Visionary Eyes View of the Future

Enough information exists to give you a fighting chance to either prevent or significantly postpone many major eye conditions if you take action early enough. Eye conditions include glaucoma, macular degeneration (MD), astigmatism, and cataracts. A major study on macular degeneration using a vitamin mineral formula showed it worked for moderate to advanced MD but not for early stages. A small study out of Italy found a nutrient formula that works for early MD. CoQ10, Omega 3 fish oils, and Acetyl L-Carnitine. See ** below.

Some of the issues that will be discussed here include mitochondrial energy output, inflammatory factors, blood vessel integrity, fatty acids, mineral balance, and cell membrane pumps. These may sound foreign now, but they are the very same processes that underline most degenerative conditions. There is a strong link of eye conditions to artery and heart health.  ref for Mito energy and MD,  ref

Energy Consuming PUMPS

Located in the membrane of most cells are numerous pumps. They move minerals either in or out of cells. Minerals that easily flow into cells have to be pumped out, and vice versa. There are two pumps of concern here, the calcium magnesium pump and the sodium potassium pump. Both calcium and sodium balances are upset in eye conditions. In the cells of the clear eye lens, sodium has to be pumped out to prevent a build up and altered balance which could cause a pH change influencing clarity of the lens. The proteins of the lens become progressively more insoluble versus soluble as in normal eyes. ref  (read introduction)  As the body ages, the number of pumps is reduced and the output of each pump is diminished as well. Thus one of the reasons for cataract formation slowly developing over time.

Is there a way to retain the number of pumps and their activity levels?

Perhaps as evidenced by the two studies mentioned above. The Italian study is interesting in that it uses a different set of nutrients compared to the antioxidant nutrients used in the AREDS study. The AREDS study used these nutrients; Vitamin A, C, E, Selenium, and Zinc. The theory is that these antioxidant nutrients would prevent naturally generated free radicals from damaging eye cells. Of interest here is that many of these radicals are generated in the energy producing plants inside cells called the mitochondria. ref ref

SIDEBAR: Vitamin C is found in certain eye tissues at 20X higher levels than in blood plasma. Here is what a report says: "Vitamin C, a strong antioxidant, protects proteins, lipids, and DNA from the oxidative damage. Ascorbic acid uptake by the retina is an energy dependent process and concentration of vitamin C in the retina is 20 times higher than in the plasma, suggesting that vitamin C plays an antioxidant role to protect the retina. Vitamin C has also been detected in human tears and aqueous humor in high concentration compared to plasma." ref

The Italian study attacked eye problems from another angle. While CoQ10 has some antioxidant properties similar to the AREDS study nutrients, CoQ10 also is involved in maintaining cellular energy production to drive the mineral pumps. ref  Acetyl L-Carnitine also assists energy production by moving fatty acids into the mitochondria to be burned producing energy, plus it protects against glycation reactions which may cloud the lens as well. The cell pumps use a lot of energy. In fact, over 50% of cellular energy is used by these pumps, with some cells using up to 90%. That is how important this pump action is to the life of the cell.

Of Interest: For those who looked up the AREDS study and may be confused that while selenium in small amounts was included in the formula to help protect eyes, the study used an overdose of that same nutrient, selenium, in a form called selenite to cause the cataracts in the test animals. This illustrates the point that antioxidants need to be balanced. Both too little or too much can be detrimental. The forms of selenium are also one of the main points here. Selenium supplements are available in both organic and inorganic forms. The organic forms help protect the eyes against oxidation while the inorganic form, sodium selenite, is already oxidized and does not protect the eyes, and in the case of large amounts injected into rats, generates cataracts in just over 72 hours. This inorganic form ages the rat eyes rapidly.  article  

Omega 3 Fish oils are added to help maintain healthy cell membranes and reduce the inflammatory state also found to be involved in numerous degenerative disease conditions, including eye health. Perhaps a combination of nutrients from the two studies will prove to be the best approach. The AREDS II study added fish oil plus reduced zinc levels which were too high in the first AREDS study and caused some adverse results. This second study should hopefully attain better results.

Finally, don't forget Lutein and Zeaxanthin. Here is an easy read report on a study showing value and percentage improvements. article

EYE STUDY

**New Italian study showing EARLY Macula protection  ref  University, Rome, Italy, study of 106 patients in the early stages of AMD. 51 patients on combination of 3 nutrients ( Coenzyme Q10, Omega-3 fat in the form of EPA & DHA fish oil supplements and acetyl-L-carnitine) Other 55 patients were given a placebo. Monitored patients over 12 months using 4 objective measurements of visual function.  The results revealed a clear benefit for those who took the supplement twice a day.   Only 2 % of patients who took the supplement experienced worsening of their vision while 17 % of the untreated patients.  Drusen decreased between 15 % ( in affected eye) and  23% (in the least affected eye) compared to Drusen actually increasing between 11% and 13 %  in the untreated patients. The biological plausibility - improve the function of the mitochondria (specialized structures that serve as the source of energy for each cell) and the ability to dampen inflammation." Dosages used in Italian Study.   Taken twice a day.       1)  Coenzyme Q10 20 mg        2)  Omega 3, EPA plus DHA, 1000 mg,        3)  Acetyl-L-Carnitine 200 mg.

New Vision Research

1.  Studies are underway to see if a Saffron supplement will slow down macular degeneration. There are reports it may limit UV light damage.   ref
2. Using Eye Stem cells placed into eyes blinded by burned corneas is currently under examination with amazing results. ref 
3. Tufts Medical Center article on the research for supplements influencing macular degeneration. ref  
4. Simple explanation for MD and the first AREDS eye study using vitamins and minerals. A second AREDS study improved results and reduced adverse effects.   ref
5. An Italian Eye study on MD using CoQ10, Omega 3, and Acetyl L-Carnitine to boost mitochondrial energy and limit lipid oxidation revealed positive results.  ref  See next article below.
6. Tufts on long term Vitamin C use in women significantly reducing cataract risk. ref 
7. The reverse was found in this Swedish study of INCREASED risk at 1000 mg vitamin C. ref 
8. And not as much benefit for men, at least in this report? ref
9. Of course magnesium with over 300 functions has a role in eye health. Here are possible actions for glaucoma from magnesium. ref
10. On Glaucoma and most other eye conditions, mitochondrial dysfunction plays a role which involves reduced energy and CoQ10. ref  ref 
11. With the proliferation of high intensity blue light emitting devices, cellphones, TVs, Computers, LED light bulbs, nutrients to limit blue light damage to macula have surfaced. The carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin are found abundantly in retina and especially in the macula. A converted form of zeaxanthin called meso-zeaxanthin is a rate limiting factor for extra protection. These yellow orange pigment phytonutrients actually neutralize blue light and limit oxidative damage by acting as antioxidants and prevent free radical damage to the macula. ref

Wrap Up:  Larger amounts of vitamin C foods in the diet and thus in blood plasma has consistently revealed positive observations against cataracts. Maybe a low dose vitamin C supplement plus family members with energy maintaining nutrients is the middle ground touching both antioxidant load without overdoing and sufficient energy to keep pumps working to prevent insoluble protein build up from unbalanced mineral loads inside lens. Read below for info.