That’s right. Age-related eye deseases are preventable. If you suffer from age-related visual impairment (macular degeneration), or other vision problems, by diversifying your diet and using revival recipes, you can not only stop the deterioration of vision but also improve it.
Why do we lose vision?
Typically, people notice an age-related deterioration of vision after 40 years, but the aging process starts as early as 20. Even in young people with good visual acuity up to 30 years of age, the ability to clearly see small objects at different distances is worse than in children. So, what is happening?
One way or another, aging affects, among other things, our eyes. The older we get, the more changes occur in our visual apparatus. The older a person becomes, the more pronounced the changes in the structure of the ocular lens: its elasticity and ability to change shape decreases, making it more difficult to focus at close range. The state of the muscle, which is responsible for the accommodation of the eye, also changes. All this leads to the development of presbyopia or age-related farsightedness – a natural age-related visual impairment. Visual impairment can be the result of a variety of different factors and medical conditions.
Some of the most common causes of visual impairment (including blindness) around the world include age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, corneal clouding, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, refractive errors, and trachoma. Eye infections, eye injuries, eye tumors, dry eye, and lazy eye are other eye problems that can cause a loss of vision. The good news is that most of age-related eye deseases are preventable.
What can we do to prevent it?
Many causes of visual impairment and blindness are preventable through timely examination and treatment.
Ophthalmologists recommend that all people over 40 years of age undergo an examination at least once a year, which will help to identify age-related changes in vision at an early stage, then the specialist will prescribe adequate treatment. However, we must not forget that the predisposition to the development of many diseases is inherited. The quality and acuity of vision are no exception. Myopia, glaucoma, corneal and retinal dystrophy can be inherited. If you have a family history of these diseases, you might want to start examinations earlier.
Your lifestyle is definitely a factor. There are many recommendations on how to keep your eyes healthy.
To save vision at the modern pace of life, it is good to develop your own mode of work at the computer. None of us work for 30 minutes and go to rest. We tend to come to work and sit in front of the computer for the rest of the day. You need to try to arrange active pauses. For example, play table tennis several times during the day. You can also look out the window (in the distance). Computer relaxation programs with light-visual effects have been developed. You can pick it up for yourself on the Internet.
Prevention of eye diseases can be a special training of the oculomotor muscles, which increases the reserves of the eye. However, the result of such training usually lasts no more than 2-3 weeks and only when they are constantly engaged. That is why it is better to give preference not to eye training but to minimize factors that impair vision.
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Source: Kraff Eye Institute
By the way, frequent visits to 3D and 5D cinemas, as well as baths and saunas, can harm your eyes. When visiting 3D and 5D cinemas, the tension and strain that the eyes experience when trying to create the illusion of a three-dimensional picture are enormous. It is better to enjoy them for no more than 15-20 minutes and the screen should be located 15 meters from the audience.
In baths and saunas, too high air temperature, humidity, and dry steam for a long time are uncomfortable for the eyes. Under their influence, blood circulation increases. Then there is an expansion of the eye vessels and redness of the eyes. If there are no problems with vision, everything goes away on its own. If there is, the disease may worsen. These same factors can cause dry eyes. That is why before the bath, some people with hypersensitivity are recommended to use moisturizing preparations – drops for the eyes. A banal squinting or blinking at the slightest discomfort will also help.
And… Do not forget the most important factor – diet!
Unfortunately, there is no way of reversing refractive error, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, or presbyopia. This type of visual difficulty can be treated with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery. However, there are other reasons for diminished eyesight, such as macular degeneration, that respond favorably to nutritional changes. In that sense, there are foods to improve eyesight without glasses.
We often neglect proper nutrition and eat unbalanced. Insufficient intake of essential minerals and vitamins leads to an imbalance of metabolism. The body’s resistance to infections and harmful environmental factors may decrease, leading to health problems, including loss of vision. By diversifying your diet and using revival recipes, you can not only stop the deterioration of vision but also improve it.
And what is also the good news is that foods that are beneficial for your eyes are good for your skin, bones, muscles, and overall health too. That means maintaining a healthy diet rich in fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains containing a variety of vitamins and minerals is a win-win situation.
Carrots may be the food best known for helping your eyes. But other foods and their nutrients may be more important for keeping your eyesight keen as you age.
Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, zinc, calcium, copper, selenium, lutein, zeaxanthin, resveratrol, anthocyanin, and Omega-3 fatty acids all play a role in eye health. They can help prevent cataracts clouding your eye lens. They may also fight the most-likely cause of vision loss when you’re older: age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Just a side note: You can get lutein and zeaxanthin from rose hips which are quite rich in this and other beneficial microconstituents.
The image above shows a variety of food sources that can provide all the necessary vitamins and minerals for your eyes. Using this diagram, you can create your own diet, ensuring that you are not missing some important component.
It is worth noting that not all vitamins are well absorbed by themselves. Some need help. For example, for vitamin A, the fat-soluble component is very important. As it is best of all are fermented milk products: buttermilk, milk, sour cream. In our future posts, we will publish information on balanced diets for eye health. So, if you are interested, don’t forget to signup for our monthly Newsletter.
Many western medicine doctors are now incorporating more alternative herbs and solutions into their traditional practices, mainly due to demand. In this post, below, you will find three beneficial revival recipes that can ward off the onset of vision loss while helping your overall wellness as well.
Nutrients for the aging eye
Restoring vision
Intriguing connection between diet, eye health and lifespan uncovered
Clues to age-related macular degeneration revealed
Zinc and the eye
The Effect of Lutein on Eye and Extra-Eye Health
Resveratrol and the eye: activity and molecular mechanisms
Therapeutic Effects of Anthocyanins for Vision and Eye Health
Fruits and vegetables that are sources for lutein and zeaxanthin: the macular pigment in human eyes
Interesting facts about our eyes
- The weight of the eye is about 7 g, and the diameter of the eyeball is almost the same in all healthy people and is equal to 24 mm. Human eyes do not change their original size, whereas, for example, ears and nose grow throughout life.
- Human eyes are fully formed by the age of 7 and have not changed their structure and size since then. The eye consists of more than 2 million “working parts”.
- The eye muscles are the most active in the human body because they constantly make micro-movements that a person simply does not fix.
- The eyes contain about 105 million light-sensitive cells. In theory, the human eye is able to distinguish between 10 million colors and about 500 shades of gray. However, in practice, a good result is the ability to differentiate at least 150 colors (and then after a long workout). The human eye is able to perceive only three parts of the spectrum: red, blue, and green. The remaining colors are a combination of these colors. About 2% of women have a rare genetic mutation, thanks to which they have an additional cone of the retina. This allows them to see 100 million colors. There are colors that are too “complex” for the human eye; they are called “impossible colors”.
- Our eyes focus on about 50 things per second. Every hour, the eyes process about 36 thousand particles of information.
- A person, on average, blinks every 4 seconds (15 times per minute); the blinking time is 0.5 seconds. It can be calculated that in 12 hours, a person blinks for 25 minutes, or about 15,000 times a day. The number of “blinks” per year exceeds 5 million.
- It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. Scientists have not yet figured out the reason for this. The thing is that when sneezing (at the time of the release of airflow through the mouth and nose), eye pressure increases significantly. In turn, reflex closure of the eyes helps prevent the rupture of the capillaries.
- The cornea of the human eye is as similar as possible to the cornea of a shark – that is why surgeons use it as a donor material during ophthalmic operations.
- The pattern of the eye’s iris in humans is individual. It can be used to identify a person. The iris has 256 unique characteristics, which is why the security systems associated with iris scanning are considered more reliable than those that scan fingerprints. Fingerprints have only 40 unique features.
- Eye color is determined by the content of melanin in the iris. If there is a lot of it, the eye will be light or dark brown, and if it is small, it will be blue, gray, or green. By the way, people with brown eyes are “black-eyed” people; they just have a very high melanin content that makes their eyes seem almost black. In fact, there are no completely black eyes.
- About 10,000 years ago, all people on the planet had brown eyes until a person living in the Black Sea region developed a genetic mutation that led to the appearance of blue eyes. In reality, brown eye color is blue, but only hidden under the brown pigment. Currently, a special laser technique has been developed, with the help of which it is possible to permanently change the color of the eyes from brown to blue. Blue-eyed people see and orient themselves better than brown-eyed people in the dark. A person with blue eyes shares a common ancestor with every other blue-eyed person in the world. The number of the green-eyed population does not exceed 2%. In 1% of people on Earth, the color of the iris of the left and right eyes is not the same.
- The image of a pirate with a blindfold on his eye appeared for a reason: in fact, the presence of a blindfold does not mean the loss of an eye. Medieval sailors from among those who constantly moved between the deck and the hold (especially during battle) wore such bandages to quickly adapt their vision to darkness. When they descended from the brightly lit deck inside the dark hold, they simply lifted the bandage and could immediately distinguish the details rather than spending a few minutes each time adapting. The human eye gets used to darkness for a long time: in the first minute after switching from light to darkness, sensitivity to light increases only 10 times, and after 20 minutes – 6000 times! But even after that, the eye continues to adapt to the dark: complete addiction occurs only after an hour and a half.
Revival recipes for eye health
Eyebright
Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) is an herb that commonly grows in Europe, Asia, and North America.
For the first time, eyebright is mentioned as a therapeutic agent in medical treatises of the XIV century. The Spanish alchemist Arnold of Vilanova described its effective use against many eye diseases, including cases of complete insight of blind people after applying the tincture of eyebright. Other diseases were also treated with grass. In folk medicine, eyebright for the eyes was used in the form of a decoction, alcohol tincture, and essence. Freshly squeezed juice was added to wine and ale and used as compresses on problem areas.
Infusion from this plant is used to eliminate dryness and irritation of the eyes, reduce intraocular pressure in glaucoma, stabilize the progression of cataracts, and as a general antiseptic. There are several folk recipes for the preparation of medicinal products for eyebright. Here is the most universal one.
Recipe:
Pour a teaspoon of dry eyebright leaves and flowers with 1.5 cups of boiling water, brew for half an hour. Strain the resulting infusion through the cloth (if necessary, several times) until a clean, transparent liquid is obtained.
How to use:
Drink 80-100 ml daily, half an hour after each meal.
You also can use this infusion as an anti-inflammatory lotion for washing in case of accumulation of pus. When washing, the following rules should be followed. The temperature of the infusion should not be higher than room temperature. For each eye, a separate clean cotton swab soaked in liquid is used. Washing begins with the outer corner of the eye towards the bridge of the nose. Strong mechanical effects (pressure) on the eyeball and eyelids should be avoided. Make sure that the pus from the tampon does not fall back into the eye; change it as often as possible. The procedure can be repeated several times a day.
If you decide to use the infusion as a drink, be aware of some limitations. It is not recommended to use eyebright infusion for people with low acidity of the stomach. It has the property of increasing blood pressure, as it narrows the blood vessels, so it should not be consumed by hypertensive patients. It is forbidden to drink eyebright infusion for pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under the age of 12 years. Eyebright contains substances that can cause an allergic reaction (for example, cinnamon acid in large quantities often causes irritation of the internal mucous membranes).
Gingko Biloba
Calamus (Acorus calamus) root and calendula flowers are ingredients rich in useful vitamins and trace elements. They are actively used in home alternative medicine, used as a basis for the preparation of restorative and healing infusions and mixtures.
The generic name of calamus is the Latin word “acorus”, which is derived from the Greek άχόρου (áchórou) of Dioscorides. The word άχόρου itself is supposed to have been derived from the word κόρη (kóri), which means pupil (of an eye), because the juice from the root of the plant was used as a remedy for diseases of the eye (‘darkening of the pupil’).
Calendula has been traditionally used to treat eye inflammation.
To improve vision with the calamus and calendula, make an alcohol tincture.
Ingredients:
- Calamus root – 2 tablespoons;
- Calendula flowers – 2 tablespoons;
- Vodka – 500 ml.
How to prepare:
- grind the calamus root in a coffee grinder;
- mash the calendula flowers with a rolling pin;
- mix the ingredients, put them into a container, and add vodka;
- close the lid tightly and put it in a dark place for two weeks;
- shake the container with the tincture a couple of times a day,
- after two weeks, filter the finished product with gauze.
How to use:
- take 1 teaspoon 3 times daily half an hour before meals;
- tincture of the calamus and calendula is intended for long-term use; do not expect that it will instantly improve vision;
- It should be taken in courses of 2 months throughout the year;
- take breaks of 1 month between courses.
Limitations:
Despite the fact that herbal medicine is considered by many to be one of the safest methods of treatment, hypotensive people should not take a tincture based on calamus root and calendula (for vision). The root of the calamus significantly reduces blood pressure.
Excessive dosage (well above recommended) can cause vomiting.
Do not use the tincture for bleeding, including hemorrhoidal or nasal. With caution, after consulting a doctor, it can be used by patients with stomach ulcers and gastritis.
Calendula can be harmful during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
It is not recommended for people with allergic reactions to the components of the tincture and those who are suffering from alcohol and drug addiction.
If you do not belong to the above risk groups, then the tincture for the restoration of vision will be effective for you. In a month, you should have the first signs of improved vision.
Saffron
Saffron is a spice made from the Crocus sativus flower.
The scientists at ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science and the University of L’Aquila, in Italy, suggest that saffron could reverse the course of blinding diseases and may hold one of the keys to preventing the loss of sight in old age.
Recent clinical studies show patients supplementing with this flower-derived spice experienced significant vision improvement as measured by seeing an average of two additional lines on the eye chart used by ophthalmologists to test vision. Saffron contains antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties that make it beneficial in slowing the progression of macular degeneration.
Saffron has a strong, exotic aroma and a bitter taste and is used to color and flavor many Mediterranean and Asian dishes, particularly rice and fish, and English, Scandinavian, and Balkan bread. Here is a revival recipe that will help you to improve your vision.
Ingredients:
- Cup of water;
- 1 g saffron.
Instructions:
- Place the water in a saucepan, then bring it to a boil and add the saffron.
- Simmer the mixture for a minute, then let it cool and strain.
How to use:
- Add honey to taste and drink a cup of saffron tea.
- Repeat the process every night before going to bed, and your vision will improve significantly in just a couple of weeks.
In addition to restoring vision, saffron can also cleanse your blood, regulate triglyceride and cholesterol levels in your blood, improve blood circulation, cure arthritis, and improve your memory.
Limitations: Saffron is not recommended in the following cases:
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- children of age up to 3 years;
- diabetes mellitus type I, II (with caution);
- high blood pressure and hypertension in the acute stage;
- peptic ulcer of the intestine, stomach, and duodenum.
In large quantities, saffron has an exciting effect on the nervous system. Do not go beyond the recommended norms.
It is also not recommended to use this spice in case you suffer from food allergies. With caution, saffron should be used by persons suffering from nervous, mental disorders and prone to negative reactions from the nervous system.
In case of any doubts related to the characteristics of your body or based on the current state of your health, you should consult with your doctor.
What else?
We would like you to pay attention to two more natural resources to support your eyes and prevent loss of vision at an early age. One of them is Ginkgo Biloba, and another is bilberry.
In fact, Ginkgo Biloba is the oldest surviving tree species on earth! Ginkgo biloba has a long history rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Besides being an excellent source of prevention and treatment for diseases like Alzheimer’s and several blood disorders, Ginkgo biloba is also excellent for your eyes. Increasing blood circulation in the eyes has been linked to bettering the conditions of those with macular degeneration and glaucoma.
You can order Ginkgo Biloba supplements online from trusted sources like Life Extention, Nature’s Bounty, and other supplement sources.
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) is one of the richest natural sources of anthocyanins. Bilberry has been used for centuries, both medicinally and as a food in jams and pies. It is related to the blueberry and is native to Northern Europe.
In addition, bilberries contain both vitamin A and vitamin C, which are vital to eye health. Recent studies have shown that bilberries also aid in stabilizing and preventing the deterioration of the collagen in eye tissue, thereby helping to prevent intraocular pressure issues such as occur in devastating glaucoma. Also, chemicals called flavonoids in bilberry might improve circulation in people with diabetes. Circulation problems can actually harm the retina of the eye.
Here are also other health benefits of bilberries, all backed by science. Thus, consuming these berries will do you only good. Not to mention that they are quite delicious.
Yes, all these foods are essential for your vision support but not effective in vision improvement or restoration. For example, to get the necessary amount of useful elements from carrots, you must eat a pound (half a kilo) of them daily. In the case of bilberries, it is required about 5 lb (2.5 kg) per day.
Moreover, almost everyone already knows that the body absorbs only 30-40% of what is eaten; the rest goes in transit. Therefore, even if we could eat a bucket of blueberries a day, we could not count on an ideal result.
For complete eye health and to significantly reduce the chances of age-related eye diseases and vision loss, you must take extra supplements. You can take recommended vitamins separately or use balanced formulas specifically engineered for eyes from such companies as LifeExtention and 1MD Nutrition.
What is next?
New revival recipes will be added periodically. Be sure to check back!
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