Doctor, what vitamins should I take for my eyes?

T oday, more than ever, ophthalmologists are being asked to answer patients’ questions about vitamin supplements and nutrition. The importance of diet and eye health is not new. The need to obtain adequate vitamin A to prevent xerophthalmia and nightblindness, particularly where malnutrition is rampant, has been known for decades (reviewed by Underwood and Arthur). More recently, interest has been directed at whether nutritional supplements might prevent loss of vision caused by degenerative conditions that become more common as we age, such as cataract and macular degeneration.