neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals. Crystalline lens and the retina are sensitive to dust and other contamination as well as the affects of free radicals and cellular processes. Antioxidant vitamins play an important role in the fight against free radicals. Vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E are antioxidants. These vitamins not only help protect the eyes from free radicals, but also contribute to the preservation of healthy cells and tissues of the eye.

What is necessary for maintaining healthy eyes?

Recent studies show that in addition to vitamins A, C and E to maintain healthy eyes, lutein and zeaxanthin are vital as well. They belong to the carotenoids, which are contained in the retina and lens of the eye. Unique properties of lutein are the resistance to light and the ability to accumulate in the tissues of the eye. Lutein is accumulated in the retina and forms an optical filter that protects the underlying pigment epithelium from the damaging effects of light rays, especially the violet and blue part of the light spectrum.

In addition, lutein is an effective inhibitor of free radicals in the pigment layer of the retina. In the human lens lutein and zeaxanthin are the only carotenoids, and in epithelial-cortical parts of the lens it is contained in two to three times more than in its core. Daily demand is five milligrams of lutein, and one milligram of zeaxanthin, but our diets usually contain less than 20% of normal.

A natural source of vitamins for the eyes are green leafy vegetables like cabbage and sea kale, spinach, kiwi fruit, squash, and pumpkin. However, spinach contains lutein, not only in large quantities, but it is rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C and E and other nutrients that are important to eye health. If your diet cannot provide the body with the necessary quantity of vitamins, you should take supplements of missing vitamins and minerals to maintain vision.

In order to support the body, it is especially useful to have specialized biologically active food additives, which along with vitamin and mineral complex, contain herbs that are useful for the eyes. You should observe the principle of the duration of the reception – enrich your diet with vitamins and minerals almost constantly, with a possible break in the summer months when nutrients can be obtained naturally from foods.

Dr. William Boothe is a world re-known lasik surgeon with a practice in the Plano area.