Diminishing eyesight may seem unavoidable as you get older, but with the right diet and vitamins for your eyes, you can hold on to an excellent vision far longer than you think. There are ways to improve eyesight naturally with exercises and food but other eye health tips include adding supplements to your diet. Find out what vitamins help your eyes.

7 Top Vitamins for Your Eyes and Your Overall Health

1. Lutein

Lutein, commonly known as “the eye vitamin,” is an antioxidant that protects the eyes, specifically the lens and the macula. This eye vitamin is also beneficial to other parts of the body such as the skin. Leafy green vegetables and orange vegetables, citrus fruits, and egg yolks are rich in lutein.

2. Zeaxanthin

Zeaxanthin is one of the different carotenoids highly beneficial to your eyes. Much like lutein, it protects the lens, macula, and eye tissues. Take vitamins with zeaxanthin for clearer vision and prevention of light sensitivity, glare, and disorders such as cataracts.

3. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a great immune system booster and eye vitamin. This antioxidant gets rid of free radicals to help your body absorb more nutrients and trace minerals. Vitamin C can help protect your vision and aid in the repair of damage eye tissues as well.

4. Vitamin E

Along with vitamin C, take vitamin E to help your body maintain stronger tissues and cells. A combination of the two can also protect your tissues from inflammation. Take vitamin E to decrease your chances of developing macular degeneration. You can also take it with vitamin A to help improve your recovery from laser eye surgery.

5. Zinc

Another vitamin you can add to your diet is zinc. Zinc lowers the risk of acquiring macular degeneration, and it also provides protection for your retina. It also helps with nutrient absorption and waste elimination, which makes it a perfect addition to any diet. Nuts, organ meats, meat from grass-fed animals, and fish are great sources of zinc.

6. Vitamin A (Beta-Carotene)

Beta-carotene, or more commonly known as vitamin A, is another antioxidant for your eyes. It can help prevent loss of vision from degenerative conditions, such as macular degeneration and cataracts. It can also slow down the progression of eye nerve damage such as glaucoma, of which diabetes is a risk factor.

7. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Another anti-inflammatory vitamin that can help prevent degenerative diseases are omega-3 fatty acids. If you don’t eat fish or eat a lot of processed foods and oily foods, you should also take omega-3 fatty acids.

Watch this video from Foods4Health to find out the food that can provide vitamins for your eyes:

Supplements are called as such because they support your nutrition as a whole. They don’t replace it. To get the full benefits of vitamins for your eyes, be sure to eat a balanced diet of healthy food. Have an appointment with your doctor first before taking any dietary supplement, especially if you’re taking blood thinners, if you’re pregnant or nursing, and if you want to be sure you’re taking the right dose your doctor recommends.

What vitamins do you take for your eyes? Share your thoughts and experience with us in the comments section below!

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on September 26, 2017, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.