Macular Pigment
Three carotenoids comprise macular pigment: Zeaxanthin, Lutein, and meso-zeaxanthin. Zeaxanthin and Lutein are naturally deposited in the fovea at a 2:1 ratio and the EyePromise Restore formulation mirrors this ratio with 8 mg of Zeaxanthin and 4 mg of Lutein. It is believed that Lutein converts to meso-zeaxanthin in the absence of natural, dietary Zeaxanthin.
Healthy macular pigment acts as “internal sunglasses” blocking harmful blue light from reaching the photoreceptors (cones and rods) which are responsible for central and peripheral vision, respectively. A good analogy to macular pigment is sunscreen — it protects the skin from harmful rays, and macular pigment is made thicker or “restored” by replenishing the natural carotenoids, Zeaxanthin and Lutein.
What is Zeaxanthin?
Zeaxanthin and Lutein are carotenoids in the fovea that largely make up the macular pigment. Studies show that Zeaxanthin increases low macular pigment levels — a leading risk factor for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
EyePromise® features only the finest ingredients including ZeaGold™ Zeaxanthin, derived from an exclusive whole food source — paprika peppers, grown in West Texas.
Zeaxanthin in Your Diet (or lack thereof)
Zeaxanthin is scarce in most food sources, resulting in a significat dietary gap. The average person consumes 0.5 – 1.0 mg of Zeaxanthin per day, but 6 – 10 mg is the amount associated with reduced AMD risk. EyePromise patented formulas contain the highest levels of dietary Zeaxanthin of any nutraceuticals available, helping bridge the dietary gap to support ocular health.
Fun Fact: It would take nearly 20 ears of corn to equal the 8 mg of Zeaxanthin found in one EyePromise Restore formula softgel.