Posts tagged with focus select

The groundbreaking Age-Related Eye Disease Studies 1 and 2 (AREDS and AREDS2) revealed the potential of nutritional supplements in reducing the risk of AMD progression. The AREDS2 formula, which substitutes beta-carotene with lutein and zeaxanthin, has become the gold standard in AMD management. However, recent research has raised concerns about the quality and compliance of many supplements bearing the "AREDS" or "AREDS2" labels. A study published in Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology investigated the composition of supplements labeled as "AREDS" or "AREDS2" available in the online marketplace. Shockingly, the results unveiled a significant number of these products to be non-compliant with the AREDS2 clinical trials formula, which could pose risks to consumers relying on these supplements for their eye health.

Key Findings Out of the surveyed products, a staggering 30.8% did not adhere to the AREDS2 formula. The deviations from the recommended formula varied, with 14.2% missing at least one ingredient, 13.3% containing less of at least one ingredient, 17.5% containing more of at least one ingredient, and 15.8% including at least one extra ingredient not part of the AREDS formula. Surprisingly, a small fraction (5.8%) even adhered to the outdated AREDS1 formula, despite AREDS2 being the preferred and recommended choice. The Implications of Non-Compliance The misbranding of supplements is a matter of concern and may violate federal law, as per the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. Consumers unknowingly ingesting non-compliant products might not receive the desired benefits, potentially jeopardizing their eye health and leading to inaccurate dosing. It is essential for clinicians and patients alike to be cautious when selecting supplements and to choose only those adhering to the verified AREDS2 formula. Ensuring Quality and Reliability To safeguard their eye health, individuals must be vigilant when choosing AREDS2 supplements. Look for reputable brands that are transparent about their ingredients and dosages, and avoid products that use misleading terms such as "AREDS2-based" without adhering to the official formula. To assist consumers in making informed decisions, the study highlights some AREDS2-adherent brands, including:

Focus Select AREDS2 Based Formula Eye Vitamin & Mineral SupplementBausch + Lomb PreserVision® AREDS2 FormulaOJOSLABS Maculabs® AREDS2 Based FormulaVITEYES AREDS 2 Based Formula Macular SupportNature Made Vision with AREDS 2 FormulaSystane I-Caps® Eye Vitamin & Mineral Supplement AREDS2Visual Advantage Macular SupportTo read the original article, click here.

February is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month, and we'd like to share some important information about AMD with you. Read on to learn about the different types of AMD, the risk factors, and what you can do to protect your vision. What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)? Age-Related Macular Degeneration is a chronic and progressive eye disease that affects the macula, which is where your vision is sharpest. The macula is responsible for central vision, which allows seeing fine details clearly and therefore being able to perform daily activities such as reading and driving. As the macula degenerates, it can result in blurring, darkening, or distortion of one's central vision. AMD has become a leading cause of blindness in adults and primarily affects older individuals. There are two different types of AMD: dry and wet. Each type affects the eyes differently. Contributing Factors to AMD There are several risk factors that can contribute to developing age-related macular degeneration, including: Age - being 50 and olderFamily history of macular degenerationSmokingGenderRaceDiet - eating a diet high in saturated fatHigh blood pressure or hypertensionSun exposureDry AMD Most people who have macular degeneration have Dry AMD. Dry AMD is a slow deterioration of the cells in the macula over the years. These cells die off and are not able to be renewed. It can start in one eye before developing in the other, or in some cases, it may develop in both eyes at the same time. Vision loss is typically central, and people retain their peripheral vision. Some people have only mild central vision loss. In others, it can be more severe.  Dry AMD is characterized by tiny yellow deposits that form under the retina called drusen. Drusen can be detected using advanced imaging technology by your eye physician, which is why it's important to get your eyes checked every year.  Unfortunately, there is currently no medical treatment for dry AMD. However, a large scientific study performed by the National Eye Institute has shown that the antioxidant vitamins and zinc contained in Focus MaculaPro® supported eye health. Wet AMD Wet age-related macular degeneration develops when abnormal blood vessels grow into the macula leaking blood or fluid, which leads to scarring and rapid loss of central vision. Wet AMD symptoms usually appear suddenly and worsen at a fast pace. These symptoms may include the following: Visual distortionA blurred/blind spot in the center of your visionRequiring more light for readingDifficulty seeing in low lightColors not seeming as brightOverall vision is hazyApproximately 10% of people who have macular degeneration have the wet type. Though this type is less common, it usually leads to more severe vision loss than dry AMD. Wet AMD Treatments There are three medications used to treat wet macular degeneration: Avastin (bevacizumab), Lucentis (ranibizumab), and EYLEA (Afibercept). Each of these drugs targets a chemical in the eye known as vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF. Blocking VEGF reduces the growth of abnormal blood vessels associated with wet macular degeneration, slows their fluid leakage, helps to slow vision loss, and in some patients improves vision. Click here to learn more about anti-VEGF treatments directly from the American Academy of Ophthalmology®. Your retina specialist injects these medications directly into your eye in an outpatient procedure. Before the procedure, your retina specialist will clean your eye with Betadine to prevent infection and will use an anesthetic to numb your eye. You may need several injections over the course of many months to stop the disease. Long-term anti-VEGF treatment is often needed for sustained benefit. What you can expect after an ocular injection: Burning Sensation (from betadine, if this persists try using ocular lubricants as directed by your doctor)Blood on the white part of your eye (sclera) that may last several daysIrritation of the injected eye (again, from the betadine)Watering of the injected eyeLight sensitivityFloaters or bubbles at the bottom of your vision

Focus Vitamins has formulated Focus PI (Post-Injection) eye drops to provide relief from irritation associated with eye injections. As the first product of its kind, Focus PI helps soothe any eye discomfort you might experience after receiving ocular injections. Because of its highly viscous Hypromellose formula, Focus PI can be beneficial in both the management of post-injection eye irritation and the management of dry eyes.

AMD is not preventable. However, there are things you can do to help lessen its impact on your ocular health. Your macula contains an important protective substance known as macula pigment (MP). Your MP is composed of Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Meso-Zeaxanthin. The first two are obtained from diet and found in corn, squash, broccoli, and leafy green veggies like spinach and kale. These nutrients can also be consumed in an ocular supplement, like Focus Select®.

Focus Vision Supplements announces a new partnership with Macular Degeneration Association. One of the principal missions of the Macular Degeneration Association is to provide education that empowers patients and their caregivers to live fuller and more comfortable lives with their vision diseases and challenges. You can learn more about their events by visiting https://macularhope.org/events.  Focus Vision Supplements is proud to be the only AREDS2 based supplement endorsed by the Macular Degeneration Association.

MDA also provides the opportunity to physicians to become leaders in the AMD community by earning the distinction, "Center of Excellence." Practices can learn more about this distinction by visiting https://macularhope.org/center.

The following is a recent profile in RetinaLink. The article was written by Nicole Sheeler and can be viewed here.

The first Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) was presented in 2001 to the retina community at the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The well discussed and debated AREDS study was conducted by the National Eye Institute (NEI). The ongoing discussion is whether or not patients should take a multivitamin when there are early signs of wet or dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). RetinaLink contacted Dr. Gaurav K. Shah at The Retina Institute in St. Louis, MO to inquire about how he educates his patients on vitamins during their retina exam in his office.

RetinaLink (RL): Please explain the ongoing controversy with vitamin supplements for eye related disease and outline your conversation with your patients. Gaurav K. Shah (GKS): The controversy surrounding genetics and vitamin supplements continues to be discussed at meetings. My associates and I rely on the NEI studies as our guideline on vitamin supplements. The NEI AREDS studies are time tested and there are other studies that have different conclusions.  Currently, I am making my decision on the AREDS study and the recommendations of the AAO. Now as more data is analyzed, that might change, and we may do something totally different. In my opinion, that’s the best information we have in the retina community and I make my recommendations based on the NEI’s data. The data is the data. There is a healthcare delivery obligation to have a conversation with your patients about macular degeneration, the benefits of an AREDS supplement, the reason to stop smoking, and the importance of leafy green vegetables. The information you provide should be in context. All patients in your waiting area have a smartphone and can google WebMD to find out more about vitamin supplements and AMD. On average, I spend 1 to 2 minutes outlining supplements, provide a brochure and let the patient know they have options.

RL: Why do you recommend vitamins to your patients with AMD? GKS: Patients want to do “something”, so they get some health benefit. Patients in their 50’s and 60’s are healthcare addicts. I can select patients that will benefit from AREDS2 supplements. The reality is patients with macular scars don’t need supplements; however, a patient with large soft drusen and pigmentary changes should take an AREDS formulated supplement. Patients want empowerment regarding their health. The conversation I have with my patients is simple yet, informative. Take an AREDS formulation and stop smoking. They can choose to go to Walgreens, Costco or Wal-Mart an select their vitamins off the shelf or they can take a Focus® Select sample available in my office (chewable or non-chewable) and determine if they like the vitamin pill size and taste. We’ve broken down the daily cost for AREDS2 supplements and its approximately $ 15 to $ 20 per month which equals 3 to 4 cups of coffee. That’s a good return on investment for your eye health. RL: Please outline why your practice prefers Focus Select’s Concierge services. GKS: We have Focus Vision Supplements in our practice for our patients’ convenience. The Focus Select AREDS2 formulation was developed by retina specialists for retina specialists. My patients can receive their vitamins each month through the auto-ship program which offers convenience and they are always available versus running out.

RL: Why is Focus Select’s program easy for your patients? GKS: While counseling my patient, I highlight the patient benefits of taking an AREDS2 supplement. As the patient checks out, my front office staff advises the patient that they have three options. Get your vitamins from a local retailer.Our Retina Institute staff can assist with auto ship registration on Focus Vision Supplement website https://focusvitamins.com to ensure they add the credit card number and patient information correctly since the Internet can be overwhelming.Our staff assists the patient to navigate the Focus Vision Supplement website https://focusvitamins.com to type in their information and credit card number.An important note about Focus Vision Supplement products and the proceeds from these sales. The Retina Institute invests all proceeds in retina education. I continue to be an advocate for Focus Select because it is seamless for my patients; samples, auto ship and AREDS2 formulation developed by retina specialists for retina specialists. We can make a dent on AMD and give the patient something they can do for themselves. At the end of the day, it’s all about empowerment. To learn more about why Dr. Shah prefers Focus Vision Supplements, products and customized programs, e-mail Mike Harrington at [email protected] or for general inquiries, e-mail – [email protected] .

Focus Vision Supplements attended the annual American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting in Chicago this October. We were excited to talk about our new Focus Relief Plus formula - more details are coming soon! 

Focus Vision Supplements attended the American Society of Retinal Specialist meeting in Vancouver in July. We look forward to attending next year's meeting in Chicago! 

Focus Vision Supplements attended the Aspen Retinal Detachment Society meeting in March of 2018. We look forward to attending again next year! 

At Focus Vision Supplements, we are always seeking out new ways to help improve patients’ adherence, satisfaction, and long-term eye health. This is why we’ve created the Focus Select Chewable with those needs in mind. It features the same Focus Select formulation with a great citrus taste. The chewable is ideal for patients with difficulty swallowing or those looking for another option for their AREDS2 supplements.