Disorders of Eye Health

Eye senses a very important / essential. If we can limit the damage to the eye or blindness, we could not enjoy the taste and how beautiful the universe. Reality we often forget to make eye care, as well as in other parts of the body, the eyes may be affected by a disorder or health problems. interference can be caused by air is not clean or polluted, solar radiation, radiation from too long in front of the computer, and other disorders.

Studies conducted by the Eye Disease Prevalence Research Group (2004) estimates that in 2020 the number of eye disease and blindness in the world will reach 55 million people. The study also mentions that the eye disease and blindness will increase, especially for those over the age of 65 years. A person aged 80 years and above, ie 8% of the total population, have as many as 69% of blindness.

Disorders of eye health is a function of decreased vision, red eye symptoms without any loss of visual function, and red eye with visual function below. Until now, the eye disease that affects many are cataract, gloucomae, and infection.

Along with the increased attention and knowledge of the effect of nutrition on health, eye health, especially the rapid growth led to the market for the product, eye health. Most of the products to be marketed in the form of eye health supplements now. In addition to antioxidant compounds (vitamins A, C, and E), which had previously been known to improve eye health, compounds, such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin, recently known as a compound that can improve eye health.

Lutein is a yellow carotenoid group of compounds in green. Lutein is found in the macula and can be trusted to protect the eyes from ultraviolet radiation damage by oxidative rays (UV).

The macula is in the middle of the retina and the lens direct neighbors. Macula is a small area that contains millions of cells that help produce sharp vision to read or see objects clearly.

Carotenoids other compounds found in the macula is zeaxanthin, which are known to provide eye
health benefits.

Research conducted by Chitchumroonchokchai and colleagues in 2004 from Ohio State University, showed that lutein and zeaxanthin may protect cells from humans display UV lens, which is a major cause of cataracts. In addition, they compared the antioxidant activity of lutein and zeaxanthin with vitamin E. The results showed that lutein and zeaxanthin showed activity 10 times higher than vitamin E in protecting cells from damage caused by ultraviolet light lens.

In the same year was also conducted research by Neuringer and colleagues, fully ability of lutein and zeaxanthin in the eye to improve health. While testing on animals, sponsored by DSM Nutritional Products of Switzerland, showed that supplementation or addition of lutein and zeaxanthin increase antioxidant activity in the blood.

Group carotenoids other compounds that have the ability to protect the macula from UV screen is astaxanthin. Guerin, et al. (2003) mentions that the ability of the compound effect of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory astaxanthin can provide eye protection from UV rays.

Until this antioxidant activity of compounds lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin mechanism to
provide answers that the increase in eye health. Free radicals from UV levels macroscopic water, or air, in the eye causes the oxidation reaction of molecules susceptible to the lens.

Protein and fat molecules to the lens. Effects of oxidative stress causes fat or protein in the lens. Along with increasing age and increasing pressure accumulation of free radicals, proteins and fats are broken will be greater. That makes blurred vision and long-term becomes blind.

Lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin arresting free radicals (serious scavenger activity) by binding prior radicals damage proteins, fats or lens. Or, in other words, lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin can be referred to as a lens protector against free radical attack.

Carotenoids are found in yellow-orange vegetables such as carrots, green vegetables such as broccoli, and red fruits and yellow-orange, like tomatoes, strawberries, melons and mangoes. So by eating vegetables and fruits on a regular basis to meet the needs of lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin every day. In addition, other effects of consuming vegetables and fruits is increasing intake of dietary fiber which is good for health.