Q. I have been taking St. John’s wort every day for over a year. I started taking it to combat depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD) that troubles me in the gloomy winter months.
I’ve noticed in the last few weeks my eyes are bloodshot red when in fluorescent lighting. I also suffered eye pain. My eye pupils are constricted to tiny pinholes.
I’m hoping when I visit my doctor I will find I haven’t damaged my eyes for life. I really could use an alternative to treat the depression.
A. One of the active ingredients in St. John’s wort is hypericin. Although this compound may be partly responsible for the antidepressant activity of this herb, it can also damage a protein in the lens of the eye when it is exposed to light (Free Radical Biology & Medicine, July, 2013). The investigators conclude that “even by wearing UV-blocking sunglasses, routine users of St. John’s wort cannot adequately shield their lenses from hypericin-mediated photosensitized damage.”
St. John’s wort is not your only option for treating SAD. You may want to consider exercise, fish oil or light therapy once the herb is out of your system. For more information on the pros and cons of St. John’s wort and alternative approaches to treating winter doldrums, we are sending you our 8-page Guide to Dealing with Depression.
7/26/18 redirected to: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/st-johns-wort-can-lift-mood-but-may-damage-eyes/
