Staring at Screens All Day? RDs Agree This Supplement Can Help Safeguard Your Eye Health

Between my remote job and looking at my phone more than I should, I’ve noticed that my eyes feel strained and tired, and I have trouble focusing at the end of the day. Does this sound familiar? As a registered dietitian, I was curious to see if a supplement could help my eyes, and thankfully, there is with Sports Research Lutein and Zeaxanthin.

Sometimes referred to as digital eye strain, looking at screens too long can cause blurry vision, difficulty focusing, eye strain, dry or watery eyes, light sensitivity, and headaches. While you can take breaks from looking at screens and wear blue light-blocking glasses to reduce these symptoms, you can also protect your eyes from the inside by taking supplemental lutein and zeaxanthin.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants that help protect your eyes against digital eye strain, and they even make up the delicate structure of the eyes, the retina. They protect against eye strain by filtering harmful blue light, reducing oxidative stress, and protecting against age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, and other vision-related concerns.

Most Americans don’t get enough lutein, in particular, which is unfortunate, as it’s one of the best natural blue light filters. The average American only gets 1-2 milligrams of lutein daily instead of the recommended 10-milligram dose. An easy solution? A supplement specifically formulated to support optimal eye health, especially if you stare at screens all day.

Dietary supplements are minimally regulated by the FDA and may or may not be suitable for you. Please always speak with a healthcare provider to discuss any supplements you plan on taking.

Sports Research Lutein and Zeaxanthin use Lute-gen, a trademarked form of lutein and zeaxanthin that has been proven to protect against digital eye strain. Each softgel contains 20 milligrams of lutein and four grams of zeaxanthin, double the dose used in certain research studies demonstrating the eye health benefits of lutein and zeaxanthin supplements. This dose is considered safe for most people to supplement daily, although more long-term studies are needed. 

This supplement is independently tested for ingredient accuracy, is free of contaminants, and is suitable for vegan diets. Organic coconut oil is added for optimal absorption, so note this if you have a coconut allergy. It is recommended that you take one soft gel daily with food or as directed by a healthcare professional.

Other Lutein and Zeaxanthin Supplements I Recommend

Once daily soft gel with phospholipids for absorption and extra antioxidants from saffron.

This strawberry-flavored gummy option provides a lower dose of lutein and zeaxanthin for ages 2+.

This once daily capsule provides 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin and is free of all major allergens.

Two mini soft gels per day also provide vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc for comprehensive eye support.