Vitreous Detachment

information on nutrition, diet, lifestyle recommendations

Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) affects 75% of people over the age of 65 but may be helped with dietary and nutritional changes. The vitreous gel, which is 99% water, is jelly-like and takes up the space between the retina and the lens of the eye. Millions of fine fibers contained in the vitreous attach to the retina surface.

As we age, the vitreous becomes increasingly liquid causing a strain on the connective tissue and fibers, so that they separate from the retina causing symptoms which often include eye floaters and flashes.

See nutritional recommendations. Certain nutrients such as Glucosamine Sulfate and Vitamin C, help strengthen the connective tissue, and can help fortify the retina against the natural effects of aging that can result in vitreous detachments. Other nutrients also help strengthen the retina such as ginkgo biloba which helps improves circulation, lutein, zeaxanthin, bilberry, lycopene which all support healthy vision.
Read client experiences.
See dietary recommendations.
See lifestyle recommendations.
See a video on Vitreous Detachment

Advanced Vision Care Formula

I have not met anyone who has suffered through this eye condition but I feel conscious bound as a caring individual to share my story so that someone else can benefit from the help that is available to alleviate and eventually eradicate it. I am very grateful to Mike Edson and naturaleyecare for helping me through this journey. -- Nancy - Westchester County, New York - October, 2007

read the rest of this experience

Symptoms

Sudden detachment of the vitreous from the macular area usually causes the person to see flashes and floaters. The flashes may look like lightning or electric sparks, and the floaters may look like threads or specks.

Symptoms may last days to weeks. At the first sign of any of the above signs and symptoms, you should always get an immediate dilated retinal examination by your eye doctor.

Nutritional Supplements for Vitreous Detachment

These are the most important supplements and recommendations for vitreous detachment.

Shopping Tips

On a tight budget?

Here's our single most important recommendation:
Doctor's Choice: Advanced Eye & Vision Support Formula (AEV) - Dr. Grossman's Advanced Eye & Vision (whole food) Support Formula - 60 vcaps per bottle

Essential: Advanced Eye & Vision Support Formula (AEV) - Dr. Grossman's Advanced Eye & Vision (whole food) Support Formula - 60 vcaps per bottle

Essential: Carlsons Super Omega-3 250 - 1000 mg gelcaps (SUP37) - Omega-3 250 gelcaps 1,000mg per gelcap - Natural Lemon Flavor (SUP37)

Essential: Ligament Restore 120 caps (LIGA2) - Ligament Restore 120 caps (LIGA2)

Essential: Vitamin C Complex 1000mg 120 vcaps (CCOM2) - Vitamin C Complex 1000mg 120 vcaps (CCOM2)

Very Important: ReVision Formula - ReVision Formula 2 oz.

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

Helpful: Retinal Support - 2oz - Retinal Support 2oz

Helpful: Dr. Grossman's Whole Food Multivitamin 90 tabs -

Dr. Grossman's Whole Food Multivitamin

Helpful: Fruits N Greens 180 gm (FRUI4) - Fruits N Greens 180 gm powder (FRUI4)

Causes

People who are highly nearsighted are at greater risk of vitreous tears and detachments (as well as retinal tears and detachments).

Vitreous detachments can also be caused by trauma to the head. Chronic stress to the eyes such as excessive computer use may also be a contributing factor.

See "Drugs That Harm the Eyes" for a description of potentially harmful drugs.

Conventional Treatment

There is no specific treatment for vitreous detachment.

Prevention

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. Here are some recommendations:

Diet & Nutrition

The Vision Diet - recommended in Natural Eye Care: An Encyclopedia on CD, authored by Marc Grossman, O.D., L.Ac. and Michael Edson, MS, L.Ac. This CD covers 29 major eye conditions including vitreous tear/detachment with specific nutrient, diet, exercise and juicing instructions by eye condition, plus much more.
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).
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).
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).
Supplement your diet with an excellent eye multivitamin such as Dr. Grossman's Advanced Eye & Vision Support Formula and an organic green drink daily such as Nanogreens

Lifestyle & General Health

Eliminate smoking. Smoking among other things produces cyanide, a retinal toxin.
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.
Manage your emotional health This 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.