How Natural Ingredients Can Save Your Eyes
When you think of a holistic approach to health, do you think of your eyes? Unfortunately, most of us don’t. Besides prescription eyewear, we assume our eyes should work without daily maintenance. The truth is that in today’s digital world, our eyes need more care than ever. Exposure to digital devices has increased more than 80% worldwide in the past three years.
“We’ve seen dramatic increases in screen time ranging from very young, even as young as age two, to the elderly,” says Dr. Paul Karpecki, OD, a leader and pioneer in the field of Dry Eye Disease for more than 20 years.
“Dry, itchy eyes, blurred vision, and headaches are all symptoms that people complain about but do not realize it’s Computer Vision Syndrome from digital device usage,” says Dr. Jeffry Gerson, OD. Computer Vision Syndrome is the constellation of symptoms associated with digital overexposure, such as headaches, dryness, slow focus recovery, blurry vision, low contrast or poor night vision, and itchy, red, or irritated eyes.
Blue Light Damage
These symptoms are a sign that we are potentially damaging our eyes from exposure to high-energy blue light which can lead to severe and long-term problems that research links to AMD. This debilitating eye disease causes loss of central vision.
“The overuse of digital devices is a serious risk,” adds Dr. Karpecki, “Research has shown that overexposure to high energy blue light can physically damage the cells of the retina.”
Maybe it’s time to focus on natural ingredients that protect against painful symptoms you thought were just tired eyes.
Supplements for Blue Light
Natural astaxanthin, for example, is Nature’s most potent antioxidant. Astaxanthin helps power mitochondria (energy engines) in the microscopic muscles that help us focus. Pure forms of astaxanthin are clinically proven to help alleviate the eye strain, headaches, blurry vision, and slow focus recovery that we associate with digital overexposure or tired eyes. Dr. Karpecki confirms, “Studies have shown an almost 22% increase in the ability to focus in patients who have had this supplement.”
Another natural ingredient that can help alleviate dry eyes is Bilberry extract. Bilberry (or wild Blueberry) extract contains anthocyanins that promote healthy tear secretion, improve vision, and increase retinal sensitivity (night vision).
The biggest threat to our eyes comes from a source we can’t see called high-energy blue light. All digital devices emit this high-energy light which, if not filtered, travels through to the back of the eye, causing oxidation that can damage the retina.
Two carotenoids, Lutein and Zeaxanthin, are clinically proven to protect our eyes from blue light by increasing MPOD levels and improving visual acuity. A groundbreaking eye study called AREDS-2 – a study that used these ingredients – proved these formulations could lower the risk of progression to advanced AMD by 25% when combined with a Mediterranean diet rich in eggs and dark leafy greens.
Natural Ingredients for Eye Health
If all these ingredients are available in Nature, why don’t we eat our way to better eye health? The answer is simple: we can’t eat enough of the foods that contain these nutrients to activate a healing response in our eyes and eliminate symptoms.
Astaxanthin is present in most red-colored aquatic organisms in minimal quantities, but individuals would need to consume 20 pounds of salmon per week to protect their eyes. Green algae called Haematococcus Pluvialis, which thrives in freshwater Arctic pools, is a potent source of astaxanthin which it manufactures as a response to environmental stressors and the sun’s ultraviolet light rays. But again, this is not a viable source of astaxanthin.
Ultimately, we depend on our digital devices, so how do we protect our eyes? What habits can we adopt to minimize the symptoms associated with overexposure to blue light? The answer is supplementation and diet. First, a Mediterranean diet is naturally rich in fresh fruit, vegetables, fish rich in omega-3s, and crustaceans that contain many clinically proven ingredients proven to reduce the symptoms associated with Computer Vision Syndrome while protecting high-energy blue light.
Second, daily supplementation with high-quality nutritional vitamins provides highly concentrated levels of the essential natural ingredients needed to help protect your eyesight from Computer Vision Syndrome for a lifetime.
