Eye Conditions Archives - Page 49 of 66 - Natural Eye Care Blog: News & Research on Vision

10 Million Dollar Grant for Retinal Disease Research

The National Eye Institute has just given researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine a $10.1 million grant to study and develop new treatments for diseases that affect the eye’s retina. Part of their research will focus on the development and treatment of macular degeneration and Stargardt’s Disease.

Researchers will be looking at how the eye metabolizes essential vitamin A and how it deals with the toxic byproducts of that process. If the build-up of those byproducts is not managed by the body properly then one is likely to develop eye disease. Source: https://www.physorg.com/wire-news/54994484/case-western-reserve-receives-10m-to-study-retinal-disease-devel.html

Because this grants is in part funded by the Food and Drug Administration, researcher will focus on analyzing the effectiveness of current drugs and formulating new pharmaceutical options.

At Natural Eye Care, we advocate taking a natural approach to eye disease prevention and treatment. Learn more about how to prevent and treat macular degeneration naturally.

Quit Smoking to Help Your Heart & Prevent Macular Degeneration

The American Journal of Cardiology has just published a study describing how cigarette smokers with coronary heart disease an greatly benefit from kicking the smoking habit.

The importance of smoking cessation is well documented, but this study goes as far as to say that people who currently smoke are 57% more likely to suffer a major cardiovascular event than those who have quit smoking. Source: https://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Lifestyle/smoking_cessation_reduces_heart_disease_risk_1226100122.html

Studies have also proven that smoking cessation can reduce one’s risk of developing macular degeneration.

Learn more macular degeneration research at our website.

Home Remedies Catch Medical Community Attention AND Cures for Dark Circles

The best remedy doesn’t always come from the pharmacy. In fact, it usually DOESN’T come from the pharmacy.

A new book called the Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies supports the belief that the best way to heal many illnesses is to look in your refrigerator, cabinets, or garden. Source: https://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=10568&Section=Nutrition

One common eye complaint that responds well to at-home treatments is dark circles under the eyes. Here are a few ideas:

Tea Bag Treatment: Try applying a cold compress of rosemary tea to increase circulation, which helps reduce swelling around the eyes. Make tea by bringing a half-cup of fresh rosemary and a quart of water to a boil. Steep for 20 minutes, then strain and chill. Soak a washcloth in the tea, ring out extra liquid anal place over eyes for 15 to 20 minutes, once a day, as needed.
Freeze some parsley in ice cubes. Use the parsley cubes instead of eye creams to diminish dark circles and puffiness. Parsley is packed with chlorophyll which helps fade darkness, while the ice cubes reduce the swelling.
Apply a paste of turmeric powder with pineapple juice for dark circles under the eyes.

For more hints on getting rid of dark circles and puffy eyes, visit our website.

Ginseng Supports Eye Health and May Boost Brain Function

In the formulas that I have created to support my patients’ and clients’ eye health I have included the herb ginseng because I know it helps improve heart and immune function. It strengthens the immune system and is an excellent herb for overall health. After all, the health of the eyes is inextricably connected to the health of the entire body.

Brain Function & Ginseng

In a study that appeared in The Cochrane Library revealed that some people may experience increased brain function when taking ginseng. According to lead researcher JinSong Geng, M.D, “Ginseng appears to have some beneficial effects on cognition, behavior and quality of life.” At the same time, the authors do not believe they have enough evidence to recommend people start taking the herb in therapeutic doses in hopes of improving brain health. Source:https://www.cfah.org/hbns/archives/getDocument.cfm?documentID=22336

We do know that it supports the health of the retina, however. Learn more about Diabetic Retinopathy, often a side effect of diabetes.

Diabetic Retinopathy & Brain Function

Interestingly, research announced at Diabetes UK’s Annual Professional Conference links Diabetic retinopathy with poorer memory and diminished brain power in people with Type 2 diabetes. It has yet to be determined whether the advance of cerebral microvascular disease, as indexed by retinopathy, leads to cognitive decline or whether poorer mental acuity makes it more difficult to manage diabetes symptoms and leads to a worsening of the disease. According to Jie Ding from the University of Edinburgh, “It is also possible that a third unidentified factor is causing both diabetic retinopathy and the cognitive changes.” Source: medicalnewstoday.com/

Prevent Macular Degeneration With Diet, Exercise, and Smoking Cessation

It’s great when medical studies support what we have been telling our patients and clients for years.

A study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology describes how a good diet, regular exercise, and the avoidance of smoking can reduce one’s risk of developing early age-related macular degeneration. The study revealed that there was little difference in whether one smoked for a long time or only briefly; any history of smoking puts you in the higher risk category. The findings are based on a study of 1313 participants ranging in age from 55 to 74 years. Source: Medscape

Learn more about how prevention is the best medicine when you want to ward off eye disease and other conditions.

For more about how you can prevent and treat macular degeneration, please visit our website.

Prevent Cataracts and Auto Accidents With Good Sunglasses

Do you trade in your prescription lenses for a pair of drug store sunglasses on days when the glare is bothering you? A new study by eyeglass lens maker Essilor of America finds that 20% of people will drive without any corrective eyewear on sunny days because they do not have prescription sunglasses. The source for this story, www.medicalnewstoday.com, goes on to describe the importance of polarized lenses, especially when driving in high-glare situations.

Protecting your eyes from the sun is a key part of our eye disease prevention protocol. Cataracts can be caused by exposure to sunlight, so always remember your sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection whenever outside in the sun.

Protect Your Eyes At Work: Computer Eye Strain

The Vision Council recently published Eye Safety At-a-Glance: Protecting Your Vision at Work.

Almost 2000 Americans suffer eye injuries in the course of each work day. This study focuses on the importance of using safety eye wear and having emergency eyewash stations available. Source: Medical News Today

One thing that the study does not mention is the importance of protecting your eyes not from projectiles or chemicals but from computer eye strain.

So many of us spend our days starting at computer screens and this activity can lead to eye fatigue, headaches, and even glaucoma.

Learn about how to prevent and treat computer eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome, at our website.

Diets High in Polyunsaturated Fats Increase Risk of Macular Degeneration

Decreasing the consumption of fat may help protect against the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to results of the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study.
For their research, the investigators followed nearly 2,000 women aged 50 to 79 as part of the larger Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study, Via the use of questionnaires and retinal photography, they concluded that women who consumed the highest levels of dietary polyunsaturated fats were approximately twice as likely to have AMD when compared to those women who consumed the least. It is important to note that consuming monounsaturated fatty acids (like olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, avocados, nuts and seeds) were associated with a lower risk of AMD. Reference: Arch Ophthalmol. 2009 Nov;127(11):1483-93
For further information on preventing and treating macular degeneration naturally, visit our website.

Editor’s Note: The types of fats in one’s diet play a major role in eye and overall body health. Avoid polyunsaturated oils such as vegetables oils (do not cook with these oils). Use high quality olive oil in your diet on your salads and food such as adding it to your steamed vegetables (with a little balsamic vinegar or lemon – delicious).

Healthy Lifestyle Prevents Stroke, Cataracts, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma

A healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of stroke by up to 80%.

Research published in the journal Stroke encourages people to exercise regularly, drink alcohol only in moderation, eat plenty of fruits and veggies, control weight, and not smoke in order to avoid stroke.

These guidelines are the same that we recommend when it comes to avoiding vision conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

Moderate Alcohol Use

There’s another piece of evidence that suggests moderate drinking – one or two alcoholic beverages each day – can be beneficial for the eyes.

A study of over 3,600 Australians found that when the figures were adjusted to account for other factors (including age, smoking, and diabetes), people who had one or two drinks each day were 50% less likely to have cataract surgery. The moderate drinkers were less likely to require surgery for cataracts than counterparts who drank more as well as those who did not drink at all.

Source: https://www.osnsupersite.com

Omega-3s Found in Fish Fight Macular Degeneration

When people between 65 and 84 eat fish weekly they are less likely to develop macular degeneration.

The study published in the journal Ophthalmology credits the intake of omega-3 fatty acids with helping to ward off macular degeneration. Source: https://www.ophthalmologyjournaloftheaao.com

Dietary supplements are also a good source of omega 3s.

For more research into macular degeneration, click here.

To learn about other ways to prevent and treat macular degeneration visit our website.