Author Archives: sepizia

Lutein and Zeaxanthin- Eye and Vision Benefits

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Good nutrition is important to keep your eyes healthy and functioning their best throughout your lifetime. Two very important eye nutrients that may reduce your risk formacular degeneration and cataracts have names you may not be familiar with: lutein (LOO-teen) and zeaxanthin (zee-ah-ZAN-thin).

Lutein and zeaxanthin are compounds called xanthophylls (ZAN-thuh-fills), which are yellow pigments that occur naturally in many plants and vegetables. Xanthophylls belong to a class of organic compounds called carotenoids, which also includes orange and red plant pigments. Though lutein is considered a yellow pigment, in high concentrations it appears orange-red. In nature, lutein and zeaxanthin appear to absorb excess light energy to prevent damage to plants from too much sunlight, especially from high-energy light rays called blue light.

In addition to being found in many green leafy plants and colorful fruits and vegetables, lutein and zeaxanthin are found in high concentrations in themacula of the human eye, giving the macula its yellowish color. In fact, the macula also is called the “macula lutea” (from the Latin macula, meaning “spot,” and lutea, meaning “yellow”).

Recent research has discovered a third xanthophyll in the macula. Called meso-zeaxanthin, this carotenoid is not found in food sources and appears to be created in the retina from ingested lutein.

Lutein and zeaxanthin appear to have important antioxidant functions in the body. Along with other natural antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta carotene and vitamin E, these xanthophylls guard the body from damaging effects of free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can destroy cells and play a role in many diseases.

In addition to important eye and vision benefits, lutein may help protect against atherosclerosis (buildup of fatty deposits in arteries), the disease that leads to most heart attacks.

It is believed that lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin in the macula block blue light from reaching the underlying structures in the retina, thereby reducing the risk of light-induced oxidative damage that could lead to macular degeneration (AMD).

A number of studies have found that lutein and zeaxanthin either help prevent AMD or may slow progression of the disease.

Blueberries

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When blueberries are consumed regularly, they can actually help maintain your eye sight or even improve it. Although this discovery was made during the Second World War when pilots that consumed blueberries bombed targets more accurately than others, it was largely forgotten until Japanese scientists affirmed the fact with recent research.

About Us at West 4th Optometry Clinic

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This is a friendly and caring office and we work hard for our patients and therefore we accept patients that are like minded.

At West 4th Optometry Clinic we do complete eye examinations for the entire family. We check for eye disease, such as Glaucoma, Macular degeneration, Cataracts, Diabetic Retinopathy, Conjunctivitis and other eye problems by doing a dilated fundus exam and fundus photograghy. We also do Pre-operation and Post-operation exams for laser refractive surgery. We also do testing for binocular vision dysfunction after concussion or other binocular vision problems. We have colour vision testing, Ishihara and D15 test. Children need to be checked for Amblyopia or “lazy eye” at the age of 3. If Amblyopia is caught early, it could be corrected by patching and corrective eye wear. Patching is most successful when done before the age of 6, since the brain eye connection is still developing.

The cost of an eye exam for patients between the age of 19 and 64 is $130

Medical services plan only pays $ 47.08 for a full eye exam for children and seniors once per year.
Patients under the age of 19 are covered through their BC Medical card and we will wave any additional fees for them.
Patients who are 65 and over are covered through BC Medical card and are charged at a senior discount only an additional fee of $43.

We are also setup to accept extended health, third party billing for most insurance providers and students from UBC, SFU,  Langara,  BCIT,  Capilano U., Emily Carr,  VCC, and Douglas College.

Dr. Zia has a Bachelor of Science in Cellular Biology from the University of British Columbia. She graduated from the State University of New York, Optometry, in 1993. She did her internship in Ocular Disease and Treatment at the Brooklyn Veteran Affairs Hospital. She also did an internship in Vision Therapy from the State University of New York.

You can find us at drzia.ca and on facebook under Sepideh Zia