Tag Archives: vision issues

Maintain Good Eye Health

By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Medicine

As a health reporter, I spend hours in front of my computer monitor every day tracking and writing about the latest advances in natural medicine. And, even though I love what I do, it can be extremely hard on the eyes.

Unless our eyes are bothering us, most of us don’t pay much attention to them – and I’m as guilty as anyone. But poor nutrition, excessive sunlight and yes, long hours in front of a computer can be a set-up for some serious vision problems later in life, including cataracts and macular degeneration.

Like all of our other body parts, our eyes need good nutrition to function properly. If you eat a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, you should be getting all of the antioxidants you need to help protect your eyes. But it’s hard to maintain a healthy diet all of the time, particularly when we’re busy. The good news is that you can cover your nutritional bases by supplementing your diet with a good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. Make sure your supplement includes vitamin C and E, the B vitamins, selenium, zinc and carotenoids, especially beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, which research has shown are vital to healthy eyes.

Along with making sure you’re getting plenty of eye-friendly nutrients, there are other simple things you can do maintain good eyesight for life. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the hours you and I spend in front of the computer monitor can result in red or watery eyes, difficulty focusing and eye fatigue. Luckily, preventing computer eyestrain is easy. Just get up and do something else for five minutes every hour or so to give your eyes a much-needed break.

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Sun exposure is one of the major contributors to age-related macular degeneration, say scientists at the University of Wisconsin. The next time you’re in the market for a new pair of sunglasses, make sure they come with a special coating that blocks both UVA and UVB rays.

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Last week I told you about some natural ways to relive the respiratory symptoms of seasonal allergies. But allergies can also make our eyes look and feel miserable. When I moved to the desert, I never dreamed that allergies would be a problem. But the few blooming botanicals we do have can bring on an instant case of itchy, red and swollen eyes. For pollen-induced irritation, I’ve found that the advice nutritionist Phyllis Balch gives in her book “Prescription for Herbal Healing” (Avery Publishing, 2002) provides fast relief. She recommends taking 500 to 1,000 mg. of stinging nettles, which acts like a natural antihistamine. To reduce swelling and redness, you can also bathe your eyes with an eyewash containing an extract of the anti-inflammatory herb eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis).

Once I hit my 40th birthday, I started noticing that it was harder to see at night. I asked my ophthalmologist if there were any herbs I could take to improve my night vision. He suggested that I try bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). Research shows that bilberry rejuvenates the light-sensitive pigment in the retina and improves eye capillary health. Studies on air-traffic controllers, airplane pilots and truck drivers have found that bilberry also helps improve night vision and shortens the time it takes for our eyes to adjust to the dark. Doctors and herbalists typically recommend taking 240 to 480 mg. of bilberry a day.

By the way, my ophthalmologist also mentioned that nightblindness can be an early sign of vitamin A deficiency, so make sure you’re getting enough of this important vitamin in your diet, preferably in the form of beta-carotene.

One Last Thing …

My daughter used to get terrible episodes of conjunctivitis, better known as “pink-eye.” A bacterial infection, virus or injury to the eye can bring on this painful and unsightly condition. And, as my daughter discovered, wearing contact lenses can also increase your risk. While serious conjunctivitis is best treated by a health professional, many herbalists say that taking 500 mg. of goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis) three times a day is an effective remedy for mild cases. (A word of caution: don’t take goldenseal internally for more than seven days and avoid the herb entirely if you have high blood pressure or are pregnant.) To help relieve the pain and itching associated with conjunctivitis, you can also make an eyewash with a tincture of goldenseal.

The gift of sight is precious. It’s great to know that there are natural steps we can all take to keep them healthy for a lifetime.

References:

AREDS Report No. 8. “A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss.” Archives of Ophthalmology. 2001; 119:1417-1436.

de Oliveira Miguel, et al. “Ultrastructural study of first and second order neurons in the visual system of the crab Ucides cordatus following exposure to ultraviolet radiation.” Micron 2002; 33:627-637.

Head KA. “Natural therapies for ocular disorders.” Alternative Medicine Review. 2001; 6: 141-146.

Mares-Perlman JA, et al. “Lutein and zeaxanthin in the diet and serum and their relation to age-related maculopathy in the third national health and nutrition examination survey.” American Journal of Epidemiology. 2001; 152: 424-432.

DHA and EPA Fatty Acids

By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Medicine

We all know that eating large amounts of dietary fat not only puts on the pounds, it can increase our risk for heart disease. But here’s a surprise – a high fat diet can also speed up age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Last September, I told you that AMD is the leading cause of irreversible visual impairment and blindness in people over the age of 50 (“When the lights go out” 9/23/03). I also told you how devastating this disease is for its victims and their families. So anything that can slow down the progression of this disease is indeed good news – especially if it’s something as simple as changing the way we eat.

Out of Sight

Just to recap: There are two forms of AMD, dry and wet. The most typical form of the disease is the dry variety, which occurs when the light-sensitive macular cells break down. This type of AMD can take years to develop and the most common symptoms are a gradual shift in perception (normally straight objects appear bent or wavy) and a dark or blurry spot in the center of your vision.

Less common, but much more debilitating, is wet macular degeneration. Wet AMD occurs when new blood vessels behind the retina grow toward it and leak blood and fluid. This form of macular degeneration causes a very sudden – and severe – loss of central vision.

And while family history can up your risk of developing AMD, researchers have also known that bad habits (smoking and too much sun) can also increase your odds. But according to this new study, you can now add another bad habit to the list: eating too much fat.

Fat Chance

The study, which was conducted by researchers at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, involved 261 patients over the age of 60 who all had some signs of AMD in at least one eye. Participants were followed for an average of 4.6 years and completed food frequency questionnaires designed to measure the amounts and kinds of foods eaten in the previous week.

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After reviewing the data, the researchers found that higher levels of dietary fat intake were associated with the progression of AMD to the advanced stages associated with visual loss. The biggest culprits? Saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and trans fats. The very fats we eat everyday!

Ok, so we know that saturated and trans fats are bad for us on a number of levels. But monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats? These fats are supposed to be good for you. And they are – in small amounts. These beneficial fats play a critical role in building cell membranes, producing hormones and helping the body absorb and utilize fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K). But Americans have trouble practicing moderation – especially when it tastes so good.

The problem is, say the researchers, foods with higher levels of these fats, particularly processed baked goods, increase the risk of accelerating AMD by about two-fold.

Whether or not limiting these fats also prevents AMD is something the researchers didn’t explore. But, as I’ve said before, for optimum health, it’s wise to limit the amount of saturated and polyunsaturated fat you consume – and try to completely avoid the synthetic trans fats found in many processed foods.

Fish in a Nutshell

The news isn’t all bad though. According to the study, the fat in nuts and fish were the exception with protective effects on eye health. That’s not surprising since nuts are rich in eye-friendly zinc and vitamin E. And fish is loaded with omega3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) – specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

A few years ago, a study by Harvard researchers found that, while consuming large amounts of linolenic acid (found in corn and safflower oil)increased the risk of AMD, eating fish high in DHA four times a week actually lowered the risk of developing the disease by 35 percent.

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If you suffer from AMD and want to retain your vision longer, try adding omega3-rich fish like salmon, tuna or mackerel to your diet at least four times a week. But for maximum protection, supplement with essential fatty acid capsules containing both DHA and EPA fatty acids. By boosting your intake of these healthy fats, you may just be able to say “Here’s looking at you” for years to come.

One Last Thing …

The Massachusetts researchers also noted that the carotenoids zeaxanthin and lutein are powerful weapons against AMD. In fact, these two nutrients can slash your risk by 40 percent. One reason, according to a recent study in the Journal of Nutrition, is that supplemental zeaxanthin and lutein can significantly increase macular pigment density. By boosting the pigment, and hence the thickness of the macula, these two nutrients protect the eye from light damage.

While egg yolks, kale, spinach, broccoli and collard greens are good sources of these carotenoids, you would need to eat massive quantities to get the 6 mg. a day you need to stave off AMD. You can, however, get this protective amount by taking supplements. But don’t look for a separate zeaxanthin supplement. Since this carotenoid can’t be chemically separated from lutein, all lutein supplements contain zeaxanthin.

This Just In …

I’m glad I was sitting down when I read a recent story from the BBC. As it was, I could barely believe my eyes.

It seems that a top executive at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is now admitting that 90 percent of prescription drugs don’t work for most people! He went on to say that only 30 to 50 percent of patients see any benefit at all. This coming from a man who represents Europe’s largest drug maker.

But this epiphany doesn’t seem to be slowing down GSK’s “one-size fits all” mentality. The company recently announced that it has more than 20 potential $1 billion-a year blockbuster drugs in development.

Even so, it’s rare that a drug company would admit that their products are a failing, although profitable, proposition. Who knows, maybe the pharmaceutical industry conscious will really start bothering them and they’ll publicly acknowledge just how dangerous their drugs really are. Then again, maybe not.

References:

Bone RA, et al. “Lutein and zeaxanthin dietary supplements raise macular pigment density and serum concentrations of these carotenoids in humans.” Journal of Nutrition. 2003;133:1953.

Brown NA, et al. “Nutrition supplements and the eye.” Eye. 1998;12:127-33.

Cho E, et al. “Prospective study of dietary fat and the risk of age-related macular degeneration.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2001;73:209-218.

“Dietary fats may increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration.” Reuters. 8 Dec 2003.

“Drugs ‘don’t work on many people.’” BBC News. 8 Dec 2003.