Optometrists to learn supplements for eye health

The AOA's Low Vision Rehabilitation Section (LVRS) will conduct professional development courses called Low Vision University, sponsored by Kemin Health. One key module will involve approaches to reducing the risk of chronic disease such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) through nutritional regimens.

The initiative serves as a crucial bridge between the supplement industry and mainstream medical practices such as optometry. If the medical community sees benefits in the potentially therapeutic or preventative effects of supplements, this should have a positive impact on related sales across the nutraceutical industry.

Through Low Vision University, Iowa-based Kemin Health is making sure its message gets straight to the consumer.

"We're not only supporting Low Vision University, we're also creating easy-to-understand nutrition guides for patients to take home and refer to in their daily food and supplement plan,"​ said Andy Martin, marketing director for Kemin Health.

Kemin is the manufacturer of FloraGLO Lutein, a branded ingredient used in many supplement brands. Studies have linked lutein with a reduced risk of AMD and cataract extraction.

If the optometrist community is on side, Kemin will be better poised to spread the word on lutein far and wide to patients.

In addition to providing eye and vision care, optometrists play a major role in a patient's overall health and well-being by detecting systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Optometrists provide more than two-thirds of all primary eye care in the United States, according to the AOA, which represents more than 34,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians.

The educational outreach program will be available throughout the US for member eye doctors and their patients.