Yes, why do we naturally assume that if we have poor vision, that we are helpless to do anything about it except get corrective glasses to compensate? Our vision just seems to get worse as we get older.

For instance, regarding Glaucoma, you will find a list of prescription drugs that have been associated to the development of glaucoma, and the different types. You will find recommended conventional treatments, a list of symptoms, other causes, associated studies and further recommended reading sources for you.

Since it is considered that most eye conditions to be a reflection of the health of the whole body, according to Dr. Marc Grossman, lifestyle choices and diet can play a major factor in maintaining good vision. Below are some of his self- help recommendations.

How is your eye pressure? Studies show patients can reduce their eye pressure by five to seven millimeters with an improved diet and supplement program. In general, a diet high in betacarotene, vitamins C and E, and sulfur-bearing amino acids are recommended.

Foods containing those nutrients include garlic, onions, beans, spinach, celery, turnips, yellow and orange vegetables, green leafy vegetables, seaweed, apples, oranges and tomatoes.

For Diabetic Retinopathy, again you will find all of the above topics covered and the self-help integrative recommendations are: the daily juicing of vegetables and fruits (preferably organic).

Their diabetes recipe is a combination of the following: ginger, garlic, asparagus, leeks, spinach, jerusalem artichokes, parsley, pumpkin, beets, celery, cabbage, carrots, chlorophyll, raspberries (not too much fruit).

-Drink 6-8 glasses of purified water daily. Something at least as pure as reverse osmosis filtered water, but not distilled.

-Eat cold water fish (including mackerel, salmon, sardines) two to three times a week.

-Increase fiber in your diet, and eat meals slowly.

-Reduce or eliminate refined sugars, drinking caffeine and sodas, avoid aspartame (labeled diet foods)

-Also avoid man made fats (corn oil and safflower oil, trans fats and hydrogenated vegetable oils including canola oil).

-Eliminate deep fat fried foods, monosodium glutanate (MSG) used as a flavor enhancer which is a potential retinal toxin and fat blockers like Olestra which impair the absorption of carotenoids.

-Limit your alcohol consumption to 1 glass of red wine at night. Alcohol interferes with liver functions, reducing protective glutathione levels.

-Eliminate smoking. Smoking among other things produces cyanide, a retinal toxin.

-Avoid cortisone which elevates blood sugar.

-Take digestive aids in their natural form if needed to improve digestion.

-Limit the amount of medications (both prescription and non-prescription as much as possible. Make sure to work closely with your doctor.

-Exercise daily - do at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise daily. Walking and swimming are two excellent forms of exercise.

-Short list of eye exercises:

The palming exercise will teach you to relax your eyes, which in turn will bring healthy energy to your eyes.

First, rub your hands together until they feel warm (about 15 to 20 seconds). Then place your cupped hands over your closed eyes, being careful not to touch your eyes with the palms of your hands. The fingers of each hand should overlap and rest gently on the center of your forehead. Don't create any unnecessary pressure on your face. If your arms get tired, rest your elbows on a table.

Sit quietly for one to two minutes with your hands over your eyes. The more relaxed you become, the blacker the darkness you will see with your eyes closed.

Near-far focus - this exercise improves eye flexibility:
Hold your thumb six inches from your nose. Focus on your thumb. Take one deep breath and exhale slowly. Then focus on an object about 10 feet away. Take another deep breath and slowly exhale. Repeat back and forth 15 times

Scanning - this exercise helps you increase the flexibility of your eyes.
Sitting or standing at one end of a room, let your eyes scan around the edges of objects in the room - clocks, televisions, doors, lights, computers, etc. The object of this exercise is to keep your eyes moving in a loose and fluid way. Do this exercise for two minutes. Remember to breathe.

Hydrotherapy-
Place a bowl of hot water and a bowl of cold water in front of you. The hot water should be hot but not so hot that it burns you. The cold water should be ice cold, so either put ice cubes in it or get it out of the refrigerator. Put a wash cloth in each bowl. Place the wash cloth from the bowl of hot water against your closed eyes for 30 seconds.

Then do the same with the wash cloth from the bowl of cold water. Continue to alternate the hot and cold wash cloths. Finish by gently massaging your closed eyes with a dry towel. Do this for two minutes.

Head Rolls - this exercise is to relax your neck, head and face muscles and reduce shoulder tension.
Take a deep breath and close your eyes. On the exhale, slowly drop your chin to your chest. Relax your neck and shoulders. As you inhale deeply again, slowly and gently roll your head around to the left, then back, keeping your shoulders still and relaxed.

Make movements slow, careful and deliberate. Now exhale full as you roll your head to the other side and down to your chest again. Repeat this sequence twice then change directions and repeat twice more.

-Managing your stress is very important in maintaining physical health. Try meditation, yoga, tai chi, walks in nature, or prayer on a daily basis.

Look up what Dr. Grossman recommends that you can do if you have symptoms of:

-Best's Disease
-Binocular Conditions
-Blepharitis
-Blepharospasm
-Cataracts
-Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO)
-Central Serous Retinopathy (Choroidopathy)
-Choroidal Neovascularization
-Computer Eye Syndrome
-Cone-Rod Dystrophy
-Conjunctivitis
-Dark Circles Under the Eyes
-Dry Eyes
-Eye Infections
-Floaters
-Fuch's Dystrophy
-Glaucoma
-Iritis
-Keratoconus
-Lattice Degeneration
-Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy
-Light Sensitivity
-Macular Degeneration
-Macular Edema
-Macular Hole
-Myopia (Nearsightedness)
-Night blindness (Poor Night Vision)
-Ocular Migraine (Visual Migraine)
-Optic Nerve Atrophy
-Optic Neuritis
-Presbyopia
-Pterygium
-Retinal Artery Occlusion
-Retinal Tear/Detachment
-Retinitis Pigmentosa
-Rod-Cone Dystrophy
-Stargardt's Disease
-Strabismus
-Styes
-Ushers Syndrome
-Uveitis
-Vitreous Detachment

Dr. Marc Grossman