Unboxed: 5 vision health supplements innovating at blinding speed
Repeated long stretches of screen time have taken a toll on the average consumer's eyesight. Luckily, studies have shown that certain supplement formulations can alleviate this damage, and even promote better sleep and reduced eye strain. Check out five of our top eye health supplements that have been scientifically proven to keep eyes healthier, longer.
February 13, 2019
![Unboxed: 5 vision health supplements innovating at blinding speed Unboxed: 5 vision health supplements innovating at blinding speed](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt09e5e63517a16184/blt465cbb54baf09cf1/64ff1c6d00f7823a979175d0/eye-health-supplements.png?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Quantum Health Digital Blue Eye Health 60 softgels SRP: $21.99 This is a close formulation of both the 2017 study, with the 20/4 formulation of lutein/zeaxanthin, plus it matches some of the original AREDS study with the selfsame 15 mg zinc. However, while AREDS used vitamin E (400 IU) this formulation contains 100 IU. The AREDS2 study used omega-3s–350 mg DHA and 650 mg EPA, while this has 50 mg of each. Of note, the AREDS2 study did not find that omega-3s made any difference in those tested.
Source Naturals Screen Time Stamina 60 tablets SRP: $23.50 Vision health, sure, but this formulation supports those who spend all the livelong day in front of a screen. It starts with a 6/1 lutein/zeaxanthin – the bare minimum found to help macular health. Then it has 20 ingredients—adaptogens such as rhodiola, schisandra and ashwagandha (at efficacious doses), green tea for a caffeine jolt, L-theanine to take the edge off the caffeine, cognitive support herbs like vinpocetine and eleuthero, and holy basil—walking meditation in a bottle.
Swanson Vision Defense 60 softgels SRP: $53.49 Old-school mail order catalog king Swanson is getting its innovation on. They started with the proper dosage of Lutemax 2020 (20/4), then added bilberry extract, which was made famous in WWII for allegedly helping British pilots see better during night raids. It also uses two other branded ingredients—TruBroc broccoli and AstaPure astaxanthin at 4mg. Astax has been shown to support blood flow in capillaries in the eye, help with eye fatigue and make for sharper visual sensation, although those studies used between 5-12 mg astaxanthin.
Twinlab Ocuguard Blutein Performance 30 veggie capsules SRP: $30.99 Twinlab might have been first out of the gate to use the Lutemax 2020 ingredient, at the 20/4 level—the same dosage used in the landmark 2017 study. Then, because this is the performance blend (there are others), it’s hepped up with a modest 50 mg caffeine (about a half a cup of coffee's worth) and other botanicals to help with focus, like the adaptogen rhodiola and the chill-sans-sleepiness L-theanine.
Wiley’s Finest Bold Vision Proactive 60 softgels SRP: $39.99 This features 20 mg lutein, sourced from FloraGlo, the original natural lutein branded ingredient, as well as 4 mg zeaxanthin. Then it includes 2 mg astaxanthin and a bit of bilberry, and 11 mg zinc, along with the omega-7 fatty acid palmitoleic acid, which has been shown to be promising for dry eyes.
Wiley’s Finest Bold Vision Proactive 60 softgels SRP: $39.99 This features 20 mg lutein, sourced from FloraGlo, the original natural lutein branded ingredient, as well as 4 mg zeaxanthin. Then it includes 2 mg astaxanthin and a bit of bilberry, and 11 mg zinc, along with the omega-7 fatty acid palmitoleic acid, which has been shown to be promising for dry eyes.
The vision-health category of supplements was wholly unremarkable until the 2001 AREDS study, which used a combination of antioxidants that reduced the risk of progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).
But nobody cared about ARMD, and no sales followed.
In 2013, the AREDS2 study found success with ARMD with the macular carotenoids lutein and zeaxahthin.
But nobody cared about ARMD, and no sales followed.
In 2017, however, researchers used lutein and zeaxanthin to assess visual health and performance—those on screens at least six hours a day after six months experienced reduced eye strain and fatigue, even improved sleep quality.
The blue study used the proprietary formulation called Lutemax 2020, which contained 20 mg lutein and 4 mg zeaxanthin. (Follow-up studies have found increases in the macular pigment optical density at doses of 10/2 and even 6/1.2 mg, respectively.
Blue light is the very light spectrum that is emitted from digital screens–the very one you’re looking at right now.
Now that made people sit up and take notice, and supplement companies have responded with potent eye-health formulations. Here are five magnificent macular protectors.
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