By Debjani Baidyaray

Mumbai, February 09: Saffron spice, added while cooking  various recipes has been found to improve and keep vision sharp. The research study by Professor Silvia Bisti of the University of Sydney, suggest that spices help reverse age-related macular degeneration or AMD. This is one of the most common causes of blindness found in old people.

The participants' vision improved on giving a saffron pill, some of them could read a couple of lines smaller than they used to while some others were able to read books and newspapers once again.
In age-related macular disease, the peripheral vision does not get affected but the damage caused to the central vision causes or partial loss of vision or blindness in many people.

Saffron is known to have healing power and protecting eyes from direct light and retinal stress caused. Modern medicine has discovered it’s anticarcinogenic and antioxidants like properties.
Participants in Italy were given a daily dose of the saffron pill for duration of three months which was followed by another dummy drug for next months. The other group consisting of 25 members took the dosage in the reverse order. The effect of saffron pill was found to disappear when the participants stopped taking them.

Researchers are now working on finding the ideal dosage for the patients and also to explore how saffron could treat genetic eye diseases to avoid blindness in old age.

Also read: Importance of eye health for diabetics

TAGS: Eyes, macular degeration