Whether you’re young or old, it’s never too late to protect your eyes to maintain healthy vision that will last you a lifetime.

Damaging blue light

Blue light is a colour in the visible light spectrum that can be seen by the human eye. Blue light waves are amongst the shortest and high-energy wavelengths, making them the most damaging. These high-energy wavelengths can penetrate all the way to the back of the eye, passing through the eyes natural filters or visual pigments, destroying cells in the retina which can permanently damage sight. The damaging effects of blue light are cumulative and can eventually lead to other eye conditions including macular degeneration.

The retina, rods and cones

The retina is the sensory portion of the eye that contains layers of photoreceptors called rods and cones.

• Rods are located near the edges of the retina and are responsible for peripheral and night vision
• Cones are located more centrally in the retina and are responsible for day and colour vision

Together, rods and cones allow you to see in varying light conditions and in different colours. Rods contain the visual pigment rhodopsin, which ‘bleaches’ when light strikes them. Pigment regeneration is important to help protect the delicate photoreceptors and maintain healthy vision.

Protect your eyes from damaging blue light with natural compounds

• • • Bilberry contains strong antioxidant compounds known as anthocyanosides which have an affinity for the pigmented layer of the retina. Bilberry enhances regeneration of rhodopsin in the retina, essential for optimal functioning of the rods, light adaptation and night vision. Bilberry protects the eyes from free radical damage caused by blue light and relieves visual fatigue and eyestrain by strengthening blood and nutrient microcirculation to the eyes
    • Lutein & zeaxanthin are powerful antioxidants that make up the macula pigment, found in high quantities of the retina. They serve as ‘natural sunglasses’ preventing damage to the photoreceptors. Lutein is more prominent at the edges of the retina and in the rods, while zeaxanthin is primarily concentrated in the centre of the retina and the cones. Lutein and zeaxanthin support healthy vision by:Helping the eyes tolerate glaring light
      • Helping vision recovery after exposure to glaring light
      • Helping to detect colour contrast
      • Helping the eyes adapt to variations in light intensity
    • Antoxidants protect the eyes from free radical damage. Vitamin C (water soluble) is found in high concentrations in the eye and appears to protect the lens of the eye from free radical damage, directly, due to its antioxidant activity, and indirectly, through its ability to recycle vitamin E (fat soluble). Zinc is concentrated in the photoreceptors and in the pigmented layer of the retina.

---

Mr Vitamins recommends

Herbs of Gold products to support your eye health

Macu-Guard with Bilberry 10 000

Find out more and shop online for Herbs of Gold Macu-Guard with Bilberry 10,000 here

 

---

References Anon. (2009). Macular pigment and healthy vision. American Optometric Association. Braun, L., & Cohen, M. (2010). Herbs & Natural Supplements: An evidence based guide. (3^rd Ed.). Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier: Chatswood. Hammond, B. R., Fletcher, L. M., & Elliott, J. G. (2013). Glare Disability, Photostress Recovery, and Chromatic Contrast: Relation to Macular Pigment and Serum Lutein and Zeaxanthin Macular Pigment and Visual Function. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 54(1), 476-481. Richer, S. P., Stiles, W., Graham-Hoffman, K., Levin, M., Ruskin, D., Wrobel, J., ... & Thomas, C. (2011). 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-Journal of the American Optometric Association, 82(11), 667-680.