Rob (Kentucky) on 11/21/2025
My Uncle 87 had lost his sight due to Macular degeneration. The doctors were not helping him and no one in the family knows what to do too help him. I read Irwin Stone book, The Healing Factor, Vitamin C Against Disease 1972. I put him on Nutricost Pure Ascorbic Acid Powder at a dose of 2 grams (2 scoops) in water 3x/daily = 6 grams a day.
It has been close to 3 months now and he is able to read the numbers on his cell flip-phone. And today he called to tell me he can see the house behind his. Not bad for a man diagnosed by doctors to be blind. No doctor will ever tell you about vitamin C for your eyes. IT’S TOO SIMPLE and DOSE NOT MAKE THEM $$!
In Irwin Stone book he states:
The 1962 paper by Heath, with forty references to the literature, reviewed the work on ascorbic acid and the eye. He cited twelve separate biochemical processes in which ascorbic acid is involved and speculated on the functions of ascorbic acid in the eye and its possible involvement in diabetic retinopathy, detachment of the retina, and maintenance of the proper consistency of the internal fluids of the eye. It has been known since the early 1930s that ascorbic acid is normally found in the eye at much higher levels than in the blood and in many other tissues. Heath confirmed this by showing that the ascorbic acid levels in different bovine eye tissues were (in milligram percent) the cornea, 30; corneal epithelium, 47 to 94; lens, 34; retina, 22; and were higher than in the skeletal muscle, 2; heart, 4; kidney, 13; and brain 17; but were not as high as in the adrenal gland, 97-160; or the pituitary gland, 126.
He states:
Animals which are capable of synthesizing their own ascorbic acid usually have tissue levels approaching saturation. It would, therefore, seem desirable to insure that the intake of ascorbic acid by man is sufficiently high for tissue saturation. Lower intakes, although not leading to scurvy, may affect some metabolic processes in which ascorbic acid is involved.
There was a period of intense research activity from 1964 to 1969 on the use of megascorbic levels of ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate for reducing the intraocular eye pressure. Linnér (2), in 1964 in Sweden, showed that 0.5 grams of ascorbic acid administered twice daily produced a significant drop in the intraocular pressure of normal eyes. He published another paper, in 1969, in which he showed that 2 grams of ascorbic acid a day, orally, produced the same significant decrease in glaucomatous eyes.
The year 1965 saw the beginning of a four-year period when numerous papers reported on the prompt reduction of the intraocular pressure, with no side effects, by the intravenous injection of 20 percent sodium ascorbate solution at doses of about 70 grams per treatment. Virno and coworkers (3) in Rome published five papers in this period, the group from the University of Rome’s Ocular Clinic (4) presented seven papers, one came from Switzerland (5), and one from Finland (5). Even though two papers were published in American journals in 1966 and 1967 by the Italian workers (3), no papers coming from American authors could be found on this exciting line of research.
The 1941 paper of Lyle and McLean of the Royal Air Force on corneal inflammations should not be ignored. They stated:
Treatment by means of ascorbic acid intravenously is of therapeutic value. The improvement in most cases is almost dramatic. In most cases there is no reason to believe that a general vitamin C deficiency exists. It appears, therefore, that the beneficial results are obtained by flooding the bloodstream with excess of ascorbic acid.
This work was confirmed by Summers in 1946. The profound effects of ascorbic acid on the healing of deep corneal ulcers caused Boyd and Campbell, in 1950, to state and recommend, “‘We there-fore suggest that ascorbic acid, in such massive doses as 1.5 grams daily, has a value in therapy apart from its normal role as a vitamin at accepted levels of intake.’ The additional work of Campbell and coworkers, in 1950, and Boyd, in 1955, on experimental eye burns, supplies additional confirmation for the need for adequate levels of ascorbic acid in the eye for recovery from heat injury (10).
The literature cited in this discussion of cataracts is but a small fraction of the total which has been published on ascorbic acid and the eye since the early 1930s. To thoroughly review this voluminous work is beyond the scope of a short monograph. We have to omit the work done on experimental diabetic cataracts, naph-thalene cataracts, and dinitrophenol cataracts. But before closing this chapter, let us consider only four of the papers on senile cataract.
As long ago as 1939, Muhlmann and coworkers (11), in the Argentine, obtained 90 percent good results in sixty patients with 113 incipient senile cataracts by 2 series of daily injections, for ten days each, of 50 to 100 milligrams of ascorbic acid. He concluded that the treatment had no contraindications, should be tried in all incipient cases, and is more effective the earlier it is used.
In another 1939 paper, ‘Vitamin C and the Aging Eye, ”’ Bouton (11) of Detroit found “ascorbic acid deficiency can be held partly responsible for impairment of vision associated with senescence of the human eye and that the administration of ascorbic acid by mouth can counteract this process.” He gave 350 milligrams of ascorbic acid a day for four to eight weeks and obtained improvement in vision in 60 percent of the treated group; marked improvement usually set in within the first two weeks of treatment. He believed that cataracts already formed were not affected and the benefits obtained were due to clearing of the other optic media and to some degree to a beneficial effect on the retinal vessels and the head of the optic nerve. While 350 milligrams of ascorbic acid a day was considered a huge dose in 1939, the administration of multigram daily levels would have obtained even better results.
Atkinson, an ophthalmologist of more than thirty years’ experience, published, in 1952, a scholarly paper on the senile cataract (11). He stated, ... in a larger percentage of cases than most surgeons have realized, cataract is a preventable disease.” In 1952 he had over 450 cases of incipient cataract under his treatment which included, among other dietary suggestions, the administration of about 1 gram of ascorbic acid a day. He noted that untreated incipient cataracts matured in four years or less, some taking only one year. Of his over 450 patients under prophylaxis, only a limited number matured and went on to surgery, whereas formerly nearly all had to submit to surgery. He states that in a number of his patients the cataracts have remained incipient over a period of eleven years.
The promising leads relating to ascorbic acid cited above, have not been picked up or been the subject. of intensive research in an effort to help prevent this annual plague of blindness. Why? A search of the government bulletin (6) entitled, “Research Profile— Summary of Progress in Eye Disorders, ” discussed before, fails to reveal a single mention of ascorbic acid in its 16 pages. This indicates that no research on the use of ascorbic acid for the prevention of blindness is being conducted at the National Institutes of Health or the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness. The same situation probably exists in the research facilities of the many publicly supported charitable foundations for the blind.
Art (California) on 06/27/2025
This newer study suggests that melatonin significantly decreases the risk of getting AMD while in existing cases melatonin had a negative impact on disease progression as discussed here :
Here are two relevant quotes from the large cohort study :
; Melatonin use was associated with a decreased risk of development and progression of AMD. '
; Among patients aged 50 years or older, those in the melatonin cohort had a reduced risk of receiving an AMD diagnosis compared with the control cohort (RR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.28-0.62). The analysis of the older subsets of patients revealed similar findings (aged ≥60 years: RR, 0.36 [95% CI, 0.25-0.54]; aged ≥70 years old: RR, 0.35 [95% CI, 0.23-0.53]). Such associations persisted even when patients were monitored for AMD development at least 2 years after the index event (aged ≥50 years: RR, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.12-0.39]; aged ≥60 years: RR, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.19-0.83]; aged ≥70 years: RR, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.12-0.43]). Likewise, our sensitivity analyses revealed consistent results with that of the primary analysis (eTables 6-8 in Supplement 1). The negative control outcome analysis showed that melatonin treatment was not associated with the risk of head injuries (eTable 9 in Supplement 1). '
The list of health benefits associated with melatonin use continues to grow significantly!
Art
Clatterbuck (Beltsville, Md) on 03/22/2025
Saffron and its active compounds, crocin and crocetin, have shown promising results in improving visual function and delaying ARMD progression. Several clinical studies have found that daily supplementation with 20-50 mg of saffron or 5-15 mg of crocin for 3-12 months significantly improved best-corrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and retinal function as measured by electroretinogram and microperimetry, with benefits observed in both dry and wet forms of ARMD. The effects were independent of genetic risk factors and maintained during the follow-up periods, suggesting the potential role of saffron as a long-term treatment option. Saffron reduces ARMD progression via anti-angiogenic, neuroprotective, and antioxidant mechanisms. Moreover, saffron is safe and well tolerated.
Nancy (Buffalo, NY) on 02/20/2025
I have been getting Avastin injections for WMD since 2010 on average every four to six weeks. I started using MSM drops (Happy Body brand) 4x/daily (two drops). After several months, I had improvement. I am currently receiving a maintenance injection every 12 weeks and my last fluorescein test showed no bleeding!
Lutein for Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma Gloria (michigan) on 04/02/2022
cjuan (Malaysia) on 06/09/2021
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16399908/
Cherrybb (Sydney Australia) on 06/09/2021
https://www.hollows.org/au/blog/5-native-australian-foods-that-are-good-for-your-eyes
Aloe Vera for Macular Degeneration Kiki17 (Germany) on 05/29/2021
Very quickly he noticed a difference, and when he went for the next check up the doctor said he didn't need an injection this time. The following check up he didn't need one either. That was about 2 years ago now, and he hasn't been back since because his eyesight has actually improved!! For example, he says he can now read the number on the bus when it comes toward him (he doesn't need to ask someone) and he can see more in general. Recently I saw him read large numbers on a page with his glasses on - an impossibility a few years ago!
It is important to get the plump, slightly soft, fleshy aloe vera, rather than the larger, more firm variety which has flatter leaves. My father couldn't use the flatter leaf variety, it stung in his eyes whereas the softer one feels good in the eye. He just squeezes some of the juice into his eyes every day. I do not recommend the bottled aloe vera because it is not fresh.
I really do hope this helps someone because this has been incredible for my father and for our family. Slightly improved eyesight when that did not seem possible, and no more injections.
Jony P. (United States) on 09/09/2019
Beautifuloregon (Medford, Oregon) on 02/14/2017
Marsh (Denver, Co) on 05/26/2013
Scienceview1 (Westmount, Quebec) on 03/04/2013
Also make sure your diet includes other eye health igredients such as lutein from kale or spinach and vitamin C. Also, smoking increases risk of age-related macular degeneration. Reduce alcohol consmption, do exercise, and limit exposure to intense light or starring too long at computer screens. Also make sure your blood cholestrol is under control. Health dieat, exercising and no smoking are key for maintaining healty eyes.
Hippiehugger (San Diego, Ca, Usa) on 02/19/2013
Carolyn (Renville, Mn) on 12/01/2012
Mona (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on 08/25/2011
Warning
Mona
Heather N (Edson, Ab, Canada) on 07/25/2011
Anyone have suggestions as to another source of lutein 10mg a day from another source. All supplements I have seen are from the marigold source.
Shary (Centennial, Co ) on 08/28/2010
Fernando (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) on 01/23/2008
Hi everyone, My grandmother is 71years old and has had The dry type of Macular Degeneration for over 5 years, every year it got worse. The dotors told her there was nothing that could be done, basically sending her home to go blind. So I decided to do a ton of research on the subject. I read a bunch of books and many studies on the net of how people have stop and in most causes reversed MD and other common eye dieseses. I also purchased Dr. Lorraine Days CD on MD. All my research basically said the same thing. High intake of dark green vegtables(spinach, broccalie,kale,ect) and orange coloured veggies(carrots, can remember the others) are high vitamins that are vital to eye repair and maintenance. Knowing that my grandmother wasnt going to change her diet dramatically, I opted to get her high doses of the same suppliments found in those foods. This is what I got her to take daily.
1.Lutien and ZEAXANTHIN .........Highest doses available
2.selenium.......................Highest doese available
3.Vitamine C.....................Highest does possible(up to 4000mg, youll know ur taking to much if you get diarria)
4. Beta-Carotene.................Highest doses available
5.Zinc...........................Highest doses availble
6.Vitamine E.....................Highest doses available
My grandmother took this everyday for 4-6months, and last week she went back for her normall eye checkup to see her progress, and sure enough, not only did the macular degeneration stop but her eye sight has improved, and they said that her lense wasnt thinning but instead was getting thicker(Im not sure if they said the lense or the retina, or something else, I apoligize) This was only after 4-6 months of use. So needless to say we are all very Happy and excited, and I have proved to myself that the body can heal itself when given the right tools, that less than what I can say for the doctors that told her there was nothing she could do. PLEASE TRY THIS IT REALLY WORKS, Im not a doctor, but Ive done alot of research on the subject. Please just double check with your doctor or nutricenist about these vitamins before taking them in HIGH DOSES. I want to pass this on so others can help themselfs when no one else seems to be able to. Fern
Update to this, it has now been two years, and two more check ups, and every year her eyesight continues to improve. IT IS ACTUALLY REVERSING!!!
