Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
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 …
Macular Degeneration part 1 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Macular Degeneration is more common than you might think. In fact according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology age related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss in those age 50 and …
Complete Eye Support with Macula Advanced!
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
When someone calls and asks about a product for eye health one of the first things I recommend is our Macula Advanced. Personally in my opinion Macula Advanced really hits all the marks. Not only is it an easy to swallow and digest capsule it is also chock full of nutrients for our eyes. I bet your thinking something along the lines of “but Dr. Claire isn’t that formula just for macular degeneration”? Well my answer is nope! It is great for so many of the conditions that affect our eyes. So let’s get into the nitty-gritty of why I like this formula so much, shall we?
Let’s start with the vitamin portion first. Vitamin A, the very first item is a power house when it comes to eye health. What does WebMD have to say about Vitamin A? Well it states that “Vitamin A helps to maintain and can help prevent age related macular degeneration”. Vitamin A has also been found to help slow vision loss in those with macular degeneration. Vitamin A deficiency is also associated with poor night vision. (1)
Vitamin C is another powerful nutrient when it comes to our overall health. But did you know how great it is for our eyes? According to the American optometric Association there is evidence that Vitamin C can reduce the risk of cataracts. There is also evidence that it can slow the progression of macular degeneration. Lastly there is evidence Vitamin C may help with visual acuity. (2) According to newer studies nerve cells in the eye need Vitamin C to work properly. (3) Studies have also found that Vitamin C can lower the risk of diabetic retinopathy by up to 50% after 8 years. (4)
The next item in Macula Advanced is Zinc. Now I bet you are thinking – but wait isn’t that just for our immune system? Nope it’s great for eye health too! Studies have found that zinc can help with vision loss especially in those with macular degeneration. (5) Zinc has also been found to help with slowing down cataract formation especially in those with diabetes. (6) Lastly Vitamin E has been found to help protect the cells in the eyes from free radicles which can cause damage. (2)
In addition to the vitamins that help eye health Macula Advanced contains certain select nutrients that can help with eye health. The first nutrient, one of my favorite is NAC. This has been found to help protect retinal cells from oxidative damage which is important when working with conditions such as macular degeneration. (7) Bilberry, another nutrient has been studied and found to help with protecting our eyes. For example bilberry has been found to help with dry eye. (8) Cassis fruit is an excellent source of anthocyanins which have been found to potentially help with both myopia and glaucoma. (9) According to studies both Lutein and Zeaxanthin are all important nutrients for keeping our eyes protected from such concerns as macular degeneration and cataracts. (1). Lastly Lycopene has been found to help with both cataracts and macular degeneration. (11)
Overall as you can see Macula Advanced is an amazing overall formula for our eye health! Our next topic is going to be something that comes up all the time – Cataracts!
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Vision Health Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Vision or eye health is a topic that affects both men and women of all ages. However it can also be one of the most confusing topics. There are so many different options when it comes to keeping …
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cataract
InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey, Ph.
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A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye and this affects your vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. They are painless, but they really do cause a vision problem. The cataract creates a cloudy area in the lens of your eye, which blocks light from getting to the retina properly and makes it difficult for you to see clearly.†
At first, you may not notice that you’re developing a cataract. Over time, stronger glasses and brighter lightbulbs might help, but eventually, that’s not going to work. Over time, the cataracts make your vision blurry and hazy. They even affect color. You start to have trouble reading, doing everyday chores and activities, and driving at night.†
Cataracts become common as you get older. In fact, more than half of all Americans currently have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of them. In time, if not taken care of, a cataract can cause blindness.†
In a healthy eye, light enters through the crystalline lens and passes through to the retina. The lens focuses the light into a sharp image on the retina. The retina relays the images through the optic nerve through the back of the eye right into the brain. If the lens in front of your eye is cloudy from a cataract, it’s like using a camera with a smear of butter in front of it. The image you see will be blurry.†
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So what are the symptoms of cataracts? A cataract can cause blurry vision that may look filmy, hazy or even foggy. Glare is also an early sign of a cataract. You might become sensitive to light and have trouble seeing in bright sunlight. Indoor lights might seem too bright or have halos around them. Sometimes you may develop diplopia, which is double vision.†
Diabetes is a risk factor for cataracts. Most diabetics develop sorbitol-type cataracts. Quercetin can help short-circuit that. Aging is the major cause of cataracts. Smoking can contribute to this, as can drinking a lot because alcohol uses up your body’s antioxidants. Eye injuries and exposure to radiation or too much sun can also be risk factors for the development of cataracts.†
Some drugs may even contribute to cataracts. Corticosteroids, for instance, mimic the stress hormones we release from our adrenal glands. Stress hormones affect your blood sugar, electrolytes and more and can also lead to cataracts. There is also some evidence that NSAIDs like Advil and Aleve increase the risk of cataracts.†
Some studies also say that statin drugs may lead to cataracts. This is controversial, as some studies say yes and some say no, but I have to say it. The best thing is educating people. A study from the journal Atherosclerosis in 2016 looked 135,000 people who were treated with statins between 2005 and 2007. There was a slight but continuous trend towards an increased risk of a cataract in people who adhered to their statin therapy. It increased the risk of a cataract by about 20%.†
In this episode, Jerry Hickey, Ph., begins a discussion on cataracts. He explains what they are and how they develop and also shares several factors that may contribute to your risk of developing a cataract. In Part 2 of this episode, coming soon, Jerry will continue the conversation and detail nutrients that can help to lower your risk of developing cataracts.†
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