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Monday, February 2

Attractive Eyes - Tips

We understand the world around us through our EYES. Fraction of a second is enough for our eyes to make out all about the things going around us and accordingly we take the action which moves our life.

Both eyes work together. With the help of Muscles, nerves and brain, our eyes help us to gain a full and clear view, inspite of change in climate, intensity of light.

Synchronized working of eyes, muscles, nerves and brain adapt to the changing climate and intensity of light so as to offer us correct information.

Weakness of the muscles and nerves around the eyes may give rise to different problems of sight. Problems could be temporary or it may take longer to overcome them.

Irritation in eyes, red eyes or swollen eyes may improve with first aid like splashing fresh and cold water in them. But sight problems (near-sightedness or far-sightedness or other refractive problems), dry eye problems or ageing problems may take longer time to improve, even after proper medical treatment.

Simple eye exercises have been found very effective in improving the Eye Health.

1. First thing in the morning, take water in the mouth, Splash clean water on the eyes and then throw out the water with a pressure from the mouth. Repeat this exercise 3-5 times.

2. Place thumb and index finger on both eye-brows and give light massage, 45 times

3. Place thumb and index finger on the cheek bone, just below the eyes and give light massage 45 times.

4. Shift the thumb and index finger on the end-point of the eyes (on the edge of eye-bone), give 45 light pressures.

5. Place thumb and index finger on the either side of the nose bridge, by the side of the eye and give 45 light pressures.

6. Place a black object (size of a golf ball), at a distance of 3 meters. Stare it without blinking eyes for 2-3 minutes. If the water starts coming out the eyes, let it come but do not blink. It will help in improving your eye sight.

7. Rub both palms 5-7 times. Place both palms on the eyes.

8. Blink the eyelids continuously for 60 seconds.

Blood circulation in the muscles and nerves of the eye are properly activated which takes care of the eye health. 'Pranayam exercise' (Breathing exercise) will further improve the health of the eyes.

The above exercise, if performed regularly, has been found very effective in improving the short-sightedness of the eye sight. There has been improvement in the problem of Dry eyes.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Attractive-Eyes---Tips&id=1742528

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Tips For Finding the Perfect Sun Readers

Ever notice how often enough you see Hollywood stars with their sunglasses on? It's a lot and for good reason. These celebrities wear their sunglasses as a fashion statement, to hide themselves, and probably to protect their eyes from the flashing bulbs of cameras following them around. While the paparazzi may not follow you everywhere you go, you are still entitled to this celebrity trend.

If you're currently in the market for a pair of sun readers, here are a few things to keep in mind while choosing.

Lenses - The options are endless including tinted, color changing lenses and detachable frames that are custom made to fit over your regular glasses. Your eye safety is of utmost importance so look for high quality, UV protected lenses. Be leery of lenses that are simply darker. These types of lenses have shown no indication of the performance of the lens itself and offer no actual UV protection which is what causes damage to skin and eyes. Another thing to consider is sunreaders with rims or frames that wrap around your head tend to keep out more light protecting your eyes even more than typical in the front lenses.

Comfort - Keep in mind that glass is durable, but much heavier to wear. Sunglasses not only protect from the suns rays, but can also protect our eyes from sand and other items that can be carried in the air and wind. It has also been said that sunglasses can help fight eye strain and headaches caused by it which can actually make your vision worse. Polarized sunglasses, in particular, are effective in reducing glare which will help you avoid unnecessary straining of the eyes.

Price - With sun readers, you usually get what you pay for. You can always find cheap readers at your local drug store, but these are often fragile and, well, less than stylish. It's often worth upgrading to a higher-quality pair of reading glasses. Name brand sunglasses can provide trendy fun frames that are excellent quality and usually come with a cleaning cloth and case. All of these things are important when protecting your eyes and your glasses.

Style - Stylists suggest the shape of glasses is of importance when shopping for sunglasses. Many recommend wearers who have a round face shape steer away from round glasses. Choosing a shape for you sunglasses opposite to you face shape is suggested. A rounder face can look stylist in squared, oval shaped or wrap around glasses and a longer face will look better with a rounder set of frames. If you happened to be born with and oval shaped faces, you're in luck. Those with this type of face structure will find almost any frame style will suit them well.

Sight is your most used sense so protecting your vision from the sun's harmful rays is extremely important. Take the time to choose right and you can have a pair of sun reader glasses you love that protect your eyes for years to come.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Tips-For-Finding-the-Perfect-Sun-Readers&id=1915123

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Is There Really a Connection Between Contact Lenses and Dry Eyes?

Frequent lenses wearers are surely aware of the problem - contact lenses and dry eyes. However is there a steady connection between this uncomfortable eye condition and wearing contacts?

Many people who don't wear glasses or lenses can experience eye dryness. There are several possible causes for this.

It might be that their eyes are not producing enough tears to moisture the eye sufficiently. Also some people have tears with content that does not provide enough moisture to the eye. If you fall into one of the above groups of people it seems that wearing contact lenses and dry eyes have no connection.

Being exposed to specific conditions such as smoke, extensive heat, dry air or wind can also cause dryness in your eyes. Again this can happen even if you are not wearing contacts.

Contact lenses and dry eyes however are connected. Many frequent lenses wearers complain that they feel their eyes dry. The reason behind this is the composition of the lens. Soft lenses usually contain water. Since part of their water evaporates they practically dehydrate your eye by absorbing water from your natural tear film covering the eye. For that reason it is recommended to wear lenses that have less water content.

Another connection between them is the length of the period you have been using contact lenses. People who have used extensively contacts for many years often complain that their eyes are dry. The simple reason for this is that they have damaged the structure of the cells covering the eye. The constant rubbing of the lenses with their eyes most likely damaged the special structures of the eye designed to keep the tear film stable.

Contact lenses and dry eyes is not a reason to stop wearing contacts though. All you need to do is to follow a strict routine of when, how and for how long to wear your lenses. It is not recommended to wear lenses when you are exposed to conditions that can dry your eyes in general. It is also not recommended to stay long hours or overnight wearing lenses. If you feel your eyes tend to go dry just purchase artificial tear drops and use them regularly.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-There-Really-a-Connection-Between-Contact-Lenses-and-Dry-Eyes?&id=1709176

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Eye Doctors and a Second Opinion

If you have defective eyesight chances are you have visited an ophthalmologist or an eye doctor and have been prescribed one or several pairs of glasses. Chances are not all of these glasses were satisfactory. I am going to show you that you should not blindly trust a doctor and always should get a second opinion.

First of all, whenever you are checked for vision defects keep in mind that most doctors want to sell you glasses or contacts and they will try to find something wrong. Second, the conditions in the eye doctor's office are far from beneficial: the darkened room, stress: factors that will probably reveal that your eyesight is worse than usual: remember that vision is changeable and any refraction error in not permanent. No doubt you have noticed that your vision is always better in bright sunlight. The vision is usually worse in poorly lit rooms, like the doctors' office. So don't be alarmed if you are told that you have vision problem that you have not expected. You probably don't.

So what can be done as a counter measure? It's actually very simple. Download one of the eye charts from internet, or make one yourself and check your own vision in a normally lit room (not too dark or too bright). Then check it in bright sunshine and in artificial light: you will notice the difference. Always use the same chart because the more you look at the same eyechart, the more your eyes will get used to it and the less stressful it becomes for you. You should be able to tell whether your eyesight is normal or not. If it checks well under normal conditions and even in bright light do not wear glasses and start practicing natural vision improvement techniques.

Another thing to watch for during your visit is that some doctors will try to overprescribe your glasses. You do not have to see perfectly in your glasses, in fact if you do, chances are that your vision will deteriorate very rapidly. Instead get underprescribed correction that is around 20/40. Remember that 20/40 in good light will be worse in a darkened office.

Just tell a doctor plainly what you want and do not fall for any sales pitch. If you don't like your glasses: too strong or too weak and if you don't like your current doctor, go to another doctor and get a second opinion. It is always a good idea to get a second opinion. Find a doctor who understands patients, their needs and if you are lucky, supports natural vision improvement methods. I am going to tell you right now that there are not many of those around.

And finally, if you can read without glasses, then do so. Only wear your glasses as little as possible. Practice correct visual habits.

Get the book Perfect Sight Without Glasses by Dr. W. H. Bates and learn the best system of natural vision improvement. The book is available on internet but you can also find it in a public library. This book is indispensable if your eyesight has just started to deteriorate.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Eye-Doctors-and-a-Second-Opinion&id=1708733

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Help For Tired Eyes

Eyes are a reflection of our very souls. As they are among the most important parts of our body, it is our duty to take care of our eyes. For example, in today's scenario, almost every person works on the computer throughout the day at some point or other, at a place of business or at home. And the eyes tend to get tired and overworked which may lead to vision problems in future. So before your work culture takes a toll on your eyes, make sure you seek help for tired eyes.

Symptoms of tired eyes include dark circles around your eyes and a puffy look, as one of the most common reasons for your eyes to get unduly tired is due to lack of sufficient sleep. Even if you work on your computer for a longer period of time, a good night's sleep can restore the health of your eyes.

Other tips and advice follow:

1) As you go on with your work everyday, consciously take frequent breaks of five to ten minutes and sit with your eyes closed. This will ensure rest and rejuvenation for the eyes.

2) After a hard day's work in front of the computer, if you come home and sit in front of the television, it puts a whole lot of strain on your eyes. Watching television can be avoided as opposed to working on the computer.

3) If in spite of giving sufficient rest your eyes continue to be listless and tired, it is time for you to consult an ophthalmologist and take help for tired eyes.

4) If the tiredness is caused through any medical condition, the ophthalmologist will be able to provide you treatment which will restore brightness and that twinkle in your eyes. Apart from this, a few eye exercises and home remedies may effectively cure your eyes.

5) Washing your eyes frequently with cold water is one of the easiest, cheapest and most effective means of keeping your eyes looking fresh. Doing this is sure to help relieve you of strain and fatigue.

6) Just add a few drops of lavender oil to water, dip some cotton in it and apply to your eyes. You will find that this soothes and makes your eyes feel relieved of stress.

7) Another excellent remedy for tired eyes includes dipping cotton pads in a solution prepared from boiling tea leaves in water and placing them on your eyes. This also relieves tiredness to a great extent.

Easy Eye Exercises

Certain eye exercises done on a regular basis can be of great help for tired eyes. These include -
Look at an object to your right; continue looking at it even as you turn your face to the extreme right. Do the same thing up and down.

Another exercise includes holding your finger in front of your eyes and concentrating on the same. With your eyes firmly fixed on your fingers, keep bringing the finger closer to your eyes. Take off your fingers and look into the open towards the horizon. Repeat these steps a few times a day.

A combination of treatment and exercises can restore the health of your eyes and bring back the shine and sparkle in them. Learn and take action!

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Help-For-Tired-Eyes&id=1706688

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How Long is the Healing Time After LASIK Surgery?

"How long is the healing time after LASIK?" is a question which many people ask when initially considering this surgery. How long the healing time is after LASIK will depend on a number of factors including:

*Any complications which occurred during the surgery. Some complications will heal on their own, although the recovery time will be extended for a few more months; while others will require additional surgery or enhancements.

*How well the patient follows post-operative rules and cares for his eyes.

*If there are additional complications for any follow up procedures and surgeries and enhancements.

The healing time following a successful LASIK surgery without any complications will generally be about one day, with the patient enjoying improved 20/20 or 20/40 vision immediately after the surgery.

During the 24 hours immediately after the surgery, the patient will generally just need to rest the eyes, wear a protective shield to cover and protect the eyes, and apply antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection. Most patients can return to work the following day after the surgery without any side effects.

However, a number of complications which may occur after the surgery, these complications may be either a result of surgical error or the patient's own visual and overall health. If complication occur, the healing time after LASIK will be lengthened considerably, extending the recovery period anywhere from one to six months.

Complications which will heal themselves without requiring any additional treatment include: halos/starbursts, dry eye, central corneal islands, infection, and visual regression.

LASIK healing time may also be determined by complications that require additional treatment such as irregular astigmatism, diffuse lamellar keratosis, central corneal island that do not resolve themselves, and epithelial ingrowth. These additional treatments will extend the recovery period to two months to one year.

The healing time after LASIK surgery is typically pain free and does not inhibit the patient from going about his normal everyday life. Complications may cause discomfort and less than ideal visual acuity, but are not debilitating or restrictive; in most cases the patient may still resume his everyday lifestyle.

Overall, the LASIK procedure is one of the safest and pain free surgical procedures, with one million plus patients undergoing the procedure in the US each year with a 95% satisfaction rate; this surgery has one of the quickest healing times overall for successful surgeries, and the healing time after this procedure is usually not a deterrent for most considering it.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Long-is-the-Healing-Time-After-LASIK-Surgery?&id=1729500

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Do Eye Exercises Actually Work?

Perhaps you've heard that you should exercise your eyes so your eye muscles won't get weak. But is there any foundation behind these claims? What are eye exercises? Are there any benefits in performing them?

Eye exercises involve rotation of the eyeballs. Basic exercises include movements like looking all the way up, then all the way down, to the right and to the left. You are also advised to rotate your eyes clockwise and then counterclockwise.

On one hand it makes sense. These movements keep the muscles moving and cause them to stretch and contract. On the other hand these eye muscles are not designed to do all this stuff. Their primary function is to accommodate the shape of the eyeball.

The proponents of the eye exercises claim that you became nearsighted or farsighted because "you are not using your muscles", "your eye muscles became weak" and other similar reasons. In fact the opposite is true. You became nearsighted because a certain group of extraocular muscles became too tense and this tension became chronic. Chronic tension changed the shape of your eyeball, in case of myopia or nearsightedness your eyeball became elongated, in case of hyperopia or farsightedness the eyeball became too short. People with normal vision have a round eyeball.

Another reason to consider is that these eye muscles are much stronger than needed so all this talk about weak muscles is unfounded.

Your muscles became tensed on the verge of paralysis. So the thing to do, in order to relieve the anomaly of refraction that you have, is to relax or somehow alleviate this tension. This involves mental control that is very difficult to master but it is possible.

So while eye exercises will certainly do you no harm, there are no actual benefits in them either. It is much better to learn some relaxation techniques and correct visual habits. One of them is to turn your head in whatever direction you are looking rather than just turn your eyes only.

That said there is one exercise that does seem to have a positive effect on vision. It is near-far swing. Basically it involves looking at the far object and then at some close object. You can also look at anything in between. Do not strain while doing it and make sure you blink often and don't hold your breath. You should have glimpses of improved vision.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-Eye-Exercises-Actually-Work?&id=1670783

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Recovery After Laser Eye Correction

For those of you who are considering having laser eye correction, it is important to bear in mind that the surgery also involves postoperative recovery. Here are some simple recovery tips for those who plan to go for this surgery.

The actual surgery only takes minutes to perform. What differs for most patients is the postoperative recovery period. For some, it can take a few days, while for others it can be up to a few months.

After laser eye correction, some patients' will be told to use a protective shield to cover the eyes, depending on the type of procedure performed. This protective shield should be used for as long as your eye surgeon recommends. Eye surgeons will also advise patients to use antibiotics, moistening eye-drops or even anti-inflammatory drops. Patients may also be asked to wear sunglasses if they develop sensitivity towards sunlight. For a lot of people, laser eye surgery is not a setback to their lives. They return to their normal activities and even work within a few days after surgery.

There are very rarely any postoperative complications. Patients usually have to attend at least one follow-up exam, which will be arranged by the surgeon during the recovery period to ensure proper and complete healing of the eyes. Some surgeons will also advise their patients to go to sleep as soon as they can after surgery to minimize the risk of postoperative pain occurring. Patients tend to feel a significant vision improvement after waking up from their sleep.

Nearsighted patients will usually experience normal vision returning the day after surgery. If any difficulty reading is experience, it is considered to be a normal side effect of the procedure. For farsighted patients, they will also normally experience a drastic improvement in their vision the day after surgery. If distant objects seem blurry, for them, it is also considered to be temporary and normal.

Postoperative patients should lie down, close their eyes and relax as much as possible. Activities that could strain the eyes, such as reading, watching television or using the computer should be avoided in the first 24 hours after surgery. Another thing to remember is to wear a protective shield, like an eye mask, for the first 7 nights after surgery to prevent the eyes being rubbed during sleep. Patients are allowed to take showers, but avoid getting the shower spray and soap directly into the eyes. It is also advisable to avoid using make-up, consuming alcohol or be in smoky and dusty environments for 48 hours after the surgery.

Patients who follow these tips should have a smooth and easy post laser eye correction recovery process.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Recovery-After-Laser-Eye-Correction&id=1711208

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Home Remedy For Treating Pink Eye

Pink eye or conjunctivitis is a highly contagious viral infection, so it is important that one should not come in close contact of others. Hand washing is mandatory; make it a habit to wash your hand with disinfectant after coming in contact with infected eye. Pink eye can be treated at home by boric acid, Tea, jasmine flowers, Honey, saltwater, chamomile.

Home Remedy for Treating Pink Eye:
Boric acid: Gently washing Pink eye with boric acid may relieve the discomfort associated with it, as it cleans and soothed the infected eye.

Tea: Placed damp tea bags on your infected eye this will ease the discomfort associated with it. First boil the tea bags and let them cool then place them on infected eye or you can also simply make a little stronger tea and then use an eye cup to hold the lukewarm tea in each eye.

Calendula: Calendula an antiseptic is very effective against itching and inflammation. It is generally used for eye washing.

Jasmine Flowers: Jasmine flowers soaked in distilled water for overnight can be used as eye drops will work as magic for pink eye, especially for eye having yellow discharge.
Honey: Putting honey drops mixed in warm water in effected eye is also an effective pink eye remedy.

Saltwater: Cotton balls soaked in warm saltwater when placed on the eyelids gives relief from Pink eye.

Chamomile: Simply placed cool moist chamomile tea bags on each closed eye for about 10 minutes. Repeat this every couple hours. This will help in clearing the infection.

Apart from this you can also wash your eyes with Eyebright Tincture in 1 cup of boiled and cool water. Use a cotton ball. Never use straight tincture in an eye.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Home-Remedy-For-Treating-Pink-Eye&id=1674546

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Here's a Quick Way to Improve Eye Sight Without Glasses, Contacts, Or Surgery

When you think about improving your eyesight, natural therapies are not usually the first thing that occurs to you. Most people make an immediately turn to their their eye doctor, and resign themselves to the fact that they will be purchasing new glasses, contact lenses, or even considering Have you looked for a way to get better vision without glasses, and have you been looking for natural ways to improve eye sight. Most people are completely unaware of how to improve eyesight without relying on the established methods.

The critical action is to find the root cause of the issue and to treat that, rather than continuing to treat the symptoms. Bad vision can come from bad vision habits, like staring and straining to see. Continuing to increase the strength of your prescription will never rebuild your vision; its just a stronger crutch.

The answer is; No, it doesn't. It is mostly about establishing positive habits, and then, yes you do need to set aside 20-30 minutes a day, to learn and practice natural vision correction. Few who struggle with glasses or contacts would debate that this is an investment which is well worth it.

What eyesight exercises do is to strengthen and condition these muscles -- just as you would any other weak muscles in your body -- and redirect your point of focus, thus helping you see clearly without glasses and preventing further deterioration of our eyes.

Natural vision therapy works on the same principles as any other exercise.The more you use your muscles, the stronger and more resilient they become. Aging typically brings with it an overall decrease in activity levels, and for most, a change in general interests. There are many widely heralded ways to keep your body in shape, and fight the signs of aging muscles. There are also ways to improve eye sight, and delay or forestall the onset of needing reading glasses or bifocals.

Natural vision correction is a procedure that's definitely worth considering, especially if you're thinking about laser eye surgery.

For more information on How to naturally improve eye sight, visit our site for all of the detailed information, and start to rebuild your vision now.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Heres-a-Quick-Way-to-Improve-Eye-Sight-Without-Glasses,-Contacts,-Or-Surgery&id=1760592

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New Hope For Progressive Keratoconus Patients

Collagen Crosslinking has been a bit of a controversial topic in the world of eyes. In recent years Collagen crosslinking has shown great results in patients with progressive keratoconus. Studies a bit older proclaimed the same as well hoping to do away with the hazards of Corneal transplantation. And the crosslinking treatment in progressive keratoconus patients is yielding positive results.

Remarkably the increase was 328.9% in patients with progressive keratoconus. The overall studies showed that all the patients tested had their progression stop. The Dresden Clinical study showed that in a 3 and 5 year study 31 patients improved with a slight reversal while others simply stopped progression.

The use of Collagen Crosslinking with photosensitzer Riboflavin and A ultraviolet light provides a less invasive way of treating keratoconus. Researchers feel positive that this will soon become a widely used treatment for Progressive Keratoconus. The Collagen Crosslinking was used on over 100 people at the Dresden Center in Germany two years ago. Confident they have proven their methods to be sound and positive they are working to make it a widely used practice.

Collagen crosslinking only takes a mere 30-45 minutes to perform and can be done in the clinic with little side effects or discomfort. The results increase in their effects over the following months improving sight in the patients. Very seldom do patients need a second dose. However in some extremely progressive keratoconus patients a second dose is needed to achieve optimal effectiveness.

Keratoconus can be a debilitating disease. However if caught early there is hope. Here is a list of risk factors:

Down Syndrome

Family History

Wearing Hard contacts that don't properly fit

Seasoned Allergies with eye rubbing history

Direct eye trauma injuries

Over the years researchers, and doctors continue to make breakthroughs in Keratoconus treatment. In the hope that one day we won't need to worry about it anymore. Continue to strive in your daily life and keep your vision first.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?New-Hope-For-Progressive-Keratoconus-Patients&id=1930281

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Keeping Your Eye Protected

There are several ways to protect your eyes and your children's eyes. A few of the ways to do so are pointed out below:

Don't save money on low-wattage light bulbs.

Control glare by using translucent lamp shades, window blinds and shades that filter light, matte or flat finishes on walls and other surfaces.

Make sure that light is coming from the right place when you read. If you hold a book to the side, light should come from that side, over the shoulder.

Put the television set in a place free of glare and reflections and separated from you bat at least five times the width of the screen.

Make sure you have the right glasses for the right activity (sunglasses, glasses for night driving, reading glasses)

Wear proper eye-safety equipment when handling chemicals, using power tools, or engaging in sports hazardous to the eyes.

Take rest breaks from concentrated activities (computer use especially) in which you use your eyes.

Don't let children play with firecrackers, pea shooters, BB guns, darts, and other missile toys. Don't let them play with others using such toys. Keep them away from power tools, lawn mowers and chemicals. Teach them not to run with or throw sharp objects.

Signs of Vision Problems.
If you notice any of these conditions, see your eye doctor immediately:

Fuzziness or blurring.

Losing one's place when reading or using one's finger to keep place.

Avoidance of close work, especially with children.

Holding reading material too close to eyes.

Rubbing eyes or squinting.

Aching or burning eyes; red eyes; frequent styes and encrusted eyelids.

Headache, eye strain.

Turning or tilting head to use one eye only.

Reading problems in children, such as making reversals when reading or writing.

Difficulty in concentrating.

Spots or flashes of light in front of the eyes; floaters.

Double vision.

Decrease in side vision.

Haloes around bright lights.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Keeping-Your-Eye-Protected&id=1936052

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Lutein For Macular Degeneration

High concentrations of these carotenoids are found in the macula, also known as the macula lutea which means yellow spot in Latin.

The macular pigment is known to provide:

- protection against macular degeneration and cataracts
- protection to the macula against the harmful effects of blue light.

Low levels of macular pigment are associated with macular degeneration.

Researchers said the two pigments act as "sunlglasses" and appear to filter short-wavelength light that can damage the eye's retina.

"When we compared the amount of macular pigment, which is comprised of lutein and zeaxanthin, present in the eyes of people with age-related macular degeneration to people without the disease, those with the lowest levels of carotenoid accumulation in the outer retina were significantly more likely to suffer from age-related macular degeneration than those with higher pigment levels, " said Dr. Landrum.

"The difference in risk between those having the highest and lowest levels was 75 percent."
Dr. Landrum, Florida International University

The Eye Disease Case Control Study looked at 421 cases of wet AMD and 615 matched control cases. This is their conclusion:

Carotenoid levels in the blood were much lower in patients with macular degeneration.

Benefits of Lutein

"Increasing the consumption of foods rich in certain carotenoids, in particular dark green, leafy vegetables, may decrease the risk of developing advanced or exudative AMD."

JAMA. 1994 Nov 9;272(18):1413-20.

At this time there is no toxic dose that is known to cause harm. However, as a nurse I need to remind you that if a person is on blood thinners or is taking an aspirin a day for their heart, they should consult their doctor before starting any supplement.

Though this pigment is deposited into many areas of the body prone to free radical damage - like the eyes and skin - it cannot be manufactured by the body.

Foods High in Lutein

Lutein is found in red, orange and yellow colored vegetables like corn, squash and red peppers.

Dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, collard greens, and spinach have some of the highest concentrations.

Lutein Supplements

Should a person consider taking lutein for macular degeneration prevention or to prevent the progression of this disease?

It has been shown in several studies that levels of these two carotenoids can be increased in the eye when taking a supplement or eating these foods, but blood levels drop as soon as the supplement is not being taken.

Family members at risk may also consider taking lutein for macular degeneration or supplements for macular degeneration prevention beginning at an earlier age.

This, combined with good eye protection from the sun, may be of great help in preventing or prolonging the onset of macular degeneration.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Lutein-For-Macular-Degeneration&id=1927067

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Do Eye Care Vitamins Work?

I had gone to my eye doctor for my regular check up and we discovered that my left eye was showing signs of less than perfect vision. It was not bad enough to require glasses but he said that at some point I may need to look into them if my vision continues to deteriorate. It was then that I asked him about eye care vitamins. I had heard about vitamin A and Lutein, as well as others. Did these eye vitamins really do anything or was it just a scam concocted by the manufacturers. The eye doctor went on to tell me that research as indicated that certain vitamins are critical for proper eye health. Many of these are ingested through a proper diet but that taking supplements is simply an insurance policy. considering that my vision was showing signs of deterioration now was a good time for me to look into eye care vitamins for eye health.

When I got home I turned to the internet for information on the types of vitamins that are recommended for eye health. Surprizingly there are quite a few more than I realized. Vitamins such as A,C,E, Zinc, and Copper were the ones that I read about the most but there were over 20 different ones that were recommended for eye health. I wanted to find a complete supplement that did not included any dairy, gluten, salt or fillers of any kind. The eye doctor also told me that I may notice an improvement with my dry eyes. At different times of the years this dry, pain in my eyes can be a real problem. Not only are these eye care vitamins good for the eyes but many of them have other important health benefits for the body as well. All in all I thought taking a specialized supplement was a good idea and my doctor agreed. I admit it was a bit scary to have the doctor tell me that my vision was not as good as it had been in the past. It was a real wake up call for me to start to care for my eyes.

Many of us just take our good vision for granted. I fall right into that category. It is only when we begin to loose that great eye sight that we begin to consider the potential benefits of eye care vitamins. If I can keep from getting glasses and hold onto the vision that I have I am more then willing to take my vitamins.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-Eye-Care-Vitamins-Work?&id=1815119

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Mom's obesity tied to higher infant mortality

Babies born to obese moms died more often in first 28 days of life

Research shows that babies born to obese mothers are at increased risk for dying, particularly in the first weeks of life, compared to babies born to normal-weight mothers.

Given high infant mortality rates in the US as compared to other developed nations, the researchers say, if the results are confirmed, obesity prevention should be explored as a measure to reduce infant mortality.

Obese pregnant women are known to be at greater risk of fetal death, while there is also some evidence that death rates are higher among babies born to obese women, according to Dr. Aimin Chen of Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska and colleagues.

To investigate the relationship in more detail, the researchers compared records for 4,265 babies who died in infancy and 7,293 surviving babies, using data from the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey.

Among the infants that died, 8.8 percent had obese mothers, compared to 5.9 percent of surviving infants. Babies born to obese women were at greater risk of death in their first year, and were also more likely to die in their first 28 days of life than infants born to normal-weight women.

Risk highest among heaviest mothers
While risk was increased for obese women no matter how much weight they gained, infant mortality was greatest among women who gained the most weight (0.45 kilogram or one pound and up each week), who were at nearly triple the risk of infant death. Risk was the second-highest for the obese women who gained the least weight (less than 0.15 kg or 0.33 pound a week), who were at 1.75 times greater risk of infant death.

A similar pattern was seen among overweight women, with those who gained the most weight and those who gained the least at highest risk.

A mother's pre-pregnancy body mass index had the greatest influence on neonatal death. Deaths due to complications of pregnancy, labor and delivery as well as problems related to preterm birth or low birth weight were higher among infants born to all obese women, no matter how much weight a woman gained in pregnancy; however, increased risk of death due to respiratory problems, birth defects, and SIDS was only seen for the obese women in the highest weight-gain category.

One problem with their study, Chen and colleagues point out, is that the data is "old;" since 1988, the prevalence of obesity and the average amount of weight women gain during pregnancy has increased, while infant morality rates have dropped by around 20 percent. However, they note, deaths related to prematurity or low birth weight have not seen declined and may even be on the rise, "which may be related to increasing obesity and infertility treatment

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28936421/#storyContinued

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