| If you are wondering will lutein improve vision, the | | | | intake of those nutrients could increase the |
| current consensus is that it "might." Visual | | | | amount of pigment in the retina or if "damage |
| improvements have been seen using supplements | | | | done was damage done". |
| containing both zeaxanthin and lutein in patients | | | | Free radical damage may not be the cause of |
| with age-related macular degeneration or AMD, | | | | decreased pigment in the retina but that doesn't |
| for short. | | | | mean that the answer to will lutein improve vision |
| Some ophthalmologists suggest additional | | | | is no. The decreased pigmentation could simply be |
| nutrients, including vitamin E, zinc and omega-3 | | | | a response to poor diet or diets low in |
| fatty acids. An extract from the bilberry is | | | | carotenoids. |
| sometimes recommended, as well, because of | | | | The density of the retinal pigment does help to |
| the unique antioxidants that it contains. | | | | absorb blue light, which can damage light |
| The experts believe that antioxidants can reduce | | | | receptors and other delicate mechanisms within |
| changes in membrane permeability by quenching | | | | the eye. Conservative scientists will say that the |
| reactive oxygen species and free radicals. That's | | | | carotenoids may be effective in the prevention of |
| a lot of big words. Basically, they are talking about | | | | AMD and other age-related eye diseases, because |
| a cause of cellular aging. | | | | they neutralize free radicals and they absorb |
| Free radicals, which include reactive oxygen and | | | | damaging blue light. |
| nitrogen molecules can, if they become erratic, | | | | But, what if you are a young person? Will lutein |
| damage cellular membranes and eventually cause | | | | improve vision in people that do not have AMD? |
| changes in DNA. The DNA mutations can lead to | | | | Again, it might. |
| the formation of a cancer cell or the cell may | | | | There are many nutrients that have proven |
| simply die. | | | | beneficial for people that have problems seeing at |
| Antioxidants, of all kinds, neutralize free radicals, | | | | night or during the day. Even eye exercises have |
| before they can damage the cell's membrane or | | | | proven beneficial for improving a person's visual |
| cause changes in DNA. When it comes to the | | | | acuity. |
| membranes inside of the eye, they are highly | | | | So, a person that is near-sighted or far-sighted |
| susceptible to free radical damage. | | | | could benefit from a number of natural |
| But, that's a subject of prevention. Will lutein | | | | approaches. Increasing nutrient intake is the first |
| improve vision by reversing free radical damage? | | | | step. No one would disagree with that. |
| The answer to that is still being debated. In one | | | | Some foods are nutrient-rich, low in fat and low in |
| study, it was shown that supplementation | | | | calories. They have a low glycemic index, which |
| increased the density of the retinal pigment. | | | | means that they do not cause a spike in blood |
| The pigments in the retina are composed primarily | | | | sugar. Most of them are fruits and vegetables. |
| of lutein, although zeaxanthin is the primary | | | | You might still be wondering will lutein improve |
| component of the pigments in the macula, a spot | | | | vision. The best suggestion is to try a |
| on the retina responsible for central vision. Until | | | | multi-nutritional formula that contains it. Alone, it is |
| recently, researchers were unsure that increasing | | | | not likely to be effective. |