As I have entered my into my forties I have noticed that my night vision is not as sharp as it used to be. Are there any supplements that I can take that might help me with my decreased vision at night?
There are several natural nutritional supplements that have been shown to help accelerate your ability to dark adaptation and optimize healthy night vision. Read below:
Vitamin A: Vitamin A (including its carrot-sourced carotenoid form beta carotene) is likely the most well-known nutrient for promoting night vision. Night blindness is an early warning sign of vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A is also important because it is an essential component of rhodopsin, the photopigment that enables night vision in rod cells.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin: These carotenoid compounds promote sharper vision at night, optimize contrast acuity in dim light and improve vision in low-light conditions. As protective antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin also defend photoreceptors. One study found that lutein blocked 40% of damaging UV light frequencies from reaching night-vision rod cells.
Cyanidin-3-glucoside (CG3): A natural flavonoid found in berries, CG3 has been found to accelerate rhodopsin turnover — promoting faster dark adaptation while optimizing overall night vision.
Bilberry: Supplying anthocyanin antioxidants, bilberry was consumed by British fighter pilots during WWII to improve night vision and enhance dark adaptation. Bilberry’s antioxidants also protect the retina’s photoreceptors, helping to maintain healthy rod cells.
Black Currant Anthocyanoside (BCA): Research has suggested that BCA concentrate appears to promote a significant improvement in dark adaptation along with accelerated recovery of peak visual acuity.
While taking supplements is helpful, obviously you should should also try to get as much as you can in your diet like eating leafy green vegetables such as kale and other sources of food where you are giving your eyes and your body the most natural form of each nutrient. So…eat your carrots!
