Want Healthy Eyes? Use Both Plan A and Plan B

February 27, 2021

For many people, eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables is enough to keep their eyes healthy. But whether because of getting older or suffering from certain serious eye diseases, you may also want to add vitamin supplements to your daily dietary intake to keep your eyes healthy and your sight sharp. 

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is one of the most important vitamins for eye health. This is because it nourishes and protects both the front of the eye, called the cornea, and the back, called the retina. 

By protecting the cornea, the risk of developing cataracts is reduced. Vitamin A also helps produce the pigments that allow the retina to function properly. When the retina isn’t functioning properly, you may have trouble seeing low light.

Adding vitamin A to your diet can help repair some vision loss. The recommended daily dosage for Vitamin A is between 0.7mg and 0.9 mg. Some foods high in the vitamin are eggs, sweet potatoes, and carrots.

B Vitamins

B vitamins help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition where the retina deteriorates over time. In the short term, this can cause blurry vision. Over time, serious conditions including blindness could result. B vitamins also protect the optic nerve, which is the tissue tasked with sending images from the eye to the brain.

A 2009 study found that women who had a deficiency of vitamin B12 were 2x as likely to have AMD than those with normal b12 levels. Women who took 50mg B6, 1mg B12, and 2.5mg folate supplements for two years were 35-40% less likely to develop AMD.

Foods rich in B vitamins include chicken, spinach, and oranges.

Getting enough A and B vitamins in your diet can have significant benefits for your eye health. While for many people the best way to get these nutrients is through diet, if you have a serious condition like AMD, your eye doctor may recommend that you start taking supplements.

Along with making sure you get the right dosage of vitamin supplements, regular visits to your eye doctor can help you keep your eyes healthy and strong. A simple low-cost Vision Plan from MRTA and AMBA can help you save hundreds on the cost of check-ups, exams, even eyewear. Learn more.

Sources: https://www.insider.com/vitamin-b12-benefits 

https://visionsource-athenseyecare.com/2019/07/10/the-benefits-of-vitamin-a-and-beta-carotene/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20important,chance%20of%20developing%20eye%20infections.

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