Macular degeneration vitamins

Macular degeneration is a medical condition that affects older adults and features with slow deterioration of the retina. The condition commonly causes loss of vision in the center of the visual field. This part of the retina is called the macula and in healthy people it provides crystal clear central vision. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of visual impairment in older adults. Elderly people normally complain about poor eyesight and this is in majority of cases associated with macular degeneration. The condition may also affect smokers and in this case the disease occurs before the process of aging even starts to damage the retina. The process of degeneration needs to be decelerated if not stopped and only this way serious loss of vision can be successfully prevented.

Types of Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration can be dry or wet. Wet macular degeneration features with abnormal development of blood vessels near the macula. These blood vessels are prone to rupture and once they rupture the blood leaks into the macula and causes subsequent damage. Dry macular degeneration is associated with the process of aging. Macular cells slowly lose their original structure.

Macular Degeneration Vitamins

Macular degeneration can be protected if one takes optimal doses of certain vitamins. These vitamins act as powerful antioxidants and fight free radicals responsible for damage to the retina.

The most important vitamin for macular degeneration is vitamin A. Vitamin A is crucial in prevention of many eye problems. This is powerful antioxidant and is recommended by many ophthalmologists. The very fact that vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness points to significance of this vitamin in maintenance of healthy vision. Furthermore, vitamin C is also good for age related macular degeneration. It is good to be taken by both, smokers and non-smokers. This vitamin can be taken in a form of supplements or with certain foods and it is known to decelerate the progression of macular degeneration. And finally, optimal eye health is obtained with the assistance of vitamin E. This vitamin can effectively prevent further progression of macular degeneration and it also prevents the occurrence of the disease in the first place.

If one has decided to take vitamin supplements for macular degeneration he/she are supposed to consult his/her health care provider. The doctor will prescribe multivitamin supplements if necessary and suggest the optimal dosage. The dose must never be exceeded since excessive intake of vitamins may cause serious damage to certain organs. The vitamins cannot restore already impaired vision but they certainly can prevent further progression of the disease. Some of the vitamin supplements contain certain minerals such as zinc, selenium, lutein and zeaxanthin which are also good for healthy vision.