Unboxed: 9 vision supplements for heavy screen users

In this day and age, simply everybody is looking at their screens way too much—whether that be a desktop, laptop, tablet or even a phone. So-called blue light emanating from screens does damage to the eyeball’s macula, and macular degeneration was the leading cause of blindness for those over age 65. Was? That’s right—now macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness for those over age 60.

Well before the threat of blindness ensues, screen time regularly leads to eye fatigue, headaches and blurry vision.

A number of ingredients have long been used to help protect the eyes, but recent research shows that the most important may be the so-called macular carotenoids—lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin. These are the only three carotenoids found in the eye, in particular the part of the retina called the macula. These three act as filters to protect the macula.

One landmark 6-month study found people who were on screens more than six hours a day and supplemented with 20 mg lutein and 4 mg zeaxanthin (the Lutemax 2020 ingredient from ingredient supplier OmniActive Health Technologies) had significantly improved effects compared to placebo on eye strain and fatigue, headache frequency and sleep quality. The research also found a physical change—a 26% increase in macular pigment optical density.

Scroll through supplements—some of which use the Lutemax 2020 ingredient—to preserve vision health through these postmodern times on our screens.