Natural Health Advisory

You’ve probably heard that carrots are good for your eyesight. This is more than an old-wives’ tale; they really do improve vision, along with dark green veggies, eggs, bilberry, fish, and sweet potatoes. Here are the nutrients that make these foods so beneficial.

Lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin

These three carotenoids, which are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, all play a role in good vision. Studies show that astaxanthin protects the eyes against damage and daily wear-and-tear,1 decreases eye fatigue, and helps prevent vision loss and blindness.2

Lutein and zeaxanthin both help to improve visual performance and protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD).3,4

Foods rich in astaxanthin: Seaweed, wild salmon, trout, shrimp, lobster, and other seafood.

Foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin: Eggs, avocado, pistachios, and dark green leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli, collard greens, and spinach.

Omega-3 fatty acids

For people who wear contact lenses, dry eyes can be a major problem. Six hundred mg of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA twice daily for six months helped contact lens wearers to improve dry eye symptoms and find better comfort in wearing their contacts.5 Omega 3s may also benefit eye health by improving AMD.6

Foods rich in omega 3s: Fish is the best source. For vegetarians, walnuts, flax, canola, and green leafy vegetables are alternatives.

Anthocyanins

Responsible for the red, purple, and blue pigment of many fruits and vegetables, anthocyanins are especially potent antioxidants with various health benefits. Anthocyanins help to protect your eyes from oxidative damage, which can prevent various diseases in the eye, including AMD.

Anthocyanins may help prevent cataract and glaucoma, as well, and improve night vision. Billberry, an edible berry rich in anthocyanins, has been extensively studied for its effects on eye health, including improving visual function in people with myopia (nearsightedness).7,8

Foods rich in anthocyanins: Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, purple cabbage, black currants, bilberries, eggplant, and black rice.

Vitamin D

In adults under the age of 20, low levels of vitamin D are associated with higher rates of myopia.9 Low vitamin D has also been linked to poorer vision acuity (the clearness or sharpness of your vision).10 Research suggests that vitamin D may protect against AMD, too.6

Foods rich in vitamin D: Oily fish, egg yolk, mushrooms, and cheese. More important than food, though, is 15 to 30 minutes of sunlight exposure per day.

Beta-carotene

This antioxidant is responsible for the orange pigmentation in carrots, and is partly why carrots are so good for your eyes. Our bodies use beta-carotene to make vitamin A, which is important for the process by which the brain converts light into vision. Beta-carotene is considered the primary dietary source of provitamin A (something we use to synthesize vitamin A).11 When used with vitamin C and vitamin E, beta-carotene can help protect against AMD.12

Foods rich in beta-carotene: Carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, and cantaloupe.

Zinc

Zinc helps to maintain the health of the retina, which is the part of the eye that senses light. It helps sustain optimal metabolism in the eye, and it is also an antioxidant that scavenges damaging free radicals.11 Zinc supplementation has been shown to reduce the risk of developing AMD.12

Foods rich in zinc: Seafood, poultry, milk, and yogurt.

Vitamin E and vitamin C

These vitamins are also antioxidants that help to protect your eyes and your vision. Taken along with other nutrients like beta-carotene and zinc, these vitamins can help slow the progression of AMD.12

Foods rich in vitamin E: Nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils.

Foods rich in vitamin C: Strawberries, citrus fruits, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and papaya.

There isn’t one magical food for eye health; be sure to include all of these eye-protecting nutrients in your diet for best results. Studies show that a combination of vitamins is best. For example, supplementing with vitamins C and E, along with zinc and beta-carotene, is especially effective at protecting eyes from disease as you age.12

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2. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2011 Jan;55(1):150-65.
3. Optometry. 2011 Nov;82(11):667-680.e6
4. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014 Dec 16;56(1):252-8.
5. Cornea. 2015 Apr;34(4):413-20.
6. Nutrients. 2013 Jul 2;5(7):2405-56.
7. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2013 Apr;29(3):356-9.
8. Lab Invest. 2012 Jan;92(1):102-9.
9. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014 Jun 26;55(7):4552-9.
10. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Mar;59(3):568-70.
11. Clin Interv Aging. 2013;8:741-8.
12. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001 Oct;119(10):1417-36.

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