Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I'm about to turn 44, and I do not currently wear glasses. I've been doing Paleo for almost 3 months.

Lately (and after I started Paleo), I've been increasingly bothered by difficulty focusing on near objects.

I really don't think it's been an issue before Paleo.

I learned from Mr. Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyopia that the term is Presbyopia , and is likely caused by: "the loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens, although changes in the lens’s curvature from continual growth and loss of power of the ciliary muscles (the muscles that bend and straighten the lens) have also been postulated as its cause. "

Questions:

Does this have anything to do with Paleo, or is this just a giant coincidence (and a simple result of me getting old)?
Any chance all the saturated fat I'm eating is making my eyeballs less elastic?
Has anyone else noticed diminished vision since going paleo?
Any eyeball exercises which might help delay the need for glasses?

Thanks, Mike

PS: Paleo is like helping a friend with a computer problem: you get blamed for every subsequent computer problem if you touched it last!

edited May 11 2012 at 15:53

tdgor
2,183●3●11

asked May 10 2012 at 23:52

CaveMan_Mike
4,633●13●51

for what its worth. mines been going the other way, distance vision worsening, but that was happening pre-paleo. my near vision is fine & has not changed on paleo – daz May 11 2012 at 0:10

3

Am I the only person who read the question in a pirate voice? – Aughra May 11 2012 at 1:11

@Ashley, I read your comment as "private voice" and it didn't make any sense. Then I eased back away from the monitor and I laughed Mate-eee !!! – CaveMan_Mike May 11 2012 at 1:18

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I read Mikes comment as Private Eyes. And got a Hall and Oates (not paleo) song stuck in my head. – primallykosher May 11 2012 at 1:27

Priiivate eyes clap clap are watching you! – Nemesis May 11 2012 at 1:30

show 1 more comment

killer Nibs · Answer 1 · 2012-05-11 01:08:57Z UTC

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Your just getting older. Both my parents, got prescriptions for reading glasses in their late 40s after a lifetime of perfect vision. Nothing serious. Just get your eyes checked and rock some cool specs.

answered May 11 2012 at 1:08

killer Nibs
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CaveMan_Mike · Answer 2 · 2012-06-27 00:48:16Z UTC

Hello everyone:

I just got back from the eye doc, and had a complete eye exam. My eyes are in perfect health, and all I have is the normal need for someone in his mid 40's to use reading glasses to focus on close objects.

That's a big relief.

BTW, my eye doc said it's not uncommon for patience to report a rather abrupt decline over just a few months at that age. It's not always 1/12 per month over a year to become noticeable.

I guess I just reached my tipping point, coincidentally as I embarked on paleo.

Sorry Mr. Paleo for blaming you!

(Older & Wiser Mike)

Nemesis · Answer 3 · 2012-05-11 01:29:42Z UTC

Nope, it has nothing to do with Paleo.

Just like any other body part, things lose flexibility and elasticity over time. Hence the presbyopia.

Age happens ;)

However near-sightedness, myopia, is often seen in younger people and has been linked to genetic factors in some cases.

CaveMan_Mike · Answer 4 · 2012-05-12 18:13:30Z UTC

I'm going to post a separate question about this, but I'll mention it here because it directly relates to this issue:

Apparently, paleo folks may not be getting lots of thiamine, which can affect vision:

http://www.atkinsexposed.org/atkins/116/Vision_Loss_on_Low_Carb_Diets.htm

ABSTRACT

Visual loss occurring in two patients taking prolonged carbohydrate-restrictive diets is reported. The clinical data in these patients point to a specific diet deficiency of thiamine, causing a bilateral optic neuropathy. A discussion of current concepts of thiamine deficiency in neuroophthalmic disorders A is presented. It is recommended that patients on low-carbohydrate diets for prolonged periods of time should receive thiamine supplements.

I've just begun researching this, and looking through the archives here for references to thiamine, but sounds interesting.

Mike

Eric S · Answer 5 · 2012-05-14 20:41:57Z UTC

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While everybody might be right that your issue is normal for your age, it might also be a vitamin A deficiency. A lot of us on PH supplement VD3, which competes for receptors with VitA. So, if you're overdoing it with VD3, your VA will go down, which undercuts rhodopsin production.

Kruse talks about it here: http://jackkruse.com/what-can-you-find-about-your-own-health/

The most obvious questions are:

How much VD are you supplementing with?
Have you tested your VD levels?
Do you eat a lot of VitA containing foods like sweet potato?
Is your libido low? (excess VD)
Do you have body composition issues? (excess VD)

answered May 14 2012 at 20:41

Eric S
5,606●12●44

	Wow! Interesting! I normally supplement with 5,000 IU of D, though I think I haven't taken it much in the last 3 months since paleo. The last time I had it tested it was pretty good: like 45, but I can't remember if it was a year ago, or 4 months ago. I had noticed a decrease in libido during the last 3 months of Paleo, but I figured it could be a zillion different things. I never would have thought about Vid D or A issues. I'm about to start careful diet tracking on cronometer or mynetdiary.com since realizing I wasn't eating very much thiamine at all !!! – CaveMan_Mike May 14 2012 at 21:04
	Also, I recall a story (not sure about the source) of a surfer who started supplementing with vd3. His primary symptom from toxic vd3 levels was a metallic taste in his mouth. In your case, though, low vitA doesn't necessarily mean you have toxic levels of vitD. – Eric S May 15 2012 at 15:32

foreveryoung · Answer 6 · 2012-05-11 00:53:56Z UTC

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Hey, CaveMan. I'm a private pilot and my instructor told me that both reading and eating berries helps keep you vision sharp.

edited May 11 2012 at 0:53

answered May 11 2012 at 0:23

foreveryoung
15.5k●2●10●53

	Well, I have been reading lots of labels. That part hasn't helped. I am trying to eat less fructose, so I will be doing more berries. Good idea! Thanks! – CaveMan_Mike May 11 2012 at 1:04
	Yeah apparently WWII fighter pilots kept their eyes sharp by eating jam made from fresh berries every morning. – foreveryoung May 11 2012 at 1:14
	If I'm not mistaken, they specifically ate lingonberry jam. – Nemesis May 11 2012 at 1:22
	A lot of WWII fighter pilots didn't live long enough to get presbyopia. – tdgor May 11 2012 at 15:50

Laurie D. · Answer 7 · 2012-05-11 01:20:18Z UTC

Yeah, you're just hitting that age. Same thing happened to me about age 48. I am now 53 and wear the same level reading glasses - 1.25 - that I started with, so they haven't gotten worse at least. I will say my vision actually seems slightly better on gluten-free for the last four years and now mostly paleo for about a year..

Cave girl novice Diane · Answer 8 · 2012-05-11 15:44:04Z UTC

You are 44, thats about the time my sisters eye sight started to show signs of needing glasses to. I hit that stage at about 47. Its a normal part of aging. Maybe paleo can reverse it, I don't know. But cause it, I highly doubt it. I did have my eyes checked to be sure that there wasn't anything else going on and was told I needed reading glasses. They would have cost anywhere from $100-$200 for a perscription pair. I use reading glasses that I buy at Walgreens, Kohls, etc. Its by far cheaper than getting a perscription and you don't feel near as guilty if you lose them. I am new to paleo myself so if eating this way will help my eyes, only time will tell.

Poop Master MC · Answer 9 · 2012-05-12 20:47:13Z UTC

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Absolutely, I would advise changing your diet immediately.

answered May 12 2012 at 20:47

Poop Master MC
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Is Paleo causing me far-sighted-ness??

9 Answers