The Science Behind the Ingredients

Vitamin E

Shown to reduce cataract risk, Vitamin E (AKA alpha-tocopherol) is a fat-soluble antioxidant found in the membranes and lens fibers of the eye. It is thought to reduce degradation of lens lipids and stabilize the cell membranes of the lens, thereby protecting against cataracts. Several studies have demonstrated that low vitamin E levels are associated with increased cataract risk(1) while higher vitamin E consumption protects against cataract formation.(2)

  1. Olmedilla B, et al. Serum status of carotenoids and tocopherols in patients with age-related cataracts: a case-control study. J Nutr Health Aging 2002;6(1):66-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11813087/
  2. Robertson J M, et al. Vitamin E intake and risk of cataract in humans. Ann NY Acad Sci 1993; 372-82. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2629606/
Zinc

Zinc is vital to keeping your eyes healthy and vision sharp. Zinc is concentrated in a part of the retina called the “macula” and helps Vitamin A produce melanin, a pigment which has a protective effect on the eye. A deficiency in zinc has been associated with reduced night vision, while supplementation with zinc has been shown to slow the rate of age-related macular degeneration due to its importance in maintaining a healthy macula.(1) Zinc has also been shown to reduce cataracts by as much as 36% in people ages 65-74.(2)

  1. Blasiak J, et al. Zinc and Autophagy in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jul; 21(14): 4994. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7404247/
  2. Sperduto R D, et al. The Linxian cataract studies. Two nutrition intervention trials. Arch Ophthalmol. 1993 Sep;111(9):1246-53. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8363468/
N-Acetyl-Cysteine

Glutathione is especially concentrated in the lens of the eye, and when it is depleted due to aging or oxidative stress it can cause cataract formation.(1, 2) That’s because glutathione is key to protecting lens flexibility and clarity, acting as a very powerful antioxidant to shield proteins and enzymes from oxidative stress caused by free radicals.(3) That means glutathione is something we want more of. Orally-administered N-Acetyl-Cysteine supports the glutathione sparing effects of Can-C™ eye drops and further increases tissue glutathione levels in the eye.

  1. Kamei A. Glutathione levels of the human crystalline lens in aging and its antioxidant effect against the oxidation of lens proteins. Biol Pharm Bull 1993; 16(9); 170-5.
  2. Oguchi M, et al. Glutathione and eye diseases. Ganka, 1970; 12: 125-32.
    Giblin FJ. Glutathione: a vital lens antioxidant. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2000 Apr; 16(2):121-35.
L-Histidine

L-Histidine works synergistically with L-Carnosine and N-Acetylcarnosine to create heightened antioxidant activity, thereby protecting the eye from cataract-causing damage.(1) Clinical trials have shown that adding L-Histidine to other “natural imidazole-containing Peptidomimetics” like the ones mentioned above leads to a demonstrable increase in the treatment’s effectiveness and safety.(2, 3)

  1. N-Acetylcarnosine, a natural histidine-containing dipeptide, as a potent ophthalmic drug in treat-ment of human cataracts. Babizhayev MA, Deyev AI, Yermakova VN, Semiletov YA, Davydova NG, Kurysheva NI, Zhu-kotskii AV, Goldman IM. Peptides. 2001 Jun;22(6):979-94. PMID: 11390029 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
  2. Photoprotector and antioxidant properties of histamine-containing peptidomimetics in the photooxi-dation of glycyltryptophan. Babizhayev MA, Lozovskaya EL, Makareyeva EN, Lul’kin YA, Sapezhinskii II. Biochemistry (Mosc). 1998 May;63(5):523-8. PMID: 9632886 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
  3. Babizhayev MA, Guiotto A, Kasus-Jacobi A. N-Acetylcarnosine and histidyl-hydrazide are potent agents for multitargeted ophthalmic therapy of senile cataracts and diabetic ocular complications. J Drug Target. 2009;17(1):36-63.
L-Carnosine

Cataracts tend to result from oxidative stress, and L-Carnosine has been shown to have an antioxidant impact on a cataract-affected lens, enhancing DNA repair and helping to prevent DNA strand breaks caused by UV radiation.(1)

L-Carnosine has been shown in clinical trials to be highly effective at protecting against and/or reversing cataracts, improving vision and quality of life.(2, 3) In fact, according to a Chinese trial on 96 patients aged 60 or older, Carnosine has a significant effect on primary senile cataracts, with a 100% effective rate. The impact rate for mature senile cataracts was 80%.(4)

  1. Lou M F. Thiol regulation in the lens. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2000 Apr; 16(2):137-48. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10803424/
  2. Quinn P J, et al. Carnosine: its properties, functions and potential therapeutic applications. Mol Aspects Med 1992; 13(5):379-444. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9765790/
  3. Specht S, et al. Continuing damage to rat retinal DNA during darkness following light exposure. Photochem Photobiol 2000; 71(5):559-66. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10818786/
  4. Wang AM, et al. Use of carnosine as a natural anti-senescence drug for human beings. Department of Biochemistry and Department of Neurobiology, Harbin Medical University, China 1999. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10951108/
D-Pantethine

D-Pantethine works synergistically with N-Acetyl-Carnosine and L-Carnosine to help reverse cataracts, retinal degeneration, and ocular complications of diabetes.(1)

  1. S É Avetisov, N L Sheremet, et al. Deceleration of cataract development in rats under the action of N-acetylcarnosine and D-pantethine mixture. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2014;77(11):11-5.
L-Methionine

L-Methionine is an essential amino acid naturally synthesized in the body after protein consumption, and is a precursor to the creation of other amino acids that support eye health like taurine, carnitine, and cysteine. It is found naturally in egg whites, fish, poultry, and seaweed, among other foods.

When combined with adequate amounts of B vitamins, L-Methionine can help reduce homocysteine levels, relieving glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other retinal conditions, as well as detoxifying the body.(1, 2)

  1. Ghosh, S., Saha, M., Das, D. (2013). A study on plasma homocysteine level in age-related macular degeneration. Nepal J Ophthalmol, Jul-Dec;5(2):195-200.
  2. Huang, P., Wang, F., et al. (2015). Homocysteine and the risk of age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep, Jul;21;5:10585.

Other Ingredients: Micro-crystalline Cellulose, Di Basic Calcium Phosphate, Magnesium Stearate, Aerosil, Vegetarian Capsule.