Vision Care

Don’t lose hope – Improve Your Eyesight Naturally

admin — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 02:34:52 +0000

I know a lot of people have been trying to correct their vision for a long time, and have had little to no success. So I want to give you a quick 3 step process that will put you on the path to perfect sight.

Step 1) Don’t lose hope. This can be done, and by anyone. It takes time (Rome wasn’t built in a day), but it will work if you let it work.

Step 2) Clear your mind of negativity and skepticism. Most people (and especially optometrist) are going to tell you what you’re doing isn’t going to work. PAY THEM NO MIND! Your success in regaining 20/20 vision will be all the reward you’ll need. And once you reach that goal the critics will be completely silent.

Step 3) Check out How to Correct Your Eyesight. It’s a great new downloadable book that reminds me a lot of The Bates Method, except it’s a step-by-step plan and it’s a lot more readable.

If you haven’t seen any noticeable improvements in your vision in a while, than you owe it to yourself to check this out.

How To Correct Your Eyesight Without Expensive Surgery

How To Correct Your Eyesight Without Expensive Surgery

admin — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 02:12:50 +0000

There are a lot of ebooks out there on improving your vision. Some hokey, some useful.

Ideas like the Bates Method are very useful, but not laid out very well… Yes, the methods in it are powerful, but it’s missing system for accomplishing your goals. It’s like trying to drive in the dark with no headlights.

Enter How to Correct Your Eyesight. This book puts together everything I’ve been asking for in a natural eye cure course. (It’s like someone finally listened to us!) It not only gives you the techniques, but a step-by-step plan to use them too.

No more wondering how often you should use a technique
No more questions about how long it should take to see results
And no more paying for glasses once you complete the course!

I really found How to Correct Your Eyesight useful, and I’m well on my way to seeing 20/20. I think if you read this book, you’ll feel the same way too.

Don’t lose hope – Improve Your Eyesight Naturally

Macular Degeneration Prevention

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:43:38 +0000

Avoiding the risk factors for macular degeneration may help prevent it. This includes avoiding tobacco smoke and eating a diet low in saturated fat and rich in antioxidants. Some doctors suggest that wearing UV-blocking sunglasses reduces risk. Use of estrogen in postmenopausal women is associated with a lower risk of developing ARMD.

Key Terms

DrusenTiny yellow dots on the retina that can be soft or hard and that usually do not interfere with vision.

FoveaA tiny pit in the macula that is responsible for sharp vision.

NeovascularizationGrowth of new capillaries.

PhotoreceptorsSpecialized nerve cells (rods and cones) in the retina that are responsible for vision.

RetinaThe light-sensitive membrane at the back of the eye that images are focused on. The retina sends the images to the brain via the optic nerve.

Macular Degeneration Treatment

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:42:01 +0000

While vision loss cannot be reversed, early detection is important because treatments are available that may halt or slow the progression of the wet form of ARMD. Some treatments for the dry form were still in early clinical trials in 2001.

In wet-type ARMD and in senile disciform macular degeneration, new capillaries grow in the macular region and leak. This leaking of blood and fluid causes a portion of the retina to detach. Blood vessel growth, called neovascularization, can be treated with laser photocoagulation in some cases, depending upon the location and extent of the growth. Argon or krypton lasers can destroy the new tissue and flatten the retina. This treatment is effective in about half the cases but results may be temporary. A concern exists that laser therapy causes the laser to destroy the photoreceptors in the treated area. If the blood vessels have grown into the fovea (a region of the macula responsible for fine vision), treatment may be impossible. Because capillaries can grow quickly, this form of macular degeneration should be handled as an emergency and treated immediately.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising new treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000. With PDT, the patient is given a light-activated drug intravenously with no damage to the retina. The drug, Visudyne, is absorbed by the damaged blood vessels. The affected area on the retina is exposed to a nonthermal laser light that activates the drug exactly 15 minutes after the infusion begins. It must be exactly 15 minutes for the treatment to be successful. The light chemically alters the drug, and any leakage from choroidal neovascularization (CNV) ceases. Patients require retreatment every three months during the first year of therapy, and should be advised to avoid bright light or sun exposure for several days after therapy.

Another form of treatment for the wet form of ARMD is radiation therapy with either x rays, or a proton beam. Growing blood vessels are sensitive to treatment with low doses of ionizing radiation. The growth of nerve cells in the retina is stunted. They are insensitive and thus are not harmed by this treatment. External beam radiation treatment has shown promising results at slowing progression in limited, early trials.

Other therapies that are under study include treatment with alpha-interferon, thalidomide, and other drugs that slow the growth of blood vessels. Subretinal surgery also has shown promise in rapid-onset cases of wet ARMD. This surgery carries the risk of retinal detachment, hemorrhage, and acceleration of cataract formation. A controversial treatment called rheotherapy involves pumping the patient’s blood through a device that removes some proteins and fats. As of 2001, this had not been proven to be safe or effective.

Consumption of a diet rich in antioxidants (beta carotene and the mixed carotenoids that are precursors of vitamin A, vitamins C and E, selenium, and zinc), or antioxidant nutritional supplements, may help prevent macular degeneration, particularly if started early in life. Research has shown that nutritional therapy can prevent ARMD or slow its progression once established.

Researchers also are working on therapies to treat the dry form of macular degeneration. Low-energy laser treatment for drusen is currently in clinical trials as of 2001. In this treatment the ophthalmologist uses a diode laser to reduce the drusen level. Some ophthalmologists were already performing this procedure “off-label,” without FDA approval.

Another treatment, approved overseas but not in the United States, treats dry ARMD by implanting a miniaturized telescope to magnify objects in the central field of vision. This does not treat the disease, but aids the patient’s vision in only the very severe cases of ARMD.

The dry form of ARMD is self-limiting and eventually stabilizes, with permanent vision loss. The vision of patients with the wet form of ARMD often stabilizes or improves even without treatment, at least temporarily. However, after a few years, patients with this type are usually left without acute central vision.

Many macular degeneration patients lose their central vision permanently and may become legally blind. However, macular degeneration rarely causes total vision loss. Peripheral vision is retained. Patients can compensate for central vision loss, even when macular degeneration renders them legally blind. Improved lighting and low-vision aids can help even if visual acuity is poor. Vision aids include special magnifiersallowing patients to read, and provide telescopic aids for long-distance vision. The use of these visual aids plus the retained peripheral vision assist in maintaining patient independence.

Macular Degeneration Diagnosis

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:39:30 +0000

Optometrists and ophthalmologists, with assistance from ophthalmic assistants, technicians and nurses, should carefully screen patients who are at risk for macular degeneration. These include patients older than 60; patients with hypertension or cardiovascular disease; cigarette smokers; patients with a first-degree family (sibling or maternal) history of vision loss from ARMD regardless of age; patients with aphakia or pseudophakia; or someone with a cataract, and patients with a history that indicates significant cumulative light exposure.

The ophthalmic assistant will take a careful history and log these risk factors. The patient then should have a complete ocular examination. Vision tests, performed by the physician or a skilled ophthalmic assistant, examine best corrected visual acuity, as well as near monocular visual acuity; refraction; biomicroscopy; tonometry; and stereoscopic fundus examination with pupillary dilation. Though rarely used even if ARMD is suspected, a central 10-degree computerized automated perimetry might be utilized along with fundus photography and laser ophthalmoscope scanning.

After preliminary testing, specific tests are performed to determine macular degeneration. To make the diagnosis, the doctor dilates the pupil with eye drops and examines the interior of the eye, examining the retina for the presence of drusen, small white-yellow spots in the macular area, and for gross changes in the macula such as thinning. The doctor also administers a visual field test to search for blank spots in the central vision. The doctor might order fluorescein angiography (intravenous injection of fluorescent dye followed by visual examination and photography of the back of the eye) to determine if blood vessels in the retina are leaking. Retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) mottling that occurs, like the drusen, due to ateriorsclerotic changes of the macula decreasing the blood supply, can also be indicated through a thorough examination.

A central visual field test called an Amsler grid is usually given to patients who are suspected of having ARMD. It is a grid printed on a sheet of paper (also presented for home use every week). When viewing a central dot on the page, the patient should note if any of the lines appear to be wavy or missing. This could be an indication of fluid and the onset of wet ARMD. High-risk patients particularly will be urged to schedule more frequent checkups.

Although ophthalmologists and optometrists can accurately diagnose macular degeneration, attending physicians may want to consult with a retinal specialist for the best treatment protocols.

Macular Degeneration Causes and Symptoms

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:37:54 +0000

Age-related macular degeneration is intrinsic to aging for some individuals, but not all. People with an ARMD-affected family member have an increased the risk for its development. A slightly higher incidence occurs in females, although males and females are considered to be equally at risk. Whites and Asians are more susceptible to developing ARMD than blacks, in whom the disorder is rare.

The cause of ARMD is thought to be arteriosclerosis in the blood vessels supplying the retina. Certain risks for the heart are considered similar risks to those that contribute to the development of macular degeneration. Smoking increases the risk of developing wet-type ARMD, and may increase the risk of developing dry-type as well. Dietary fat also increases the risk. In one study of older (age 45-84) Americans, signs of early ARMD were 80% more common in the group who ate the most saturated fat compared to those who ate the least. Low consumption of antioxidants, such as foods rich in vitamin A, is associated with a higher risk. It is generally believed that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light may contribute to disease development, but this has not been proven conclusively.

A study reported in Ophthalmology in 2000 concluded that hypertension, thyroid hormones, and antacids are associated with certain types of ARMD. The issue of antacids is not widely recognized since no determination has yet been made regarding whether the antacids themselves lead to the disease, or whether it is the stomach problems that are a contributing factor. Obesity was also found to be a factor in this study.

The main symptom of macular degeneration is a central vision change. The patient may experience blurred central vision or a blank spot on the page when reading, visual distortion such as bending of straight lines, and images might appear smaller than is the actual object. Some patients notice a change in color perception, or abnormal light sensations. These symptoms can emerge suddenly and become progressively worse. Patients should be advised that a sudden onset of symptoms, particularly vision distortion, is an indication for immediate evaluation.

Macular Degeneration

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:28:16 +0000

Macular degeneration is the progressive deterioration of a critical region of the retina called the macula. The macula is 3-5 mm and is responsible for central vision. This disorder leads to irreversible loss of central vision, although peripheral vision is retained. In the early stages, vision may be gray, hazy, or distorted.

Macular degeneration is the most common cause of legal blindness in people over 60, and accounts for approximately 11.7% of blindness in the United States. About 28% of the population over age 74 is affected by this disease.

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the most common form of macular degeneration. It is also known as age-related maculopathy (ARM), aged macular degeneration, and senile macular degeneration. Approximately 10 million Americans have some vision loss due to ARMD.

ARMD is subdivided into a dry (atrophic) and a wet (exudative) form. The dry form is more common and accounts for 70-90% of cases of ARMD. It progresses more slowly than the wet form and vision loss is less severe. In the dry form, the macula thins over time as part of the aging process and the pigmented retinal epithelium (a dark-colored cell layer at the back of the eye) is gradually lost. Words may appear blurred or hazy, and colors may appear dim or gray.

With wet ARMD, new blood vessels grow underneath the retina and distort the retina. These blood vessels can leak, causing scar tissue to form on the retina. The wet form may cause visual distortion and make straight lines appear wavy. A central blind spot develops. The wet type progresses more rapidly and vision loss is more pronounced.

Less common forms of macular degeneration include:

Cystoid macular degeneration: Vision loss in the macula due to fluid-filled areas (cysts) in the macular region. This may be a result of other disorders, such as aging, inflammation, or high myopia.

Diabetic macular degeneration: Deterioration of the macula due to diabetes.

Senile disciform degeneration (Kuhnt-Junius macular degeneration): A severe type of wet ARMD that involves hemorrhaging in the macular region. It usually occurs in people over 40 years old.

Lowering Risk of Macular Degeneration

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:26:00 +0000

Older adults who eat diets rich in citrus fruits, leafy greens and fish oil, but low in “glycemic index,” may have a lower risk of age-related macular degeneration, according to a study in the journal Ophthalmology. Related posts:Macular Degeneration Causes and SymptomsMacular DegenerationMacular Degeneration Prevention Related posts:

Graves’ disease – Screen for Fetal Hyperthyroidism

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:21:01 +0000

Women with a history of Graves’ disease should be screened for fetal hyperthyroidism at 2426 weeks’ gestation, Dr. Ingrid Block advised at a meeting on antepartum and intrapartum management.

These women should have their thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) levels measured at the beginning of pregnancy and again at 24-26 weeks. The results may help confirm a suspicion of fetal hyperthyroidism or prompt further analysis, she said at the meeting, sponsored by the University of California, San Francisco.

In most laboratories, a normal background TSI titer will be less than 130%. A TSI of 350% with a fetal heart rate below 160 beats per minute suggests a low risk for fetal hyperthyroidism, but continued monitoring in these cases is prudent, said Dr. Block of the university.

A fetal heart rate above 160 beats per minute typically characterizes the disease.

A TSI of 350%-500% puts the fetus at moderate risk for hyperthyroidism, and a TSI of more than 500% puts the fetus at high risk.

Fetal hyperthyroidism complicates 1% of pregnancies in U.S. women with a history of Graves’ disease. With active maternal disease, most fetuses will be protected by their mothers’ antithyroid medication.

Physicians should be especially careful to look for fetal hyperthyroidism in women with a history of Graves’ disease who are on thyroid hormone replacement therapy but have discontinued antithyroid medication. These women may still have thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-receptor antibodies, which puts them at highest risk for fetal hyperthyroidism, she said.

In general, a maternal TSH-receptor antibody titer above 350% increases the likelihood that the fetus has hyperthyroidism.

Diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and ultrasound findings. Ultrasound studies should be ordered for women with a history of Graves” disease to look for fetal, goiter or a hyperextended fetal neck that could indicate goiter.

Growth retardation, increased fetal motility, or accelerated fetal bone maturation also can be signs of fetal hyperthyroidism. If the woman had a previous pregnancy complicated by fetal hyperthyroidism, this also increases the risk for the disease in the current pregnancy.

In rare cases, obtaining a sample of fetal cord blood may be necessary to make the diagnosis, but this procedure carries a 1% risk of fetal loss.

Physicians should therefore weigh the risks and benefits carefully and consult a pediatric endocrinologist before performing this procedure.

Smoking may Boost Dermopathy Risk in Graves’ Disease

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:17:27 +0000

Patients with two of the most serious, manifestations of Graves disease–acropachy and dermopathy–are three times more likely to have a history of tobacco use and are five times more likely to be current smokers than patients with another thyroid disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

A small study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists found that 31 of 39 patients with acropachy (79%), 81 of 102 patients with dermopathy (79%), and 13 of 46 patients with Hasbimoto’s thyroiditis (28%) had a history smoking.

More than half of patients with dermopathy or acropachy reported that they were current smokers, compared with 9% of patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

“Several reports have indicated that tobacco use is a risk factor for Graves’ ophthalmopathy,” noted Dr. Vahab Fatourechi of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., in a poster presented at the meeting.

But the frequency of tobacco use in patients with even more severe manifestations of Graves’ disease had never been studied. These manifestations include acropachy, an inflammatory disorder of connective tissue that involves clubbing of the fingers and toes and can lead to elephantiasis, and dermopathy, also known as pretibial or localized myxedema, which is an infiltrative condition of the dorsum of the legs and feet characterized by hyperpigmented patches and plaques.

Dr. Fatourechi and coinvestigator Mitra M. Fatourechi, a medical student at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, compared age- and sex-matched patients with acropachy, dermopathy, or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, finding a striking association between the more severe conditions and current or past tobacco use.

“Although the pathogenesis of this association is unclear and suggested modification of the immune process by smoking needs further confirmation, a strong case can be made for considering tobacco use as a risk factor for severity of autoimmune manifestations of Graves’ disease,” Dr. Fatourechi said. “Patients with Graves’ disease should be strongly advised against smoking.”