Category: Eye Conditions

Ginkgo Biloba Benefits for Macular Degeneration and Preventing Retinal Detachments

Controlled trials have shown that extracts of Ginkgo Biloba can significantly improve visual acuity in Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) patients within six months of use.

Controlled trials have shown that extracts of Ginkgo Biloba can significantly improve visual acuity in Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) patients within six months of use. Both animal and human studies have revealed that Ginkgo extract can help to prevent retinal detachment, while increasing antioxidant activity in patients’ blood, tears and plasma*.

Editor’s Note: Gingko biloba has many potential benefits as a powerful antioxidant, and its effects on improving circulation and even brain function.

*For the gingko biloba study references and for more related studies on nutrition and macular degeneration, Click Here

ARMD & Mitochondrial Damage in Retinal Cells

New study shows that the progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration my be connected to ongoing damage to mitochondria in the retinal cells.

A 2010 study indicates that ARMD (age-related macular degeneration) could be tied to retinal mitochondria damage.

Source: www.iovs.org/cgi/content/abstract/iovs.10-5429v1

Editor’s Note: Mitochondria produce energy from nutrients in the blood stream and have the function of supplying power to the cell functioning.

This study further underscores the importance of having a healthy diet, exercising and taking targeted supplements that nourish the retinal cells. Nutrients such as CoQ10 may help as well as it helps increase mitochondrial activity (energy production) in the cells. Supporting nutrients for CoQ10 include n-acetyl-carnitine and alpha lipoic acid.

For more information in nutrition and macular degeneration, Click Here

Vision Problems & 3-D Movies

The trend toward 3-D film and television is unmasking vision problems in many people including issues with binocular vision, a problem that affects and estimated three to nine million Americans.

The trend toward 3-D film and television is unmasking vision problems in many people including issues with binocular vision, a problem that affects and estimated three to nine million Americans.  Symptoms vary but can include headaches, blurred vision, and dizziness.  The American Optometric Association recommends visiting an optometrist if you suffer from any of these symptoms or if your eyes have trouble adjusting to “normal” afterward.  The AOA also stresses the importance of talking to an eye doctor about optometric vision therapy, a sequence of therapeutic exercises intended to help patients “achieve single, clear, comfortable, two-eyed vision that improves eye coordination, focusing and eye movement”

Source: https://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/aoa/43612/

Learn more about binocular vision.

Candidiasis can cause eye floaters

Floaters are often the result of vitreous tears or detachments often experienced by seniors, but for some these clumps of protein can be the result of candidiasis, an overgrowth of the yeast-like fungus Candida albicans.

“Floaters” are those small dark shapes that appear before your eyes and float through your field of vision.  Floaters are often the result of vitreous tears or detachments often experienced by seniors, but for some these clumps of protein can be the result of candidiasis, an overgrowth of the yeast-like fungus Candida albicans. Antibiotics, birth control pills, and an improper diet can all lead to candidiasis. The best way to start to counteract yeast overgrowth and the eye floaters and other health issues that this condition can cause is by eliminating sugar and yeast containing foods from the diet and introducing probiotics.

For more on floaters, including other causes and alternative treatments please visit NaturalEyeCare.com’s reference page.
More information on candida can be found at The Yeast Connection.

Vinpocetine shows promise for chronic inflammation

Findings reported in article published online on May 6, 2010 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (see link below) suggest that vinpocetine, a derivative of vincamine (from the periwinkle plant), could be useful for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), arthritis, infectious diseases and cancer.

Researchers believe that  vinpocetine, which, according to wikipedia is a “semi-synthetic”  derivative of an extract of periwinkle, vincamine, could be very helpful for treating diseases connected to chronic inflammation. These include coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and a number of infectious diseases.

Because conditions such as macular edema and diabetic retinopathy are tied to inflammation, this derivative may be helpful for these conditions.

Published: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, May 6, 2010.

New Study Suggests Role of High Cholesterol in Macular Degeneration Risk

New study shows that cholesterol biosynthesis could be involved in age-related macular degeneration, and supports data from other studies that have indicated a role for cholesterol in the pathology that leads to a major cause of visual impairment.

A 2010 study shows that cholesterol biosynthesis could be involved in age-related macular degeneration, and supports data from other studies that have indicated a role for cholesterol in the pathology that leads to a major cause of visual impairment.

Until more is known, people should strive to live a healthy lifestyle, Dr. Seddon (lead researcher) said. “People should lower their total cholesterol because we know that higher cholesterol is related to increased AMD risk, refrain from smoking, and eat healthy foods, such as dark leafy vegetables, spinach, collard greens, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Ref: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2010 Annual Meeting: Abstract 2475. Presented May 4, 2010.

Update

Another study published online and in the August, 2010 print issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, found that smoking and cholesterol levels affect the risk for early-stage age related macular degeneration (AMD).

Learn more about macular degeneration.

Contact Lens May Offer Improved Glaucoma Treatment

A vitamin E packed contact lens has the potential of preserving the vision of people being treated for glaucoma. While the contact lens can’t repair damage that has been done, it can prevent any further decline in vision.

A vitamin E packed contact lens has the potential of preserving the vision of people being treated for glaucoma. While the contact lens can’t repair damage that has been done, it can prevent any further decline in vision.

Typically open angle glaucoma is treated with eyedrops.  The new contact lenses would allow for a slow release of the medication and hold the medicines in place which would allow for the medicine to reach the targeted areas within the eye.

Vitamin E is the mighty component that allows for this slow release of the medication. Not only does the Vitamin E aid in delivering the medication to the eye, it also has the added benefit of protecting the eye from sun damage, since ultra-violet radiation is blocked by Vitamin E.

These trials so far have been done on animals, but shows promise for human use.

Low Vision Rehabilitation

A 2010 clinical trial seeks to find alternative ways to treat glaucoma, specifically investigating how to help those who’ve been told that no more can be done.  This trial is operating under the hypothesis that “state-of-the-art low vision aids in patients with advanced glaucomatous visual loss will provide an improvement in visual tasks and thereby an improvement in quality of life.”  Researchers want to study how low vision rehabilitation can help those suffering from glaucoma.

Source: https://clinicaltrialsfeeds.org/clinical-trials/show/NCT01262209

We believe that is possible to both prevent and treat glaucoma naturally.

Lutein & Vitamin A Helps Retinitis Pigmentosa

A daily supplement of lutein in combination with vitamin A may slow vision loss
associated with retinitis pigmentosa, according to the results of a randomized,
controlled, double-blind trial.

A new randomized, double-blind, control trial suggests that taking12 mg supplemental lutein daily along with  15,000 IU vitamin A may slow damage to mid-peripheral vision that arises from retinitis pigmentosa.

The research suggests that 20 additional years of better mid-peripheral vision can be expected for patients who are 40 who take the recommended supplementation, compared to significant vision loss by the early 50’s.  This further earlier research which indicated that taking vitamin A was helpful for retinal health.

This study included only people who do not smoke – for smokers there are problems in taking lutein.

Published: Clinical Trial of Lutein in Patients With Retinitis Pigmentosa Receiving Vitamin A, Archives of Ophthalmology
2010, Vol. 128, Issue 4, Pages 403-411

Researchers: E.L. Berson, and associates

This substantiates earlier research:

In a 48-week intervention trial, researchers tested Lutein supplementation
for vision protective-function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The conclusion of the study was as follows: “Comparing the development of vision measures against the natural loss expected to occur over the course of the 48 weeks, most measures showed reduced decline, and these reductions were significant for normal illumination”.

Ophthalmology (BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:23)

Sjogren’s Syndrome Often Mis-Diagnosed

Results from a recent survey of 400 Sjogren’s syndrome patients showed that half of those surveyed experienced common symptoms such as dry mouth or dry eyes for three or more years before receiving an accurate diagnosis from a healthcare professional.

Half of patients with Sjogren’s had experienced very common symptoms for 3 or more years before they finally received an accurate diagnosis.  These common symptoms include dry mouth or dry eye syndrome.  

The reason may be that these symptoms are quite similar to other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupis, and simply getting older.

Reported: Michael Brennan, DDS, MHS, Director, Sjogren’s Syndrome and Salivary Disorders Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, N.C.

Editor’s Notes: Supplementing with certain nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help reduce the symptoms of Sjogren’s Syndrome. 


Tricor doesn’t reduce diabetics’ heart risk

A drug taken for decades by millions of people with type 2 diabetes to prevent heart attacks, strokes and deaths offered no benefit in a broad group of patients, a study released Sunday shows.

A 2010 study reports that Tricor (Fenofibrate) which has been taken by adult-onset diabetics in order to prevent heart attacks, strokes and deaths offers no benefit.  The product lowers triglycerides and raises good cholesterol, apparently lowering heart risk. But it failed to reduce  a combination of strokes, heart attacks  and deaths in patients with adult-onset diabetes.

Researchers: Henry Ginsberg, and associates, Columbia University.

Editor’s Note: Diabetic sufferers are at high risk of onset of diabetic retinopathy which can lead to permanent vision loss. Learn about information on nutrients (such as alpha lipoic acid, taurine, bilberry, lutein, omega-3 fatty acids) related to helping preserve vision for those with diabetes.