Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9570
ISSN: 2155-9570
Witold K Subczynski
Medical College of Wisconsin,
8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226
Tanzania
Review Article
Why has Nature Chosen Lutein and Zeaxanthin to Protect the Retina?
Author(s): Justyna Widomska and Witold K SubczynskiJustyna Widomska and Witold K Subczynski
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is associated with a low level of macular carotenoids in the eye retina. Only two carotenoids, namely lutein and zeaxanthin are selectively accumulated in the human eye retina from blood plasma where more than twenty other carotenoids are available. The third carotenoid which is found in the human retina, meso-zeaxanthin is formed directly in the retina from lutein. All these carotenoids, named also macular xanthophylls, play key roles in eye health and retinal disease. Macular xanthophylls are thought to combat lightinduced damage mediated by reactive oxygen species by absorbing the most damaging incoming wavelength of light prior to the formation of reactive oxygen species (a function expected of carotenoids in nerve fibers) and by chemically and physically quenching reactive oxygen species once they are formed (a function expected of carotenoi.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2155-9570.1000326