Dr. Grossman’s Blog

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Fuchs dystrophy is a slowly progressing disease that occurs when endothelial cells gradually deteriorate without any apparent reason.  Eventually, it causes the cornea to swell and makes vision distorted.

A study published in The American Journal of Pathology indicates that oxidative stress plays a part in the onset of Fuchs corneal dystrophy.  People affected with the disease showed much higher levels of oxidative DNA damage in their eyes that the control group that did not have the disease.  Source: http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/ajpa/article/PIIS0002944010602817/abstract

Antioxidants are well known to play a vital role in eye health.  Extensive studies have shown that taking antioxidants in the form of food and nutritional supplements can help prevent and even reverse such eye conditions as macular degeneration,and cataracts.

Learn more about how to treat Fuch’s dystrophy naturally.

Measuring serum lycopene levels may help doctors diagnose and evaluate patients with diabetic retinopathy.

A recent study finds that lycopene levels were significantly lower in individuals with diabetes. According to the study, “subjects with proliferative diabetic retinopathy had significantly lower lycopene levels than subjects without diabetic retinopathy or with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.”

This study and others have found that oxidative stress is related to the  development of microvascular complications (conditions related to diabetes including include diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy)  in patients with diabetes.  Lycopene has been found to play a role in the prevention of oxidative stress-related disease.

Lycopene is found in its high levels in tomatoes, but apricots, guava, watermelon, papaya, and pink grapefruit are also significant sources.

For more on diabetic retinopathy, please visit our website: http://www.naturaleyecare.com/diseases.asp?d_num=4

Antioxidants not only help prevent some eye diseases, they may also help limit progression of the diseases

It’s known that taking antioxidants helps delay the onset of some eye diseases associated with aging, such as cataract. Now researchers believe that antioxidants can be effective if damage to retinal tissue has already set in.

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine studied the effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage to retinal tissue. An increase in ROS levels can result in significant damage to cell structures — a situation known as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a significant risk factor in the development of many eye diseases associated with aging.

Since the formation of cataract is a well-defined progressive disease, believed to be related to a continued generation of ROS in the aqueous humor, the researchers hypothesized that even a late start with an appropriate antioxidant could halt the process and delay cataract development and vision impairment.

The results? Adding pyruvate – known to be an effective ROS scavenger — to lens cultures after lenses had sustained 50% damage was significantly effective in preventing progress.

Pyruvate can be found in foods such as red apples, and to a lesser extent, in dark beer and some cheeses.

Learn more about antioxidants

Read more about antioxidants and their importance in maintaining healthy vision

SOURCE:  “Oxidative damage to lens in culture: reversibility by pyruvate and ethyl pyruvate”, Varma, et al, Ophthalmologica, 2008; 222 (3):194-198.