Low antioxidant levels and sunlight may prove a disastrous combination

Oct 14, 2008 08:14 GMT  ·  By
The elderly are at increased risk of developing AMD from exposure to blue light
   The elderly are at increased risk of developing AMD from exposure to blue light

Recent European studies showed that blue light, part of the visible range of lights the human eye can see, could be responsible for retina deterioration in seniors with low amounts of antioxidants in their systems. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that affects the macula, an important part of the retina, responsible for sharp vision. One fourth of the test subjects showed early or advanced stages of AMD. They also had significantly lower-than-normal antioxidant levels in their bloodstream.  

The find was published in the October issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. They said that enzymes such as vitamins C and E, as well as carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin) and zinc seem to protect the retina from the influences of blue light in some degree. Astrid E. Fletcher, Ph.D., a scientist working on the European Eye Study (EES), said that out of the 4400 participants to the survey, aged on average about 73 years, a quarter of those with the lowest antioxidant levels showed a clear connection between their condition and the development of neuro-vascular AMD.  

EES was primarily meant to determine if there was any connection between AMD development and blue light exposure in the elderly. The results were inconclusive to that end, but the role of antioxidants came as a surprise. "In particular, the combination of blue light exposure in the presence of low levels of zeaxanthin, alpha-tocopherol [vitamin E] and vitamin C was associated with a nearly four-fold odds ratio of neovascular AMD," experts say.  

As cost-effective methods of screening seniors for AMD are not yet available, doctors say that prevention remains the best-suited course of action. The elderly are advised to wear large hats and even sunglasses when outside, to minimize the amount of blue light their eyes get. This is strongly recommended for those past their middle-age. Many AMD cases lead to blindness, while other ones cause blurred vision. The necessity for protective gear and a healthy diet is strongly emphasized by doctors for AMD development prevention.