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Natural Glaucoma Treatment Like Vitamin B3 May Improve Vision

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New research suggests vitamin B3 could protect optic nerve damage that associated with glaucoma and blindness.

Glaucoma is a family of diseases characterized by elevated eye pressure that damages the optic nerve and can cause permanent vision damage. There is no cure for glaucoma, so an ophthalmologist’s goal is to detect glaucoma early and treat it with eye drops or surgery to reduce inner eye pressure.

Professor Jonathan Crowston and Dr. Flora Hui of the Center for Eye Research Australia conducted a recent study on patients with glaucoma. The researchers gave glaucoma patients high doses of vitamin B3 every day for 12 weeks, in addition to the patients’ daily medication to lower eye pressure. At the conclusion of the study, patients showed significant improvement in their vision.

“For the first time, we have shown that daily high doses of vitamin B3 can lead to early and significant improvements in patients who are also receiving traditional treatments to lower eye pressure,” Dr. Hui said. “As a safe therapy that is well tolerated by patients, vitamin B3 has potential as a clinical supplement to support patients who are receiving glaucoma treatment” (Medical Express).

Dr. Hui is optimistic that vitamin B3 can protect nerve cells from damage and help repair cells that have already begun to deteriorate. She likens taking daily vitamin B3 to adding oil to a car engine to help it run smoothly. The next step, she explained, is to conduct a larger trial to evaluate whether patients can continue to improve and slow the progression of glaucoma over time.

Should I Start Taking Vitamin B3?

You may wonder, “Should I begin taking daily vitamin B3 to protect my vision?” Before you begin any new medication, even a supplement, call your eye doctor. Your doctor can discuss natural glaucoma treatments that you can take in addition to your daily medication. Remember that all medicines can have side effects and can interact with other drugs. Always ask your doctor before beginning any new supplement or medicine.

What are the Symptoms of Glaucoma?

Even if you think your eyes are healthy, you could still be at risk for glaucoma. More than three million Americans have glaucoma, but only half are aware they have the disease. Because glaucoma rarely shows symptoms in the early stages, it is a difficult disease to diagnose. Most people do not notice any pain with elevated eye pressure. One of the first noticeable symptoms of glaucoma is peripheral vision loss, but most people do not realize it until they have lost a significant amount of vision (Glaucoma Research Foundation).

How to Prevent Glaucoma

There is no way to prevent glaucoma, but you can protect your vision by scheduling annual comprehensive eye exams. Comprehensive eye exams include a pressure test using a method called tonometry. If your pressure is high and your doctor diagnoses you with glaucoma, you can begin your treatment immediately.

Be proactive in preventive care by scheduling an annual comprehensive eye exam. If you are not under the supervision of a licensed eye care professional, you can find an eye doctor in your area and schedule an appointment today.

Low Carbohydrate Diet May Lower Your Glaucoma Risk

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A new study finds a diet rich in protein and healthy fats and low in carbohydrates could reduce the risk for glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness.

Glaucoma is associated with abnormally high eye pressure due to a reduced ability of the eye to regulate fluid drainage. Poor eye fluid drainage causes elevated pressure, which can damage the optic nerve over time. This is known as primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), the most common form of glaucoma in the United States.

According to the research from the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing proteins and plant-based fats can lower the risk of POAG with early central vision loss by 20 percent.

Plant-Based Diet Helps Prevent POAG

The researchers analyzed data from more than 185,000 participants of three cohort studies from 1976 to 2017. The researchers surmised that substituting protein and fat for carbohydrates would help maintain optic nerve function.

The participants answered health-related questions and completed food frequency questionnaires every two to four years. The team looked for patterns in carbohydrate intake across plant-based and animal-based fats and proteins, as well as other sources.

Plant-based sources gave more favorable results in preventing POAG than animal-based sources for a low-carbohydrate diet.

Diet Cannot Reverse Glaucoma

Dr. Louis R. Pasquale, co-corresponding author and deputy chair for ophthalmology research for the Mount Sinai Health System, said, “It’s important to note that a low-carbohydrate diet won’t stop glaucoma progression if you already have it, but it may be a means to preventing glaucoma in high-risk groups. If more patients in these high-risk categories, including those with a family history of glaucoma, adhered to this diet, there might be fewer cases of vision loss.”

Dr. Pasquale asserts a low carbohydrate diet is therapeutic for many other conditions such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. However, more research is necessary, as this was the first study looking at how diet relates to POAG development, and it was an observational study and not a clinical trial.

What is Your Glaucoma Risk?

Did you know certain individuals are at increased risk for glaucoma? Here are some of the risk factors for glaucoma:

  • Family history of glaucoma
  • 45 years of age or older
  • African American
  • History of elevated inner eye pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Nearsighted
  • Farsighted
  • History of steroid use

More than three million Americans have glaucoma, but only half are aware they have the disease. Glaucoma, aptly nicknamed “the sneak thief of sight,” often does not have symptoms in the early stages, so it is important to get an early diagnosis before permanent eye damage occurs.

Make an Appointment for a Comprehensive Eye Exam

There is no cure for glaucoma, but your eye doctor can detect glaucoma early if you stay current with your annual comprehensive eye exams. An eye exam is more than just an evaluation of your vision. It offers a window into your overall health. Call an ophthalmologist today to schedule your annual eye exam.

Eye Exams and Procedures Delayed by COVID-19 Could Result in Vision Loss

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If you had to cancel your eye procedure or eye exam due to COVID-19, you should reschedule your appointment as soon as possible. Delaying annual eye exams can result in later diagnoses of glaucoma, which causes blindness, and cataracts, which can be easily treated by undergoing cataract surgery.

A recent U.S. study revealed that during the initial months of the pandemic, of all medical service lines, ophthalmology had the greatest patient volume loss. In an analysis of more than 2 million patient visits and encounters from 228 hospitals in 40 states, the study, released by Strata Decision Technology, showed ophthalmology lost 81 percent of patient volume year-over-year when comparing two-week volumes in March and April 2020 versus the same period in 2019.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States. About 3.6 million cataract surgeries take place annually. The study found cataract surgery volume decreased by 97 percent, the largest reduction of any surgical procedure. Glaucoma procedures dropped by 88 percent for inpatient and outpatient procedures.

Many Americans have also had their comprehensive eye exams canceled in the past several months. If you missed an eye exam and have had to reschedule, it is important to keep the rescheduled appointment. Millions of patients will be calling to make appointments for comprehensive eye exams this month, so it will only get more difficult to see your eye doctor.

What Can I Do While I am Waiting for Surgery?

If you are waiting for your eye procedure to be rescheduled, you may have to ask for help from family members and friends, while taking precautions to protect against COVID-19. It is easier for loved ones to help you if you provide them with specific requests. You may want to ask people to help you with:

  • Shopping
  • House cleaning
  • Lawn and yard care
  • Driving you to and from your eye appointments and doctor appointments

Call your eye doctor today to reschedule your eye procedure or eye exam.

Patient Safety a Top Priority Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

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COVID-19 has had far-reaching impacts on our lives, with medical procedures and surgeries deemed “elective” postponed in order to slow the virus’s spread. In reality, these procedures are far from optional: delaying medical interventions can result in increased health problems, such as deteriorating vision.

Increased Patient Safety Measures to Combat COVID-19

In recent weeks, we have resumed elective cases and implemented a number of protocols to ensure your safety as you take charge of your health and schedule procedures at our ambulatory surgery centers. These measures include:

  • Screening everyone who enters the center for COVID-19 symptoms
  • Taking the temperature of every person who enters the center
  • Requiring masks for all employees and patients
  • Enforcing social distancing guidelines
  • Requesting patient escorts remain in the car until patient is ready to go home
  • Increasing cleaning of high-touch surfaces throughout the day
  • Providing hand sanitizer and tissues

Patients Feel Safe at our Centers

Patients who have already returned to the centers have first-hand experience of the new protocols in action. Their feedback has been extremely positive, with reactions like:

“During this COVID-19 time, I was especially nervous about my procedure but was immediately greeted by the friendliest nurse around. She was very courteous and kept asking if I was fine. She prepared me for the procedure by carefully doing everything that needed to be done and listened to me. The rest of the staff was also very professional and took great care of my needs. Thank you all for a great experience that I hopefully won’t have to repeat for a while.” San Antonio, April 2020

“Even during these crazy times, I was treated with the utmost respect, courtesy, and care. My doctor and her amazing team took the necessary steps to make sure I wasn’t put at greater risk during my procedure. They ensured all my questions were answered, and I was 100% ready going into and out of the procedure.” Escondido, April 2020

“Sanitary, safe, NICE and COMPASSIONATE staff!! Thank you SO MUCH to all of my nurses throughout the entire experience!” Lakeside, AZ, May 2020

Safely Schedule a Procedure

With increased safety measures in place, there has never been a better time to schedule cataract surgery. Stop putting it off and call your ophthalmologist today to take the first step toward improving your sight!

Gene Therapy Could Be a New Macular Degeneration Treatment

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New macular degeneration treatments may emerge after a recent study links the wet and dry version of the disease in an unexpected way.

What is Age Related Macular Degeneration?

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness and vision loss in the world and of vision impairment in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts the number of Americans with macular degeneration will double from 48 million to 88 million in the next 30 years.

AMD destroys the sharp, central vision, which is necessary for seeing objects clearly and doing activities like reading and driving. There are two types of AMD. Wet AMD is treatable. Dry AMD has not had many treatment options, although its progression may be slowed by supplementation with antioxidants.

Gene Therapy Reverses AMD in Mice

A new study reveals important findings after a research team from the University of Virginia School of Medicine successfully treated age-related macular degeneration in mice.

Brad Gelfand, of University of Virginia’s Center for Advanced Vision Science, discovered the absence of an enzyme called “Dicer” could initiate both forms of macular degeneration. Dicer levels reduce with age, and the loss of Dicer causes an overgrowth of blood vessels in the retina.

Using gene therapy, Gelfand and his team restored Dicer in the mice and found it reversed AMD. Gelfand’s research suggests restoring normal levels of Dicer could treat both wet and dry macular degeneration. However, further testing will determine the effectiveness and safety of this new macular degeneration treatment.

“It’s not as if this is the final answer to the problem, but it’s certainly a big step along the way; it certainly solidifies the idea that wet and dry AMD share a lot of mechanisms,” said Gelfand.

If Dicer proves effective in clinical trials, it will be the first significant treatment for dry AMD. It would also offer a simpler and less painful treatment for wet AMD. Current wet AMD treatment involves frequent eye injections. Gene therapy may require only a single treatment.

Call Your Ophthalmologist

AMD is a progressive disease that often does not have any symptoms in the early stages. You can prevent AMD by making annual appointments for a comprehensive eye exam. Eye exams are more than just an evaluation of your vision. They offer a window into your overall health. Call an ophthalmologist today to schedule your annual eye exam.

Brain Pressure, Eye Pressure and Glaucoma Risk

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A study reveals a new feedback pathway between the brain and eye that regulates inner eye pressure, and the research may shed new light on glaucoma treatment.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss, and it develops from stress on the optic nerve. Researchers have wondered whether intracranial pressure (brain pressure) may influence glaucoma development because optic nerve stress does not fully depend on eye pressure as much as it does the variance in pressure between the brain and the eye.

The new study from the University of South Florida shows concrete evidence that intracranial pressure and eye pressure are linked. The research team concluded this by “altering intracranial pressure in animal models and noting changes in the fluid drainage properties of the eye that could be blocked by chemicals that eliminate feedback signals from the brain.”

Now, the researchers are attempting to verify the exact location of the brain cells that are transmitting messages to the eye, as well as to pinpoint the nerve fibers in the eye that the brain mediates.

What Factors Influence Glaucoma Risk?

Glaucoma is a complex disease that can be difficult to diagnose. Recent studies link glaucoma to blood pressure and even poor sleep, yet experts are still searching for more answers on what causes the disease. The research team hopes this study will assist physicians in having a clearer understanding of glaucoma and effective glaucoma treatments.

Chris Passaglia, Ph.D., Professor of Medical Engineering at the University of Florida, feels optimistic about the findings of the study. “The drainage control system may service to protect the optic nerve from swings in eye or brain pressure,” he said. “Its discovery offers a new target for glaucoma treatment, wherein the modulatory mechanisms of the system might be exploited to help lower eye pressure and impede disease progression in glaucoma patients.”

What is a Comprehensive Eye Exam?

Do you know your glaucoma risk? Call your ophthalmologist to schedule a comprehensive eye exam for the whole family. A comprehensive eye exam provides you with an extensive evaluation of your vision and your eye health. An ophthalmologist will make sure your prescription is current and test you for degenerative eye conditions like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

If you are not under the care of a board-certified eye doctor, Enter your zip code above the orange box. Clear vision is just a phone call away.

Highly Polluted Areas Increase Glaucoma Incidence

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Living in a polluted area could increase your risk of developing glaucoma, one of the most common causes of vision loss.

Few studies have analyzed the relationship between pollution and glaucoma. However, since ninety percent of the Earth’s population breathes air that is over the World Health Organization’s limits for air pollution, it is certainly worth researching the connection between air quality and eye health.

Particulate Matter and Air Quality

Air quality is measured by amounts of particulate matter, the sum of all solid and liquid particles suspended in air molecules. Particulate matter includes both organic and inorganic particles and can include pollen, dust, smoke and soot.

Exposure to particulate matter is one of the strongest predictors of mortality due to air pollutants. Poor air quality increases the risk for lung and heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Air Pollution and Glaucoma

According to a recent study from the University College London, people who live in areas in the United Kingdom with higher amounts of pollution were more likely to report they had glaucoma than people who live in less polluted areas.

The study found that people who lived in the most-polluted 25 percent of areas were at least six percent more likely to say they had glaucoma than people in the least polluted areas. They were also more likely to have a thinner retina, which is one of the hallmarks of glaucoma progression. Pollution did not seem to affect inner eye pressure, which researchers usually associate with glaucoma progression. The team concluded air pollution must influence glaucoma development through a different route.

Paul Foster, Ph.D., is the study’s lead author and a professor of ophthalmic epidemiology and glaucoma studies at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital. “We have found yet another reason why air pollution should be addressed as a public health priority, and that avoiding sources of air pollution could be worthwhile for eye health alongside other health concerns,” Dr. Foster recently told Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News. “While we cannot confirm yet that the association is causal, we hope to continue our research to determine whether air pollution does indeed cause glaucoma, and to find out if there are any avoidance strategies that could help people reduce their exposure to air pollution to mitigate the health risks.”

Glaucoma Risk Factors

Glaucoma is the leading cause of vision loss among adults, second only to cataracts. Many glaucoma risk factors cannot be controlled, such as genetics and age. However, healthy lifestyle habits, exercise and proper nutrition can help reduce glaucoma risk.

Perhaps this new information will prompt legislators to create policy changes regarding air quality. In the meantime, you can help protect your own vision health by keeping up with your yearly comprehensive eye exams.

Call your ophthalmologist today to make an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam. Annual eye exams can preserve your eye health by detecting eye diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts in early stages when they are more treatable.

Blood Pressure Linked to Glaucoma Risk

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Although glaucoma is a complicated disease, new evidence suggests a range of blood pressure that is neither too high nor too low is best to help prevent it.

A 2018 study suggests a “Goldilocks scenario” may exist for each of us when it comes to blood pressure and glaucoma. If you recall from the story Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Goldilocks is rather finicky, preferring her chair, porridge and bed to be “just right.”

For years, scientists have known about the connection between blood pressure and glaucoma. Elevated blood pressure does not cause glaucoma, but it is a known risk factor, especially if it goes untreated. Low blood pressure can also be concerning when it comes to glaucoma. The goal is to achieve a Goldilocks scenario in which blood pressure is “just right.”

According to a 2018 study, the prevalence of glaucoma was lowest in patients who had a systolic blood pressure reading of 111 mmHg and 120 mmHg and a diastolic reading of 81 mmHg and 90 mmHg.

How Can Low Blood Pressure Increase Glaucoma Risk?

It would seem that in regard to blood pressure, only high blood pressure would increase the risk of glaucoma. This makes sense because glaucoma is characterized by elevated pressure inside the eye. Hypertensive blood vessels should increase eye pressure, correct? In truth, it is not that simple.

Low blood pressure can also increase the risk of glaucoma. It can cause a condition known as decreased ocular perfusion pressure. Ocular perfusion pressure is the difference between blood pressure and eye pressure. If blood pressure is low but the intraocular pressure is high, blood cannot get into the eye to supply it with nutrients and oxygen.

In a normally functioning body, circulation to the eyes is maintained, even when blood pressure, body position or the environment fluctuates. However, some people have systems that cannot adapt as well to changes, and the eyes may not receive proper nourishment (Glaucoma Research Foundation).

What is Your Ideal Blood Pressure Range?

The researchers in the 2018 study discovered the relationship between glaucoma and blood pressure followed a U-shaped curve. This means glaucoma incidence was highest in patients who had elevated blood pressure or low blood pressure.

Controlling blood pressure is essential for all of us, regardless of whether we are on blood pressure medication. High blood pressure can lead to arteriosclerosis, which can damage the optic nerve. However, low blood pressure can increase your risk of open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma. You and your primary care physician and ophthalmologist can work together to find the blood pressure range that is “just right” for you.

If you are on blood pressure medication, your doctor can monitor your readings to ensure the medication is not creating too much of a gap between your blood pressure and eye pressure. It may be that you could take less medication and still stay within a safe blood pressure range.

Make an Appointment for a Comprehensive Eye Exam

Call today to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with your eye doctor to discuss how your blood pressure relates to your eye health. If you are not under the care of a board-certified physician,you can access a list of doctors in your area and find an ophthalmologist in your area.

How Female Hormones Estrogen and Progesterone Affect the Eyes

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Ladies, did you know that hormones are primarily responsible for changes in your vision after age 40? It shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, hormones can influence your mood, weight, sex drive and energy level, so why shouldn’t they impact your eyesight? May is Women’s Health Month, so let’s explore how hormones can change a woman’s vision from puberty through menopause.

High Estrogen Levels May Cause Nearsightedness

Estrogen can cause vision changes at several points in a woman’s lifetime. During puberty, the surge in estrogen can affect distance vision and can cause nearsightedness. During menstruation, estrogen levels elevate, and some women complain of vision problems and watery eyes during this time. During pregnancy, increased estrogen and progesterone levels can cause blurred vision and focusing problems. Vision changes are also typical after a hysterectomy, but eyesight often stabilizes with hormone replacement therapy.

Estrogen Fluctuations May Cause Dry Eye

Changes in estrogen levels can also result in dry eye, a condition caused by lack of tears. Women who are menopausal are at increased risk for dry eye, and medications like antihistamines and antidepressants can exacerbate the condition. Dry eye is treatable with prescription medications that increase tear production. Some women, however, find relief from over-the-counter artificial tears that help lubricate and moisturize the eye.

How to Maintain Healthy Vision

Hormone-related vision changes during menstruation and pregnancy are usually temporary, but some that occur in puberty and menopause are irreversible. To keep your vision as healthy as possible, there are a few steps you can take:

  1. Visit an ophthalmologist for annual comprehensive eye exams or if you notice vision changes. Many insurance plans include yearly eye exams, so take advantage of this if you have the option. Eye diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration are asymptomatic in the early stages, so visit your ophthalmologist every year to be examined for these conditions. If you notice any changes in your vision or experience eye pain, make an appointment right away, even if it has been less than a year since your last appointment.
  2. Eat a diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains. A nutritious diet full of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, B, C, E and K and other antioxidants and minerals will nourish your eyes and keep your vision healthy. Avoid processed foods and foods with artificial sweeteners.
  3. Talk to an ophthalmologist about supplementing with evening primrose oil, borage, flax seed or other nutritional supplements that will strengthen your vision and promote eye health.

What is a Burst Blood Vessel in the Eye?

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A red spot in your eye might make you feel like a villain in a horror movie, but it is typically not a reason for alarm. It is likely a subconjunctival hemorrhage.

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a condition in which small, delicate blood vessels break under the clear conjunctival tissue which covers the white of the eye called the sclera. Blood gets trapped under the conjunctival membranes, giving the eye a bright, blood red appearance.

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Causes

It is not always possible to identify the cause of broken blood vessels in the eye, but possible causes include:

  • A sudden increase in blood pressure that can result from coughing, sneezing or laughing
  • Heavy lifting
  • Straining from constipation
  • Use of aspirin or blood thinners such as Coumadin or Warfarin
  • Eye trauma
  • Eye surgery such as LASIK or cataract surgery
  • Vitamin K deficiency or blood clotting disorder (rare)
  • Rubbing the eyes

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Treatment

Most subconjunctival hemorrhages are not dangerous and they should not interfere with vision. It is normal to feel some eye irritation and sensitivity though. Artificial tears or lubricating drops can help soothe irritation, but the broken blood vessels have to repair themselves naturally. As the eye heals, try not to rub it because that can delay the healing process or break more blood vessels.

When to see an Ophthalmologist

A subconjunctival hemorrhage will typically disappear within one to two weeks, and most people won’t need to see an ophthalmologist. The affected area may even change color, much like a bruise, as the blood is reabsorbed. Call an ophthalmologist, however, if you have symptoms besides minor eye irritation or eye sensitivity. Eye discharge, swelling, sudden change in vision or sharp pain may indicate a different eye problem.

Make comprehensive eye exams a part of your preventive care. During a complete eye exam, your ophthalmologist will check the health of your eyes and update your prescription. Many degenerative diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration can develop without any symptoms, and a delayed diagnosis can result in permanent vision loss. So call your eye doctor today or find a board-certified ophthalmologist near you.