FitEyes

FitEyes is the largest glaucoma support group on the Internet.

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Research found that the average office worker spends 1,700 hours per year in front of a computer screen. And that doesn't include our addiction to phones and other digital devices. All this screen time has led to an increase in complaints of eye strain, dry eye, headaches, and insomnia. During Workplace Eye Wellness Month in March, FitEyes and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are offering tips to desk workers everywhere whose eyes may need relief from too much screen time. Why does computer use strain the eyes more than reading print material? Mainly because people tend to blink less while using computers. Focusing the eyes on computer screens or other digital displays has been shown to reduce a person's blink rate by a third to a half, which tends to dry out the eyes. We also tend to view digital devices at less than ideal distances or angles. You don't need to buy expensive computer glasses to get relief. In fact, a recent study concluded that blue light filters are no more effective at reducing the symptoms of digital eye strain than a neutral filter. Instead, try altering your environment with these simple tips: Keep your distance: The eyes actually have to work harder to see close up than far away. Try keeping the monitor or screen at arm's length, about 25 inches away. Position the screen so your eye gaze is slightly downward. Reduce glare: Glass screens can produce glare that can aggravate the eye. Try using a matte screen filter. Adjust lighting: If a screen is much brighter than the surrounding light, your eyes have to work harder to see. Adjust your room lighting and try increasing the contrast on your screen to reduce eye strain. Give your eyes a break: Remember to blink and follow the 20-20-20 rule. Take a break every 20 minutes by looking at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Looking into the distance allows your eyes to relax. Keep eyes moist: Keep artificial tears at hand to help lubricate your eyes when they feel dry. Consider using a desktop humidifier. Office buildings have humidity-controlled environments that suck moisture out of the air. In winter, heaters on high can further dry your eyes. Stop using devices before bed: There is evidence that blue light may affect the body's circadian rhythm, our natural wake, and sleep cycle. During the day, blue light wakes us up and stimulates us. So, too much blue light exposure late at night from your phone or other devices may make it harder to get to sleep. Limit screen time one to two hours before bedtime. Use nighttime settings on devices and computers that minimize blue light exposure. "Eyestrain can be frustrating. But it usually isn't serious and goes away once you rest your eyes or take other steps to reduce your eye discomfort," said Dianna L. Seldomridge, M.D., clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "If these tips don't work for you, you may have an underlying eye problem, such as eye muscle imbalance or uncorrected vision, which can cause or worsen computer eyestrain." Those experiencing consistently dry red eyes or eye pain should visit an ophthalmologist, a physician specializing in medical and surgical eye care. Find more information about eye health and how to protect your eyes on the FitEyes website.

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Doing Things Slowly in a Fast World The entire following blog post was initially written as a private email to a friend of mine. I decided to share it here. I grew up doing fast things in a fast way. I raced motorcycles -- and I have always loved anything fast. But I also tried to accomplish the maximum possible number of things each day and I always pushed myself to do things quicker or more efficiently. Then I developed glaucoma. As I have gotten to know myself more intimately (thanks in part to self-tonometry) I have realized that I actually like to take my time. I enjoy doing things in a non-rushed manner. You could even say that I enjoy being slow! (Something I never would have admitted to myself in my days of racing, even in my most private thoughts.) Even today, I still have great admiration for people who do things quickly, as if this is an inherently superior way of being. But I now know that I like to take my time doing things. I still enjoy efficiency. But sometimes it is more efficient to delay the next project's start and finish what was started rather than have to terminate it due to an artificial deadline and then pick it up again at a later time. I like going deep into things (whether discussions, research, or building software) and having the time to do it well. And I have found that sometimes I even enjoy doing something in a completely inefficient manner (saying that still sounds sacrilegious). Sometimes I enjoy just plain being slow! (What have I just said! My gosh!) Actually, slowness is a Kapha tendency. Honoring one's tendencies -- without letting them become imbalanced -- seems to be a valid strategy for healing. Exercise is good for Kapha people in part because it gets us going, prevents us from stagnating and getting taken over by inertia. However, keeping Kapha balanced is a much different thing from trying to deny one's Kapha tendencies and act like a vata or pitta person. When I realized these things about myself, I stopped trying to consult with clients for at least 8 hours per day, for example. I started leaving big gaps between my appointments. This cut way back on my stress and dramatically increased my enjoyment. I think this decision and other related decisions are important to my strategy of protecting my vision. This decision has certainly been a benefit to my overall health and happiness. I think one of the worst things I did was deny my desire to take my time. For most of my life, I forced myself to operate in jobs and in situations that demanded doing things as fast as https://bit.ly/2ZfvdV3 wife is the opposite of me in this regard. She does not like to spend much time on any one thing. She doesn't care about understanding something in detail, and it is virtually impossible for her to do deep research. But it also makes her an ideal fit for many modern workplaces. Bosses see her as someone who gets things done. Indeed, I also greatly admire this quality of hers. (And few bosses really care about doing things any better than she does them anyway, but now I'm getting off-topic.) However, it is clear to both my wife and I that her (lack of depth + quickness) and my (depth + slowness) are complimentary. Neither is inherently better than the other, but modern society tries to force everyone into the mode my wife operates in. Even in areas where depth has traditionally been the most valued trait, CEO's have (for example) compelled employees to follow a model that emphasizes speed above all else, right?A person who doesn't fit well in a corporate culture that demands we do as much as possible as fast as possible, will, at some point, have to face a hard truth. The lack of congruence here is almost guaranteed to result in the development of the disease. Often people never make the connection between dis-ease and disease, but my experience tells me that the correlation is nearly 1.0. [EDIT: a correlation of 1.0 means loosely that the relationship is nearly 100% aligned.) I had to accept the fact that leaving time between clients (so that, if an occasional Thursday session needs to run longer, for example, I can go with that and enjoy it) would reduce my potential and actual income. In the beginning, my old ideas about being productive, successful, etc. dominated the messages from my own body. I endured dis-ease. Eventually, I did listen to my body -- but my first reaction was that I wanted to quit consulting and go back to my previous job. Eventually, I just learned to really listen, to pay attention to what was right in front of me. When I gave up my concepts about "success" I found that I could easily do this consulting and be comfortable. But at the time it was a difficult decision. Choosing to be "less successful" goes against everything society wants us to do/be. Society rewards/honors those who destroy their health to achieve some material gains, right? As Eckhart Tolle points out, when we are on our death beds, we may finally see the folly of this way of living. Tim Ferris calls it the deferred life plan. One can learn mental discipline and psychological techniques for dealing with stress in the workplace. But when one is in a job that is against one's nature, it makes mastering the other eminent psychological skills we've discussed seem trivial. I do not feel that simply adjusting, as challenging as that would be, is sufficient to let me accomplish my goals of protecting my vision and improving my vision. I need to be in a situation where I feel totally right all the time. Where I live with comfort (the total opposite of dis-ease) in my physiology 24 hours a day. No matter what worldly success may be achieved by conforming to society's ideals of success if doing so is against one's nature and takes one out of one's comfort zone, real success and real happiness will never ever be achieved. Nothing but misery, disease, and suffering will come from that strategy. The beauty of self-tonometry is that we can quantify and test these ideas. In my case, I see a near-perfect long term correlation between dis-ease in my body and elevated intraocular pressure. As a postscript, I would like to add that even after I made this decision to honor my enjoyment of working more slowly, I still retained a tendency to want to do things fast and to do more in less time. For example, I have the habit of walking in the evenings. It is good for my eyes. Until more recently, I tried to walk fast. I felt like I needed to get the benefits of physical exercise (even though I was walking primarily for my mind and my eyes). That immediately led to the idea that the more miles I walked in my given hour of time, the better I was doing. Soon I discovered that my walks did not always lower my IOP. Eventually, I tried the idea of walking slowly. (Slowly I started applying the concept of being true to myself to all areas of my life.) At first, walking slowly was actually psychologically painful. I felt that I was wasting my time. Eventually, I learned to let myself do it and I found that I could consistently produce lower IOP by walking slower. My best walking is when I turn off my thinking brain and just walk as slow and as relaxed as I feel like walking. When I give up on the idea of making it into a productive exercise, I get a much lower IOP. Moral of the story: slower is better. ;) Want to learn more? JOIN THE COMMUNITY! https://bit.ly/3ag4Q7L

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I wanted to let the community know that Dr. Robert Ritch gave you all some very nice compliments recently. He recognized the overall degree of intelligence represented among FitEyes members as well as the general good quality of your discussions. I want to echo his thoughts. It is such a pleasure to interact with the FitEyes community. Sometimes I forget how dysfunctional many support groups can become. I have personally been inspired by this book: Why People Don't Heal and How They Can - Caroline Myss https://bit.ly/3jzYfrO I am proud to say that 15 years later, FitEyes remains a very good example of a healthy group that actually does support healing. Our community has avoided falling into the various traps Caroline Myss mentions in her book. We are not afraid to think outside the box. We focus on finding solutions and solving problems. Evidence of this ranges from self-tonometry to micro-drops to medication rotation to new supplements to discussion of cutting edge surgical procedures and medical advances. Many of the topics that empower patients were originally brainstormed here in FitEyes and have now become widely adopted. Of course, we started the whole discussion of self-tonometry, as well as micro-drops. Same for rotating medications. And we were the first patient group to seriously look at important supplements like PEA for eye health. The common path for a glaucoma patient is more and more eye drops, then surgery, and eventually more surgery, with a lot of eye discomfort throughout. We cannot all avoid that path. Indeed, the newer surgical options are a very important advance. But it is very encouraging that a meaningful number of FitEyes members have shown all of us that it is possible for glaucoma to be a positive path, one where "progression" does not simply mean a worsening of glaucoma but instead means that we are progressing in our own growth, progressing in our knowledge, and progressively finding additional ways to empower ourselves. We can sometimes reduce our eye drops and even achieve better IOP management. We can sometimes delay or avoid surgery, not because we are procrastinating, but because we have empowered ourselves through knowledge to get our IOP under better control, hence avoiding the need for surgery. We can always find inner peace in the midst of any challenge life brings our way. Those are just a few examples of the incredibly encouraging things I have seen in this community over the last 15 years. Thank you all for keeping FitEyes so positive and full of actionable information. You all make it fun and rewarding to be a part of FitEyes. -Dave, FitEyes Founder

Why People Don't Heal and How They Can - Caroline Myss

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Your Brain May be Disguising a Blinding Eye Disease FitEyes and the American Academy of Ophthalmology urge people to protect themselves from age-related macular degeneration Even though Marlene Klein was having trouble recognizing familiar faces and began to mistake her fingers for carrots as she chopped vegetables, she had no idea she was slowly losing her vision to a leading cause of blindness, age-related macular degeneration (AMD). That's because her brain was compensating for the developing blind spots in her vision. Marlene is not alone. According to a recent Harris Poll survey, most Americans are unaware that people do not always experience symptoms before losing vision to eye disease. In February, FitEyes and the American Academy of Ophthalmology is urging people to protect themselves from vision loss from AMD by getting a baseline eye exam by age 40. More than 2 million Americans are living with the most advanced forms of AMD, a number that is expected to reach 4.4 million by 2050. It is the leading cause of blindness among white Americans over 40, and it's a leading cause of irreversible vision loss throughout the world. AMD happens when part of the retina called the macula is damaged. It's the part of the eye that delivers sharp, central vision needed to see objects straight ahead. Over time, the loss of central vision can interfere with everyday activities, such as the ability to drive, read, and see faces clearly. Because AMD often has no early warning signs, getting regular comprehensive eye exams from an ophthalmologist is critical. Academy guidelines state that adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease get a baseline eye disease screening at age 40 — the time when early signs of disease and changes in vision may start to occur. From age 40 to 54, get your eyes examined every 2 to 4 years; from 55 to 64, every 1 to 3 years. By age 65, get an exam every one to two years, even in the absence of symptoms or eye problems. If you have risk factors for eye disease, you will need to be examined more frequently. Ophthalmologists – physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care – have more tools than ever before to diagnose AMD earlier, and to treat it better. But these advances cannot help patients whose disease is undiagnosed or patients who are unaware of the seriousness of their disease. "People's lack of understanding about AMD is a real danger to public health," said Rahul N. Khurana, MD, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "As the number of people with AMD is expected to explode in the coming years, it's more important than ever that we prioritize eye health and have our eyes examined regularly." More needs to be done to elevate eye health as a priority. According to that same Harris Poll, while 81 percent of respondents say they do everything they can to protect the health of their eyes, only 11 percent say eye appointments top their list of the most important doctor appointments to keep. But Marlene is not one of them. She is vigilant about keeping appointments with her ophthalmologist. "I keep going back to see my ophthalmologist every month because I want to be able to see my husband's face and to see my three, beautiful daughters," said Marlene. Her commitment has paid off. Even though her initial diagnosis was dire, today she can recognize the faces of her family and friends and cook without nicking her fingers. Learn more about Marlene's story here. https://bit.ly/2LEfPhH JOIN THE COMMUNITY! https://bit.ly/3mOCc1C

What You Don’t Know About AMD Can Blind You

Even though Marlene Klein was having trouble recognizing familiar faces and began to mistake her fingers for carrots as she chopped vegetables, she had no id...

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February is AMD Awareness Month 👀 AMD is age-related macular degeneration. It does not normally result in blindness, but it does involve loss of central vision. Well established lifestyle habits that help prevent AMD include exercise, not smoking, and eating a healthy, low-fat diet. There is good evidence that dietary supplements may slow the progression in those who already have AMD. Whether supplements help prevent it is more controversial, but my opinion (which is not mainstream) is that since lifestyle habits are known to be important in prevention, it is logical that the right dietary supplements should be helpful too. Specific evidence to support my opinion can be found in the following research: Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Retinal Diseaseshttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4516173/ involvement of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and the mitochondrial theory of aging has been observed in age-related macular degeneration. DNA damage and repair in age-related macular degeneration - PubMedhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19559717/ Clinically relevant AMD results from damage to the retinal pigment epithelial cells thought to be mainly caused by oxidative stress. The [oxidative] stress also affects the DNA of retinal pigment epithelial cells, which promotes genome instability in these cells. I am strongly convinced, based on my own experience and years of research, that dietary supplements are very beneficial for both oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Although we tend to focus a lot on glaucoma, in the spirit of AMD Awareness Month, we invite discussion of anything related to AMD (and this is true for any month). In particular, there are many supplements, such as those for oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction (and others), that are highly relevant to both glaucoma and AMD. Both atherosclerosis and high cholesterol are considered important risk factors for AMD too. Lifestyle habits and dietary supplements can positively impact both of these factors. One study to support the AMD connection is: The cholesterol-enriched diet causes age-related macular degeneration-like pathology in rabbit retina - PubMedhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21851605/ Our results suggest that cholesterol-enriched diets cause retinal degeneration that is relevant to AMD. Furthermore, our data suggests high cholesterol levels and subsequent increase in the cholesterol metabolites as potential culprits to AMD. In terms of fat intake, the evidence suggests that saturated fats, trans fats, and omega-6 fatty acids contribute to AMD. Monounsaturated fats (think olive oil) are potentially protective. However, omega-3 fatty acids actually decrease the risk of AMD and are one of the most important supplements to consider for AMD (as well as glaucoma). Here is the result of a study concerned with wet AMD: Dietary total omega-3 intake was inversely associated with neovascular AMD. From: The relationship of dietary lipid intake and age-related macular degeneration in a case-control study: AREDS Report No. 20 - PubMedhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17502507/ Having said all that, my take-away is that every single one of those lifestyle factors will also benefit anyone with glaucoma (or any other eye health concern). If you don't know this already, it is possible to see the fatty streaks and atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries in your retina from a routine fundus photograph. Most ophthalmologists do not attempt to diagnose artery disease from the retina, but some forward thinkers believe this is exactly what we should be doing more of. Several years ago I did see fatty streaks in my retinal arteries on my fundus photos and it shocked me because my diet has always been so healthy, I exercise, I'm not overweight, I don't smoke, etc. However, my nutritional approach at the time was strongly influenced by the research around "healthy fats". This alternative view on fats has almost become mainstream now. Butter is back. Eggs are OK. Lard is even OK. But in spite of the massive publicity, those studies receive, and the volume of such studies, the whole body of that work leaves many questions unanswered. Many of the key studies are very flawed. I reexamined my position, reviewed all the research, not just the research in support of my position, and I ended up changing my position and abandoning my high "healthy fat" diet. I would recommend to any of you to look for fatty streaks in your retinal arteries and then make your own decision about the best diet. I believe cleaning up my retinal arteries is one of the best things I can do for my eyes. Programs like the Pritikin Diet, Ornish Diet, Esselstyn Diet, and McDougall Diet have the best evidence for reversing artery disease. Those are all plant-based low-fat diets. As far as supplements, I believe saffron is one of the most interesting in the context of both glaucoma and AMD. Paradise Herbs Saffr Tone – 60 Vegetarian Capsuleshttps://estore.fiteyes.com/products/paradise-herbs-saffr-tone-capsules One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in Italy found that taking supplements (just 20 milligrams daily) for three months resulted in significant improvements in visual acuity among patients with early AMD compared to a placebo. A follow-up study showed that taking the same saffron supplementation over a longer period (an average period of 14 months) led to improvements in macular function. Here's how one website summarized saffron for AMD: Saffron Protects against Vision Loss - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) threatens all Americans with eventual vision loss. - To date, only advanced age-related macular degeneration has proved amenable to treatment, while prevention efforts have failed to slow the disease in its earliest stages before substantial retinal damage has occurred. - New studies reveal that saffron can enhance retinal responses and sensitivity to light and significantly improve visual acuity in people with early age-related macular degeneration. - Saffron's benefits can be augmented with other proven vision-preserving nutrients, including omega-3 oils. Together, these nutrients appear applicable to all people 50 years and older, offering protection against age-related macular degeneration at its earliest stages. I recently asked Dr. Ritch this question: Do you believe all glaucoma patients should be taking supplements? He said, "Yes, absolutely. Of course, I do." PEAmuimis one of those that I think all glaucoma patients should be taking. Saffron is one that not only should glaucoma patients take, but anyone concerned about AMD should take it too. Saffron, while available as a high-quality supplement with known/standardized potencies, is a widely used spice. Even if you are taking a saffron capsule, you are effectively obtaining these nutrients from food. That's not true of every supplement. But it is true of full-spectrum, natural herbs and spices like this one: Paradise Herbs Saffr Tone – 60 Vegetarian Capsules https://bit.ly/3trVayD

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Learn more about the relationship between fear and elevated intraocular pressure: https://bit.ly/35VgORG

Relationship Between Fear and Elevated Intraocular Pressure

Elevated intraocular pressure can be classified as a condition characterized by resistance and contraction. The intraocular fluid cannot flow from the eye freely because there is resistance in one or both of the main drainage areas. This resistance creates elevated pressure inside the eye.

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🚨 Did you know that nasal conditions affect eye pressure? Learn more https://bit.ly/3oOZtRC

Nasal Conditions Affect Eye Pressure

Sinus conditions affect one's eye pressure. This is particularly important for glaucoma patients. Nasal blockage can have a strong effect on eye pressure and there are subtle effects as well. In addition, I speculate that the nose may offer an effective way for glaucoma patients to improve the long-...

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In the United States, approximately 120,000 are blind from accounting for 9% to 12% of all cases of blindness. 👀 https://bit.ly/3rVKbwv

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On the subject of low-carbohydrate-diet scores and the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma, Dave writes: "This study is far from perfect. I suspect anyone who does not agree with its conclusions will be able to find flaws in the study. I find several myself. However, after taking into account a large body of research on nutrition, I think the conclusion deserves serious consideration. The authors conclude that substituting vegetable sources of fat and protein for animal sources will reduce one's risk of glaucoma and will reduce the risk of initial paracentral visual field loss. The authors initially set out to show the advantages of a lower carbohydrate diet and failed to do so. They conclude, "low-carbohydrate diets were not associated with risk of POAG." I will not go into detail now about why I think their initial assumption was flawed and where they went wrong in their analysis. However, I can say with confidence that they are misguided regarding carbs. You should not substitute a higher consumption of fat and protein from vegetable sources for carbohydrates. You should substitute higher consumption of plants (including as sources for all three macronutrients: proteins, fats, and carbs) for animal sources of macronutrients. (Side note: Meat generally does not supply carbs -- just protein and fat.) Separately, if you are interested in the potential benefits of a ketogenic diet, the author's conclusions should do nothing to discourage that interest in my opinion. While they say, "low-carbohydrate diets were not associated with risk of POAG," that conclusion cannot validly apply to a ketogenic diet, based on their study design. My summary: if you wish to seriously pursue a ketogenic diet (including monitoring your blood ketone levels and maintaining a state of ketosis), this study should not discourage you. For everyone else, the take-away is very clear: substitute a higher consumption of plant food for animal foods. Period." https://bit.ly/2GeXzZn 💭 What are your thoughts?

Low-carbohydrate-diet scores and the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma: data from three US cohorts

To assess the long-term association between low-carbohydrate dietary patterns and incident primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and POAG subtypes defined by highest untreated intraocular pressure (IOP) and by pattern of visual field (VF) loss at diagnosis.We ...

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A member asks: "Can someone recommend your views on the best brand and forms of magnesium and citicoline to take for glaucoma health?" Daves response ⤵️ "I can give you three product recommendations. Because it is a natural calcium channel blocker, magnesium has special importance for glaucoma. Recent research further demonstrates that brain health and normal cognitive function depend upon magnesium for maintaining the density and stability of neuronal synapses. However, most forms of Mg are not easily absorbed into the nervous system. That's why I recommend Magtein. It is a unique form of Mg that readily crosses the blood-brain barrier for utilization in the brain and eyes. I specifically recommend the Now Foods brand of Magtein over others such as Life Extension. For Magtein, the suggested use is 3 capsules daily in divided doses (take 1 capsule during the daytime, preferably in mid-afternoon and take 2 capsules one hour before sleep). The above does provide 144mg of magnesium. Therefore, I also recommend adding another form of magnesium as well. I particularly like magnesium citrate. As a general recommendation, one can add another 400mg to the above intake. For choline, I highly recommend Cognizin Citicoline. See the link below. FitEyes members have reported great results taking up to 6 capsules per day. NOW Supplements Magtein™- 90 Veg Capsules https://bit.ly/3ji1x25 NOW Supplements Magnesium Citrate – 120 Veg Capsules https://bit.ly/2RWzhG0 Healthy Origins Cognizin Citicoline, 250mg – 150 Veg Capsules https://bit.ly/3j3g3dG In Health, -Dave" When visiting the FitEyes store, don't forget to take a look at our omega-3 bundle! https://bit.ly/3440Q65

NOW Supplements Magtein™- 90 Veg Capsules

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral best known for its role in bone and nervous system function. Recent research has demonstrated that it is also critical for normal brain health and normal cognitive function by maintaining the density and stability of neuronal synapses. However, most forms of Mg are not easily abso

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This week in the FitEyes community: "I have been happily married for over 30 years and my husband and I still have an active sex life. After being diagnosed with glaucoma (and now, just recently, with a cataract in one eye), I have become more and more preoccupied with the effects of sex on ocular pressure. It would seem to me that certain "positions" might be worse than others. I have done some extensive searches on the subject in the scientific literature and there is very little published. The one article that I did find was done on one woman with glaucoma, comparing IOP both before and after climax (I assume it was the author's own wife). The research suggested that while IOP may increase during sex, it tended to drop significantly afterward (post-climax). However, since we are all different, research on just one person has its limits! I am wondering if anyone of you who use in-home tonometers has tracked this for yourselves and have any information or experience to offer. Has high IOP and glaucoma caused anyone else to question having sex in general? I have been trying to import a tonometer here in Brazil (where I am currently living), but it has been stuck in customs for months now. This is one aspect of my life that I was hoping to explore with that machine!" Do you have experience with this? Let us know in the comments below! Want the latest eye-health updates delivered to your inbox? Join the conversation! https://bit.ly/3mOCc1C

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A great share this week in the FitEyes Community: Visual Field Artifacts From Face Mask Use Authors wrote that the coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on how glaucoma care is delivered—necessitating reduced clinic flow, social distancing, and use of face coverings by patients and staff. This case highlights the need to be aware of improperly fitted face masks as a cause of artifacts on standard automated perimetry. A 32-year-old female underwent SAP with the 24-2 SITA Fast test of the Humphrey Field Analyzer while wearing an ear-loop surgical face mask. At the end of testing it was noted that the mask had ridden upon the individual's face. Small amounts of condensate were noted on the perimeter https://bit.ly/2Ralc7A demonstrated good reliability indices, but in both eyes, a marked reduction in sensitivity inferiorly was noted. In addition, the Glaucoma Hemifield Test was outside normal limits. As a result, the staff made sure that the upper border of the patient's mask was well-sealed, with the loops secured around the ears and the nasal strip of the mask pinched down. Visual fields were repeated and were found to be normal. The authors wrote that poorly fitting face masks represent a new cause of visual field artifacts that may mimic pathological field defects. Without careful attention during testing, the cause of such artifacts may not be apparent, especially as reliability indices may be normal. The authors suggested that adjustments to the fit of face masks may help prevent fogging or mask slippage, and increase test reliability. SOURCE: Young SL, Smith ML, Tatham AJ. Visual field artifacts from face mask use. J Glaucoma 2020; Jul 14. [Epub ahead of print]. Want the latest eye health insights delivered to your inbox? Join the conversation

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Dave writes: I am often asked about the top supplements I recommend, or "What is the best supplement program from glaucoma." I think it is valuable to have a list of the best or most recommended supplements. I provide suggestions on supplements all the time, and I will be working on a new complete list of recommended supplements. However, before I do that I want to share a perspective on the best supplement program that goes beyond a list of products. I think it will be the less-appreciated, less-liked than a list of hot new products, It's just not the "fun" thought-provoking answer that will stimulate our minds. But it is an important perspective, and I want to share it with you. For this answer, I am going to emphasize three points:balance (and synergy) - this often equates to complexity when it comes to health matters tracking (personalization)a natural foundationThe best supplements are often the most boring. We know that from our recent discussion on vitamin B3. Many of us are electing to use old-fashioned, cheap, boring niacinamide instead of NR or NMN. Some of us are using a combination. But I don't think any of us are ignoring the value of the older, "boring" vitamin B3, even if we also use NR or NMN. In fact, the best supplements are often foods, superfoods, herbs and spices. For example, I eat one brazil nut per day for selenium (although with COVID-19, maybe you could increase that to 2 or 3 per day, but as glaucoma patients we want to be attentive to not overloading selenium). I eat a teaspoon of hemp seed hearts, a teaspoon of freshly ground flax seeds, and a few raw, organic walnut halves daily. These are all superfoods. With these and attention to my diet, I easily maintain a ratio of arachidonic acid (AA) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in plasma of between 1 and 2, which is the ideal range according to the studies I think are best. For example, on a recent OmegaQuant test, my AA:EPA ratio was 1.3 (which can also be written as 1.3:1). The higher the AA:EPA ratio, generally the higher are the levels of cellular inflammation. EPA is anti-inflammatory while arachidonic acid is pro-inflammatory. An AA:EPA ratio of between 1 and 2 is considered to be ideal. This is the ratio found in the Japanese population having the greatest longevity and the lowest incidence of cardiovascular disease. It is not uncommon in the developed world to see an AA:EPA ratio of 20, 30, 40 or even 50. In another health-oriented community I know, the average ratio in a survey was 10. That is within the "good range" according to many labs and far better than average. Getting it down to 2 or below is rare in the USA. Fish oil supplements can help a lot, but the superfoods I mentioned above (hemp, flax, walnuts) are essential in a complete solution. Telling you to achieve an AA:EPA ratio of between 1 and 2 is not as exciting as the news I shared recently about TUDCA, for example. Taking a pill is a lot easier than changing your diet. But the real results come when we also do more than just take a pill. (That said, when I started taking TUDCA, it did feel life-changing for me. But again, even in that case, I also made a number of dietary changes along with starting TUDCA. I almost never look to a supplement as the total solution. I firmly believe all lifestyle factors, such as food, sleep exercise, stress management are essential.) I do not have to emphasize how important it is to maintain low levels of systemic inflammation. That's a huge key to staying healthy today. The higher your inflammation levels, the higher is your risk of developing chronic disease. Chronic systemic inflammation is a problem in everything from CFS-ME to heart disease to diabetes. It is most definitely a problem in glaucoma. The AA:EPA ratio is an important biomarker for achieving your goal of low systemic inflammation. Another thing I do, largely through diet (although again, fish oil supplements help) is to keep a very favorable omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Mine was recently 2.1. It is quite common to see this value as high as 10, 15 or even 20. What are my main points? One of my main points is that the best overall supplement program is about balance. It is not just about the hottest products on the market right now. It is not just about taking high doses of single ingredients. I am now taking 3200 mg of PEAmium per day, and I will probably up my B3 to 3000 mg/day, so I am not against this at all. But I don't want us to lose sight of the biggest picture when it comes to supplements. There is no one single supplement at will "cure" glaucoma. In my experience, when experts come up with formulas for a supplement and they want to get everything into a single product, reality forces compromises. I know of a famous glaucoma formula that has only 250 mg of B3. Obviously, that is not enough. We want at least 500mg and probably at least 3000 mg. But with this formula, if you double the dose and achieve the model intake of 500 mg of B3, you will be getting far too much of at least one other ingredient in the formula. This is very common with formulas. It becomes nearly impossible to achieve an ideal balance in a single product. Unfortunately, this means that our ideal and balanced supplement program is going to consist of a sizable number of products, and that we are going to have to perfect our combination of products (which leads to my next point). Another point is that we have to pay attention to the boring details. This requires tracking. I like to use lab tests and home tests for quantitative feedback, such as the numbers I gave above. I like to stay near my optimal targets for nutrients and biomarkers. I also see a lot of value in tracking your symptoms along with your diet and other activities. Through tracking (although it can be tedious and boring), you can accomplish the rewarding work of perfecting your own dietary supplement program. This is how you achieve balance and this is ultimately how you achieve improved and optimal health. All of you know the great emphasis FitEyes has always placed on home IOP monitoring. I believe every glaucoma patient would benefit from doing this. How many times have you heard a top athlete say, "its all about the fundamentals." It is. Even when you are the world's best athlete, you spend most of your time paying attention to the fundamentals, to your foundation. to the basics -- the same foundational skills that are taught to beginners. By paying attention to the details over time, you get much better at executing. And while new discoveries and advanced technologies may give you that fraction of a percent edge, the bulk of what makes the difference -- and this applies whether you are a top athlete or an individuals seeking better vision and overall health -- is in your attention to the fundamentals. To continue the analogy, the same way an athlete keeps a training journal and a coach keeps data on the individual players, to achieve your goals and to arrive at your own "best supplement program" you have to carefully track your results, including your IOP. You actually have to write stuff down (ideally in the computer or by using the FitEyes Insight software, not on paper). Another of my main points is that the best supplement program is one that includes a very wide range of nutrients. I do use (and recommend) a fair share of nutraceuticals and supplements that contain one single ingredient. However, the foundation of the "best" supplement program needs to be built on superfoods, full spectrum herbs and natural supplements that each contain hundreds or thousands of naturally occurring nutrients. While I have nothing against taking an EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) supplement (and I do take one), when I also get omega-3's from hemp seeds, flax seeds and walnuts, I am getting fiber, minerals, omega-3's and hundreds if not thousands of additional nutrients. Some of these nutrients have not even been identified by science yet. New supplements will come out in the future based on new discoveries. However, if our supplement program is built on a foundation of superfoods, we don't have to wait for these hidden nutrients to be discovered and packaged into a supplement. We are already getting all those nutrients. Here's an example. I recommend turmeric. A few years ago curcumin was the "the molecule of the year" in medical research and a very hot selling product. I stuck with recommending full spectrum turmeric. The FitEyes store missed most of those sales. But I stuck to my principles. Later, scientists came to recognize that curcumin is not the only important ingredient in turmeric. The multiple turmerones in turmeric are now recognized to have important benefits and some have even called the turmerones "curcumin's more powerful cousins." So why were we isolating curcumin out of turmeric and throwing away lots of other valuable and beneficial compounds? (In some cases, this strategy makes sense because we need to remove components of a plant that could be toxic.) However, turmeric is a very safe spice with a long history of human use and I do not believe it makes sense to take curcumin without at least having a foundation of full spectrum turmeric. We can take a top quality turmeric (or even add it as a spice to our food) and get all the beneficial compounds science recognizes today while also getting anything else science may discover in turmeric in the years ahead. In summary:balance - health is complex. Science does not understand everything about human biochemistry. There may be more that is unknown than known. No single chemical, whether pharmaceutical, nutraceutical or vitamin, is likely to be the "one best solution". Medicine has been trying to find a "cure" for glaucoma for more than 100 years. Glaucoma is complex. The solution for a complex chronic condition like glaucoma is almost never just one thing. Often, even surgery which achieves the ideal IOP value is not enough. My experience is that the "best supplement program" for any chronic condition is a complex combination of supplements that addresses a number of factors, and by addressing all of this together in a synergistic way, we create the balance that leads to great health. I do not recommend single all-in-one products because they are always too limited to achieve the personal balance we need. tracking - keeping written records and using them to refine your nutrition and supplement program over time is essential to creating your personal best supplement program.a natural foundation: superfoods, good nutrition, full spectrum, natural supplements often get less attention than the patented nutraceutical, but they must be your https://bit.ly/322s5g1 "best" list of supplements for glaucoma includes both natural supplements and nutraceuticals. Both have a place, but the foundation needs to be natural -- foods, superfoods, full spectrum herbs, spices, etc. This is one reason why we carry both Nordic Naturals (which are pharmaceutical grade fish oils) and Green Pasture Fermented fish oils (which are pre-industrialized foods that are more natural than any other fish oil in the world). I use Green Pasture as my foundation, and I take Nordic Naturals EPA to fine tune (or balance) my program and to achieve my target on the AA:EPA ratio biomarker. (I also take Pro DHA Eye.) https://bit.ly/34gk3Ts

Nordic Naturals

FitEyes eStore is a premium selection of the best nutritional supplements, vitamins and powerfoods for vision, eye health, glaucoma, nutrition and well-being.

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"Like adding oil to a car engine to allow it to run smoothly, vitamin B3 could be used to protect cells from damage and help those that have been affected by glaucoma work better," says Dr. Flora Hui, from the Center for Eye Research Australia. In July 2020 the following study was published suggesting that Vitamin B3 shows promise for glaucoma patients. What are your thoughts? 💭 Join the conversation! https://bit.ly/fiteyes-community https://bit.ly/3gSc2rx

Vitamin B3 shows promise for glaucoma patients in clinical trial

A world-first clinical trial led by the Center for Eye Research Australia has shown that vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) could play an important role in protecting against nerve cell damage that leads to blindness in glaucoma.

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids Improve Vision In Glaucoma: follow up

We know from past discussions that the goal is to achieve a more favorable omega3 to omega6 ratio by increasing dietary consumption of omega-3's and decreasing unhealthy omega-6's. (The preceding is a general statement, as there are exceptions such as GLA which is a "healthy" omega-6).

In addition to the AA/EPA blood test mentioned, there is another omega-3 to omega-6 ratio blood test available. I'm working on making these available through FitEyes.

I mentioned recently that I achieved a remarkable 1 to 1 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 by tweaking the ingredients in my salad. (I have since added sunflower seeds, a good source of vitamin E, which bumped me a bit off the exact 1:1 ratio, but it is still very close and well inside the ideal range of 1:4.)

The obvious next question is, what are the very best omega-3 sources? How much should we take?

In this study, "Patients received daily oral supplements of 5 g to 8 g of EPA and DHA (in a 2:1 ratio). The mean dose was 7.0 g/day in total. They also received oral polyphenols to act as antioxidants."

This would be 4667mg of EPA and 2333 mg of DHA per day on average. That is a lot!

However, the authors in this study have a bias toward pharmaceutical grade EPA and DHA. (See disclosures.) This type of  product is more like a drug than a food. There is nothing wrong with that, I suppose, if it can reverse glaucomatous neurodegeneration without serious side effects. If you do not care about the natural vs pharmaceutical debate or if your state of vision is such that the potential long term risk isn't as much of a concern for you, then you can look for the highest potency EPA and DHA supplement you can find. Here is one good choice: Mega EPA/DHA 120 softgels by Life Extension – FitEyes eStore

Regarding the antioxidants used in the study, the authors do not specify the type of polyphenols they used, but excellent sources include products like these and many more that we offer: Green Tea / Yellow Mountain 60 caps by Paradise Herbs – FitEyes eStore Grape Seed Extract / ActiVin 30 caps by Paradise Herbs – FitEyes eStore

Pomegranate Organic 250 mg 60 caps by Paradise Herbs – FitEyes eStore

If you are taking any of my recommended supplement programs, you are getting enough polyphenols already.

It is my belief that a comprehensive and natural program of full spectrum supplements and superfoods will outperform the results of this particular study! I think we can not only get better results, we can do it more naturally and safer. But it might require some thinking and experimenting.

Many natural-oriented physicians argue that these highly refined and concentrated EPA and DHA products (such as used in this study) are harmful in the long run. HealthForce founder Dr. Jameth Sheridan (D.H.M - Doctor of Holistic Medicine) says, "Fish oils are popular, but have serious dark sides: potential toxicity of the pre-formed omega-3 fatty acid called EPA, (which acts more like a drug), including increased risk of bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke, nutrient deficiencies and toxicities, and the presence of metabolic and environmental poisons!"

Many expert believe we should consume omega-3's primarily from plant sources and from a limited amount of healthy fish (assuming you are not vegan). Mainstream scientific studies are already starting to show this dark side of typical refined and processed fish oils. (We have discussed the dangers of fish oils on FitEyes several times.)

My preferred approach to omega-3 supplementation is to go with the most natural program possible. I have decades of prior experience using nutraceutical supplements (like pharmaceutical grade EPA and DHA) and as I look back on that, it was not the wisest approach. I have learned from the past and I am much more confident in a natural program. And that brings us back to the question: what are the best sources of omega-3's we can take in order to replicate the benefits of this study?

I'm getting 3600 mg of omega-3 from my salad alone (as it is rich in flax, hemp and chia seeds).

Below is a list of my current favorite omega-3 supplements / superfoods. The flax, chia and hemp seeds are the most natural choices and I highly recommend them to almost everyone. But I do not think they are enough to help us replicate the results of this study. That brings me to krill oil and fermented cod liver oil. Krill oil may be the single most powerful safe and natural supplement. Krill oil contains EPA and DHA in nearly the 2:1 ratio used in the study (1.82:1), and it is naturally occurring. Plus the omega-3's in krill oil are more bioavailable than those in fish oil, making the required dosage lower. Furthermore, krill oil is naturally high in antioxidants (including carotenoids such as astaxanthin). People like Dr. Jameth Sheridan may not approve of krill oil, but I am looking for the ideal balance that is safe enough yet powerful enough to help us get the vision benefits I know are possible.

And krill oil is clearly superior to regular fish oil. I began suspecting this in 2007 with this article: Krill Oil Benefits for Vision - Better Than Fish Oil? | FitEyes.com http://www.fiteyes.com/Krill-Oil-Benefits-for-Vision-Better-Than-Fish-Oil

Today, there is no doubt that krill oil is the superior choice. Fish oil is low in anti-oxidants and it is almost always contaminated with toxins and/or so highly processed (at high heat via molecular distillation) that it no longer resembles the natural product. Furthermore most fish oil is highly perishable -- or even already rancid.

So here are my favorite omega-3 supplements and superfoods.

Friendly Fats Sprouted Flax and Chia 300 grams powder by HealthForce – FitEyes eStore http://estore.fiteyes.com/collections/healthforce/products/friendly-fats-sprouted-flax-and-chia-300-grams-powder-by-healthforce Chlorella Manna tabs or powder by HealthForce – FitEyes eStore http://estore.fiteyes.com/collections/healthforce/products/chlorella-manna-1500-tabs-by-healthforce http://estore.fiteyes.com/collections/healthforce/products/chlorella-manna-100-grams-powder-by-healthforce Organic Hemp Seed Hearts 8 oz. by NOW Foods – FitEyes eStore http://estore.fiteyes.com/products/organic-hemp-seed-hearts-8-oz-by-now-foods Golden Flax Seeds Certified Organic 16 oz. by NOW Foods – FitEyes eStore http://estore.fiteyes.com/products/golden-flax-seeds-certified-organic-16-oz-by-now-foods Golden Flax Seeds Certified Organic 2 lbs. by NOW Foods – FitEyes eStore http://estore.fiteyes.com/products/golden-flax-seeds-certified-organic-2-lbs-by-now-foods Chia Seed (Black) Organic 12 oz. by NOW Foods – FitEyes eStore http://estore.fiteyes.com/products/chia-seed-black-organic-12-oz-by-now-foods Blue Ice Unheated Cod Liver Oil, Cinnamon Tingle 8 oz. by Green Pastur – FitEyes eStore (other flavors available; capsules too) http://estore.fiteyes.com/collections/best_health_vision_products/products/green-pastures-cod-liver-oil-raw-cinnamon-tingle-8-oz Krill Oil 1000 mg 120 softgels by Healthy Origins – FitEyes eStore http://estore.fiteyes.com/collections/healthy-origins/products/krill-oil-1000-mg-120-softgels-by-healthy-origins I'm going to increase my intake after reading this study. I think I will try the following amounts daily, but I would appreciate hearing anyone's thoughts

Friendly Fats - Two level tablespoons

Chlorella - as much as possible!

Hemp Seeds - 1 TBSP

Flax Seeds - 2 to 3 TBSP ground meal

Chia Seed - 1 TBSP

Blue Ice Unheated Cod Liver Oil - 1 or 2 full syringes

Krill Oil 1000 mg by Healthy Origins - 4 capsules

I would appreciate hearing other thoughts.

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Light exposure from ophthalmology exams: An analysis of potential hazards

Another thing that has me worried is the bright lights I get subjected to in the form of ophthalmoscopy, slit lamp exam, and fundus photos. Those lights can be painful when they are too bright (which they usually are). I read that bright lights can cause apoptosis (cell death spiral) of the ganglion cells. Of course every doctor I ask says that the lights are not bright enough to cause apoptosis.

  It would certainly be ironic if, in the course of following our disease, we are subjecting our eyes to proceedures that raise our presures and cause our ganglion cell layer to self destruct! But my gut tells me that to some degree, that is what is I am doing. ~ Bob

FitEyes member Molly C, with her excellent Internet searching skills, found a relevant paper: Retinal light exposure from ophthalmoscopes, slit lamps, and overhead surgical lamps An analysis of potential hazards (PDF attached to blog post)

This paper confirms that there is a reason to be concerned about the things Bob mentioned above. Here is the abstract:

The projected beam radiance of several common ophthalmologic instruments was measured, and potential hazard to the patient from light exposure was analyzed with reference to safety standards for coherent light.

The indirect ophthalmoscopes tested appear to be "safe" under moderate voltage settings, provided exposure is reasonably brief.

Slit-lamp biomicroscopy of the fundus, however, merits caution. It produces a three-times-higher retinal irradiance than the indirect ophthalmoscope.

Overhead surgical lamps produce a retinal irradiance about one-third that of the indirect ophthalmoscope (for clear media and dilated pupil). This could, be dangerous, since an operation may take long enough to exceed the maximal permissible exposure by several orders of magnitude.

Major design changes are indicated for surgical illuminators to extend the "safe time" to the 40 to 60 min range.

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Will cholesterol-lowering drugs prevent glaucoma progression?

I received this question today:

Hi David, I would like to ask a question about a new medication that my glaucoma specialist has recommended to my GP. The glaucoma specialist has recommended that I start taking Lipitor, the old cholesterol drug. My glaucoma specialist said there is a 30% to 40% chance Lipitor will prevent further progression of my glaucoma. Is it a common thing for people to take Lipitor, as I'm not keen at all to start taking a statin if i don't have to. And i don't know any other people with elevated eye pressure or glaucoma. For background, I'm also taking Travatan eye drops in the evening.  I have have no damage yet from slightly elevated pressure in my eyes and I'm a 44yr old insulin-dependant diabetic. My cholesterol is in the acceptable range also.  Id rather go with more natural ways, if possible. Would you have any opinion?

We have had some discussion on this topic recently, but nobody previously asked about natural alternatives to statins that might provide the same benefits for glaucoma.

Tom previously asked, "My question now becomes: was the low IOP statin-related, and the elevated IOP due to stopping the statin? Or something entirely different?" Bailey replied: I am aware of this and other studies also showing possible reduction of glaucoma risk in statin users. Some recent studies, however, have been leaning towards any IOP effect as probable concomitant usage of blood pressure lowering medications (usually alpha blockers) in many statin users.  Interesting that in this study, he attributes statin use to an IOP effect within 90 minutes. I wonder if we have any tonometer users who have seen evidence of an IOP effect since beginning statin only therapy? Tom also shared this link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060510000805.htm

The cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins may improve circulation in the eye, potentially reducing the risk of certain eye diseases, according to a study in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

And consider this quote:

“It’s well-established that statins can lower the risk of [CVD],” says Robert Rountree, MD, holistic physician and Delicious Living’s medical editor. But new research, he says, “indicates the primary mechanism by which statins lower risk is not by reducing LDL cholesterol but instead by decreasing systemic inflammation.”

So if the mechanism is any or all of increased circulation to the eye, reduced IOP or reduced systemic inflammation, we can accomplish all those things through a natural dietary supplement program similar this one: A Comprehensive Program of Glaucoma Dietary Supplements | FitEyes.com

Ken replied with the following post which has a very different perspective:

The following excerpt from an essay by Malcom Kendrick, M.D.* addresses the CVD/Cholesterol Hypothesis and the subject of bias (which David recently raised), that good old cognitive filter which enables us to avoid cognitive dissonance, i.e., keeps us from learning anything that might undermine our preconceptions, particularly if it threatens our income:

“To give another example of facts that aren't true. Namely, that saturated fat intake raises cholesterol levels. The Framingham study, the longest lasting, most respected study into the causes of heart disease (started in 1948) reported that ‘In Framingham, Massachusetts, the more saturated fat one ate, the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories one ate, the lower people's serum cholesterol.' Dr William Castelli - director of the Framingham study at the time - 1992.

”What was the effect of such a startling finding. Absolutely nothing at all. Complete silence. To quote Winston Churchill: 'Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.' How true. “More recently, a major eight-year long interventional study on fifty thousand women (the Woman's Health Intervention) found that a 25% reduction in saturated fat intake had no effect on LDL ‘bad cholesterol' levels, or heart disease rates. (One of many studies that have shown the same thing). “Commenting on this study, the director of the National Heart Lung and blood Institute stated that: ‘The results of this study do not change established recommendations. Women should work with their doctors to reduce their risks for heart disease including following a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol.'  Never let the facts get in the way of a good recommendation, I say. “The cholesterol hypothesis is, perhaps, the greatest ever example of a medical hypothesis that has become too powerful to die. Too many vested interests are intertwined with it. World famous experts would look incredibly stupid if the hypothesis were to be accepted to be wrong. An entire industry of cholesterol lowering would fall apart. Hundreds of billions of dollars of statin sales are at stake. Worse, much worse, the medical profession would end up with a few million eggs on its face. Perish the thought. Much better that millions die, surely. (emphasis added)

“In fact, I have come to realize that there is, literally, no evidence that can dent the cholesterol hypothesis. Believe me, I have had a good go. For example, here is another quote from the Framingham study on the impact of cholesterol levels themselves. There is a direct association between falling cholesterol levels over the first 14 years of the study and mortality over the following 18 years. 11% overall and 14% CVD death rate increase per 1mg/dl per year drop in cholesterol levels

“In short, once your cholesterol level starts to fall, you are much more likely to die from heart disease. A 150% increase in relative risk for every 10 % fall, approximately. Add this to another very big study of the elderly, published in the Lancet: Our data accord with previous findings of increased mortality in elderly people with low serum cholesterol levels, and show that long term persistence of low cholesterol concentration actually increases the risk of death. Thus, the earlier that patients start to have lower cholesterol concentrations the greater the risk of death. (emphasis added)

“The effect of this study on the cardiovascular research community was.....as you would expect...nothing at all. A deafening silence. Cholesterol continues to be demonised as the terror, killer substance. Statins are pushed more and more widely to lower cholesterol levels even further. When I tell people that the higher their cholesterol level they longer they will live, they look at me in a way that suggests they believe that my medication is clearly not working.

“Now that I know that cholesterol has nothing to do with heart disease, and that lowering it with statins is a complete waste of time, I find myself in the position of the little boy who points out that the Emperor has no Clothes. With one rather important difference. “Even though the ‘experts' have been made aware of it many times, they care not that this particular emperor has no clothes. Or, to be more accurate, they cannot and will not allow themselves to accept that it might be true. For to accept this would be far too humiliating for the great and the good. Which, I suppose, is why people become so enraged when anyone dares to point out the truth. (emphasis added)

“It is a slight comfort to know that in fifty years (hopefully many fewer than this), people will look back at cholesterol lowering and say ‘You did WHAT?' Were you MAD? Don't you know that cholesterol is absolutely vital for human health? Didn't you realise that blocking cholesterol synthesis would directly lead to nerve cell damage, muscle destruction, liver obliteration and cancer?

“ ‘My God, you presided over the greatest iatrogenic medical disaster ever.' I, of course, will probably be dead by then. But at least I will not have poisoned my metabolism with statins.”

*Malcolm Kendrick, (MbChB MRCGP) M.D. Dr. Kendrick has worked in family practice for almost twenty years. He has specialized in heart disease and set up the on-line educational website for the European Society of Cardiology. He is a peer-reviewer for the British Medical Journal, and a member of the International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics (THINCS), as he does not believe that a high cholesterol level causes heart disease. http://www.spacedoc.com/malcolm_kendrick_cholesterol