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

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that has been investigated for its potential to support eye health, particularly in the context of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of poor eyesight in older adults. The scientific evidence for its use is primarily based on large, well-conducted studies such as the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and AREDS2, which evaluated the effects of antioxidant supplementation (including vitamin E) on the progression of AMD. These studies found that a specific combination of antioxidants—vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene (later replaced with lutein and zeaxanthin), zinc, and copper—could slow the progression of moderate to advanced AMD in high-risk individuals. However, vitamin E alone has not been shown to prevent the onset of AMD or to improve general poor eyesight. Furthermore, there is limited evidence supporting the use of vitamin E for other eye conditions, such as cataracts, and results have been mixed.

Overall, vitamin E is included in eye health formulations based on its antioxidant properties and its role in the AREDS formula, but its benefit as a standalone treatment for poor eyesight is not strongly supported by scientific evidence. Its primary use is as part of a broader antioxidant strategy for slowing specific types of age-related vision loss rather than for treating poor eyesight in general.

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