Eyes are the five senses is very important / essential. Conceivably, if we have eye damage or blindness, we can not enjoy and feel how beautiful this universe.
In fact we often forget to make eye care, but as parts of the body, the eyes may be affected by the disorder or health problems. Disorder-disorder can be caused by air is not clean or polluted, solar radiation, radiation from too long in front of computers, and other disturbances.
Studies conducted by the Eye Disease Prevalence Research Group (2004) estimates that by 2020 the number of people with eye diseases and blindness in the world will reach 55 million. The study also mentions that the eye disease and blindness will increase, especially for those who have aged over 65 years. A person aged 80 years and over who is 8% of the total population, suffered blindness as much as 69%.
Health problems in a common eye problem is the decline in vision function, red-eye symptoms without any decrease in vision function, and red eye with decreased visual function. Until now, eye disease that affects many are cataract, glaucoma, and infection.
Along with increased attention and knowledge of the influence of nutrition on health, especially the health of the eye causes the rapid market growth of healthcare products, food, medicine, health foods, medical drugs, food supplements, health supplements, herbal remedies, natural cure eye. Most of the products for eye health which is now marketed in the form of supplements, food drug, health food, medical drugs, food supplements, health supplements, herbal medicine, natural medicine. In addition to antioxidant compounds (vitamins A, C, and E) that had previously been known to improve eye health, other compounds such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin, recently known as a compound that can improve the health of the eye.
Lutein, a yellow carotenoid family of compounds are found in many green vegetables. Lutein in the macula and are believed to protect the eyes from oxidative damage by ultraviolet light radiation (UV).
Macula is in the middle of the retina and directly adjacent to the eyepiece. Macula is a small area containing millions of cells that help produce sharp eyesight to read or see objects clearly.
Other carotenoid compounds present in the macula is is zeaxanthin, which are known to provide benefits for eye health.
Research conducted by Chitchumroonchokchai and colleagues in 2004 from Ohio State University, showed that lutein and zeaxanthin may protect human lens cells from UV exposure, which is the main cause of cataracts. In addition, they compared the antioxidant activity of lutein and zeaxanthin as vitamin E. The results showed that lutein and zeaxanthin showed 10 times higher activity than vitamin E in protecting the lens cells from damage caused by ultraviolet light.
The same year also conducted research by Neuringer and colleagues, demonstrated the ability of lutein and zeaxanthin in improving eye health. While testing on animals, sponsored by DSM Nutritional Products Switzerland, showed that the supplementation or the addition of lutein and zeaxanthin increase the activity of antioxidants in the blood.
Group of other carotenoid compounds that actually has the ability to protect the macula from UV exposure is astaxanthin. Guerin et al. (2003) mentions that the ability of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds astaxanthin can give the effect of eye protection from UV rays.
Until now, the antioxidant activity of compounds lutein, zeaxanthin, and astaxanthin provide answers mechanisms increase in eye health. Free radicals from UV light or air contamination, into the eye resulted in the oxidation of molecules susceptible to the eyepiece.
