How to protect your eye health in summer: UV radiation, screens, and ocular nutrition

Summer combines moments of leisure and tranquility with greater exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and more time in front of screens during vacations. This makes our eyes particularly exposed to factors that can affect their health and cause fatigue, irritation, or long-term damage.

At Bioksan we understand that eye protection is not limited to wearing sunglasses: nutrition also plays a key role. Maintaining a diet rich in antioxidants and specific nutrients helps preserve visual function and reduce the impact of intense light and digital stress on the retina. We’ll tell you more!

Why summer requires more eye care

Summer is associated with outdoor activities and leisure time, but it also implies a significant increase in solar exposure that reaches our eyes directly. This exposure reaches the retina and the lens, increasing the risk of oxidative damage and eye fatigue. In addition, during vacations, it is common to spend more time in front of digital screens, which causes digital eye strain, with symptoms such as dryness, irritation, and blurred vision.

This type of damage is involved in long-term degenerative processes, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts, which represent one of the leading causes of vision loss in older adults. Therefore, this summer season is a critical time to adopt preventive measures that combine external protection and internal eye care through nutrition, thus reinforcing the defense against oxidative damage and exposure to intense light.

Key vitamins and nutrients for eyesight

The eye is a metabolically active tissue that consumes a large amount of energy and generates free radicals when processing light, making it especially susceptible to oxidative damage. Eye nutrition that combines external measures and adequate internal care reinforces the eye's antioxidant defense and helps maintain the health of the retina, lens, and macula.

In this sense, certain antioxidants stand out for their ability to protect vision against oxidative stress. The most important nutrients include:

• Vitamin C and E: these antioxidants neutralize free radicals and have been part of nutritional formulations that have shown a protective effect against the progression of macular degeneration
• Zinc and selenium: these are essential minerals that act as cofactors in important antioxidant enzymes within the eye and are involved in the regulation of defense systems against oxidative stress.
• Carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin: these are pigments that naturally accumulate in the macula and act both as blue light filters and as antioxidants that help reduce the formation of free radicals in the retina.

These substances are found naturally in foods such as green leafy vegetables, colorful fruits, nuts, and eggs. Including these nutrients regularly, whether through diet or scientifically formulated supplements, reinforces the eye's ability to resist environmental aggressions such as UV radiation and digital stress.

Lutein and zeaxanthin: natural defense of the retina

Among the essential nutrients for visual health, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin hold a prominent place due to their concentrated presence in the macula, the region of the eye responsible for central, high-resolution vision.

These compounds act as natural filters for blue light and neutralizers of free radicals in the retina. Recent research shows that higher levels of these carotenoids are associated with an increase in macular pigment optical density (MPOD), which strengthens the macula's internal barrier against oxidative damage and contributes to preserving central visual function.

A 2024 study published in Nutrients highlights that MPOD is a modifiable clinical biomarker and that supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin can improve antioxidant protection and the response to high-energy light exposure. In general, these clinical investigations point out that the higher the levels of lutein and zeaxanthin, the more effective the internal barrier against oxidation.

Nutritional supplementation for eye care

In this context, Oftalmux® is presented as a food supplement designed to support eye health and visual well-being, especially in people with dry eye, continuous screen exposure, age-related macular degeneration, or glaucoma.

It is a nutritional support, not a medical treatment, that complements daily eye care against factors such as intense light, environmental stress, pollution, prolonged use of digital devices, and certain habits that can affect vision

Its formulation combines key nutrients for eye health such as:

• AffronEYE® 20 mg: a patented and clinically tested saffron extract, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action, which contributes to visual health and helps protect the eyes against environmental stress and intense light.
• Omega-3 500 mg, with 50 mg EPA and 250 mg DHA: essential fatty acids that support the structure and functioning of ocular receptor membranes, contributing to the maintenance of healthy vision.
• Vitamin E 268.45 mg: an antioxidant that helps protect cells against oxidative damage
• Vitamin C 80 mg: an antioxidant nutrient that participates in cellular protection against oxidative stress and complements the action of other micronutrients in the formula.
• Lutein 10 mg and Zeaxanthin 1 mg: carotenoids naturally present in the macula, associated with retinal care and support for visual health.
• Zinc 10 mg and Copper 1000 µg: minerals that contribute to the normal functioning of vision and the protection of cells against oxidative damage.

This combination helps reinforce daily eye nutrition, supports the maintenance of vision under normal conditions, and contributes to the protection of cells against oxidative damage. In this way, Oftalmux® complements eye care against factors such as intense sunlight, prolonged use of digital screens, pollution, and other external agents, helping to maintain long-term visual health within a healthy routine.

Conclusion: protect your eyes with habits and nutrition

Protecting your eyesight in summer requires a comprehensive approach that combines healthy habits with proper eye nutrition. In short, to maintain visual health during the months of greatest solar exposure, it is advisable to follow some key recommendations:

• Use sunglasses with a UV filter and avoid prolonged direct exposure to intense light.
• Limit time in front of screens and take regular breaks to reduce eye fatigue.
• Incorporate essential nutrients through a balanced diet or scientifically formulated supplements, such as Oftalmux®, which provide lutein, zeaxanthin, and antioxidants to protect the retina and central vision.

At Bioksan we promote an educational and preventive approach, integrating eye nutrition with sustainable habits that help protect vision, especially in critical moments such as summer, when solar and digital exposure intensifies.