What does fact checked mean?
At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
Paul Harvey's Ocular Nutrition
Ocular Nutrition is a dietary supplement first endorsed by radio commentator Paul Harvey in the late 1980s. Manufactured by Hi-Health, the supplement contains a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, herbs and phytochemical compounds that are purported to support eye health 1. While some research shows that these nutrients may be beneficial for your eyes, critics differ on who they can help, which and how much you should take, and whether or not Ocular Nutrition is a good choice at all. Talk to your doctor before taking any type of dietary supplement.
Supplement Ingredients
Each dose also provides a high level of copper and calcium.
Purported Uses
Left unchecked, AMD can cause vision loss. Hi-Health states that the antioxidants in Ocular Nutrition will prevent this damage 1.
Other Considerations
The ads stated that Ocular Nutrition could help people with AMD regain lost vision, reverse cataract development and get rid of moving specks, commonly referred to as floaters. The FTC required Hi-Health to remove these claims from its ads since none were based on scientific evidence 1.
Expert Insight
If you are diagnosed with intermediate or late AMD, supplementing with some of the compounds contained in Ocular Nutrition may slow the progression of your condition, according to the National Eye Institute. However, Dr. Paul Bernstein, a specialist at the University of Utah's Moran Eye Center, notes that other components of the supplement -- eyebright and bilberry, for example -- have not been tested thoroughly and cannot be recommended. Ocular Nutrition is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is also not verified for purity and potency by the U.S. Pharmacopeia, a nonprofit organization recommended by ConsumerReports.org 4.
- Purestock/Purestock/Getty Images