CHECK: Are eye vitamins worth it or a waste of money?

There is pretty much one vitamin for everything. Vitamin A for the immune system, D for bone health and K for calcium. But what about vitamins I or rather… vitamins for the eyes.

QUESTION: 2 Wants to Know viewer Debbie Watson asked us, “Over-the-counter vitamins for the eyes, helpful or just a waste of money?”

TO TREAT: To verify, we reached out to Dr Neil Hutto, Doctor of Optometry at Triad Eye Associates.

First of all, eye vitamins cannot prevent vision problems like nearsightedness or farsightedness.

“You’re not going to eliminate the addiction to glasses or contact lenses. So that person who has trouble reading or driving without glasses, multivitamins aren’t going to help with that, ”Hutto explained.

But, two types of supplements can help with eye health issues. Omega 3 and AREDS.

Omega 3s, if taken daily, can help reduce the need for artificial tears. Then there are AREDS or vitamins for age-related eye diseases.

“They are used to slow the progression or stop the progression of dry macular degeneration,” the doctor explained.

If you’ve never heard of dry macular degeneration, let’s break it down. The macular is the part of your retina that allows you to focus. As we age, the macular sometimes weakens.

Hutto said, “It’s almost like looking at the sun and seeing this place following you, that’s how people with advanced macular degeneration see all the time.”

AREDS does not prevent or cure macular degeneration.

“They are used to slow the progression or stop the progression of dry macular degeneration.”

So, it’s verified, supplements can be helpful for dry eyes or macular degeneration. But they won’t stop, cure, or prevent vision-related problems. And just to add that note, Hutto said that healthy eating and sunglasses have been shown to be as effective as any over-the-counter vitamin or eye supplement.

Neil Hutto, Doctor of Optometry, Triad Eye Associates