How to Reverse POOR Eyesight (Especially Over 50!)

The Role of Cones and Mitochondria in Vision [00:50]

• The genesis of many vision problems begins with the cones in the eye, specialized receptors responsible for daylight vision, color perception, and fine detail.
• Cones are exceptionally dense with mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells, which are crucial for energy production.
• As individuals age, there's a natural loss of mitochondria, leading to a diminished capacity to see fine details and vibrant colors, necessitating corrective lenses.
• This mitochondrial depletion in the retina's most critical area for clear vision directly impacts one's ability to see without glasses.
• By age 60, an individual requires three times more light to see compared to a 20-year-old, a phenomenon attributed to the energy demands (ATP) on mitochondria.

The unique thing about this photo receptor, the cone, is this. It has the most mitochondrial pack cells in the entire retina.

Stages of Vision Decline [04:21]

• The initial stage involves a breakdown in contrast sensitivity, affecting the brain's ability to differentiate light intensities, particularly noticeable when straining to see in low light or at night.
• Subsequently, an increased amount of light is needed even for daytime tasks, leading to the habit of turning on lights more frequently.
• A rise in glare experienced in the dark, creating a foggy and potentially dangerous visual experience, especially when driving in adverse weather.
• The most advanced stage involves issues with the macula, leading to conditions like age-related macular degeneration, characterized by further mitochondrial loss and an inability to discern fine details.

Number three, we start seeing more glare in the dark. Okay. Everything starts to really get foggy and uh it's like it's kind of dangerous if you're driving when it's raining out and especially foggy.

Other Eye Conditions and Vitamin D3 for Glaucoma [05:30]

• Cataracts, a clouding of the eye's lens, develop due to opaqueness and can be exacerbated by high sugar consumption.
• Prolonged fixation on computer screens at close distances can cause blurred vision when looking at other objects.
• Glaucoma is characterized by increased pressure within the eye.
• Type 2 diabetes significantly impacts eye health, leading to diabetic retinopathy, a disease of the retina, and is a leading cause of blindness due to high blood sugar.
• High doses of vitamin D3, up to levels of 100, can potentially reverse glaucoma, as researched by Dr. Harold Shell, with guidance on safe and correct administration provided in his book.

High doses of vitamin D3 can reverse gluccom, but you have to get your blood levels up to like a hundred.

Red Light Therapy for Vision Improvement [07:12]

• Red light therapy is presented as a method to reverse vision issues by exposing the retina to specific light wavelengths.
• This therapy aims to enhance mitochondrial efficiency and repair damage within them.
• A specific wavelength of 670 nm has been identified as optimal for improving mitochondrial function.
• The recommended protocol involves a brief 3-minute session once a week, as the effects are believed to last for the entire week.
• Caution is advised regarding the unregulated market of red light devices; opting for devices that are IEC 62471 exempt or RG1 low-risk is recommended.
• Keeping eyes closed during the therapy is advised, as infrared light can penetrate eyelids.
• This technology is termed photobiomodulation, and more research is anticipated to explore its benefits for retinal mitochondria and cones.

So, why does red light have anything to do with the retina? It helps to make the mitochondria more efficient and also correct some of the damage in that mitochondria.

Lifestyle Choices to Boost Mitochondria and Eye Health [09:35]

• Regular exercise, such as long hikes and walks, increases oxygen intake and helps generate more mitochondria throughout the body.
• Intermittent fasting, particularly when combined with a low-carb ketogenic diet, promotes running the body on ketones, the opposite of the high-sugar environment of diabetes that damages mitochondria.
• Adequate sleep is also identified as a key factor for overall health and mitochondrial function.
• Addressing vision issues related to prolonged close-up focus, common with screen time, requires reversing the eye muscles' contracted state.
• Spending at least two hours daily outdoors, focusing on objects at a distance (e.g., tree branches, leaves, birds), is therapeutic for undoing this contraction.

What is the opposite of diabetes? Having a low blood sugar and running your body on ketones.

Nutrient Support for Vision and Eye Conditions [11:21]

• Vitamin A is essential for eye health, particularly for preventing night blindness, which can be a symptom of deficiency, especially for individuals with genetic issues converting beta-carotene.
• Rich sources of vitamin A include egg yolks, liver, cod liver oil, and butter.
• Impaired liver function, absence of a gallbladder, or gut inflammation can hinder vitamin A absorption.
• Lutein and zeaxanthin are phytonutrients that protect the eye from oxidation and UV radiation, found in kale, pistachios, and Swiss chard, though egg yolks offer higher bioavailability.
• For floaters, which are damaged proteins in the eyeball, prolonged fasting (48-72 hours) to induce autophagy can help the body recycle and clear these proteins.

So, it's not just the total amounts, it's how much you can absorb.

Specific Remedies for Eye Ailments [13:28]

• Glaucoma can be addressed with higher doses of vitamin D3, K2, and magnesium, as suggested by research.
• Cataracts, often linked to sugar consumption, can be treated with NAC (N-acetyl carnosine) drops, which are applied externally to the cornea and absorbed into the lens to dissolve glycated proteins.
• Low-carb diets and carnosine (abundant in red meat) can help prevent cataracts.
• Saffron is highlighted as a potent remedy for age-related macular degeneration, shown to improve vision.
• Using a high CCT warm light LED lamp (3000-4000K) directed at the reading surface can quickly enhance visual acuity for those over 50.

NAC as a natural remedy. It stands for N acetal carnosine. This comes in drops and you put it on the outside of your eye, the cornea.

Environmental and Behavioral Eye Care [15:49]

• Watching the sunrise or sunset (without directly looking at the sun) allows beneficial rays to enter the eyes, resetting the circadian rhythm and boosting intracellular melatonin, a powerful antioxidant.
• The 20-20-20 rule is a desk reset strategy: every 20 minutes, focus on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds to counter eye strain from prolonged screen use.
• Frequent blinking is crucial, especially during screen time, to prevent dry eyes. A complete blink every five seconds is recommended during the 20-20-20 exercise.
• Dry eyes can also result from a lack of vitamin B1, affecting the autonomic nervous system's control over tear ducts, leading to reduced tear secretion. Correcting B1 deficiency, often caused by high carbohydrate intake, coffee, or tea, is key.

So every 20 minutes I have a window and I'm going to look 20 feet out and focus on something.

Advanced Glycation End Products and Antioxidants [18:39]

• Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) form when sugar attaches to protein, a process accelerated by consuming junk food.
• Reducing AGEs can be achieved through low-carb diets, intermittent fasting, and supplements like alpha-lipoic acid.
• These strategies are beneficial for various visual problems, including lens rigidity from aging or diabetes complications, and advanced cataracts.
• Polyphenols found in herbs like turmeric, resveratrol, and dark chocolate, along with vitamin D (a potent anti-inflammatory), can help break down AGEs.
• Vitamin D should always be taken with magnesium.

And again, this can also help if you have an advanced uh visual problems uh involving your lens being very rigid or you have a lot of complications from diabetes anywhere in your body or you have advanced uh cataracts, you need to be doing all these things I'm m