The show was a great success and gave us the opportunity to showcase the latest science regarding Macular pigment nutrition and also provided the platform to promote our future product launches of MacuShield Gold and MacuShield Veggie.

We are pleased to inform that MacuShield Gold will be launched early next week, with the MacuShield Veggie launch two weeks later, providing everything goes to plan.

Remember to keep checking back to our website for the official launch, and everything else to do with the official MacuShield product range. Also, please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions regarding anything to do with MacuShield and the science it is based upon.

Here are a few pictures of our stand at Optrafair 2013.

MacuShield stand Optrafair 2013

Front of MacuShield stand

Anna Turney (Paralympic skier - going for Gold 2014 - MacuShield are her Platinum Sponsor), helping out on the MacuShield stand.

Dr. Kirby communicating the latest scientific research on the MacuShield stand

Showcase with our new MacuShield Gold product inside.

Showcasing the lastest science surrounding MacuShield and HD vision

Have a great weekend,

MacuShield Team

Trust the Science.

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

The conference, organised by sports vision specialist Nick Dash, will host lectures and 'on-snow' workshops relating to vision and high altitude / high glare environments. In addition to several key opinion leaders from the field of sports vision, nutritionist Dr. Mark Kirby PhD will deliver a lecture on macular pigment supplementation and visual enhancement under glare conditions.

Trust The Science,

MacuShield Team.

The conference will take place from 10th - 12th July 2013 at Downing College, Cambridge University.

This is a conference for macular carotenoid researchers, exploring up-to-date and evidence-based hypotheses and the supporting research data into the role of the macular carotenoids in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), vision, and cognitive function.

For more information on the conference please visit www.macularcarotenoids.org or email the conference team on info@macularcarotenoids.org.

Remember to keep checking back for further information regarding this conference and all other news involving MacuShield.

Thanks for reading,

The MacuShield Team.

Trust The Science.

We are back in the office on Wednesday 2nd Jan 2013, from 9am.

Remember to keep checking back on here for all the latest news, exhibitions and scientific research. 2013 promises to be a very exciting year for MacuShield.

Kind Regards,

MacuShield Team

Trust The 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.

These events are very important to us and give us the opportunity to educate the eye care professionals about the new 'peer reviewed' scientific research that is published regarding the role that the three carotenoids, meso-zeaxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin play in increasing one's macular pigment, and then the benefits this macular pigment can bring.

Remember MacuShield is the only supplement available that contains the 3rd and most important carotenoid meso-zeaxanthin.

Trust the Science,

MacuShield Team.

This weekend we are again supporting Boots Opticians for their eye care CET road show, this time the location is in the very centre of London!

Work has also progressed on an exciting new product that will be launched very soon. Keep checking back for the latest information on this.

Have a great weekend,

MacuShield Team.

Trust The Science.

This event is the first of many which will be taking place throughout November and December, up and down the country.

Remember to keep checking back to the website for the latest information on MacuShield.

If you have any questions that are not answered on this site, please do not hesitate to contact us and one of our team will be more than happy to help.

Have a great weekend.

MacuShield Team, Trust the Science.

Be sure to keep checking back to our website for the latest info regards new product developments and everything else involving MacuShield.

We would also like to say that we had a fantastic night at the AOP awards last Thursday, for which we were nominated for the Supplier of the Year award.

Hope you all have a great weekend,

MacuShield Team