"Nutrition for the Eyes - What do you really need?"

Eyes are a hot topic right now ... From Lasik to Lutein it seems everywhere you look there is a new product or procedure touting vision enhancement.

Why? Partly because people are finally discovering that they can improve and preserve their eyesight naturally through good diet, supplements, preventative habits, and a disciplined eye exercise program such as Vision for Life. More and more people are learning how to restore their vision naturally every day.

1) Vitamin A

We all remember our mothers telling us to eat our carrots so we could have eyes like an eagle? But what do carrots really do for us?

Carrots contain a carotenoid called beta-carotene. Your body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A which is an anti-oxidant. Anti-oxidants such as vitamin A are essential to eye health.

Did you catch all that? Here it is again in slow motion ...

• Carotenoids are pigments in plants and animals that provide red and yellow colour.

• Beta-carotene is a carotenoid. It is contained in carrots and other various food sources. The body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A.

• Vitamin A is an anti-oxidant that is very important to the health of the eyes.

• An antioxidant is any substance that prevents or impedes cell oxidation (destruction) by free radicals.

A deficiency in vitamin A can lead to many problems, but this typically is not an issue in the U.S., more so in developing countries.

Vitamin A:

-helps your eyes adjust to light changes

-moistens the eyes, which can enhance visual acuity

-has been shown to prevent the forming of cataracts

-has been shown to help prevent blindness from macular degeneration - the leading cause of blindness in the world.

The recommended daily allowance for those over 11 years old is 1,000 retinol equivalents (RE) for men, and 800 RE for women. An average-sized carrot contains almost 2,000 RE, a sweet potato contains around 2,600, a mango has about 400, and for those iron-stomachs who can handle a dose of liver - 11,000 RE!

 2) Lutein

Lutein is another carotenoid that your body turns into an anti-oxidant. Lutein is the primary carotenoid located in the centre of the retina, called the macula.

Six mg. of lutein has been shown to reduce the risk of macular degeneration by nearly 57%. A similar study showed that a diet low in lutein greatly increased the chance of developing cataracts. It benefits the overall health of the eye and has even been linked to reducing the hardening and narrowing of arteries.

 There is currently no recommended daily allowance (RDA) for lutein, but the preventative effects stated above resulted from 6 mg. of lutein per day.

 Lutein is found in food sources such as spinach, broccoli, and peas. One cup of raw spinach contains about 1.8 mg. of lutein, compared to 13.3 mg. contained in the same amount if it is cooked. One cup of cooked broccoli contains about 3 mg. and one cup of sliced green pepper contains around 1 mg.

 With the busy lives we lead today, it is pretty hard to get 6 mg. per day from food sources, which is where a good supplement can come in.

 3) Bilberry

Bilberries grow in the forest meadows of Europe, western Asia, and the northern Rocky Mountains. Bilberry is a herbal remedy that appears to have a very positive impact on vision. Its original use stems back to World War II when British pilots found that eating jam made from bilberries (a cousin to blueberries) helped to improve their night vision.

Researchers found that bilberry appear to fortify blood vessel walls, improving blood flow to the tiny blood vessels that keep eyes healthy and functioning properly, as well as to larger blood vessels that help maintain good circulation throughout the body. It also has been shown to help prevent macular degeneration and cataracts.

4) Vitamin C

It seems vitamin C is an important anti-oxidant for just about everything these days - and it deserves mention in the benefits it has in protecting your eyesight.

Vitamin C has been linked to the prevention of cataracts, the delay of macular degeneration, and eye pressure reduction in glaucoma patients. Add all these benefits to the seemingly endless other benefits that vitamin C has been linked to for our overall health: it is a Vitamin you do not want to be without.

Normal Anatomy of the Human lens.
The human lens is located behind the pupil or coloured part of the eye. If you begin on the surface of the eye and travel inward you would pass through the following structures before reaching the lens: the cornea, which is the clear window and the outermost layer of the eye; the second structure is the clear fluid or aqueous humor in front of the iris. The accumulation of aqueous humor produces an elevation of pressure or glaucoma. The third structure that we pass is the iris or coloured part of the eye. The iris is a diaphragm and it regulates the amount of light entering the eye. The fourth structure which is directly behind the iris is the lens. It is held in position by fibrous bands called zonules. It focuses images and light onto the retina much like a lens of a camera. The focused rays of light hit the retina and an image is transmitted to the brain. The human lens works to change the focus from distant objects to close ones. When you reach your early 40's, changes take place in the lens which makes focusing more difficult. This is called presbyopia.

Cataracts: What are they?
The term "cataract" was introduced by Constantinus Africanus (AD 1018), a monk and an Arabic oculist. He translated Arabic "suffusion" into Latin "cataracta," meaning "something poured underneath something," the "waterfall." It was felt that the clouding of vision was due to a film falling like water over the eye. Cataracts are not a film but are a clouding, hardness and loss of elasticity which occur in the human lens. Cataracts are associated with general arteriosclerotic changes, diabetes, sun exposure, trauma and poor nutrition. It is a fact of life that the longer you live the greater your likelihood of developing a cataract. Over 50% of people over the age of 60 will develop cataracts.

Cataracts: What is the cause?
As a person ages, changes in the protein of the lens develop. Oxidative reactions develop which form abnormal disulfide and other covalent linkages. This causes the lens fibres to lose their transparency. Penetrating trauma from injury or ocular surgery usually results in rapidly progressive cataract, with lens fibre swelling, fragmentation and opacification.                                                                          

Concussive injury can infrequently cause a rupture of the lens capsule with the development of a cataract or more commonly a contusion cataract forms in the anterior or posterior cortex. These traumatic cataracts may be transitory, or they can remain if the lens fibres are damaged sufficiently. Ionizing radiation has a very high cataract producing effect, and the lens is its most sensitive target within the adult eye. Its damage is dose related and cumulative. The sources of electromagnetic radiation energy most important in damage to the lens are ionizing radiation (x-rays, gamma rays, and neutrons), emission of infrared or ultraviolet rays from various hot bodies, and microwave. Copper, iron and mercury poisoning can lead to the development of cataracts. Copper deposition in Wilson's disease produces a characteristic sunflower cataract. In this inherited disease there is copper deposition in tissues, especially the liver, causing cirrhosis, and in the basal ganglia of the brain. Galactosemia and diabetes are two hereditary diseases which are related to the development of cataracts. Galactosemia is an uncommon hereditary disease of the newborn producing bilateral cataracts, mental retardation and enlargement of the liver. In diabetes mellitus, the usual cataract in these patients does not differ from senile cataract but occurs 20 to 30 years earlier than in a non diabetic.  Oxidative damage contributes to the decrease in natural antioxidants in the lens, such as Glutathione, inositol, and ascorbic acid. Aging, diet, and other diseases also play roles in deficiency of antioxidants.

Can cataracts be prevented?
Sunlight UV and Blue Violet sun rays increase the risk of developing cataracts. There are over 951 different references to back up the claim that sun light is the primary cause of cataracts.            Studies have shown that people who spend a great deal of time outdoors are three times as likely to develop cataracts. A good pair of sunglasses which block 100% of UVA and UVB and block at least 85% of blue violet sun rays are essential to protect the eyes from the harmful effects of the sun. On sunny days a wide brim hat should also be worn. If you smoke please do everything possible to stop. Smoking tobacco, especially more than 20 cigarettes per day, increases the risk of cataracts by more than 2 times. The risk in ex-smokers is 50 percent higher compared to non smokers. Each cigarette also robs the body of 25 mg of vitamin C. Smokers have an increase in lipids (both fat and cholesterol) which increase the risk of severe cardiovascular disease. These factors produce narrowing of the retina blood vessels that carry valuable nutrients to the eye. High intake of alcohol more than doubles the risk of developing cataracts. More than 7 drinks per week will increase the risk, while moderate use does not seem to increase the risk. Diabetics develop cataracts at an earlier age than non- diabetics. An accumulation of sorbitol and fructose in the lens can induce osmotic swelling of the lens, which will lead to the development of a cataract. A significant number of adults who develop cataracts have undiagnosed diabetes. If you have diabetes, every effort should be made to keep your blood sugar under control. There have been several studies to show that vitamin C can help reduce the level of sorbitol and reduce the incidence of cataracts formation.

Cataracts are caused by oxidative changes in the lens of the eye, which can lead to gradual clouding and impairment of vision. Cataracts are mostly seen in older people, although exposure to radiation, excessive sunlight, pollutants, and certain medications can increase the risk for anyone.

Cataract Care

Similasan Cataract Care formula stimulates the eye’s natural ability to relieve symptoms associated with pre-diagnosed cataracts and ageing eyes such as eye fatigue, excessive tearing, glare around light or temporary appearance of black dots, grey/faded colours, poor night vision and red appearance of objects. 

What is Homeopathy and how can it assist with Cataracts?

Homeopathy is a scientific method of therapy based on the principle of stimulating the body's own healing processes in order to accomplish cure. The basic system was devised and verified by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, nearly 200 years ago. Homeopathy's astounding success rates in both chronic and acute diseases has resulted in not only standing the test of time, but rapidly achieving widespread acceptance in Europe, India and South America.

In Homeopathy ("homeo-" means "similar"), each of us is a total complete individual, no aspect of which can be separated from any other. To be effective, any valid therapy must be based on a deep understanding of and respect for the uniqueness of each individual. In Homeopathy each patient is evaluated as a whole person- mental, emotional and physical. The prescribing remedy is based on the unique patterns found on all three levels. This means that each person is given a remedy that will fit their constitution. Ten people with macular degeneration might receive ten different homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathy has been carefully researched and its effectiveness has been reported in the following well respected national medical journals: Jacobs J, Treatment of Acute Childhood Diarrhea with Homeopathic Medication. Pediatrics 1994; 93:719-7255, Reilly DT , Is Homeopathy a Placebo Response? Lancet 1986; Oct: 881-886 and Kleijnen J, Clinical Trails of Homeopathy. British Medical Journal 1991; 302: 315-323.

Homeopathy is widely practiced in Europe, South America and India. Between 32 and 35% of French, English and German Physicians utilize Homeopathy.

Homeopathy gently stimulates the body’s own healing process and brings the body back into balance. 

SImilasan Cataract Care is not a cure for cataracts, but can help to relieve the symptoms associated with cataracts and ageing eyes, such as eye fatigue and excessive tearing