These Antioxidants Can Protect Your Eyes From Bright Lights

If you’re anything like me, the sun hits my eyes hard. As soon as I step outside on a bright day, I’m squinting horribly, and tears are running down my face.

Of course, a stellar pair of sunglasses is vital, but there’s more we can do to protect our eyes from harmful rays of light—including supplementing with certain antioxidants. 

Lutein and zeaxanthin are two antioxidants (carotenoids, to be more exact) that are naturally found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables (such as leafy greens and bell peppers).

In general, we know antioxidants to be good for health, but lutein and zeaxanthin are particularly beneficial for our eyes. 

That’s because these carotenoids1 are also found in the eye. That’s right. High concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin are present in the macula2—the center of the retina. 

The macula is especially prone to oxidative stress3 from free radicals. The constant light exposure (from the sun and even from screens) penetrates deeply into the retinal tissue and increases the presence of free radicals—which is not ideal. 

While we most often associate UV light with the sun, it’s important to remember that the sun emits all forms of visible light—including blue light, that’s often talked about in reference to screen use. 

By taking in extra lutein and zeaxanthin, you are helping to bolster the concentration4 of these antioxidants in the eye, increasing the eye’s ability to scavenge (aka deal with) these harmful free radicals.

Optometrist Kelsea Brown, O.D. previously told mindbodygreen, “Lutein helps to protect the macula by absorbing undesirable wavelengths5 of blue light and stopping them from reaching certain layers of the retina, reducing the likelihood of photo-oxidative stress."

It's true, incorporating lutein and zeaxanthin into your diet can be a natural and effective way to protect your eyes from the sun's harmful rays.