[건강한 우리집] Prevention of eye diseases that cause blindness is best and should be managed in advance with lutein, astaxanthin and vitamin A.

Nutrients that support eye health
The eye is a complex organ made up of about one million nerve fibers. It is also the place where aging begins first among human organs. This is because it is used frequently and is easily damaged by external stimuli. As we age, our eyes become blurry or clouded, which can lead to blindness when mistaken for presbyopia and left unattended. If things look different than usual or if you feel a foreign body sensation in your eye, it’s time to actively take care of your eye health.
　
Glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration are considered to be the three major eye diseases that cause blindness. Specifically, macular degeneration has the highest rate of blindness. If not properly treated, the blindness rate within two years reaches 15%. Macular degeneration is a disease in which abnormal blood vessels form in the macula, the center of the retina in the eye, resulting in bleeding and decreased vision.

When letters and objects look crooked or blackheads are visible, macular degeneration can be suspected. When the symptoms are not severe, there are no particular signs and it is easy to overlook eye health. In particular, the macula, which is a nervous tissue, needs special attention because it is difficult to recover once damaged. The best way to prevent macular degeneration is to prevent it from occurring.

To prevent eye diseases such as macular degeneration, it is good to consume nutrients that are beneficial for eye health. “Lutein”, “Astaxanthin” and “Vitamin A” are representative examples. First, lutein, a macula material, plays a role in protecting the function of the eye from free radicals. Lutein in the retina is insufficient or frequent exposure to ultraviolet light can cause macular degeneration, so a sufficient amount of lutein must be supplemented. However, lutein is not produced by the body itself. It must be ingested from the outside through food or dietary supplements. Lutein is found mainly in green and yellow vegetables such as kale and broccoli.
　
Secondly, astaxanthin is a hematococcus extract and has excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It helps deliver more blood and nutrients to the ciliary body, the eye muscles that control focus. It is also effective in improving eye strain, the main culprit in presbyopia. Astaxanthin, a raw material recognized for its functionality by the Ministry of Food Safety and Medicines, is found in many red seafood such as salmon, shrimp and sea bream. However, it is difficult to absorb enough nutrients for the benefit of eye health. It’s a good way to easily consume nutrients in the form of well-designed health-promoting foods.
　
Finally, vitamin A plays a role in keeping the retina, conjunctiva and cornea healthy. This is why vitamin A is called the “vitamin for the eyes”. A vitamin A deficiency can lead to night blindness and vision loss. Vitamin A is found in abundance in yellow-green vegetables such as spinach and parsley, paprika, orange and tomato. Vitamin A prevents the loss of water from the body, so it is recommended to consume it frequently in dry autumn and winter.

Journalist Shin Young-kyung