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Vision and Nutrition


The link between vision and nutrition

Research has shown that nutrition can affect the development and progression of several very serious eye diseases, which greatly affect your vision. By eating the right foods, you may be able to substantially improve your eye health.

What eye diseases are improved?

Proper nutrition has the potential to increase your eye health in a variety of ways, some of which are surely yet to be discovered. Certain nutrients have already been shown to prevent or slow the development and progression of two common conditions:

  • Cataracts, a widespread condition in which vision becomes blurred and impaired
  • Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), one of the foremost causes of blindness in those over sixty


What nutrients can help?

Certain antioxidants have been shown to be helpful in preventing and slowing the progression of cataracts. These include: vitamin C, vitamin E, and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.

The antioxidants carotenoids can be helpful in slowing AMD. The carotenoids, in particular, lutein and zeaxanthin, can be helpful in slowing AMD. Though already incurred damage by AMD cannot be reversed by these antioxidants, the disease may be able to be prevented or its progression slowed. One study showed a combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper to be effective in slowing AMD.

What foods are these located in?

  • Vitamin C can be found in the majority of fruits and vegetables, including oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, papaya, green peppers and tomatoes.
  • Vitamin E can be found in vegetable oils such as safflower and corn oils, almonds, pecans, wheat germ, and sunflower seeds.
  • Lutein and zeaxanthin are often present in the same foods and are primarily found in dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, collard greens, spinach, and turnip greens. Some other colorful vegetables and fruits like broccoli, orange peppers, corn, peas, persimmons, and tangerines contain smaller concentrations.
  • If you cannot get the required amount you need from fruits and vegetables, you may want to consider asking your healthcare provider about a nutritional supplement.

How Can I Save Money on Vision Care?

Proper vision care is vital for both adults and children, yet it is often overlooked because of the cost. You may be able to save a substantial amount of money through an insurance program, such as the vision plans offered through HumanaOne.