Lutein for Eye Health - How to Save Your Vision

Lutein has recently received a great deal of attention because it has been established to promote eye health and appears to stave off the rapid deterioration of serious eye conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa. Previously known primarily as a natural dye; numerous recent studies show lutein to be a promising vitamin for those with serious eye diseases.

Antioxidants are a classification of vitamins that are important to the whole body to help purge out wastes and inflammation, so as to assist organs to function better and replace damaged cells. This is especially important in the eye, as too much fluid and wastes cause serious damage to the eyes' ability to function. In China, a series of antioxidants are successfully used as a common treatment for glaucoma at the early onset of any symptoms.

Lutein is a special kind of antioxidant in that lutein is used by organisms as a regular antioxidant, but also it absorbs blue light, meaning it can protect against some forms of light damage to the eye itself, sort of like having a natural pair of sunglasses. Generally, when the color of someone's eyes starts to fade, it is not directly related to aging itself, but due to the bodies' loss of lutein that occurs when we age if we do not to something to counteract it.

Lutein builds a reserve of sorts in the eye to assist in long-term eye health. Even if you are not currently suffering from any vision problems, lutein is a worthwhile supplement to preserve the vision you currently have and, in some instances, even improve your visual acuity. Think of lutein doing for your eyes what sunscreen and moisturizer does for your skin - if you start using it while you are young, you will preserve your skin looking young and supple. The same is true with your vision; if you are 50, you would love to have the vision you had at 25. There are no known negative side effects of lutein unless taken in excessive doses, which causes a bronzing of the skin.

Lutein is found in natural sources including spinach, kale, collard greens, romaine lettuce, leeks, peas, and egg yolks. Since most people do not get enough of these foods to get the lutein they need for eye health, lutein supplementation is generally necessary.

Determine accompanying supplements.Zeaxanthin is needed to maximize the effectiveness of lutein. Whenever lutein is found naturally in foods such as spinach and kale, zeaxanthin is generally almost always found with it, so to best emulate getting lutein from natural food sources, zeaxanthin is needed to maximize absorption. Antioxidants such as Vitamin C, E and zinc also assist the functioning of lutein. These are often found in adequate dosages within a standard daily multi-vitamin.

Determine Dosages and ratios. For an otherwise healthy eye, positive effects have been seen at 6 mg a day. Many studies see results at 10mg, but daily amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin are generally recommended at 20 mg of lutein and 6-10 mg of zeaxanthin. Lutein can also be found in many multi-vitamin supplements, although typically not enough to meet the recommended dosage.

However, if you are taking lutein specifically for loss of visual field related to retinitis pigmentosa, a study from the National Eye Institute might be worth noting for adjusting your dosages. In this study, adults with retinitis pigmentosa took lutein supplements (10 mg per day) for 12 weeks, followed by 30 mg per day for an additional 12 weeks. Lutein significantly improved the visual field, and this effect increased over time. There was also some minor improvement in visual acuity. Comparing the results against the natural vision loss that would be expected to occur over 48 weeks, it would appear that lutein reduced the rate of visual decline.

While more studies are underway, for people facing losing their vision, lutein is a safe treatment that is certainly worth trying. The June 7, 2006 Ophthalmology magazine cites a study indicating 20mg daily is safe for long term use for those with eye health issues. Safe dosages for children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease have not been established. It is preferable to take lutein with a meal so that it absorbs similar to as if you were getting the nutrient from food.

If you are familiar with and like a vitamin brand that contains zeaxanthin, check the label to determine if it contains the optimal dosages. Some multi-vitamins contain lutein, but generally not enough. If amounts are listed as mcg, that is micrograms not milligrams (mg). Remember that 1000 mcg is equal to 1 mg. Also, if the ingredient is listed as lutein/zeaxanthin, then the amount of zeaxanthin is approximately 1/20th the amount shown on the label, since the ratio of lutein to zeaxanthin has already been computed. Eye Defense, manufactured by Nature's Made, is a readily available multi-vitamin containing lutein and supporting antioxidant vitamins.