The Macula

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“In my opinion, the best formulation for maintaining visual health, and for safeguarding vision into old age, would contain lutein, zeaxanthin and meso- zeaxanthin. Such a combination is optimal for shielding the central retina from damaging wavelengths of light, and from injury by free radicals.”

Professor Stephen Beatty
Consultant Ophthalmologist

The Macula

The macula  has an important and naturally occurring protective yellow filter known as macular pigment. A healthy macula  is rich in the three carotenoids: lutein, zeaxanthin and meso--zeaxanthin. This layer of pigment acts as a protective shield against oxidative stress, free radical  and blue light damage.

Essentially macular pigment is like a ‘sunscreen for the eyes’. However, due to longer life expectancy macular pigment levels can deplete over the years causing age related changes to our central vision.  As blue light is part of normal vision, and oxygen use is required for life, free radical  damage is the cost of living, and is therefore unavoidable.

What is a photoreceptor?

Photoreceptors are special cells in the retina  which are responsible for converting light into nerve signals. There are over 120 million photoreceptors in the human retina some of which are adapted to detect colour and others adapted for low light. 

Our eyes are the window to our soul

Illustration of the macula with and without macular pigment

Diagram of the Macula without and with Macular Pigment?

Image courtesy of Dr. J Nolan, Waterford Institute of Technology