Dr. Grossman’s Blog

The following is an excerpt from my article that appears in the program foe next weekend’s Whole Health Expo in Northampton, Massachusetts.

There seems to be a broadly held perception that eye disease is unavoidable.  Though people will work hard to control their weight and cholesterol, they tend to have a “what will be will be” attitude about their eyes.  The truth is, there are numerous peer-reviewed studies that show clearly that eye conditions can respond to proper diet, lifestyle adaptations, and nutritional supplementation, and that people can preserve their vision.

You can read the rest of the article here to learn about how certain eye diseases including cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration can respond to dietary and lifestyle adjustments.

Stop by an visit our booth for a complementary vision evaluation.  I will be speaking at 2:00 on Saturday, April 16.  My topic: 10 Ways to Preserve Eyesight Naturally.

I look forward to meeting you!

Image via cdc.gov

The long-term use of topical antiglaucoma drugs can have an effect on the sensitivity of the macula (light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye).  Authors of this study published in The Annals of Ophthalmology recommend periodic evaluation of the macula for all patients receiving antiglaucomatous agents.  Source: http://www.springerlink.com/content/ep44p6q88p227518/

Rather than taking prescription medication to manage glaucoma, consider taking a natural approach to glaucoma treatment and prevention.

Image via womenshealth.gov

A proper diet is essential to maintaining eye health.  We know that the diets of the majority of Americans do not meet FDA nutritional guidelines and that many people do not eat an adequate amount of vegetable.

A study published in Nutrition Journal shows that 8 to 16 ounces of vegetable juice per day can reduce blood pressure in people who have hypertension. Source: http://www.nutritionj.com/content/9/1/38

We consider daily juicing of primarily organic vegetables and fruits to be an essential part of any long term healing program. Juicing provides a highly effective and efficient way for the body to be able to absorb essential nutrients into the blood and cells, taking a little as a few minutes for the body to start utilizing these nutrients.  Learn more about how you can make daily juice intake part of your life and increase your overall health.  Also, have a look at some specific juicing recipes for eye conditions and diseases.

Image courtesy of usa.gov

After a year long study, researchers from Boston University School of Medicine and the VA Boston Healthcare System have found no differences between the two major macular degeneration drugs.  A survey of the drugs sold as Avastin and Lucentis showed that neither was more effective than the other when it comes to treating wet macular degeneration.  According the source of this story, Medical News Today, “Lucenitis costs approximately $2000.00 per injection, while Avastin costs approximately $50.00 per injection.”

We advocate natural approaches to eye disease prevention and treatment.  To control and fight eye diseases like macular degeneration, consider your diet and cut back on caffeine and soda; evaluate your lifestyle (cease smoking, avoid alcohol); exercise regularly; and manage stress effectively.  Certain nutrients such as omega-3 fish oil and CoQ10 with L-Carnitine may help slow down macular degeneration and preserve vision.

Please visit our website to learn about way to treat macular degeneration naturally and tips on self-help for macular degeneration sufferers and those who’d like to prevent the disease.

To prevent computer eyestrain it is important to analyze your habits – your time in front of the screen, your light source, your posture.  See more about how to set up your desk to avoid computer eyestrain at our website.

In addition to good ergonimics, you can also try eye exercises and think about your diet.

A study published in Applied Ergonomics reveals that eyestrain may be eased by taking a daily supplement containing blackcurrant fruit extract, lutein, and zeaxanthin (http://www.naturaleyecare.com/study.asp?s_num=269).  These antioxidants are powerful aids to eye health.

Prevention is always the best medicine.  That means eating right and changing any lifestyle habits that may be detrimental to your health. Learn more about how to prevent computer eye strain today.

Image by Bombardier

Everyone knows that a lack of sleep can cause dark circles under your eyes, but did you know that genetics, the medications that you take, and hormones can also be cause those unsightly smudges to appear?

Any medications that you are taking that causes blood vessels to dilate, can cause circles under the eyes to darken. Because the skin under the eyes is very delicate, any increase blood flow shows right through.
The skin can also become more pale during pregnancy and menstruation, which again allows the underlying veins in the skin beneath the eyes to become more visible.

So, what can be done about it?

It’s true – one of the best natural remedies for dark circles is getting eight hours of sleep per night.

In addition to getting enough rest, you should also be sure you’re eating right.  Eat a whole-foods, plant-based diet; drink plenty of water (eight 8-ounce glasses daily); and avoid alcohol, coffee, tea and caffeinated soft drinks. Changing your food intake will bring you a a long way as you try to prevent bags, circles, and wrinkles around your eyes. Also, consider taking supplements specifically formulated to support eye health.

For home remedies that really work using what you have in your kitchen including tea bags, turmeric, potatoes, and lemons, visit our website.

Photo by Sonya Etchison

A study published in Archives of Ophthalmology claims that bifocals may slow the deterioration of vision in children with myopia.

Researchers fitted 135 myopic Chinese Canadian children with standard single vision glasses, traditional executive bifocals, and bifocals with prism lenses. (Prism lenses help to make the two eyes work together and help the eyes focus.) The children wearing prism bifocals experienced the least vision deterioration followed by those wearing the regular bifocals. The outcomes for the bifocal wearers were significantly better than for those wearing standard glasses.

We believe that a diagnosis of myopia does not mean a lifetime of stronger and stronger glasses. Nearsightedness can be improved in a majority of cases through vision therapy, nutrition, and lifestyle changes.

Researchers at Chinese University of Hong Kong and the International Eye Center of Shantou University have discovered that acupuncture can help children suffering from “lazy eye” or amblyopia.  The children received acupuncture on five points five days a week for 25 weeks.  The treatment provides a 40-60% chance of curing the condition that occurs when a healthy eye does not receive the correct signals from the brain.

For more on lazy eye and other binocular conditions, click here.

Source information

There are several natural (home) remedies available to keep eyes healthy and to deal with (and treat) minor eye problems such as redness and puffy eyes. A few examples of natural remedies are:

Making Use of Natural Creams

In natural eye care healing properties of flowers and plants are used to treat minor problems such as itchy eyes, redness of the eyes and infected (overly irritated) eyes. Different types of advanced eye care are sold by pharmacies and health food shops, mostly containing the following ingredients:

Cucumber or Cucumber Water

Containing Calcium, Vitamins A and C and Magnesium, Cucumber is known for its soothing properties and will help relax eyes and reduce redness of the eyes. Cucumber water or thin slices can also be applied to the skin around the eyes especially if this skin is looking dry.

Agrimony Leaves or Flowers

Dried leaves and flowers of this plant are added to boiled water, after which the infusion is strained and used to bathe the eyes, to reduce swelling and itchy eyes. People who spend a lot of time working behind a computer experiencing itchy or burning eyes, will also benefit from this remedy.

Marigold Flowers

A weak tea is made, cooled down and cotton wool pads are soaked in the tea, after which the pads are placed over the eyes  for ten minutes.

If one notices any changes in vision, please contact an eye doctor immediately. Other eye problems that last longer than two days should always be checked out by a doctor.