Help please.

Hi ALL.I AM JUST AFTER JOINING SO IAM VERY NEW TO THIS SITE .Could someone tell me please where i can buy ..i-cap EXTRA LUTEIN,ZEAXANTHIN[EYE CARE] IN ireland.Thanks .

[BasiRose]

Did you check Amazon? They sell Icaps but not sure about Icap extra. Hope that helps a little.

[Hidden in reply to BasiRose]

Thanks BasilRose for your help.Kind regards

[marianS]

Dear eyetoeye,

I wonder what condition you have that brings you to the site, but welcome, and hope you find help from others through it.

Regarding your request about nutritional supplements, there are several options for obtaining them: the manufacturer direct, a pharmacist, possibly a health shop or doctor or online suppliers. However, it is important to consider the purpose for taking them: have you been diagnosed with dry AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration)? Also some important information about the various ingredients they contain. I am wondering if you are living in Northern Ireland, or Eire as this could affect availability?

At the Macular society we explain the use of supplements in our “Nutrition & Eye Health” Leaflet, available to download from our website here:

macularsociety.org/sites/de...

This highlights the importance of lutein and Zeaxanthin for eye health, in particularly the macula, that often our Western diets lack. 2 research trials called AREDS and AREDS2 took place, with the conclusion that taking these supplements slowed down the progression of diagnosed dry AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration) but there is as yet no proof that taking supplements prevents development of the condition.

However, many people are keen to take them hoping they will be beneficial. We recommend that if you have a diagnosed condition, it is important to take a product that contains and provides the AREDS2 daily formula which is

•Vitamin C 500 mg

•Vitamin E 400 IU

•Copper 2 mg

•Lutein 10 mg

•Zeaxanthin 2 mg

•Zinc 25 mg

WHERE TO OBTAIN?

There are many branded products available to buy online or from a pharmacist or health shops that contain differing amounts of lutein and other helpful nutritional substances, at varying prices. We cannot recommend a particular brand, but we do suggest that it would be best to get one with the above AREDS2 formula, and we have carried adverts in our quarterly magazine for several that contain this eg MacuLEH light, Viteyes2 and Macushield Gold.

I would recommend you talk to a doctor first. In the last 6 months, MacuLEH has been granted a licence for prescribing on the NHS in England but I am not sure how or if this applies in your location. Doctors are not obliged to prescribe as it is not classified as medication, and I suspect they would not give on prevention basis as there is no evidence, but may issue for someone already diagnosed with AMD if supported by an opthalmologist’s recommendation. It is important not to exceed the above doses of lutein and zeaxanthin and you need to check any product you decide to buy with your doctor, to ensure that it is suitable for you and does not interact with any other medication that you are taking.

Alternatively, you could speak to a pharmacist about your needs and ask them for help, taking details of the formula with you and checking about interactions with other medications with them.

Many people will buy direct from the Manufacturers, details found online or indeed Amazon. However, it is important to check that any online supplier has good credentials (bears a pharmaceutical society connection) and is obtaining genuine products, to prevent receiving “pirate” or sub-standard products.

Please ring our Helpline if you wish to discuss anything further.

Best wishes from The Macular Society Helpline

0300 3030 111 Monday –Friday 09.00 -17.00

[Hidden in reply to marianS]

H i MarianS Many kind thanks for your indept reply to my question.I will take it on board.I am at all times very careful and always check with my doctor.Please keep up the wonderful advise service that i have received.Thanks again.