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New findings suggest that supplementing diets with the nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin, can help decrease the risk of eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration.

The findings, published in Optometry and Vision Science on 1 February 2008 indicate that lutein and zeaxanthin play a wider role than was previously thought in improving human eyesight. Lutein and zeaxanthin are two dietary carotenoids which accumulate in the macula lutea of the retina, a small area responsible for central vision.

Until recently, higher levels of these carotenoids in the retina were associated exclusively with a decreased risk of age related macular degeneration. However, the study suggests that they can also improve the vision of people with healthy eyes.

The link is specifically with the effects of glare on the normal eye. There are many situations on an every day basis when people are exposed to glare – sitting in front of the computer for long period of times is just one such example. Many can probably recognise the temporary blindness that is experienced when the sun hits their eyes.

The investigators – JM Stringham and BR Hammond of the Vision Science Laboratory at the University of Georgia in Athens, US – demonstrated that six months of supplementation with two carotenoids FloraGlo lutein and Optisharp zeaxanthin, formulated using a special Actilease technology to help improve the bioavailability, significantly reduced the effects of glare on a test group of people with normal eyesight.

The researchers concluded that supplementation with FloraGlo lutein and Optisharp zeaxanthin may therefore have an important role to play in supporting the safety and well-being of people with healthy eyes as well as those with age related macular degeneration.