Welcome to Kathy Kaehler Healthy Stories. At age 40 when I looked down at my dinner plate my food was blurry. After freaking out I waited for it to pass. Toying around with the funny glasses at the drug store and then finally at age 45 made the appointment for an eye exam. I learned I had a stigmatism in my left eye and my 20/20 vision had gone bye-bye, bummer. My doc said you are normal (LOL) this happens at your age! Gr8, another thing to add to the aging list. As instructed I ordered the glasses and as time marched on my prescription was adjusted at each annual check-up. More blurry food. Yikes! Looking at my phone in bed was only possible wearing my glasses and keeping a pair next to my computer was a must. One couldn’t help but wonder what’s next?
It was February 2015 when a wise friend asked, why aren’t you taking Visionex I said, I don’t know, why should I? I’m already wearing glasses!
Needless to say I ordered it and took it religiously for over a year. In May of 2016 I went back to see (no pun intended) my eye doctor. After the shocking wind blast eyeball test for macular degeneration and the flipping glass lens guessing quiz, haha, my doc looked at me perplexed. “What have you been doing to your eyes?” he asked. “Why?” I replied. He exclaimed, “your vision is better!”.
I shared with him that a year ago I started taking vitamins specifically for my eyes. Ones that protect my long-term eye health with scientifically validated nutrients from my own business that I have worked with for nine years. It supports clear vision and formulated with lutein, vitamin C and zeaxanthin all of which are recommended by the National Institutes of Health. He reached up onto his shelf and pulled down a box that contained the new eye vitamin from Baush + Lomb. Get this, a ten year clinical Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) by the National Eye Institute showed that a unique vitamin and mineral supplement may help SLOW the progression of moderate to advanced age-related macular degeneration.
Of course my investigative mind started cranking and I wanted to know whats in B+L compared to my USANA Visionex. Check out the labels and tell me what you see.
Now, I am no scientist but I work with some and over the years I’ve learned a thing or two about ingredients. What stood out for me is that both Baush+Lomb added artificial dyes and very little of the powerful ingredient zeaxanthin. Additionally, it’s extremely important to recognize a supplement’s manufacturing and processing. Do you know what the company is known for? How long have they been in business? Are they credible? Do they have recognized standards for research and developement?
Baush + Lomb is one of the largest suppliers of eye health products mainly contact lenses, lens care products and implants. The supplements came about after these studies showed the importance of added specific eye nutrition that you can’t get through food alone. I couldn’t find anywhere on their site where the vitamins are made, sourced, manufactured etc…
I take my supplements from a company that ONLY makes supplements and has for over twenty four years. What is in the vitamin is key. The source of lutein in many lutein supplements is marigold flowers, while for zeaxanthin it is often red peppers and again you can’t eat enought to get the optimal amount that you need. If you choose a lutein and zeaxanthin supplement, all I can recommend is to make sure it’s a high quality product from a reputable dietary supplement company.
Leaving my appointment with a tweak in my prescription going the other direction I was happy to have confirmation that prevention and being proactive works. I love that I know where my vitamin comes from and what’s in it. Plus it doesn’t have any dyes in them. I’m also very optimistic that my future eyesight looks bright. How’s yours?
Here’s to eating some carrots tonight.
Best,
Kathy
Kathy Kaehler Healthy Stories
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