Immunocal for Eye Health

You might not know this, but glutathione (GSH) is important for the normal functioning of your eyes. Some of the earliest studies with GSH is focused on its role in preventing cataracts and it is well known among ophthalmologists.

Cataract is a clouding of your eye’s lens (lies behind your iris and pupil). Most cataracts develop when your age or injury changes the tissue that makes up your eye’s lens.

Did you know: it is the most common cause of vision loss in people over age 40 and is the principal cause of blindness in the world.

Oxidative stress plays a huge role in the ageing of your lens. So the key to cataract prevention is to boost your body’s level of glutathione and other antioxidants. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that is distinguished by its ability to interfere with the development of cataracts.

Studies have shown that cataract formation could be delayed or even prevented by elevated glutathione.

Macular degeneration is a condition whereby the central area of your retina (AKA the macula) deteriorates. It is responsible for focusing your central vision (this is needed for seeing fine detail, reading, driving and recognising facial features). Although the exact cause is not known, the contributing risk factors include age, obesity, oxidative stress, high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

Did you know: Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 50.

The elderly are predisposed to oxidative damage because they generally have low Glutathione levels. Research seems to indicate that high Glutathione levels correspond to healthy eyes and suggests a possible role for Glutathione in the fight against or delay of this disease.

Glaucoma is characterised by elevated fluid pressure in your eye. This then restricts the blood flow within your eye and leads to optical nerve damage. If left untreated, this will eventually lead to loss of eyesight (may lead to blindness within 5 years).

Many studies have indicated that low glutathione levels and oxidative stress lead to glaucoma onset and progression. Among some of them are:

• A significant correlation has been found between free radicals and oxidative stress in trabecular meshwork (eye’s drainage system) along with the resulting DNA damage and both intra-ocular pressure increase and visual field defects in patients with glaucoma. (Glaucomatous outflow pathways and oxidative stress. Sacca SC, Izzotti A et al. Exp Eye Res. 2007 Mar;84(3):389-399. Epub 2006 Dec 29.)
• Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a fundamental pathogenic role by reducing local antioxidant activities in the eye inducing outflow resistance. (Glaucomatous outflow pathways and oxidative stress.Sacca SC, Izzotti A et al. Exp Eye Res. 2007 Mar;84(3):389-399. Epub 2006 Dec 29.)
• Oxidative damage in the eye leads to apoptotic degeneration of retinal neurons and fluid accumulation. (Protective effects of melatonin in experimental free radical-related ocular diseases. Siu AW, Maldonado M et al. J Pineal Res. 2006 Mar;40(2):101-9.)

This shows the importance of glutathione in your cellular defence against oxidative stress in your eyes and there is a strong correlation between glaucoma and low glutathione levels. Unregulated oxidative stress happens when your intracellular glutathione is depleted.