Eye Didn't Know!

Homeopathy Relief for Cataracts?

Did you know? I visited the drugstore today and took a stroll down the aisle for eye products. In between the myriad of useful eyedrops for dry eye, I noted a whole row of drops purporting to be homeopathic products. One in particular, claimed to relieve the symptoms of cataract!

Among its claims were: to "stimulate the eye's natural ability to relieve symptoms of cataract." This is odd, because the eye has NO natural ability to relieve symptoms of cataract.

Furthermore, it claims that:

"The active ingredients in this medication temporarily relieve symptoms associated with cataracts and aging eyes, such as:
Cloudy/blurry vision
Glare and halos around light, especially at night
Gray/faded colors."

Wow. If this were true, then eye surgeons would quickly be out of a job.

There is simply no conceivable mechanism for these claims to be true, and there are no studies which show these claims to be true.

What are the "active ingredients" in this product? This is hard to know, since homeopathy is based on a 200 year old, discredited theory that "microdilutions" of ingredients produce therapeutic effects. But the ingredients are said to include dilutions of Cineraria Maritima and Conium Maculatum.

Cineraria Maritima is a white, dusty perrenial plant. I have found no evidence that an extract of this plant, at full concentration (as recommended by some practitioners), or diluted nearly beyond detection (as advocated by homeopaths) can affect the symptoms of a cataract.

Conium Maculatum is otherwise known as Poison Hemlock! Let's just say that it's a good thing that the hemlock is diluted.

(poison hemlock, courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

A cataract is the natural clouding of the lens within the eye which occurs with aging. It is thought that excess light may contribute to cataract progression. Trauma and certain medications like steroids can accelerate cataract formation.

If a cataract is not causing decreased vision or impairing activities, one may do nothing. When the cataract causes symptoms, fortunately, cataract surgery is a wonderfully successful surgery in the hands of a skilled surgeon. There are currently no compounds which have been shown to delay the progression of cataracts, though many are investigating this. See my previous post for one such attempt.

Do yourself a favor, and don't waste your money on "homeopathic" treatment for cataracts. Do wear a hat and sunglasses when outdoors.

If you know of any evidence of benefit for these compounds, please let me know. (I was unable to find any clinical studies in the medical literature).

Did you also know? For a review of homeopathy, please see this excellent article.

(image of an advanced cataract, courtesy of the ascrs image library)

Antioxidants and early Macular Degeneration

Did you know? The makers of antioxidants, including the ones used in the AREDS study, often make vague claims that these vitamins "promote eye health" and thus imply that they are needed by the general population. Yet there is NO evidence that this is so. A new report in the British Medical Journal analyzed the results of nine prospective studies involving nearly 150,000 subjects. They found no evidence that antioxidant supplement therapy decreased the incidence of early macular degeneration. Different studies looked at different substances, but included the following: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and lycopene.

Did you also know? The original AREDS study (Age Related Eye Disease Study) showed that a combination of antioxidants and zinc reduced the progression of moderate macular degeneration to advanced vision loss. This is a specific indication for which ophthalmologists prescribe these supplements. This does not equal "promoting eye health" by encouraging the general population to use these supplements.

What were they thinking?

Did you know? I only watch one television show from network television, but it shall remain nameless here, so as not to spoil the plot of a recent episode. The reason I write, is that the climax of this episode occurs when a character reveals that she has been cured of her retinitis pigmentosa by a corneal transplant! If this were true, it would be a first.

The eye is like a camera. The retina is like film in a camera (okay, like the digital sensor), lining the BACK of the eye. In retinitis pigmentosa, the retina deteriorates. There is no known cure for retinitis pigmentosa at this time.

The cornea is the clear window on the FRONT of the eye. There are many conditions which lead to a damaged cornea (such as getting lye splashed into your eyes, or from keratoconus, which causes the cornea to be misshaped). A cornea transplant will cure these conditions, but it is not related in any way to the retina!

In this same show last season, its title character had a noxious substance thrown into his eyes. A doctor peers into his eyes and declares that his optic nerves had been damaged! This is also ludicrous, as the optic nerve enters the rear of the eye, whereas if a dangerous substance splashes into the eye (as opposed to forceful trauma) one may worry about damage to the cornea.

Did you also know? This same network produces the medical show, House, with its complex and ingenious medical story lines. Surely they can afford to have their medical consultants (or maybe House!) take a few minutes to proofread the other shows in their lineup.

(image from NIH)