HEALTH: Preventing Blindness With Honey Eye Drop

Despite advances in medical science, more people are blind now than at medieval times. There are 50 million blind people globally with Asia, Africa and Latin America accounting for 98 per cent of the figure. Statistics indicate that cataract accounts for over 70 per cent of blindness in Nigeria. Glaucoma, trachoma, progressive myopia, dry eye syndrome, diabetic retinopathy and retina degeneration are other causes of blindness. Age-related Macular degeneration affects people aged 50 and above and it is also a leading cause of blindness among the elderly.

The widespread use of computer is another major cause of poor vision, dry eye and acute myopia. A software engineer, journalist or banker needs to work with computer or laptop for eight hours or more everyday. Yet, computer emits radiation, which harms the eyes.  In fact, a study at the Australian National University in Canberra showed that “spending too long time in front of a computer is behind the rising rates of short – sightedness.” According to the study on the rising rates of short-sightedness in Asia, “there has also been an increase in the number of people with extreme myopia, which can lead to blindness.

Sadly, the number of the blind people increases yearly. The reasons are not farfetched.  While the major causes of blindness are preventable eye diseases, modern eye care is largely predicated on treatment with drugs and surgery. Besides lack of blindness prevention programme, there are other barriers to stemming the rising cases of blindness globally.

There is gross inadequate manpower to administer eye treatment. Though the shortage of ophthalmologists is a worldwide problem, it is more acute in Nigeria, which has only 250 ophthalmologists and 1,871 optometrists for her over 150 million people. Unaffordable cost of eye care is another reason for unabated cases of blindness in our country.

The fact that not many people know the essential role of nutrition in preventing and healing eye diseases makes glasses, drugs and surgery the only options for redressing most eye problems. But these are not without shortcomings. Beyond its unaffordable cost, the safety and efficacy of surgery are issues of concerns for many people with eye problems. Due to these barriers, the number of blind people keeps swelling in our country and other developing countries.

But honey eye drop is useful for the care of the eyes and treatment of eye disorders including cataract, conjunctivitis, injury to cornea, dry eyes, ocular headache, trachoma, retina degeneration and computer-induced poor vision, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

Numerous scientific and clinical studies across the world validate the efficacy of honey eye drop for eye diseases.  In Honey-The Gourmet Medicine, N Yoirish, a Russian, stated, “On the advice of Professor E. Fisher of the Ophthalmology Department of Odessa Regional Clinical Hospital, Ukraine, honey ointments are widely used for various lesions of the cornea”. In Honey- Health and Therapeutic Qualities, a compilation of scientific studies on the healing powers of honey in the United States, a study with 120 patients who had various eye disorders that did not respond to conventional treatment indicated that 85 per cent experienced improvement and the other 15 per cent has no further deterioration when treated with honey eye drop. Also, in the Journal of the American Apitherapy Society AAS, Dr. Mamdouh AbulRhman, professor of Paediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University in Egypt described how he successfully treated cornea ulcer with honey eye drop. The patient has suffered from ulcer caused by infection, which failed to improve through the use of antibiotics, antiviral agents

and corticosteroids for seven months. But he said when honey eye drop was used, the ulcer healed within few weeks.

Also, Dr. Raymond Carey who practised medicine in Southern California between 1930s and 1950s was known for clearing cataract with honey eye drop. Dr Carey also said honey eye drop is beneficial for the treatment of glaucoma because it does the same thing as pilocarpine, a medicine used for glaucoma patients by drawing out the fluid from behind the eyes without negative side effect.” In Honey and Your Health, a Canadian mother was quoted as follow: “Two of my daughters contracted sore eyes in school where there was an epidemic at the time. They were cured in two days with honey eye drop, while it took other children treated with conventional medicine three weeks to get rid of the same problem”. Another study in Russia has also proved that honey eye drop could protect the eyes of heavy users of computer by countering the harmful effects of radiation.   Here in Nigeria, I have helped people avoid cataract surgery; stop using glasses to read; and halt insidious progression of glaucoma with honey eye drop.    Honey eye drop is superior to other synthetic drugs and surgery for the care of the eyes due to the following factors:

• Honey eye drop is useful for both prevention and treatment of eye disorders. Major causes of blindness are preventable eye diseases.

• Application of honey eye drop for the care and treatment of eye diseases saves the poor people the payment of exorbitant medical bills plus the agony of waiting endlessly to see eye specialists in the hospitals.

• Honey eye drop is the only saving grace for the poor rural dwellers that lack access to modern eye care.

• Honey eye drop is applicable to all eye diseases given its diverse properties to address factors that trigger eye disorders including malnutrition, bacterial infections, inflammation, bleeding in the retina, diabetic retinopathy, oxidation of eye lens protein by free radicals, radiation exposure from computer, nerve damage, high pressure in the eyes, dryness and impaired blood circulation.

•  The eyes must be fed daily with honey eye drop, which contains 25 trace elements that directly feed the sensors of the eyes and protect them from degeneration as one age.

• Honey eye drop is rich in antioxidants and essential minerals including zinc that is critical to good vision as we age.

•  Honey eye drop protects the eyes against the damaging effects of glaucoma. Its hygroscopic property draws out excess fluid in the eyes and reduces ocular pressure. The potent anti-inflammatory properties of honey eye drop can also undo inflammation – the main systemic trigger and driver of glaucoma. While latest study indicated that glaucoma is a central nervous system disorder, honey eye drop is a nerve tonic with unsurpassed efficacy. Honey eye drop increases production of nitric oxide, which is indispensable to efficient blood flow to optic nerve and other key parts of the eyes especially retina

• The anti-bleeding properties of honey eye drop protect diabetics from the risk of retinopathy, which is a major cause of blindness for people with diabetes.

• Honey eye drop generates tears that bring relief to dry eye sufferers. Yet, it’s safer and cheaper than over-the-counter tear drops that cost between 10 and 100 dollars a month in the US