By David Blyweiss, M.D.

It’s no secret that aging takes its toll on sight. Over the years the surface of the cornea—the eye’s clear outer covering—flattens, admitting less light into the eye. The thickness of the macula—the part of the retina used for reading and seeing fine details—also becomes thinner. Free radicals generated by sunlight, environmental toxins and even normal body functions cause many of these changes. Poor diet also contributes to visual problems as we age. Left unchecked, these factors can eventually raise the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and glaucoma.

These three conditions are the most common causes of vision loss in people over 40. AMD occurs when cells in the macula begin to deteriorate and it can cause the loss of central vision. Cataracts are clumps of protein that cloud the lens, making things appear fuzzy or causing double vision and “halos.” Glaucoma damages the optic nerve and causes vision loss and blindness. But these age-related visual changes aren’t inevitable. You can protect, even enhance, your eyesight.

The first thing I recommend to my patients concerned with age-related vision changes is a supplement called Eagle Eyes. The reason is simple: Eagle Eyes contains compounds clinically proven to quench the free radicals that can damage sight, as well as nutrients that can actually sharpen your vision. Here are just some examples of what you’ll find:

Lutein and zeaxanthin are two carotenoids responsible for the vibrant red and orange colors in some fruits and vegetables. They also happen to be naturally present in the retina where they act like “sunglasses,” screening out ultraviolet rays and preventing damage to cells in the eye by acting as antioxidants. Both increase the retina’s macular-pigment density, which protects it from degenerating or tearing. Harvard researchers found that a daily dose of lutein—about what you would get by eating roughly one-fourth cup cooked spinach—lowered the odds of macular degeneration by 43 percent. Another lutein study showed improvement in visual function in one or both eyes of subjects with macular degeneration. And because lutein filters out UV rays, cataract risk also dropped by up to 65 percent in those who consumed lutein five or more times per week, according to another study.

Bilberry, a European version of blueberries, is called the “vision herb” because it improves night vision and can prevent glaucoma, cataracts and computer-vision fatigue. Its antioxidant flavonoid compounds also strengthen retinal capillaries and can prevent or treat early-stage macular degeneration. New evidence shows that the anthocyanidins in bilberry protect retinal ganglion cells—a type of neuron in the retina—against damage.

Ginkgo biloba has become an adjunct in the treatment of AMD and glaucoma because it fights free-radical damage in the retina and improves blood flow in the optic nerve—a good thing because the retina demands a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients. In one six-month study, people who took a standardized ginkgo extract twice daily significantly improved their long-distance vision.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids are thought to improve vision because DHA is naturally concentrated in the retina. In the Harvard University-led Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), which involved about 3,600 people with varying stages of AMD, those who ate fish more than twice a week had a 50 percent lower risk of AMD than those who ate none.

Of course, simply popping a supplement won’t give you total protection. You should also take some simple steps every day to protect your eyes. To guard against retina-damaging UV rays, choose wraparound, UV-blocking sunglasses, along with a broad-brimmed hat or visor.

Avoid cigarette smoke. Smoking increases the risk of macular degeneration 2.4-fold in women, depletes antioxidants like vitamin A and causes about 20 percent of all cataracts. If you use eyedrops, choose tear substitutes without preservatives or vitamin A-based drops that provide antioxidant protection. Preservatives in most commercial eyedrops actually decrease the production of tears and can even damage corneal cells.

Regular exercise—at least 20 minutes daily—improves circulation throughout the body, including the eyes with their many small vessels, and helps eliminate toxins. It has also been established that glaucoma patients who walk briskly for 40 minutes five days a week reduce their intraocular pressure by approximately 2.5 millimeters—similar to the reduction seen with beta-blockers. Beta-blockers, often used in glaucoma eyedrop treatments because of their ability to lower intraocular pressure, can also cause undesirable side effects such as fatigue, elevated blood sugar levels and weight gain. Exercise offsets all of these potential side effects.

To get a comprehensive picture of your eye health, be sure to visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist at least every two years, and annually if you’re over 50. In the meantime, protecting your vision with Eagle Eyes can help you see more clearly for years to come.

References:

Carpentier S, et al. Associations between lutein, zeaxanthin, and age-related macular degeneration: an overview. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutriiton. 2009;49:313-326.

Eriksson U, et al. Macular thickness decreases with age in normal eyes. A study on the macular thickness map protocol in the Stratus OCT. British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2008 Nov 19. [Epub ahead of print]

Matsunaga N, et al. Bilberry and its main constituents have neuroprotective effects against retinal neuronal damage in vitro and in vivo. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. 2009;53:869-877