Vitamin Supplement For Eye Health

I take a 40mg Lutein & Zzeaxanthin suplement daily

We take a large number of supplements, including one for our eyes, all advised. I've never read any reason to not take supplements.

Ask your optician which they recommend.

I have dry eyes and the Consultant at my local hospital advised me to take flaxseed oil capsules. I think they helped a little and it hasn't deteriorated in about 8 years so I am happy with that.

I take Sea Buckthorn capsules for irritated eyes. Someone here on gransnet suggested it a few years ago, seems to have settled them down but whether they would have got better by themselves who knows?

My ophthalmologist gave me the advice to take Visionace (or macushield) or eat lots of kale everyday. I have been shortsighted since early childhood and now have drusens which leads to age related macular degeneration. The condition is checked annually and is developing slowly. I take the meds as not to do so could lead to a more rapid deterioration of my sight. Unfortunately there is no exact science to prove whether it helps or not but is it worth taking a chance? Certainly not for me, widowed, living in a small village and wanting to stay independent for as long as possible….and that means driving.

Nanato3 my previous optician who was a very well qualified man, told me that although his diet is excellent, he was still in favour of taking supplements specifically designed to help with eye health.

He didn’t make any extravagant claims, but just said that in a normal diet, it is difficult to obtain the required vitamins in sufficient quantities.

Although I do accept that it’ extremely difficult to prove, why not give the ones mentioned on here a try?

Macushield for instance is a very well respected brand.

I’m with FGT on this. However have recently decided maybe some Vit D needed in winter months

Oh yes. How many of us have been prescribed Adcal-D3 for bone health?

Hundreds of thousands nationwide I imagine. I’m sure the NHS wouldn’t dish them out if they hadn’t undergone stringent clinical trials.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I disagree.
I can say that I think someone’s opinion is delusional.
I don’t wear a mask.

You said "I think YOU are delusional", not "I think YOUR OPINION is delusional". There is a difference between those two thoughts.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I think you’re delusional.

What an uncalled-for comment!

Fried Green Tomatoes are probably vitamin rich. Sauted rather than the Scot's way deep fried, unless in lard, which is healthy.

JenniferEccles

Oh yes. How many of us have been prescribed Adcal-D3 for bone health?

Hundreds of thousands nationwide I imagine. I’m sure the NHS wouldn’t dish them out if they hadn’t undergone stringent clinical trials.

I’ve been taking Adcall for about 12 years, since my rheumatology consultant prescribed it. I have rheumatoid/psoriatic arthritis, first diagnosed in my early 40’s, but the consultant said it started when I was 25. 40 years later I’m doing well, thanks to the nhs and my excellent consultant.

I fell a year ago and fractured my shoulder. Ouch. Dexa scans showed little change from the first 10 years ago and the 2nd , 5 years ago. The practitioner who did the scans said Adcal really helps bone health

M0nica

I get the feeling that unless there is a history of macular generation in your family, or other indications that you may get it, a supplement specifically for the eyes is probably a waste of money.

The one supplement every one should be taking is vitamin D. Research has shown that most people in the UK are Vitamin D deficient in the winter months and Vitamin D is needed for strong bones.

It is not good (dangerous) to take D3 on its own, it needs to be taken in conjunction with K

D3 is not a vitamin associated with eye conditions.

Lutein
zeaxanthin
ribiflavin
zinc
grapeseed
also blueberries, blackberries

I’m pleased to hear Adcal is helping you Iam64
I’m sure your various conditions can be agonising at times so anything which strengthens your bones to help prevent more painful fractures can only be good.

I am due another Dexa scan actually as I haven’t had one since before the pandemic. I must chase it up.

I was lucky I think, to only fractured my shoulder. I fell hard, flat down on the wooden floor. I’d tripped over my dogs lead. NHS brilliant, including immediate session with the physio in the fracture clinic which meant muscle loss and stiffness were reduced. The pain was grim though no my independence disappeared, couldn’t drive, cook, chop food etc. I’m blessed with two daughters living near who stepped up.

welbeck

I don't expect improvement.
I hope it might stave off or delay decline.
There was evidence in that Michael Mosely programme.
It's a few years ago now but probably still available.

I started taking Macushield after seeing this programme. I haven't noticed improvement, but no deterioration is good enough for me.
Very expensive in shops so I buy on Ebay.
Macushield original

I think you’re offensive but each to their own!

My husband has dry macular degeneration and takes viteyes2 softgels. They contain vitamins C & E, lutein, zeaxanthin and zinc. They were recommended by the Macular society, who have done lots of research on this subject and give lots of info and helpful tips re lifestyle, gadgets etc. He buys his medication online and it's not cheap, but seems to have slowed down the progression of the disease, though it won't ever restore any lost vision.

Sufferers from dry macular degeneration might like to know that there is a new laser treatment which is successful in halting the development of this problem. It will not improve your sight. Unfortunately it is only currently available privately and not on the NHS. Optegra Eye Hospital is offering this at around £5k a year and you have to keep on with the treatment every year..

I take an ARED2 supplement as recommended by my consultant. My dry macular degeneration has not progressed in the 4 years I have been taking them as my annual eye- test has demonstrated. Yes they are fairly expensive, but worth every penny!

The optician I see tells me to eat plenty of green vegetables, I always have. I'm 83 my eyesight has not deteriorated since my last eye test, so I must be doing something right.

M0nica

Supplements that will improve your eyesight in what way?

Sort out cataracts and/or short/long sight? protect from glaucoma or macular degeneration? Stop eye problems with temporal arteritis?

What is the evidence that they are effective?

The Macular Society has done a lot of work on this and recommend Macushield as a supplement. There is real evidence that this supports the slowing down of macular disease in its early stages.

I buy 4 boxes of Macusave (90 in a box) so almost a year’s supply for £80 on Amazon. My Dad had wet macular degeneration in one eye and dry in the other. I too saw Michael Mosley’s program and so printed a summary of it and took it my local pharmacy. The helpful pharmacist asked me to leave it with him a few days and when I returned he had investigated and found lots of genuine medical studies which found this supplement to be beneficial. I did a lot a reading online where people had been advised by NHS consultants to take Macusave. I have been taking these capsules for a number of years as a preventative measure

Summary of Michael Mosley’s TV program:-

Health claims for the benefits of food and food supplements containing macular carotenoids were put to the test in the BBC programme ‘Trust Me, I’m a Doctor’.

In the show, presenter Dr Michael Mosley took a daily supplement containing lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin for 12-weeks.

Eye examinations taken before and after the supplement trial found the macular pigment levels in Dr Mosley’s eye were ‘significantly increased’.

Contrast sensitivity levels, acuity in detail and colour perception of yellow and blues were also enhanced in his vision.

The show also included a trial where a group of volunteers consumed a daily smoothie made from food types rich in lutein for five weeks. No noticeable difference in vision was reported by the participants of the smoothie trial but lutein levels in the blood were higher in the volunteers group by the end of the five weeks.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I think you’re delusional.

My sister was advised by her optician to take Macushield as apparently have several others on this site. I think the opticians probably know what they're doing.