Our autumn issue is out now. Regular contributor Helen McSharry shares a study of the micronutrients within the vitreous of the eye. Dive on in to find out more…
Through A Glass Brightly
The Eyes Have It
by Helen McSharry
“New hope for the vitreous – the magical gel-like network that makes up 85% of the eye.
This wonderful transparent spherical structure holds the elements of the eye exquisitely together. It contributes to optical transparency, light refraction, and infuses the eye with life-giving nutrients. Previously thought to be a closed system, which slowly breaks down and ‘liquifies’ as we age, new research into a world’s first natural supplement, VitroCap ® N, suggest otherwise.
Like everything in life, the vitreous is subject to the ageing process. The first signs of vitreous degeneration are ‘Floaters’ alarming shadow-like floating strands that disrupt our field of vision. Largely ignored by ophthalmologists, floaters are one of the first signs of atrophy within the eye. Conventional treatments adopt a wait-and-see approach, advising floaters will resolve with time, but they don’t, and are a warning sign that the vitreous is under attack.
‘Floaters’ can be so debilitating that people resort to extreme medical interventions, such as pars plana vitrectomy and nd:YAG laser vitreolysis, that can be risky. So, it is with great excitement we’re now sharing with you recent results of a study led by Professor John Nolan PhD and his team at The Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (NRCI) at the South East Technological University, Waterford. Professor Nolan is the founder of this research centre where scientists have spent 20 years studying the role of nutrition for the eye.
Professor Nolan was approached by Robert Kuchling, CEO of ebiga VISION GmbH, to test the benefits of VitroCap ® N, a revolutionary world’s first natural formula that supports the health of the vitreous. Professor Nolan had a personal interest in the supplement after experiencing floaters himself after a near-drowning experience. Floaters can occur at any age, becoming more common with overuse of screens and smart phones.
Comprising of a unique blend of water-soluble antioxidative and antiglycation micronutrients, VitroCap ® N closely mimics the micronutrients within the vitreous of the eye. The supplement comprises of a special blend of L-Lysine, Vitamin C, grape seed extract, Zinc, and bitter orange extract, The study is the first of its kind to investigate the impact of targeted nutritional intervention via supplementation for patients suffering from vitreous floaters. Comprising of 61 patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters, they were randomised to trial VitroCap ® N daily or a placebo for six months.
The results were astonishing! The study shows that 67% of the active group experienced a marked improvement after six months, with a significant decrease in vitreous opacity areas and improvement in photopic functional contrast sensitivity. The findings of this study are far-reaching. Not only do they indicate marked improvements from ‘floaters’ and vision thanks to VitroCap ® N, they also inform further research and give hope in preventing or slowing down the progression of chronic diseases of the eye, such as cataracts, glaucoma and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), which are all caused by oxidative stress.
The vitreous body is the biggest reservoir of antioxidative capacity within the eye. In the words of Johnny Nash, thanks to the work of Professor John Nolan and the genius of Robert Kuchling, CEO of ebiga VISION GmbH, we will see clearly now – and it’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day!
Find out more: profjohnnolan.com eyefloaters.eu www.ebiga-vision.com vivaquity.co.uk
