You probably know that vitamins and minerals are very important for maintaining our health, but do you know that certain vitamins are also important for your eyes, to keep them healthy and in proper condition? The two most important vitamins that are important for promoting eye health and preventing vision loss are Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene. Here, in this blog, we will tell you what these two vitamins are and why they are specifically important for eye health.
Vitamin A – What is it and why is it useful?
Vitamin A is a group of fat-soluble compounds, which are available in two different forms in the food that we eat – one being preformed Vitamin A, and the other being provitamin A carotenoids.
Sources – You can get these vitamins from all kinds of vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods. For example, leafy green vegetables, tomatoes, yellow fruits, orange fruits, and vegetable oils provide provitamin A carotenoids. On the other hand, fish, meat, liver, and dairy products are great sources of preformed Vitamin A.
Benefits – Vitamin A has the property of reducing the risk of macular degeneration and vision loss. It boosts the immune system, thus reducing the chances of developing eye infection, and also soothing the eyes in case of any kind of inflammation.
Beta-Carotene – What is it and why is it useful?
Beta-carotene is another provitamin carotenoid, which is what gives veggies their colour.
Sources – Beta-carotene can be absorbed into the body by intake of lots of fruits and vegetables like carrots, peppers, sweet potatoes, spinach, romaine lettuce, squash, apricots, and dark leafy vegetables. Unlike Vitamin A, beta-carotene cannot be obtained from animal meat or dairy products.
Benefits – We today live in a world of bright screens, which gives our eyes great exposure to lots of blue light. Also, too much exposure to sunlight may also damage the eyes. By intaking beta-carotene, the oxidative stress that all this light puts on our eyes is significantly reduced. When this vitamin is absorbed by the body, it is converted into Vitamin A, which then provides the same benefits that original Vitamin A products provide to the eyes.
How to take in the right amount of these vitamins?
As mentioned above, fruits and vegetables have lots and lots of Vitamin A and beta-carotene. Also, animal meat and dairy products have beta-carotene. So, the best way is to eat lots of these products. But, make sure not to overdo it. Take in only as much as your body allows you to. Also, ascertain that you don’t have an allergy against any of these products. While this is the best way to take in such vitamins, there are also other effective ways like taking multivitamin tablets and supplements. However, these tablets and supplements should only be a secondary option if you are seriously, for any reason, unable to include the above mentioned products into your diet.
Arohi Eye Hospital is where you can get in touch with a professional eye specialist in Mumbai, where all your vision problems can be detected and treated at the earliest, and in the best way possible. So, get in touch for even the slightest issues you have with your eyes, or even the most dangerous ones.
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Dr. Shradha Goel
Dr. Shradha Goel, Chief Surgeon at Arohi Eye Hospital, is a renowned Phaco-LASIK surgeon with over 10,000 surgeries to her credit. She earned her MBBS from Grant Medical College, Mumbai, and a Master’s in Ophthalmology from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. As a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Goel specialises in LASIK, refractive errors, and cataract treatments.