Can Vitamins and Minerals Restore the Eyes’ Vitreous Fluid?

Vitreous humor isn’t the name of a niche comedy genre, as it might sound. In medical terms, “humor” means bodily fluid, and this kind fills the vitreous cavity in between your eye’s lens and retina, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This gel-like substance helps your eye maintain shape, protects your lens and retina, and provides nutrients to the eye.

As you age, the vitreous gel develops pockets of liquid, and the volume of gel decreases over time as the amount of liquid increases, according to research. This can lead to a process called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), in which the vitreous separates from the retina over time. PVD can result in floaters, which are scattered clumps of collagen that look like dark spots, cobwebs, or strings that temporarily pass through your vision, according to the Mayo Clinic. The PVD process can lead to complications that cause partial or full vision loss. The Cleveland Clinic notes that about two-thirds of people ages 66 to 86 will develop PVD. Natural treatments cannot restore this fluid, but certain nutrients, like antioxidants, may help prevent the breakdown of the components in the vitreous, according to research.

Oxidative Stress Can Degrade Vitreous Fluid

Breakdown of the vitreous fluid may result in part from oxidative stress, according to research. Oxidative stress occurs when there aren’t enough antioxidants in the body to prevent an excess of unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals from damaging cells, the Cleveland Clinic notes.

Free radicals can form during the body’s metabolic processes, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reports. They can also form if you eat a poor diet, or after exposure to radiation, cigarette smoke, air pollution, and chemicals. You can limit your exposure to environmental factors to reduce your risk of oxidative stress. To help prevent free radicals formed from body processes, you can consume healthful foods that contain antioxidants, nutrients that can help reduce oxidative stress.

Antioxidants Can Protect Your Eyes

Many nutrients have antioxidant qualities, and these nutrients might help reduce your risk of floaters and other damage to the vitreous fluid, as they’re known to support overall eye health, Johns Hopkins Medicine notes. Some of these beneficial nutrients include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, selenium, and zeaxanthin.

Increase Your Antioxidant Intake

Your doctor or registered dietitian may recommend that you increase your antioxidant intake, preferably by eating whole foods that contain them, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Antioxidant-rich foods that support eye health include green, leafy vegetables, which contain lutein and zeaxanthin, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmologists. Eat strawberries, oranges, and red peppers for their vitamin C content. For vitamin E, add sunflower seeds, almonds, and avocados to your diet to support eye health more generally.

If you need help figuring out how to incorporate more antioxidant-rich foods into your diet, seeing a registered dietitian can be helpful. They’ll work with you — and consider any health issues that may complicate your choices — to come up with realistic ways to improve your diet.

Considerations

Many people experience a few floaters in their vision as they age, but if you have them, you should let your eye doctor know, Nebraska Medicine advises. Stay on top of regular eye exams, and let your doctor know if new floaters appear. A sudden onset of many new floaters, flashes of light across your field of vision, or a loss in peripheral vision could all indicate PVD or a retinal issue, such as a tear or detachment. These require immediate attention, as they can cause permanent vision changes. Experts say that there is no way to restore or increase the amount of vitreous fluid. You can, however, support eye health more generally as you age.

If you plan to increase your antioxidant intake, talk to your doctor first. Some foods and nutrients may interfere with certain medications, notes the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Supplements can be beneficial for people who have dietary restrictions or a lack of access to certain foods, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. But before taking any, you’ll need to discuss proper dosages with your healthcare provider, as many antioxidants are toxic in excess. Some can increase the risk of cancer, and others can interfere with the absorption of medication, according to the University of Wisconsin in Madison.