A cataract is a natural clouding of the lens, the area of the eye responsible for focusing light and producing clear, sharp images. For most people, cataracts are a natural result of aging. Currently in the US, cataracts are the second leading cause of blindness in the elderly behind AMD.
Lutein is the major carotenoid that has been identified in the human lens and is thought to provide similar benefits to the lens that are seen in the retina. Two large epidemiological studies consisting of >70,000 women (age 45-71) and >30,000 men (age 45-75) compared the risk of cataract extraction to nutrient intake (5,6). Similar to AMD, a significant reduction in risk of cataract extraction was associated with lutein intakes of 6 mg per day (20% reduction in risk). Besides catarct extraction, higher levels of lutein consumption have been associated with a decrease risk of cataract development and improvements in visual acuity and glare sensitivity in people with age-related cataracts.
