Vision vitamins are an important component of our everyday diet. Apart from the vitamin A which is widely known for its important properties, there are many others that play a central role in maintaining good eyesight. These nutritional elements include vitamin B6 and C and others such as selenium, zinc and magnesium among others. There are many different types of foods that contain many of these elements in different combinations. Examples include green leafy vegetables, oranges, carrots and pumpkins among others.
We will look at vitamin A in detail and understand what it is that it does at cellular level. Research has revealed to us that this vitamin is very important in the synthesis of a pigment known as rhodopsin. This pigment is found in high amounts on the retina which acts as a screen on which images from the environment are formed. Adequate levels of rhodopsin are needed to help one see better in dim light.
It is important to mention that vitamin A is made up of several components and is not one unit as is believed by many. The different components are made up of hydrocarbon molecules that are unsaturated. They include molecules such as carotenoids, retinol and retinal. Beta carotene is the most important carotene that has been identified yet. When retinal combines with a protein called opsin, the result is the molecule rhodopsin.
Lack of vitamin A causes many eye problems whose severity varies depending on the period of time one is affected and the extent of deficiency. Such a deficiency will be caused by inadequate amounts of vitamin A in the diet for a long time. This is called primary vitamin A deficiency. Its prevention entails frequent intake of carotenoid containing foods such as fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
Secondary deficiency is commonly the result of impaired absorption of lipids and decreased production and release of bile. The A vitamin is fat soluble and will therefore require that there are enough lipids for it to be adequately absorbed. Cigarette smoking and prolonged alcohol use are the other risk factors that have been identified as contributing to insufficiency of this vitamin.
One of the most initial manifestations of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness. This refers to impaired scotopic vision. With time, the condition may worsen and changes such as drying of the conjunctiva may occur. This happens because the normal tear secreting system is replaced by keratinisation. This is accompanied by formation of keratin plaques in the cornea which eventually gets eroded as more keratinisation leading to complete blindness.
The other vitamins play a relatively minor role. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties which help protect the eye from irradiation. It is also important in the maintenance of capillary integrity and normal pressure. The B6 vitamin maintains red cell structure and function and thus ensures that the retina functions optimally. Zinc takes part in the conversion of beta carotene to vitamin A.
The truth is that it is not possible to take all the vision vitamins on a daily basis. What is important is to ensure that one takes them as many times as possible within the week. Intake is determined by factors such as sex, age, pregnancy and lactation. Excessive of the vitamins may cause toxicity and due caution is, therefore, advised.
We will look at vitamin A in detail and understand what it is that it does at cellular level. Research has revealed to us that this vitamin is very important in the synthesis of a pigment known as rhodopsin. This pigment is found in high amounts on the retina which acts as a screen on which images from the environment are formed. Adequate levels of rhodopsin are needed to help one see better in dim light.
It is important to mention that vitamin A is made up of several components and is not one unit as is believed by many. The different components are made up of hydrocarbon molecules that are unsaturated. They include molecules such as carotenoids, retinol and retinal. Beta carotene is the most important carotene that has been identified yet. When retinal combines with a protein called opsin, the result is the molecule rhodopsin.
Lack of vitamin A causes many eye problems whose severity varies depending on the period of time one is affected and the extent of deficiency. Such a deficiency will be caused by inadequate amounts of vitamin A in the diet for a long time. This is called primary vitamin A deficiency. Its prevention entails frequent intake of carotenoid containing foods such as fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
Secondary deficiency is commonly the result of impaired absorption of lipids and decreased production and release of bile. The A vitamin is fat soluble and will therefore require that there are enough lipids for it to be adequately absorbed. Cigarette smoking and prolonged alcohol use are the other risk factors that have been identified as contributing to insufficiency of this vitamin.
One of the most initial manifestations of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness. This refers to impaired scotopic vision. With time, the condition may worsen and changes such as drying of the conjunctiva may occur. This happens because the normal tear secreting system is replaced by keratinisation. This is accompanied by formation of keratin plaques in the cornea which eventually gets eroded as more keratinisation leading to complete blindness.
The other vitamins play a relatively minor role. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties which help protect the eye from irradiation. It is also important in the maintenance of capillary integrity and normal pressure. The B6 vitamin maintains red cell structure and function and thus ensures that the retina functions optimally. Zinc takes part in the conversion of beta carotene to vitamin A.
The truth is that it is not possible to take all the vision vitamins on a daily basis. What is important is to ensure that one takes them as many times as possible within the week. Intake is determined by factors such as sex, age, pregnancy and lactation. Excessive of the vitamins may cause toxicity and due caution is, therefore, advised.
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