Melanin Story
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Melanin is responsible for much of the coloration throughout nature - including our hair and skin. Nature uses melanin for another purpose: to protect our tissue from sunlight damage. We are born with an initial supply of melanin in our eyes. It is located just behind the retina where it functions - much like the black paint inside a camera - to reduce undesirable light scatter (see Figure 1 Below).
Scientists have recently demonstrated that melanin serves another important protective role by functioning as an antioxidant near the retina along with vitamin C and E (See the article/). Potentially harmful free radicals, that would otherwise initiate a chain of damaging oxidation reactions in the retina, are neutralized by melanin. The damage in question is Age-related Macular Degeneration. Unfortunately we lose this valuable protection to our retina as our melanin is lost with age (see the Figure above).
Scientists at PhotoProtective Technologies have developed the patents and technologies to synthesize and chemically modify melanin so that it can be incorporated into optical quality plastic lenses. PPT is currently licensing distributors to market and sell Rx Sun lenses with melanin.
What makes the melanin lenses superior to other sun lenses is their ability to filter colors in proportion to their damage – thereby reducing the risks of macular degeneration and cataracts – while still providing excellent color perception.
Melanin - the body's own protection against sunlight damage.
PhotoPrototective Technologies has developed state-of-the-art eye care technology incorporating melanin in protective eyewear. Our melanin technology provides glare reduction and protection from sunlight damage to the eye that is engineered by Nature. Our melanin is the light-filtering component in lenses in sunglasses, reading glasses, computer glasses, pilot glasses, night driving glasses, sport sunglasses and other special purpose sun glasses that have the Melavision brand name. For the best in eye protection and eye comfort, trust the Melavision brand products.