Top 4 Vitamins for Eye Health to Know

Many say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. While that may be more poetic than scientific, we know just how important our eyes are for our daily lives, and how important it is to ensure you're providing your eyes with the support they need! 

Key Supplements & Vitamins for Eye Health Support

Team Nature Made^® is here to help guide you through our selection of eye health supplements. Although it may seem like a lot, understanding vitamins for eye health support is more accessible when you take it one step at a time. So, let's get to it!

Vitamin A

Are you looking for vitamins for eyes function and healthy vision? You don't have to look much further than the first letter of the alphabet, Vitamin A! Vitamin A has a vital function in the eye as a critical component in the production of rhodopsin, which works in the eye's retina to respond to light.[1] Our Multivitamin Gummies provide half of your daily value of Vitamin A in just two tasty gummies! Check out this blog for more information on the Benefits of Vitamin A.†

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 Fatty Acid DHA is another way to help support your eyes. You'll find DHA alongside EPA (another Omega-3 Fatty Acid) in fish oil from fatty fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, and anchovies. Despite their many benefits, 68% of U.S. adults need to consume more EPA and DHA in their daily diet to meet recommendations based on the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans.[2] If your diet doesn't include much fatty fish, supplementing your fish oil intake with Omega-3 supplements like Nature Made® Fish Oil Softgels can help support healthy eyes and a healthy brain! Additionally, supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA Omega-3 Fatty Acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.†

Lutein and Zeaxanthin

What are Lutein and Zeaxanthin? Beyond being names with wildly differing spelling difficulty levels, Lutein and Zeaxanthin are carotenoids. If that word makes you think "carrot," you may be hungry. However, you're also right! Carotenoids are the red, orange and yellow pigments that make your bunny's favorite food vibrant orange, along with corn, red and orange peppers, salmon, and eggs![3] Lutein and Zeaxanthin accumulate in the eye's retina, where they filter   blue light produced by the sun and screens. If carrots or other carotenoid-rich foods aren't your speed, you can try Nature Made^® Lutein & Zeaxanthin Gummies! Two daily gummies support healthy eyes, including the proprietary blend Lutemax^® 2020, formulated with clinically studied ingredients to support healthy brain processing speed.†

Zinc

Zinc is just one of the ingredients included in our Nature Made^® Vision Based on the AREDS 2 Formula Softgels. Our formula, which is based on the AREDS 2 Formula, includes several eye health support ingredients in one convenient supplement, including Lutein and Zeaxanthin, which help support healthy eyes' blue light filtering function. We combine this with Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and essential minerals Copper and Zinc to provide antioxidant support. Vision, based on the AREDS 2 formula, is an eye health supplement that helps support healthy vision and eye function. Check out this blog to see the answer to the question, "What does Zinc do for the body?"†

Integrating Eye-Healthy Vitamins into Your Diet

The best way to provide yourself with the necessary vitamins for eyes is by incorporating foods rich in eye-support nutrients into your diet. You're in luck! Plenty of tasty and easy-to-find foods are good sources of eye health nutrients, so let's break down a few easy ones!

Fatty fish like salmon and tuna are a great way to get the Omega-3 Fatty Acids from fish oil into your diet. In addition to being tasty and easy to prepare, salmon is also rich in Lutein and Zeaxanthin to help support blue light filtering in the retina. A baked sweet potato side to your roasted salmon can provide a rich source of Vitamin A, essential for healthy eye function and vision.†

If you supplement your diet with eye health nutrients, Team Nature Made^® always recommends taking vitamins and supplements with water and a meal. Try attaching your supplement routine to a regular meal! If you always take your supplements at dinner time, you're more likely to remember to take them, and you ensure you have water and a meal to go with them.

Lifestyle and Environmental Factors Affecting Eye Health

Our eyes are our windows to the world, so caring for them is crucial! With so much of our lives revolving around computer screens, make sure to give your eyes a break occasionally! Look away from your screen occasionally, take a short walk outside at lunch, or take any other break from your screen that can help reduce eye strain.

Wearing sunglasses provides several benefits. In addition to making you look like an 80s action movie star, sunglasses are a great way to protect your eyes from ultraviolet light from the sun![4] So be sure to rock your shades when you're out and about!

Prioritize Eye Health With Nature Made

Nature Made^® is proud to provide you with various choices for eye support! Our products are formulated to support your eye health; know that we source high-quality ingredients to help your body get the support it needs. Want to know where to start building your supplement routine? Are you curious to know what vitamins should I take daily? Our Advanced Multivitamins can form a great basis for starting a new routine. Always consult with your primary care provider or another medical health professional when beginning or changing a supplement routine.†

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

1. National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements - Vitamin A. Nih.gov. Published 2017. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/
2. USDA. Dietary Guidelines for Americans: 2020-2025. December 2020. Accessed on: March 28, 2024. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/202103/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans-2020-2025.pdf
3. Abdel-Aal el-SM, Akhtar H, Zaheer K, Ali R. Dietary sources of lutein and zeaxanthin carotenoids and their role in eye health. Nutrients. 2013;5(4):1169-1185. Published 2013 April 9. doi:10.3390/nu5041169
4. Backes C, Religi A, Moccozet L, et al. Sun exposure to the eyes: predicted UV protection effectiveness of various sunglasses. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2019;29(6):753-764. doi:10.1038/s41370-018-0087-0