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Focus on Vision News from... |
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Benefits of Vitamin E for Macular Degeneration Reported |
French researchers published in the Archives of Ophthalmology report
that Vitamin E may provide protection against macular degeneration. The
anti-oxidant properties of Vitamin E are the properties that are being focused
on as the benefit of this vitamin. More than 500 adults who were 60 years or
older were studied and it was found that 38 patients had macular degeneration.
For patients who had high levels of Vitamin E, the scientists found that the
prevalence of macular degeneration was decreased by 82 percent in late stages of
AMD. Other studies are necessary to confirm these results.
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Herbal therapy may Halt Eye Blood Vessel Growth |
Researchers in Sweden report in the journal Nature (vol. 398, April 1, 1999;
p. 381) inhibition of angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth) through consumption
of Green Tea. The report states that one of the components of green tea,
epigallocatechin-3-gallate "significantly prevents the growth of new blood
vessels in animals. The report also states, "Drinking green tea
significantly prevents corneal neovascularization induced by one of the most
potent angiogenic factors, VEGF (in mice). Compared with a control group of mice
that drank water alone, drinking tea significantly prevented VEGF-induced
corneal neovascularization." Corneal neovascularization occurs when
the cornea is deprived of oxygen secondary to contact lens wear or infection and
can ultimately to corneal blindness. Possible implications of this therapy range
from anti-tumour benefits to wet macular
degeneration prevention.
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Vitamin C and Eye-It |
A recent study in Journal of the American College of Nutrition examined the
effect of vitamin C on blood histamine levels when administered at a daily dose
of 2 grams. Blood histamine levels dropped 40% in the people taking
vitamin C when compared to people taking a placebo sugar pill.
Histamines are the chemicals responsible for eye irritation and itching. When
you rub your eyes, the response is for the conjunctiva of the eye to release
more histamines. This is why eye-rubbing is not recommended; it can
make the itching worse. This study suggests that vitamin C in the
diet may help to reduce blood histamine and does not discuss the reduction of
eye histamines; studies need to be done to determine if vitamin C also lowers
eye-histamine. If so, this may be a new treatment for eye itchiness and
allergic symptoms.
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