Blurry vision is usually associated with refractive errors, screen strain, or ageing. However, eye specialists say that in a few cases, hazy or fluctuating eyesight may signal something deeper, a deficiency of a vitamin that affects eye health. “Essential vitamins have a major say in keeping up the eye's structure and function, especially the retina, cornea, and optic nerve. When the levels are below the normal ranges, various symptoms of visual disturbances may start showing in the eye; these may appear either gradually or suddenly,” said Dr Madhavi Jeste, Consultant – Ophthalmology, S.L. Raheja Hospital.

The most well-known nutritional cause of vision issues is the lack of vitamin A in your body. Being an essential nutrient, vitamin helps in the production of rhodopsin - a pigment in the retina that allows us to see in low light. But when the vitamin A levels are low, you may get symptoms like:

Vitamins help strengthen your nerve health

Low vitamin B12 levels are also dangerous for your nerve health, which includes the optic nerve. Since B12 is vital for oxygen delivery and nerve protection, deficiency results in:

Even though the deficiency of vitamin D does not directly lead to refractive blur, it is linked to dry eye syndrome and ocular surface inflammation. Low vitamin D levels cause:

Even though it is rare, vitamin E deficiency contributes to retinal cell damage by increasing oxidative stress. Over time, this can lead to retinal degeneration, resulting in blurred or distorted vision.

“It is pointed out that nutrition-related vision problems are seldom accompanied by one symptom only. In addition to the ones mentioned above, there is eye dryness, a burning feeling, sensitivity to light, headaches, or difficulty concentrating. A comprehensive eye check-up along with blood screening can establish if the primary reason is nutritional, neurological, or optical,” said Dr Jeste.

Individuals at higher risk of vitamin deficiency–related vision problems include:

To improve your eye health, you need to indulge regularly in a balanced diet. Key nutrient sources include:

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