Nearsightedness, or myopia, is an eye disorder much more common among Western literate peoples. Nearsightedness is also known as myopia, while farsightedness is known as hyperopia. The epidemics of nearsightedness are due mostly to changes in lifestyle. As kids spend more time indoors, on computers or watching TV, there will be more cases of nearsightedness. Nearsightedness is on the increase in most places, but in countries such as Singapore it has reached extraordinary levels. There, 80 per cent of 18-year-old male army recruits have nearsightedness, up from 25 per cent just 30 years ago. There is also an increasing incidence of severe nearsightedness, which can lead to blindness.

Natural Supplements for Nearsightedness - Nutrition for Eye Health
The lens, retina, macula, and other parts of the eye involved in eyesight can be protected with the proper intake of antioxidants. Almost all the antioxidants likely have a positive influence on eye health. Of particular importance are vitamins C, E, selenium, and the carotenoids found in fruits and vegetables. Two particular carotenoids, called lutein and zeaxanthin, play an important role in protecting eye tissue in the macula from damage by free radicals. Corn, eggs, green leafy vegetables, peppers, red grapes and pumpkins are some of the foods rich in lutein and zeazanthin. You can also find carotenoids and flavonoids in many herbs, including milk thistle and bilberry. Bilberry contains compounds known as anthocyanidins which could help with nearsightedness. I have formulated a product called Eyesight Rx that not only provides proper nutrition for eye health, but it also improves vision, often within hours or days. Some people with nearsightedness report improvement in their vision.

Improve Nearsightedness Naturally
I am glad to report that the proper use of many nutrients can help restore, at least partially, the magic of seeing that you may have long forgotten existed. After you try this eyesight supplement, take an eyesight test on a Snellen chart to see if your nearsightedness is better.

Eyesight Rx for Nearsightedness help
Supports Healthy Eyesight
Physician Formulas
Developed by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Unlike some vision products that provide nutrients and herbs for long term healthy eyesight support, and prevention of visual impairment, but don't seem to have much of an immediate effect on visual acuity, Eyesight Rx was formulated to provide a quick and noticeable eyesight improvement within hours or days.

Reports from Eyesight Rx users indicate enhanced clarity of vision, colors being brighter, better focus, and overall improvement in close and distance vision. We've had reports of some people noticing this effect within a few hours, while most people notice improved eyesight within several days.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
Citrus bioflavonoids
       (eriocitrin, hesperidin, flavonols, flavones, flavonoids, naringenin, and quercetin)
Mixed carotenoids
       (astaxanthin, beta carotene, cryptoxanthin, Lutein, Lycopene,  Zeaxanthin)
Bilberry extract (Vaccinium myrtillus) contains anthocyanins which protect the retina.
Eyebright extract (Euphrasia officianales)
Jujube extract (Zizyphus jujube)
Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo biloba)
Suma extract (Pfaffia paniculata)
Mucuna pruriens extract (Cowhage)
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
Lycium berry extract (Lycium Barbarum)
Sarsaparila (Sarsaparilla Smilax)
Alpha Lipoic Acid is a powerful antioxidant that enhances glucose use in brain and eye cells.

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Subscribe to a FREE Supplement Research Update newsletter  Twice a month we email you a brief abstract of several new studies on various supplements and natural medicine topics, including nearsightedness and farsightedness, and their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Cause of Nearsightedness or Nearsighted Vision
Close reading for prolonged periods, or computer work, increases the risk for nearsightedness. Nearsightedness is rare among indigenous illiterate populations who do not spend time reading. Contrary to popular belief, people in east Asia are no more genetically susceptible to eye nearsightedness than any other population group.
     There is little doubt about at least one underlying cause. Children now spend much of their time focusing on close objects, such as books and computers. To compensate the eyeball is thought to grow longer. That way less effort is needed to focus up close, but the elongated eye can no longer focus on distant objects.
       Children who are breastfed are about fifty percent less likely to be nearsighted. Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA, a substance found in breast milk, could be the main element that improves early visual development in babies, resulting in more ordered eyeball growth which then reduces the development or severity of nearsightedness. Nearsightedness is the most common eye problem. It affects as much as 40 percent of the population in the United States and Europe but between 70 and 90 percent of some Asian populations such as Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong. DHA is important for the development of photoreceptor cells in the retina, which play a major role in whether children become develop nearsightedness. Researchers studied 797 children aged between 10 to 12 years in Singapore as part of the survey. They were given medical tests and also had to answer a series of questions including the number of books they read per week. The study, led by the Singapore Eye Research Institute, found that the risk of nearsightedness in a child who was breastfed is 0.6 times that of child that was not, even after taking other factors into account. While genetic variation was seen to be the culprit of nearsightedness among children, soaring rates of the condition have led more researchers to believe it is the rise in watching television, playing computers games and reading that is to blame.

Nearsightedness treatment
Herbs and natural supplements can help for nearsighted vision. See Eyesight Rx. In cases where the nearsightedness is mild, certain natural supplements can offer a nearsightedness cure. A nearsightedness cure is unreasonable to expect if the condition is a moderate or severe case of nearsightedness. Nearsightedness treatment with LASIK surgery, is of course, an excellent option.

Nearsightedness - Myopia - Research Update
Refractive status of indigenous people in the northwestern Amazon region of Brazil.
Optom Vis Sci. 2005 Apr;82(4):267-72.
Thorn F, Cruz AA, Machado AJ, Carvalho RA.
New England College of Optometry, Boston, Massachusetts
The purpose of this study was to investigate the refractive status of the illiterate indigenous people of the upper Rio Negro region of the Amazon rain forest in northwestern Brazil. METHODS: From an overall sample of 486 people, 259 indigenous people and 78 Brazilians between 12 and 59 years of age with no compromising optical opacities were refracted with cycloplegic retinoscopy. Subjects were categorized as indigenous if they had at least three generations of indigenous ancestry with no folklore suggesting other ancestors. RESULTS: Nearsightedness was rare among the indigenous population. Only 2.7% of eyes showed Nearsightedness of -1.00 D or more and 1.6% (four people) had bilateral Nearsightedness of -1.00 D or more. Half of this small group were the only educated indigenous people examined. The prevalence of astigmatism and anisometropia equal to or >1.00 D was 15.5% and 8.2%, respectively. Most of the astigmatism in the indigenous people had an against-the-rule axis. Age was not associated with the refractive errors of the indigenous people. Brazilians from the small city in which the study was performed had higher rates of Nearsightedness (6.4% of eyes and 5.1% of subjects bilaterally). Older preeducation adults also had a very low prevalence of Nearsightedness (3.2% of eyes and 2.0% of subjects), whereas the younger, slightly educated Brazilians had a higher prevalence of Nearsightedness (11.3% of eyes and 9.7% of subjects). CONCLUSION: The low prevalence of nearsightedness in the illiterate indigenous people is consistent with other studies and suggests that Nearsightedness is related to literacy. The generational change among the local mixed race Brazilians further supports this conclusion. The relatively high rates of astigmatism and anisometropia in the indigenous people were unusual for a predominantly emmetropic sample.

[Role of astigmatism in the creation of Nearsightedness]
Klin Oczna. 2003;105(6):385-6.
To determine, whether the presence of astigmatism has an influence on the creation of nearsightedness. A total of 167 people with Nearsightedness (117 women and 50 men) of the age between 12 and 51 were examined. The overall average age was 24. Routine ophthalmological examinations, keratometry as well as refractometry were carried out. The data was analysed using the coefficient of rang Spearman's correlation and the coefficient of linear Pearson's correlation. RESULTS: A negative correlation was found between the corneal astigmatism and Nearsightedness progress. A positive correlation was observed between total astigmatism and Nearsightedness. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal and total astigmatism predisposes the progress of Nearsightedness.

Prevalence rate of nearsightedness in schoolchildren in rural Mongolia.
Optom Vis Sci. 2006 Jan;83(1):53-6.
The prevalence of nearsightedness among some young Asian populations has been reported to be increasing to near epidemic proportions. Mongolia is an emerging Asian economy with limited ophthalmic resources. The purpose of this study was to define a level of nearsightedness for school-aged children in rural Mongolia. The total prevalence of nearsightedness (more than -0.5 D spherical equivalent) was 5.8%. Female students exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of nearsightedness in comparison to male students: 8% compared with 3%, respectively. The prevalence rate of nearsightedness in Mongolia is low in comparison to other Far Eastern countries.

Myopia Nearsightedness correction emails
Q. Have you heard of any supplements (or Rx meds that improve eyesight, particularly Nearsightedness?
    A. We are not aware of any supplements that cure severe nearsightedness but some nutrients such as fish oils, carotenoids, flavonoids, ginkgo, and anthocyanidins, can help improve nearsightedness.

Myopia link
Presbyopia
Farsightedness
Strabismus

Q. Does Eyesight Rx cure nearsightedness? I am becoming very nearsighted after starting college.
     A. Eyesight Rx helps nearsightedness as long as the tablets are used, and often for several days after stopping the tablets. However, Eyesight Rx is not a cure for nearsightedness as laser surgery LASIK would be.

Q. I'm nearsighted, would Eyesight Rx help?
   A. Perhaps. Some people who are nearsighted find it helpful, others don't.

Q. We recently found out that our son age 9 has nearsightedness. His vision is 20/40 or so. I was wondering if Eyesight Rx will help him either reverse the nearsightedness or at least help so his vision won't get any worse and stay the same.
   A. It is impossible for us to predict any particular person's response regarding nearsightedness treatment. Eyesight Rx was formulated for adults. If his doctor approves, he can take half or a third of an adult dose.