Improved Eye Health with Hyaluronic Acid

Catherine Kolkoski, contributing writer for Hyalogic • September 30, 2018

One of the most significant and researched ingredients in the natural products industry today is hyaluronic acid.

The interest in hyaluronic acid began with an ABC News Prime Time story first airing in 2000 about a small village in Japan. The older residents had the flexibility and health of their much younger counterparts. It was deemed due to their diet of root vegetables grown in their region which were high in hyaluronic acid (HA).

The people of this village not only enjoyed a longer life but a higher quality of life as well. They experienced less doctor visits and a low occurrence of cancer and other diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Their eye sight remained clear and their skin was supple and smooth. Since then, products containing HA have been credited with helping to restore joint flexibility, improving the appearance of skin through hydration and other regenerative effects of HA. Another benefit of HA is maintaining the health and hydration of the eyes.

Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body. It binds to water giving it a viscous, gel-like quality. This gel helps hydrate, lubricate and cushion movable parts of the body, such as joints, muscles and eyes.

As we age, the body’s ability to produce HA declines. Doctors have found that injections of HA can work well when inserted into areas like the knees. On the other hand, plant-based high molecular weight HA supplements are native to the human body and known to be well absorbed and distributed. Studies have been supporting what is believed to be the reason the older Japanese villagers lived with exceptional vision.

Hyaluronic acid is a leading component of the fluid inside the eye. Eye health products made with HA are a viable option for those experiencing the natural decline of this fluid with aging or eye problems. Medical studies have concentrated on the role HA plays in the application of everything from dry eyes to the post-surgery healing of corneal tissue.

According to reports, it has been commonly used in surgery as a “shock absorber” to help protect the retina. Glaucoma patients experience fluid losses and atrophy. Taking a supplement to increase the HA produced by our bodies may help to prevent some of the complications that lead to this disease. (HA sold in health food stores as a dietary supplement cannot legally claim to cure or treat any disease.)

Doctors from the Rabin Medical Center in Israel and Tokyo’s Keio University School of Medicine found evidence in their studies that the presence of HA, specifically sodium hyaluronate, was instrumental in both the maintenance of the corneal tissue and in the quality of the healing of this issue when damaged. Another study conducted by the Contact Lens and Anterior Eye Research Group, Al Cardiff University’s School of Optometry and Vision Sciences in the United Kingdom, found that HA is just as effective as saline in eye drops in the care of dry eyes.

In conclusion, supplements and products made with non-animal derived HA may help reduce eye problems associated with age and other eye diseases by helping replenish the HA that eyes need to be hydrated and healthy.

Catherine Kolkoski is a contributing writer for Hyalogic. Her interest in hyaluronic acid and the benefits to the body are a natural fit for her personal passion for health, wellness and physical fitness. Hyalogic’s vegan friendly hyaluronic acid is recognized as among the highest quality hyaluronic acid available. From the origins of the first premium oral hyaluronic acid product, Synthovial Seven, to hyaluronic acid-based beauty products, supplements and pet products, Hyalogic has continued be a pioneer of enhancing peoples’ lives.

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