SCI and Kemin Industries promote eye health in conjunction with BODY WORLDS Vital

For Immediate Release — Friday, July 29, 2011

DES MOINES, IA: The Science Center of Iowa & Blank IMAX Dome Theater (SCI) will host Kemin Industries and Dr. David Scott to educate visitors about eye health on Thursday, August 4 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at SCI. Dr. Scott, Des Moines optometrist, will provide free macular pigment optical density (MPOD) eye screenings as part of the BODY WORLDS Vital Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies event series.

In addition to the free MPOD eye screenings, representatives from Kemin Industries will be on hand to educate visitors about the important role lutein plays in maintaining healthy vision and FloraGLO® Lutein, the lutein brand clinically proven to be absorbed by the body and to increase lutein levels in the eye for optimal protection.

"SCI is excited to partner with Kemin Industries and Dr. Scott to promote eye health and offer free eye screenings in conjunction with the BODY WORLDS Vital exhibition," says SCI's Director of Marketing Chris Beck. "The purpose of BODY WORLDS Vital is to educate the public about their bodies. Offering this opportunity to teach visitors about the importance of eye health and getting their eyes screened is another way to get engaged in this exhibition."

Dr. Scott will measure MPOD, the levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in the eye. Low macular pigment has been linked to a higher risk for age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness in the United States. Screenings take approximately 10 minutes and are available for all ages.

To keep eyes healthy and protect them as they age, research indicates that people need 10 mg of lutein every day through diet and eye vitamins. Most Americans are only getting 2 mg or less through their diet alone.

President and CEO of Kemin Industries, Chris Nelson, says, "Lutein is a powerful antioxidant that is deposited in the macula of the human eye and helps filter damaging blue light from the sun, indoor lighting and computer screens. Although lutein is found naturally in spinach and kale, most of us don't eat the recommended 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables each day to get the necessary amount of lutein in our diet. Since our bodies do not make lutein, supplementing your diet with an eye vitamin containing lutein will help ensure you receive 10 mg of lutein each day."

Free MPOD eye screenings are available on a first-come, first serve basis from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at SCI. Tickets to BODY WORLDS Vital can be purchased separately online at https://www.sciowa.org/buy-tickets/ or at the SCI Box Office. BODY WORLDS Vital presented by Iowa Health System and Kemin Industries will be at SCI through summer.

Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies is a monthly educational and interactive series of events designed to engage the public in the education of health of both the mind and body.

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About the Science Center of Iowa & Blank IMAX Dome Theater

The Science Center of Iowa is a 110,000-sq. ft facility devoted to lifelong learning, featuring dynamic experience platforms and daily interactive demonstrations with SCI staff for visitors to explore and experiment.  By placing the power of learning in the hands of the visitor, the programmatic emphasis is not on "what" to learn, but "how" to learn.  SCI also features the 175-seat John Deere Adventure Theater for live performances, the 50-foot domed Star Theater for planetarium shows and the 216-seat Blank IMAX Dome Theater for engaging films.  SCI’s Iowa Learning Center cultivates ties to formal education through educational resources for educators and students, the NAEYC-accredited SCI Preschool, as well as a statewide outreach program.