How lutein and zeaxanthin earned the limelight

When light enters the human eye it passes through the cornea, pupil, and lens to focus on an area of light-sensitive tissue called the retina. Near the center of the retina of the eye is a light yellow spot called the macula. It’s here where lutein and zeaxanthin concentrate to form macular pigment to filter out excess blue and ultraviolet light — acting much like a pair of sunglasses would — and protecting the macula’s high concentration of rods and cones responsible for central vision from their possible degradation. Here is a short story about how lutein and zeaxanthin gained the limelight for eye health:

Blazing the trail dressed in yellow

In the Fall of 1996, a couple of oddly dressed men caused quite the stir when they dropped in on the first day of the American Association of Ophthalmology annual meeting taking place in Chicago. The pair showed up wearing bright yellow blazers that made them appear more like members of musical group than attendees of a scientific conference.