Powerful antioxidant found in a tiny plant reduce computer eye strain

Mar 20 2009

Along with the computer age comes the age of eye fatigue. As we sit for endless hours staring at our computer (whether at work or leisure), we develop a host of symptoms and resulting complaints. Burning achy eyes, headache, blurry vision, stiff shoulders ... sound familiar? Well, you are not alone.

You share the agony along with millions of other computer users. The good news is that relief may be within your reach thanks to a powerful antioxidant found in a tiny plant that is now available in a pill called AstaVision.

A small Japanese pharmaceutical company by the name of Fuji Chemical Industry Co., Ltd has spent the past ten years researching the completely natural antioxidant, AstaReal astaxanthin, found in the single cell microalgae called Haematococcus pluvialis. That may be a mouthful for a tiny single cell green plant, but its power has come to light after years of research probing different potential benefits of astaxanthin for human health. One of the health benefits Fuji eventually focused on was the area of eye fatigue. Over the past five years, Fuji has sponsored nine human clinical studies along with many supporting trials in the area of eye fatigue performed at more than six different universities and scientific institutes.

Several of the studies were performed on subjects who operated a computer continuously throughout the day. The studies showed significant positive results by both instrumentation, measuring such things as accommodation (focus), acuity and critical flicker fusion, as well as by questionnaire response regarding eye fatigue complaints.

What is astaxanthin and how is it produced? The astaxanthin used to produce AstaVision is an all-natural carotenoid with exceptional antioxidant power. Astaxanthin is what gives the pink and orange color to salmon, shrimp and lobster. The most abundant source of natural astaxanthin can be found in the microalgae called Haematococcus pluvialis. Fuji cultivates this microalgae in both Maui, Hawaii and Sweden in fully enclosed and protected bio-systems for maximum control and quality. The facility in Hawaii uses a patented BioDome system shaped like the top of a tree to capture sunlight at all angles from morning to night.

Other supporting studies have helped to provide insight into the reasons why astaxanthin helps to reduce eye fatigue, including such things as increased capillary blood flow and improved ciliary body function. The ciliary body is a small muscle in the eye responsible for controlling the lens of the eye. Like any other muscle in the body if we overwork this tiny muscle, we will feel discomfort or pain along with other symptoms of tired eyes. Several additional studies, involving other muscles in the body, have shown astaxanthin to generally increase the endurance and recovery of muscles after exercise or other forms of stress. So, whether you are a marathon runner or a computer junkie astaxanthin may help.

http://www.astavita.com/