According to a Dutch study, taking vitamin C together with vitamin E helps slow the progress of the age-related eye disease macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the over-65s. Macular degeneration, a progressive eye condition, attacks the macula, where the sharpest central vision occurs. It rarely causes complete blindness, but leaves just dim images or black holes at the centre of vision. Vitamin C helps in the absorption of lutein and lypocene, nutrients found in fruit and vegetables that are needed to maintain the health of the eye.

Of course no-one is suggesting that eye health supplements are a cure or an alternative to appropriate referral but there is no doubt that they can improve your wellbeing so why not discuss them with our consultant optometrist?

Recommending supplements is certainly becoming more popular in optical practices across the UK as there is increasing evidence to suggest that innovative eye health products may indeed play a positive role in preventative care and in helping to offset the symptoms of various eye health conditions. Many such supplements contain sufficient other vitamins and minerals to rule out the need to take any other general health multivitamin products and often only one tablet per day is required.

ICAPS contain lutein along with zeaxanthin, nutrients that occur naturally in the macula (the area of the eye where the incoming rays of light are focused) and which help to protect the eye by reducing oxidative stress and absorbing damaging blue light.

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