Dry Eyes and Eye Fatigue In PwP and Significant Relief

[chartist]

Dry eyes are a common issue for PwP and may actually be one of the earliest symptoms prior to diagnosis as outlined in the following articles :

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/193...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/160...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/211...

parkinsonsnewstoday.com/201...

ajmc.com/view/patients-with...

parkinson.org/Understanding...

parkinsonsdisease.net/clini...

aan.com/PressRoom/Home/Pres...

One possible solution to dry eyes and eye fatigue is the regular use of Maqui Berry Extract as the following two studies suggest :

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/252...

This second study is a 2019 Randomized, placebo Controlled double blind trial that confirms that Maqui Berry Extract in the form of "MaquiBright" is very effective for dry eyes and eye fatigue which is another common issue in PwP :

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Here are some links to several products at the best dose (60 mg/day) found in the studies :

vitacost.com/life-extension...

amazon.com/Tear-Support-Maq...

Based on the study and reviews, it sounds like it takes about 30 days to start seeing benefit and that benefit increases by the 60th day. Make sure it is the "extract version".

Art

[Despe]

Art,

Is there a Maqui Berry extract eye drop? Joe (of New York) had recommended Trehalose 3% eye drops. My husband has been using these drops and seem to be good, no complaints.

[chartist in reply to Despe]

Hi Despe,

The pills at one per day is all that is needed as they work from the inside to actually increase natural lubrication of the eyes. That is why they are not available in drops. For some people, who have to apply drops multiple times per day, the one pill per day will be more convenient and they help alleviate eye fatigue also.

Art

[Despe in reply to chartist]

I understand, Art. However, I am trying to avoid adding another pill to his long list of supplements. I will mention it to him and see how he feels.

Thanks for another excellent post. You are tireless.

[chartist in reply to Despe]

Despe,

I know he has problems with pills and caps, so drops may be the best approach in his case. You know, "if it ain't broke".

Art

[Despe in reply to chartist]

Art, no problems swallowing, he just hates the quantity!

[fifthbird]

I've been using the Life Extension supplement you link to above for about three years. I take one capsule every morning and I can say for sure it has helped me. My dry eyes improved after I started taking it and if I go off the supplement they get worse.

[chartist in reply to fifthbird]

Hi fifthbird,

Thank you for the useful feedback! It is good to know that the results are durable and last indefinitely after the 60 day results from the second trial! Very good to know!

Art

[fifthbird in reply to chartist]

Yes. Good results for this sample of one!

[faridaro]

Thank you Art for another gem!

[chartist in reply to faridaro]

faridaro,

As usual, you are very kind to say so!

Art

[Farooqji]

Thanks for sharing. Thanks also to fifthburd for sharing your experience. Any one else on this forum who has benefitted from it can post their experience as well

[chartist in reply to Farooqji]

You're very welcome, iqbaliqbal!

Art

[WinnieThePoo]

I have a lot of experience of this, especially when experiencing an ulcarating cornea ( eventually replaced with a graft. In my case this was all due to an injury playing badminton, but the solution is equally effective for my wife

Lubricating drops ( I use celluvisc preservative free) are very effective.

[chartist in reply to WinnieThePoo]

Ricardo,

Is this the one you are talking about?

amazon.com/Refresh-Celluvis...

Art

[WinnieThePoo in reply to chartist]

Yes I think so. I've created an eyedrops thread with a photo of mine. It's a different box but the same drop in the uk

[Zella23]

Both myself and my husband have this condition, mine from LASIK surgery and my husband from PD and I have been through almost every make of eye Drops/products plus supplements, but not this one.

Found one on Amazon UK so going to give it a try and see how we go.

[chartist in reply to Zella23]

Zella23,

Please keep us posted on how it works for you!

Art

[Zella23 in reply to chartist]

Will do.

[chartist in reply to Zella23]

Be sure it is the extract version and allow 30 days to start to see benefit.

Art

[Zella23 in reply to chartist]

The product says extract, should arrive on Wednesday, I ll keep you updated. Thanks for the info, really helpful information.

[Parkie-]

Thank you Art.

I have had a hard time opening my eyes every morning for a few months, so I certainly will give it a try. I have a hard time swallowing capsules but I see there are lots of powder offers for maqui berry.

And it seems to be a good anti-inflammatory, anti oxydant, good for gut health and more :

healthline.com/nutrition/ma...

Thank you Art for taking the time to find and post for pwp. You're great!

[chartist in reply to Parkie-]

You're welcome Parkie!

Don't forget that they used the extract version in those two studies. Maybe he can get the extract version and open the capsule and sprinkle the contents into something like yogurt?

Art

[Parkie- in reply to chartist]

Thank you for this, no, I hadn't noticed it was the extract...

[Dragona]

Thank you just ordered as my husband has a terrible problem with dry eyes

[chartist in reply to Dragona]

Dragona,

Please let us know how it works for your husband. Based on the studies and reviews, it takes about 30 days to start noticing the effect and then by 60 days the effect is even greater.

Art

[Dragona in reply to chartist]

I certainly will, he suffers very badly in fact we have an appointment tomorrow at the hospital but nothing ever works

[Despe]

Art,

On another tune, I know you don't have Mercola in high esteem but this is an excellent post, especially the comments!

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

[chartist in reply to Despe]

Hi Despe,

Actually I think he does some very good articles, but that one really surprised me because I felt that his research team did very little research on the subject and even his comments seemed minimal compared to what he usually does. It was more of a blurb than a report. I had to read it twice to make sure I read it correctly as I was in disbelief.

The only thing I used to have a problem with was when he used to push his supplements, but he has cut way back on that and it is no longer an issue. Realistically though, he has to generate revenue in order to stay in business, so I understand why the need .

An article on melatonin for Covid-19 seems very appropriate now based on what scientists are saying about the potential downside of Covaflu this Fall and Winter.

No need to convince me of the value of melatonin as I am a huge fan!

I hope more people like him who have a large following do the same so that more people can be made aware of the value of melatonin in dealing with Covid-19, pneumonia and the flu.

The hospital trial he is referring to in the beginning of his article is in Manila and that trial only had 10 patients. The results of that initial trial were so good that they decided to do another larger trial of 300 patients with Covid-19 + Covid pneumonia. That suggests a lot of confidence in melatonin by the team of doctors conducting the trial, but these are generally the patients who have a higher death rate as well as the cytokine storm and often end up requiring a ventilator. In any case this study could have results as early as Halloween.

Thank you for the article, Despe! I am very glad that the word is getting out about melatonin and Covid-19. I still believe that if you were trying to design a drug that would be very effective against Covid-19, melatonin would check most if not all of the boxes. Melatonin also seems likely to save lives from Covaflu.

Gui is well versed on melatonin and I agree with the majority of what he said.

Art

[Despe in reply to chartist]

Art, I couldn't agree more with you. Randall is another excellent commentator. He's got his own site. His theme is VITAMIN C.

[Godiv]

Art, thank you so much for that information. Like other folks are saying, dry eyes are so painful. I use Restasis and it’s expensive. Plus I have to trundle into the doctor periodically for refills. I will definitely check into this and really appreciate it. In fact I’ve got a bottle of the supplement in my Amazon cart as we speak. Thanks again so much!

[chartist in reply to Godiv]

Godiv,

I was just reading the side effects of Restasis/Cyclosporine drops and if you happen to get any of those side effects, some sound worse than the dry eyes you are trying to treat. The generic cyclosporine form is much cheaper. Here is a link to side effects of Restasis :

drugs.com/sfx/restasis-side...

The Maqui Bright seems less likely to have such side effects. Please don't forget to get the extract form, it takes about 30 days to start getting benefit and to come back and let us know how it worked for you. Good luck!

Art

[Godiv in reply to chartist]

Oh, yuck! Okay, thanks so much. I appreciate the info and advice. I wondered about Restasis and had felt like it's just another possibly dangerous drug piled in there :(. Thank you for the extract reminder -- gotta check that.

[NRyan]

Thank you! I have an issue with my right eye. It becomes fatigued and starts to bother me a bit. I do know I have dry eyes. I was wondering if there was anything I could do with my right eye. This is perfect timing! Thanks for the research and info!

[chartist]

You're welcome!

Assuming your vision balance is fine, then according to those two studies, MaquiBright shows good potential to help with the right eye fatigue and deal with the dry eyes!

Art

[NRyan in reply to chartist]

I just went to the eye dr. My eyes are fine. I didn't mention the right eye issue as my eye dr does not know I have PD. He said my eyes look good except the dryness. I'm going to start taking the supplement and see if it helps.

[chartist in reply to NRyan]

Be sure to get the extract version and allow 30 days to see benefit with additional benefit by 60 days according to the studies.

Art

[laglag in reply to chartist]

I just saw this post. I'm going to order some. Do you know if it helps other eye problems like macular degeneration which my dad has or pterygium which is what I have, in addition to dry eyes?

[chartist in reply to laglag]

Hi laglag,

I have not seen anything mentioned about the use of Maqui Berry for age related macular degeneration or for pterygium.

Melatonin may help for the age related macular degeneration as outlined here :

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/163...

They only used a low dose of 3 mg of melatonin. Melatonin at 10 mg is already proven to help PwP.

and here is another :

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/323...

and one more:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/321...

Pterygium which are sometimes referred to as surfer's eye are tough if not impossible to get rid of short of surgery. Some people have claimed to have used castor oil or apple cider vinegar for these, but I have never seen them actually work. Surgery can work, but pterygium can come back after the surgery.

Art

[laglag in reply to chartist]

Thanks for your reply. I did have surgery and unfortunately it came back. I'll give the extract a try for my dry eyes. I hate eye drops! Thanks again!

[Farooqji]

Has anyone tested this? Please update

[Parkie- in reply to Farooqji]

I have. It started to work within a few days. No more difficulty / pain opening my eyes when waking up in the morning. And as a bonus, it seems to help with constipation. Thanks Art!

[Farooqji in reply to Parkie-]

Thanks for the feedback

[chartist in reply to Parkie-]

Hi Parkie,

Thank you for the feedback and I am glad to hear that the Maqui Berry Extract worked so quickly for you. In the studies it seemed to take a bit longer. The help with constipation is certainly an unexpected bonus! Maqui Berry is thought to improve the gut biome, but in your instance, the response seems fairly quick! Good luck and please update us if you notice other benefits or changes!

Art

[laglag]

Art, If you don't have too much of a problem with constipation, will it give you the opposite of constipation?

laglag

[chartist in reply to laglag]

laglag,

That was not a side effect reported in the study and another forum member who reported using Maqui Berry did not complain of such a side effect.

Art

[Farooqji]

Any feedback from the ones that are using it is requested

[MichelleHarris in reply to Farooqji]

My Eye Specialist Professor has put me on Flax Seed Oil capsules ( at least 3 a day) rather than Cod Liver Oil. They have found greater benefits for dry eyes from Flax Seed Oil x