Natural Remedies for Eye Health

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The eye is one of our most vital sense organs provides an opportunity to see this beautiful world. Age-related visionary impairment is a natural phenomena, but preventive measures always effective to delay the event. However, nowadays, poor eyesight become a serious health issue among school going children. Even congenital impaired vision is also frequently observed clinical finding. Therefore, all generation need to take care of their eye health to preserve eyesight for prolong period.Natural remedies work excellent to preserve our eye health, however, degenerative eye conditions or progressive vision loss require immediate medical attention, as natural remedies may not effective to reverse eyesight. But regular eye checkup is very important to analyze the progressive condition of the disease, if you live in the UK, then check out – London Cataract Centre . Following are some effective natural remedies against certain eye problems:

Cataracts

Cataract is a condition, in which the eye lens get opaque. Vitamin C and Vitamin E have potent antioxidant property and prevent lipid peroxidation and also regenerate the natural antioxidants. These mechanism helps to prevent cataract incidence. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey study reported the adequate amount of vitamin C intake which sufficiently increases serum vitamin C level inverses cataract incidence. In addition, intake of vitamin E- rich food items lowers the Cataract incidence. Experts recommended intake of vitamin C 750 mg; vitamin E 600 IU, and beta-carotene 18 mg thrice a day for three years can reduce the cataract incidence due to their potent anti-oxidant property. All citrus fruits, including orange, lemon are natural sources of vitamin C; whereas wheat germ oil, safflower oil, almond contain vitamin E. The colorful fruits and vegetables, including carrot, spinach, banana are good sources of beta-carotene. In some cases, these food sources may not sufficient to improve the serum level of these vitamins, therefore, experts may recommend supplementation of these vitamins. But regular eye checkup is very important to analyze the progressive condition of the disease.

Age-related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD0 is also a common problem in elderly populations. It has been found that vitamin E level is sufficiently less among patients having age-related macular degeneration. Therefore, improvement of vitamin E plasma level through supplementation can help to improve the condition. It has been also found supplementation of vitamin C can able to lower the incidence of AMD. The antioxidant property of vitamin C, E, beta-carotene, and zinc may have a protective effect against age-related macular degeneration progression. However, this supplementation unable to give protection against the onset of this condition.

Ocular Neovascularization

Ocular neovascularization development in the anatomical structure of the eye, including the retina and/or choroid, causes multiple eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degenerative conditions including ocular histoplasmosis, pathologic myopia and retinopathy and related conditions like retinal capillary occlusions and ischemic retina etc. Progression of these conditions can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness.

Different phytochemicals present in plants or plant parts able to control ocular neovascularization. Researchers identified licorice containing isoliquiritigenin, green tea containing epigallocatechin gallate, grapes containing resveratrol, and Garcinia hanburyi containing gambogic acid have a significant effect against ocular neovascularization. isoliquiritigenin, epigallocatechin gallate, and resveratrol restrict the endothelial cells proliferation and migration, whereas gambogic acid has cellular toxicity. Therefore, daily intake of licorice, green tea and grapes are a very cost-effective way to prevent eye degenerative conditions, whereas supplementation of these phytochemicals is also available in naturopath to prevent ocular neovascularization.

Green tea is also an abundant source of catechins, which has several health benefits due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-angiogenic activities. Oxidative stress induced ocular diseases like retinopathy, the ischemic retina can be prevented by consuming green tea or catechins supplement. There is no harmful effect associated with long-term consumption of catechins due to its nontoxic effect.

Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome associated with multiple eye-related conditions, which include a reduction in tear production, or retention of eye fluid in the eye compartment, which creates discomfort in the eye, burning sensation, visual disturbances, blurred vision, unstable tear film, damaged ocular surface etc. Almost 100 million population globally have dry eye syndrome. The involved pathophysiology in dry eye syndrome is the over-expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines on the eye surface. Plant-based phytochemicals containing flavonoids have the potentiality to prevent and treat eye disease. An animal research study has been providing the evidence that the green tea flavonoid, epigallocatechin gallate effectively inhibits dry eye associated inflammatory conditions. Ginkgo biloba contains Kaempferol, which is also a plant has an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, angelica root containing ferulic acid has excellent antioxidant properties and low cytotoxicity, which is best for eye anatomy. Ferulic acid also has potent antimicrobial property effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as yeasts. Instead of using synthetic chemical based ophthalmic products to maintain the tears flow in the eye, these natural remedies are not only effective to treat dry eyes, but also prevent unwanted side effects. Topical application of a combination of Kaempferol and ferulic acid preparation has the same pH like eye tears so, the scope eye irritation is less and helps to prevent dryness. In addition, the antimicrobial property of ferulic acid can prevent eye infection.

Glaucoma

A group of eye diseases, which increase the eye pressure and causes optic nerve damage is termed as glaucoma. The untreated condition causes progressive vision loss and ultimately blindness. Ginkgo biloba extract effective to treat intraocular pressure by reducing myocilin expression, apoptosis and modulate the expression of the stress-related gene. Heat shock proteins and alpha B-crystallin expressions are also reduced by applying Ginkgo biloba extract. Experts recommended these benefits can be obtained by topical application of Ginkgo biloba extract 5mg four times a day. All these benefits are effective to treat glaucoma and experts expected Ginkgo biloba extract can be used for future medication formulations to treat this condition.

Glycosaminoglycans Accumulation Induced Eye Disorders

Glycosaminoglycans accumulative due to inborn metabolic disorder can cause different ocular symptoms by affecting any part of the eye. Glycosaminoglycans accumulation also induces different eye diseases like thyroid eye disease condition. Hyperthyroidism partly responsible for protruded eyeball occurred in Graves’ ophthalmopathy. This condition can be rectified by consuming nicotinamide. Red rice contains nicotinamide and able to inhibit activation of orbital fibroblasts by inhibiting TNF-α or interferon-γ. The potent antioxidant property of nicotinamide eradicates free radicals that cause accumulation of glycosaminoglycans by retroocular fibroblasts.

In Ayurvedic medicinal practice following are some general recommendations to preserve eye health.

Eyewash

Juice of Symplocos racemosa Roxb. and Emblica officinalis are effective to keep eyes healthy. Experts recommended bark and stem extract of Symplocos racemosa Roxb and fruit juice of Emblica officinalis (Indian gooseberry) can be used as eye washing fluid to wash eye regularly in the morning after waking up from the bed.

Bath

Bathing is effective to release stress and provide a relaxing effect to all sense organs, including eyes. Therefore, regular bathing is important for refreshing our sense organs. But the temperature of the bathing water has a direct effect on our physiological system. Experts recommended hot water for body washing and cold water for head wash are effective to get the stress free effect. However, head washes with hot water adversely affect eye health.

Adequate Sleep

Sleep is essential for eye health. Inadequate sleep can induce some eye disorders, such as dry eye, floppy eyelid syndrome, asthenopic symptoms, Inflammation of optic nerve, blurred vision, faulty color perception, sudden vision loss after awakening becomes permanent (AION), etc. An adult requires to sleep 6 to 8 hours per day to keep normal eye functionality.