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Have you ever walked out of the optometrist's office with a new prescription for glasses and contacts, only to be utterly amazed at what you can actually and suddenly see? You notice all the details you never noticed before, the colors, the textures, even how sharp and in focus everything is.

It is admittedly a neat surprise. But did you know that there are nutritional supplements that specifically support wonderful healthy eyes and possibly prevent debilitating diseases of the eye, such as macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma. There are nutrients that can stop or relieve some of these more common vision problems that we can experience, especially as we age.

The eye is a delicate organ and the components that it contains, such as the lens, retina and macula are prone to free-radical attack. They can be protected with the super-powerful antioxidants like Vitamin C and Vitamin E. If you have a history of cataracts, macular diseases, glaucoma, or other age-related eye problems in your family, you should definitely read on as we give a run-down on the specific vitamin and mineral supplements that could aid in preserving your ever-so-precious eyesight. And if you smoke, have poor nutrition generally, or your eyes are not adequately protected from extensive exposure to sunlight, that goes double.

We will start with the powerhouse antioxidants.

Besides doing so many extremely positive things for your body, Vitamin C will gobble up the free radicals as they attempt to attack the sensitive parts of your eyes. The lucky people who have not had trouble with cataracts are simply 60% more likely to have sufficient levels in their systems compared to the unlucky ones with cataract problems. It's the anti-oxidant powers at work. This clouding of the lens that can lead to blindness is something you can protect yourself against. Since our levels of Vitamin C decline as we age, bless your healthy eyes with a supplement of Vitamin C. How about just an extra 250 mg per day?

Several vitamins work in combination with each other to protect your eyes, especially the lens. Another awesome supplement to consider is Vitamin A, which can also be known as Retinol, and can really benefit your night vision. It is involved in forming and maintaining the skin cells that make up your eyes, as well as your mouth, nose, throat, lungs, digestive and urinary tract. The extremely delicate blood vessels in your eyes can be easily damaged by free radicals. An adequate supply of Vitamin E can help prevent this damage, and protect your lens as well. If you have low levels of Vitamin E, you are simply more likely to develop eye problems, such as cataracts. It is a no-brainer to easily cut your risk in half by supplementing with extra Vitamin E. Who needs cataracts?

Your eyes have a natural supply of zinc in them, and most of it is centered in the retina. Well guess where the eye disease macular degeneration is centered ' the retina! So it follows that if you do not have enough zinc in your system, serious eye problems, or blindness can happen. Zinc supplements have been shown to reduce or prevent the vision loss of macular degeneration.

Luteine is another front-line defender of healthy eyes, and is well-known for its benefits to preserve vision, and especially important if your eyes are exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun repeatedly or for long periods of time. It is an anti-oxidant as well, and is another protector of the sensitive cells of the macula, which is the part of the eye responsible for good sharp vision. You may want to consider supplementing with luteine.

And, finally, let's not forget bilberry. You may never have heard of this Scandinavian plant that is very similar to blueberries and very high in healthful flavenoids. Supplementing with bilberry could be your best hedge against night blindness. If you really can't see well in dim light, or your eyes suffer from glare, you need to give this a try. It could make a big difference.

More than 25 million people live with vision problems, vision loss and blindness. Treatments can be expensive, risky or not effective at all. Good healthy vision is one of the most priceless gifts you have, so bless your vision all you can by educating yourself on the vitamins and minerals that can relieve, slow down or even prevent serious eye diseases and vision loss. To maintain and promote your own healthy vision is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.