Eye Health Vitamins

Our primary goal at Handel Vision Clinic is to provide our patients with exceptional care and treatment strategies in order to maintain a lifetime of healthy eyes and clear vision. These strategies may include performing additional testing, prescribing medications, referring to a specialist, or recommending nutritional supplements.

Eye health vitamins function to help slow the progression of certain ocular conditions. We recommend the EyePromise line of vitamins as they are manufactured in the United States to the exacting standards of the FDA's current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP). This specific brand uses high-quality, natural ingredients including the highest level of dietary zeaxanthin available.

After completing your exam, our doctors may make recommendations on the best vitamins for you, which can be conveniently purchased in our offices. Below is a list of the most common vitamins we recommend to our patients and their intended purposes.

AREDS2 Plus

The Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS/AREDS 2) are clinical trials that were performed in order to learn more about the risk factors associated with macular degeneration and to evaluate the effectiveness of certain vitamins and minerals in reducing the risk of developing advanced stages of this disease.

The AREDS2 Plus vitamin is the newest formulation and is beneficial to patients who already have clinical signs of macular degeneration. This vitamin is available as either a soft gel packaged with a multivitamin tablet to be taken once daily or as a zinc-free formula that consists of two soft gels per day.

Restore

Restore vitamins are an available option for patients who are at risk for or concerned about the development of macular degeneration. These patients do not have clinical findings of macular degeneration, otherwise, the AREDS2 vitamins would be recommended. However, they may have known risk factors (such as a family history of macular degeneration), or they may have a low amount of macular pigment (as measured by our QuantifEye device, see below).

The Restore soft gels are to be taken once or twice daily (as recommended by our doctors) and they are the only vitamins available on the market guaranteed to increase your measurable level of macular pigment (thereby increasing your protection against macular degeneration).

Diabetic Vision Support (DVS)

Diabetes causes blood vessel damage throughout the entire body, and the eye is no exception. In fact, diabetes is one of the most common causes of blindness in the US! When the blood vessels in the back of the eye (the retina) become damaged from diabetes, they weaken and begin to leak blood. This is called diabetic retinopathy.
​​​​​​​
Over time, your body will try to make new vessels to compensate for this, but these new vessels are even weaker and cause further bleeding to occur. If left untreated, this condition can cause blurred vision and even progress to permanent vision loss.

The DVS vitamins are specifically designed for diabetic patients in order to help support blood vessel health. Proper diabetic management is essential in preventing diabetic retinopathy and these vitamins are designed to complement your existing treatment plan. It is recommended to take two soft gels per day for maximum benefit.

Screen Shield

Most Americans (both adults and children!) are now living a device-dependent lifestyle that is taking a toll on their ocular health in the form of eyestrain, fatigue, and headaches. The ingredients in the Screen Shield vitamins were chosen to specifically provide natural defense and relief against the effects of prolonged screen time.

This vitamin is an excellent option for anyone who spends over 8 hours a day on devices. It is to be taken once daily in addition to a standard multivitamin and is available in either adult Pro tablets or teen chewable tablets.

QuantifEye Device (MPOD)

The QuantifEye device is a non-invasive visual test used to measure the macular pigment optical density (MPOD) of your eye. Macular pigment functions like an internal pair of sunglasses to help protect your macula (which provides the central area of your vision).

A healthy level of macular pigment helps to protect your eyes from harmful blue light, reduces the risk of degeneration, and aids in visual performance. On the contrary, a low level of macular pigment is a key risk factor for developing macular degeneration and is also associated with visual performance issues such as poor glare recovery and light sensitivity.

As you can see in the graph below, an astounding 78% of the US population has less than an optimal amount of macular pigment. It is only possible to increase this amount through nutritional intake or supplementation. Based on the results of your test, our doctors will be able to identify if you are a good candidate for a particular vitamin.

After 6 months of supplementation, the QuantifEye device may be used again to ensure your vitamin is working properly. If your macular pigment is not increasing, a change in dosage may be necessary.