Carotenoids are natural colors that make many fruits and vegetables bright and beautiful. There are probably over 700 of these pigments in nature, but about 50 are found in our food, and only 10 to 15 are common in our bodies. Three important carotenoids that are very concentrated in our eyes are lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin. Plants make these pigments to protect themselves from the sun's strong rays. You can find these carotenoids in different amounts in many plants, but they are mostly found in mature, green leafy vegetables. It's important to know that we need carotenoids for good health, and we can only get them from the food we eat.

Why are certain carotenoids found in high amounts in our eyes? One big reason is that they help filter light and protect our eyes from damage. The carotenoids in our eyes can help us see better by reducing glare, making colors clearer, and helping our eyes recover faster after looking at bright lights.

They also act like a shield for the retina. The retina is a busy part of our eye that is always working to see and heal itself. When we see things, our eyes create tiny particles called free radicals that can be stressful. Think about how often your eyes send pictures to your brain so you can see smoothly instead of in a jerky way. This takes a lot of energy, and that energy can create some unwanted stuff. The pigments in our eyes help reduce inflammation and protect the retina from damage.

You can think of macular carotenoids like a bank account. Every day, you take out money for your regular expenses. If you don’t add more money, the account will run out. The same thing happens with your eyes. When you see, your eyes create waste that uses up important nutrients. To keep your eyes healthy, you need to replace these nutrients. The only way to do that is by eating foods that have macular carotenoids or by taking a supplement that contains them.

You can check your macular carotenoid levels using special tests at a clinic. At Rib Mountain Eye Care, we have a simple and painless finger scan test that measures your overall carotenoid levels. Once we know your number, we can talk about the best ways to keep your vision healthy in the future. Vision is often seen as the most important sense, and taking care of your retina is one of the best ways to see well for a long time.