A new Irish study has found that sunlight and nutrition are key contributors to eye health. This research was published by a team led by Dr Marina Green from the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland in Waterford Institute of Technology.

It is the first study of its kind to describe macular pigment and its determinants for the Mexican population. Additionally, this research investigated the impact of environmental and nutritional factors on macular pigment.

The level of macular pigment present in the human eye enhances visual function in a variety of ways. Low levels of macular pigment have been proposed to be a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of significant vision loss usually found in those over the age of 55. Macular pigment also absorbs harmful blue light, protecting the retina from damage.

Dr Green’s study discovered that those with high sunlight exposure during the day have significantly higher macular pigment. Interestingly, macular pigment and serum concentrations of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin were significantly higher in the Mexican study sample compared with an Irish sample, but this difference was not reflected when the dietary analysis was carried out. This finding sheds light on the importance of nutrition and dietary patterns on macular pigment and consequently on eye health.

“These findings will be essential for future studies for eye health, visual function, and ocular pathology,” said Dr Green.

Director of the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland, Prof John Nolan said that this work highlighted further the importance of both environmental and nutritional factors in eye health. 

The research was published in the journal IOVS.