| Prevention and treatment of age-related eye | | | | rather quickly. Theories suggest that light entering |
| diseases. | | | | the eye and focused on the macula of the retina |
| Cataract surgery is most common for people | | | | causes significant free-radical production in the |
| over the age of sixty In the US, eye surgeons | | | | outer aspect of the photoreceptors. If there are |
| perform 1.3 million cataract operations every year | | | | no sufficient antioxidants available to the |
| for a total cost of US $3.5 billion. The lens of the | | | | photoreceptors, lipofuscin formation, a toxic |
| eye collects and focus light on the retina. It is | | | | substance, within the retinal pigment epithelium, |
| important for the lens to stay clear throughout | | | | causes more oxidation damage to the retina and |
| our lifetime, In order to function properly. As we | | | | research believe it is actually the cause of |
| age, various components of the lens may get | | | | damage and destruction of these sensitive |
| damaged, leading to cataracts. Medical research | | | | photoreceptors. Lipofuscin accumulate in the |
| has proven that supply of sufficient anti-oxidants | | | | pigment epithelium cells and are eventually |
| at an early age can prevent cataract formation. | | | | excreted in the form of drusen, which is one of |
| Anti-oxidants are needed to combat against free | | | | the first indications of macular degeneration |
| radicals, due to ultraviolet sunlight. | | | | development. The development of drusen |
| In particular the fluid around the lens of the eye | | | | separates the photoreceptors of the eye from its |
| has to be protected by antioxidants against | | | | blood supply and causes an area of blindness. |
| oxidative damage. The most important antioxidant | | | | High-energy ultraviolet light and visible blue light are |
| is vitamin C, which is found in high concentration | | | | in particular responsible for the production of free |
| around the lens, as well as vitamin E, alpha-lipoic | | | | radicals in the retina of the eye. Our natural |
| acid and beta-carotine. A study showed that | | | | antioxidant defence system that protects us |
| consuming vitamins in supplementation protects | | | | from this free radical damage, declines when we |
| the eye and decrease the risk of developing | | | | get older. Macular degeneration is characterised by |
| cataracts by 50%. There is sufficient evidence | | | | low levels of zinc, selinium, vitamin C, vitamin E |
| that taking antioxidants is an inexpensive way to | | | | and carotenoid. High levels of carotenoids, called |
| decrease cataract formation. Another problem | | | | lutein and zeaxanthine, absorb the blue light portion |
| concerning the eye is macular degeneration. It is | | | | of visible light, that can damage the lens and he |
| the leading cause of blindness in people over the | | | | retina of the eye. They are strong antioxidants |
| age of sixty. This is the decay of an important | | | | and are found in corn and leafy green vegetables. |
| part of the retina called macula. | | | | CoQ10 can also play a part in reducing the |
| This is the area, which deals with central vision, | | | | oxidative damage caused by free radicals. |
| where the greatest concentration of | | | | Glutathione, which is a very potent antioxidant |
| photoreceptors are located. We recognize wet | | | | found within every cell of our body, is in particular |
| and dry forms. Ninety percent of the cases | | | | critical within the lens of our eye and the pigment |
| represent the dry form, in which central vision | | | | and the photoreceptor cells of the retina. The |
| gradually reduces and may proceed to the wet | | | | level of glutathione declines when we get older. |
| form for the remaning ten percent. There is | | | | Glutathione peroxidase is one of the natural |
| currently no treatment available for the dry form. | | | | antioxidant defencesystems that our body |
| The wet form can be treated via laser | | | | creates. The nutrients needed for the body to |
| photocoagulation, by which new vessel formation | | | | make its own defense are selinium, vitamin B6, |
| can be slowed down, which causes swelling and | | | | N-acetyl-L-cysteine and niacin. |
| bleeding into the retina. Blindness usually follows | | | | |