Combination Supplement May Help Improve Eye Fatigue Symptoms

Eye fatigue is caused by activities that require intense eye usage such as driving, reading, and staring for long periods of time at a computer, smartphone, or game console. Some symptoms of eye fatigue are sore or irritated eyes, trouble focusing, dry or watery eyes, blurred or double vision, and increased sensitivity to light. A new study suggests that a combination of lutein ester, zeaxanthin, and extracts of blackcurrant, chrysanthemum, and goji berry may help improve some eye fatigue symptoms.

Participants included 360 adults with eye fatigue. They were given one of the following supplements daily for 3 months:

1. 6 mg of lutein, 1.2 mg of zeaxanthin, 125 mg of chyrsantheum extract, 125 mg of goji berry extract, and 167 mg of blackcurrant extract;
2. 10 mg of lutein, 1.2 mg of zeaxanthin, 125 mg of chyrsantheum extract, 125 mg of goji berry extract, and 167 mg of blackcurrant extract;
3. 12 mg of lutein, 1.2 mg of zeaxanthin, 125 mg of chyrsantheum extract, 125 mg of goji berry extract, and 167 mg of blackcurrant extract;
4. Placebo.

The researchers measured eye fatigue scores at baseline, day 45, and day 90. They also evaluated percentage of clear vision time, tear secretion, and macular pigment optical density.

Participants in all three supplement groups had improvements in eye fatigue symptoms including eye soreness, blurred vision, dry eye, foreign body sensation, and tearing compared to the placebo group. They also had significantly increased macular pigment optical density, indicating increased protection from damaging blue light.

The study was conducted by researchers from Fudan University. It was published online ahead of print on June 15, 2020 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.