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What to Expect Before, During, and After LASIK
Are you considering LASIK but unsure what to expect? We’ve got you covered! Read on to learn what you can expect before, during, and after this procedure.
Do Vitamin Supplements Help Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage your optic nerve, often due to high intraocular pressure in your eye. This damage can lead to vision loss or even blindness.
Because glaucoma usually progresses slowly without symptoms, prevention is your best defense.
If you live with glaucoma or are at risk, you might wonder whether vitamin supplements can help protect your vision. While vitamins alone won’t cure glaucoma, some nutrients may support overall eye health and potentially reduce the risk of further vision loss.
Read on as our experts at Maryland Eye Care Center share more about vitamin supplements and how they may help with glaucoma.
Which vitamins and nutrients support eye health?
Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients — meaning your body needs them in much smaller amounts than macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. But just because you need less doesn’t mean they’re less important.
If you’ve heard that eating carrots is good for your eyes, you already know that vitamins, like vitamin A, play a key role in eye health. These include:
Vitamin A
Vitamin A supports the health of the retina and other eye tissues. A vitamin A deficiency can impair your vision, especially at night. Men require 900 micrograms (mcg) daily, and women need 700 mcg. You can get vitamin A from yellow and orange vegetables, spinach, and eggs.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology lists vitamin A as an alternative treatment for glaucoma. However, too much vitamin A (over 3,000 mcg) can also damage your eyes, so talk to your Maryland Eye Care Center doctor before starting any vitamin supplement.
Vitamins C and E
These antioxidants help protect your eyes from oxidative damage, which can worsen glaucoma. Include plenty of foods rich in vitamins C and E in your diet to help slow the progression of glaucoma.
B vitamins
B-complex vitamins, especially B1 (thiamine), B6, and B12, support nerve function and may help reduce damage to your optic nerve. You can find B vitamins in meat, fish, eggs, and fortified foods like nutritional yeast.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids may offer some protective benefits for people with glaucoma by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation at the cellular level in your retina.
However, current research doesn’t yet support using omega-3 supplements as a standalone treatment for glaucoma. Taking high doses may carry risks, such as an increased chance of bleeding.
Coenzyme Q10
Early research suggests CoQ10 may help protect retinal ganglion cells and the optic nerve in glaucoma patients when used alongside conventional treatments.
Combining citicoline and CoQ10 may help by supporting the energy-producing parts of your cells (mitochondria) and reducing damage that can lead to glaucoma. Together, they may work better than either alone and could make treatment easier to follow.
What does the research say about supplements?
These vitamins show promise in supporting eye health (and many other aspects of your health), but no vitamin or supplement is proven to cure or prevent glaucoma.
Most studies emphasize the importance of a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats — all containing naturally occurring vitamins and minerals.
Studies focused on age-related macular degeneration, not glaucoma, support the idea that antioxidants can protect eye structures from oxidative damage. So, a diet rich in antioxidants is still a good idea.
Should you take a vitamin supplement for glaucoma?
Talk to us before starting any supplements, especially if you take glaucoma medications or have other health conditions. Your Maryland Eye Care Center doctor may recommend specific vitamins based on your dietary habits, health history, and type of glaucoma.
Supplements are most effective when paired with regular eye exams and prescribed glaucoma treatments, such as medicated eye drops or surgery.
Prioritize a healthy lifestyle
You can further protect your vision by combining smart nutrition with other healthy habits:
- Exercise regularly to support blood flow and reduce intraocular pressure
- Avoid smoking, which increases oxidative stress
- Manage chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension
- Follow your prescribed glaucoma treatment plan carefully
Have questions about glaucoma or supplements? Schedule an eye exam today by phone or online at Maryland Eye Care Center in Hyattsville and Silver Spring, Maryland.
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