(Mercola.com) - It's becoming common knowledge that vitamin D is important for far more than bone health.

In the last several years, research has been pouring showing that higher levels of vitamin D are necessary to provide protection from serious chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, infections, multiple sclerosis and, now, researchers have revealed an important role in aging -- particularly eye aging.

When most people think of nutrients and eye health, they immediately think "vitamin A. or beta carotene."

However, new evidence suggests that vitamin D may be more crucial.

New research from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London revealed striking eye benefits from vitamin D3 supplementation in older mice.

Specifically, after receiving the supplement for just six weeks. Improvements included:

-- Improved vision

-- Reductions in retinal inflammation and levels of amyloid beta accumulation, which is a hallmark of aging

-- Significant reductions in retinal macrophage numbers and marked shifts in their morphology (macrophages are immune cells that can cause inflammatory damage)

The findings suggest vitamin D3 may very well help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the most common cause of blindness in the elderly. AMD is associated with both amyloid beta accumulation and inflammation, and vitamin D supplementation appears to benefit both of these conditions.

Researchers concluded:

-- After receiving a vitamin D3 supplement for just 6 weeks, mice had improved vision and reductions in retinal inflammation and levels of amyloid beta accumulation, which is a hallmark of aging

-- The findings suggest vitamin D3 may help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the most common cause of blindness in the elderly

-- Given that vitamin D affects the accumulation of amyloid beta in the eyes, there is reason to believe it may do so in your brain and other areas, potentially impacting diseases like Alzheimer’s and heart disease

-- Safe sun exposure is the best way to optimize your vitamin D levels, but a safe tanning bed, or a vitamin D3 supplement, can also be used

-- Other important nutrients for eye health include astaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, bilberry, black currant and omega-3 fats

As researchers noted, in the Archives of Ophthalmology April 2011, Vol. 129, No. 4 separate research has also implicated vitamin D deficiency in the development of macular degeneration, with those whose vitamin D intake was among the top one-fifth of participants having a 59 percent lower risk of developing AMD compared to women whose intake was among the lowest fifth.