To protect one’s vision from Age-related Macular Degeneration, increased consumption of vitamins C and E may be what’s called for.

In a National Eye Institute study, for subjects with high risk of developing the advanced stage of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) high doses of antioxidant vitamins and zinc:

• Reduced risk of developing advanced AMD by about 25 percent
• Reduced vision loss by 19 percent.

The doses included a combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and zinc.
This, reportedly, is the first treatment to effectively slow the progression of AMD.

Most people living in the United States do not eat the USDA-recommended five daily servings of fruit and vegetables (for vitamin C and other vitamins), and neither do they eat good sources of vitamin E each day, reports the America Optometric Association. 

Good sources of vitamin C include: papaya, cantaloupe, and oranges; green peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli

Good sources of Vitamin E include: vegetable oils (e.g. safflower and corn), seeds and nuts (e.g. almonds, sunflower seeds, and peanuts), and wheat germ.

For more information on antioxidants and foods for eye-health, visit the American Optometrist Organization’s website:

www.aoa.org/x4729.xml?prt (More on vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and zinc)

www.aoa.org/x4732.xml?prt (A related page on two more important antioxidants—Lutein and Zeaxanthin)