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Dear Pharmacist: My eyes are so sensitive to light that I have to reach for my sunglasses as soon as I step out the door. Can you offer any help with this problem? - E.R., Silver Springs, Fla.

If sunglasses are desired for normal outdoor light, your eyes are overly sensitive to glare. Another symptom would be sensitivity to light from computer screens. You may also squint against the glare of oncoming traffic at night.

I can recommend a couple of nutrients, lutein and zeaxanthin. They're so powerful at improving the eyes' sensitivity to glare that they've actually been dubbed "natural sunglasses." These nutrients should be perfectly safe to take if you also use any type of prescribed eye drops such as timolol, Xalatan, Restasis, Zaditor, Acular, etc. Eye-nourishing nutrients are also beneficial for people who take over-the-counter allergy eye drops or "artificial tears." The dietary supplement nourish the retina and optic nerve inside your body, while the drops address outward symptoms.

When an eye doctor shines that light into your eyes, he sees your retina, which appears bright yellow. The cells of your retina pick up and incorporate yellow nutrients known as carotenoids into their cell structure. This is why the carotenoids like zeaxanthin, lutein (and natural beta carotene) are so important for vision. In a 2008 study, researchers at the University of Georgia found that these two nutrients increased the carotenoid content in the participants' retinas. They also experienced relief from glare sensitivity. Participants took 2 milligrams of zeaxanthin and 10 milligrams of lutein a day. It helps if you consume foods like tomatoes, peppers, spinach, carrots and other leafy greens.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the king of the carotenoids, "astaxanthin." Astaxanthin can protect vision, ease arthritis, fibromyalgia pain and improve cholesterol and fatigue.

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