Marc Grossman, OD, LAc, is a leading holistic optometrist in practice since 1980. Internationally respected, he has taught many hundreds of practitioners and physicians in his methods. An influential pioneer, practitioner and teacher in natural and integrative eye care, Grossman is in the forefront of the holistic vision care movement and the mind-body connection. His respected Naturaleyecare.com website is the world’s largest holistic eye care website followed by many millions. Dr. Grossman has offices in Somers and New Paltz, NY. He is co-author of Natural Eye Care, Your Guide to Healthy Vision and Healing, an 800-page, landmark guide written to empower readers of every age to support and preserve healthy vision through the health of the whole body. Natural Eye Care includes in-depth holistic, dietary and lifestyle strategies and recommendations based on peer-reviewed studies and Dr. Grossman’s 40 years of research and experience. He is also author of the international bestseller Magic Eye Beyond 3D: Improve Your Vision and Greater Vision – A Comprehensive Program for Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Clarity.

Question: What inspired you to write Natural Eye Care: Your Guide to Healthy Vision & Healing?

Answer: First of all, eye care in this country is symptom oriented. In our training as eye doctors we are taught that once something goes wrong with your eyes, there is not much that can be done. We are taught hardly anything about prevention of problems.

People believe that eye problems are just a natural consequence of the aging process, but I have, along with many colleagues, had frequent success with patients in preventing their eyes from worsening, as well as success with improving the condition of patients eyes in such cases as macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma.

I’m interested in educating the public in an aggressive prevention program. Many studies, such as those out of Harvard University, have already shown the benefits of a nutritional-based prevention program for eye diseases, such as macular degeneration. I believe many eye diseases can be prevented with proper nutrition and lifestyle changes early on. This is what inspired me to write the book.

Question: Do you recommend dietary supplements? If so, which ones and why?

Answer: Antioxidants that have been shown to slow or even reverse the progress of macular degeneration are found in blueberries, artichokes and pecans. Important antioxidants include: the carotenoids, astaxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as nutrients and enzymes that behave like or support antioxidant functioning—glutathione, superoxide dismutase, CoQ10 and alpha lipoic acid.

1. The carotenoids: Lutein and zeaxanthin are pigments found in fruits and vegetables, and in high concentration in the macula of the human eye, where they reduce the risk of light-induced oxidation damage that could lead to macular degeneration and glaucoma. Foods rich in these nutrients are green leafy vegetables, especially kale and spinach, collards and turnip greens.

2. Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to reduce the risk of both dry eye and macular degeneration. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in cold water fish such as sardines, herring, salmon and tuna and to a lesser degree in dark green leafy vegetables, flax seeds, walnuts and flaxseed oil.

3. Vitamin A as an antioxidant plays an important role in immune function, helping the surface of the eye to be an effective barrier to bacteria and viruses. It may help or slow the progression of dry macular degeneration. Beta carotene (vitamin A) is found in carrots, sweet potatoes and cantaloupe.

4. Vitamin C helps the body form connective tissue, such as collagen, which is found in the cornea of the eye. Studies are showing that vitamin C may help prevent the formation of cataracts and vision loss from macular degeneration. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits and many vegetables, such as bell peppers.

5. Zinc may help against macular degeneration and night blindness by helping to absorb vitamin A and helping enzymes fight free radicals. Zinc is found in oysters, seafood, eggs, black-eyed peas and wheat germ.

6. Magnesium helps relax the muscles that control circulation of vitreous gel in the eye; it is found in almonds, wheat germ and green leafy vegetables.

7. Taurine is found in high concentration in the retina photoreceptor rods, 10 times greater than any other part of the body. It plays an important role in night vision, is essential to photoreceptor integrity, acts as an antioxidant to protect cells, helps to move nutrients across cell membrane barriers, helps remove debris and toxins from the retina.

8. Glutathione: Research studies link glutathione with the prevention of cataracts, glaucoma, retinal disease and diabetic blindness.

9. Bilberry helps improve the health of the eyes and protects against macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma.

10. Astaxanthin: Research shows it to help for cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma and computer eye strain.

www.naturaleyecare.com; www.drgrossman2020.com