Glaring problem? Is lutein the answer?

My husband has a major dislike for "bright lights." He used to complain about it daily and voice his dream of getting a dimmer on our car's rearview mirror so he wouldn't be blinded by the glare of headlights.

Today I was apart of a webinar from Kemin and DSM that discussed recent studies for lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin have been linked to lowering the risk of age-related macular degeration (AMD). However, more recent studies have looked into the effect lutein and zeaxanthin may have on visual performance.

The highest concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin are found in the inner layers of the neural retina called "macular pigment." The amount of macular pigment varies amont people. Macular pignment is concentrated in the area of the retina most responsible for visual performance.

Studies hypothesize that the macular pigment helps to filter blue light, like yellow filters on a camera lens. This means that macular pigment may actually help reduce glare.

Studies have found an inverse relationship between the amount of macular pigment in the retina and how long it takes people to recover from blinding light (photostress). In addition, they found that lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation increases this macular pigment.

My husband has been taking lutein and zeaxanthin for a year now. Unaware of the webinar I just participated in, I just called him up and asked him, "Have you been bothered by bright lights recently, like when we are driving in a car and headlights glare into the mirror?" He thought for a minute and said, "No, I haven't complained about that in a while have I...why do you ask?"

Interesting... maybe lutein is the answer.