Lutein belongs to the class of chemical compounds known as xanthophylls, which are actually beta carotene related carotenoids. Carotenoids are the yellow and orange pigments that are necessary for eye health. What is the importance of lutein for eyes- How does lutein work for the eyes- What are the natural sources of lutein- We shall try to find answers to all these questions in the rest of the article.

Lutein for Eyes
Not many are aware of the importance of lutein for eye health. Lutien is believed to protect against two common, age-related eye disorders, namely, cataracts and macular degeneration. Lutein supplements are often recommended for people suffering from various eye problems. The antioxidant properties of lutein makes it important for eye health. Let us see how lutein for eyes works.

How does Luteuin Work-
Lutein is present throughout the body, particularly in the eyes. It is found in the lens of the eye as well as in the retina, especially in the macula. It plays a significant role in visual sharpness and accuracy. Read more on eye care.

Lutein is considered as an antioxidant, that protects the cells against the damage caused by naturally occurring chemicals such as free radicals, from the sun’s UV rays. Free radicals can impair the immune system, resulting in various infectious and degenerative diseases. Damage to the sensitive tissue of the macula, that is present in the center of the retina, that can lead to loss of vision, is known as macular degeneration. Free radical damage is one of the main causes of this condition and lutein proves to be effective against it.

Lutein acts as a natural eye shade, and protects the retina from being directly exposed to the harmful light coming from the sun. It increases the density of the macular pigment, that is, the layer of protective tissue that is present over the macula. This pigment strengthens the eye’s vital structures and reinforces its protective capability. It helps in filtering the harmful blue light and the UV light and thus protects against macular degeneration caused by free radicals. Read more on macular degeneration symptoms.

Lutein is also important for protection against cataracts, which commonly occurs with age. The condition is characterized by clouding of the natural lens, causing blurred or decreased vision. Lutein helps to strengthen the cells of the lens, and improve vision.

This was about lutein for eyes to prevent cataracts and macular degeneration, Have you heard about lutein for eye floaters- Eye floaters are bits of debris, within the vitreous humor, which is the clear and transparent material that fills the eyeball. Eye floaters can be accompanied by flashes of light and restriction in the visual field. Lutein is a powerful antioxidant, and along with zeaxanthin (another carotenoid) serves as the best cure for eye floaters.

Sources of Lutein
Now that you know how important lutein is for eye health, you should also be aware of the natural sources of lutein. Insufficient intake of lutein can cause certain health problems associated with lutein deficiency. Lutein is found abundantly in dark green leafy vegetables, such as, spinach, kale and lettuce and yellow and orange fruits. It is also found in egg yolks and animal fats. Now you must be wondering how much lutein for eye health is needed by the body- Research shows that about 6 mg of lutein is necessary for optimum eye health. Read more on lutein sources.

This was all about lutein for eyes. I’m sure you must have found answers to all the above questions. So, now that you know the importance of lutein for eyes and also know about the lutein sources, make sure to include adequate amounts of lutein-fortified foods in your daily diet!

The eyes are something that many people take for granted, until disease or injury start to affect them, at which point your whole life can be seriously affected. Of course, there are some things, such as accidents and injuries, that can impact your eyes and will require specialist treatment. And in some cases there is nothing that can be done about problems that affect the eyes, such as genetic problems.

However, we can look after our optical health in a number of other ways, and one important factor that can help to maintain them is nutrition.

There are a number of things that can affect the health of our eyes, some of which are out of our control and others that we can try and avoid. Some things that potentially increase the risk of eye problems include age, obesity, smoking, excessive exposure to sunlight, and even gender.

Whilst some people will be more at risk than others when it comes to poor eye health, it has been proven that nutrition does play an important role in the health of our vision, and this is therefore something that should be taken into account if you’re interested in preventing age related deterioration.

Studies have shown that certain foods contain antioxidants that can are particularly beneficial for our eyes. However, not everyone manages to eat as much fresh produce as they should to get these benefits. Often a busy lifestyle or other factors can affect the ability to eat a balanced diet. However, the wide range of vitamin supplements that are on the market today have made it easier for consumers to get their recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals, although those taking supplements should still try and eat as well as they can in order to maximize the benefits.

Some important supplements that have been identified in relation to eye health are vitamins A, C, and E. These are the antioxidant vitamins.

Vitamin A is well known for its’ role in night vision, but it is also important for preventing night blindness is pregnant women, and the health of our skin, hair and mucous membranes. It is found in animal products like liver, whole eggs, and milk.

Vitamin C helps reduce the risk of developing glaucoma, macular degeneration or cataracts. Bioflavanoids are available in combination with vitamin C in some supplements, and this is because they help the body absorb it. Vitamin E also helps reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.

Other supplements that contribute to eye health include beta carotene, lutein, zinc oxide, selenium, and cupric oxide. Lutein is not as well known as some other supplements, but it is central to eye health. It is found in the retina, eye lens, and macula. People who smoke should be careful they get enough lutein, as smoking can affect its’ levels.

Smokers should also be aware that some studies have found that some of those participating who took beta carotene supplements and smoked were at risk of several diseases. These were only small studies however, but care should still be taken.

Eye supplements are a convenient way to get these nutrients, and often contain herbal preparations like bilberry. However, you should remember that exceeding the recommended doses can lead to side effects, so be aware of the total amount of each nutrient you are taking from multivitamins and any other supplements. This is of particular importance with fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A, though if you are not taking high doses of any vitamins you should be alright.

If you’d like to learn more about vitamin A, click here. Rebecca writes on dietary supplements here.

Tired and sore eyes can be a problem for computer users. Given the full day that many of us have, it’s no wonder our eyes sometimes suffer. And they are the first place to show the effects of tiredness and stress.

In a perfect world, we would get all of our vitamins from food. However, modern farming practices and the depletion of nutrients in soil often results in fruit and vegetables having significantly less minerals and vitamins than they used to, when everything was ‘organic’. Foods labeled and sold as organic these days tend to have more vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorus, and less of the harmful nitrates and other residues from pesticides.

However, not everyone has ready access to organic food, or the money to buy it for the whole family. Thus, vitamin supplements are a good option to help us get our missing nutrients.

Here is a list of the top 6 vitamins, herbs, and phytonutrients to help alleviate the problem of sore, dry eyes, and maintain good vision:

1. Bilberry – Bilberry is a herb used for both gastrointestinal and eye health. The active ingredients are called anthocyanosides, which are a type of flavanoid. Anthocyanosides are antioxidants that help improve the flow of blood through the capillaries in eyes. They help eyes adjust quickly to changes in light, and improve sharpness of vision.

Bilberry has also been shown to be effective in stopping the progression of cataracts when taken with vitamin E. It’s also used to treat diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.

2. Vitamin A – Vitamin A is important for good night vision, and may play a role in preventing cataracts.

3. Grapeseed – Grapeseed is good for the peripheral circulation in our eyes. It also strengthens the capillaries.

4. Eyebright – Eyebright makes a great eye home remedy. Steep it in hot water to let the herb infuse, then remove the herb and cool the remaining liquid. You could put it in the freezer to cool it down quickly if you don’t have any infused eyebright on hand in the fridge. Once its cool, use it as an eye bath, or a compress. It’s great for sore eyes, and has an anti-inflammatory and soothing action.

5. Omega 3 Fatty Acids – Research from Harvard Medical school has found that taking omega 3 oils reduces the chance of getting dry eyes. Try taking 3 to 6 grams of a good quality fish oil supplement daily.

6. Lutein – Lutein is one example of a type of plant nutrient known as carotenoids. Better known examples include beta carotene and alpha carotene. Carotenoids are responsible for giving fruit and vegetables their distinctive colors, and the brightness of a fruit or vegetable is a good indicator of how much carotenoids it has in it. Those with a rich color have a higher concentration.

Lutein, beta, and alpha carotene are converted by the body into vitamin A. And lutein is found in very high concentrations in the macula of the eye. Lutein is used to help prevent macular degeneration, which is a big problem for people over 40 years of age. Macular degeneration can lead to blindness. Lutein is thought to work as an antioxidant in this capacity.

Other solutions for dry eyes include soaking chamomile tea bags and placing them on both eyes when they are cool. Chamomile helps reduce redness and swelling around the eye. Iced milk can also be used on a compress for sore eyes. Soak cotton wool or gauze pads with very cold milk (the coolness helps narrow blood vessels), and the fat in milk is very soothing for dry skin.

For more vitamin information, click here. Rebecca presents this natural health site on herbs, supplements, and popular vitamins.

It’s a strange old world that we live in, isn’t it- Why is it that the population of the world still continues to have sight problems and why is vision loss on the increase- You’d think that the opposite would be true with the number of medical advances being made seemingly every day. Ironically, many researchers believe that about half of all blindness could be prevented! Eye health care, therefore, is obviously very important to everybody.

What causes these serious vision problems- Here’s a short list

1. Age-related macular degeneration.
2. Diabetic retinopathy
3. Cataracts
4. Glaucoma

It appears that more and more people are falling victim to these eye disorders every day.

Eye Health Care Tips

It’s important to prevent vision problems before they have chance to develop. Prevention is definitely better than cure and eye care is superior to eye cure. So, what can you do- Well, getting plenty of vitamins, especially vitamin A, is essential. Also, a decent supply of minerals will prove to be beneficial. Eye exercises can also help to keep your vision in tip-top condition. Proper eye health care can slow down the natural degenerative processes of the eyes as we grow older. In particular, macular degeneration can be reduced with the correct preventative treatments. With correct eye exercises and good nutrition, it is possible to reduce the affects of injury, accident, disease and vision loss caused by strain.

Vitamins, minerals and many foods can play a major part in maintaining eye health care. There seems to be a direct link between nutrition and the health of your vision. There are many tips and exercises to be aware of. Start early, in childhood, and avoid eye strain caused through reading. Remember, children have the added burden of learning new words, learning how to scan text and other new reading skills that need developing. Make sure there is plenty of light to read by and experiment with different colored backgrounds to the text. There is evidence that, for some kids, a white background (ie paper!) is too glaring against black text, especially if there is a tendency towards dyslexia. Avoid glare and try a cream-colored paper! Taking the right precautions when young can prevent a multitude of eye care problems in later life.

Which Supplements are the Best-

Vitamins A, C and E all play their part in looking after your eyes. Consider these eye care nutrition tips:

1. Vitamin A: can reduce cataracts and night blindness.
2. A lack of vitamin A has been linked to corneal ulcers and blindness.
3. Vitamin E: can reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.
4. Vitamin C: needed to reduce the pressure in glaucoma, to resist the onset of cataracts, and to slow down the effects of degeneration caused by aging.

In short, vitamins are extremely important in the fight to maintain eye health care. They are rich in antioxidants and thus reduce the effects of oxidation which can lead to the destruction of healthy tissue. So, there is certainly a lot that you can do to prevent eye and vision problems. Take steps now to prevent more serious conditions in the future.

Earl Moore invites you to discover more about eye health care by visiting www.eyeviewcare.com where you will find essential information and advice about looking after your vision.

” Why do you have to spend so much time in front of that blessed computer-”

My mom usually bellows when I’m stuck to the computer seat. Now how do I explain to her that the computer god cannot be angered- Ah well. You know how it is. Work. Internet. Studies. Assignments. Youtube. Downloads. It’s all in that computer! Then what am I supposed to do- So fine there’s the recent problem of eyes tired from computer. Oh ya, I should probably get that one checked. Eye care is important, you know-

So here we have it. Eyes tired from computer, eyes tired from laptop, eyes tired from Internet etc etc. That’s bound to mean something. We know at least one person who complains about eyes tired from computer, don’t we- Why does that happen and what do we do about it- Let us see what some of the reasons for eyes tired from mac or Internet or the general computer are, and what is the effect it can have on the eyes.

Computer Effect on Eyes

Does the computer damage eyes- To an extent, yes. The letters that we see on the computer screen are a result of pixels that are put together to form a letter. They are not as well defined as the letters on a printed page are. The eyes find it difficult to focus on these letters and that is why several problems manifest in a short span of time. Along with that, other factors like poor lighting conditions and sitting on a chair that offers no proper support are also some of the things that lead to eye problems. The following conditions and are some such results of constant computer usage and why it results in eyes tired from computer:

Computer Vision Syndrome
The most common effect of constantly working at the computer is the development of the Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). The common symptoms of which are headaches, eye infections, rashes, blurred vision, tired eyes, dryness in eyes, watery eyes, heightened sensitivity to light, itchy red eyes, eye soreness and strain, less focus, allergies of the eyes, aching eyes and neck and shoulder pain.

Vision Problems
Other than the problems that are commonly felt (like the ones mentioned above) there are other problems as well that develop with the constant use of the computer. A person who already suffers form vision problems like focusing, under corrected and uncorrected vision, presbyopia, and astigmatism, will find that the conditions become more severe. The number will increase and these problems will worsen.

Lighting Issues
One of the major reasons due to which eye problems have become common place is because no one takes into consideration the lighting conditions of the room. The lighting cannot be dim, because the contrast between the computer screen and the room can cause blurred vision, double vision and tremendous strain on the eyes. This is the same reason why one should never sit facing a window which is not covered by blinds and neither backing one because that causes direct shadows to fall on the screen.

Preventing Eye Strain

There is a need to protect eyes from computers or laptops, at least the incorrect usage of it. Here are some things that you should keep in mind and follow without fail for keeping your eyes healthy:

• Make sure that the screen is placed at a level that is lower than your normal vision.
• Ensure that there is effective lighting.
• If possible, have an anti-glare coating screen fitted over the computer.
• Consciously blink your eyes whenever you remember to. This will prevent half the problems.
• Make sure to give your eyes rest after every hour in front of the computer. Splash water on your face in that break.
• Place the screen at least 30 inches away from you.
• Adjust the computer brightness to a minimum.
• The correct posture to sit at the computer is – Shoulders relaxed, thighs horizontal, forearms and hands in a straight line, proper lower back support, feet flat on the ground. This is the position that will prevent any problems.
• Do some simple eye exercises to improve vision and strengthen the eye.
• Do some palming for the eye. For this, rub your palms together till they are warm, then make a pad of your palms and place over both eyes to form a cover. Hold this position for a good 5 minutes for instant relief and rejuvenation of the eyes.
• Make sure to have some re-wetting eye drops if you are prone to developing dry eyes.
• Never rub the eyes.
• Wear anti-glares or zero powered specs to protect your eyes and getting eyes tired from computer.
• Make sure to visit an ophthalmologist periodically to keep a check on your eye health and rule out any serious problems.

Now that you know what are the effects of constant exposure to the computer, why wait till you are complaining about eyes tired from computer- Make sure that it does not happen by following the above mentioned pointers and keep your eyes healthy.