Vitamin A, also called retinol, is a group of unsaturated organic compounds that are part of a nutritious diet. It helps maintain healthy skin, teeth, tissues and other parts of the body. Like most vitamins, vitamin A provides your body with a plethora of benefits to ensure that it is functioning properly and keeping you healthy.
Vitamin A is an important part of your everyday diet; providing many benefits to your eye health and vision. By incorporating the right amount of vitamin A in your diet, you can help keep your eyes happy and healthy.
The Benefits of Vitamin A on Your Eyes
Vitamin A helps with bone growth, reproduction, and your immune system, and it helps skin and mucous fight off bacteria and viruses. Vitamin A also provides specific benefits to your eye health and is essential for good vision. These benefits include:
- Helps treat dry eyes and treat inflammation
- Decreases risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Prolongs vision in people suffering from retinitis
Getting the Right Amount of Vitamin A
Even though it is rare in the United States, vitamin A deficiency can still occur. The lack of vitamin A in your diet could lead to night blindness or eye inflammation, and could also cause very dry eyes that lead to a clouding on the front of the eye. Because of this, it is important to ensure that you are getting enough vitamin A in your diet to keep your eyes and overall vision in optimal shape.
Even though it is important to include vitamin A in your diet, too much vitamin A can have a negative effect. Vitamin A over consumption side effects include mild blurred vision and general side effects such as nausea and irritability.
Ensure you are keeping yourself healthy by consuming the right amount of vitamin A. For adults and children ages 4 years and older, the US Food and Drug Administration has established a vitamin A Daily Value (DV) of 5,000 IU from a varied diet of both plant and animal foods.
Good Sources of Vitamin A
The best way to ensure that you are getting a healthy dose of vitamin A is by having a well-balanced diet. Good sources of vitamin A include sweet potatoes, carrots, dark leafy greens, and tropical fruits. You can also ensure you are getting a good source of vitamin A by taking daily multi-vitamins or over-the-counter vitamin A tablets.
Talk to your eye doctor if you have any questions regarding your daily intake of vitamin A. They will be able to provide you with a customized dietary plan or point you in the direction of recommended vitamins for your health.
Vitamin A can help keep your eyes healthy and in great shape. Make sure you are getting the right amount of vitamin A in your diet to allow its benefits to have a positive effect on the way you live.
Contact Illinois Eye Center at (309) 243-2400 to schedule your routine eye care appointment, and visit our website today for more information on general eye health and safety.