Eyes are among the most important sense organs, which are necessary for learning, working, and connecting with the world. Good eye health is not only important for vision but also for overall quality of life. However, in today’s digital age, our eyes face more strain than ever before.
The increased use of smartphones, laptops, and tablets has led to longer screen time for people of all ages. This may cause digital eye strain, dry eyes, headaches, blurred vision, and difficulty focusing1. Over time, recurrent strain and unhealthy habits may also increase the risk of vision problems and age-related eye conditions.
Why Nutrition Plays a Major Role in Eye Health
Proper nutrition is very important for eye health because each part of the eye demands different nutrients to work properly. The following says how vitamins support the different eye parts.
Conjunctiva and Cornea: Conjunctiva, a thin transparent membrane on the white part of eye, and cornea, the transparent layer on dark colour iris of the eye, also depend upon food sources for their nutrition. Vitamin A is necessary for them to stay hydrated and moisturised. Lack of Vitamin A can cause conjunctival dryness and corneal ulcers3. Vitamin C helps the body produce collagen, which speeds up healing of the eye surface. It might also reduce corneal opacity/haze and reduces neovascularisation (abnormal blood vessel growth)4.
Retina: The retina, which senses the light and sends signals back to the brain, depends on vitamin A for night vision and clear sight3. Vitamins C and E act as antioxidants and protect retinal cells from damage. Lutein and zeaxanthin are the other antioxidant which are also known to reduce oxidative stress of the eye by absorbing the harmful blue light, or harmful molecules2.