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MacuHealth

The United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, presided by United States District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington, rendered a clear decision in favor of MacuHealth on June 7th, 2023, in its legal proceeding against Vision Elements, Inc for false advertising and unfair competition.

The Court issued a summary judgment opinion finding that:

      “Vision Elements made claims about its Early Defense product that were “literally false”;

      “Vision Elements’ false claims were material to consumers’ purchasing decisions”; 

      “Vision Elements should have known its solvents claims were false”;

      “Vision Elements did not exercise the reasonable care or investigation required under Florida law”; and

      “Vision Elements’ false claims “were intended to induce consumers to purchase Early Defense”;

On November 1, 2023, a jury in the US District Federal Court Middle District of Florida, further found that MacuHealth was injured or likely to be injured by Vision Elements’ false and misleading advertisements.

“We are thrilled to see justice prevail. We spent a tremendous amount of time, effort and money bringing the absolute best ocular nutrition products to eye-care-professionals and their patients”, stated Frederic Jouhet, Founder and President of MacuHealth.

“It is time for doctors to understand that having a 10-10-2 formula that has been tested by science is unique to MacuHealth as all research studies used our specific product. We have the most robust and highest-level science on any formula in the industry and we are the first company placing its products through the rigorous scrutiny of Supplement Certified® for label claims accuracy and shelf-life stability” he added.

“We cannot and will not stand by and allow competitors to misrepresent or lie about their products, nor will we allow false and damaging attacks by third parties to deceive doctors and lead them to believe a product is equal to ours when it is not. Competition is welcome, deception is not as it is both concerning and unacceptable.”

About MacuHealth

MacuHealth is a leader in the eye supplement industry that is focused on innovation and providing premium products formulated with pure, stable ingredients. Our products are proven to nourish and care for the whole eye at every stage of life.

MacuHealth

Clarion

MacuHealth, a leading provider of ocular supplements and solutions, is thrilled to announce its exclusive partnership with Clarion Medical Technologies Inc. from Cambridge, Ontario, as its sole distributor in Canada. Clarion, renowned for its commitment to quality healthcare and exceptional track record in distributing top-notch products across Canada, is the perfect ally for MacuHealth.

“We are delighted to unite MacuHealth and Clarion through this exclusive distribution agreement,” said Frederic Jouhet, Founder and CEO of MacuHealth. “Canadian patients and Eye Care Professionals deserve nothing but the best when it comes to ocular supplements. This partnership is especially significant considering recent findings by CTV News, which revealed that nearly 64% of such products fail to meet the claims on their labels. By teaming up with a stellar distribution group like Clarion, we are setting a new gold standard for ocular nutrition quality in the Canadian healthcare market.”

Clarion Medical Technologies Inc., recognized for its extensive expertise in the healthcare industry, has a strong reputation for delivering superior products. Their collaboration with MacuHealth solidifies their dedication to providing the highest level of ocular care to Canadian consumers.

About MacuHealthMacuHealth is a leader in the eye supplement industry that is focused on innovation and providing premium products formulated with the purest, most stable ingredients proven to nourish and care for the whole eye at every stage of life. MacuHealth’s products must meet the highest standards in scientific research to ensure each supplement is safe and effective.

For more information, visit MacuHealth.com

About Clarion

For over three decades, Clarion Medical Technologies has been at the forefront of the medical industry in Canada, dedicated to providing advanced solutions for ENT, Gynecology, Vision, Urology, and Aesthetic markets. With an unwavering commitment to sourcing top-of-the-line products, Clarion brings forth groundbreaking innovations that elevate the standard of healthcare. Their extensive portfolio encompasses laser technologies, nutraceuticals, diagnostic equipment, skincare, dermal fillers, intra-ocular lenses, laser fibers, clinical education, laser safety, and technical support.

Learn more about Clarion Medical Technologies at clarionmedical.com

MacuHealth

MacuHealth, a leader in the field of innovative eye supplements is proud to announce a donation of $15,000 to the Vision Source Foundation.

The donation will support the Foundation’s efforts to provide access to comprehensive eye care to underserved communities, aid research and educational initiatives, and support optometrists and their family members impacted by catastrophic events.

“We are thrilled to support the Vision Source Foundation and its mission,” said Frederic Jouhet, CEO of MacuHealth. “As a company dedicated to providing science-based nutritional supplements for eye health, Vision Source doctors have helped us tremendously on our journey. Their passion and eagerness to help their patients is exceptional.”

MacuHealth’s donation is part of the company’s commitment to ongoing research efforts, promoting eye health and improving the quality of life for people worldwide.

About MacuHealth
MacuHealth is a leader in the eye supplement industry that is focused on innovation and providing premium products formulated with the purest, most stable ingredients proven to nourish and care for the whole eye at every stage of life. MacuHealth’s products must meet the highest standards in scientific research to ensure each supplement is safe and effective.

MacuHealth

eye to brain connection
The eye to brain connection can support our health.

Written by MacuHealth
Reviewed by Jim Stringham, Ph.D.

If you want to know how to keep your eyes healthy, it’s important to understand how your eyes and brain work together to interpret the world around us. 

You might already know that the optic nerve connects your eyes and your brain, but it’s much more complex than that! Let’s delve into the eye-to-brain connection and examine how supporting your eye health improves your overall well-being.

Understanding the Eye-to-Brain Connection

Every part of your body connects to your brain, but the relationship between the eye and the brain is especially complicated. Your eyes and brain share a structural relationship that lets them process information. Yet the process isn’t done; using the information provided by your eyes and brain helps you maintain balance, understand what you see, decide what to do with that information and more. But how are the eyes connected to the brain?

How the Eyes and Brain Connect Structurally

Your eyes and brain are connected via the optic nerve, a dense bundle of nerve fibers that work like a cable. Each eye has its own thread that reaches back toward the brain.

At a spot called the optic chiasm, fibers from each optic nerve bundle cross over one another. That crossing helps you connect what you see with both eyes, which is essential for depth perception. From there, the signals from your eyes are further processed into color, form, and motion channels that ultimately get combined in the back of the brain – the visual cortex.

How the Eyes and Brain Connect to Process Information

When it comes to your vision, your optic nerve is an information highway. When light enters your eye, it reaches the retina, a layer of light-sensitive tissue that sits at the back of the eye and connects to the optic nerve.

The retina is full of cells called photoreceptors. These cells convert light into electrical signals that are sent down the optic nerve and toward your brain.

Before those signals reach the rest of your brain, they go to a structure in the thalamus called the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). The LGN brings data from all your senses, so it’s essential for balance and many other functions. The LGN routes visual information to the appropriate brain areas “higher up” in the visual stream.

What the Brain Does with That Information

In the next step of the eye-brain connection, the electrical signals reach the visual cortex and other brain areas for processing and construction of a complete picture. It’s a lot like how a computer can turn code into a user-friendly website.

The brain also helps you react to what you see. For instance, your brain might process colors, light, shape and size to show you a picture of an oncoming car. It will then tell you to get out of the way before the car hits you.

Connection Between Vision and Cognition

Now you have a good general idea of how the eye-to-brain connection works. But vision is also connected to cognition. 

Specifically, at least one study from the Journal of the American Medical Association found that older people with declining vision are more likely to experience memory loss and other symptoms of cognitive decline.

Younger people have greater neuroplasticity, meaning their brains can more easily adapt to challenges. So, people who develop visual issues earlier in life can adapt to a lack of visual input and don’t tend to experience cognitive decline. It’s an interesting example of the eyes’ connection to the brain and its effects on the body.

Age-related visual decline isn’t the only type of vision loss that can contribute to cognitive issues, though other health conditions can impact your cognition and vision.

Diabetes and High Blood Pressure

Blood vessels that connect to your brain and eyes can be negatively impacted by diabetes and high blood pressure. Eventually, that impact can lead to vision loss and cognitive decline.

Poor Blood Supply

If the blood supply to your eyes is insufficient, your eyes won’t receive the nutrients they need to function correctly. Due to the strong brain-eye connection, parts of your retina and brain may die if your blood supply is limited. That leads to degeneration of vision and ensuing cognitive decline.

Damage to the Arteries

Similarly, arterial damage will disrupt the delivery of nutrient-rich blood to your eyes and brain, leading to a decline in vision and cognition.

Inflammation

According to studies in the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, inflammation has been linked to cognitive decline. However, it also may cause vision loss. Chronic inflammation can cause nerves to degenerate and impair the building of new nerves. 

Since the optic nerve is a vital part of the eyes and brain connection, inflammation can damage your vision while also causing cognitive issues. 

Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress can severely impact your eyes and brain with damage from free radicals. These unstable atoms can damage your cells and cause a variety of illnesses. This condition often leads to inflammation that causes cognitive and visual issues.

Maintaining Good Eye Health

The strong eye connection to brain means that caring for your eyes is critical for overall health. A complete eye care routine includes healthy habits that protect and support your eyes daily. Eating a healthy diet rich in beta-carotene, wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays, taking frequent breaks from screens, and getting annual eye exams will help keep your eyes in good shape.

Antioxidants to Protect Against Oxidative Stress and Disease

You may already know that antioxidants are good for you. These compounds fight free radicals to reduce your risk of cellular damage and various types of disease. Recent research from the National Center for Biotechnology Information has also indicated that consuming foods and supplements rich in antioxidants can reduce your risk of macular degeneration and other eye issues.

All antioxidants have health benefits, but some are more helpful for eye health. Here are some of them, along with natural sources:

  • Xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin (leafy greens, broccoli, peas, egg yolks)
  • Beta-carotene (carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, spinach, cantaloupe, tomatoes, squash)
  • Omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, tuna)
  • Omega-6 fatty acids (peanut butter, walnuts, safflower oil)
  • Vitamin A (carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe)
  • Vitamin C (citrus fruits, spinach, tomatoes)
  • Zinc (beans, eggs, red meat, chicken)
  • Vitamin E (almonds, sunflower seeds)

Antioxidant-rich supplements can maximize your eye health and reduce your risk of eye diseases and similar issues. Correct supplementation with high-quality eye vision supplements like MacuHealth can give your eyes the nutrients they need.

MacuHealth

supplement certified
The Supplement Certified logo

Written by MacuHealth
Reviewed by Jim Stringham, Ph.D.

Eye supplements, particularly those designed to manage the symptoms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are becoming increasingly popular. The nutrients in many high-quality supplements boost your eyesight and fill in some of the nutritional gaps in your diet. But research shows supplements may promise to include a defined amount of active ingredients on the label, yet the truth could be vastly different.

“We were amazed with what we saw,” John Nolan, founder and director of the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (NRCI), told CTV News. “Not every product that’s commercially available actually has what it says on the label.”

When carotenoids are extracted from their source, they are vulnerable because the protective ester fatty acid chains are removed. Cheap formulations, such as powders and transparent capsules, as well as suboptimal storage techniques, can further degrade these nutrients. Supplements can lose their bioavailability to light and oxidation, meaning you aren’t getting everything promised on the label.

As the supplement industry becomes more crowded and competitive, it’s hard to know which supplements give consumers what they’re promised. This is why Supplement Certified was created. But what does it mean to have the logo of this third-party company on your supplement label? We’ll look at why ingredients degrade and the importance of testing their potency.

Formulation and Degradation: How to Get More of What You Need

Though a supplement’s label may claim a certain amount of carotenoids, the truth is because of low-quality formulations and cost-saving techniques, that number might be significantly lower. Factors that can alter the bioavailability of nutrients in supplements include the molecular structure of the active ingredients and the encapsulation process.

Supplement’s Molecular Structure and Formulation

The molecular structure and formulation of ingredients matter. For example, fish oil has re-esterified triglyceride and ethyl ester forms. While the latter is significantly cheaper to make, it’s much harder to absorb because of its synthetic form. The body recognizes re-esterified triglyceride fish oils, allowing them to be better absorbed.

Supplement’s Encapsulation Method

Supplements are encapsulated in many forms: powder, softgel, liquid, etc. Powder-filled capsules tend to have a higher chance of degrading and losing bioavailability due to their clear interlock, making them more susceptible to light and oxygen exposure, which can lead to oxidation. However, oil-filled softgels have airtight closing with more protection from heat, light, and oxygen – factors that can significantly degrade nutrients.

The Need for Quality Control

Over 11 million people in the United States are affected by some form of AMD, with those over the age of 50 being the most vulnerable. According to the National Eye Institute, that number will likely double in 30 years. The disease affects the macula, the region of the retina that provides us with central vision.

Exciting new research has given AMD sufferers some hope in battling this degenerative disease. The body places three powerful carotenoids – Lutein, Meso-Zeaxanthin and Zeaxanthin – in the macula. Collectively, these carotenoids are called “macular pigment.” Their robust antioxidant properties make them capable of protecting the macula against oxidation. 

Because the macular pigment is colored yellow, it absorbs potentially harmful blue light. This leads to improved visual performance, including better vision in glare, improved contrast sensitivity and enhanced night vision. Studies show these carotenoids can also potentially delay (or even halt) the progression of AMD.

Taking a macular carotenoid supplement regularly with a generally healthy diet can lower the risk of progressing to severe AMD by 25 percent and make a difference to those suffering from the disease. But if the potency of supplements disappears or diminishes, your eyes won’t receive the necessary nutrients to boost your vision or manage AMD symptoms.

How Supplement Certified Tests for Potency

Supplement Certified is transparent about its thorough testing process and goes the extra mile to test the stability of a supplement throughout its entire shelf life. Companies send batches to them for examination in their state-of-the-art laboratory and preserved in a constant climate chamber throughout testing. They assess three samples for content variability and obtain the full spectrum of possible carotenoids and fats that may be contained within the supplement. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used to ensure the most accurate result.

When testing is complete, the manufacturer gets a report containing the results with pictures of the product package. A “pass” is received when the carotenoids equal or above the label-claimed amount and heterogeneity is below 10 percent. A “fail” is given if the measured concentration is below the amount on the label or it has a heterogeneity above 10 percent, even if the carotenoid amount is equal to or above the label claim.

The Results So Far

As of this writing, Supplement Certified tested 89 supplement brands, with just over half of them passing the company’s tests. MacuHealth is proud to meet the standards of Supplement Certified so it can carry its seal on all its supplements. For more information on Supplement Certified, visit supplementcertified.ie.

MacuHealth

what does blue light do
What does blue light do to the retina? Read the answer below.

Written by MacuHealth
Reviewed by Jim Stringham, Ph.D.

The optics of your eye projects an image onto the retina, much like an old-fashioned camera does with film. And just like a camera, any number of factors can cause harm to that system and change how you see the world. This includes the high-energy blue light that comes from your digital devices. So what does blue light do to your retina? We’ll look at how this vital area of the eye works and how our phones, tablets, and computers can affect our optical system.

How Does the Retina Work?

The retina, located in the back of the eye, is part of the central nervous system. Thus this area consists of several layers of networked cells and their “wiring.” One part of this network are photoreceptor cells, often referred to as rods and cones. These capture the light that reaches the retina, which initiate a cascade of chemical and electrical events. The brain communicates them to the optic nerve and translates all of these signals into visual perception.

The macula is a term to describe the center of the retina. Because this region is cone photoreceptor-dominated, it enables daylight and color vision and gives detail to what we see. The remainder of the retina is dominated by rods, which promote sensitivity to dim-light conditions, such as vision at night.

What Can Blue Light Do to Damage the Retina?

As stated above, the photoreceptor cells in the macula convert light to electric energy. Then the brain interprets these transmissions. This high metabolic activity is very demanding and requires a lot of energy and nutrition to fuel the entire process.

Additionally, the photoreceptor environment is necessarily rich in oxygen and requires exposure to visible light to see, adding to the macula’s metabolic demands. These twin stresses can lead to damage.

What does blue light do to harm the retina? Blue light is composed of relatively short wavelengths, which have higher energy. Because chronic exposure to this high-energy light can produce photo-oxidation, it can compromise retinal health and performance. And over a lifetime, chronic blue light exposure can damage your macula, degrade your visual performance, and could potentially contribute to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

But there is a way to protect the eye. A single layer of cells behind the retina, known as retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), nurtures the photoreceptors and removes waste products. One of these waste products from photoreceptor damage is known as lipofuscin (a yellow age pigment). This pigment accumulates over time in RPE cells and compromises their ability to function optimally (or at all).

As we age, lipofuscin fills the RPE cells, causing these cells to give out and extrude their contents. These cells, seen as lipids and proteins, are called drusen. The collection of these yellow deposits is a typical symptom of early AMD. Blue light interacts with lipofuscin to produce additional oxidative stress. This also causes further stress to the retina, increasing drusen formation and furthering the development of AMD.

What Does Macular Pigment Do?

What does blue light do to your vision in the long term? It’s scattered in front of the retina, contributing to glare and a reduction in contrast sensitivity, leading to a decline in visual performance.

You can find blue light in:

  • Sunlight
  • Smartphones, tablets and other hand-held electronic devices
  • Television and computer screens
  • Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)

In front of the photoreceptors is macular pigment, which means it filters light before it reaches photoreceptors and RPE. This protects them from free radicals and photo-oxidative damage. It is composed of the carotenoids Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Meso-Zeaxanthin. The highest concentration of cone photoreceptors is in the center of the macula, known as the fovea. This area is responsible for sharp central vision and color. Macular pigment protects the entire macula. However, Meso-Zeaxanthin protects the center (and most vulnerable) region. This conveniently gives the fovea the best antioxidant protection of the three macular carotenoids.

Low macular pigment can cause photo-oxidative stress to the macula. Because more blue light is exposed to the cone photoreceptors, particularly in the fovea, an insufficient amount of antioxidants are available to neutralize the damaging free radicals. Studies have shown that deficiencies in the carotenoids that make up the macular pigment are associated with poor visual performance and age-related macular degeneration.

What Can Be Done to Prevent Eye Damage?

How can we protect our eyes from what blue light does to our vision? The only way to replenish these vital antioxidants is through diet. Research shows that Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Meso-Zeaxanthin can be found in foods such as spinach, broccoli, corn, and eggs. These vital nutrients can also be replenished through supplementation.

Peer-reviewed research proves that supplementation with Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Meso-Zeaxanthin rebuilds macular pigment and enhances vision in diseased and healthy eyes. MacuHealth and MacuHealth Plus+ are specifically formulated in the same 10:10:2 ratio found in natural macular pigment (10mg Meso-Zeaxanthin, 10mg Lutein, 2mg Zeaxanthin). These supplements enrich and restore macular pigment to optimum levels with continued use.

MacuHealth

vision aids for macular degeneration
Regular visits to your eye care professional can help you find the right vision aids for macular degeneration.

Written by MacuHealth
Reviewed by Jim Stringham, Ph.D.

Are you at risk of severe vision loss?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 93 million Americans are at risk of profound vision loss at some point in their life. Even worse, only about half of this number have visited an eye doctor in the last 12 months.

Macular degeneration represents one of the leading causes of severe vision loss. The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that 2.1 million Americans aged 50 or over have vision-threatening macular degeneration.

In this article, we’ll examine what vision aids for macular degeneration are, how they can help, and the types of aids available today.

What are Some of the Vision Aids for Macular Degeneration?

Fortunately, being diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration doesn’t have to mean losing control of your life. Various support options are available, including multiple sight aids for macular degeneration.

Devices for macular degeneration help you to make the best of what vision you have and ensure that your life keeps running smoothly. It might take a little time to adjust, but by taking advantage of sight aids, you can continue to enjoy a free and independent lifestyle.

Why are Macular Degeneration Vision Aids Important?

If you have been diagnosed with macular degeneration, you may experience changes to your vision. Regular appointments with your eye doctor will help you manage these changes over time.

Doing everything possible to preserve your eye health and protect your vision is critical. However, vision ads can support you in optimizing your sight. As devastating as vision loss is, living with macular degeneration doesn’t have to mean missing out on your favorite things.

Technological advancements are helping patients to work, study, and enjoy their lives with minimal fuss and inconvenience.

Vision aids cannot prevent macular degeneration or halt its progress. There is no cure for this type of condition, but vision aids for macular degeneration can empower you to adapt and overcome.

The first step is selecting the best visual aid for you.

8 Vision Aids For Macular Degeneration

Coping with macular degeneration means getting creative. There’s no single best macular degeneration aid for everybody. You may want to try several visual aids for macular degeneration to see which one(s) works best to help your vision.

Magnifiers

Low-vision magnifiers are the most common type of aid for macular degeneration. Small magnifiers are easy to use and can suit any purpose, including watching TV, putting on makeup or reading.

You’ll find various macular degeneration aids for low vision, including small pocket magnifiers and full-page magnifiers. Like most products, magnifiers vary in size, price, and quality. As a non-prescription product, do your research to find a suitable magnifier for your needs.

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Magnifiers

CCTV systems combine a camera and a television screen for macular degeneration patients. Point the camera at an object, and the magnified image will appear on the screen.

Look at the screen and use the image to work or enjoy your favorite activities in real-time. Like magnifiers, a range of CCTV systems is available. Many of the leading CCTV systems can even broadcast images in 4K.

Electronic Reading Tools

Reading can be incredibly challenging for people with macular degeneration. According to one study, slower reading speeds occur because patients become increasingly reliant on their peripheral vision. While you may be tempted to give up on reading entirely, there are aids for low-vision macular degeneration to maintain your reading abilities.

Electronic reading tools can help by increasing the font size, font type, and contrast between the page and the words. Most modern eReaders already contain these standard features, making it easier to enjoy your favorite books.

Low-Vision Optical Lenses

Ordinary eyeglasses can only take you so far as macular degeneration advances with age. Technology advancements have led to the development of different types of optical lenses to combat the condition. There’s no need to allow poor vision to stop you from living your life to the fullest.

Depending on the extent of your condition, you may find certain types of eyeglasses more valuable than others. Here’s a breakdown of the most common low-vision optical lenses.

Bioptic Telescopic Glasses

Bioptic telescopic glasses, also marketed as bioptic lens systems, combine a telescope with two optical lenses. These telescopes are affixed to the glasses’ lenses to boost your vision.

Bioptic macular degeneration visual aids allow you to see objects at a distance. The most common uses for these lenses include reading signs, recognizing faces, and watching television.

Low-Vision Magnifying Reading Glasses

The versatility of an eReader is unmatched, but not everyone likes looking at a screen to  read. If you prefer to read print in physical books and newspapers, you need an alternative tool.

Low-vision magnifying reading glasses act like an eReader because they magnify the font to make it simpler to consume.

Prismatic Eyeglasses

Prismatic eyeglasses are similar to low-vision magnifying reading glasses, only stronger. These extra-powerful reading glasses offer a natural focal point that takes the strain off your eyes. 

Prism glasses can help with an issue like double vision, assisting both eyes to focus on the same image. If you suffer from a more severe form of macular degeneration, prismatic eyeglasses can be a helpful reading aid.

E-Scoop Glasses

E-Scoop glasses are an advanced form of optical lens combining five unique characteristics to support your sight. These include:

  • Increasing image size
  • Improving contrast
  • Enhancing light exposure
  • Bolstering comfort
  • Improving vision

Unlike some of the other low-vision aids for macular degeneration on this list, E-Scoop glasses are designed to be worn constantly.

E-Scoop glasses are a long-term vision aid because they can be recalibrated to match your changing vision. Do remember that even this advanced technology has its limitations. They cannot restore your vision or combat advanced macular degeneration.

Binoculars/Telescopes

While binoculars and telescopes are not distinct optical lenses, they are an add-on you can mount to your glasses. Attaching telescopes or binoculars can temporarily change your vision if you struggle to see things at a distance.

These compact binoculars or telescopes can allow you to visit a museum, read menus, go to the theater or attend a sporting event. The strength of these additions can be tailored according to your current vision strength.

OrCam

OrCam is another next-generation low-vision aid developed to change how you perceive the world despite low vision. It is attached directly to your eyeglasses and connects to a larger device via a cable.

The OrCam is barely noticeable and utilizes artificial intelligence to support people with visual impairments to recognize faces, read books and more.

Additionally, OrCam has been used to help people who are blind by seeing on their behalf and speaking to them. For example, OrCam can read supermarket barcodes to tell you which product is in front of you.

IrisVision

Wearable devices powered by artificial intelligence are fast becoming the next frontier of vision aids for macular degeneration. IrisVision goes one step further by incorporating virtual reality technology.

IrisVision provides a 70-degree field of vision to allow you to perceive the world fully and clearly. Currently, the only disadvantage of IrisVision is that it remains a static device. You cannot move around while wearing it. But it is fascinating because it includes several viewing modes, allowing you to switch between each. Whether you need scene mode for admiring a landscape or TV mode for watching your favorite show, a click of a button will help you see everything clearly.

Supplements

Aids for macular degeneration provide vital support to your vision as you age. Evidence has shown that supplements can slow down macular degeneration progression, and reduce symptom severity in many patients. There are high-quality supplements that offer important benefits to eye health and improve overall health, making them an excellent addition to your diet.

Low-Vision Lamps

Light is essential for supporting someone with macular degeneration. Over time, yellow deposits in the eye, known as drusen, gradually cause light-sensitive cells within the macular to thin and die.

High-quality lighting can compensate for some of your central vision loss, whether you have the dry or wet form of age-related macular degeneration. It also reduces eye strain and eye fatigue. Ordinary options lack the control to set the light just right for your vision. Specialized low-vision lamps can control the light’s color, brightness and direction.

Low-vision lamps can also make your other aids for macular degeneration, such as video magnifiers, magnifying glasses, and CCTV systems, more effective. Some low-vision lamps are designed to be portable, so you can easily carry them from room to room as needed.

Support Your Vision with Macular Degeneration Supplements

We can’t stop age-related macular degeneration. However, slowing the disease’s progression, and reducing symptom severity can make a healthy, independent life is possible. Macular degeneration vision aids have come a long way in the last decade, with next-generation technologies revolutionizing how patients see, even when their central vision fails.

Many people don’t realize they’re at risk of macular degeneration, especially after their 50th birthday. Vision aids can help you optimize your remaining sight, but you can support your eye health daily with the right mix of supplements.

MacuHealth’s macular degeneration supplements contain the three major macular carotenoids scientifically proven to rebuild the macular pigment and manage your macular degeneration symptoms.

To learn more about the benefits of MacuHealth, contact us now.

enriching macular pigment
Nearly everyone benefits from enriching macular pigment.

MacuHealth

Nearly everyone will benefit from enriching macular pigment throughout their lifetime. We’re living longer and exposed to increased amounts of blue light. Because of this, macular pigment must be continuously replenished to fight free radicals and protect the macula from oxidation. 

Enriching macular pigment provides everyone with at least two benefits:

  1. Macular pigment is nature’s antioxidant, protecting our macula from damage from oxidation throughout our life.
  2. Macular pigment naturally filters blue light. This results in improved and optimized vision when young and healthy and when macular disease is present.

Although everyone can benefit from enriching macular pigment, the following people will benefit the greatest:

Children and Young Adults

Children and young adults are more susceptible damage from high energy blue light than adults in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. Blue light is emitted by our computers, tablets, smart phones and from energy efficient fluorescent lights. Our children and students lives revolve around these devices and they are using these devices a significant amount of time each day. In addition, many of these devices are held close to our faces so the intensity of blue light is higher.

Pre- and Post-Cataract Patients

Post cataract patients have had their crystalline lens removed and replaced with an intra-ocular lens. Cataracts typically are found in the elderly. Once the lens of the eye is removed the yellowing of this lens as we age is also removed. This yellowing in our lens as we age is called ocular lens pigment which is also a natural blue light filter. Once the cataract is removed the lens of the eye goes back to its clear child-like form making the macula more susceptible to blue light.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease with no cure, have significantly increased risk of blindness as the disease progresses. Enriching macular pigment can help save the vision in the diseased eye and possibly delay the onset of the disease in the other eye.

Furthermore, family members of those diagnosed with AMD are at higher risk of developing the disease. Family history and genetics are the greatest risk factors for developing AMD. Therefore, if one of your parents, your grandparents or a sibling has the disease, your risk of disease onset is also greater.

Visually Demanding Careers

People with occupations that have critical vision requirements. Enriching and maximizing macular pigment will optimize vision for athletes, military and police.

AMD expectations
When receiving an AMD diagnosis, expectations are your independence will end. That's not true.

MacuHealth

Written by MacuHealth
Reviewed by Jim Stringham, Ph.D.

A diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can be a shock. But after that feeling goes away, a fear of the unknown lingers. Many with the disease believe that having an AMD diagnosis means their independence will end, and they’ll lose control of their lives.

AMD is a progressive disease. Although it can lead to distortions in eyesight and central vision loss, “the majority of [AMD] patients will not lose vision,” stated Dr. Peter Kaiser of the Cole Eye Institute at the Cleveland Clinic on the podcast Retina Health for Life. 

The condition does affect everyone differently. While there is currently no cure for this disease, you can adapt your life to its symptoms. We’ll share what you can expect when diagnosed with AMD and illustrate how it doesn’t have to change your quality of life.

How AMD Can Change Your Vision

It’s essential to learn what AMD is before we understand how it affects you. The disease causes one’s central vision to erode, and there are two stages: dry and wet. Dry Macular Degeneration, or early AMD, is characterized by the accumulation of debris and mild deterioration of the macula, located in the center of the retina.

Wet Macular Degeneration, or late-stage AMD, is so named because of the leaky blood vessels that occur underneath the macula and in the back of the eye, possibly leading to sub-retinal swelling, retinal damage and central visual blindness.

Some symptoms you might experience are:

  • A blurred or blind spot in the center of your vision
  • Difficulty adjusting your eyes in low-lit areas
  • Struggling to read printed material, even when using reading glasses
  • Difficulty visually recognizing faces
  • Reduced ability to distinguish objects from their background

While these symptoms are frustrating, many patients can usually go about their typical day. Adapting to AMD involves some simple adjustments to ensure visual performance. For dry AMD patients, this includes using brighter lighting throughout the house and that objects, such as light switches, have high contrast from their backgrounds. For later stages of the disease, reading from large-print books and maintaining clear navigation paths around the house may be necessary.

The Part of AMD You Can’t Control

When patients receive their AMD diagnosis, they often wonder if there’s anything they can do to restore their vision. Although there are a few ways to slow (or perhaps even stop) the progression (see below), unfortunately, AMD is mostly irreversible. When the disease is in its dry form, a material called drusen forms under the macula. This substance is what causes central vision to worsen, leading to atrophy in the retina. Around 10 to 15 percent of dry AMD patients will progress to the more severe wet stage of the disease, causing further damage and vision loss.

The Parts of AMD You Can Control

Sadly, AMD symptoms won’t go away. But managing them doesn’t have to be a challenge. Here are some ways to make life with AMD easier.

Visit your eye doctor regularly.

It may seem obvious, but regular appointments with your optometrist for an exam will give you an idea of how your condition is progressing or if your doctor needs to intervene with special treatment. Eye care professionals have many tools to track AMD, such as OCT, Dark Adaptation testing, and special photography (called “Fundus Photography”). These tools are vital in maintaining as much of your sight as possible.

Your eye doctor may also have you look at an Amsler grid, a series of straight horizontal and vertical lines. If the lines appear wavy, this can help gauge the disease’s progress from dry AMD to the wet stage. Your doctor can keep you updated on new procedures and even recommend some in-house treatments, such as laser therapy or vision aids, that can enhance your eyesight.

Educate yourself.

As your doctor learns more about the latest AMD news, you can do some research on your own (research is what likely led you to our site). There are numerous reputable sources at your fingertips. Not only will reading up on the disease help you learn how to manage it better, but you may also feel something you haven’t felt since you received your diagnosis: hope.

Create a support team.

In addition to your eye doctor, you’ll need the support of friends and family to help you adapt to AMD. Share with them what you are going through and encourage them to learn about the disease to help them understand how it affects you. To boost your mental well-being, search for online support groups on social networks and websites to help answer any questions your doctor might be unable to.

Feed your eyes.

Exciting new research suggests nutrition plays a critical role in battling AMD. Adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet will boost your mood. They’re also rich in antioxidants, including carotenoids – specifically Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Meso-Zeaxanthin – which are particularly effective. They’re clinically proven to replenish macular pigment levels and improve vision in AMD patients. They also protect the eyes from harmful blue light from sunlight and electronic devices.

living with macular degeneration
Living with macular degeneration doesn't have to be stressful.

MacuHealth

Written by MacuHealth
Reviewed by Jim Stringham, Ph.D.

Judi Dench resolved to keep working despite her diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2012. The actress, best known for playing M in the James Bond franchise, explained how she works around the disease during an online fundraiser for the London charity Vision Foundation in early 2021.

“I’ve had to find another way of learning lines and things, which is having great friends of mine repeat them to me over and over and over again,” she explained in The Guardian. “So, I have to learn through repetition, and I just hope that people won’t notice too much if all the lines are completely hopeless!”

The Oscar-winner shows AMD can affect anyone and how they see the world. The disease affects a small area in the center of the retina known as the macula, the part of our retina that provides clear vision to our direct line of sight. AMD’s symptoms aren’t obvious, but it can significantly affect the quality of life for those afflicted. We’ll look at how those with AMD adapt physically and mentally.

How Does AMD Affect How You See the World?

It’s critical to understand that an AMD diagnosis doesn’t mean you’re going completely blind, but its symptoms can make daily life a little more frustrating. But sometimes, those with AMD may not have anything to worry about.

“Having a diagnosis of early macular degeneration may never impact [a patient’s] vision in a negative way,” explained Dr. Timothy Murray on the podcast Retina Health for Life from the American Society of Retina Specialists.

In some cases, vision can deteriorate slowly, with a slight change in color or a dark point in the middle of your field of view. Some other symptoms of AMD may include a blurred spot in the center of your vision, reduced ability to detect objects from their background or straight lines that appear wavy.

As your eyesight declines, you can make some adjustments around their homes to make things safer. This could include using high-contrast stairs, placing dark light switch covers over bright walls, or adjusting the brightness of indoor lighting. Tools such as eyeglasses and telescopic implants can magnify words for easier reading. Check with a visual therapist so they can make recommendations based on your sight level.

Adapting Emotionally to AMD

Adjusting your life to any disease can be stressful and infuriating. For some, being diagnosed with AMD can be isolating and lead to bouts of anxiety and depression. A study in the American Journal of Ophthalmology showed that among the 300 patients with wet AMD and 100 of their caregivers surveyed, 89% of patients showed anxiety. In addition, 91% who experienced depression were not receiving appropriate emotional and psychological treatment. Many patients they spoke to stated they feared going blind and worried about the effectiveness of their treatment.

Your diagnosis isn’t something to feel embarrassed about or keep to yourself. Ask your doctor for information about any support groups or online communities that can provide the emotional help you need and serve as a resource for living with AMD. Chances are you’ll feel less alone and find new ways to adjust. And don’t be afraid to speak with a professional therapist about coping with this change, and be forthcoming with your family about what you need.

Will Exercise or Changing My Diet Help?

A brisk walk, bike ride or any other low-to-moderate aerobic activity will not only boost your mood but can reduce stress and increase the level of antioxidants to help combat free radicals, which are linked to AMD.

A healthier diet can also help with AMD symptoms. Start preparing meals with colorful fruits and leafy greens rich in antioxidants known as carotenoids. They’re shown to replenish the macular pigment inside the eye, which helps to manage AMD symptoms. One way to ensure that the body receives the proper amount of carotenoids is to take a high-quality supplement like MacuHealth, which is clinically proven to improve visual health and performance.

Exercise, diet and a macular health supplement are part of a great strategy to extend good vision for years.  Be sure to speak with an eye care professional to develop your lifestyle-based strategy for dealing with AMD. By taking action, you can make a significant difference.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. 

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