The 10 Best Eye Supplements For Visual Performance & Longevity*

Unbeknownst to many, our nation is facing an eye care epidemic. As smartphones, tablets, and laptops have become commonplace in the average American home, our digital screen time has increased exponentially. (In fact, a recent statistical survey reveals that nearly half of those surveyed spend between five and six hours on their phone per day).

Even if you have 20/20 vision without wearing any type of corrective lenses, the ability to read traffic signs is not the only factor that defines how well you take care of your eyes. As it turns out, screen overuse can lead to tired, dry and fatigued eyesaffecting our ability to concentrateeye function and even vision longevity later in life.

Fortunately, there are practical steps we can take to support eye nutrition and promote vision longevity, including adding a complete eye health supplement to our daily routine.* innovative eye health supplements available at the market today.

Vitamins that support eye health.

There are a number of nutrients that support eye health and longevity, and most of them are not vitamins at all. In fact, there are countless bioactives that promote eye function and visual performance, including essential vitamins and minerals, fatty acids, key carotenoids, and other phytonutrients.

“Diet is a key lifestyle factor that can have long-term effects on eye health. More specifically, the American Optometric Association, as well as academic scientists, have clearly recognized the role of key nutrients in the support eye health and vision performance.” Deshanie Rai, Ph.D., FACNvice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for OmniActive Health Technologies.

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“These include vitamins A, C, D and E; zinc and copper; the macular carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin; and omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, it is important to ensure that we are consuming adequate levels of these nutrients through our daily diets,” says Rai.

Optometrist and author of What you need to know about foods and supplements for optimal vision care Jeffrey Anshel, OD, FAAOadds another type of macular carotenoid to the list: meso-zeaxanthin.

“Lutein converts to another form [of zeaxanthin] called meso-zeaxanthin. The tricky part is that meso-zeaxanthin isn’t found in the normal diet: it’s found in shrimp shells, fish skin, and turtle shells,” says Anshel, explaining the need for an adequate amount of lutein (and zeaxanthin) through diet and supplements to ensure you get enough of these essential macular carotenoids.

But critical carotenoids for vision don’t end up with lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin. According to Anshel, astaxanthin is also essential for eye health, affecting eye blood flow and promoting overall longevity, especially in our modern digital world.* “Astaxanthin has been studied to show that it helps people who watch the screens all day,” he shares, highlighting astaxanthin’s ability to support restart and recovery.*

Karen Hecht, Ph.D., manager of scientific affairs for AstaReal, adds that astaxanthin has also been a staple of eye health research in Asia and Europe. The problem? The American diet does not support sufficient intake of this critical carotenoid for the eyes.

“The average American falls short of the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables, which contribute 90 percent of dietary carotenoid intake. Astaxanthin is unique among carotenoids in that it is not found in fruits and vegetables. Instead, astaxanthin is found primarily in wild salmon,” explains Hecht. “Based on average salmon consumption among Americans, the diet alone is estimated to provide 11 milligrams of astaxanthin annually.

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With all of these critical eye nutrients and a huge gap in the average American diet, the need for a complete, daily eye supplement with a specific formulation is clear.

Experts say yes, adding that they are not only useful but also essential given the modern stressors our eyes are subjected to.

“The eyes are exposed to physiological and environmental factors that trigger free radical production. That’s why the National Eye Institute has long studied dietary antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, and zeaxanthin.” Hecht says. “The important thing to look for are bioactive ingredients that can cross the blood-retinal barrier and are supported by double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that have shown eye health benefits in healthy participants.”

The thing is, like all dietary supplements, finding a high-quality, effective eye supplement can be difficult (to say the least). These are the main criteria we use when searching for the best eye supplements to include on this list.

Food to go

If you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication, check with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always best to consult with a health care provider when considering which supplements are right for you.

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