Healthy vision offers patients more than good eyesight; for many, their quality of life is greatly diminished if their vision is less than adequate. For example, needing help reading a menu or being nervous to drive at night can limit patients’ independence, but nutritional support can help maintain long- term eye health. Perhaps some of the most talked-about antioxidants necessary for healthy vision are zeaxanthin and lutein, but why all the excitement around these two nutrients?

What’s all the hype about Zeaxanthin and Lutein?

Zeaxanthin (pronounced zee-aZAN-thin)

Zeaxanthin is a member of a group of compounds known as carotenoids.1  In the Zeaxanthin and Visual Function (ZVF) Study, researchers refer to this carotenoid as a “superior antioxidant” because of its chemical structure.2  In the same study, authors remark that “the macula selectively places [zeaxanthin] in its foveal center where the greatest protection is needed, which is last to degenerate.” This means that zeaxanthin is responsible for protecting the crisp, clear central vision needed for reading, seeing faces, and other daily tasks. While this antioxidant can be found in orange peppers, corn, and spinach, many Americans do not consume enough of these foods in their diet. 

Lutein (pronounced LOO- teen)

Like zeaxanthin, lutein is also classified as a carotenoid. Accumulated by the retina in the peripheral aspect of the macula, this antioxidant protects peripheral vision and low-contrast visual acuity.2 Lutein can be found in dark, leafy greens like kale, spinach, broccoli, and collard greens. While most patients know that these foods are beneficial, Americans sadly have moved toward a diet lacking in leafy greens. 

Macular Pigment 

Zeaxanthin and lutein work together to protect the sensitive tissues in the retina and form what is called the xanthophyll macular pigment. Found in the center of the macula, this protective pigment works like internal sunglasses, filtering harmful wavelengths of light before they reach the photoreceptors. Healthy, or dense, macular pigment may improve visual functions such as visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, light sensitivity, and glare recovery. 

From Review of Optometry Online May 10, 2018.

Sources: 

1. Heiting, Gary. “Lutein and Zeaxanthin – Eye and Vision Benefits.” All About Vision, AAV Media, LLC., Dec. 2017, www.allaboutvision.com/nutrit ion/lutein.htm. 

2. Richer SP, Stiles W, Graham-Hoffman K, et al. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of zeaxanthin and visual function in patients with atrophic age-related macular degeneration: the Zeaxanthin and Visual Function Study (ZVF) FDA IND #78, 973. Optometry. 2011 Nov;82(11):667-680.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.optm.2011.08.008. 

3. Herman JP, Kleiner-Goudey SJ, Davis RL (2017) Case Report of Dietary Supplements Improving Macular Pigment and Visual Function. Adv Oph thalmol Vis Syst 6(1): 00166. DOI: 10.15406/aovs.2017.06.00166. 

Tips for Avoiding Diabetes:

1.  Wear a pedometer and get 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day.
2. Eat plant-based diet (seven servings of whole vegetables and fruits every day; at least 14 different types of vegetables each week.
3. Get  7-8 hours of sleep each night.
4. Eliminate high-fructose corn syrup and keep added sugars under 25g each day (read your food labels).
5. Take 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 every day to get blood levels above 40 mg/dl (see your PCP or consider a home test available through www.grassrootshealth.org).
6. Promote healthy gut bacteria that improve insulin sensitivity by taking a prebiotic or probiotic containing oligofructose and avoiding aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose.

Diabetes in a known cause of blindness if left untreated.  Long-term exposure to high blood sugars causes the retinal blood vessels to become leaky and cause permanent irreversible damage to the sensitive photoreceptors, rods and cones.

Tips for Good Sugar Control if You Have Diabetes:

7.  Do everything listed in steps 1 through 6 above.

8.  Limit carbohydrate content of any large meal to less than 30 grams.

9.  Take 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar before meals to l lower blood sugar spikes.

10.  Slow down, put your fork down while slowly chewing food.

11.  Take prescribed diabetes medications on time, every time; take rapid-acting insulin at least 15 min before eating if required prior to food.

12.  Fast at least one day a week to increase healthy gut bacteria and insulin sensitivity.

See your eye doctor regularly and ask what you can do to keep your eyes their healthiest.

Source: Paul A.  Chous, OD, MA, FAAO

OrCam is an intuitive wearable device with a smart camera designed to assist people who are visually impaired. OrCam gives independence and enhances quality of life. It’s a powerful low vision tool when all other options are exhausted.

OrCam is a smart camera mounted on your eye glasses and process visual input in real time. Orcam reads text on signs, books and your phone instantly. You can enter products you use everyday and it will recognize and read aloud what it is you are looking at. It even recognizes faces and announces people you know.

Inside the home, it allows users to read their morning papers and books without asking for assistance or searching for audiobooks. It reads text on computer and smartphone screens without needing to learn new software or use new tools.

This ingenious device is appropriate for all ages, and can be used with external speakers or earphones. Outside the home, it enables independence by reading at restaurants and other public places, identifying money note denominations and products pre-entered in it’s memory for shopping, and it does much more!

For a free demonstration contact:

Gabe DeLeon, Technology Sales Consultant and Training
Toll Free 1-800-770-8474 x 108
Email: gabe@adaptivetr.com

AMD usually develops gradually and painlessly, and good vision in one eye can mask vision loss in the other eye. As AMD progresses, signs may become obvious.

Warning Signs for AMD:

Macular degeneration occurs in the center of the retina

• Difficulty reading or doing close work
• Distorted or wavy lines, borders, words, or details
• Blurry or faded faces, print, TV
• Blind spots, dark spots, or missing areas of straight-ahead vision

Know the risk factors…and if you notice any sudden or gradual change in your vision, don’t assume you need new glasses or contact lenses, make sure you have a complete eye exam. See your eye doctor as soon as possible.

Risk Factors for AMD:

• Aging – AMD affects one-third of adults over 75
• Heredity – A family history of AMD increases risk
• Gender – Women are more likely to develop AMD
• Race – Whites are at greater risk of AMD
• Smoking – increases risk by 2-5 times
• Poor diet, poor circulation, obesity, and inactivity
• Prolonged UV exposure
• Less overall body pigment and light-colored eyes

If you’ve been told you have high risk macular degeneration, ask your eye doctor about using a home Amsler Grid to monitor your central retina for distortion from advancing macular degeneration.

Amsler Grid Home Eye Test

This device has the potential for magnifying central visual acuity and holds promise for people with macular degeneration, as well as for other eye diseases which can result in decreased central vision. Low vision specialists and optometrists will be watching and following this interesting device for progress.

For more information check out:

http://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/new-tech-holds-promise-for-low-vision-patients?sso=y

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/289504.php

Customers can also obtain a free ScripTalk Reader from Envision America that will enable them to listen to the information on the ScripTalk label. Currently, there are many people that have difficulty reading or understanding the contents and instructions of their prescription medications. The small print and look-alike packaging of medicine vials can lead to confusion, non-compliance and mistakes. Envision America has created a solution to this serious issue with ScripTalk Station.

For more information visit EnvisionAmerica.com or CVS.com.

They recommend careful evaluation of the most helpful accessibility features.  Although individuals will vary on what works best for them, the consensus is that some degree of both text-to-voice (also known as screen reader) and screen magnification is needed for ideal functionality.  Tablets, Apple iOS devices (iPod, iPad, iPhone), Mac computers, and Windows based computers are reviewed, as well as some of the software programs that work on them.  For the full article, go to http://wp.me/p2NcmF-g0.

Loss of vision doesn’t mean loss of learning.  Staying connected to information, family and friends is easier than ever.  Local training on devices and computers for adults and seniors can be found in Milwaukee at the technology department at Vision Forward, www.Visionforward.org , and at Adaptive Technology Resources in Grafton, Wisconsin, www.adaptivetr.com.