Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Bilberry for Eye Health and More!!! Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND In this blog we will be talking about Bilberry. Yes you read that correct, bilberry not blueberry. Now I bet your thinking but Dr. Claire what exactly is the difference between a bilberry and …
Diabetic Retinopathy Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that is associated with diabetes. Diabetes as you can guess is a huge health concern. In fact in the United States in 2021 diabetes was found to be the 8th leading cause …
L Carnosine Plus
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Today we will be talking about a product you may have heard of. This product is L Carnosine. Now I just want to point out that in this blog I will be talking about L Carnosine not Carnitine. While these nutrients sound similar they are quite different and have different uses. Having said that lets get into it, shall we? So what exactly is L Carnosine? Basically it is an amino acid that is naturally produced by the body. (1)
L Carnosine has been found to be anti- cataractogenic. One theory is that this ability is because of the antioxidant properties that L Carnosine has. Additionally studies have found that L Carnosine offers a “new prospective treatment for diabetic cataracts”. (2) Other studies have found that the antioxidant benefits of L Carnosine may help to “improve the quality of vision and length of life” for diabetics. (3) Other studies have that the ability of L Carnosine to act to restrict glycation may help with reducing diabetic eye disease. (4)
Moving on from diabetic eye disease and cataracts studies have found that L Carnosine can help with other eye conditions. In fact one study found that formulas that contain L Carnosine can statistically reduce eye pressure as well as improve both light and contrast sensitivity. (5) Other studies have found that in those with glaucoma L Carnosine may have a neuroprotective effect. (6)
In addition to helping with the eye concerns previously mentioned studies have found even more visual benefits for L Carnosine. In fact studies have found that L Carnosine has neuroprotective potential especially for those who have macular degeneration. (7)
While Invite Health’s L Carnosine Plus obviously does have all these benefits of L Carnosine there’s that little word at the end, Plus. What does the added Plus really mean? It means that there is more than just L Carnosine in our formula! First let’s talk about Quercetin. Now I know your most likely thinking but Dr. Claire isn’t that just for allergies? When you heard the word quercetin you probably thought of allergies. But it does much more than just help with the things you may have heard about in the past. What even is quercetin? It is a natural antioxidant. It also has powerful anti- inflammatory and anti-fibrous properties. Studies have found that it can be helpful in corneal diseases such cataracts and keratosis (this is where the cornea becomes thin and bulging). Many people with the thyroid disorder Graves’ disease experience what is known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy (in laymen’s terms this is where the eyes seem to “pop out”). Studies have found that quercetin may help with this condition. Additionally studies have found that quercetin may help with dry eye, retinopathy and even conjunctivitis. (8)
The next nutrient is rutin. Rutin is a nutrient that is well known to help regulate blood flow and even help to support blood vessels. This is critical for eye health since blood flow to the retina is so important. One disorder rutin is thought to protect against is diabetic retinopathy. Rutin can also help prevent what is called subconjunctival hemorrhage. One study found using formulas that contain rutin for 40 days can reduce eye pressure an average of 20%! In another study eye pressure dropped by 10% after just 3 weeks of use! As you can see rutin is an excellent eye nutrient. (9)
Lastly L Carnosine Plus also has B1 which has been found to help with dry eye. (10) L Carnosine Plus has so many health benefits. In this blog I just focused on eye health. But L carnosine has so many additional benefits that it totally rates as a “top seller”! Our next topic will be Diabetic Retinopathy.
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HERPES VS COLD SORES~ IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Herpes…the word always seems make people cringe and curl their face in disbelief. It is associated with sores along the nether regions of the body. Many people are plagued with …
Glaucoma part 2 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Today we will be completing our 2 part blog series on glaucoma. Let’s get right into it, shall we? The symptoms you may experience with glaucoma can vary slightly depending on the type you have. This is …
Glaucoma part 1
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Glaucoma is one eye condition that can become very dangerous very rapidly. If you notice symptoms that are coming on very rapidly it is imperative that you receive treatment to avoid any complications. Throughout this 2 part blog series I will be reviewing exactly what glaucoma is, as well as the different types and how they are diagnosed. I will also be reviewing the symptoms and risk factors. From there I will be reviewing the most common complications that can occur. Lastly I’ll be reviewing how to help reduce your risk factors and how you can help the symptoms of glaucoma that you experience.
What exactly is glaucoma? Now I bet your thinking – oooh I know, it’s an increase in the pressure in the eyes! While increased eye pressure does play a part in glaucoma it’s not the whole story. Glaucoma is an eye condition that damages the optic nerve. This is the nerve that brings visual information from your eyes to your brain. While this damage is often related to an increase in eye pressure it can happen with normal eye pressure.
There are 5 types of glaucoma. The first type is called open –angle glaucoma. This is the most common form of glaucoma. Basically what happens is that parts of the fluid drainage system in the eye don’t work properly. Thus the fluid builds up leading to an increase in eye pressure. (1) Please see the below picture to see what this looks like when compared to a healthy eye. (2)
The next type is called acute angle-closure glaucoma. You may have heard this referred to as closed angle glaucoma. This is where a bulging of the iris completely blocks drainage of fluid from the eye. This can cause pressure to increase rapidly in the eye. (1) For a picture of what this would look like compared to a healthy eye please see the following picture. (3)
The next type is called normal tension glaucoma. This is where the optic nerve becomes damaged, however the pressure in the eye is normal. It is theorized that the damage may be due to a reduction in blow flow to the nerve caused by atherosclerosis. (1)
Glaucoma can also occur in children, childhood glaucoma is another form of glaucoma. Children may be born with glaucoma or develop it. Lastly there is pigmentary glaucoma, which is where small pigment granules flake off from the iris and block or slow fluid drainage in the eye. This cause’s an increase in pressure over time. For what this may look like please see the attached picture. (4)
How are you diagnosed with glaucoma? The doctor may perform several tests to determine if you have glaucoma. First they can measure the intraocular pressure called tonometry. The doctor can also test for optic nerve damage by doing a dilated eye exam and imaging test. The doctor can also check for areas of vision by doing a visual field test. The doctor may do an exam called pachymetry to measure corneal thickness. Lastly the doctor may do gonioscopy to inspect the drainage angel. (5)
In our next blog we will cover symptoms, risk factors, complications and the best ways to reduce glaucoma risk factors and symptoms.
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