Kay Leaman, Health Architect, HealthyDay HealthyLife
Every time I see a bird or discover something I’ve never seen before like the black-winged dragonflies I recently had the privilege of bumping into reminds me how grateful I am for my sight. Caring for our eyes is important especially if you want to continue seeing the faces of the people you love and the sights you enjoy spending time in.
There are several diseases that we deal with today such as Amblyopia (Lazy Eye), Macular Degeneration, Color blindness, Diabetic Retinopathy, Dry Eye, Floaters, Glaucoma, Pink eye, Retinal detachment, Astigmatism and Cataracts. I’ll be focusing on two of these but the information for maintaining eye health is for everyone.
Risk commonalities exist for several eye conditions such as genetics and health related issues such as obesity, diabetes, etc.
Myopia (near sighted) where light focuses in front of the retina and hyperopia (far sighted) where light is focused behind the retina are two conditions that can be corrected by glasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery.
Astigmatism is caused when either the cornea or the lens has mismatched curves. Vision is blurred because there are 2 image points. Glasses can usually correct this.
Cataracts occurs when proteins in the lens is damaged by oxidative damage. This disease develops slowly and 50% of the US population experience cataracts by age 80. Its likened to an egg; the albumen is clear when the egg is raw and turns white as it cooks. This explains the whitish color that forms over the eye. Risk factors are smoking, UV radiation, diabetes, radiation therapy, long term use of steroid medications, trauma, lack of anti-oxidant and micronutrient protection as well as the commonalities.
Macular Degeneration is a blurring of our sharp central vision which we need to see straight ahead, read, drive, watch movies or see the details on someone’s face. The macula is the focal point of the retina and resides in the center of the back of the eye. The peripheral is not affected. There are two types: Wet, (most vision loss) named for when blood leaks or oozes from new blood vessels (very simple def.) and dry which constitutes 80-85% of cases. This disease is the # 1 cause of blindness in people over 60. There is no cure.
Symptoms include blank or dark spots, blurred vision, issues with seeing colors, or straight lines seen as curvy. Nutritional science shows that by reducing free radical damage and inflammation we can slow down progression or prevent macular degeneration from occurring.
Risk factors include toxic chemicals (BPAs, PCBs, aspartame, phthalates, etc. ingested with food or drink), high blood glucose levels as with diabetes, disseminated inflammations as a result of hyper-permeable intestines (leaky gut), low levels of DHEA (hormone) which protects against oxidative damage and pregnenolone which improves electrical activity in the retina and estrogen blocking drugs such as tamoxifen used in breast cancer treatment which causes harm to the retina. A fun side note is that the eye produces its own homornes.
Eyes also suffer from blue light which can cause eye fatigue, headaches, dry eyes, double vision and difficulty focusing. Using blue light filters such as screen protectors or glasses (they have a yellowish tint) can aid in reducing its affects. Taking 20-30 second eye breaks (turn away and focus on something else.) every 2-3 hours can also help.
High quality nutrition can make a big impact on our eye health. A few of these nutrients are:
Vitamin C – Found in every cell in the body it supports healthy capillaries and cartilage and is significantly higher in the retina than in the blood. It helps to maintain optimal performance by protection from free radical damage. It must be consumed as the body does not make it (citrus, peppers, broccoli and kale).
Zinc – a trace mineral in high concentrations plays a critical role in transporting vitamin A which is another one that supports the retina. Its been linked to preserving normal night vision (oysters, red meat, shellfish beans and nuts).
Lutein and Zeaxanthin are carotenoids that act as anti-oxidants and built in sunscreen for eyes. It helps support blue light filtration and visual acuity (how well we see) in the retina (dark green veggies).
Omega 3 supports the eye’s oily outer layer (fatty fish, plant sources and alpha-linolenic (ALA) found in flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, soybeans).
Grapeseed extract, curcumin, phenol and carotenoids, vitamin E, melatonin, bilberry extract, quercetin, resveratrol and a few more are all used by the body to support the eye and reduce inflammation.
If you would like information on the eye support supplement we use go to:
https://kleaman.usana.com/s/hAZX62 If you choose to order please reach out to me via email (Please put EYES in the subject line to receive a 10% discount.
Here’s to Health
succeed.hdhl@gmail.com
