The Relationship Between Healthy Vision and Vitamins
We are, without doubt, in the midst of the Information Age. As a result, we have become inundated with an over-abundance of articles, advertisements, broadcasts, and the like — all of them promising the most up-to-date news on the best methods for preserving health.
In recent years, the popularity of vitamins and nutritional supplements has grown, and with it, so has the prevalence of eye vitamins. Consumers spare no expense, shelling out billions each year on the promise of nutritional supplements. But is it all worth it? Let’s take a closer look at eye vitamins in particular, and find out whether the claims actually match up to the results.
Eye Health Supplement Claims
Claims that nutritional supplements support eye health and ward off disease run rampant, and as one might suspect, a great deal of the vitamin and supplement industry is nothing more than a snake oil operation full of promises that don’t deliver, which unfortunately may include some of the best-selling eye vitamins. According to a study published in Ophthalmology, the Journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a number of the most sought-out eye health supplements on the market don’t match proper ingredient dosages to mirror successful clinical trial findings.
In other words, some of the claims made by eye vitamin manufacturers aren’t properly backed by scientific research, which can leave consumers confused and lacking beneficial direction. The good news is, proper supplementation can actually help reduce the risk of some advanced eye conditions.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Effective AREDS Trials
AMD, or age-related macular degeneration, is a condition that affects many older adults and results in varying degrees of vision loss. Approximately 25 percent of cases lead to blindness, or a more advanced form of the disease. Clinical research backed by the 2001 Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) revealed that proper nutritional supplementation, which included a very specific combination of zinc and antioxidants, can successfully slow the progression of the disease in those with either advanced AMD in one eye or intermediate AMD in both eyes.
Another successful follow-up study conducted in 2011, named AREDS2, swapped out beta-carotene from the original AREDS formula with a similar ingredient in order to reduce the risk of lung cancer for smokers.
Clinical Research Vs. Eye Vitamin Bestsellers
AREDS and AREDS2 formulas have been tested against 11 top selling eye health supplements and the results are a bit unsettling. Findings indicate that only four brands contain dosages that match AREDS and AREDS2. Another four brands contain a similar combination, but inadequate dosages, and four brands included additional ingredients beyond the proven AREDS and AREDS2 formulas.
Among all 11 top-selling products, no brand indicated the specific condition for which the supplement should be taken for on the label. And vitamin supplementation may not be effective, depending on the condition in question.
Patient Education: Ask the Eye Care Specialist
Given the widespread prevalence of nutritional supplements available on the market today, it’s easy to become confused about which supplements can actually promote more healthy vision and ward off illness. Patients should consult with an ophthalmologist or other eye care specialist for direction on which supplements can be beneficial. With a little guidance, some eye vitamins really can help to support eye health.
[Photo Credit: GreenBlender]