Keto for eyes?

#1

I just started keto eating, I’m doing it because I saw a video by Dr. Berry about not eating sugar, grains or even fruit in excess due to glycation of amino acid in the lens of the eye. And even though commenters probably lie some of the time the comments went on and on about vision returning to that of younger years, preventing cataracts from getting worse, etc. all from going on keto diet. My eyes are getting worse every year. Looking at screens isn’t helping. So here I am. Anybody else doing this for their eyes?
Here’s the video:

(Cathy) #2

I have been at this for years and initially for weight loss but stayed for all the other benefits. As for eye health, I was told by my optometrist that I WILL get cataracts, it’s just a question of when. So far there is no sign of them. I am old.

My vision has improved with weaker prescriptions as the years go by but am told that is a natural aging process however, I am lucky enough to be able to read without lenses. I wear a single contact lens for distance. Been doing this ‘monovision’ for at least a decade.

(KM) #3

I get my eyes examined by an ophthalmologist every year, and I have been told I have cataracts that are not ready for operating. (I’m 61). This seems to have held steady with no progression for about five years, maybe a bit longer. (I’ve been doing keto on and off for about 10 years.) No better, but also no worse. I’m not sure if that start n stop progression is exceptional or to be expected, but as I can still see just fine, I’ll take “no worse” as a win!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #4

The notion that cataracts have to “ripen” is a silly one, in my view. They made me wait until I could barely see. It would have saved me a great deal of difficulty if they had operated earlier.

(Peter - Don't Fear the Fat ) #5

10 years ago I needed glasses for driving (distance vision) I got my eyes tested again because I could tell my prescription wasn’t right.
I assumed I needed stronger glasses, turns out I don’t need glasses at all!
Another Ketone success!

(Bob M) #6

This is a totally non-scientific answer, but I had one cataract in one eye and had a lens inserted. The ophthalmologist said I would be back for the other eye in a few months. It was 7 years later before I had the second one done, and it never got as bad as the first one. I was keto that entire time (and still am keto).

I have no idea whether keto helped or not. The doctor did say I was in the very low percentage (1 or 2 percent?) of people like this.

(KM) #7

Yes, I’m not sure why this is a thing. My assumption is that since medicare will cover the procedure, insurance companies have had a hand in suggesting early cataracts should be left alone to blind people til old age when they won’t have to pay out.

#8

I just turned 59. Last fall I had two cataract surgeries. They were only going to do one but offered the chance to take care of them both. After a decade of not being able to see anything beyond 6 feet, I chose to do both eyes and be done with it.

I had been clean Keto without a single deviation for 1-1/2 years prior to the surgeries. My eyesight never got better.

However, I wish I would have chosen different lenses. You are offered lenses that protect seeing far over seeing near, or vice versa. After never seeing far for so many years and never having glasses give me proper clear vision for distance over 6 feet, I made the knee-jerk decision to go for seeing far clearly. I was told that may mess up my near vision. And boy did it ever!! I’ve always had impeccable vision under 6 feet. Now after the surgeries I see fairly well in the distance, but am almost blind under 6 feet. I went from needing to wear glasses 30% of my day to almost 100% never realizing most of my focus is under 6 feet! I hate it. And the new prescription glasses doesn’t make any difference to my far vision without them. The new script was supposed to make my far vision almost perfect. Well compared to pre surgery, my distance vision is pretty great without glasses, but it’s not perfect and the script isn’t helping at all. The new glasses were expensive and a waste of money. Cheapo $15 readers from Amazon are better than my new glasses for my near vision too! Progressive lenses even but I can’t wear them because nothing is ever precisely in focus. But with my cheapo readers it is for up close.

I wonder had I chosen the other lenses that preserved my near vision, would my new glasses have improved my far vision enough to be better than it was before surgery? I’ll never know. Tough decision to make I swear! For cataract surgery in both eyes if you choose far vision lenses hold off on buying prescription glasses for at least a year. You’ll do fine with readers.

But Keto? I see no improvement in my vision from Keto.

#9

Yes I’ve read vision gets better as one gets older as well. Good job avoiding cataracts.,:+1:

#10

Some people feel that way, some don’t. I hate really high eye pressure when I ate standard keto, didn’t go away until I started working in carbs around workouts. It was high enough that a lens crafters wouldn’t do my yearly eye checkup and sent me into a specialist, and that’s when they found I had cataracts. Pretty much stay the same for 2 more years, it’s normal now.

Pretty sure you can’t reverse cataracts.

#11

I think low carb is just part of the equation. I noticed in the video Dr. Berry made a point of saying uv light isn’t harmful to eyes then stopped there. I wondered about this myself. I used to be on the road for years delivering pers. My eyes were really good but I finally quit and pretty much stayed indoors a lot. I believe our eyes really need light. I found yet another strange practice called sun gazing. (I love to read about stuff like this) It’s fascinating and I was surprised to read it’s supposed to clear cataracts. You’re supposed to do it barefoot with your feet touching the earth not just a floor or concrete. It’s supposed to energize you. I immediately thought of Tesla and his free energy experiments. I know it sounds nutty but it seems kind of true to me.
And of course drinking pure distilled water which is like rain water. Sun, clean water, good food, and moving our bodies These seem like pillars of health and happy living.
I know I’m a little odd but read up on sun gazing. Here’s a fun video of a man I believe is from India. I have lots of Indian friends so I could understand him through his accent. There are doctor videos as well but this old guy was more fun to listen to. I know I’m off topic. Oh well.

(Geoffrey) #12

My prescription has not changed after over a year as carnivore but I do believe my floaters have reduced by a bunch. My last exam showed a cataract forming so time will tell if it progresses. I have no intention of eating any way else so I’ll be my N of 1.
I have lost my day blindness. It’s been amazing. Where I couldn’t walk out the door without sunglasses on regardless of the cloud cover I haven’t worn sunglasses for over six months now except when I’m riding my motorcycle and that’s for self defense not the sun.

#13

That’s fantastic. I only have to wear sunglasses on very sunny days when facing the direction of the sun. It’s a little hazy hazy away from it. But it gets better the longer I’m outside. And I’ve noticed my eyes will tear a bit after going out in the sun if I’m out only five minutes. I have dry eyes so the tearing feels great.
When I was in my car for 8 or more hours a day my eyes were fine. Now I’m only outside just to do errands. So I’m making a point to be in the sun at least an hour every day. I can’t find the site I saw it on but it was an eye doctor’s site and it said in large font. “sunlight is a nutrient”
I’ve only been doing ultra low carbs for 4 days. Your story encourages me. For those who haven’t had results the problem with theie eyes may have a different diagnosis than sugar glycation or acidosis. Keep researching. You’ll find the answer.
I’ll be a guinea pig for sun gazing. It’s facinating. But that’s another forum.

#14

Interesting! I just had my eyes checked and they said I scored a 1/10 in cataracts. The Dr also said that wearing sunglasses outside helps delay cataracts. Wish I had been told this a few decades ago.
I was far-sighted for most of my life. Mid-forties I began to need reading glasses. I was told then that people get more near-sighted as they age. Don’t know if that’s true. I still have amazing distance vision, but need help reading. Can’t say if keto has helped delay cataracts.

(Robin) #15

Keto can “cure’ or delay many things. But life still happens.
I too have developed cataracts. I might not mess with the surgery, but it has definitely stopped me driving at night.

So, I will eventually get that procedure.

(Brian) #16

This is an interesting topic!

My wife just had both eyes done in the last couple of months, her cataracts were significant and she’s seeing better than she has in many years.

While I won’t get stupid about “what keto can do”, it does puzzle me that there are not more non-surgical methods to dealing with cataracts. Then again, these eye surgeries are a huge cash cow for the Dr.s that do them.

While I’m still doing OK, if I live long enough, my turn is coming. Or… will there be alternative non-surgical methods that will become more available till I get that far?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #17

Actually, it used to be that people got more far-sighted. That’s why presyopia (old-folks’ eyes) is the opposite of myopia (near-sighted).

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #18

Well, keto can lower intra-ocular pressure, according to a number of studies, but I doubt it can reverse the nerve damage (glaucoma). Or perhaps it can, to some extent, but nerves heal so slowly that it’s very hard to measure nerve healing. Also, I suspect that keto can prevent or delay the worsening of cataracts, but reversing them? Not likely, so far as I can figure.

#19

Super interesting! Thank you. I believe it is also a lower percentage of people too that are far-sighted, correct? Rather like being left-handed. It would be interesting to see the changes over generations.

(KM) #20

There are actually two separate causes of being unable to see close up. Congenitally this occurs if the eyeball is too short front to back. The clear image falls beyond the retina. This is called hyperopia, and it’s much less common (about 10% of the us population is hyperopic, vs. nearly 40% at least mildly myopic).

image

In presbyopia, the eyeball is the proper shape but the natural flexibility of the lens that allows us to adjust our close focal point is decreased. This happens to most people as they age, resulting in a need for reading glasses.

(So unfortunately it’s possible to be both myopic and presbyopic at the same time. This is known as CSSA. (Can’t See Shit Anymore.) :wave:)

My own guess is that none of these conditions would be much affected by ketosis or a ketogenic diet, although perhaps lens flexibility could be better maintained?

Cataracts are caused by accumulated glycation and oxidation of the lenses. I can see how that could potentially be decreased or at least arrested by diet, especially glycation, assuming the issue is with a film sticking to the exterior of the lens. I don’t suppose it hurts to hope!