Advancing Pediatric Eye Health: The Scientific Case for Astaxanthin in Children’s Formulas

By: Susan Hamrahi|
August 28, 2025

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Categories: Eye Health

Tags: antioxidant, eye strain, healthy vision

As Children’s Vision Month winds down, it coincides with the annual return to school. A period when both caregivers and parents are reminded of the importance of children’s ocular health. For formulators in the nutraceutical and functional food industries, this season presents a timely opportunity to address the growing prevalence of screen-induced visual disturbances among pediatric populations.  The role of visual hygiene, ergonomic interventions, and screen-time management remains foundational in pediatric eye care while nutritional support strategies offer a promising adjunct. Integrating astaxanthin into children’s products is not only scientifically justified but also well-aligned with current market needs and clinical trends.

Digital Device Use and Pediatric Vision

Children today are spending more time on screens than ever: on average, those aged 8 to 12-years log over 5.5 hours a day, while teens are hitting more than 8.5 hours daily. This level of sustained near work is associated with a notable rise in Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), a multifactorial condition as defined by the American Optometric Association. CVS encompasses visual symptoms (eye strain, blurred vision, headaches) and extraocular symptoms (musculoskeletal discomfort).  Children who engage with screens for over 2 hours daily are increasingly vulnerable to computer vision syndrome (CVS). This growing public health challenge can negatively impact sleep, cognitive development, and visual acuity, with potential implications for childhood myopia and cognitive performance.

On a mechanistic level, CVS is rooted in chronic accommodative stress: a result of prolonged contraction of the ciliary muscles due to continuous near-focus tasks. Unlike dynamic visual activities, static digital screen engagement limits accommodation variability, leading to ciliary muscle fatigue and increased risk for both acute and chronic visual insufficiencies.

Oxidative Stress as a Therapeutic Target

Extensive research underlines the ciliary body’s vulnerability to oxidative stress, driven by increased metabolic demand during sustained accommodation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated in this process, can compromise ciliary muscle function and homeostasis. An emerging body of evidence supports the role of antioxidant supplementation in mitigating this oxidative stress associated with increased screen exposure and environmental factors. Astaxanthin’s exceptional free-radical scavenging capacity, high bioavailability, and ability to cross the blood-retinal barrier position it as a leader for protecting ocular tissues, especially in populations with rising screen time exposure and visual strain.

Clinical Validation in the Pediatric Population

The latest advancement is a ground-breaking 2025 double-masked, placebo-controlled study that investigated the effects of a 4 mg/day AstaReal® Astaxanthin dietary intervention on developing eyes in a cohort of 64 children, aged 10-14 years, who had a history of using digital devices for at least 4 hours daily. The research focused on both chronic and acute eye strain, utilizing subjective assessments through the Computer Vision Symptom Questionnaire (CVS-Q) and the Asthenopia Visual Fatigue Likert Scale (VFLS). Additionally, the study evaluated objective measures of stereopsis (depth perception), pupil light reflex (which measures the sustainability of the pupil’s response), and the Schirmer I test (which assesses tear production), all measured over the course of 3 months.

The findings of this study indicated that dietary supplementation with 4 mg/day of AstaReal® Astaxanthin effectively alleviated both chronic and acute eye fatigue in school-aged children experiencing Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). In addition to reducing subjective eye strain, as measured by the CVS-Q and VFLS, the study also found improvements in objective visual performance measures, including stereopsis and pupil light reflex, suggesting that Astaxanthin may enhance visual function during periods of acute digital screen exposure. Furthermore, the improvement in Schirmer I test results in the Astaxanthin group, compared to baseline, suggested that Astaxanthin supported tear production, potentially mitigating the ocular dryness associated with prolonged digital device use.

These results substantiate the multi-modal efficacy of astaxanthin: its antioxidant capacity supports ciliary muscle performance, resilience under accommodative demand, and tear film stability; all critical metrics for visual health in digital-native children.

Market Dynamics and Opportunity

In the context of increasing screen exposure and heightened parental concern, demand for pediatric ocular health products is primed for expansion. Unlike adult eye health, the children’s segment remains underrepresented, with most existing supplements focused on immune or cognitive support. Early adoption of astaxanthin products provides both a scientific and commercial advantage, leveraging robust clinical data and addressing a highly relevant, evolving need.

Backed by studies, early integration of astaxanthin into pediatric-focused formulations could position brands as pioneers in this emerging category. Its antioxidant capacity is up to 6,000 times greater than vitamin C and 500 times more potent than vitamin E, making it particularly relevant for today’s visually demanding digital environments.

Global supplement data show that children’s products are increasingly being positioned around targeted health benefits, with eye health supplements recording a CAGR of +2.97% between 2020–2024 despite contraction in many other categories (Innova Market Research). This indicates that parents are beginning to differentiate between broad nutritional support and specialized solutions for digital eye strain and myopia prevention.

A Data-Driven Pathway to Innovation

The pediatric eye health sector is on the cusp of significant growth, driven by increasing screen use, clinical insight, and consumer demand for proactive wellness solutions. Formulators integrating AstaReal® Astaxanthin into age-appropriate children’s products are well-positioned to deliver measurable benefits supported by clinical evidence, distinguishing their offerings within a rapidly evolving market.

As children embark on a new academic year, the scientific and market rationale for innovative formulas supporting visual health has never been clearer. The question for industry leaders is not if, but when, to take strategic action leveraging validated science to directly support the well-being and development of the next generation.