Why Vitamin D could improve eyesight in older people
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The researchers, from University College London's Opthalmology Department, said the discovery could lead to ways of treating people with conditions such as age-related macular degeneration.
The researchers carried out an experiment where one-year-old mice were injected with an oil containing the vitamin for six weeks, while another group received injections which just contained the oil.
The mice given vitamin D showed improvement when tests were carried out to measure their vision.
Levels of debris which collect in blood vessels in the eye due to ageing were also found to have decreased.
Professor Glen Jeffrey, who led the research, said: "In humans this can result in a decline of up to 30% in the numbers of light receptive cells in the eye by the time we are 70 and so lead to poorer vision."
He added: "Government agencies should start paying a little bit of attention to this. Vitamin D supplements could save money and improve public health."
"Finding amyloid deposits were reduced suggests vitamin D could be useful in preventing a range of age-related health problems, from deteriorating vision to heart disease."
"Researchers need to run full clinical trials in humans before we can say confidently that older people should start taking vitamin D supplements."
Do you think eyesight could be improved by taking vitamins or is poor vision a natural part of getting older? Let us know below...
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