Vitreous degeneration refers to the degradation of the posterior part of the eye. One of the symptoms of this can be the increasing number of ocular floaters seen by the observer, in addition to eye discomfort or pain. The vitreous gel at the posterior of the eye can degrade as a result of age and other factors and part of the process is believed to involve the degeneration of the cartilage that is fundamental to the integrity of the vitreous layer. Oxidative stress and cellular changes including increased production of proteolytic enzymes may be fundamental to triggering or facilitating the development of severe degradation. Some studies have assessed the effects of nutrition on the presence of floaters in the eye, as this is one of the key symptoms and a good measure of vitreous degeneration. One study administered 125 mg L-lysine, 40 mg vitamin C, 26.3 mg Vitis vinifera extract, 5 mg zinc, and 100 mg Citrus aurantium or placebo for 6 months, to subjects that were experiencing vitreous degeneration. The results of the study showed that the supplemental programme was significantly able to reduce the discomfort in the eyes and the amount of floaters experienced by the subjects, compared to the placebo. The study authors also reported that other parameters in the eye, such as photopic functional contrast sensitivity with positive contrast polarity, improved following supplementation.
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