Vitamin Information Center

Bausch & Lomb, the eye health company dedicated to perfecting vision and enhancing life, has unveiled a groundbreaking range of vitamin and mineral supplements developed to help preserve eye health.

PreserVision Soft Gels by Bausch & Lomb are high potency antioxidant supplements developed from the only formulation tested in a 10-year eye health study. Conducted by the US National Eye Institute, the study monitored health in over 4,000 50-80 year-old participants, and found that the supplements could be effective in preserving eye health in those susceptible to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

AMD is a disease of the macular – the central part of the eye which allows a person to see fine detail, and gradually destroys the sharp, central vision which is needed to see objects clearly. The most prevalent cause of vision loss in the western world, AMD is thought to affect over three million people in the UK alone – more than five per cent of the population.

Recommended by leading ophthalmologists in the UK, PreserVision Soft Gels provide antioxidant vitamins and minerals at levels not normally achievable through diet alone.

Andrew Lotery, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Southampton, said: “Oral treatment of AMD through supplementation is a proven and cost effective method of reducing progression of the disease.

“However, not all vitamin supplements are the same. Low doses of minerals such as vitamins C and E, zinc and beta-carotene have a negligible effect when compared to the high dose AREDS formulation. Vitamin therapy should be seen as a high priority when assessing patients in the early stages of AMD.”

The two-a-day PreserVision Soft Gels are available in two easy-to-swallow formulations – Original and Lutein. PreserVision Original provides high levels of the antioxidants beta-carotene3, vitamins C and E and zinc.

PreserVision Lutein is an advanced formulation containing the same combination of vitamins C, E and zinc, but with lutein as a replacement for beta-carotene. Lutein, which occurs naturally in the retina, is believed to function both as an antioxidant and a filter of harmful blue light. PreserVision Lutein can be recommended to all users, including smokers.

The PreserVision Soft Gels range complements the established PreserVision Tablets supplement, which contains the same quantity of the antioxidants vitamins and minerals as the Original Soft Gels formulation, but in a four-a-day tablet form.

For further information about Bausch & Lomb’s PreserVision, log on to Preservision.co.uk.

PreserVision Original and Lutein Soft Gels and PreserVision tablets are available over the counter at most Boots stores, and pharmacies, priced at £14.95 (RRP) for 60 Soft Gels.

Cataracts, the most common cause of blindness, may result from exposure to sunlight throughout your life. What we eat may help protect not only against cataracts but glaucoma and macular degeneration, and can promote overall and eye health.
Several research studies have found antioxidants like vitamin E and vitamin C help lower the rate of cataracts. Vitamin A, lutein and zeaxanthin are three more compounds found in food that are essential for good eye health.
Vitamin E is found in wheat germ, nuts, seeds and oils. Vitamin C is found in oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, broccoli and peppers. Vitamin A promotes normal vision and helps you see in the dark by adjusting to lower levels of light. Good sources of vitamin A are carrots, papaya, milk and tomatoes.
Lutein is a phytonutrient that contributes to the health of your eyes by maintaining healthy vision and possibly reducing the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Zeaxanthin is another phytonutrient that contributes to maintaining healthy vision and may help prevent macular degeneration.
Both lutein and zeaxanthin are found in dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, peas, kiwi, red grapes, yellow squash, oranges, corn, mangoes and honeydew melon. They help keep the lens, retina and the pigment of the macula (or central area of the eye) healthy.
You’ve probably noticed these foods benefit your overall health in addition to being good for your eyes. Remember, one of the best things you can do to keep your eyes healthy is to consume five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
To keep your eyes healthy, fix your gaze on fruits and vegetables.
For other nutrition and food safety questions, contact me at 620-232-1930 or e-mail me at mmurphy@ksu.edu or check out the K-State Research and Extension Web site: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/humannutrition/

For the 76 million baby boomers born in the U.S. between 1946 and 1964, the fear of facing permanent vision loss due to Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is very real. AMD is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the U.S. for people over the age of 55.
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