Supplements: How lutein and zeaxanthin could help improve eyesight
The health of our eyes is under constant threat year round as a myriad of factors attack them. Taking supplements could be one way to help protect your eyes.
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To that end, some suggest that taking supplements that increase levels of vitamins associated with good eye health may help benefit the eyes overall.
Marko Obradovic of Pure Optical suggested that taking lutein and zeaxanthin supplements could help improve overall eye health.
Mr Obradovic explained further: “Zeaxanthin is the predominant nutrient in the retina's centre, while lutein is more evenly distributed throughout the eye.”
Furthermore, Mr Obradovic said: “Some research suggests that lutein and zeaxanthin may help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which can lead to blindness. Other studies have found that these nutrients may help improve vision in people with cataracts.”
How do I get lutein and zeaxanthin into my diet?
As well as taking supplements, it is also possible to increase levels of these vitamins through more natural means.
Mr Obradovic explained: “These nutrients are found in green leafy vegetables and eggs, and they're believed to help protect the eyes from damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) light.
“While there's no guarantee that taking lutein and zeaxanthin supplements will improve your eyesight, there's little risk involved in taking these nutrients in supplement form.
“If you're looking for a way to improve your eyesight, lutein and zeaxanthin may be worth a try.”
The overall goal of taking these supplements is to improve or support the health of the eye and reduce the risk of developing conditions such as AMD, also known as age-related macular degeneration.
AMD is a common condition which traditionally affects the middle part of your vision and often affects people in their 50s and 60s rather than younger age groups.
Signs of AMD include:
• Blurred or distorted vision
• Seeing straight lines as wavy or crooked
• Objects looking smaller than normal
• Colours seeming less bright than they used to
• Seeing things that are not there.
While unnerving, AMD is not a painful condition and does not impact the appearance of the eyes.
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Furthermore, AMD can be treated through several means. However, this depends on the type of AMD someone has, whether it is wet or dry.
If it’s Dry AMD, there’s no treatment, but it is possible to obtain aids to help with vision and reduce the impact of it on someone’s quality of life.
The story is different with Wet AMD. In this case it is possible to get treated with either eye injections or light treatment.
Eye injections are exactly as one might suggest them to be, injections of drugs such as ranibizumab, aflibercept, or brolucizumab into the eye.
Light treatment is also an option, this involves shining a light into the back of the eyes to destroy the abnormal blood vessels that cause the condition.
How do I reduce my risk?
The NHS says: “AMD is often linked to an unhealthy lifestyle.” As a result it recommends sticking to healthy lifestyle habits such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, losing weight, and stopping smoking.
Supplements may also be used in order to aid these processes.
Yet, while they may help, supplements should not replace a balanced diet.