AffronEYE well-suited for formulations targeting gamers and overall eye health, says Pharmactive

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Pharmactive Biotech Products (Madrid, Spain) offers a proprietary fast-absorbing antioxidant, affronEYE saffron, that may potentially address the negative impacts of blue-light exposure, including Gamer Eye Syndrome, and provide overall support to eye health. Symptoms of Gamer Eye Syndrome include eyestrain, itchy and burning eyes, redness of the eyes, extremely dry eyes, nausea, malaise, visual defects, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain.

“Limiting screen-time is definitely the best solution, but with in-person socializing having practically disappeared, and more people working from home and gaming on the increase, reducing screen time might not be practical,” Julia Diaz, head of marketing for Pharmactive, said in a press release. “affronEYE is a next-gen ingredient formulated specifically to address eye health, also from blue-light strain.”

affronEYE is extracted from 100 % Spanish saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and standardized to 3% crocins, the major carotenoids of saffron that act as antioxidants. Pharmactive’s advanced organic formulation ensures that these compounds are rapidly absorbed and can reach the maximum concentration in blood after 1.5 hours. It is water-soluble and suitable for food matrices, beverage powders, supplements, dairy foods, and more. It is non-GMO, non-irradiated, and carries both kosher and halal certifications.

“Major eye disorders, regardless of their cause, involve the activation of oxidative stress, as well as chronic inflammation which are key drivers to develop a wide range of ocular diseases,” said Alberto Espinel, manager of strategic research and development in active and functional natural ingredients for Pharmactive, in a press release. “Oxidative stress occurs as a result of the disruption of the balance between the antioxidant system and the pro-oxidant system found in cells. When this balance is altered, oxidants or more specifically Reactive Oxygen Species damage the cells and the tissues.”

Various studies suggest that saffron supplementation, such as with affronEYE, improves visual function, preserving retina’s photoreceptors function and retinal flicker sensitivity. A recent clinical study by Pharmactive demonstrated affronEYE’s ability to preserve the retinal functional integrity after a provoked serious insult in experimental tests conditions. 

“AffronEYE’s unique composition of naturally occurring carotenoids contains a synergistic spectrum of anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and neuroprotective properties with abilities to scavenge free oxygen radicals,” Diaz said. “This reduces retinal cell damage and cellular self-destruction which could be of particular relevance as an effective preventative measure.”