Moms always say to us to eat carrots as they are good for our sight. However, are vitamins useful for our sight? Brett Levinson, an eye surgeon from Baltimore, says there is a misconception on vitamins and minerals in this case. New studies showed that combinations of vitamins and minerals are more effective for eye conditions.

The most common cause of blindness in people over 50 is age-related macular degeneration. According to some studies, some vitamin/mineral formulations can help slow the rate of progression of this disease. Earlier, specialists claimed that combination of beta-carotene (vitamin A), vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and copper was effective against macular degeneration.

However, further studies showed that too much beta-carotene in former or current smokers increases the risk of lung cancer. So, specialists used lutein, an antioxidant, in the place of beta-carotene, as well as the antioxidant zeaxanthin.

Dry eyes are another common condition. It is mainly caused by the age 50, and women over the age of 45 going through menopause have the problem, too.

Symptoms include blurriness when reading and a gritty feeling in the eyes.

Specialists claim omega-3 fatty acid supplements in the form of fish oil can help. They recommend an omega-3 supplement for everybody, whether or not they have a problem with dry eyes. They mention that omega-3 helps the whole body by lowering your risk of high cholesterol, stroke, and arthritis, among other things, and when it comes to the eyes, omega-3 can help improve the tear film quality.

Doctors recommend start with 2,000 mg a day, taking one 1,000 mg pill with lunch and another with dinner. If that doesn’t help after a few months, work your way up to 4,000 mg a day. Take omega-3 supplements with food that has some fat in it, like avocados, chicken, or meat because the body processes omega-3 better if it’s eaten with fat. They say, it's a must.

People should take omega-3 from a fish source, not a plant source. Also opt for one that is just omega-3, not a supplement that has omega 6 or 9.