Old age is known to come with a lot of health challenges that may at times bring frustration to an individual. At this stage, the body is in the process of weakening, diseases are never far away, and simple things that one used to take for granted earlier suddenly become very important. For many old people, seeing, hearing, chewing, or moving around isn’t easy, and may at times involve pain. But does it have to be this way? The answer is an emphatic “No”.
In our series of blogs, we have explored simple measures to help people keep their bodies strong and functional even as they advance in age. This article will deal specifically with the eyes: how to maintain acute vision and avoid eye problems such as cataracts, macular degeneration (AMD), and glycation.
Understanding the eye
The eye is one of the most advanced evolutionary structures in both humans and animals. The external eye absorbs light rays form one’s environment, which passes through the lens and is then directed to the back of the eye, where photo-receptor cells picks it and sends it to the brain for analysis and interpretation.
To complete these tasks, structures of the eye are heavily supplied with blood vessels and energy. The importance of the eye is so great that, in some organisms, as much as 20 percent of the body energy is spent on seeing.
Like all complex structures, however, the eye is also predisposed to malfunction. Per World Health Organization report of 2014, as many as 285 million people around the world have a disabling vision, and only 18 percent of these are below age 50. In other words, older people above the age of fifty are 4 times more likely to suffer from blindness compared to the general population.
Below is a detailed look at the three main problems that are likely to affect your eyes at old age and cause them to grow blind:
Oxidation
During the breakdown of food inside of cells - a process referred to as respiration – poisonous substances, collectively known as “reactive oxygen species”, are released. Although the body has a means to neutralize these chemicals, they usually cause a lot of harm before they are finally contained. Apart from neutralization, the body has also to initiate constant repairs and replacement of its damaged components, since cells also respire constantly. At old age, however, without appropriate medical intervention, the repair and neutralization processes often become ineffective and may even halt.
A simple law of energy breakdown in inside the body, implies that the more food a cell breaks down, the more energy it produces, the more damage this causes, mainly due to excessive wastes. This couldn’t be more applicable to the eye, an organ that has one of the highest concentrations of energy-producing organelles.
At a young age, and under normal circumstances, the eye can perfectly manage itself and correct the effects of oxidation. This task, however, becomes harder and harder as one grows old, and therefore a “second hand” is needed to keep things in line. Treatments like Resveratrol and Melatonin can greatly assist in this regard.
Glycation
Glucose and protein are highly necessary components for survival. The former acts mainly as an energy source while the latter is mostly incorporated in cells as part of their structure.
A hitch, however, comes in when glucose combines with protein to form an unstable molecule. This second molecule can easily combine with other forms of protein, in a process called “crosslinking”. The products of crosslinking will accelerate clouding of the eye-lens and cause weakening of capillary walls.
One way to combat the effects of glycation is to keep the eye sufficiently dilated, so that any residue within them can be transported away to the veins and eliminated. Extracts such as Vinprocetine and picamilon have been proven to have the ability to enhance vasodilation, thereby ensuring that the walls of capillaries inside the brain and eyes do not collapse and block movement of contents within them.
Cataracts
In old people cataract mainly comes about due to excessive deposition of waste proteins on the eye-lens. Old age may also affect the ability of lens components to regenerate after they wear out, leading to a cloudy vision. Without intervention, the cataract will worsen and eventually result in blindness.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways through, which cataracts can be corrected, especially at their early stages of development. Surgery is the most popular solution, but, like all other invasive procedures, it carries many risks. In addition, surgery is expensive and unnecessary, and is therefore best avoided, especially when there is a cheaper, more efficient alternative.
It is possible to stop and even reverse cataracts using products such as Can C Plus and Can C Eye Drops. Can C Plus is in tablet form and contains the Carnosine, a strong inhibitor of glycation, as one of its active ingredients. Can C Eye Drops contain, N-acetylcysteine, a powerful antioxidant. Both the oral and eye drop treatments also have a combination of vitamins, zinc, and other components known to tackle cataracts. For maximum effect, the oral and liquid forms should be used together according to directions given by experts.
Macular degeneration
Also known as Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), this is one of the leading causes of visual loss among the aged. The condition comes about when the dead cell parts deposit on the macular- the part of the eye with the highest concentration of photoreceptors. The dead components may come from the retina, from capillaries, or from the macular itself.
By reducing the rate of degeneration of cells in the eyes, one can gradually combat this condition. Peptide bioregulators like Visoluten® influence cells and their parts to regenerate, thereby minimizing deposition of wastes in the eye.
The best way to combat eye damage as you age is by taking a multidimensional approach. This should begin proper diet and exercise, accompanied with supplements, as well as treatments that aim to regenerate and replenish cells.
