Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin A
For the health condition: Eyesight (poor)

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Synopsis

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

Vitamin A is scientifically validated as essential for maintaining healthy eyesight, particularly in the prevention and treatment of poor night vision and certain eye disorders. Its critical role in vision is due to its involvement in the synthesis of rhodopsin, a light-sensitive pigment found in the retina’s rod cells, necessary for vision in low-light conditions. Deficiency in vitamin A is a well-known cause of night blindness (nyctalopia) and, if left untreated, can progress to more severe eye conditions such as xerophthalmia and even irreversible blindness.

The connection between vitamin A and eye health has been extensively studied and documented. The World Health Organization recognizes vitamin A supplementation as a key intervention to prevent blindness in populations at risk of deficiency, particularly children in developing countries. Numerous clinical studies and public health initiatives have demonstrated that correcting vitamin A deficiency dramatically reduces the incidence of night blindness and other ocular complications.

While vitamin A supplementation is crucial for those with deficiency, it does not improve eyesight in individuals who already have adequate vitamin A levels or treat refractive errors like myopia or hyperopia. However, the scientific consensus confirms that adequate intake of vitamin A, either through diet or supplementation, is vital for maintaining normal vision and preventing deficiency-related visual impairment.

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