Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin A
For the health condition: Eyes (red or itching)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 4

Vitamin A is scientifically validated for its crucial role in eye health, particularly in the maintenance of the cornea and the conjunctival membranes. Deficiency of vitamin A is a well-established cause of ocular symptoms such as xerophthalmia (dry eyes), night blindness, and in severe cases, Bitot's spots and corneal ulceration, which can result in blindness. Its role in the synthesis of rhodopsin, a visual pigment required for low-light vision, is critical. Supplementation with vitamin A has been shown to reverse these deficiency symptoms, particularly in populations at risk for malnutrition.

Regarding red or itching eyes, vitamin A’s main benefit lies in maintaining the integrity and function of the epithelial tissues of the eye. Deficiency can lead to dryness and irritation, sometimes presenting as redness or itching. While vitamin A supplementation is not a direct treatment for all causes of red or itching eyes (such as allergies or infections), it is highly effective for these symptoms when they are due to deficiency. The World Health Organization and numerous clinical guidelines recommend vitamin A supplementation in populations with high rates of deficiency to prevent and treat these ocular symptoms.

However, in individuals with normal dietary intake and no deficiency, there is little evidence that additional vitamin A will prevent or relieve red or itching eyes from non-deficiency causes. Over-supplementation can also be toxic. Therefore, its use is most justified in deficiency-related cases, with strong scientific backing for its efficacy in those scenarios.

More about vitamin A
More about Eyes (red or itching)