Alpha Lipoic Acid

Alpha Lipoic Acid for Cataracts
During the last two years I have been testing the effects of nutrients on my glaucoma and cataracts (not for my myopia and accommodation which have improved recently after I asked for weaker lenses and asigmatism ? but I don't know if nutrients made a difference). For me the cataracts went away in less than a year (both eyes; first evidence noticed in a week) with 100 mg of alpha lipoic acid per day. Last month (after having started pine bark extract [200 mg] for my tinnitus) the doc said I've got new ones ? so I doubled the ALA dose.
After the cataracts had gone away The first time the glaucoma (by retinal, optic nerve, and visual field evidence) went away after I had started 1 g fish oil (w/ EPA and DHA omega-3s).
For others the lack of those nutrients may not seem to be the problem, and it's worth knowing that I was already taking extra vitamin C (1 g for colds resistance), D (2000 IU for bone health, etc. ), Calcium (500 mg with Mg for osteoporosis), E (400 IU for benefits including eye health), and iodine-iodide (Lugol's soln. 12 mg for benefits including eye health). That's on top of a Paleo diet for ten years that is mostly raw, organic vegetables, sprouts, fruits, nuts, fish (wild salmon) And fowl. At age 66 now, my BP has been about 110/70 at 55, blood chem perfect, And I've had to continue prescription drops for my elevated IOP for lack of a natural alternative.
Astaxanthin

Don't even think of trying dmso in concentrated form for cataracts! it burns. Dmso dehydrates the skin in seconds this is why straight dmso stings like crazy when applied to skin. Dmso must be diluted at least 50 percent before use. All dmso is 99.85% pure. The stuff from the feed store is just fine. Same purity. A better way to take the dmso might be to drink it or apply it topically to your skin. Dmso travels around going to where it is needed quite easily.
As for cataracts and eye health you are not getting enough antioxidants. The corneas have a blood filtering mechanism called the blood corneal barrier. It prevents impurities found in the blood from entering the eyes and clouding them. molecules of most antioxidants are too big to flow through the blood corneal barrier. On the other hand the eyes need nutrients and especially oxygen which are impaired by blood conditions like rouleaux. This is a fancy word for thick sticky blood cells all clumped together.
See darkfield microscopy / rouleaux /serrapeptase youtube.
The capillaries are so tiny that blood cells must pass single file. When blood cells are stuck together like glue they can not pass through the capillaries. Now think about that a minute. If your blood cells are all stuck together how can they oxygenate various parts of the body like the corneas? they cant pass through and deliver oxygen at a cellular level. Lacking adequate blood flow through the corneas means chronic low oxygen levels in the corneas. this brings on free radical damage then the corneas start clouding up with cellular debris. Reverse all that by changing your diet to lots of fresh raw vegetables full of antioxidants, lots of super oxide dismutase a free radical scavenger, n-acetyl cysteine and the most powerful antioxidant known for eye health astaxanthin. This stuff is very good for the eyes. I highly urge you to do it every day. Astaxanthin has a very small molecule size meaning it slips right through the blood corneal barrier with ease. Astaxanthin is 50 times more powerful than vitamin c for eye health. You are very deficent on vitamin c by the way!!! Now if you are a smoker then that is where 99.9 percent of your problem originates. Cigarette smoke causes the capillaries to constrict and even further limiting the amount of oxygen your corneas are receiving to practically nothing.
So what else unsticks blood cells and cleans the blood of unwanted debris? Serrapeptase. It scrubs blood cells and cleans out the trash found floating in the blood steam. This means having cleaner blood and better oxygen delivery. Sound like a good idea? See a naturopath if you can, your eyes are very important. To have health in one part of the body you must bring health to all parts of the body. Drink lots of carrot juice! see ya
Carnosine

I bought Can-C drops, and have been using them for a year now with no improvement. I guess I am just in that percentage of people it doesn't work on. Maybe my cataract was just too advanced. You are supposed to see improvement in four to six months.
Somewhere, Europe
09/07/2020
Kathy, shmearing a drop of good Castor Oil on the eyelids before bed, did help my cataracts get smaller. It took several months.

Dear friends, there is a tried and true method for dogs and I am hoping it can be replicated more cheaply. It is developed in the Soviet Union and is available online for $140 or so a tiny bottle-but it works. It is called ____ and contains an amino acid, l-acytlcarnitine. I thought since it had carnitine in it it might be a nutrient found in beef?? Trying to break it down to something local, natural and affordable. But it completely clears up my old dog's cataracts and can be used less for maintenance. Not approved for humans. The sooner you start it the better. About 2-3 times a day at first, then when they're clear, about a few times a week, depending upon the dog, for maintenance. I stop it except for watering down remnants in the bottle during the winter when she's less active and a bottle lasts me most of the summer if I husband it. Gives her practical sight vs. Bumping into things. Miraculous and real. Online accessible. If anyone can replicate it through foods, supplements, please tell me. My vet gets it for me but anyone can order it. Merry Christmas!
Ruislip, Uk
02/18/2012
The amino acid is actually not carnitine but Carnosine which is obtainable as eyedrops. Apparently it can also be taken orally which also benefits the complexion.
Chassell, Mi Usa
05/08/2012

Carnosine eye drops are made by several companies. I bought a brand for abour $25.50-lasts about 1 month. I bought another brand & found the exact same packaging & ingedients for almost double the price. I have been using it for 5 months for cataracts without noticing a difference. I was told it works for 90% of people.

I don't have cataracts, and have never used any products to cure them, or halt them. In my reading on the internet a few weeks ago, I came across this information about some eye-drops that have been tested on cataract patients, and it was said that they were proven to help many patients both 1. Halt the deterioration, 2. Reverse the cataract damage partially, perhaps totally in some cases. The eye-drops were developed by a russian man.
I do not know if they will work for you, or not. Have someone help you do some research on it.
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http://www.ehow.com/about_6647621_carnosine-cataracts.html
Carnosine for Cataracts
By Katina Blue, eHow Contributor
Carnosine for Cataracts - Carnosine in eye drop form is effective for treating cataracts.
Every eye has a lens that is similar to the lens of a camera. The lens helps with vision clarity, and it aids in focusing on objects. Cataracts is a condition that causes cloudiness to develop in an eye lens. It can cause impaired vision and blindness if untreated. Although surgery is generally used to treat cataracts, carnosine eye drops are effective for reversing this condition.
History
In 1987, Dr. Alan Babizhayev, a Russian researcher, and his colleagues were the first to propose L-carnosine, a form of carnosine, as a possible treatment for cataracts. They developed N-acetylcarnosine eye drops to treat the condition. After the drops were used in human and animal clinical trials, positive results were documented. Since then, other research studies have been done on carnosine's effects on cataracts.
Description
Carnosine is a molecule composed of two amino acids, alanine and histidine. It is a natural antioxidant found in several tissues of the body, including heart muscle, skeletal muscle and the brain. Low levels of a certain type of carnosine are also naturally produced in your eyes. Carnosine is generally administered in eye drop form to treat cataracts. In addition to treating cataracts, carnosine is used to treat ulcers, reverse aging and heal wounds.
Function
When a buildup of protein forms on an eye's lens, abnormal clumps develop, causing a cataract to form. The clumps of protein cause the opaque appearance of a cataract affected eye. Carnosine stops the formation of these clumps and helps to dissolve the cataract. It also prevents glycation, a chemical process that interferes with cell function by causing a reaction between blood sugars and proteins in the lenses of our eyes.
Side Effects
As of 2010, there are no documented side effects to using carnosine. When used in very high doses, some short-term effects of it are drowsiness and shallow sleep. Although no major side effects have been reported, watch for any reactions after use and report any abnormalities to your physician.
Effectiveness
Various studies done on humans and animals show that carnosine effectively dissolves cataracts over time. According to Dr. Babizhayev, when a group of cataract patients was treated with carnosine eye drops, 41. 5 percent showed a significant improvement in vision clarity and 88. 9 percent improved in regard to sensitivity and glare. These patients were studied over 24 months and the effectiveness was sustained during that time.
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http://wisechoicemedicine.net/store/index.php
Non-Surgical Cataract Reversal
"N-Acetyl-Carnosine (Can-CTM) Cataract Eye Drops - Approved by Innovative Vision Products.. "
"In clinical trials 90% had improvement in visual acuity.. " Patients instilled 2 drops of Can-CTM into each eye 2 to 4 times a day, for a period of 6 months. These results set an unprecedented benchmark for the treatment and reversal of cataracts and other eye disorders.. "Clinical Trials
Initial Results in only 3 months time.. Optimal Results within 6 - 12 months!
Over the last 10 years this, non-invasive, N-acetylcarnosine eye drop, has generated Thousands of reports of Safe and Effective Cataract Reversal
Mark Babizhayev MA, PhD, is the principle Russian researcher behind the development of N-acetylcarnosine eye drops for the treatment of cataract. Meet Dr. Mark Babizhayev MA PhD
There are no more doubts regarding the effectiveness of this miraculous eye repair in a drop that originated from years of Russian research.
Can-C Eye Drops applied for 6-months, (twice daily into the eye), in patients suffering from senile cataract, had the following results:
90% had an improvement in visual acuity.
88.9% had an improvement of glare sensitivity.
41.5% had an improvement of the transmissivity of the lens.
"I used Can-C eye drops for 4-months with amazing results. My vision in my left eye improved from 20/40 to 20/25 and upon renewal of my driving license, the eye glass restriction was eliminated! "
Richard Lippman MD, Hawaii
Testimonials
To date Dr. Babizhayevs' N-Acetylcarnosine eye drop is the only cataract treatment that has been proven in controlled clinical trials to be effective in the treatment of cataracts and safe for long term use. Look for the following statement on any box you purchase to be sure you are purchasing Dr. Babizhayevs' patent protected formula. - "Approved by Innovative Vision Products.. "
Learn why Dr. Babizhayevs' N-Acetylcarnosine eye drops are the only ones that actually work- click here!
http://wisechoicemedicine.net/store/information.php?info_id=21
Castor Oil

Castor Oil for Cataracts
Dr. Norm Shealy has been using castor oil to treat cataracts in his patients for decades. He does many clinical studies, and he has found an 80% success rate among his patients who followed his castor oil cataract protocol. For me, it was a total failure.

I too have cataracts, had lens replacement surgery on left eye and not real happy with the outcome. I can see the periphery of the lens which makes everything look like a piece of "Picasso", artwork. I had pain in my right eye. It was suggested that it was caused by elevated pressure (glaucoma). I found that putting two, (2) drops of caster oil in the eye at bedtime completely eliminated the eye pain and is very slowly showing slight improvement in clarity. I now use the oil in both eyes at bedtime. It does seem to make my nose a bit runny. The oil also stopped itching due to dry eyes. I wish I'd known this sooner. I now search for natural solutions for everything before considering the often toxic and damaging pharma crap. Good wishes for you in all things!
I recently had eye surgery in my right eye. It has been more than three months. Sometimes I feel that there is some dirt in the eye but does not come out. Now days I am also having pain in my eye. I got operation done in my country India. I live in USA. Please let me know if anybody knows any remedy for this kind of problem after the surgery. My left eye also has cataract and the vision in that eye is totally blurry. Please help.
Tennessee
10/21/2019
Hey Manju, my personal experience after my surgery was the same as yours. I went back to the doctor twice thinking something for sure was in it. My doctor said it was dry eyes. Dry eyes tear a lot and they feel like something is in the eye. It was hard for me to believe but I accepted his opinion. I learned that good quality salmon oil capsules taken by mouth will help dry eyes and it did, ending my symptoms. Kim
Usa
09/12/2020
I noted you posted your comment in March. That is a season when allergies might just be starting to be an issue. Allergies can develop (and go away) at any time. The dryness and thing in your eye that won't go away really sound like allergy symptoms to me. I had a "phantom eyelash" in my eye until a friend told me it sounded like allergies. Then I knew what to do. CoQ10 can help & try taking vitamin C ....good vitamin C, not ascorbic acid. Something with acerola & rose hips. Ester-C is OK and readily available. Otherwise order NOW Vitamin C and take several grams a day. There is no way to take too much vitamin C. Your body will flush what it cannot use (which makes is a cure for constipation as well.) And get back to your healthy native Indian diet! It's full of vitamins and healthy fats.

Using cold-pressed castor oil 2 months now for cataracts. No change

I've used castor oil as an eye drop for nearly 1 year. I have seen no difference in my vision or the density of my cataract. It does not sting and hasn't caused any harm. I don't find the drops particularly soothing either. You may get different results. If you choose to try it, use only organic, cold-pressed, hexane free castor oil. I bought mine on Amazon and fill a small blue glass dropper bottle. Use one drop in each eye before bedtime.
NY
01/15/2021
Castor oil will "draw out" as well as push itself deep when used on the skin (lighter molecular weight than any other oil, great as a carrier). Because of it's ability to "draw out" (I'm not sure how else to describe it), if you put castor oil in a plastic bottle, it will draw plastic into itself ... and then push it into YOU when you use it. All the local natural food stores around me sell it only in plastic.
So I went hunting. I found one in a glass bottle that was 100% Pure, USDA Certified, non GMO, Cold Pressed, Extra Virgin & Hexane Free on Amazon by Dr Marisol. I've never had a problem using this oil. If you're going to use it medicinally - internally or externally - these variables matter. Get the best quality you can afford.

Warning! I got USP organic castor oil to use for cataracts. I put one drop in each eye. A few minutes later my eyes hurt, I was nauseated and had trouble breathing, and felt weak. I immediately used eye wash to thoroughly wash out each eye. I felt somewhat better but continued to have problems throughout the next day. I looked up the symptoms of a bad reaction to castor oil and it was as I described.
Castor oil stays in your system anywhere from 4 to 18 hours. My advice is don't try this for the first time when you're alone - you may need to someone to call for help. Try a smaller amount to start and have something available to wash out your eye if you need it. The literature I read said the bad side effects can accumulate if you continue to use the castor oil. You won't know if you'll have bad side effects unless you try the castor oil.
Thankfully I recovered but it took at least 18 hrs for all effects to dissipate. This won't happen to everyone but please be aware.
If you've never used it before I would start by rubbing it on my skin first allowing your body a chance to become familiar with the substance and to see if you have any reaction. In which case if you do, you wouldn't use in the eyes.
Nyc
05/28/2017
Sounds like you are allergic.
Illinois
10/03/2017
Could be an allergy. I have read the castor oil must be hexane free.

Sadly the Castor Oil has not worked for me. I had my eyes tested a year ago and was told that I had a slow growing cataract. Started with the Castor Oil each evening and hoped that when I had my eyes tested again, he would wonder where the cataract had gone. Today's verdict is that it has grown, not diminished, and I now have a letter for the hospital eye specialist.

Warning
DON'T DO IT.
I was getting my cataract under control with Oclumed eye drops, then switched to the (organic, cold-pressed, hexane-free) castor oil therapy; a week later, I'm practically blind in my cataract eye now---the cloudiness is horrible, easily twice as bad as it was before. All I did was stop using the Oclumed, and (foolishly) went on the castor oil regimen---I didn't do ANYTHING different than before. Now I'm praying that the Oclumed can bring me back to where I was before I decided to try this stupid experiment.
Somewhere, Europe
05/22/2016
T. Stone, different strokes for different folks. I've seen cataracts diminish from applying Castor Oil on the eyelids.
This looks like a case of nutrient deficiency. Low antioxidant status plus other nutrients necessary for eye health prevent many or most chronic eye diseases.
For many yrs there was an natural formula called "Occuguard" which contains many good nutrients for eyes, but I don't know if it's still marketed in this name; or go to local or online health food store for similar formula.
The ingredients list should contain as many of the fallowing nutrients as possible:
- Taurine
- Billberry herb
- Lutein
- Zeaxanthin
- Vit-A (Cod Liver Oil)
- Eyebright herb
- Zinc
These nutrients should restore your vision shortly and should not negative interact with the Oclumed product you are taking, however it would be safe to read the "interactions & warnings" labels on the product. If you could disclose what exactly this product contains that would help, but it appears a non-natural product and for short term use.
Omaha, Ne
05/25/2016
Omaha, Ne
05/25/2016
Omaha, Ne
05/28/2016
Just wanted to let you know: I found "Ocuguard PLUS" at a local health-food store, and decided to give it a try. I also have some Eyesight Rx tablets coming through the mail, but I'll wait until I eat up the Ocuguard first. I hope you're right about it helping to restore my eyesight....I've been saturation-bombing my cataract eye with 8 drops of Oclumed every day, and I'm just now starting to detect slight gains in my eyesight again. The problem is, it's a slowwwww process, and patience ain't something I'm noted for when it comes to treating my illnesses. ;-)
Malibu, Ca
03/07/2017
What brand/type castor oil did u use? I m thinking of trying c o but want to avoid what u used. Hope u have recovered!
Naperville, Il
08/20/2017

Go to https://normshealy.com/castor-oil-for-cataracts/ -- he says "Each night, at bedtime, place into each eye one drop of USP castor oil. The reason for bedtime is that the vision will be clouded for a while because of the oil, but it is used up overnight. DO NOT USE THE CASTOR OIL YOU WOULD USE FOR CASTOR OIL PACKS OR BATHS! Cataracts disappear over 2 to 6 months, depending on the degree of development..."

I tried the Castor Oil in my eyes and each time my heart rate accelerated so I had to stop. Anyone know why this would happen?
North Carolina
12/28/2015
Your accelerated heart rate may quite likely be due to your being allergic to the castor oil. Have read in many journals that one way to test food allergy is to take your pulse before and again after eating a food. If it increases that's a very good indication you are allergic. I have found that to be a great indicator. So since you absorb the castor oil through your skin it would react the same way. I am allergic myself to Castor Oil, otherwise would try it for cataracts but think I'll try the carnosine approach but will definitely muscle test before putting in my eyes. Good luck with your journey!
Omaha, Ne
05/28/2016
Food for thought: I talked to a fellow who worked at a local health-food store, and told him my woeful tale about using Castor oil for my cataract. He shook his head, and said he had several customers tell him that FLAXSEED OIL was the ticket, not the Castor oil. I researched it on the Internet, but could only find a very few sparse references to using flaxseed oil for cataracts--and most of that was on dogs.
Me, I'm not gonna try it. If one of you brave souls want to give it a spin, look into it. If you try flaxseed oil, tell us how/if it works for you.....