Seeing Clearly at 50: How NMN and Resveratrol Changed My Eyesight
About a year ago, I found myself in a frustrating place. At 50, my vision had deteriorated to the point where I couldn’t read menus or see the text on my phone without glasses. I started wearing them reluctantly, assuming it was just another symptom of aging I had to accept.
But I wasn’t ready to give in.
Around that time, I began a broader fitness campaign—an overhaul of how I treated my body and health. Part of that journey led me to NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide). After reading up on its potential benefits, I went all in: I bought a kilo of NMN and started taking about a gram daily.
Six months later, I realized something remarkable: my vision had improved significantly. I no longer needed glasses for daily tasks. I could read fine print again. At 50 years old, this felt nothing short of miraculous.
Naturally, I wanted to understand what was happening. That’s when I dove into the research.
I can’t claim NMN and Resveratrol are miracle cures for everyone. But I can say this: they changed my life.
I went from squinting at screens and depending on glasses to living with clear vision and renewed vitality. That’s not just science—that’s my story.
Author: Mark H
Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation has shown promising results in improving various aspects of eye health, including vision and protection against retinal degeneration, primarily in animal studies and some cell-based experiments.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+9
Key Studies in Mice and Cells
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NMN Protects Retinal Cells: In mouse models of retinal detachment (RD), NMN administration significantly reduced photoreceptor cell death, decreased inflammatory cell infiltration, normalized oxidative stress markers, and preserved overall retinal structure. Dosages of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg in mice led to reductions in cell death by 52.7% and 71.0%, respectively.aging-us+4
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Vision Restoration After NAD+ Depletion: When NAD+ biosynthesis was disrupted in mice causing severe vision loss and retinal degeneration, NMN treatment restored NAD+ levels, rescued retinal tissue, and restored vision.nmn+2
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Prevention of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD): In a mouse model of AMD, NMN reversed cellular senescence in immune cells (macrophages), alleviated DNA damage and oxidative stress, and restored eye function.nmn+1
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Retinal Protection from Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: NMN protected against retinal dysfunction in a mouse model of retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury when injected prior to or immediately after the injury.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih
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Cell-Based Studies: NMN reversed damage and senescence in human retinal cells exposed to oxidative stressors and improved cell viability, migration, and restored cellular structures in corneal and retina-related cell cultures.sciencedirect+1
Mechanisms of Action
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Boosts NAD+: NMN is a precursor to NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a molecule vital for energy metabolism and cellular repair in retinal cells.vision-and-eye-health+3
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Reduces Oxidative Stress: NMN increases antioxidant response, especially through upregulation of Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1), combating oxidative stress and inflammation.rescence+1
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Decreases Cellular Senescence: NMN appears to revive aged or dysfunctional immune and retinal cells by replenishing their NAD+ levels.nad+1
Evidence Summary Table
| Study Model | NMN Benefit | Mechanism(s) Involved | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mice (Retinal Detachment) | ↓ Photoreceptor death, ↑ structure | ↑ NAD+, ↑ HO-1, ↓ inflammation | pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+1 |
| Mice (NAD+ Deficiency) | Restored vision, rescued retina | ↑ NAD+ | nmn+2 |
| Mice (AMD Model) | Restored eye function, ↓ senescence | Reversed immune cell aging | nmn+1 |
| Human/Mice Retina Cells | ↓ DNA damage, ↑ cell viability | ↑ antioxidant, ↓ cell death | nmn+1 |
| Mice (Retinal Injury) | Prevented retinal dysfunction | Unknown | pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih |
Notes and Limitations
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Most studies were done in mice or cell cultures, not in humans with clinical vision loss.sciencedirect+6
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Human data is sparse, though there is evidence from nicotinamide (vitamin B3) supplementation, closely related to NMN, showing improved retinal function in glaucoma patients.vision-and-eye-health
In summary, NMN shows considerable promise for retinal health and vision protection through animal studies, with mechanisms including NAD+ boosting, oxidative stress reduction, and cellular rejuvenation. Human evidence is emerging but remains preliminary.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih+2
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