Some people worship vitamins and take them by the handful, while others reject them categorically, seeing them as a shady, billions-of-dollars scam.  But the truth, as usual, isn’t at either extreme or even in the middle, but scattered all over the spectrum.  After a lot of material came out on the demythologization of vitamins, on one hand, and their revitalization on the other, it’s easy to get confused.  And reading all of those articles is impossible, so it’s always better to ask a specialist.  Per our tradition, I interviewed Arthur Benjamin on the subject, and also recently read something myself about using vitamins for dry eyes.  

The drops you prescribed me for dry eye worked really well, so I’ve forgotten what I read about. 

You read about Omega-3s.  The results of a serious study on the effectiveness of Omega 3s has been widely talked about in the media.  Many believe that they reduce the risk of heart attack, help with cardiac conditions, are effective against hair loss, improve the skin, and also work in the treatment of dry eyes.  They say to take these supplements, drink fish oil or flaxseed oil, and life gets better.  In this particular study, though, no differences were found between subjects that took the supplements and those who took a placebo – not in the dryness of their eyes or anything else.  From this, you could draw the conclusion that vitamins are useless in general.  And while it’s clear that they make sense in some parts of Africa with high rates of avitaminosis, it seems that we’re getting enough vitamins in developed countries where people eat a more or less balanced diet.

Yes!  BUT there’s also 30 years of data that cannot be denied about AREDS 2 vitamins used for macular degeneration.  A powerful study was conducted by the National Eye Institute, paid for by both the taxpayers and Bausch + Lomb.  Based on the physiology and pathophysiology of the disease, they developed a theoretical formula using retinoids (a group of fat-soluble vitamins), flavonoids (derived from dark, leafy greens), vitamins A and E, and zinc that was supposed to protect the retina from degeneration.  The formula was then released into the market and used on patients with AMD.  As a result, the progression of wet macular degeneration in those who took the formula slowed down significantly, as opposed to those who did not take the vitamins.  In short, their sight was better.

Remind us of what’s involved with AMD. 

Age-related macular degeneration or macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of loss of vision among the elderly.  It starts as the gradual destruction of the central field of vision, making it difficult for someone to read, drive, or recognize faces.

And this complex vitamin can help with that?

Yes, but there’s still a catch.  Smokers are four times more likely than non-smokers to have AMD, but taking this formula is contraindicated in this case, because the beta-carotene increases a smoker’s chance for lung cancer.  Therefore, for smokers, another formula is recommended that replaces the beta-carotene with lutein.

I have friends that are smokers and I care about them, so I gotta have more details.  So smokers shouldn’t eat carrots, for example?  Or how exactly is beta-carotene bad for smokers?

Despite the fact that the word “carotene” comes from the Latin word for carrots, “carota”, they are not a threat.  The study took place in Finland, which has an excellent health care system, and all subjects were supervised and registered.  They wanted to somehow lower the risk of lung cancer among smokers, so they studied the physiology of the disease and had the idea that they could neutralize the free radicals in smokers by using beta-carotene.  It became clear, though, that that vitamin has the opposite effect in some circumstances.  Thus, the risk for cancer increased, rather than decreased.

Maybe this is particular only to Finns, or perhaps the sample is too small?  Is it the same in other countries?

This study can be trusted, because it was constructed in the scientific canon.  However, hear this – everyone who has macular degeneration, and those who’ve read about the uselessness of vitamins for dry eyes, shouldn’t discount their benefits for the retina.  And in addition to the study I’ve already mentioned, other research was carried out on this subject 25 years ago where the formula was slightly different, and it worked.  So it isn’t a question of faith, but of knowledge.

What do you mean “it worked”?  It improved their condition?

Macular degeneration can’t be cured, so we’re talking about preventing future deterioration.  But unfortunately these wonderful vitamins are often the size of horse pills, so older people run the risk of choking, especially when they have to take multiple pills a day.  What’s interesting, though, is now a company has put them in powder form.  Simply dissolve it in water and drink, and the taste is almost like orange juice, so the whole process is rather pleasant.

I can’t stand huge pills.  You can’t just shatter them with a hammer?  It turns into powder. 

Одни люди молятся на витамины и едят их пачками, другие отвергают все витамины как класс, считая их каким-то темным делом с миллиардным оборотом. Истина, как обычно, лежит не на краях и даже не посередине, а разбросана в разных местах. Наверное, тут многое, если не все, зависит от трех вещей: смотря что, смотря где и смотря для кого. В нашей советской подкорке «витамины» – это что-то заведомо полезное. В американской, как мне кажется, – тоже. После многочисленных материалов по демифологизации витаминов, с одной стороны, и их реабилитации, с другой (легко найти статьи «за» и «против» – в самых разных газетах и журналах), запутаться стало еще легче. Но прочесть все эти сотни тысяч статей невозможно (глаза жалко и мозг), поэтому всегда лучше поспрашивать специалиста. По традиции, я «опросил» известного вам глазного хирурга Артура Бенджамина. Тем более, что недавно сам что-то прочел про витамины от сухого глаза.

–  Поскольку капли, которые вы мне прописали от сухого глаза, вроде как помогли, я уж забыл, что именно я читал.

– Вы читали про Омега-3. В разных СМИ промелькнули результаты серьезного исследования, проведенного престижной государственной структурой насчет эффективности жирных кислот Омега-3 . Многие считают, что эти кислоты уменьшают вероятность инфаркта, помогают сосудистым больным, эффективны при выпадения волос, улучшают состояние кожи, и полагали, что они работают в случае сухости глаз. Дескать, принимайте эти добавки, пейте рыбий жир, льняное масло – и жить станет лучше. В этом конкретном исследовании, однако, выяснилось, что между группой испытуемых, которые принимали эти добавки, и контрольной группой, которая принимала плацебо, – никакой разницы нет. Ни в сухости глаз, ни в чем остальном.  Из этого кто-то может сделать вывод о бесполезности витаминов вообще. Понятно, что они могут иметь смысл в каких-то частях Африки, где встречается авитаминоз, но в развитых капиталистических странах, где у людей более или менее сбалансированная диета, вроде бы и так хватает витаминов. Да, периодически появляются исследования,  развеивающие тот или иной витаминный миф, в который читатели газет долго верили.

– Чувствую, что будет «но».

–  Но! Есть данные, которые уже на протяжении тридцати лет никто не может опровергнуть. Речь идет о витамине AREDS 2, применяемом при макулодистрофии.  Мощное исследование было проведено National Eye Institute, и за него платили не только налогоплательщики, но и знаменитая фирма Bausch + Lomb, специализирующаяся на глазах. На основе физиологии и патофизиологии этой болезни они вывели теоретическую формулу с участием ретиноидов (группа витаминов, растворяемых в жирах), флавоноидов (производные растений, встречаются в ярко-окрашенных овощах типа болгарского перца, темно-зеленых овощах типа шпината), витамина А, витамина Е, цинка и др., предполагая, что это должно помочь сетчатке себя предохранять от перерождения. Формулу воплотили в жизнь и начали испытывать на пациентах с макулодистрофией. И в результате было доказано, что у группы, которая принимала витамины по этой формуле, влажная макулолодистрофия прогрессировала значительно меньше, чем у группы, которая не принимала. Говоря проще, зрение тех, кто принимал, оказывалось лучше.

– Не напомните, чем чревата сама проблема?

– Возрастное перерождение макулы или желтого пятна (английская аббревиатура – AMD) –  наиболее частая причина потери зрения среди пожилых людей. Проявляется в постепенном разрушении центрального зрения, когда человеку становится трудно читать, водить машину и узнавать лица.

– И этот сложный витамин им может помочь?

– Да, но и тут есть одно «но». Курильщики в сравнении с некурящими имеют в четыре раза более высокий шанс столкнуться с макулодистрофией. Но им, независимо от того, курят они сигареты или сигары, не рекомендуется принимать эту формулу, которая отлично работает на некурящих.  Почему? Дело в том, что в ней содержится витамин А в форме бета-каротина. Но бета-каротин… повышает вероятность рака легких у курящих. Поэтому курящим рекомендуется формула, в которой бета-каротин заменен на другой элемент, лютеин,  тоже работающий неплохо.

– У меня есть друзья-курильщики, их здоровье меня волнует, поэтому не могу не поспрашивать более детально. Получается, что для курящих опасна морковь, к примеру? И как вообще выяснилось, что бета-каротин – враг курильщиков?

– Несмотря на то, что само слово «каротин» происходит от лат. 

, т.е.«морковь», она для них угрозы не несет, вашим друзьям даже можно есть плов. А выяснилось это в Финляндии, где отличная система здравоохранения, и все «под надзором» и зарегистрированы. И вот там как-то решили понизить риск рака легких у курильщиков. Изучили физиологию этой болезни и у них родилась идея, что свободные радикалы, которые образуются у курильщиков, можно нейтрализовать такими, в частности, средствами, как бета-каротин.  Но в результате стало ясным, что определенный витамин может в некоторых условиях давать обратный эффект.  Т.е. у принимающих бета-каротин курильщиков шанс рака вырос, а не понизился.

– А может, оно так обстоит только у финнов, или выборка была небольшая, а в других странах все не так?

– Финнам можно верить, поскольку эскперимент был построен по всем научным канонам. Суть моего послания заключается в следующем. Всем, у кого есть макулодистрофия, и кто прочитал  информацию про бесполезность витаминов для сухости глаз, ни в коем случае не стоит прекращать прием 

витаминов для сетчатки

. Помимо исследования на этот счет, которое я упомянул, было проведено и другое –  еще 25 лет назад, в котором немного поменяли состав формулы, и она тоже работает. В данном случае это вопрос не веры, а знания.

– А что значит «работает»? Речь идет об улучшении состояния?

–  От макулодистрофии излечить нельзя, речь идет о предотвращении дальнейшего ухудшения. Но эти прекрасные витамины, к сожалению, выпускаются в виде очень больших пилюль. А принимают их пожилые люди, так что возникает риск подавиться, к тому же поглощать их нужно в большом количестве, от двух до четырех в день. Ну а теперь самое интересное. Есть компания, которая вывела эту формулу в порошке! Покупается порошок, разводится в стакане воды и просто выпивается. Вкус почти как у апельсинового сока. Так что процесс витаминопоглощения проходит очень приятно.

– Я сам терпеть не могу эти огромные таблетки. А нельзя взять такую таблетку лошадиного размера и просто раздробить ее молотком в домашних условиях? Вот и получится порошок.

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ВИТАМИНЫ: НАУКА ИЛИ РЕЛИГИЯ? (Ч. 1)

Some people adore vitamins and consume them in large quantities, while others totally reject them. However, the reality is, as usual, in the middle.
Рere we consider cases where they were useful and when it is better to rely on more evidence-based methods.

В то время как одна группа людей боготворит витамины и употребляет в огромных количествах, другая не воспринимает всерьёз, cчитая это чьим-то успешным многомиллионным бизнесом. А где правда? Давайте разберёмся. 



VITAMINS: SCIENCE OR RELIGION? (1)

Staff was very personable and accommodated my needs.  Dr Benjamin was very professional and great bedside manner.  I would highly recommend the office to friend and family

Dr Benjamin and his staff are World Class and second to none! I been bringing my mother to see Dr Benjamin and just recently became a patient myself. If you want to extend the quality of your vision and therefore the quality of your life, go see Dr Benjamin!

Class One from A to Z. Each and everyone from the doctor, optometrists, front office and back office, are professional, super knowledgeable, detailed, and very kind. The office is most elegant with beautiful lighting , equipment and furniture. The glass frames are  the most beautiful you will ever see.

An awesome experience as is the norm for our visits to Dr Benjamin. We have trusted him and his office with our multiple surgeries and care for many years, and plan to continue forward. Thank you Dr Benjamin, and your staff.

I’ve been going to Dr. Benjamin for years. He is straight-up honest, very patient in explaining, thorough, extremely experienced and is a Top Pro in his biz. I went to him for my eyeglass prescriptions for years, and then eventually had multifocal lens surgery in both of my eyes. All went great and to plan! His staff are extremely courteous, friendly, and very helpful. I’ve never done this at a doctors office, but I actually complement his staff in person often. I highly recommend this office. 100%

Great front desk and tech staff. The doctor was super nice and I’m so pleased I found this eye institute! Everyone was great and happy to finally have taken care of an appointment I had been putting off for a while. Great check-in process also for first time patients.

⭐️ My review of LASIK after one year ⭐️I told Dr. Benjamin I would do this a while ago, but I kind of feel like it says a lot I have kept this on my checklist for a year. I feel like a year is a good amount of time to review a procedure like this and give my honest thoughts and recommendation.So, let me tell you about my journey to getting LASIK and how I ended up in the amazing care of Dr. Benjamin. After going to an optometrist for years and him advising against LASIK because of my genetically dry eyes, I finally got a second opinion from an ophthalmologist (Dr. Benjamin). I didn’t know the difference between an optometrist vs. opthalmologist, but once I learned it kind of made sense why my optometrist didn’t want me getting LASIK lol. Because he couldn’t sell me on contact lenses or glasses for the foreseeable future if I got my vision corrected :) I mean, who knows, but I am glad I got a second opinion.I figured being in Los Angeles with some of the best doctors in the world… if anyone is going to touch my big, blue eyeballs, might as well get it done while I’m here. I found this business due to the reviews and they seemed to really know what they were doing and how to talk to clients.Upon meeting Dr. Benjamin he told me that I wasn’t a candidate for LASIK with my dry eyes, but he could put me through treatments for dry eyes and reevaluate after; and that these treatments had a good success rate for most.So, I started doing two treatments every other week for about 2.5 months - IPL laser treatment and Lipiflow. Lipiflow, especially, was a weird painless experience but highly recommend anyone with dry eyes to ask about it regardless of LASIK. I could tell my eyes felt way less dry a couple days after each treatment. There are videos on YouTube that talk about this treatment… Who knew this stuff existed. I’m not gonna lie, it’s an investment to do all these treatments on top of LASIK, but my eyes rarely feel dry anymore so if you’re going to get it done - do it right.Finally, I was approved for LASIK. I ended up waiting until the end of year to make sure I saved up the funds to do it and had some time to heal. I also took advantage of an end of year deal they were offering. $1000 off was a pretty nice forcing function to get me to finally do it after prepping my eyes with the treatments. The procedure itself I couldn’t feel anything even though I was awake the entire time (medicated). Even the scary part when bubbles form on your eyes Dr. Benjamin let me know about in advance so when it happened I just went with the flow. I think the worst part was the recovery the few days after and coming home drugged up lol. I remember day 1 thinking omg what did I do to my eyes. My eyes just hurt and felt weird, but omg I could see 20/15 immediately. And then, day by day it gradually got better. It took a few weeks for my eyes to heal, but after 1 month you couldn’t even tell I had surgery. One eye was a bit more bloodshot than the other.I can see 20/15. It’s been life changing for the past year not having to worry about contacts or glasses. I just got married and was able to walk down the aisle with clear vision. I only wish I had the means to have done this earlier in life. If you’re considering it - do it! And definitely consider Dr. Benjamin to do it right.Lastly, to continue treating my dry eyes, Dr. Benjamin gave me an extra LipiFlow treatment, and also recommended I try punctal plugs (painless plugs inserted into your lids that help your tears last longer). He placed the plugs in my eyes under 5 mins. Wild.I heard from people during the LASIK process they have been nervous to get the procedure so I wrote this to help and because I think highly of this business for changing my life. And, some of the dry eye treatments I would’ve never known about had it not been for them. Again, I wish I would have had been able to do this years ago. It is so, so worth it!Thank you, Dr. Benjamin (and staff!)

Concerned about a reoccurring virus, I text Dr Benjamin’s office first thing in the morning seeking immediate advice and an appointment. In quick time I received both sage advice and a same day appointment. Dr B takes a personal interest in his patients well being and has diligent, competent and attentive staff to support the care and support needed. Can’t speak highly enough.

Hi all! 06/06/2024 I came to the office of Dr. with a problem in my right eye. Benjamin, I'm sorry...as a very nice girl from the office, Masha, told me, he was undergoing surgery.  She advised me to come urgently in the morning. I suffered from pain for 4 days, my eye was very swollen, red and itchy. 07/06/2024 after examining me Dr. Benjamin made an emergency decision to remove the pus in his right eye. The small operation lasted 10 minutes, Dr. Benjamin and Dr. Svetlana masterfully removed the pus. My torment is finally over! Thank you to the entire team at Benjamin Eye Institute. You are the best, true professionals in your field. I wish you further success and good luck in your very necessary and difficult work! You give people a new stage of life! Thank you for that!

Been going to Dr B for nearly a decade after trying many other eye doctors in LA.  Beyond solving my chronic dry eye and being the most knowledgeable, he is an all-around great guy and spends time educating. The staff is wonderful as well.

The ophthalmologist that performed my surgery, Dr. Benjamin, was extremely skilled and knowledgeable. He took the time to thoroughly explain the procedure and answer all of my questions. I felt confident in his abilities and knew that I was in good hands.

Dr Benjamin and his team are extremely professional. I had Lasik surgery performed by him and his team and everything to date has gone exactly as described to me. Front office is very friendly and scheduling appointments is easy.

Great staff, great doctors, excellent ophthalmologists and assistants. The optical department for where you get glasses is very good. You may pay a little more, but you get excellent service, both at the optical boutique, and of course with your exam.They have the most advanced equipment in the industry. And the optician knows what she's doing. Overall, I really like this place and will continue to have them examine my eyes and purchase Glasses there. Dr. Yakubin, along with Dr. Benjamin are great and caring. Kathy and Rina also take good care of your needs. Finally the front desk staff is extremely helpful and also caring. It is a great experience to make sure your eyes and vision are taken care of.

The office staff were kind and considerate. The technician that assisted me explained everything she was doing. The Doctor was very nice and explained everything. He was definitely knowledgeable about my condition.

Dr Benjamin has been the “go to” eye specialist for 3 generations of my family, starting with my father and now grown children. Simply put, he’s an exceptionally capable, trustworthy, and cutting edge doctor with a courteous and professional staff.Without any reservations, I recommend him to anyone seeking an exceptional eye doctor.

The surgeons at Benjamin Eye Institute are true experts in their field - they were able to explain the procedure in detail and answer all of my questions and concerns. The surgery itself was quick and painless, and the recovery was much faster than I had anticipated.

I just completed my first visit and can say that this office deserves every high ranking it gets. The staff are efficient, friendly but highly professional.  The office is modern and sparkling clean. The examination was smooth and thorough. The doctor saw me on time.  He listened closely to the background of my problem, and he clearly communicated his treatment plan and the rationale for it. I absolutely trust him and highly recommend him.

I had my first visit with Dr. Benjamin today and it was amazing from start to finish. The office itself is immaculate and everyone I interfaced with was super friendly and professional. This includes Dr. Benjamin. He was extremely thorough and spent a lot of time with me as a new patient. I look forward to being under his care for years to come. I highly recommend this practice to anyone in need of an ophthalmologist in the LA area.

Dr. Benjamin is always personable and thoughtful and very much an expert.  He has been my eye doctor for many years.  Now that I am older I am very grateful that he is still my ophthalmologist. Everyone in the office is very helpful. I, of course, highly recommend Dr. Benjamin.

One of the things that sets the Benjamin Eye Institute apart from other ophthalmology practices is their team of experienced and highly trained surgeons. The surgeons at the Benjamin Eye Institute have performed thousands of cataract and LASIK surgeries, and have a wealth of experience in these procedures. They are committed to providing the best possible care for their patients and strive to achieve excellent outcomes.

Dr. Benjamin and his staff were amazing. Everyone was friendly and professional! I didn’t feel rushed during my appointment and Dr. Benjamin  took the time to explain everything and answer questions. His assistant who helped in doing all of the eye tests was great, too! Happy to have found a great eye doctor!

No exaggeration, this was the best visit with any doctor I've ever had. The facility is very nice, the staff is exceptionally thorough, professional, and efficient and Dr Arthur had by far the best bed side manner I've ever encountered. I 100% recommend him and his team

My experience at Benjamin Eye Institute was exceptional.  I’m not sure if I’ve ever encountered such an efficient and professional staff in a doctor’s office.  The front desk was communicative and everyone up to the doctor was beyond detailed in their care.  I would recommend this place to anyone who has eye problems because they have the most advanced equipment and Dr. Benjamin is caring, thorough and knowledgeable.

Dr Benjamin and his staff are excellent! 3/5 members of my family are patients from senior to adult to teen. Great care and professionalism. Highly recommend!

The entire experience at Benjamin Eye Institute is excellent.  Dr. Benjamin genuinely cares about his patients.  He and his staff have gone above and beyond to provide the highest quality care for my eye condition.  They respond quickly, even when Dr. Benjamin is out of the office. The entire team takes the time to discuss and explain treatment options.  Highly recommended!

Immediately after  cataract surgery, I can see my husband’s face accross the room for the first time in 40 years! No more glasses since childhood, both distance and close up. If you are thinking, should you spend the big bucks to see everything both near and far?  I can tell you it’s so worth it! Thank you Dr. Benjamin and all the wonderful people in your office! I appreciate your efficiency, attentiveness, professionalism and welcoming space! Please feel free to use me as a reference any time!

With expert staff, modern surroundings and equipment, this is the doctor of choice in Los Angeles. After over 15 years i can attest to Dr. Benjamin's superior expertise in cataract removal and implants. I love the new treatments. State of the art.

I can’t ever express my deep gratitude for Dr . Benjamin and his entire extraordinary team at the Benjamin Eye Institute.I was nervous as eyes are so sensitive,  but his incredibly kind receptionists and nurses make you feel at ease and diminish all fears right away . He offers impeccable medical knowledge and state of the art technology to heal . My son and I have both experienced his phenomenal treatment and have had all our eye issues resolved . I am so thankful and can’t recommend him and the Benjamin Eye Institute highly enough 🙏

Dr.Benjamin is the best of the best.Very personable, knowledgeable and kind.I had a stye and in a bad shape.He  took me right in.His staff polite , kind and very professional.Highly recommended.

My 18-year-old son has been under Dr. Benjamin's care, and we were truly impressed by the level of service we received at Benjamin Eye Institute. From the moment we stepped into the clinic, the staff was incredibly helpful and accommodating.Dr. Benjamin conducted a comprehensive eye exam for my son, and his expertise and professionalism were evident throughout the entire process. He took the time to explain everything clearly, making sure my son understood his eye health and any potential concerns. His patience and attentiveness were truly appreciated.We highly recommend Dr. Benjamin to anyone seeking exceptional eye care. He and his team exceeded our expectations, and we are grateful for the outstanding service we received. Thank you, Dr. Benjamin!

Dr Benjamin and Alba were great. He is very professional, kind and with clear explanations. I had an eyelid quick surgery and I’m just missing the glasses prescription, I left the office and forgot to ask for it. But he and his team were amazing!

I was referred to Dr. Benjamin from both my eye doctor and a very close friend of mine who also had her LASIK performed there. My experience was exceptional. Every single person that you meet in the office is a joy to work with. Whether it was the constant and clear communication, or the fact that they were always listening to feedback and answering my questions and concerns, they went out of their way to make me feel comfortable trusting my vision to them. They were very kind and never once pressured me into anything (including when I had to push my surgery back after I broke my leg).I would recommend this place to anyone who has eye problems because they have the most advanced equipment and Dr. Benjamin is caring, thorough and knowledgeable.

Top notch service and staff! By far the best experience I’ve had at a doctors office in 20 years. I wish every office was as well trained, friendly, and professional as Benjamin Eye Institute. Seriously if you have eye problems you won’t find a better doctor.

More than everything I value professional people. Dr. Arthur Benjamin is one of them. He is taking care of me and my husband for pretty long time. All I can say we are very thankful to the doctor and people who work as a team to make us healthy and happy !

LASIK Eye Surgery- The short is go see Dr. Benjamin!I visited Dr. Benjamin Eye Institute after deciding I wanted to learn more about Lasik eye surgery and what the process would look like. I stare at computer screens for very long periods of time so I was nervous to make this life change but ready to ditch my glasses for good! The entire team from day 1 of my consultation made me feel very comfortable. The office is clean the staff are extremely welcoming, friendly and all took the time to answer any questions I had about the procedure - which was very quick and painless the day of. They also have awesome social content for educational purposes and just to make you laugh!I am about a month post procedure and it has been life changing and a freedom restored. Your eyes are important so make sure you consult with the best.Thank you Dr. Benjamin and team!!!

Dr. Benjamin is an exceptional doctor and eye surgeon. He is innovative, and anticipates a patient’s needs. Above all Dr. Benjamin is kind and caring. My results are outstanding. I can thank him for changing my life. Thank you.

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