Dietary supplement use for eye health in adults: knowledge, motivations, and consumption patterns in a nationwide sample of adults in Poland, 2026.

Introduction: Vision is a key human sense affecting both social and occupational activities. Evidence on the role of nutrients and micronutrients in eye health remains inconsistent. This study aimed to assess self-reported knowledge of diet and eye health and to characterize the use of dietary supplements for vision support among adults in Poland. Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted between 13 and 17 March 2026 on a nationwide sample of 1,090 adults in Poland. Self-reported questionnaire was used. Data were collected using Computer-Assisted Web Interviews (CAWI). Results: Most respondents reported low or moderate self-reported knowledge of the impact of diet and lifestyle on eye health, with only 10.2% declaring good knowledge. Among the respondents, 27.9% declared use dietary supplements for eye health. Among users, supplementation was mainly driven by preventive decisions (38.8%) and medical recommendations (28.0%), with antioxidant vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids being the most commonly used ingredients. Female gender (aOR = 1.51; 95%CI:1.01-2.27) and residence in both small (<20,000) and large (≥500,000) cities (aOR = 2.76 and 3.01, respectively) were associated with higher odds of reporting good knowledge. Active occupational status (aOR:1.91; 95%CI:1.33-2.75; Conclusion: This study shows that dietary supplement use for eye health is relatively common among adults in Poland despite low self-reported knowledge on diet and vision. Supplement use was more frequent among individuals with eye conditions, those wearing corrective lenses, and occupationally active participants, and was not fully aligned with self-reported knowledge. These findings highlight the need for improved public education and stronger involvement of healthcare professionals in promoting evidence-based supplement use.