Dr. Grossman’s Blog

Further studies indicate that bilberry and pine bark extracts can reduce ocular hypertension, a condition related to visual impairment and glaucoma (source: Clinical Ophthalmology, 2010, Volume 4, Pages 471-476).

Bilberry is also associated with improving other eye conditions including cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.  Both cataracts and macular degeneration in particular have been attributed to damage caused by free radicals that can be combated through increased intake of antioxidants. Bilberry’s flavonoids are known as potent antioxidants that can scavenging free radicals and help ward off multiple age-related eye diseases.

Three of the eight strains of the herpes virus can cause vision loss, including varicella zoster virus (VZV), which causes chickenpox and also shingles, and herpes simplex virus-1 and -2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2).  Shingles, which can affect older adults who have had chickenpox earlier in their lives, is marked by a rash that wraps around one side of the body, generally on the face or trunk.  When the rash appears on the face it can affect the corneal tissue and this can lead to keratitis (inflammation and scarring of the cornea), inflammation of the retina or optic nerve, glaucoma, or cataracts, any of which may also result in blurred vision or blindness.

Both HSV-1 (transferred through saliva) and HSV-2 (genital) can cause ocular herpes, a recurrent infection, and the most common cause of corneal blindness in the United States.  Once people develop ocular herpes, they have a 50% chance of recurrence within weeks or years, possibly triggered by fever, stress, sunlight, or eye injury. Approximately 400,000 Americans have ocular herpes, with 50,000 new or recurring cases every year. In 12% of cases, both eyes are affected.

Source: http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/vision/1538-1.html

In the June issue of Opthamology Canadian researchers reveal a link between antidepressants known as elective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs (including the brand names Luvox, Effexor, Paxil) and and cataracts.  Antidepressants are taken by an estimated 10% of the U.S. population.

The eye has serotonin receptors in its lens, and animal models have shown that serotonin can increase opacity of the lens and lead to cataracts. This study is the first to demonstrate this phenomenon in humans.

For more on cataracts, click here.

A recent study out of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles shows that Latinos are developing eye diseases at higher rates than any other ethnic group in the country.  The Hispanic population has a higher propensity toward such disease as diabetic retinopathy and cataracts.  According to researchers, almost 20 percent of subjects over the age of 80 have become visually impaired and 3.8 percent have become blind in both eyes (http://juantornoe.blogs.com/hispanictrending/2010/05/us-latinos-highest-rates-of-eye-disease.html.)

Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids used in the retina and lens of the eyes. These are antioxidants that color yellow and leafy dark green vegetables such as kale, spinach, and carrots. Researchers believe that this pair of antioxidants may help build and maintain the pigment layer of the retina. Another theory is that they help filter out blue light, protecting the eye from sunlight damage.

Studies have shown that these antioxidants can help us preserve healthy vision, and significantly reduce the risk of onset of macular degeneration and cataracts.

References:

Women’s Health Study. Archives of Ophthalmology (Arch. Ophthalmol. 2008;126:102-9)

Moeller SM et al. Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Lutein and Zeaxanthin in the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study (CAREDS). Archives of Ophthalmology 124:1151-1162, 2006.

Editor’s Note: For more related studies, go to www.naturaleyecare.com/studylist.asp

In the following study, cataracts in pets responded well to eyedrops below:
Control Study: Thirty dogs, (60 eyes) received topical application of Can-C 1% N-acetylcarnosine eye drop solution twice daily to cataracts.

• Improved visual behaviour of the animals within weeks of treatment.
• Cataract reversal starts from the periphery of the cataract followed by increased transparency of the lens.
• 96% of canine eyes treated with N-acetylcarnosine (Can-C) showed notable improvements.
• Dogs with both immature and ripe cataracts showed significant visual improvement.

Current Drug Therapy, 2006, Vol. 1, No. 1 107 – TREATMENT OF AGE- RELATED CATARACTS IN CANINES”, Mark Babizhayev MA PhD

Editor’s Note: For more information on Can-C eyedrops, go to www.naturaleyecare.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=1831

Researchers have found that cataract surgery is not associated with an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progression in patients with non-neovascular AMD.

Surgeons enrolled 108 patients with nonneovascular AMD who were awaiting cataract surgery. Fluorescein angiography was performed preoperatively, and again at postoperative week 1, month 3, and month 12 visits.

After 12 months, neovascular AMD developed in only 3 of 65 eyes (4.6%) that did not have neovascular AMD at the preoperative visit or the one-week postoperative visit.  This statistic is consistent with an estimated one-year progression rate in the general AMD population.

Results of this study, published in the November issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology, state that the low incidence of neovascular AMD development between 1 week and 1 year after cataract surgery did not support the hypothesis that cataract surgery increases the risk of AMD progression.

Researchers also noted that  several eyes appeared to have disease progression on postsurgery week 1 fluorescein angiograms, suggesting that many cases of presumed progression to neovascular AMD following cataract surgery may have been present prior to cataract surgery, but not recognized owing to lens opacity.

Read other studies about macular degeneration at the Natural Eye Care site

SOURCE:  Progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration After Cataract Surgery, Dong, et al, Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(11):1412-1419.

Cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are both leading causes of blindness in the United States, but scientists have been uncertain if the two diseases may be linked.  Researchers have just completed a study to assess the risk of developing AMD after cataract surgery.

4,477 participants in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), a multicenter, controlled, randomized clinical trial were assessed every six months for at least five years.

Emily Y. Chew, MD, of the National Eye Institute and her colleagues evaluated the data and compared the risk of AMD in participants who had cataracts removed with those who have not had the surgery. 

Their conclusions?  The AREDS results showed no clear effect of cataract surgery on the risk of progression to advanced AMD, which may reassure patients with AMD who are considering cataract surgery.

Learn more about natural care and treatment of AMD and cataracts

SOURCE:  Risk of Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration after Cataract Surgery in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study: AREDS Report 25, Chew et al, Ophthalmology – February 2009 (Vol. 116, Issue 2, Pages 297-303.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness around the world.  Studies suggest that oxidation is responsible for much of the damage to the lens and that antioxidants might protect the lens against formation of cataract.

Scientists at the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne in Australia have released their investigation of the relationship between antioxidant nutrient intakes and the incidence of age-related cataract.

During 1992–1994, 3654 people aged 49 years or older attended baseline examinations as part of the Blue Mountains Eye Study.  Of these, 2464 (67.4%) of the participants were evaluated again at either 5 years or 10 years.  At each examination, lens photography was performed and food-frequency questionnaires were administered.  Antioxidants, including beta-carotene, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E, were assessed. Cataract was assessed at each examination from lens photographs with the use of the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System.

Participants whose total intake of vitamin C (diet as well as supplements) was in the top 20% of the group had a reduced risk of nuclear cataract.  An above-median intake of combined antioxidants (vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc) was also associated with a reduced risk of incident nuclear cataract. 

Study authors concluded that higher intakes of vitamin C or the combined intake of antioxidants had long-term protective associations against development of nuclear cataract in this older population.

Learn more about antioxidants and their importance for good eye health

Read more about cataracts

SOURCE:  Tan, et al, Antioxidant nutrient intake and the long-term incidence of age-related cataract: the Blue Mountains Eye Study,  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 87, No. 6, 1899-1905, June 2008.

Long-term use of vitamin E supplements, as well as increased intake of riboflavin (vitamin B2) and/or thiamin (vitamin B1), may help reduce the progression of age-related lens opacification.

Lens opacification (or clouding) is caused by the disruption of the transmission of light through the eye lens due to damage to the lens cells.  When the opacification creates a reduction in visual acuity, it is referred to as a cataract.   Studies suggest that oxidation is responsible for much of the damage to the lens and that antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, might protect the lens against formation of cataract.

Researchers conducted a five-year study of 408 women from the Nurses’ Health Study, aged 52 to 74 years at baseline. The women’s nutrient intake was calculated from five food frequency questionnaires collected over a 13- to 15-year period.  During this time the duration of vitamin supplement use was assessed using seven questionnaires.  At the end of this period the degree of nuclear density was determined.

Women who never supplemented with vitamin E had a 42% higher risk of getting cataracts than women who had supplemented vitamin E for 10 years.

Researchers concluded that long-term use of vitamin E supplements and higher riboflavin and/or thiamin intake may reduce the progression of age-related lens opacification.

Where can you find good sources of these vitamins?

• Vitamin E can be found in almonds, asparagus, avocado, nuts, olives, red palm oil, seeds, spinach and other leafy vegetables, wheat germ, and milk
• Riboflavin is found naturally in asparagus, bananas, okra, chard, cottage cheese, milk, yogurt, meat, eggs and fish.
• Foods rich in thiamin include yeast, oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain flour (rye or wheat), asparagus, kale, cauliflower, potatoes, oranges, liver (beef or pork), and eggs.

Learn more about cataracts, including recommended vitamins and supplements

Source:  Jacques, et al, Long-term Nutrient Intake and 5-Year Change in Nuclear Lens Opacities, Arch Ophthalmol. 2005;123:517-526.