These Critical Nutrients Can Help Prevent Against Vision Loss As You age (2025)

Health
Food
Movement
Beauty
Health
Food
Movement
Beauty
Advertisement

This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

Close Banner

Advertisement

This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

Integrative Health

Author:

January 07, 2025

Former mbg Supplement Editor

By Morgan Chamberlain

Former mbg Supplement Editor

Morgan Chamberlain is mindbodygreen's former supplement editor. She graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in magazine journalism and a minor in nutrition.

These Critical Nutrients Can Help Prevent Against Vision Loss As You age (11)

Image by McKinsey Jordan / Stocksy

January 07, 2025

Eye longevity is an important aspect of healthy aging. From glaucoma to cataracts, there are a number of eye conditions that can impact your vision in myriad ways as you age.

As the leading cause of vision loss and blindness, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one such disease—and researchers have discovered it’s more prevalent than they previously believed.

According to a 2022 JAMA Ophthalmology study, AMD affects a whopping 20 million Americans1 over the age of 40.

What is age-related macular degeneration?

Caused by damage to a part of the retina called the macula, AMD results in blurred central vision that makes it difficult to perform everyday tasks.

Evidence suggests age-related macular degeneration is caused by oxidative stress and inflammation.

Thankfully, these can be addressed (and prevented) with vision-critical nutrients—i.e., those that scavenge free radicals and promote healthy inflammatory pathways. Enter: Carotenoids.

Vision longevity nutrients that help prevent AMD

Carotenoids are red, orange, and yellow pigments that plants produce. Xanthophylls are a specific category of carotenoids with neuroprotective and antioxidant actions.

Three in particular—lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin—are especially beneficial in protecting the eyes from oxidative damage and eye diseases.

help:

Astaxanthin helps:

Getting more of these vital eye nutrients can help prevent vision loss and reduce overall AMD risk.

How to increase your carotenoid intake

The body doesn’t make carotenoids endogenously (i.e., on its own), so you need to consume them via:

  • Foods containing lutein and zeaxanthin (leafy greens, green peas, orange peppers, eggs) and astaxanthin (salmon, lobster, algae, shrimp)
  • A quality supplement that contains efficacious doses of lutein (10 milligrams), zeaxanthin (2 milligrams), and astaxanthin (6 milligrams)—you can find mindbodygreen’s favorite eye longevity supplements here

The takeaway

Life-altering eye diseases can be prevented with the right nutritional tools. Consider increasing your intake of key vision-longevity carotenoids (via food and/or supplementation) to enhance your ocular function and ensure your eyesight remains in tip-top shape for years to come.

More On This Topic

Mental Health
Doing This Can Lower Cortisol Before A Stressful Event, Study Says

Sarah Regan

Mental Health
This One Trick Can Supercharge The Mental Health Benefits Of Your Walk

Hannah Frye

Integrative Health
This Type Of Fast May Give You A Blood-Sugar-Balance Advantage

Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN

Integrative Health
Your Brain Relies On This Vitamin To Produce Dopamine, Study Shows

Gretchen Lidicker, M.S.

Integrative Health
The Key To Staying Mentally Sharp Well Into Your 90s, Study Reveals

Hannah Frye

Integrative Health
Feel A Cold Coming? What A Functional Medicine Expert Wants You To Do

Sarah Regan

Integrative Health
This Super-Common Supplement May Harm Gut Health, Study Suggests

Sarah Regan

Women's Health

Barbara Birke, MS

Integrative Health

Morgan Chamberlain

Mental Health
Doing This Can Lower Cortisol Before A Stressful Event, Study Says

Sarah Regan

Mental Health
This One Trick Can Supercharge The Mental Health Benefits Of Your Walk

Hannah Frye

Integrative Health
This Type Of Fast May Give You A Blood-Sugar-Balance Advantage

Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN

Integrative Health
Your Brain Relies On This Vitamin To Produce Dopamine, Study Shows

Gretchen Lidicker, M.S.

Integrative Health
The Key To Staying Mentally Sharp Well Into Your 90s, Study Reveals

Hannah Frye

Integrative Health
Feel A Cold Coming? What A Functional Medicine Expert Wants You To Do

Sarah Regan

Integrative Health
This Super-Common Supplement May Harm Gut Health, Study Suggests

Sarah Regan

Women's Health

Barbara Birke, MS

Integrative Health

Morgan Chamberlain

Mental Health
Doing This Can Lower Cortisol Before A Stressful Event, Study Says

Sarah Regan

Mental Health
This One Trick Can Supercharge The Mental Health Benefits Of Your Walk

Hannah Frye

Integrative Health
This Type Of Fast May Give You A Blood-Sugar-Balance Advantage

Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN

Integrative Health
Your Brain Relies On This Vitamin To Produce Dopamine, Study Shows

Gretchen Lidicker, M.S.

Integrative Health
The Key To Staying Mentally Sharp Well Into Your 90s, Study Reveals

Hannah Frye

Integrative Health
Feel A Cold Coming? What A Functional Medicine Expert Wants You To Do

Sarah Regan

Integrative Health
This Super-Common Supplement May Harm Gut Health, Study Suggests

Sarah Regan

Women's Health

Barbara Birke, MS

Integrative Health

Morgan Chamberlain

Integrative Health

Caitlyn Somers

Mental Health
Doing This Can Lower Cortisol Before A Stressful Event, Study Says

Sarah Regan

Mental Health
This One Trick Can Supercharge The Mental Health Benefits Of Your Walk

Hannah Frye

Integrative Health
This Type Of Fast May Give You A Blood-Sugar-Balance Advantage

Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN

Integrative Health
Your Brain Relies On This Vitamin To Produce Dopamine, Study Shows

Gretchen Lidicker, M.S.

Integrative Health
The Key To Staying Mentally Sharp Well Into Your 90s, Study Reveals

Hannah Frye

Integrative Health
Feel A Cold Coming? What A Functional Medicine Expert Wants You To Do

Sarah Regan

Integrative Health
This Super-Common Supplement May Harm Gut Health, Study Suggests

Sarah Regan

Women's Health

Barbara Birke, MS

Integrative Health

Morgan Chamberlain

Integrative Health

Caitlyn Somers

more Health
Advertisement

This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

Popular Stories

10 Signs You Have An Unhealthy Gut + How To Help From Doctors15 Ways To Maintain A Healthy Blood Sugar Level NaturallyNicotinamide Riboside: A Complete Guide To NR SupplementsWhat Breaks A Fast According To 5 IF Experts

Advertisement

This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

These Critical Nutrients Can Help Prevent Against Vision Loss As You age (2025)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Foster Heidenreich CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6176

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Foster Heidenreich CPA

Birthday: 1995-01-14

Address: 55021 Usha Garden, North Larisa, DE 19209

Phone: +6812240846623

Job: Corporate Healthcare Strategist

Hobby: Singing, Listening to music, Rafting, LARPing, Gardening, Quilting, Rappelling

Introduction: My name is Foster Heidenreich CPA, I am a delightful, quaint, glorious, quaint, faithful, enchanting, fine person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.