Written by Dr Sandra Miranda, ND

In February we celebrate Age-related Macular Degeneration or Low Vision Awareness Month. Macular Degeneration is a common eye condition and a leading cause of impaired vision among people age 50 or 60 and older. It can be devastating to go through it or to see a loved one affected by it. Smokers are at higher risk.

There are great natural ways to turn on your body’s natural eye healing and protection process. But in order to understand these, it is important to note that the root cause of macular degeneration seems to be the same as cardiovascular problems: cholesterol, calcium deposits and systemic inflammation.  So if we can control the inflammation in your body and improve blood flow through your vessels then that will also improve the outcome of your impaired vision.  If not, then you will inevitably have progressive vision loss.

Medical Doctors will say that this is a condition you will have to live with forever.  People are not offered many treatment options besides painful injections and medication that can cause many side effects and that most of the time seems to be pretty ineffective.  You are pretty much just crossing your fingers that this will help you.  I am here to tell you that you need to get rid of that hopeless belief that you are doomed to blindness.

You need to follow an “eye health lifestyle” which is an overall healthy lifestyle that creates a strong body which is capable of healing itself.  Here are the top tips:

• Eat healthy – a diet that includes many colourful vegetables and many green leafy vegetables.  You need a lot of anti-oxidants.  If possible, ask your Naturopathic Doctor to give you weekly glutathione injections.  Glutathione is the strongest anti-oxidant known to humans.  It is normally 10x more potent than any other anti-oxidant but when injected it is 100x more potent.
• Manage and reduce stress – this will increase overall inflammation in your body.
• Exercise – we consider minimal amount of exercise – 30 minutes 5 x week. Yes, you read correctly…it is not a typo… you need a minimum of 150 minutes per week.

Don’t just cross your fingers and hope that your vision problem won’t get worse because if you continue to ignore it, it will get worse to the point that you won’t be able to manage on your own.  Let’s do something about it today!

Miranda Naturopathic Clinic offers glutathione injections. If you are currently suffering with vision loss/macular degeneration or you know of a loved one who is, we would love an introduction.  We offer free “Meet&Greet” meetings to have an opportunity to explain how we can help. Call 905-239-3900.