Posts tagged with lutein

You’ve probably been reminded to get your eyes checked every two years, but have you ever asked yourself why this is so important? Most of the time, people decide to visit an eye doctor when they notice a difference in their vision, and sometimes, it may be too late. Routine eye exams help doctors identify any existing eye problems, and additionally, your eye doctor can identify any signs of eye problems that develop without any obvious symptoms and can affect not only your vision but your overall health. Read more to learn the importance of getting your eyes checked on a regular basis. Avoid Vision Loss and Keep Eyes Healthy It may seem obvious, but eye exams are key to keeping your eyes healthy and avoiding complete vision loss. As we age our eyes start to weaken, our vision begins to change in subtle ways, and the risk of developing serious eye diseases increases. This is why it is so important to get your eyes checked regularly. Additionally, our eyes are exposed to elements that can affect our vision such as pollution, UV rays, and blue light on a daily basis. During your routine eye exam, your doctor can suggest specific ways to help you protect your eyes and keep them healthy.  Detect Other Diseases There are several diseases that can lead to complete vision loss without obvious symptoms - many of which can only be detected by an eye doctor. These diseases include but are not limited to the following: Glaucoma - According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, glaucoma can lead to blindness if it is not treated appropriately. Unfortunately, glaucoma is not curable, but when detected early and with the right treatment, it is possible to stop further loss of vision. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) - AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 60. AMD is an eye disease that causes the breakdown of the macula, which is the part of the eye that is responsible for central vision. Many people don’t know they have AMD until they notice a change in their vision and see their eye doctor. This is why regular eye exams by an eye doctor can help to detect the early stages of macular degeneration before you are aware of them. Although there is no cure for dry macular degeneration, there are supplements, such as Focus Select®,  that help slow down the progression of AMD in people with moderate levels of disease by 25%. Diabetes - Did you know that 34.2 million Americans have diabetes? Sometimes, people don’t realize they have diabetes because they are not showing any symptoms. This is when regular eye exams come into play. During an eye exam, the doctor takes a close look at the blood vessels in the eye. If they notice any damage in the blood vessels of the retina, they might diagnose diabetic retinopathy. If this is the case, the patient should speak with their primary doctor right away.  Glaucoma, AMD, and diabetes are just 3 of the diseases that can be detected by an eye exam. Other diseases are high blood pressure, cancer, thyroid disease, lupus, and more. Remember, early detection is key to prevention. Improve Your Quality of Life Nowadays, most of our daily tasks involve screens. Whether it’s smartphones, television, tablets, or computers, every day we interact with at least one of these. As a matter of fact, the average American spends around 17 hours of their day looking at digital devices. It is important to understand that extended periods of time spent in front of digital devices have a negative effect on the eyes. The blue light emitted from digital devices can lead to dry eyes and computer vision syndrome, which in turn cause dry and irritated eyes. If you believe you are spending too much time in front of a computer, phone or TV, make sure to communicate that to your doctor during your eye exam. They may suggest blue light blocking glasses or supplements that contain ingredients that help protect your eyes, such as Focus Blue Light.   

Focus Blue Light formula promotes healthy eye function by increasing macular pigment in the eye, and improves contrast sensitivity and glare to help the eyes quickly recover after use. It contains 20 mg of lutein and 4 mg of zeaxanthin, which are carotenoids that help protect vision. 

Don’t wait until it’s too late, schedule your eye exam today if you haven’t done so already. If you need help finding an eye doctor in your area, check out our Find a Doctor Tool! Even if you believe you have good eye health, you can avoid vision loss, detect other diseases, and improve your quality of life. Eye exams are as important as your annual checkup with your primary doctor!

Good nutrition is an imperative part of eye health. One of the most important nutrients is a carotenoid called zeaxanthin. Carotenoids are the molecules that give plants their colors, such as yellow, orange, and red. Zeaxanthin, in particular, gives a yellow color to plant-based foods such as corn, saffron, paprika, and more. There are around 700 carotenoids found in nature, but only zeaxanthin and lutein (another nutrient that helps protect vision) are deposited in high quantities in the eyes. As we age, those nutrients stop replenishing themselves, which is where a good diet comes into play. Read on to learn about the role zeaxanthin plays when it comes to eye health. Protects the Eyes from Blue Light When people think of blue light, usually what comes to mind are computers, tablets, or cellphones, but the truth is that blue light is everywhere. It can not only come from digital devices, but also from the sun and certain kinds of indoor lighting. Visible light contains a range of wavelengths and energy, and blue light is the one that contains the highest energy, which is why it is the most harmful to the eyes. Zeaxanthin, along with lutein, acts as a “natural sunblock” for the eyes by absorbing excess light energy.  A study from the University of Georgia concluded that supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin increased macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and, in turn, improved people’s headache frequency, eye fatigue, and other visual performance issues often associated with excessive digital screen time. Focus Blue Light formula, which contains lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin, is a natural filter of high-energy blue light. Our formula promotes healthy eye function by increasing macular pigment in the eye and improves contrast sensitivity and glare to help the eyes quickly recover after use. 

              Get Focus Blue Light

Protects the Skin Not only can blue light exposure affect the eyes, but did you know that blue light can also negatively affect the skin? Blue light exposure leads to changes in skin cells, including shrinkage and even death of said cells, which in turn speeds up the aging process and may also cause hyperpigmentation of the skin.  Aside from blue light, our skin is constantly getting exposed to elements, such as polluted air and chemicals in the environment, that can lead to skin damage. Because zeaxanthin is an antioxidant, it helps fight off damage from these elements by accumulating in the dermis and protecting the skin. Reduces the Risk for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) AMD is the leading cause of blindness in the United States and it affects more than 10 million Americans. Currently, there is no cure, but there are ways to prevent it and slow its progression. In fact, there have been many studies conducted that show the benefits of zeaxanthin and lutein can have when it comes to AMD. One of these studies, and perhaps the most known, is the AREDS2 study published in 2013. This study revealed that participants whose diets contained the lowest amounts of foods containing natural lutein and zeaxanthin experienced the greatest AMD risk reduction from taking the daily nutritional supplement. The table below shows foods that contain both zeaxanthin and lutein and should be included in people’s diet, whether or not they have been diagnosed with macular degeneration. 

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313592356_Lutein_and_Zeaxanthin-Food_Sources_Bioavailability_and_Dietary_Variety_in_Age-Related_Macular_Degeneration_Protection For people who have not been diagnosed with AMD, these foods are a great way to decrease the risk. For those who have been diagnosed, eating these foods can help slow down its progression, especially when paired with AREDS2 vitamins, such as Focus Select®.

Updated July 2022 You've likely heard that carrots are a great source of beta carotene, but did you know that there are other eye nutrients that will help improve your vision health? Green vegetables are an excellent source of lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin C that can help boost your vision health. Darker shades of green, leafy vegetables will typically have more nutrients than lighter shades of green. Vegetables with higher levels of lutein and zeaxanthin include the following:   broccoli brussels sproutscelery collardsgreen beanskale leaf lettucepeasspinachIf you are one of the many people who find it hard to eat green vegetables, there are other veggies that have high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as vitamin C. These include: carrotschili pepperscornleekssquashsweet pepperssweet potatoestomatoesyams Including these vegetables in your diet can help you get the important nutrients your body needs, but sometimes a busy lifestyle makes it hard to keep up with food and nutrition. A multivitamin blend supplement can be added to your daily routine to help assure you are getting the nutrients you need to support immunity and an overall healthy lifestyle. Focus Multivitamin Gummies can help boost energy levels, support skin and heart health, and maintain or improve overall health.