About Us

 Mission: 

Our mission is to provide physicians and patients with cutting edge, high quality supplements at affordable prices. Eagle Eye Sciences, Inc. was created by physicians to formulate safe, effective, scientific-based nutritional supplements, to be recommended for use by a treating healthcare provider. 

Background: 

Vitamin therapy for Age-Related Macular Degeneration- Although many vitamin choices are available on the market, we were not convinced that these products were ideal for treating macular degeneration and other degenerative diseases. Therefore, Eagle Eye Sciences teamed up with experts in the field to produce high quality, scientific-based nutritional formulations. We have the ability to adjust our formulations as new study results and information become available.

Products: 

All of our nutritional supplements are evidence-based formulations based on the most current published scientific research and data available. All formulations are put together by a Medical Advisory Board consisting of Physicians and PhD Pharmacists. Formulations may change in response to new scientific discoveries.

Quality Matters:

Quality Manufacturing: 

All products are manufactured at state-of-the-art U.S. FDA approved facilities and exceed NSF GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

Giving Back:

Eagle Eye Sciences, Inc. is committed to maximizing benefits for patients and will donate a portion of its proceeds to organizations dedicated to researching treatments and a cure for macular degeneration. 

 

Macular Degeneration: Our AMD supplements are derived from the landmark AREDS study, AREDS 2 study, and the numerous studies on Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Omega-3s. Our recommendations are as follows:

No Beta Carotene:

We have always eliminated beta-carotene (vitamin A) completely from the formula. There is no scientific evidence documenting that beta-carotene has any positive effects on AMD. The Physicians’ Health study showed no difference in AMD between those taking a supplement of 50mg of beta-carotene every other day compared to those who did not.[i] In AREDS II, removing beta-carotene from the AREDS formulation did not curb the formulation’s protective effect against developing advanced AMD, an important finding because several studies have linked taking high doses of beta-carotene with a higher risk of lung cancer in smokers1.1. Since we eliminated beta-carotene, it is not necessary to pre-screen your patients for smoking. The NEI recommends eliminating beta-carotene and substituting with lutein and zeaxanthin.

Antioxidant Vitamins: Vitamin C and vitamin E have some benefit in slowing the progression of AMD.[ii] Too much vitamin E (400IU and higher) trends towards prostate cancer, so we have lowered it to 100IU.

Zinc:  In the AREDS trials, zinc alone and zinc with antioxidants, were shown to slow the progression of AMD. Because zinc is a trace metal and can lead to prostate enlargement in large doses, we lowered the daily amount to an optimal 35mg.[iii] The AREDS 2 study stated that 25mg of zinc was just as effective as 80mg.

Carotenoids- Lutein and Zeaxanthin: In AREDS 2 the inclusion of 10mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin as a replacement for beta-carotene was found to be slightly more effective. Furthermore, "analysis showed that participants with low dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin at the start of the study, but who took an AREDS formulation with lutein and zeaxanthin during the study, were about 25 percent less likely to develop advanced AMD compared with participants with similar dietary intake who did not take lutein and zeaxanthin."

Lutein and zeaxanthin were not used in the AREDSI trial because these nutrients were not yet available in a commercial supplement. Like omega-3, all lutein is not created equal. We use Lutemax 2020 lutein, which is the best, most trusted source of lutein on the market, and contains the highest quality and concentration. We also feel that 10mg is on the low side, and that 15mg has shown to be a little more effective.

 B12, B6, Folic Acid: A recent double-blind placebo study at Harvard Medical School, funded by the NEI, found that women who took the supplements (B12, B6, folic acid) had a 41% lower likelihood of getting macular degeneration, as compared to those in the placebo group.[iv]

 Omega-3 EPA/DHA:  The NEI scientists analyzed AREDS dietary data and determined the risk for AMD was significantly reduced for the highest vs. the lowest quintiles of total omega-3 intake.[v] In fact, there was a fifty percent reduction in advanced AMD for this group.[vi]  Recent literature indicates that higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids is associated with decreased likelihood of having wet AMD and reduces the likelihood of a patient advancing from dry to wet AMD.[vii]

Therefore, it was surprising to everyone that in AREDS 2, Omega-3 supplementation at 1000mg per day, showed no benefit. Some feel the dosage was off and should have been 2000mg. There is no doubt that omega-3s are important for eye health, particularly ocular surface disease, dry eye, and mild blepharitis, as well as numerous other health benefits.

 

We feel the most important supplement for AMD is our Macular Assist, or our more traditional AREDS2 formula, and consider adding Omega-3, which still may have some benefit.*

 

*Please consult your eye healthcare provider and/or primary physician before using any of our products and make sure our products will not interfere with any medications you may be taking. If you are on any blood thinners, please consult with your doctor before using Omega-3s.

 

 

 References: _______________________________________________________________________________

 i Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss: AREDS Report No. 8. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001;119(10):1417–1436.

iiChristen WG, Glynn RJ, Ajani UA, et al. Age-related maculopathy in a randomized trial of low-dose aspirin among US physicians. Arch Ophthalmol 2001; 119: 1143-9.

iii http://www.nei.nih.gov/amd/faqs.asp

iv 2. Tan, JSL, Wang, JJ, “Dietary Antioxidants and the Long-term Incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.” Ophthalmology 2008;115-334-341

v Richer S, Stiles W, Statkute L, Pulido J, Frankowski J, Rudy D, Pei K, Tsipursky M, and Nyland J. Double-masked, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of lutein and antioxidant supplementation in the intervention of atrophic Age-Related Macular Degeneration: the Veterans LAST study (Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial), Optometry 2004; 75:216-230.

vi William G. Christen; Robert J. Glynn; Emily Y. Chew; Christine M. Albert; JoAnn E. Manson. Folic Acid, Pyridoxine, and Cyanocobalamin Combination Treatment and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Women: The Women's Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2009; 169 (4): 335 DOI: 10.1001/archinternmed.2008.574­

vii http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/453454

viii SanGiovanni JP, Chew EY, Agron E, et al. The relationship of dietary omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intake with incident age-related macular degeneration: AREDS report No. 23. Arch Ophthalmol. 2008 Sep;126(9):1274-9. Augood C, Chakravarthy U, Young I, et al. Oily fish consumption, dietary docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid intakes, and associations with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;88(2):398–406.

ix Arch Ophthalmol.2008;126(6):826-833

x October 2005 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (82(4): 887-893) Harvard Women's Study Dry Eyes

Additional References:
Am J Clin Nutr Vol 87, No. 5, May 08

Article for no vitamin A http://www.medrounds.org/amd/2008/07/byebyebeta-carotene-say-hello-to.html

Landrum JT, Bone RA, Joa H, Kilburn MD, Moore LL, Sprague KE. “A one year study of the macular pigment: the effect of 140 days of a lutein supplement.”

Exp Eye Res., July, 1997; 65(1):57-62. Seddon JM, Ajani UA, Sperduto RD, Hiller R, Blair N, Burton TC, Farber MD, Gragoudas ES, Haller J, Miller DT, et al.

“Dietary carotenoids, vitamins A, C, and E, and advanced age-related macular degeneration. Eye Disease Case-Control Study Group.” JAMA, Nov 9, 1994; 272(18):1413-20. Snodderly, D.M.

“Evidence for protection against age-related macular degeneration by carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins.” Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 1995, 62(suppl):1448S-61S. Bagchi D, Bagchi M, Stohs SJ, Das DK, Ray SD, Kuszynski CA, Joshi SS, Pruess HG.

“Free radicals and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract: importance in human health and disease prevention.” Toxicology, Aug 7, 2000;148(2-3):187-97. USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging.

“Can foods forestall aging?” Agricultural Research, February, 1999. Taylor A, Jacques PF, Epstein EM.

“Relations among aging, antioxidant status, and cataract.” Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 1995; 62(suppl):1439S-47S. Rosenthal JM, Kim J, de Monastario F, et al. Dose-ranging study of lutein supplementation in persons aged 60 years or older.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006;47:5227-5233. Bartlett HE, Eperjesi F.

Effect of lutein and antioxidant dietary supplementation on contrast sensitivity in age-related macular disease: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jan 31. [Epub ahead of print]

https://nei.nih.gov/areds2