December 18, 2017 - Eye Health
Howdy folks, it’s Dr. Sam. I wanted to talk to you today about a class of pharmaceuticals called PPIs, or better known as proton pump inhibitors.
This is a class of pharmaceuticals that are used to treat acid reflux. The way the drug works is by blocking an enzyme in the cell wall of the stomach, so less acid is produced.
There are certain side effects of this medication, including abdominal pain, constipation, fever, nausea, and vomiting. In terms of the eyes, those on PPIs can experience unexplained blurred vision. It is intermittent and very difficult to correct. But when they go off the PPIs, the blurred vision goes away.
There was a research study that found that people taking PPIs are at an increased risk of developing ocular pathologies. They cautioned against taking PPIs for a long time.
My advice would be to get off the PPIs, and adopt a diet that more closely resembles a ketogenic diet – gluten-free, low-carb, no-sugar, and get plenty of healthy fats and fish oil. Probiotics can also help restore balance to the guts microbiome, which is heavily disrupted by PPIs.
You can also check your water because fluoridated water can cause inflammation in the stomach and body. Again, my advice would be to get off PPIs as soon as you can and focus on natural ways of reducing inflammation in the gut and body.