Vitamin SEE eye drops are a preventive therapy that combines potent antioxidants naturally occurring in the eye with preservative-free lubrication to provide a vitamin supplement for long-term eye health.
Formulated by board-certified Ophthalmologist, Melinda C. O’Rourke, MD, and available exclusively at Essence Laser & Wellness.
Scientific Evidence to support the use of antioxidant vitamin eye drops:
Antioxidant Vitamins protect against the damaging effects of UV light from sun exposure. When UV light is absorbed by human tissue, it produces free oxygen radicals that damage cellular integrity and DNA. Only 2 organs in the human body are directly exposed to UV light: the skin and the eyes. In the skin, the result is premature aging, skin cancer, and cell death. 1 In the eye, UV light ages all the structures. Ocular surface damage, cataracts, and macular degeneration are all possible effects from UV exposure 2 and can ultimately lead to decreased vision and blindness.
When antioxidant vitamins are present in the tissue, they neutralize the free oxygen radicals and can minimize damage. Antioxidants that penetrate the skin barrier are commonly used to prevent skin aging 3. The AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study) was an extensive study that demonstrated the benefits of oral antioxidants in preventing the progression of macular degeneration, and the “AREDS” formula of oral antioxidant vitamin supplements is recommended universally in the Ophthalmology community for the prevention of macular degeneration 4.
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) is a powerful antioxidant that is present at significantly higher levels in human tears than in blood 5. The human eye actively pumps Vitamin C into tears, suggesting an evolutionary benefit of Vitamin C in tears, presumably due to its protective antioxidant effect against UV damage.
At Essence, SkinCeuticals products are integrated into personalized skincare routines to help maintain and extend the results of in-office treatments. A consistent at-home regimen can help support skin recovery, improve outcomes, and maintain long-term skin health.
Both Ascorbic Acid and Acetylcysteine have been used independently to treat ocular pathology, including corneal alkali burns and filamentary keratitis in severe dry eye. But never have they been combined as a vitamin supplement eye drop to prevent eye disease related to UV exposure, including cataracts and macular degeneration.
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring lubricant in the eye and is commonly used in artificial tears to provide comfort to the ocular surface. Vitamin SEE combines Acetylcysteine (Glutathione) and Vitamin C with Hyaluronic acid for lubrication in a preservative-free formula to promote eye health.
This is the first vitamin supplement eyedrop of its kind and is found exclusively at Essence Laser & Wellness, PC, formulated by board-certified Ophthalmologist Melinda C. O’Rourke, MD
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Tyrrell RM. Ultraviolet radiation and free radical damage to skin. Biochem Soc Symp. 1995;61:47-53. doi: 10.1042/bss0610047. PMID: 8660402. ↩︎
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Chawda D, Shinde P. Effects of Solar Radiation on the Eyes. Cureus. 2022 Oct 29;14(10):e30857. ↩︎
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Masaki, Hitoshi. Role of antioxidants in the skin: Anti-aging effects. Journal of Dermatological Science, Vol 58, Issue 2, May 2010, Pages 85-90 ↩︎
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The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Research Group*. Lutein + Zeaxanthin and Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2013;309(19):2005–2015. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.4997 ↩︎
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Paterson Christopher A, O’Rourke Melinda C. Vitamin C levels in human tears. Arch Ophthalmol. 1987 Mar;105(3):376-7. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1987.01060030096034.PMID: 3827714. ↩︎
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Tyrrell RM. Ultraviolet radiation and free radical damage to skin. Biochem Soc Symp. 1995;61:47-53. doi: 10.1042/bss0610047. PMID: 8660402. ↩︎
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Giblin FJ. Glutathione: a vital lens antioxidant. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2000 Apr;16(2):121-35. doi: 10.1089/jop.2000.16.121. PMID: 10803423. ↩︎
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Schimel AM, Abraham L, Cox D, Sene A, Kraus C, Dace DS, Ercal N, Apte RS. N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) prevents retinal degeneration by up-regulating reduced glutathione production and reversing lipid peroxidation. Am J Pathol. 2011 May;178(5):2032-43. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.01.036. Epub 2011 Mar 31. PMID: 21457933; PMCID: PMC3081196. ↩︎
