Rod-Cone Dystrophy

information on diet, nutrition & self-help options

Rod-Cone Dystrophy is the name given to a wide range of eye conditions. The common link is a problem with the rod and cone photoreceptors. Photoreceptor cells convert light into nerve signals that ultimately get transmitted to our brain through our optic nerve. There are two types of photoreceptor cells; cones which help us detect color and fine details and account for our central vision; while the rods help us see in low light and help us with night and peripheral vision. With Rod-Cone Dystrophy, one's photoreceptor cells may not work from childhood, or may lose their ability to function over time.

It is possible to slow down vision loss and possibly maintain healthy vision through:

lifestyle considerations and diet,
specific nutritional protocols, and
energy moving modalities such as acupuncture and microcurrent stimulation.

Other eye conditions where the rod and cone photoreceptor cells do not work properly include: Leber's Amaurosis, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Usher's Syndrome and Batten's Disease.

Rod and cone photoreceptors are good at seeing different things. Here are some examples:

Rods are good at 'seeing':

things that move but only in black and white
seeing in the dark
seeing things on the sides of us (peripheral vision)

Cones are good at 'seeing':

things that are still
fine details of thing in daylight
objects in color
things in fine detail including reading, looking at photographs and recognizing faces

Symptoms

gradual loss of night vision
gradual loss of peripheral vision

Young children with Rod-Cone Dystrophy may develop:

Fast 'to and fro' movements of the eyes. This is referred to Nystagmus.
'Roving' eye movements where the eyes appear to slowly wander around not fixing and staying still on any objects.
'Eye Poking' where the child touches their eyes with their fingers.

Parents will often notice these signs by the way the child acts.

Nutritional Supplements for Rod-Cone Dystrophy

These are the most important supplements and recommendations.

Shopping Tips

On a tight budget?

Here's our single most important recommendation:
Doctor's Choice: Advanced Eye and Vision Support Formula - Dr. Grossman's Advanced Eye & Vision (whole food) Support Formula - 60 vcaps per bottle Promotes clear vision and healthy eyes, including macula, retina and lens, supports healthy eye growth, and rejuvenation, and supports the body's natural detoxification processes with targeted, quality antioxidants for vision.

Essential: Advanced Eye and Vision Support Formula - Dr. Grossman's Advanced Eye & Vision (whole food) Support Formula - 60 vcaps per bottle Promotes clear vision and healthy eyes, including macula, retina and lens, supports healthy eye growth, and rejuvenation, and supports the body's natural detoxification processes with targeted, quality antioxidants for vision.

Essential: Carlsons Super Omega-3 Gems 1000 mg 130 softgels / 250 softgels - Super Omega-3 Gems 1000 mg 130 softgels / 250 softgels - Fish body oil is the only major source of the polyunsaturated Omega 3's EPA and DHA

Essential: Viteyes Complete - Viteyes Complete is the most comprehensive eye multivitamin available, and serves both as a multivitamin and an eye multivitamin.

Essential: Microcurrent Stimulation 100ile Purchase Option - Microcurrent Stimulation helps stimulate energy production (ATP) in the retina, improve circulation & reduce waste build-up.

Very Important: CoQ10 & L-Carnitine 60 softgels - CoQ10 & L-Carnitine 60 softgels - helps support healthy heart function & may improve retinal function in patients with age-related macular degeneration. -

Very Important: MacuHealth with LMZ - 90 capsules (3 mo. supply) with10mg of meso-zeanthin per capsule. Meso-zeanthin is an essential antioxidant found in the macula (center of the retina).

Helpful: Pure Focus - Pure Focus is a liquid based formula absorbed sublingually (under the tongue) for vision health.

Helpful: Renewal Greens 10.6 oz - Comprehensive high quality all organic green drink for overall health. Includes organic vegetable blend, wheat grass blend and digestive enzymes

Causes

There are many different causes of Rod-Cone Dystrophies. Often one does not know why a child has a Rod-Cone Dystrophy. When no cause can be identified this is called Idiopathic.

Most Rod-Cone Dystrophies are genetically based and result from "misprints" in a child's genes, and are typically carried forward from the parents' genes although sometimes by chance a new mistake occurs in the child's genes and the parents' genes are normal.

Conventional Treatment

There is no good conventional way to stop the sight loss in Rod-Cone Dystrophy.

Self Help

Since we consider most eye conditions to be a reflection of the health of the whole body, lifestyle choices and diet can play a major factor in getting and maintaining good vision. Below are some recommendations:

The Vision Diet

Natural Eye Care: An Encyclopedia on CD

Reduce or eliminate drinking caffeine and sodas, avoid aspartame (labeled diet foods) and man made fats (corn oil and safflower oil, trans fats and hydrogenated vegetable oils including canola oil, and especially margarines).
Eliminate deep fat fried foods, monosodium glutanate (MSG) used as a flavor enhancer which is a potential retinal toxin (Inv Oph 1996; 37: 1618-24), and fat blockers like Olestra which impair the absorption of carotenoids (Argus, August 1996;19:18:July 1996;19:22). Eating greater amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol appear to increase the risk retinal problems.
Limit your alcohol consumption to 1 glass of red wine at night. Alcohol interferes with liver functions, reducing protective glutathione levels (Alcohol 1993;10;469-75).
Eliminate smoking. Smoking among other things produces cyanide, a retinal toxin.
Supplement your diet with an excellent eye multivitamin, especially formulated for vision health.
Limit the amount of medications (both prescription and non-prescription as much as possible. Make sure to work closely with your doctor.
Exercise daily - do at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise daily. Walking and swimming are two excellent forms of exercise.
Managing your emotional health is very important in maintaining physical health. Fear (fear of failure, responsibility, of being alone, of death, etc.) is at the root of many of life's problems, and is a major factor in many diseases. Take up the practice of meditation, yoga, tai chi, walks in the woods or prayer on a daily basis.
Eye exercises can help to bring energy and blood to the eyes, thereby helping to drain away toxins or congestion to the eyes. These are free general eye exercises and acupressure points for overall eye health.

Research

Though there are no specific studies on nutrients and this particular condition, there is extensive research on nutrients such as lutein, zeaxanthin and bilberry among others that have been shown to be essential for the health of the rod-cone structures. Based on these studies, Dr. Grossman has selected specific nutrients and products to help support this part of the eye and overall eye health. Some research on macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa may be applicable.

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