In a recent survey, more than 80 percent of participants listed eye health as their number one health concern - higher on the list than heart disease and cancer! According to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), Canadians fear blindness more than any other disability. More than one in nine Canadians over 65 suffers from severe vision loss. The chances of developing problems with vision and eyesight increase dramatically as we age, due partly to environmental effects (cigarette smoke, ultraviolet radiation damage from the sun), and to the body’s inability to synthesize nutrients that protect and enhance eye health and vision as we age. Cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic blindness are the top three age-related causes of blindness or reduced vision.
 
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Macular degeneration is a descriptive term for any condition which leads to loss of function of the light sensitive cells at the centre of the retina. Peripheral vision is preserved, but reading becomes impossible. Blurred or distorted vision and trouble discerning colours can be symptoms of AMD.
 
The Amsler Grid Test is one of the simplest and most effective methods of monitoring macular health. The Grid is a pattern of intersecting lines (identical to graph paper) with a black dot in the middle. One stares at the central dot. With normal vision, all lines surrounding the black dot will look straight and evenly spaced, with no missing or odd looking areas. When the macula is not healthy, as in macular degeneration, the lines can look bent, distorted and/or missing. 
 
Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. They are very common in older people. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina where it is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurred.
 
Cataracts can be caused by clumps of protein that reduce the sharpness of the image reaching the retina or by a general changing of the colour of the lens from clear to yellowish/brownish. Most age-related cataracts develop from protein clumpings. Cataracts tend to "grow" slowly, so vision gets worse gradually. Seeing may become more difficult. Vision may get duller or blurrier. If lens discolouration is the cause, you may not be able to identify blues and purples, but vision will remain clear.
 
Natural Health Support for Your Eyes

Many Canadians aren’t waiting for symptoms to escalate; they are using natural nutritional and herbal supplements to protect their eyes from the effects of aging. Here are some key nutritional products for prevention of blindness and support for lifelong eye health.
 
Antioxidants

Studies using antioxidant nutrients, vitamins and other nutrients that fight free radical damage, have shown excellent results. The National Eye Institute in the US published a study in 2001 showing a significant (25%) reduction in the risk of developing advanced AMD in nearly 5,000 people between the ages of 55 and 80, through the use of an antioxidant and zinc combination with vitamin C and vitamin E as major components.
 
Lutein and Zeaxanthin

These two carotenoids, plant components known for their colour and antioxidant capacity, are found in the macular region of the eye. The body can’t make lutein or zeaxanthin, so supplementation is recommended to protect the eyes from ultraviolet light - a leading cause of cataracts - and from free radical damage. A Tufts University study showed that “generous intakes” of lutein and zeaxanthin reduced risk of macular degeneration by as much as 40 percent and cataract risk by up to 20 percent. While no recommended daily allowance currently exists for lutein, positive effects have been seen at levels of 6 mg/day.¹¹ The only side effect of excess lutein consumption is an orange tinge to the skin, a phenomena observed with excess beta carotene or from eating too many carrots.
 
Bilberry & Eyebright

This berry is high in anthocyanidin bioflavonoids - that is blue-coloured pigment that has natural health benefits, especially the ability to strengthen capillaries. Vitamin C and bioflavonoids should be part of a lifetime regimen to help prevent loss of sight. Essential for proper absorption and use of vitamin C, bioflavonoids help maintain collagen, the intercellular “glue” that strengthens connective tissues throughout the body. Bilberry jam was fed to fighter pilots in the Second World War to enhance their night vision.

Eyebright is a European wild plant used since the Middle Ages to treat eye irritation. It has antibiotic and astringent properties that tighten membranes and mucus surrounding the eyes, which can strengthen and improve circulation. Rich in vitamins A and C, eyebright also contains tannins that help reduce inflammation.
 
References:

1. Malinow, M.R., et al., "Diet-related macular anomalies in monkeys." Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1980, 19(8): p. 857-63
2. Johnson, E.J., et al., "Relation among serum and tissue concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin and macular pigment density." Am J Clin Nutr, 2000, 71(6): p. 1555-1562
3. Landrum, J., et al., "Serum and macular pigment reponse to 2.4 mg dosage of lutein." in ARVO, 2000
4. Berendschot, T.T., et al., Influence of lutein supplementation on macular pigment, assessed with two objective techniques. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2000, 41(11): p. 3322-6
5. Aleman, T.S., et al., "Macular pigment and lutein supplementation in retinitis pigmentosa and Usher syndrome." Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2001, 42(8): p. 1873-81
6. Duncan, J.L., et al., "Macular pigment and lutein supplementation in choroideremia." Exp Eye Res, 2002, 74(3): p. 371-81
7. Johnson, E.J., et al., "Nutritional manipulation of primate retinas, III: Effects of lutein or zeaxanthin supplementation on adipose tissue and retina of xanthophyll-free monkeys." Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2005, 46(2): p. 692-702
8. Richer, S., "ARMD--pilot (case series) environmental intervention data." J Am Optom Assoc, 1999, 70(1): p. 24-36
9. Richer, S., et al., "Double-masked, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of lutein and antioxidant supplementation in the intervention of atrophic age-related macular degeneration: the Veterans LAST study (Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial)." Optometry, 2004, 75(4): p. 216-30
10. "A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc for age- related macular degeneration and vision loss: AREDS report no. 8." Arch Ophthalmol, 2001, 119(10): p. 1417-36
11. Seddon, J.M., et al., "Dietary carotenoids, vitamins A, C, and E, and advanced age-related macular degeneration. Eye Disease Case-Control Study Group," JAMA, 1994, 272(18): p. 1413-20