Curcumin for Glaucoma, Uveitis, and Macular Degeneration

curcumin-turmeric.jpgCurcumin is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory spice. Inflammation plays a role in many eye conditions, including uveitis, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Used for millennia in Indian cooking, curcumin is the main ingredient in turmeric. Turmeric gives mustard its yellow color.  When combined with black pepper, this spice is easier to absorb. You can use turmeric in cooking and take it as a supplement.

Uveitis Curcumin Study

Uveitis is inflammation of the uvea, the eye’s middle layer. Symptoms may include redness, floaters, sensitivity to light, blurring or pain. Untreated, uveitis can permanently damage vision. In a small study,1 uveitis patients who had curcumin alone had no side-effects and less recurrence. Conversely, patients given the spice with an antitubercular treatment had side-effects and a higher recurrence rate.

Glaucoma Study

Optic nerve damage from glaucoma has several probable causes, including oxidative stress. Curcumin protected the optic nerve against oxidative damage in a study.2

  • In animal embryos, neuro-protective microglia cell tissue was exposed to oxidative stress. Curcumin provided statistically significant protection against damage.
  • Elevated IOP is associated with many cases of glaucoma. Scientists induced mildly elevated intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in animals. The animals who ingested curcumin had less pressure increase than the controls.

Macular Degeneration Studies

The macula breaks down in macular degeneration, resulting in central vision loss. The protein vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) might be valuable because it regulates cell death. Therefore, VEGF is the subject of many new studies. Researchers have found that curcumin inhibits VEGF and cell death.3 Blue light damage from the sun is a suspected contributor to macular degeneration. Curcumin helped prevent damage to human retinal pigment cells.4


Source: Daily Dose of Eye Care

https://www.lvcenter4sight.com/curcumin-for-glaucoma-uveitis-and-macular-degeneration/

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