[Effect of light on the eye on metabolism and hormones].

PMID: 2557485 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]"

Other examples are to be found here, here, here, and here. As shown in the references, restoration of central ocular light pathways to the brain glands through the RHT by removing cataracts installs normalization of metabolism, hormonal and blood levels.

Many other researchers have confirmed his pioneering work, one example is Joseph N Trachtman: Optometry (St. Louis, Mo.). 02/2010; 81(2):100-115. DOI: 10.1016/j.optm.2009.07.016: Vision and the hypothalamus, in which he states in the Abstract:

"For nearly 2 millennia, signs of hypothalamic-related vision disorders have been noticed as illustrated by paintings and drawings of that time of undiagnosed Horner's syndrome. It was not until the 1800s, however, that specific connections between the hypothalamus and the vision system were discovered. With a fuller elaboration of the autonomic nervous system in the early to mid 1900s, many more pathways were discovered. The more recently discovered retinohypothalamic tracts show the extent and influence of light stimulation on hypothalamic function and bodily processes. The hypothalamus maintains its myriad connections via neural pathways, such as with the pituitary and pineal glands; the chemical messengers of the peptides, cytokines, and neurotransmitters; and the nitric oxide mechanism. As a result of these connections, the hypothalamus has involvement in many degenerative diseases. A complete feedback mechanism between the eye and hypothalamus is established by the retinohypothalamic tracts and the ciliary nerves innervating the anterior pole of the eye and the retina. A discussion of hypothalamic-related vision disorders includes neurologic syndromes, the lacrimal system, the retina, and ocular inflammation. Tables and figures have been used to aid in the explanation of the many connections and chemicals controlled by the hypothalamus. The understanding of the functions of the hypothalamus will allow the clinician to gain better insight into the many pathologies associated between the vision system and the hypothalamus. In the future, it may be possible that some ocular disease treatments will be via direct action on hypothalamic function."

Therefore, by controlling ocular light, it is possible to control hormonal production in the biological organism (here).

Japanese researchers a.o. has also recently confirmed the previous research by Dr. Hollwich on the profound, sympathetically stimulating effects on the biological organism by ocular light through the RHT. Hachiro NAKAGAWA and Nobuaki OKUMURA: Proc. Jpn. Acad., Ser. B, Vol. 86, 391-409 (2010): Coordinated regulation of circadian rhythms and homeostasis by the suprachiasmatic nucleus:
"It has been also shown by electrophysiological means that light exposure to rat eye enhances sympathetic nerve activity, whereas it depresses parasympathetic nerve activity. Thus, environmental light is implicated not only in the phase-shift through the retinohypthalamic tract (RHT), but also control of autonomic nerve activities through the RHT, It is also discussed in this review how the two divisions are interconnected and how environmental light is involved in this interconnection."

Another interesting study is by Ruiter M, Buijs RM, Kalsbeek A. titled "Hormones and the autonomic nervous system are involved in suprachiasmatic nucleus modulation of glucose homeostasis".

So, ocular light and focused vision, through the RHT under normal circumstances causes an upregulation of the Pituitary axes (P-Adrenal, P-Thyroid, P-Gonadal) and a downregulation of the "night gland", the pineal (which through inhibitory light stimuli functions antagonistically to the Pituitary, that masters the day functions) as well as vagal pancreatic and hepatic nerves.

Light stress
Besides the beneficial, stimulating effect of central, ocular light, there is also the possibility of hyperactivity and stress from the sympathetically stimulated central, ocular light (foveal, focused vision), light stress or light pollution, as also shown by Dr. Hollwich. In his book, The influence of ocular light perception on metabolism in man and in animal, he writes the following about light pollution at page 90:

"It must be emphasized here that the numerous effects of light on the human and animal organism... do not only produce a "natural beneficial stimulation" of the Pituitary gland and the Adrenal Cortex; if the stimulus becomes too strong, they bring about an unspecific stress reaction."

Later on at page 93, he continues about the same subject:

"Intense Photostimulus causes increased secretion of ACTH and cortisol... and as a result, work performance increases during the first hours of exposure, only to decline sharply thereafter".

To the individual with a stressed brain and nervous system, this may cause the following reaction. When normal amounts of nerve impulses (or photo current) (as in 0D, plano) reaches the visual cortex for vision, then normal amounts of nerve impulses also reaches the three (light sensitive) brain glands (Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Pineal) through the RHT. In these glands, however, normal amounts of nerve impulses can cause a hyper-reaction due to conditions such as infection, structural damage or excessive accumulation of (heavy-) metals, such as mercury and copper. Heavy metals have a high affinity for fatty tissues such as found in the brain (glands), nerves, and cell membranes. Especially copper with its high electrical conductivity (the reason for using copper in electrical wires) will increase the activity of these regions by working as an antenna and transmitter of nerve currents. This can be the reason why heavy metal poisoned individuals often exhibit light hyper sensitivity.

Being the first of these glands to receive retinal nerve impulses through the RHT, the Hypothalamus is a very important controlling gland in the human body. One could say, it is mastering the physical (electrical, energetical) as well as the chemical (hormonal, endocrine) world in the human organism.

The physical part is through the neurological part and the nervous systems. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), with its subdivision into the sympathetic and the parasympathetic compartment are thus highly controlled by ocular light.

The chemical part, through the endocrine system, is also highly controlled by ocular light, e.g. through hypothalamic control of the Pituitary and related glands and endocrine bodies in the organism (e.g. the HPA axis). Basically, endocrine secretion of all chemicals in the body is governed by these three controlling glands, so even the blood chemistry and cell chemistry is affected.

As the Hypothalamus communicates with the autonomous nervous system via neural signals and the endocrine system via endocrine signals (chemical signals which travel through the bloodstream), the hypothalamus is a very important organ in the human body.

One of the chief functions of the hypothalamus is control and integration of activities of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS regulates contraction of smooth muscle and cardiac muscle, along with secretions of many endocrine organs such as the thyroid gland (associated with many metabolic disorders). Through the ANS, the hypothalamus is the main regulator of visceral activities, such as heart rate, movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract, and contraction of the urinary bladder.


The physical (electrical) effects of ocular light
It is mentioned earlier in this article, how ocular light shifts the ANS between sympathetic and parasympathetic dominance. These compartments also relate to changes from a contracted state (sympathetic related) to an expanded state (parasympathetic related).

Contraction of the eye lens by the parasympathetically innervated ciliary muscle causes expansion of the light on the retina, which is in accordance with parasympathetic activity. So, it seems, the eye sight - again - is upside down. It is a mirror of the outside world. What seems to be a contraction of a muscle leads in practice to the opposite for the rest of the body - expansion - and then to relaxation, regeneration, healing, and an anabolic condition.

Here is a more thorough explanation of the relationship between the sympathetic-parasympathetic divisions and the contraction and expansion activities going on in the human organism:
"Orgone energy was originally observed by Wilhelm Reich, MD, a psychoanalyst in the late 1920s, as a bio-electrical charge whose flow within the body could be visibly seen as waves passing through his clinical patients as they were experiencing intense emotional breakthroughs. (1) Later, in the 1930s, to confirm his visual observations, Reich was able to objectively measure the movements of this energy by using a very sensitive millivolt meter with sensors attached to the body to record subtle bio-electric charge. He found the energy flowed from the inside body core to the outside surface (towards the world) when a person felt pleasure or expansion; and conversely, it flowed from the surface to the interior (away from the world) during states of anxiety, fear, and contraction. (2)

Reich also noted that the conditions of expansion and contraction affected a person, not only emotionally, but down to the autonomic nervous system, to the cellular, and even chemical levels. (3) States of expansion produce parasympathetic conditions associated with dilation of the blood vessels and increased circulation, pain relief, better digestion and peristalsis, lower blood pressure; and the stimulation of potassium and lecithin production; along with creating a sense of well-being, and sexual excitement. States of contraction, however, produce sympathetic effects: constricted blood vessels, less blood flow, and often pain. In addition, the contracted condition increases blood pressure and heart beat rate, adrenaline flow and cholesterol; it inhibits digestion and blood supply to the genitals and is associated with the emotions of anxiety and "stress".

The ability of the body to expand and contract and not become "stuck" in one mode, created what Reich called the pulsation of life which distinguished the living from the non-living. This pulsation of expansion and contraction also followed a specific four-beat rhythm:
 

Tension - Charge - Discharge - Relaxation

Reich observed this energy pattern within the organs of the body: from the beat of the heart, to peristaltic movements of the intestine, the bladder, and especially obvious in the sexual function of orgastic discharge. He called this pulsating pattern the function of the orgasm or the Life Formula."

Conditions with sympathetic ANS involvement
.....coming soon....


This leads to my conclusion regarding the influence of the eyes on the health of the body and brain:
When you loose the ability to accommodate the ciliary muscle in the eye for focused vision (near or far), you loose your primary ability of adapting to different life conditions as well, meaning no life pulsation and life fades away. It seems, adaptation of the human body to the surrounding world is heavily controlled by accommodation in the Eye.

ALL IN ALL, the work by Drs. Hollwich and Prentice a.o. shows that the influence between the Eyes and the neuroendocrine systems of the body and brain goes both ways. The brain is the regulator, but primary stimulation and synchronization comes by means of the eyes, so ocular light has a profound influence on health.

In practice, the Eye Lens is a very important media in controlling ocular light transmission and stimulation of the nervous and endocrine systems.

 
Also, other sensory organs of the human body have several tasks. E.g. the mouth, besides taste (information) takes in energy with the food. Besides smell (information), we also take in air and energy through the nose, so why not expect the eyes to house several tasks; that is, to take in not only information for normal vision, but also light energy for electrical functions throughout the nervous system and cells of the body?

Actually, 2/3 of the necessary energy supply to the CNS comes from the two retinae, and 98% of sunlight enters the body through the eyes (being the body's primary acupuncture points, leaving 2% to enter through other acupuncture points on the skin). The total blood volume of the body passes through the eyes in less than 40 minutes, and only in the eyes is the blood exposed directly to the full visible spectrum of electromagnetic quantum energies. Contrary to acupuncture points later in the body circuit, eyes are before the brain in the body's energy circuit flowing from top to bottom, thus stimulating the brain - and the three light sensitive brain glands - highly. 90% of the sensory information coming to a person through a lifetime enters as ocular light. Also, functions related to eyesight take up more than one third of the grey matter in the brain, and added to these normal, conscious seeing functions through the visual cortex (here), important energetic, unconscious seeing functions for autonomic, vegetative functioning have central positions in the brain in the light sensitive brain glands of the Hypothalamus, Hypophysis and Pineal gland (here and here). Eyes are superior to the other senses, shown by the fact that when collecting or constructing memories from the other senses, eyes are involved (here, p.19-20).