Cure Eye Floaters Naturally (Remedies from around the Web)

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Eye Floater Remedies
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I’ve had eye floaters for years, I haven’t been aware of them though for at least a year, but recently on a walk to the park, I noticed them again, so decided to create this post to bring it back to my conscious awareness and see what natural remedies people have used, and whether I can get rid of them, or see if they “change” at all. I am also curious as to whether they have actually just not been there and if something that I’ve changed in my diet has caused them to “come back” or whether they were always there, and I just didn’t notice them before.

I thought they looked like parasites, and never knew that they were really little pieces of ‘gel’ floating around in my eye fluid, so if they really are gel, then it’s less likely they have “come and gone” and more likely that they must’ve always been there and my focus just never noticed them for a time. But I’m still curious as to whether this fluid can be dissolved or whether they change in any way and whether they can be removed naturally. The only way to figure that out, is to first investigate & then start trying what others are suggesting :)

This page will collate my list of findings/suggestions, I’ll try and debunk the rumours, and this post will be an ongoing project.

I’ll also cross off things that are part of my regular diet/lifestyle – not that I believe they won’t help and I care very much for total cell healing so even if it doesn’t help for floaters, it probably is necessary for whole-body cell healing, but just to make it obvious that even though these specific things are a part of my daily or almost daily part of my life, I still have eye floaters.

All sources are located at the very end of this page with direct links to the content, websites have hyperlinks to original articles and books that were sourced do not.

Eye Floaters
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Eye Floaters
Image Source: Wikipedia.org




First Updated: Feb 21st, 2014

Last Updated: Feb 9th, 2015

On this page you will find:
What are Eye Floaters? | Causes | Diet | Supplements | Herbs | Eye Exercises | Lifestyle | Reflexology | Acupuncture | Other | What I’m ruling out | What I’m trying | References

What are Eye Floaters?

Floaters are little bits of matter that break off from the wall of the eyeball and float about within the eye itself. As we age, the space within the eyeball & the retina contain vitreous humor (a clear gel substance of 99% water & 1% hyaluronic acid & elements of collagen). When we are born and throughout our youth, the vitreous has a gel-like consistency. But as we age, the vitreous begins to dissolve and liquefy to create a watery centre. Little pieces of the gel break out from the surrounding vitreous humor & begin to float in the core, between your lens & retina causing them to cause shadows on your retina. Your retina sends messages to your brain about these shadows that your brain perceives as images, and these images are what you see as floaters. (01) (02)

See Eye Floater Simulator @ http://anthonyantonellis.com/floaters/ (03)

Causes (according to different web sources):

  1. The inner part of your eye is made up of a clear, jelly-like fluid known as the vitreous. Occasionally, small flecks of protein and other matter become trapped in the vitreous during the formation of the eye before birth and remain in the vitreous body. New floaters are caused by the deterioration of the eye fluid or its surrounding structures as we age, or by certain injuries or eye diseases. (04)
  2. Eye floaters are a combination of protein and in some cases, microscopic drops associated with blood. Although most are harmless, they can indicate the existence of a far more serious underlying condition, like a detached retina. Diabetics should be especially watchful if they develop vision floaters as this could be an indication of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, which can result in bleeding in the eyes. (05)
  3. There is a clear, gel-like fluid called vitreous humor inside your eye. If some of this vitreous gel clumps together, you may see floaters. It often seems as though they dart away when you try to focus on them and look at them. Although they may be bothersome, floaters do eventually become less noticeable and are benign. They are usually most common amongst the elderly and nearsighted people. (06)
  4. Lack of Quality Sleep, Eye Strain, Lack of adequate Nutrition & Smoking (07)
  5. When a molecule is affected by free radicals, molecular bonds are broken and as far as we know right now, they do not mend themselves. If we believe that free radical toxicity is the cause of these protein breakdowns, then it seems logical that anything that is going to decrease free radical toxicity could be beneficial to prevention. (08)
  6. Liver malfunction is a common cause of eye problems. Keep it clean & well-functioning. Common Causes: Liver malfunctioning, environmental pollutants, allergies, poor diet deficient in usable proteins & minerals, excessive in sugars & refined foods, thyroid problems, series illness, prescription & other drug abuse. (09) (10)
  7. Eyestrain, mental strain, staring, poor diet, sugar, can cause floaters. Shifting, central fixation, relaxation can stop the appearance of floaters. (11)
  8. Ophthalmologist Bates states that tension in the mind, staring, squinting, limited eye movement, lack of central-fixation, eye muscle tension causes the appearance of floaters. (12)
  9. Floaters are the hallmark of disease in the vitreous. Floaters are usually caused by small bits of collagen in the vitreous cavity, by inflammatory cells in the vitreous, or by vitreous haemorrhage. (13)

Diet

  • Turmeric (14)
  • Wild rose hip (15)
  • Juice carrots, dark leafy greens, lemon, all other brightly colored vegetables. (16)
  • Diet that includes lots of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and avoid foods high in hydrogenated fats, such as solid vegetable shortening, margarine, deep-fried foods (17)
  • Foods that contain lots of the carotenoids lutein & zeaxanthin (antioxidants that are the only known carotenoids that are present in the human eye, particularly the retaina, macula, & lens), such as spinach & kale. (18)
  • Foods with high amounts of vitamin C (oranges, melons, tomatoes, strawberries, red & green peppers, sweet potatoes). Eye lens absorbs vitamin C. (19)
  • High levels of antioxidant vitamins & zinc has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by approx. 25% and also reduce the risk of vision loss caused by AMD by approx. 19%. It is unknown whether the same nutrients will have the same beneficial effects upon the vitreous. (20)
  • Eat protein from the sea & soy foods (rich in omega-3 fatty acids), whole grains, low fat dairy foods, eggs (full of zenxanthin), sprouts & seeds. (21)
  • Increase Vitamin A & high mineral foods; leafy greens (kale), sea greens are loaded with carotenoids & EFA’s, orange & yellow veggies, broccoli, seafood, and parsley (22)
  • Include vision foods like broccoli, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, leeks, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, barley, blueberries, watercress (23)
  • A vision drink 2 x week (1 cup carrot juice, 1/2 cup eyebright tea, 1 egg, 1 tb wheat germ, 1 tsp rose hip powder, 1 TB honey, 1 tsp sesame seeds, 1 tsp nutritional yeast, 1 tsp kelp. (24)
  • Can be removed by fasting, cleansing diet, improved liver & kidney health, avoiding sugar, avoiding ingestion of chemicals, or chemicals in the air, or on the skin, avoiding artery clogging food (25)

Supplements

  • MSM (26)
  • Propolis concentrate (27)
  • Hawthorn berry (28)
  • Ginko biloba has been proven effective in increasing ocular blood flow and is used by patients suffering from glaucoma (29) Ginkgo biloba, shown through antioxidant effects to be useful in maintaining eye health. Improves oxygen delivery to eyes. Don’t use Ginkgo biloba if you are taking blood-thinners. (30)
  • Lysine is a vasodilator, which means that it widens blood vessels, particular in large veins. Lysine has proven effective in widening blood vessels in some areas, but not necessarily in the eyes (31)
  • Taurine, an essential amino acid, is a natural cure for floaters as it maintains the function of the retina. Since this nutrient is not synthesized by the human body, taurine must be obtained from food sources or supplements. Found in most muscle meat. (32) (33)
  • Hemp oil is believed to be one of the best home remedies for floaters. (34) (35) (36)
  • Serrapeptase enzyme is an effective natural cure for eye floaters. It digests the debris, blood clots and dead tissues that cause the floaters. (37) (38) (39) Cannot find any evidence to support this, the only sites that seem to talk about it are the people selling it, and forums (of people who probably got it from the sales pages). On the other hand, serrapeptase has been proven beneficial for other ailments, such as clearing excess mucus from the airways of patients with chronic respiratory disease, and clearing the sinuses. I’ll update if I find any further research.

Nutrients that protect nerves, reduce oxidative damage from sunlight, reduce eye pressure, prevent vision loss: (40)

  • Multivitamin/mineral that includes copper to balance zinc supplementation. (41)
  • Vitamin B12 protects nerves (42)
  • Vitamin C prevents eye damage (43)
  • Vitamin E protects against free radical damage to the eyes (44)
  • Beta-carotene – needed for proper eye function (45)
  • Lutein – Helps support eye health (46)
  • Selenium – important antioxidant that works well with vitamin E (47)
  • Zinc – deficiency has been linked to vision disorders (48) (49)

Herbs

  • Bilberry is used both for improving eyesight and for widening blood vessels. (50) (51) Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) which improve the circulation in the blood vessels of the eye and also help to facilitate delivery of essential oxygen and nutrients. (52) (53) Bilberry extract, shown through antioxidant effects to be useful in maintaining eye health. Improves oxygen delivery to eyes. (54)
  • Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos) can be used as an effective all round tonic and restorative, with additional benefits of maintaining digestive health and liver functioning. (55)
  • Sutherlandia frutescens has excellent adaptogenic properties as well anti-oxidant effects. (56)
  • Milk thistle’s active ingredient “silymarin” helps maintain healthy liver function. (57) Milk thistle seed (58)

Eye Exercises

  • Palming and tracing exercises for relaxing the eyes and improving vision (59) (60) (61) (62) When palming is done correctly, the vision, memory, and imagination always improve. By palming is meant to close the eyes and cover them with the palm of one or both hands without exerting any pressure the closed eyelids. (63) Palming is a help, and I suggest that you palm for a few minutes, many times during the day, at least ten times. At night, just before retiring, it is well to palm for half an hour or longer. (64)
  • Stop staring. (65) Shift eyes from top to bottom, left to right, and in any direction.
    Wrong way = turn head to the right while eyes are left or vice versa
    Correct way = Eyes, head/face, body move together, synchronized, same time, same direction
  • Sunning with Eyes Closed (66)
    Face the sun, eyes closed, move the head side-to-side, up & down, circular, do the Sway.
    Open eyes & look away from the sun to the bright sky, clouds, tree tops.
    Go outside in the sunlight daily. Full spectrum sunlight contains all wave lengths, frequencies, colours, mixtures of colours of the light spectrum. Full spectrum sunlight, not filtered through sunglasses, contacts, eye glasses, windows, keeps the eyes, brain, body healthy & vision clear.
  • While sitting, do not look up without raising your chin. Always turn your head in the direction in which you look. (67)
  • Blink often. (68)
  • Do not make an effort to see things more clearly. If you let your eyes alone, things will clear up by themselves. (69)
  • Do not look at anything longer than a fraction of a second without shifting. (70)
  • While reading, do not think about your eyes, but let your mind & imagination rule. When you are conscious of your eyes looking at objects at any time, it causes discomfort & lessons your vision. (71)
  • It is very important that you learn how to imagine stationery objects to be moving, without moving your head or body. (72)

Lifestyle

  • Reduce stress, Meditation, Prayer, Pilates, Tai Chi (73)
  • Yoga (74) Netra vyayam are yoga eye exercises that reduce stress & promote eye muscle relaxation. (75)
  • Spending time in Nature (76)
  • Qigong
  • Get Quality Sleep (77) Sleep restores the reserves of nerve force & gives an opportunity for exhausted tissues to rebuild and refresh. Palm before retiring. Darkness is important. Light interferes with restful sleep as our closed lids are not entirely light-proof. The light is stimulating & prevents absolute relaxation of the optic nerves. Complete darkness is conductive to sound sleep. (78)
  • Increase Blood Circulation (79) (80)
  • Eye-strain (from computers, tv, reading in bad light, etc.) (81) (82)
  • Walking – Exercise increases delivery of nutrients to the eyes & facilitates removal of waste products. (83)

Reflexology

  • Eye points located base of 2nd & 3rd toes. (84)
  • Stimulating these areas helps to improve circulation to the eyes. (85)
  • Tenderness in this area means that circulation to the eye is blocked. (86)
  • Reflexology area (hands). Squeeze all around on eye-points on hands. (87)
Hand Reflexology Points - Eyes
Hand Reflexology Points – Eye Health

Acupuncture

  • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perceives floaters as a manifestation of congestion in the liver & kidneys. Acupuncture focuses on eliminating congestion, thereby clearing eyes & strengthening tissue of the retina & blood vessels of the eyes. Relaxation Techniques & Liver Herbs (like Milk Thistle). (88)

Toxins & Environmental Factors

Our proteins are being broken down as we speak. We are being bombarded with cosmic rays, x-rays, gamma rays, radio waves, and whatever we ate for breakfast, or drank or smoked last night. We have to say that nutritional & environmental factors do play a part in the development of vitreous floaters, just like they play a part with probably all degenerative conditions. (89)

  • Quit Smoking (90) (91)
  • Avoid Free Radical Toxicity (cosmic rays, x-rays, gamma rays, radio waves) (92)
  • Reduce sugar intake. (93)
  • Avoid chemicalized foods, especially fried & saturated fat foods, pasteurized dairy & red meats. These foods cause the body to metabolize slowly, use sugars poorly, and form crystallized clogs. (94) (95)

What I’m Ruling Out

  • Supplements that I take regularly (but sporadically) that can probably be discounted as being useful for eye floaters (since if they were effective, I probably wouldn’t be writing this post) are: apple cider vinegar, vitamin c powder, olive leaf extract, tyrosine, olive oil, coconut oil, balsamic vinegar, msm, magnesium
  • Herbs, Spices, Nuts & Seeds that I take regularly (daily or almost daily) that I am discounting: turmeric, black pepper, nori flakes, flaxseed oil, hemp seeds, chia seeds, quinoa, walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds
  • I also juice the following regularly (daily or almost daily) so these can also be discounted: carrots, green apples, ginger, lemon, orange, & pineapple.
  • The following foods are a regular (daily or almost daily) part of my diet, so these can also be discounted: baby kale, kale, flat-leaf parsley, cherry tomatoes, baby roma tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, white seedless grapes, dates, red cabbage.
  • As far as lifestyle, although I’m still transforming from a misery-guts to a happy-butterfly.. currently I really love my life, most of my days are happy, I feel grateful to be alive, and love people and the wonder of the world. I go for leisurely walks a couple of times a week, I live a fairly stress-free life excepting that I do not have a ‘dream job’ and have some challenging people to deal with at work on occasion. I am not living where I currently want to live (location, climate & independence), but I’m living with people I love very dearly – the people I love & care about more than anything in the world. Compared to 6 months ago, my life is ‘carefree’. If indeed “mindset” or “lifestyle” is any connection to eye floaters (as some of the studies will reveal), then I may notice a change after I change jobs & location. Although that is not something that I can readily test in the “now”. Excepting eye-strain causes – I spend a lot of time on the computer – probably more than most people, and have been this way since I first got my computer over a decade ago, so I could probably do some eye-exercises or get some kind of protection, and possibly but unlikely spend less time in front of the screen.

What I’m trying (currently trying or about to try these…)

  • Korean White Ginseng Root capsules
  • Probiotics capsules
  • More Spinach, Red & Green Peppers, more orange & yellow veggies, seafood, leeks, more onions, more cabbage, more watercress
  • Protein from the sea
  • More Eggs
  • sesame seeds
  • Kelp
  • Ginko Biloba
  • Research natural lysine sources
  • Try and find how I can incorporate “muscle” meat, sounds disgusting & hard to get?.
  • Research natural vitamin B12, beta-carotene lutein & zinc sources
  • Will be doing a liver cleanse soon, so that will incorporate Milk Thistle for about 30 days
  • Palming & Eye Exercises, probably will look to YouTube for some Yoga eye exercises
  • Sunning with eyes closed
  • Moving my eyes more often, and making more of an effort to not stare at the screen all day
  • Look into QiGong more thoroughly.. been wanting to research more into it anyway
  • More rebounding as I think that would be a great exercise for increasing blood circulation, and also for general health & movement of the lymphatic fluid
  • Research the exact locations of the foot & hand reflexology suggestions
  • Research “acupressure” points to focus on instead of paying for someone to stick a needle in
  • Improving the quality of my sleep.


Update: Feb 9th, 2015
It’s been almost a year adding various things from the above lists regularly to my diet & lifestyle and I have had no improvement in my eye floaters (no worsening either). Starting to think that diet is probably not going to be the answer for curing eye floaters and rather am now going to focus my energies on the eye exercises, sunning, and “intentions”.
I wrote a lot in my update today but unfortunately I lost it all, and am now not really feeling like re-writing it all, so in summary, over the past 12 months I’ve:
Added:

  • Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun – 1-2 Fresh Carrot + Various juices (watermelon, celery, green apples, ginger, melon, lemon, oranges, pineapple, etc)
  • Daily – Green Smoothies incorporating a lot of natural supplements/vitamins/minerals, seeds, fruit & vegetables and lots of greens.
  • Daily – Greens
  • Nuts, Seeds regularly added to diet
  • Vitamin B12 supplement (liquid from Global Healing Center)
  • Daily – Turmeric, Fruits, Vegetables, Vitamin C
  • Sea Greens Regularly (Spirulina, Nori)
  • MSM regularly

With no improvement (or any noticeable degradation)

References[+]

Penny... on Health
Penny... on Health

Truth-seeker, ever-questioning, ever-learning, ever-researching, ever delving further and deeper, ever trying to 'figure it out'. This site is a legacy of sorts, a place to collect thoughts, notes, book summaries, & random points of interests.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is not medical science or medical advice. I do not have any medical training aside from my own research and interest in this area. The information I publish is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, disorder, pain, injury, deformity, or physical or mental condition. I just report my own results, understanding & research.

6 Comments

  1. John Revette says:

    I think there’s more to them

    1. Penny says:

      Yeah probably, I still have them, although I haven’t done anything on this page for years :)

  2. Helen says:

    Hi,
    After a stressful day when my boyfriend,who has Parkinsons which l have helped him improve his diet and encouraged him on starting yoga and fast walking, decided to fix a date for a Colononoscopy even tho the nurse said the fobt test was not accurate, l got a floater like a cobweb or flying insect in my eye.
    I apologise for the incredibly long sentence in the last paragraph and a heartfelt thankyou for your blog on dealing with floaters. We are on the same page with nutritional outlook and use of supplements and l have been meaning to do Paul Pitchfords 21 day liver cleanse for months now.
    Thanks to reading your blog l am determined to start in a few days.
    Blessings to you Penny Butler,
    from Helen Burrows, UK

  3. Shana says:

    Hello
    Thanks for your blog. Very he’lpful! Have you tried frankincense oil?

  4. Sinisa says:

    Hi,

    so, what’s “status” of your floaters now (in 2018)?

    I have (acknowledge) floaters some 10 months ago – and so far the only “thing” that “worked” (it seems reduce the number and visibility”) is: eyebright (500 mg/day)+multivitamin (lots of B vitamins in it) 1g/day and taurine (up to 1 g/day).

    Best!

    Sinisa

  5. Agama Islam says:

    Thank you very much for posting, this is very helpfull

Comments are closed.