Since after attending the previous eye talk, I got to know the various types of eyes diseases and the seriousness of them. (You can read about it in my previous POST). At the end of that talk where there was a Q&A session, many attendees enquired on their eye problems. It is then that I realised that there are so many people out there who are actually suffering from eye diseases. These are affecting their vision which also affect their daily life. From the questions raised, I deduced that most of them suffer from serious eye problems because they do not know the ways to protect their eyes. Dr. Zena Lim did recommend that everyone should maintain a healthy lifestyle and the supplements that we can consume for our eyes includes Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Omega. Consuming Lutein is a very good way to protect and treat our eyes. And here’s some information about it.
So, what is Lutein?
Lutein is a pigment ranging from yellow to orange; this carotenoid is present in the eyes and skin, and cannot be produced by our body. It is found in dark green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach. Due to its strong antioxidant capacity, excessive oxidation of lipids which is harmful to the retina can be prevented. Also, another benefit of lutein is that it has the effect of absorbing blue light (which can cause retinal damage).
Many research papers and eye specialists suggest that lutein and zeaxanthin carotenoids may save our sight by acting “as a shield or filter that helps to absorb harmful UVB light and dangerous free-radical molecules, both of which threaten the retinal tissue.”
To be more specific, Lutein is highly concentrated in the macula – a small area of the retina that is responsible for central vision and has high visual acuity. Lutein filters blue wavelengths of light from the visible-light spectrum. Blue light, in both indoor lighting and sunlight, is believed to induce oxidative stress and possible free-radical damage in human organs exposed to light such as the eyes.
NIH study provides clarity on supplements for protection against blinding eye disease, AMD, Ageing Macular Degeneration. Research link: https://nei.nih.gov/news/pressreleases/050513
Now… Have you ever experience any blur vision? I had experience it after sitting in front of the computer and staring at my phone for long hours. It is unavoidable to use computer or smartphone for long hours due to work and current lifestyle. However, this is also the reason why you and I need to eat more lutein-rich foods. Let’s protect our eyes before we start to lose our vision!
