QUESTION: Which vitamin is best for eyesight?
ANS:
- Vitamin A is often considered the best vitamin for eyesight.
- It plays a crucial role in maintaining good vision and supporting overall eye health.
- It helps with night vision
- Prevents dry eyes
- Reduces the risk macular degeneration and cataracts
- Good food sources of vitamin A include
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Spinach
- Kale
- Liver
| Role of Vitamin A in Vision | Deficiency Results |
| Maintenance of Cornea and Conjunctiva
| · Vitamin A helps maintain the health and integrity of the cornea and conjunctiva · Deficiency can cause dryness · Corneal ulcers · Increased susceptibility to infections |
| Retinal Formation | · Vitamin A is essential for the formation of retinal a component of rhodopsin, a protein involved in vision · Deficiency can lead to night blindness · An inability to see in low-light conditions |
| Protection against Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) | · Adequate vitamin A intake, along with other antioxidants, may help protect against AMD, a condition that causes progressive loss of central vision in older adults. |
| Photo transduction | · Vitamin A plays a role in the process of photo transduction, the conversion of light into electrical signals in the retina. · Deficiency can impair this process, leading to visual disturbances. |
| Regulation of Gene Expression | · It regulates the expression of genes involved in eye development and differentiation. · Deficiency can lead to abnormal development of the eyes, potentially resulting in congenital malformations. |