A recent study published in The American Journal of Epidemiology concluded that eating red meat increases an individual’s chances of contracting Age Related Macular Degeneration 50%.
Contact lens comfort has always been of paramount importance, and manufacturers have spent a great deal of time and money to continually improve it. Problems such as dry eyes have frequently been a challenge to eye care practitioners, but with new developments the trend seems to be developing better alternatives.
Americans have pursued a never ending search for nutrients, and supplements in an effort to improve ocular health and prevent eye diseases.
The bottom line is any asymmetry in pupil reactions should be addressed immediately, and the appropriate referral must be made in an expedient fashion.
The evolution of cataract surgery has changed significantly over the years.
Glaucoma is a silent disease that always results in blindness if not properly treated. There are several types of glaucoma, but all are a result of increased pressure within the eye, and a corresponding decrease in blood flow to the optic nerve.
The pursuit of visual correction has taken many paths over the years, some better then others. On occasion, a protocol that is intended for one use can be applied to another with results that exceed its original intentions. Such is the case with Intacs, which are corneal implants to correct visual anomalies.
In short, contact lens success relies on maintaining a clean, hygienic case, as well as digitally rubbing the lenses during the cleaning procedure. Following these simple steps will assure the wearer a healthy, infection free experience.
The natural lens in our eyes should be perfectly clear when we are born. There are exceptions such as congenital cataracts, certain opacities caused by drugs, trauma and unusual changes that happen idiopathically.
Contact lenses have been around for more then half a century. Changes have been dramatic, and have enabled millions of people to wear contact lenses comfortably for a whole host of activities.
The lid is a very complex, and important structure. Disruption of any part of this mechanism can, and often does result in disease, pain and the possibility of secondary complications.
Radial Keratotomy (RK) has been referred to by some as the “Grand Father” of Refractive Surgery. It involved making radial incisions in the cornea some times as deep as 80% of the total corneal thickness in an attempt to flatten the tissue. Astigmatism was treated with specific incisions located in strategic parts of the cornea. The astigmatic incisions were done first, since they created more nearsightedness and when they healed, the radial ones were performed. The optical zone around the pupil varied depending on the degree of nearsightedness that needed to be corrected.
Diabetes is a systemic disease that can, and often affects many areas of the body. The search for a cure has been long, and difficult, and to date the only therapy has been to manage the condition and treat the symptoms.
A clear, natural lens is a structure that is common in most eyes. This lens helps focus light on to the retina and allows for clear vision. If the lens is too strong then the eye is considered nearsighted(myopic), and conversely if it is too weak then it is considered farsighted(hyperopic). Another function of the natural lens is to absorb harmful ultra violet light that enters the eyes. This light can cause macular degeneration, and cancer in those individuals that are predisposed to those conditions.
The incidence of dry eyes in America has grown dramatically over the past decade as the environment has changed, and the average age of Americans has increased. As such, new and better therapeutic alternatives are required to treat this chronic and potentially damaging condition. While most individuals simply chose to live with the discomfort of dry eyes, the physiological changes that can, and do occur as a result of decreased tear flow are worth noting.
LASIK is a refractive surgical procedure that reshapes the cornea to focus light on to the retina. While there are several possible deleterious side affects of the surgery, one of the most serious and potentially vision threatening is called DLK which stands for Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis.
Dry eyes have become a common, and potentially complicated issue facing many individuals today. The source of the problem maybe lack of tear production, Blepharitis or lid inflammation and even oil gland Dysfunction. While the treatments may vary depending on the etiology, there are some basic therapies that help all of these patients.
LASIK is a refractive surgical procedure that reduces or eliminates the need for eye glasses or contact lenses. It involves creating a flap with either a lathe or laser, called Intralase, and reshaping the underlying tissue. This new corneal curve focuses light on to the retina making it easier to see clearly. Certain conditions make having this procedure unsafe and risk severe post surgical complications. Any corneal condition that affects the water content and hydration of the cornea should be carefully evaluated prior to having LASIK. Failure to do so may result in a hazy or opaque cornea, loss of vision and the need for a corneal transplant post surgically.
Cataracts are a clouding of the natural lens in the eye. The lens becomes yellow or opaque preventing light and images from reaching the retina. Recently, the astigmatic problem has now been solved. The STAAR Toric IOL is now available, and can correct up to 3.50 diopters of corneal astigmatism. That means that most people that have astigmatism before surgery can choose to have this new IOL implanted at the time of surgery, and have their astigmatism corrected resulting in no need for distance eye glasses after the procedure.
The refractive surgical procedure, PRK involves debrading, or scraping the top layer of the cornea, thereby exposing the inner layers which are then treated with a laser.
Reduced vision, or even blindness my exist for an individual for a number of reasons. Treatment will depend on what the cause is, and how effective the treatment will be. Conventional, non invasive treatment has always been eye glasses, or contact lenses to correct visual problems. Over time, improved eye glass lenses and contacts have evolved that reduce glare, eliminate unwanted wavelengths of light, improve depth perception, and address many environmental issues.
Amblyopia, or lazy eye is reduced vision in one eye as a result of a sustained period of visual neglect in childhood, resulting in neither eye glasses nor medical treatment improving the vision in that Amblyopic eye. During infancy, an infant’s neurological system is very flexible, and can easily adapt to changing environmental stimuli. As such, during these formative years our visual systems learn how to function. If during that time one eye does not get adequate visual stimuli it will not develop to the same level as the other eye.
Over the counter remedies are all thought to be very safe; since a doctor’s prescription is unnecessary. That however, is not true. All medications, whether they are prescribed or not, have side effects, and can react with other pharmacological entities. In some cases, these effects could have very detrimental consequences. As an example, drinking grapefruit juice when taking cholesterol lowering medication affects the metabolism of the medication, and can create a toxic environment. Further, milk neutralizes the antioxidant affect of tea, and facial creams can raise eye pressure.
In an effort to stay healthy, and prevent disease many of us have been taking vitamins. When examining the physiology of our eyes, it makes sense in certain instances to supplement our diets, and improve the metabolism of tissues. There are several problems that arise with that point of view. The first; is that many of these supplements have not been proven to be useful. The second; is that there can be drug interaction between the vitamins and other medications. Therefore care must be taken, and always inform your doctor of anything that you take.
Dry eyes are a serious and growing concern for millions of individuals. The eye must be bathed in a continuous flow of a tear film that consists of several components. A healthy tear film contains lipids, aqueous, and mucin. The outer lipid layer prevents evaporation, keeping the inner layers intact. The aqueous component is a mixture of proteins, mucin and electrolytes. The mucin provides viscosity; enhancing the stability of the tear film. The mucin is in its highest concentration the deeper into the tear film one goes.
Blepharitis is the inflammation of the lids, and it affects the glands that reside within these tissues. The incidence of lid infection ranges from 3.2% in young adults and increases with age to 71.1% with seniors. The cause of Blepharitis is almost always bacterial in nature, and tests positive in cultures. The bacteria grow in the lipids (fats) of the gland, and produce enzymes that break the lipids down into soaps and fatty acids. These 2 byproducts disrupt the tear film causing dry eye symptoms, and all the discomfort that follows. In some cases there is even a microorganism that attaches itself to the lashes called Demodex Folliculorum. Regardless of the cause, the result is red, painful lids and dry eyes.
An injury to the outer layer of the cornea, the Epithelium, usually heals with in a few days, and results in no long term damage. However, if the Epithelium does not fully reattach to the underlying layer, Bowmans Layer, then that focal point may be a source of future problems. This is called a Recurrent Corneal Erosion, RCE
In the hands of a well trained, experienced, and seasoned refractive surgeon, LASIK is a very good procedure with excellent results. IntraLASIK which is the same procedure that employs a laser to create the flap is even. An often over looked complication of the procedure is the affect that the oil glands have on the final results
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted, urogenital disease that frequently goes un or misdiagnosed
For people over the age of forty, reading becomes increasingly difficult.
Clear Swarovski crystal, adorning a beautiful, FIERY red 20mm Genuine Swarovski Crystal heart. This is hot and selling fast!
Diabetes Mellitus is a systemic disease whereby the body produces little or no insulin.
An estimated 20% of the world’s population suffers from allergic disease and may present as red itchy eyes, rhinitis ( runny nose), asthma, and allergic conjunctivitis. In short, ocular allergies are very common and cause substantial discomfort in affected individuals. New treatments and medications eliminate these symptoms and permit the individual to live a normal life during previously difficult times.
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