You, like many other gamers, are likely looking for something that will give you the edge and help you get to the next level in your gaming skills. Whether to be a better competitor or beat a specific game, or perhaps you’ve got a dream in your heart to make gaming a profitable living. While you scour the internet watching hours of videos of other professional gamers playing and offering tips along the way, we’ve got a largely overlooked ace in the pocket. Arguably, the most important element of successful gaming is good vision. To promote gaming growth and encourage leveling up, you need to protect your eyes health and optimize vision. Lutein and zeaxanthin can help.
What Is Lutein and What Does It Do?
Lutein is an antioxidant that is further classified as a carotenoid. A carotenoid is a fat-soluble pigment — typically yellow, red, or orange. Lutein protects the eyes from oxidative damage and addresses inflammation of the eye structures. Many foods including colorful fruits and veggies such as kale, spinach, broccoli, and citrus fruits are abundant in lutein and zeaxanthin.
Lutein and zeaxanthin have been shown to absorb a surplus of light, namely high-energy rays such as blue light from the sun (and, artificially, from screens). Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in higher concentrations in the macula of the eye. Lutein supports our eyes by sifting out damaging short-wavelength UV light rays that affect the delicate macula and is credited with warding off macular degeneration. It works like “internal sunglasses” to absorb solar radiation and blue light from screens, monitors, phones and other digital devices.
How Lutein Helps Your Gaming
Lutein and zeaxanthin support optimal cell-to-cell signaling and other inner eye processes, making them a duo for vision-related gaming performance enhancement. Clinical studies have shown that lutein and zeaxanthin improve:
Glare reduction
Peripheral vision
Recovery speed from flash blindness
Contrast sensitivity
Any gamer knows how critical each of those eye skills are to getting further. Let’s take a deep dive into how lutein is the missing ingredient in your gaming arsenal.
Glare Reduction
Glare is a condition in which gamers are exposed to a light source, that is in excess of their adaptive state. This is common with fast-paced video games, especially those that are “real” appearing. These lights cause eye discomfort and visual disability, causing a reduction in overall visual performance. Studies have shown that the yellow intraocular filtration capabilities of lutein can improve glare reduction.
Peripheral Vision
First-person games are often set in real-life arenas with off-screen activities including blowing breezes and passers-by. These additional, three-dimensional visual features require the gamer to continually look around and observe their surroundings, which actually helps build their peripheral vision. Lutein supports the muscles of the eyes that allow for continual eye movement without fatigue.
Recovery Speed From Flash Blindness
Very short intense light exposures often results in a temporary loss of sight — known as photostress. This is caused by a combination of photopigment bleaching and adaptation of the eye. The time necessary to recover sight of a visual target following an intense exposure is termed photostress recovery. Video game creators intentionally use bright flashes of light in their games to disorient and confuse gamers in an attempt to slow their efforts. Studies have shown, however, that lutein supplementation can combat photostress and reduce recovery time from flash blindness.
Contrast Sensitivity
Contrast sensitivity is the ability of the eye to distinguish foreground from background. A contrast sensitivity measures the ability to distinguish between light and dark. As you can imagine, contrast sensitivity is important in navigating gaming environments. In clinical trials, the daily use of lutein helped improve contrast sensitivity.
Additional benefits of lutein for the gamer include combating eye fatigue and helping to reduce eye strain and dry eye.
Take Your Gaming to the Next Level With Lutein Supplements
If you are a serious gamer, consider optimizing your eye nutrition and supplementing with eye vitamins that support your endeavors and will benefit you as you age. Visit Viteyes® for lutein-containing daily supplements including Blue Light Defender Plus™.
For more information about lutein and eye health, visit these online resources:
The Effect of Lutein on Eye and Extra-Eye Health
Brains on Video Games
A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study on the Effects of Lutein and Zeaxanthin on Photostress Recovery, Glare Disability, and Chromatic Contrast
Esports Nutrition for High-Performance Gaming
Macular Carotenoid Supplementation Improves Disability Glare Performance and Dynamics of Photostress Recovery
A 12-week Lutein Supplementation Improves Visual Function in Chinese People With Long-term Computer Display Light Exposure
