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Treating cataracts without surgery
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One of the heartbreaks that happen as animals age is the development of cataracts. This is much more common in dogs than in cats. When it gets to the point that the animal can no longer see, traditional medicine says the only thing they can do for it is surgery to remove the cloudy lens. The surgery is expensive and many loving owners would find it difficult, especially in today’s financial state, to come up with the funds for the surgery. The chances of helping an animal with surgery is even less if the animal has shown up at a rescue group. For these situations it has just been accepted that the animal was blind.
But there are non-surgical ways of treating cataracts that can help and often times restore the vision to the animal.
The first treatment is one that came from a friend who used it both on her dog and on herself to get rid of cataracts. It is listed first for a couple of reasons. Because of the history with my friend I trust that it truly does work. In addition, it is the least expensive of the various options I have found. If you want to contact my friend directly to talk about what to expect and any concerns you might have, email me at the link below and I will pass the information along to her.
MSM and Flaxseed oil
In talking with a local vet he has assured me that this treatment would be “safe for any mammal.” You are going to need a couple of eye droppers, some saline solution or a very mild eye drop, pure MSM with no additives, and cold pressed flaxseed oil. On the flaxseed oil, you want to make sure it is the cold pressed that you get from the refrigerated section of your local health food store. You want the cold pressed to insure that in the process of getting the oil, it has not been altered in any way. Flaxseed oil is easily affected by heat and light. The bottles that are in the cooler are dark to prevent the light from affecting it. In addition, doctors view the cold pressed oil to be the most effective.
By itself, flaxseed oil is regularly used for eye health. It has been found as effective for treating dry eye as the medication doxycycline. For dry eye it is taken internally, 1 tablespoon a day.
You mix the MSM into the saline solution so that it comes out to be a 15% solution. This is basically 1 teaspoon of the MSM to one ounce of the solution. You administer a couple of drops of flaxseed oil directly into the eye. This helps to soften the tissue. After 10 to 30 minutes you administer a couple of drops of the MSM solution to the eyes. There may be some uncomfortable stinging with the drops, but it is very temporary and not real uncomfortable. That is part of why you want to make sure the MSM is mixed into a soothing solution.
Administer the flaxseen oil followed by this solution several times a day. After about 4 days you will start to see a white substance in the corner of the eye. That is the material from the cataract. Continue with the treatment until there is no more sign of the cataract.
There is not anything definitive about why this would work on the internet. In searching, you can find many websites talking about using the MSM for cataracts, but they do not include the flaxseed oil. Without the flaxseed oil the MSM is not as effective and it takes a much longer time to get rid of the cataract.
MSM (Methonyl Sulphur Methane)
MSM is an organic source of sulphur, which amongst its many other properties has been shown to be important for collagen and connective tissue. It works on the bonds between the molecules which constitute these cells. MSM has also an important role to play in relieving inflammatory conditions such as seasonal or allergic rhinitis and may help with symptoms such as streaming eyes.
Flax Seed Oil
Apart from being a rich source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids, flax contains the antioxidant nutrient beta carotene, carotenoids and Vitamin E.
One of the things the flaxseed oil does is it helps to get rid of cholesterol.
Flaxseed and flaxseed oil have been reported to possess cholesterol-lowering properties in laboratory studies. Human studies have used flaxseed products and measured effects on cholesterol, with mixed results. A recent human study found that dietary flaxseed significantly improved lipid (cholesterol) profile in patients with high cholesterol, and may favorably modify cardiovascular risk factors.
While many sites say that cataracts are made of protein, it is also known that at least part of the clouding of the lens comes from cholesterol deposits.
We have shown, for the first time, that oxysterols accumulate in human cataracts. Although the total amount of oxidized cholesterol in cataracts is not likely to be high it may account for much of the membrane damage associated with cataract formation.
In his book “The MSM Miracle,” author Earl Mindell states:
“Think of your eyeball as a balloon full of water, but instead of being rubber, it is a protein membrane. Optical tissue normally allows fluids to flow through the membrane wall which acts like a filter, cleaning out harmful particles, keeping your eyes clear and your vision good as it allows nutrients to permeate. But should the membranes become tough like leather, the fluids are trapped and particles begin to accumulate. If this buildup continues, your vision will seem as if you're looking through frosted glass, a condition known as cataracts.
When eyedrops containing the proper amount of MSM are applied, the membrane becomes permeable, and this has reversed the problem. It is also important that the eye remain flexible so that the muscles can alter its contour and focus as needed. In the event that its membranes and muscles become rigid and tough, the eye will not be able to focus properly, resulting in blurred vision. The MSM in eyedrops soothes and softens the membranes, permitting fluids to pass through the optical tissues to stabilize the pressure, repair any damage, clear up red spots and bloodshot vessels, and remove floaters and other particles in the eye."
Given the information above, it is apparent that the MSM makes the eye more permeable so that it can get rid of the substance that is causing the cataract. It is also increasing the permeability of the eye for the flaxseed oil, and since it gets rid of cholesterol, it is helping to dissolve the build up that is the cataract itself.
A word of caution – there are places that sell MSM drops on the internet. These drops are not useful for the cataract treatment as they are only a 1% solution, and not the 15% that is used.
N-Acetylcarnosine
There is another drop that is widely seen on the internet for getting rid of cataracts. It goes by many names, Can-C, Bright Eyes, and Ocuphase, to name a few. All of them have the same basic ingredient - N-acetylcarnosine. Some of the sites will try to tell you that theirs is superior and the only one that was tested, however, from is written on each site, there does not appear to be any real differences between them other than the price. There is some scientific evidence that these drops work:
The eyes treated with NAC were substantially improved in 6 months: the measured transmissivity of the lenses increased in 42 percent of the eyes, by 12-50 percent; in 90 percent of the eyes, visual acuity improved by 7-100 percent; and in 89 percent of the eyes, glare sensitivity improved by 27-100 percent. These improvements were sustained for the duration of the 24-month trial. In no eyes was any worsening of the condition seen. By contrast, the condition of the untreated eyes in the control group worsened. Visual acuity dropped in 89 percent of the controls by 17-80 percent after 24 months.
There were two downsides to this method of treating the cataracts – the cost and the time it took to make them better. You could pay anywhere from $60 - $100 per month for the drops, and it takes several months to work.
While it takes 3-4 drops daily over 3 - 12 months to reverse cataract it takes far less to prevent the re-growth of cataract. Therefore, once optimal level of reversal has been achieved only one drop daily will prevent the return of cataract. At this point the product will last far longer and so it will be far less expensive to maintain the health of your pets' eyes. Keep in mind that the same imbalance that allowed the cataract to form in the first place will still be present in your pet if you discontinue use of the product entirely. Unfortunately cataract will likely return, in a relatively short period of time, unless n-acetylcarnosine is being applied regularly to the eye.
Homeopathic
There are a couple of homeopathic drops that can also be used:
1. Similasan Cataract Care Eye Drops
2. Cineraria Cataract Eye Drops
From the description on the Similasan page:
According to homeopathic principles, the active ingredients in this medication temporarily relieve symptoms associated with cataracts and aging … If your physician has recommended postponing surgery, Similasan's unique Active Response Formula stimulates the eye's natural ability to relive symptoms of cataract. Similasan Eye Drops provide Healthy Relief with no known side effects or drug interactions.
There were no studies that were readily available on the effectiveness of these drops. They were much less expensive as opposed to the N-acetylcarnosine drops.
Alternative Treatment
There was one reference found for alternative treatments. Found in Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats by Diane Stein
1. Eucalyptic Honey – Apply a small dab inside the lower eyelid once a day with the blunt end of a toothpick, or put one drop in each eye with an eyedropper. The process takes several weeks. (This was credited to Dr. Richard Pitcairn)
2. Eyebright tea (not tincture) – Used internally and as an eye drop.
3. Greater Celandine Tea – Use twice daily as an eyewash.
Prevention
As with all things it is much better to prevent cataracts than to have to treat them at a later date. A good wholesome diet is the first start. Supplement this with antioxidants, especially Vitamins A and E. A lot of bright light is thought to be a factor in producing cataracts so make sure that when your companion is outside they have access to shade. Some medications and health issues are also associated with this eye condition. Frequent use of steroids and diabetes both come to mind. If your companion is at risk from these, make sure they are getting a lot of antioxidants to help counteract the conditions.
There is one supplement that was formulated by an optometrist that has all of the vital nutrients for the eyes. It is called Able Eyes.
As always, the information given here is not intended to replace the advice given by your vet. It is intended to provide you with an education so that you can make an informed decision as to what is the best alternative for your companion.
If you have any questions or comments, or if you would like to know about anything in particular, please send an email to
Compassion in Action - Doni's Dogs
www.donisdogs.com
Today’s Site
When we think about working dogs, we think about a strong bond between the canine and his human partner. We assume that this is a dog that is loved and protected. After all, he is the main backup for an officer in need. Unfortunately that is not always the case. This time of year we hear of police K9s that have died locked in a hot car. Last year we heard about the officer in North Carolina who was videoed hanging and kicking his dog. Certainly this is not the standard for all K9 units. But there are some who employ at best, questionable training methods. We are the only voice these dogs may have. The offenders would like you to believe that they have to use the brutal methods to have control over these powerful animals, but there are others who testify that they are lies. There are police dogs that are trained with the clicker method of training and nothing else. The site today, stoplynching.com tells about one woman’s experience working in a police department in California. She tried, unsuccessfully, to have things changed, only to experience threats and ridicule from the very people who are suppose to be upholding the law. When you see Police K9s in action, don’t automatically assume that they are being abused, but also don’t automatically assume they are treated with the respect they deserve. If you suspect that anyone in your local force is abusing their K9 partner, please step forward and take the information to someone who can do something about it. They risk their lives to protect ours. It is the least we can do.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.allaboutvision.com/nutrition/flaxseed-oil.htm
http://www.hanoverhealth.co.uk/eyes.html
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/flaxseed-oil-000304.htm
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WFD-45JC82B-3K&_user=10&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F1998&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=b8ad5eb6eae1a3c83ca428cd9170c953
http://wisechoicemedicine.net/store/information.php?info_id=13
http://www.ethos.ag/
http://www.puretango.com/ocuphase.html
http://www.luckyvitamin.com/item/itemKey/54533?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=fpl&utm_term=SimilasanCataractCareHomeopathicEyeDrops10ml&utm_content=54533&utm_campaign=googlebase&site=google_base
http://www.naturaleyecare.com/store/detail.aspx?ID=1546
http://www.eyeadvisory.com/products.html
Today's Site
http://www.stoplynching.com
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