Digital devices have transformed life, often for the better, but in one apparent way for the worse. Staring at screens, as pretty much everyone does, can lead to eyestrain and fatigue, headaches, poor sleep quality and, from the looks of emerging research, earlier-onset blindness from age-related macular degeneration.
The good news is, you can change this trajectory with nutrition—specifically macular carotenoids and in particular lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin. These nutrients accumulate in the eye’s macula, a filter in the back of the eyeball that protects the eye from shortwave “blue light” emitted from smartphones, TVs and LED lightbulbs. (Blue light also leads to age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in those over age 65—and increasingly affecting those over 60.) Supplementation has been shown to increase macular density, thereby improving visual acuity and the ability to see better in low light.
Blue light fighters
A landmark 2017 study published in the scientific journal Foods followed a healthy, young population that just happened to be doing what everyone you know does—looking at their digital devices more than six hours a day. Researchers found that supplementing with 24 mg per day of the macular carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin increased the density of the macular pigment in the eye by an amazing 30 percent. Six months of supplementation resulted in fewer headaches and less eyestrain and eye fatigue, and even helped with sleep complaints, compared with those taking a placebo.
“The effects of blue light on vision aren’t new,” says lead researcher James Stringham, PhD, of the University of Georgia. “[But] this supplement result points to how we can slow down even early-stage age-related macular degeneration and keep disease at bay. This is really exciting.”
The study has huge implications because the results offer a simple solution to protect the eyes in the digital age. It also highlights the widespread, urgent need to protect eyes, which used to be a concern only among the elderly but now includes everyone from toddlers with an iPad to teenage gamers and office professionals who stare into various screens for hours on end.
Food sources of macular carotenoids include dark leafy greens, egg yolks, peas and corn tortillas. The amount of macular carotenoids used in the Foods study is equivalent to two big bowls of spinach every day, says Stringham. That’s a lot of salad, so another answer is to take a daily supplement with at least 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin—if not double that amount. The 2017 study used 20 mg and 4 mg, but earlier reliable studies found positive results with 10 mg and 2 mg.
Another eye-health report, the 2001 AREDS study, used 500 mg vitamin C, 400 IU vitamin E, 80 mg zinc oxide, 2 mg copper and 15 mg beta-carotene. Results indicated that these nutrients reduced the risk of progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration.
The AREDS2 study, published in 2013, swapped out beta-carotene for the macular carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, and added the omega-3s DHA (350 mg per day) and EPA (650 mg per day). It found benefit with the macular carotenoids but not with the omega-3s. Researchers suggest this might be caused by higher baseline levels of omega-3s in subjects, so the jury remains out on omega-3s for eye health, because other studies show a positive correlation.
If you’re having trouble reading your iPhone texts, you can easily make the letters larger (Settings > General > Accessibility). But long-term supplementation with macular carotenoids sounds like a more visionary act indeed.
