If our eyes are the windows of our souls, we’re not doing a stellar job at keeping those windows squeaky clean and damage free. Nearly all cases of blindness in this country are a result of common eye disorders.
Leading the U.S. list of the most typical causes of blindness are macular degeneration (a breakdown of the retina affecting central vision), glaucoma (an increase in eye pressure that can hurt the retina), cataract (the loss of lens transparency), and diabetic retinopathy (a breakdown or blockage of the retinal blood vessels in diabetics).
According to Prevent Blindness America, a ninety-three-year-old volunteer sight health and safety organization, macular degeneration, whether age-related or hereditary, is expected to continue to be the primary cause of blindness. Currently more than 13 million individuals have this disease. By 2030, the number of blind individuals will be double what it is today, and we’re likely to see twice the number of glaucoma cases as today.
Nearly 6.4 million new cases of eye disorders are popping up yearly, and we’re making some 34 million treks to doctors’ offices to help us with eye maintenance issues.
But there’s good news. Nearly 40 to 50 percent of blindness can be treated effectively or prevented, which can result in sight restoration. We do face environmental and cultural factors that make our quest for healthier eyes more challenging, so they must be factored in. But if we’re willing to consider a holistic perspective and make some changes in our habits, there’s much we can do to help maintain our sight.
Our Environment, Our Culture
It’s no secret that our polluted environment has a negative impact on all living organisms. From pesticides to noxious fumes, they seep into the air we breath, the water we drink, and the foods we consume.
Dr. Garry Kappel, O.D., FCOVD, a holistic and alternative optometrist based in Portland, Oregon, writes, "I believe environmental factors — not just aging — are the primary influence on accelerated occurrence of disease and mutation of cells." In thirty years he has seen a significant increase in the onset of eye disorders such as dry eye, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts. "One of the frightening facts is that these conditions are affecting younger and younger people."
The toxins in our environment, particularly the heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium, also worry Dr. Edward Kondrot, M.D., CCH, a homeopathic and alternative medicine ophthalmologist with practices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Phoenix, Arizona. "Exposure to these metals increases the incidence of degenerative disorders in our eyes," he says, adding, "overuse of antibiotics and too many immunizations are weakening our immune systems and causing greater deterioration of our eyesight."
In Elmhurst, Illinois, Holistic Optometrist Larry Sajdecki laments the fact that while we need to spend more time outdoors given our cultural, sedentary habits that keep us at our desks for so long, the quality of air and water is greatly depleted. "More Americans are spending increasing hours indoors with inadequate lighting, leading to the common disorder of myopia or nearsightedness." In his view, the greatest cultural challenge that’s affecting our eyes is computers. "So many people — both child and adult — spend too much time on computers," he says. "Games in the street and parks were replaced by Game Boy and Play Stations. Adults now take laptops on vacation."
Dr. Kondrot sees both computers and televisions in our culture as causing significant levels of eyestrain. He says that average adults typically keep their eyes frozen on the screen, don’t blink nearly as often as they should, and don’t move their head or neck very much. "Developing proper visual habits is very important," says Kondrot. "When you’re at the computer, imagine a feather that extends from your eyes to the monitor. As you read, paint the words with that feather so that your head and neck move as you glide over the words. And remember to blink often."
Dr. Kondrot warns that the electromagnetic fields that emanate from computers and televisions also may affect our visual health. Dr. Kappel shares similar concerns. "Vast increases in sound, electromagnetic, and other vibratory influences affect reproduction and mutation [of cells]," he writes. "Pollution from electromagnetic frequencies generated by appliances, cars, televisions, microwaves, radios, computers, and radar permeates every moment of our lives and every cell of our bodies."
Balanced Healing
A holistic approach to eye health is one that promotes a balanced system of healing by incorporating the well-being of an individual from a mental, emotional, and physical perspective. Although their individual recipes differ in focus, Drs. Kappel, Kondrot, and Sajdecki see healthy nutrition, vitamins and supplements, and exercise for our bodies and our eyes as key to overall wellness.
Given the amount of highly processed foods laden with sugar, salt, preservatives, and flavorings, and geographical variations that account for inconsistencies in food quality and food preparation techniques, it’s difficult in our culture to obtain all the key ingredients we need for optimum nutrition and absorption.
To combat that cultural slant, the doctors advocate organic, whole food that’s varied and processed as little as possible. "Colorful food will give you colorful vision," says Dr. Kondrot. He advocates fresh, "colorful" food and a program of nutritional supplements to help balance the diet. He also comments on the importance of antioxidants, which safeguard healthy cells and other types of tissues by warding off free radicals and the oxidation they cause in our systems.
According to Dr. Kappel, most of the eye difficulties we’re experiencing stem from digestive or vascular dysfunction, poor absorption, malnutrition, and allergies. "Supplementation is essential to ensure adequate nutrient levels," he writes. "My clinical observation establishes forty-five ingredients necessary to build and maintain healthy eyes. These include an array of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, carotenoids, bioflavins, and herbs." Kappel recommends nine herbs that have particularly helpful qualities for the eyes. These include ginger root, bilberry, garlic, eyebright, ginkgo biloba, cayenne, and periwinkle.
Dr. Sajdecki also encourages a lifestyle with less stress, minimal medication (with the appropriate doctors’ permission), full-spectrum lighting in the home and office, and no smoking. He usually encourages patients to get more sun and wear their sunglasses less. Sajdecki doesn’t disagree with the potential dangers inherent in exposing eyes to heavy ultraviolet (UV) light, but he does think the chances of such damage are small. "Statistics point out that the average American spends less than twenty minutes outside," he adds. From his perspective, this makes the potential damage "practically non-existent for the average office worker and housewife," though if the health issue is macular degeneration, the equation changes.
Marc Price, O.D., and Linda Comac, M.A., suggest in their book Coping with Macular Degeneration that keeping sunglasses handy is a good idea, particularly those that protect your eyes 100 percent from UV-A and UV-B rays and 85 percent from blue light. They also indicate that caffeine is a habit worth kicking. They note that research has shown caffeine consumption to decrease the rate of retinal blood flow up to 13 percent.
"How you think and your belief systems will greatly affect how you use your eyes," states Sajdecki. He claims a recent study demonstrates that emotions play a key role in corneal curvature and how well we actually see. "Because the physical body mimics the emotional state of the individual, flexibility of emotions translates into flexibility of vision."
Kondrot believes that meditation, learning to control our emotions, and a positive mental, emotional, and physical attitude can make a big difference. "The eyes are a barometer," he says. "Subtle disturbances in our eyes will show themselves before any other parts of our bodies. He comments, optimistically, that "if you enjoy what you see, your eyes will last you a lifetime."
Treatment Considerations
The health advice for those of us who wear glasses and contact lenses is highly consistent with what’s offered by these doctors to the rest of the population: good diet, appropriate supplements, and exercise.
Both Kondrot and Kappel suggest a series of eye exercises to condition the eyes, relax them, and reduce dependency on corrective lenses. It’s best to get assistance from a vision therapist when starting out with eye exercises to ensure proper technique.
For those considering laser surgery, a few points to consider. The procedure can be highly effective for the nearsighted, farsighted, and astigmatic. Dr. Sajdecki notes that the success rate for these surgeries is about 90 percent. For some people, the surgery enables them to stop using contacts or glasses. What it doesn’t take into account, says Sajdecki, is what the person’s eyes will be like in ten to fifteen years. He suggests that there’s no evidence to support that a person’s eyes will stop changing after surgery, and he recommends this procedure only for individuals with high prescriptions. "If you decide to pursue it, don’t go for the lowest price," he says. "Or you run a very good risk of getting what you pay for."
Dr. Kondrot thinks that the success of laser surgery is less predictable for those with macular degeneration and other degenerative disorders. He concedes that laser surgery can dramatically change an individual’s outlook on life if the procedure is successful for them regardless of disorder. But he cautions that this type of procedure does not remedy the underlying disturbance that caused the disorder in the first place. He contends that certain personality characteristics are associated with particular disorders. He says that nearsighted individuals are more concerned with the future, whereas farsighted ones worry about the past. Unless people learn to modify their behaviors, their conditions are likely to reappear down the road.
Sajdecki’s opinion regarding surgery and Kondrot’s opinion are not mutually exclusive, however. For example, Sue Walters, a busy mom of two and wife who works at home in Fort Collins, Colorado, decided to pursue laser surgery after much research. She was tired of her dependence on contacts after many years of use, the expense of saline solutions and enzyme tablets, and the added chore of having to maintain impeccably clean lenses. She had the procedure done by a highly experienced doctor, and she’s very happy with the results. She has better than 20:20 vision.
Would she do it again? You bet. As for recommending it to others, "I think I would tell anyone thinking about the procedure to do their research and do what feels right to them," she says. "It’s not for everyone." Walters is very mindful of maintaining good eye health, and at the top of her list for keeping healthy in the eyes are good nutrition, sufficient sleep and hydration, eye relaxation, facial massages, and regular eye exams. She’s also considering vision therapy for herself and her family.
Other types of therapies that are holistic in scope include chelation and microcurrent. According to Dr. Kondrot, chelation uses a synthetic protein known as EDTA that causes heavy metals in the body to adhere to it. The harmful metals are eliminated from the body along with the synthetic protein. EDTA also removes calcium and plaque from blood vessels, and it serves as a powerful antioxidant agent. Microcurrent uses a weak electric current to stimulate dysfunctional retinal cells. Like surgery, however, both of these therapies come after the damage has been done. The wisest approach, of course, is to take care of your eyes as you do the rest of your body. Nutrition, exercise, and rest are key. With food and care and a little extra attention from a pro, your soul can peer happily through its window all your life.
Resources
Dr. Garry Kappel, O.D., FCOVD, Holistic/ Alternative Optometrist, 503-760-0678; iquest@teleport.com, www.iquestsight.com. He offers a supplement called OptiVisionForte, which has more than forty-five nutrients to promote healthy eye tissue.
Dr. Edward Kondrot, M.D., CCH, Homeopathic/Alternative Medicine Ophthalmologist, 800-430-9328, ekondrot@pipeline.com, www.kondrot.com. He’s the author of Healing the Eyes the Natural Way, which includes a twelve-step method for improving your vision, and Microcurrent Stimulation: Miracle Eye Cure? He has also developed a complete line of homeopathic and nutritional products for the eye.
Dr. Larry Sajdecki, O.D., Holistic Optometrist, 630-833-8131, larry@lightandvision.net, www.lightandvision.net. He offers weekend workshops for individuals who wish to lessen their prescription without surgery. Eye exercises, full spectrum light, and behavior modification are part of the therapy.