MacuShield – Ski CPD Event – Chamonix

The MacuShield team had an amazing few days at the ski CPD event in Chamonix, Mont Blanc. The focus of this event was the role MacuShield can play in visual performance.

Many interesting discussions took place, including:

• Nutrition and Visual Excellence
• Macular Pigment and Visual Excellence
• Measuring contrast sensitivity with Glare Cards.

The event was attended by key opinion leaders across the Optical World. Below are a few of their testimonials:

1) Brian Tompkins BSc Hons FC Optom FBCLA:

Brian is an experienced independent practitioner, a council member and Fellow of the BCLA.  He is a Key Opinion Leader and Clinical Advisor to Bausch & Lomb and Coopervision and Professional Consultant to Alcon, a Professional Advisory Panel Member for J&J Visioncare, and a Faculty Member of the Ciba Academy of Excellence.

“A VERY informative time was recently enjoyed in the mountains of Chamonix, where the first SkiCPD meeting was held.  Participants experienced first-hand all that a mountain environment can offer - glare, dazzle, altitude, low oxygen and low temperatures.  Amongst the many topics covered, we learnt the importance of reducing glare and the crucial role of macular pigment and macular health to maintain great vision throughout life.  This was especially highlighted by the research and findings of Dr Mark Kirby PhD, and so most of us are now recommending, in fact even using, the three important carotenoid supplements [lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin] on our patients and ourselves…”

2) Nicholas Rumney MScOptom FCOptom  DipTP(IP) FAAO FBCLA FIACLE:

Nick Rumney is practising optometrist with a long standing interest in low vision and visual function. Nick completed his MSc measuring contrast sensitivity as part of the team who developed the Melbourne Edge Test and returned to the UK establishing a very successful low vision practice. He also has a wealth of knowledge and experience in assessing maculae and macular function.

“UV is undoubtedly one of the major alterable risk factors in oxidative damage and it is known to degrade vision and visual function at different levels. SkiCPD offered an insight into controlling UV and assessing its impact in a challenging environment via aspects of visual assessment (contrast), external filtration (UV lens reflectance) and macular protection (Macushield). I am now even more convinced of the importance of enhancing vision by UV avoidance and enhanced ocular nutrition."

3) Armin Duddek, ECOO Immediate Past President, Dipl. Augenoptiker, SBAO, VDCO, ISCLS

In Zurich, Armin has practiced since 1993 as a contact lens specialist and in 1997 bought the contact lens company Prolens.  Previously, he worked as an optician in Berlin and Steinhausen, Switzerland.  Armin has been a qualified optician since 1986 and received his optometry training at the Swiss higher technical school for optometry, SHFA.  Armin is President of the SBAO (Schweizerischen Berufsverbandes für Augenoptik und Optometrie) since 2001 and the Swiss delegate for ECOO since 2003.  He also writes articles and publications in several journals and holds various lectures and seminars.

“The importance of nutritional food supplementation will rise in the next ten years. Specialized products, like MacuShield, containing all three macular pigments are unique and provide additional benefits for patient health. Studies have shown positive results in reduction of glare and in enhancing contrast sensitivity.”

4) Nick Dash BSc MCOptom

Nick Dash is an Optometrist driven by passion.  He has integrated his passion for sport into his professional life as an Optometrist.  Nick is an Honorary Lecturer at University of Cardiff, Department of Optometry, owner of Visual Edge, and CEO of the Sports Vision Institute, where he offers expert services to many leading UK Sportsmen & women.

“Chamonix was the ideal setting for discussions on glare and contrast. Chamonix is acknowledged as an innovative and performance related arena. Control of glare and contrast are vital in the highly reflective high alpine environment, so it was an apt setting for these discussions. 

This 'new paradigm' of education comprising formal presentation supported by practical presentations, product feedback and development, e.g. MacuShield’s support of the Optometric Profession, and our patients, by developing simple contrast charts that will available to practices and patients to gauge their contrast ability.

If we are looking to protect the considerable number of our patients who suffer with glare or vision quality issues, we should consider advising improved ocular health through supplementation.”

It is fair to say that the event was a great success. The concluding statement for the whole event was:

"There now exists robust scientific evidence that visual excellence, in healthy individuals, is dependent upon optimum levels of macular pigment.  Improvements in contrast sensitivity, and contrast sensitivity under glare conditions of up to 30% were observed using MacuShield.  This improvement was achieved in a period of 6 months.  No such improvement was achieved with a supplement lacking meso-zeaxanthin.  The nutritional enrichment offered by MacuShield should be considered by anyone undertaking tasks in a high glare environment".

Here are a few pictures from the Event:

Chamonix

Macular Pigment and Vision Presentation

MacuShield Boxes

Group Shot

Up on the slopes!

Hope you have enjoyed reading the post, for more information contact us or visit www.skicpd.org.

Have a great weekend,

MacuShield Team.

Trust the Science

Ask yourself these questions…

Ask yourself these questions, and then read the supporting science...

1) Do you complain when encountering glare conditions, such as night time driving?

People with 'higher macular pigment (the yellow filter at the back of the eye), tend to experience less visual discomfort on exposure to intense light'.

- Stringham JM, The glare hypothesis of Macular Pigment. Optom Vis Sci. Sept 2007.

2) Did you know that macular pigment (the yellow filter at the back of the eye), selectively filters the blue portion of light which causes glare?

'Macular pigment significantly improves three aspects of visual performance in glare conditions: 1) photostress recovery, 2) glare disability, 3) visual discomfort'.

- Stringham JM. Macular pigment and Visual Performance in Glare: Benefits for photostress recovery, disability glare and visual discomfort. Invest Ophth & Vis Sci. Sept 2011.

3) Are you aware that nutritional supplementation with the carotenoids that make up this yellow filter is proven to reduce glare and enhance vision?

'Supplementation with all three macular carotenoids may offer advantages over preparations that do not have meso-zeaxanthin, both in terms of macular pigment response and in terms of visual performance enhancement'.

- Loughman J. The Impact of Macular Pigment Augmentation on Visual Performance using different carotenoid formulation. Invest Ophth & Vis Sci. Nov 2012.

The scientific research is truly building momentum in terms of the benefits in which increased macular pigment can bring. Remember that MacuShield is the only supplement that contains all three carotenoids that make up this yellow filter at the back of the eye.

If you have any further questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind Regards,

MacuShield Team

Trust the Science.

AOP Awards 2012 – MacuShield Nomination!

We are delighted to announce that the CEO of MacuVision Europe, (the manufacturers of MacuShield), Trevor McCormack, has been nominated for the 'Supplier Award' at the prestigious AOP awards 2012.

AOP Awards - MacuShield - MacuVision Europe.

The criteria for being nominated for this award reads: "The representative from an Optical Supplier who has done the most to advance eye care through his or her relationship with individual optical practices". With this in mind, it is an honour for Trevor on behalf of MacuShield, to have been put forward for this, and it also shows that all our hard work in terms of obtaining and then communicating scientific research is paying off. Click on the following link to read Trevor's interview: http://www.optometry.co.uk/awards/supplier-award-2012

Trevor McCormack - MacuShield

Voting has now opened so please vote for Trevor McCormack, and help MacuShield to gain further exposure and recognition for the efforts we make to help advance eye care!

For you convenience, the following link takes you directly to the voting page: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2NV3377

Many thanks and Kind Regards,

MacuShield Team

Grand Opening of a €4 million (Euro) Vision Reseach Centre.

MacuShield® were honoured and indeed delighted to be invited to the grand opening of the Waterford Institute of Technology's (WIT) €4 million Vision Research Centre.

This state-of-the art centre houses the WIT's Macular Pigment Research Group (MPRG) and was officially opened by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, at the end of March 2012.

Led by Dr. John Nolan and Professor Stephen Beatty, the centre is the only one of its kind in the world, bringing together a range of the most advanced vision testing equipment, allowing the team of 10 full time researchers to measure vision at a super-sensitive level.

Based in Carriganore House, this new development is a real credit to all at the MPRG.

Below is a selection of pictures taken on the day of the opening. Be sure to keep checking back to the website and our YouTube page for an exclusive video of the day’s events.

Anne and Trevor McCormack present Dr. Nolan with a gift to mark the occasion from MacuShield.

Carriganore House - The new home of WIT's Macular Pigment Research Group.

Group Shot of all attendees - Opening Ceremony.

The new state-of-the art vision testing equipment.

MacuShield Team.