n. a yellow pigment in the *macula at the back of the eye, where the vision is sharpest. The macula also contains the dietary carotenoids *lutein, from which mesozeaxanthin is derived, and zeaxanthin, and all three pigments are thought to protect the eye from the ageing process.
n. 1. a yellow carotenoid pigment and potent *antioxidant found in many vegetables. Like the related pigment zeaxanthin (see also mesozeaxanthin), it occurs in high concentrations in the human eye. For this reason these pigments are thought to be crucial to healthy vision. 2. the yellow pigment of the corpus luteum.... lutein
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