Individuals who already consume healthy amounts of fruits, multicolored vegetables, leafy greens and dietary supplements may be excited to learn that a special kind of vitamin A appears to slow the onset of macular degeneration (MD).

Among Americans over the age of 60, MD is the primary cause of vision loss, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI). The condition occurs when the cells or blood vessels at the center of the retina begin to break down, which leads to increasingly blurry vision.

Experts have known for years that vitamin A affects the severity of MD. For instance, the NEI found that high doses of the nutrient – 25,000 international units – combined with large amounts of zinc and cupric oxide, prevented the onset of MD in aging patients.

Also, a new study conducted at the Columbia University Medical Center found that a special form of vitamin A, which contains an isotope of hydrogen called deuterium, may clump up less in the eye’s small blood vessels. This effect could lead to better natural treatments for MD.

Taking a daily herbal supplement may put adequate levels of vitamin A toward good eye health.