A large body of research into H2’s benefits covers a wide range of diseases. This includes inflammatory diseases, cognitive issues, Parkinson’s disease, and metabolic syndromes. H2 has also been studied in ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injuries (damage due to stopped blood flow) in the brain, liver, myocardium, intestines, and kidneys etc.
Diseases such as these are caused due to inflammation and oxidative stress due to the presence oxidants such as hydroxyl and peroxynitrite which are highly reactive free radicals. Hydrogen therapy selectively acts on these free radicals and cuts down oxidative stress. Antioxidant is another notable effect of hydrogen therapy.
Molecular hydrogen therapy is well-studied for its effects on the eyes. Diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, dry eye disease, corneal diseases and retinal issues.
The eyes are especially sensitive to oxidative damage. This is why seniors often develop one or more eye diseases as they age. Preventing eye disease, and slowing its progress, are two crucial goals for seniors. H2 is so tiny that it easily permeates the eyes.
Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a serious eye disease that can result in vision loss. Treatment options include uncomfortable eye injections. In its advanced stages, extra blood vessels form on the retina, obscuring vision. Hydrogen gas is both an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Research is underway on how H2 might suppress the growth of unwanted blood vessels in the eyes of AMD patients. The gas might also decrease the damaging blood vessel leakage. H2 appears to help reduce drusen build-up found in dry AMD.
Retinitis Pigmentosa and Molecular Hydrogen
Retinitis pigmentosa causes vision loss because the photoreceptor cells gradually die. A type of free radical plays a role in the process. Hydrogen neutralizes this specific type of free radicals, which helps protect the photoreceptors from harm.
Glaucoma
The main risk factor in glaucoma is elevated eye pressure. Therefore, the management of glaucoma is primarily focused on controlling intraocular pressure using eye drops. However, this treatment does not usually stop glaucoma’s progression and damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma is a complex family of diseases. Other factors in its progression include inflammation, oxidative stress, and the accumulation of protein mutations. Oxidative stress markers are often higher in glaucoma patients and hydrogen therapy is useful in reducing oxidative stress.
Traumatic Optic Neuropathy
A traumatic injury to the eye can cause damage to the retinal ganglion cells. Also, cells can die in the retina. Scientists are studying whether cell death after an injury could be made worse by oxidative stress. An important study looked at rats with traumatic eye injuries. The researchers found that hydrogen helped the retinal cells survive. It also enhanced visual function recovery.
Cataracts
The usual treatment for cataracts is surgery. The eye doctor replaces the cloudy lens with an artificial one. However, a study indicates that hydrogen could be an alternative therapy for cataracts. In animal testing, hydrogen slowed cataract formation. Classic theories suggest that free radical damage plays a vital role in starting cataract formation.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Given that diabetes rates are on the rise, the rate of diabetic retinopathy is also increasing. Patients with diabetes have a 1 in 4 chance of getting this eye disease. Oxidative stress is considered to be an important factor in diabetic retinopathy because it starts breaking down the blood-retinal barrier. This barrier damage starves the retina of nutrients. It also stops filtering out toxins efficiently.Hydrogen therapy may further reduce the progression.
Corneal Injury and Dry Eye Disease
Doctors have started testing molecular hydrogen on patients with dry eye disease. They are also looking into H2 for corneal endothelial injuries. So far, the treatment looks beneficial. For example, alkaline chemicals, such as sparklers, dishwasher powders, and fertilizers, can do significant damage when they get into the eyes. Scientists are researching a molecular hydrogen-enriched irrigation solution to minimize the damage to the eyes from alkaline burns.
Conclusion
After half a century of interest in molecular hydrogen as a therapy, the research is promising. Hydrogen’s small size and strong antioxidant properties mean that molecular hydrogen is much more than a fad. You can breathe in molecular hydrogen our molecular hydrogen generator device and also pass hydrogen gas over the eye through a specially available goggles as seen in the pictures above.
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