Why eye health requires more care than you might think

Emma Heduan

Head of Marketing, ZEON Healthcare

As we grow older, our eye health comes under increasing pressure, in particular — the macular. The macular is an oval-shaped pigment area near the central retina, which can be damaged.

The macula protects the light-sensitive cells in the back of the eyes. It is responsible for the clarity of the central vision. It allows us to see fine detail clearly and is essential for activities such as reading, writing, driving or even recognising faces.

The make-up of the macula

The macula pigment comprises of three carotenoids: Lutein, Meso-Zeaxanthin and Zeaxanthin. The body does not produce Lutein and Zeaxanthin. The macular pigment can, therefore, become severely depleted in those with a poor diet lacking the right foods.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin are important nutrients that the body naturally deposits in the macula of the eye to create a protective layer known as macular pigment. Lutein and Zeaxanthin are powerful antioxidants that work like internal sunglasses, protecting the macula from the damaging effects of blue light and oxidative stress.

The body does not produce Lutein and Zeaxanthin.

Supplements for eye health

Lutein and Zeaxanthin are present in some foods including leafy green vegetables, such as kale and spinach and fruits such as tangerines and oranges. Meso-Zeaxanthin — arguably the most powerful antioxidant of the three carotenoids — is not generally found in our everyday diet and has only been detected in a small number of marine organs including shrimp and certain fish organs (particularly in the skin).

Did you know?

10mg of Meso-Zeaxanthin is equivalent to 10,000g of trout, 10mg of Lutein is equivalent to 126g of spinach and 2mg of Zeaxanthin is equivalent to 400g of tangerine.

MACU-SAVE contains all three of these macular carotenoids, that are of the highest-quality grade, are harvested from the marigold plant Tagetes Erecta and are essential for macular health.

FloraGLO® Lutein is also the most clinically researched Lutein brand worldwide with over 90 human clinical trials published. It is clinically proven that its bioavailability is similar to that obtained from foods that naturally contain these nutrients. It sets the gold standard for the Lutein market, has proven efficacy, safety and credibility.