Eyes require good nutrition to keep them healthy and maintain their full vision throughout your life. Risk of Macular degeneration and cataracts can be avoided by two vital nutrients essential for eyes. They have names that you might not know i.e. lutein and zeaxanthin.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are the types of carotenoids. They are yellow to red pigments found in vegetables and other plants. Lutein is a yellow pigment, and appears to be orange-red, when in high concentrations.

Lutein and zeaxanthin absorb the excess sunlight and maintain the eye vitamins balance. Lutein and zeaxanthin have significant antioxidant functions in human body.

Besides the other natural antioxidants, counting vitamin C, beta-carotene and vitamin E, also protect our body from the damages caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. These free radicals may destroy important cells of the body and cause many diseases. Lutein helps the body to fight against atherosclerosis, a disease which may lead to heart attack.

Benefits of lutein and zeaxanthin

Various studies found that lutein and zeaxanthin either prevent macular degeneration or help in slowing down the development of diseases.

• Studies published in Nutrition and Metabolism demonstrated that the optical density of the macular pigment in eyes is increased by the nutritional supplements holding meso-zeaxanthin, zeaxanthin and lutein. The macular pigment defends the progression of AMD.
• Research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, Ophthalmology, and Archives of Ophthalmology found that higher the level of lutein and zeaxanthin in the diet, lower will be the incidence of AMD.
• Two researches published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science state that more the level of macular pigment, lower will be the chances of AMD.
• In the studies in Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, it is proved that lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin filter short-wavelength light and stop or decrease the generation of free radicals in the retinal pigments. They also proposed that a mixture of these carotenoids is more effective than individual carotenoids at the same concentration. Mixing these carotenoids makes them more effective than any individual carotenoid of the same concentration.
• In a research paper in Journal Optometry, people with early AMD took dietary zeaxanthin of 8 mg per day for a year enhanced their night driving and visual acuity by an average of 1.5 lines on an eye chart.

Lutein and zeaxanthin supplements

Various nutritional companies have added these carotenoids to their multiple vitamin formulas after witnessing its benefits. Others have introduced the lutein and zeaxanthin supplements. Experts suggest that 6 mg of lutein per days is beneficial. There aren’t any side effects of taking excess lutein and zeaxanthin.

Most of the lutein and zeaxanthin supplements contain:

• EyePromise Zeaxanthin (Zeavision)
• MacularProtect Complete (ScienceBased Health)
• MacuHealth with LMZ3 (MacuHealth LLC)
• Macula Complete (Biosyntrx)
• OcuGuard Plus (TwinLab)
• MaxiVision Ocular Formula (MedOp)
• ICaps eye vitamins Lutein & Zeaxanthin Formula (Alcon)
• Ocuvite (Bausch + Lomb)

Most of the lutein supplement manufacturers extract lutein from marigold flowers and zeaxanthin from red peppers. Both these vital nutrients are completely natural and they keep the eye health sustained.  Consult with your eye doctor before taking any vision enhancing supplement.