Reversing Destructive Eye Diseases Maybe Just A Supplement Away

Americans have pursued a never ending search for nutrients, and supplements in an effort to improve ocular health and prevent eye diseases. While many advertized items have little or no actual benefit, there are some that have been shown to be helpful, and efficacious. Over the last half century research has started to embrace these supplements as beneficial to our health, and their impact on one’s general well being.

Understanding the aging, and physiological processes offers a pathway to the benefits of these nutrients. Cataracts, Macular Degeneration, dry eyes and other age related disorders are but a few of the considerations that these neutricuticals are targeted to address. A study conducted by West and associates concluded that there are some supplements that are very helpful and when taken properly will prevent damage and even do some repair.

Research conducted by the Age Related Eye Disease Study ( AREDS) found that individuals who took antioxidant combinations of 500 IU Vit C, 400 IU Vit E, 15 mg of beta carotene and Zinc for approximately 6 years had a 17%-21% lower rate of Age Related Macular Degeneration(ARMD) progression as compared to individuals in the placebo group. Patients who took Zinc or antioxidants alone also showed a decrease in the progression of ARMD, but not to the extend as the first group. No benefit was shown with the folks who took Vit E alone. In addition, participants who took Lutein for 18-20 weeks demonstrated higher plasma levels, and increased macular pigment density. This would counter the ARMD damage and improve visual quality.

The West and associate study found no benefit at all in preventing, improving or reversing the damage caused by Cataracts or Diabetic Retinopathy. Herbal remedies, antioxidants, and all vitamins were found to be useless with regard to these two conditions.

Unlike cataracts, Glaucoma has been shown to be aided by the use of supplements. Cannabinoids have demonstrated an ability to lower the intraocular pressure, thereby lowering the visual devastations of Glaucoma. The problem with this supplement is obtaining an accepted method of administration that is regulated, dose reproducible and legal. Additional studies have shown that Ginkgo Biloba has improved the visual fields of normal tension glaucoma patients with as little as four weeks of use. The reason is believed to be the vasodilating affect of this supplement. Bringing more blood, and oxygen to the starved retinal tissue. Bilberry has not been clinically demonstrated to aid glaucoma patients in any way.

While additional studies must be conducted to asses all the benefits of these, and other nutritional supplements, it is clear that some do help. Furthermore, of equal importance is the drug interaction of supplements with both each other and prescription medicines. Many herbs, drugs and supplements can and do increase/ decrease the affect of other substances when present at the same time. Care must always be taken and warnings displayed. In all cases, one must consult with their health care professionals as to what supplements can be safely used.

By: Jay Stockman

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This article is written by Dr. Jay Stockman, contributing consultant to CLE Contact Lenses. Dr. Jay Stockman has co-managed a significant number of refractive surgery patients. Advise, and medical questions can be directed to New York Vision Associates

Debunking The Myths About Iridology

Debunking the myths about Iridology
‘We cannot attempt to cure one part of the body without treating the others. We cannot attempt to cure the body if we forgot the Soul.’
———————–Plato

There have been several erroneous ideas about iridology. Unfortunately some of these beliefs have come from the medical field, as well as some uninformed natural health practitioners themselves. One can never be sure how these illusions came about; however, it is imperative to correct some of these known fictions.

Iridology has frequently been seen by some unlearned individuals as a sort of astrology or fortune telling technique. To believe that idea out of hand is to rob the public of an invaluable tool in preventive medicine. Iridology has been practiced and recorded for centuries. More importantly, with the help of today’s technology in digital magnification and imaging, researchers around the world are able to rapidly move the validation of iridology and its findings forward. Medical doctors in Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Russia, and many European countries both revere Iridology and use it in their practice of both traditional and alternative medicine. Scientists are, at this moment, discovering the myriad of layers of information in the iris, the pupil, the pupillary border, and the sclera.

Dr. Celso Batello, of Greece, is continuing research on the incidence of contraction furrows in the iris and how they relate to the autonomic nervous system. Dr. Serge Jurasunas of Portugal is an oncologist who uses Iridology in his determination of treatment protocols for breast cancer patients. Dr. Daniele Lo Rito of Venice, Italy, is an MD who both teaches Iridology and uses it in his practice. These are just a few of the respected professionals who understand the importance of Iridology.

Some of the professional terms or idioms used in iridology have been changed, to reflect more correct usage. Radial furrows, which appear as ‘spokes’ in the iris were often referred to as ‘parasite lines’. This description was not precisely incorrect, but it most assuredly caused the wrong impression. The radials are indicative of a weak area in the
intestinal lining which can be vulnerable to bacteria, viruses, toxins, or parasites. These radials most frequently are visible in the upper quadrant of the iris, or head area. Unfortunately, many people became obsessed with the fear that there were parasites in their brains, which is an entirely false assumption. This regrettable misuse of the term ‘parasite lines’ caused undue alarm and only served to denigrate the science of iridology.

Another false claim which undesirably brought about raised eyebrows and dismissal of iridology by the mainstream medical community was the idea that a brown eye could completely change color to become blue.
Congruous with the teachings of competent iridologists, iris colors remain constant. Pigmentation in the iris, seen as spots or areas of color, can become lighter or darker to a degree as levels of toxicity decrease; but if your eyes are brown, they will remain so. The bizarre claim that a person could ‘cleanse’ himself to exhaustion until his iris changed color, is another
unreasonable assertion. Cleansing and de-toxification are wonderful healing modalities, with absolutely no intent or ability to completely change eye color.

There are a number of things, as in any science, that an iridology exam will not be able to reveal for certain. An Iridologist in America will not diagnose any disease by name, but rather the premise is to work with ‘body systems’ and look for weak areas that are vulnerable to disease, as well as levels of congestion and toxicity.

Should someone have their appendix removed, for instance, this will not be visible in the iris. During anesthetic, the nervous system is quelled to the point of inability to send strong signals to the iris.

An additional theory still being used by some practitioners is that ‘healing signs’ in the shape of small cross hatched lines filling in a lacuna shape will appear in the iris and determine that healing has taken place. This simply does not happen. As heretofore mentioned, certain markings in
the iris can lighten somewhat as the body begins to repair; thus sending energy to an impaired area which can result in improvement. This is due to the actual fiber structure in the iris lifting so that less of the underlying black pigmentation of the posterior border layer is revealed. In fact, sclera signs are a more reliable method of determining changes in the body in a timely manner.

One cannot look in the iris and know a person’s blood pressure, specific blood serum cholesterol levels, see the absolute presence of a tumor and know the size of it. Nor can one look in the eyes and tell the gender of a person.

Another common mistake is for patients to confuse iridology with the actual study of eye diseases. Oftentimes, clients will ask me, ‘Do you see glaucoma in my eyes?’ Or ‘Can you tell if I need glasses?’ The study of eyes and eye diseases is a practice related to ophthalmology
or optometry.

While presenting a lecture at a college of nursing, I was told this story by one of the students. She said that her friend had seen an Iridologist who informed her that her green eyes meant that her entire body was toxic. The friend was understandably appalled and decided that Iridology was quackery. It is unfortunate that some iridologists, especially with outdated
schooling in the field, have limited knowledge and incorrect information. I assured the girl that the green color of her friend’s eyes merely indicated the color of the eyes she was born with. It could indeed suggest a genetic weakness in the kidney area, or any area common to mixed (biliary) colored eyes; but to say that the girl’s whole body was toxic is a misfortune in choice of practitioners.

Iridology is a precise science, and all sciences have some limitations. However, the astounding ability of this science to determine the overall health of the whole person, and their genetic influences, is so valuable as to not be denied.

By: Dr. Gael Riverz, ND

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"Advanced Iridology Research Journal", Editor, John Andrews of UK, "Research on the Inner Pupillary Border" by Dr. Daniele Lo Rito, MD of Italy

Medicines Used To Treat Eye Diseases

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition in which the tension inside the eyeball is raised causing damage to the innermost layer of eye i.e. retina. Major risk factors for the development of glaucomatous optic nerve damage include the level of intra-ocular pressure, increasing age, black race, and a family history of glaucoma. Broadly it can be classified into various types, of which POAG (primary open angle glaucoma) is an acquired condition, with onset typically after age 40. It affects both eyes but often asymmetrically. In early and even moderate stages, the patient is usually asymptomatic. Abnormalities of the visual field occur. In more advanced stages, the patient may become aware of an enlarging scotoma (defect in visual field) particularly when it encroaches on fixation. If left untreated, vision may be lost. Angle-closure glaucoma can be devastating. Bilateral blindness can result in 2 to 3 days from onset. The patient has severe pain in eye associated with redness, watering. Glaucoma can be treated with long-term medication or surgically.

Commonly used drugs for chronic open angle glaucoma are Timolol meleate 0.5%, Betaxolol 0.5% (Batapress, Optipress), Levobunolol 0.1 % (Betagan), Brimonidin eye drop 0.2% (Alghagan) or Latanoprost eye drop 0.005% (Xalatan) used once a day. Pilocarpine 2% and for Acute glaucoma (narrow angle type) 3-4 times a day provides quick relief and reduction of eye-pressure. Surgical iridectomy (removing a piece of iris) or laser iridotomy (cutting a hole in iris) provide drainage pathway to the eye fluid so pressure decreases.

Injuries

Injury to eye can be due to roadside accidents, bums or foreign bodies.

Roadside Accidents: The eyes are generally well protected by the bony structure surrounding them. A large blunt object can only damage the eyelids. A black eye (black area below or on side of the eye), which commonly occurs during roadside accidents, is due to blood beneath the thin skin of the eyelids and is usually associated with swelling. The vision may be unaffected. Cold compresses for 10 minutes every hour for a day will reduce the swelling. If the injury is severe or the vision is affected, the doctor should be consulted.

Burns: Chemical substances bum the eye and require thorough washing with water. No time should be wasted in finding a neutralizing agent for the chemical substance. The most effective method is to plunge the entire face into a container of water and then open the eye under Water. Heat burn requires treatment similar to chemical burns. Bandaging or closing both the eyes will prevent the movement of eyeballs and reduce pain. No lotion should be used for washing the eyes.

Foreign Bodies: Dirt or dust in the eye may cause sensation of a foreign body being in the eye. It may come out by washing the eyes. If not, it should be removed by a physician.

Vitamin-A Deficiency

Vitamin-A deficiency most commonly affects the eyes, the clinical condition being xerophthalmia and kratomalacia. Xerophthalmia denotes the entire spectrum of ocular abnormalities arising from vitamin A deficiency. These include night blindness, retinopathy, conjunctival and corneal xerosis (dryness), corneal ulceration and softening. The eye instead of looking clear appears muddy and wrinkled. It becomes dry, hazy (like ground grass) and unwettable. There may be grayish, triangular, foamy, rough and raised patches on the eye (Bitot’s spots). These are present in both the eyes. It may progress to ulcer in the eyes. Severe deficiency of vitamin A may cause keratomalacia (softening of a part or the entire eyeball). The process is rapid one. It is a grave medical emergency and if not treated promptly, may lead to necrosis and perforation of the eye ball resulting in blindness. It is often associated with protein energy malnutrition.

Treatment: The symptoms of vitamin A deficiency can be prevented by adequate nutrition contained in the food mentioned above. A shortcut has been suggested by National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, which consists of the administration of 200,000 IU (66,000 ug) of vitamin A every six months to pre school children who are unlikely to have adequate nutrition. Excess of vitamin A may produce toxic effects. Commonly available preparations such as AQUASOL-A contains 50,000 IU of vitamin A.

By: Franchis

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AdvCare is one of the leading Canada pharmacy website. First established in January 2000, its mission is to become the number one site for Discount Drugs and Generic Prescription Drugs searches.

Cure Diabetes

Do I have to take antidepressants the rest of my life?
Clearly, the first step is to see whether a given treatment relieves the depression. If it does not, it should not be continued. In the case of antidepressants, it seems that when they are effective, they do not "cure" the illness, in the sense that penicillin cures pneumonia.
What diseases and injuries could benefit from ES cell research?
Medical researchers believe that ES cells could provide cures for many currently incurable or common diseases and injuries, including diabetes, Parkinson’s, MS, cancer, heart disease, ALS, sickle cell disease, spinal cord injury and dozens of other debilitating medical conditions. In fact, it is estimated that over 70 different diseases and injuries could benefit from ES cell research. (For more information, please visit the Diseases and Injuries page on our website.)In addition to corneas used for surgical procedures, more than 38,000 eyes are used annually for research and education. Research on glaucoma, retinal disease, eye complications of diabetes and other sight disorders, benefits from donations because many eye problems cannot be simulated.
How do research and education benefit from eye donations?
In addition to corneas used for surgical procedures, more than 38,000 eyes are used annually for research and education. Research on glaucoma, retinal disease, eye complications of diabetes and other sight disorders, benefits from donations because many eye problems cannot be simulated. These studies advance the discovery of the causes and effects of specific eye conditions which leads to new treatments and cures.Yes, if we are to continue seeking to understand and cure disease in both people and other animals. Certainly, animal use would not be necessary if we were content to allow our medical knowledge and skill to stay where it is today. But for many reasons we can’t afford that: Many devastating diseases — such as rheumatoid arthritis, AIzheimer’s, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, schizophrenia, and many forms of cancer–still lack cures or effective treatments.
Can the health of the population be contributed to animal experimentation?
No. Animal experimentation has made only a very modest contribution to human health. The vast majority of improvements in public health have resulted not from vivisection, but from improved living conditions and changes in personal lifestyle, such as the trend towards people exercising more and eating healthier.
Think You May Have Diabetes?
What is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not properly control the amount of sugar in the blood stream. As a result, the level of sugar in the blood is too high. If you’ve never attempted to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet before your diabetes diagnosis, it can be difficult to know where to get started. Try these diabetes tips, as the right food choices will help you control your blood sugar level.Clearly, the first step is to see whether a given treatment relieves the depression. If it does not, it should not be continued. In the case of antidepressants, it seems that when they are effective, they do not "cure" the illness, in the sense that penicillin cures pneumonia.

Prevent The Loss Of Vision With Proper Diet And Supplements

Based on the survey conducted by the National Eye Institute, if there will be no improvement when it comes to treatment and occurrence of different kinds of eye diseases, there will be more people who will lose their vision by the year 2020. In fact, there will be an increase to as high as 2.1 million. This will also possibly increase the cases of depression as the patients will lose their confidence and diminish their quality of life. What one needs maybe a change in diet or the addition of supplements that are high in lutein.

Defining Lutein

Lutein is a special compound of the human body. The interesting thing, however, is that it is not naturally manufactured by the body. You will only be able to have such kind of chemical if you eat vegetables and any kind of food that contain carotenoid. These are the natural pigments or colors that you can find in green leafy vegetables. Nevertheless, lutein can be found in different parts of the body, which include the eyes, skin, breast, brain, and cervix.

Where Can You Get It

There are certain kinds of food that contain lutein. These are the leafy vegetables such as dark lettuce, egg yolks (which is evident in its yellow color), and corn. You can also find it in carrots.

A body needs to take in as much as 6 to 10 mg of lutein every day before you can benefit from its antioxidant properties. That means that even if you eat bowls of spinach or lettuce, you will never have enough of it. The best way is to take in supplements that can provide you with enough of such chemical or increase the beta carotene levels in your body.

Improve Your Vision

There are a lot of benefits one can get from the compound. It is even known to improve the immune system of a person, so he can become highly resistant to different kinds of illnesses. But perhaps the most important of it all is how it can enhance the quality of a person’s vision and prevent the development of eye-related diseases.

The compound can stop or minimize the risks of macular degeneration. Since the compound is mostly found in macula, which is that small portion in the retina that performs central vision, it has the ability to filter blue light which can cause oxidative stress and invite free radical damage to the body exposed to it, such as the eyes.

Furthermore, the compound can prevent the occurrence of cataract, which is one of the major reasons for the loss of vision and normally associated with diabetes. A person who adds the compound in their diet will reduce their risk of vision loss to as much as 50% compared to those who do not. Moreover, men who munch on broccoli or spinach at least twice every week are less likely to go through cataract surgery than those who only gorge on them once per month.

Today, eye problems are no longer related to age. Anyone can acquire it. Thus, you might as well increase your protection against eye-related diseases.

By: Ckint Jhonson

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A person needs a boost in his lutein if he wants to make sure that he has enough antioxidants in his body. Lifestream is offering Ultimate Vision, a health supplement with special lutein extract as high as 25 mg.

Cataracts – Cataract Symptoms, Treatment and Surgery

Cataract, a term given to the misting or hazing of the lens in your eye, tells many people that their time is slowly edging by.

Cataracts lead to poor vision and blindness, but in most cases can be easily remedied by a fairly minor operation. For most people, Cataracts are emergency bells that ring in each one’s lives, hinting that they need to complete their duties in the world and get ready to face that last lap of their lives.

Cataract Symptoms
When you develop a cataract in your eye, your vision slowly becomes more and more misty. You may see haloes around lights, and may find vision worse in bright sunlight. As dazzled as you might be in more easily by bright lights, you might also notice that your color vision may not be as good as it was initially. Of course there is not way really that you might want to change the situation as it is inevitable, there are means to push it even further.

Prevention is the best option for your eyes as it is not possible to correct the problems caused by cataracts by just getting a new pair of spectacles. In fact, the first you know about it may well be when the optician tells you that you have cataracts when you go for a routine eye test.

Causes of Cataract
Most cataracts are caused by ageing of the eye. Like the degeneration of a machine, the body also starts giving way with age and time. It is said that some degree of cataract commences its tour in all of us if we are destined to live long enough. Typically, though, this may be noticed from 50-60 years and onwards. Certain other conditions of the eye that cause inflammation and eye injury might lead to cataracts occurring earlier in life. There are still other conditions that affect your system as a whole for e.g. diabetes, that are linked with a higher risk of developing a cataract. Certain drugs, including steroids, if not administered accurately may make you more likely to develop cataracts early.

Excessive exposure to the sun as well as to radiation increases the risks of developing cataracts. Smoking and alcohol add fuel to the fire. There are some rare conditions leading babies to be born with cataracts. If this occurs it is very important that it gets detected early for the baby to get rid of the cloudy lens as the development of normal vision relies on the eye being able to see in the early months and years.

Diagnosing Cataract
Cataract is usually diagnosed by your doctor or optometrist, although other professionals my well point this condition out to you. They will usually use a hand held torch with a lens (ophthalmoscope) or at times an even more elaborate apparatus called a slit-lamp for examining your eyes. The lens, which starts off as clear at birth; may have areas that are cloudy or may even be generally milky in appearance. Sometimes the cataract makes it difficult to see the back of the eye properly. It is important to note that your doctor needs to arrange for you to see a specialist (usually the ophthalmologist), if he doesn’t then you can be sure that you are not in safe hands.

Cataract Treatment and Removal
The only effective treatment for cataracts is to remove the cloudy lens. This is not done with a laser, but by a tiny probe that goes into the eye and dissolves the lens using very fast sound waves (ultrasound), a process known as phacoemulsification. Usually a tiny plastic lens is put in to the place where the natural lens was at the same procedure. The whole process, thanks to technology today is very quick, often taking only 15-20 minutes.

Cataract Eye Surgery and Complications
Most times the Cataract operation is done while you are awake, with local anesthetic. In fact, even the most nervous of people seem to find this very easy to go through. It’s best to mutually discuss the possible complications with your specialist before you undergo the operation. The most common complication, which occurs in up to one person in five within two years of the Cataract operation, is for the posterior layer of the clear pocket, which rests the lens lies becomes cloudy. This is dealt today with laser treatment that completely removes this cloudy layer. You will have eye drops given to you to use after the operation. These contain a steroid to reduce inflammation, and an antibiotic to prevent infection getting in to the eye.

Cataract Prevention
The Khejara tree found in most part of Rajasthan, India has leaves that are endowed with a fluid, which when cleaned and purified can be used as eye drops. These drops are also known as "Khakra" in the Indian local language and can primarily act as an anti-ageing agent by preventing the formation of cataract. Of course you can not stop yourself getting cataracts by any specific changes to your lifestyle, but it does make sense to try to reduce the risk factors.

Probably the most important of these that are known are:

* If you smoke, stop smoking.
* Avoid bright sunlight, wearing broad brimmed / peaked headwear and using sunglasses which cut out UVA and UVB.

The eyes are the mirror to your soul, its best if you keep them as transparent as possible!

New Lens Implants Can Correct Astigmatism after Cataract Surgery

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. They most frequently affect older patients, but may appear in younger individuals as well. While the most common type of cataract is age related trauma, oxidative stress caused by drugs, poor diet, environment, and disease or congenital issues may precipitate lens opacities in younger folks. Over the years, surgery to correct this common vision problem has evolved in several dramatic ways.

Early surgical cataract procedures involved the affected lens being removed, and the patient had to wear very thick eye glasses in order to see. This posed several optical problems which were then best corrected with contact lenses. As time passed, the first intraocular lens implant was developed. This early lens was placed in front of the iris, (colored part of the eye), and replaced the natural lens in power to refract light on to the retina. It soon became apparent that vibrations in this implant damaged the inner most layer of the cornea called the endothelium. On occasion this in turn resulted in an opaque cornea and the need for a corneal transplant.

This problem was solved by the next generation of lens implants that were placed behind the iris, and were called posterior chamber implants. They were secured far enough away from the cornea, so that they had no impact on it. These early lens implants were fairly large, and required a large incision to remove the natural lens and implant the new one. As time progressed, Phacoimulsification became the procedure of choice for cataract surgeons. This revolutionized the procedure. A small incision was required, and as a result fewer sutures were needed. Along that time, foldable implants came along that could be inserted into the eye through that small opening.

The next big advancement was removing the cataract, and inserting the implant directly through the cornea. This approach did not require any sutures, and thus healing time was even further reduced as was patient discomfort. The nagging issue that plagued cataract surgeons was to be able to eliminate the need for eye glasses after the surgery. To that end, stronger implants have been developed, multi focal, UV absorbing IOLs and many other options have been employed. Some have worked well, while others have failed. A most troublesome residual problem has been how to correct astigmatism after this surgery. At first, eye glasses had to be worn to correct the uncorrected astigmatism. Then some surgeons advocated making incisions in the cornea to reduce or eliminate the astigmatism post surgically. While this therapeutic approach was fairly successful, most patients did not want an additional procedure if note needed.

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 implant works similarly to a toric contact lens. When seen in the eye, there are peripheral markings to evaluate the positioning of the lens. The results thus far have been very good with only a few patients complaining about glare. These implants are not covered by most insurance companies and there fore must be paid for by the patient.

Always ask your surgeon about the options for implants before surgery to see if there is something that will best suite any visual needs.

Dr. Jay B Stockman is a contributing editor for VisionUpdate.net, and a practicing doctor for New York Vision Associates, http://newyorkvisionassociates.com.

New Developments in Cataract Surgery and Post-Op Correction

When deciding to have cataract surgery it is important to see an experienced surgeon who is knowledgeable with all these new developments, and can best asses which implant would be best for which patient.

Cataract surgery has been performed for many years, and new developments have dramatically improved the post-op vision. The lens is a normal structure of the internal part of the eye. We are all born with clear, natural lenses whose function is to focus light onto the retina, and also absorb dangerous wavelengths of light. Over time, this clear lens will become yellow, as its chemical structure changes as a result of years of light absorption, and general oxidative stress on the body.

Early cataract surgery involved simply removing the cloudy lens from the eye. In order to see, the patient then had to wear very thick eye glasses, or a contact lens. As technology advanced, anterior chamber Intraocular lenses(IOL) were developed. These were artificial lenses that were placed in front of the iris to replace the removed lens. They worked very well, but over time the corneas were damaged in most of these patients. These anterior chamber lenses vibrated as a result of aqueous humor (fluid) flow from the back of the eye toward the front. These vibrations over time damaged the endothelial (bottom) layer of the cornea resulting in swollen corneas, and cloudy vision.

The next big change was the development of posterior chamber IOLs. These are placed behind the iris, and thus eliminated the vibrations; sparing the cornea from trauma. Over time, improvements were made to these lenses; smaller, better quality and flexible so they could be implanted with very small suture-less incisions. The basic problem with all of these implants was that unlike the natural lenses of the eye, only distance correction could be achieved. Reading glasses were necessary to see objects up close. This brings us to the next big change in the IOL implants. In an effort to meet the challenges of allowing patients to see distance and near post surgically, multi-focal implants have been developed.

The major new players in this game of multi-focal IOLs include Restore by Alcon, Rezoom by AMO, Array and Tecnis also by AMO and Crystalens by Eyeonics. They are all designed to give the patients a full range of vision from distance to near without the need for any eyeglasses. Each type achieves this goal through different modalities.

The Restore implant is manufactured with multiple small concentric rings, similar to the rings of a dart board. These concentric rings alternate between distance and near vision. Multiple images are projected onto the retina, and the brain must then decide which image it wants to see clearly. Most patients say that they see adequately in the distance, and usually test to about 20/40 vision. Near vision is a bit better in most patients. The primary complaint, aside from less then perfect distance vision is glare at night. Approximately 80% of these patients do not wear any type of glasses post surgically.

The Rezoom lens works in the same manner as the Restore, but has larger concentric rings. This improves the distance vision, but reduces the near vision. 81% of these patients are happy with their reading vision, but 29% still require reading glasses to see at near. With both the Restore and Rezoom implants, Alphagan eye drops are employed to reduce bothersome glare by reducing the pupil size.

The Tecnis IOL is not as yet available, but since it is made as an Aspheric lens and not concentric rings, there is less glare and halos and better reading in dim light. It also permits reading with a greater range. More research will bring to light the true value, and short comings of this implant.

The Crystalens is the first IOL that has an adjustable focusing ability, much like the natural lens of the eye. The implant is placed behind the iris, and has 2 flexible hinges 180 degrees apart from each other. As the ciliary muscle contracts, and relaxes it causes the implant to move forward and back changing the effective power of the lens. This mimics the natural lens’s power change with focusing. It is therefore the first and only Accommodating implant that allows for both near and far vision. Substantial adaptation is required, and may take weeks to even months to reach an acceptable level of vision. There is, however a decrease in contract sensitivity ,and some distortion may be induced. Reading glasses may be required for the intermediate distances, and in patients with larger pupils night time vision issues may be present.

Which implant would be best for any given patient will vary, and depend on factors such as expectations, side effects, need for bilateral surgeries (since some implants work best when each eye has one) and cost. Insurance plans do not pay for these specialty implants, and the combined costs with the doctor’s fees may be over $2000.00 per eye.

Finally, some patients have astigmatism following cataract surgery. Since the implants do not correct for this, corneal incisions can be made post surgically to reduce or eliminate that component.. When deciding to have cataract surgery it is important to see an experienced surgeon who is knowledgeable with all these new developments, and can best asses which implant would be best for which patient.

Dr. Jay B Stockman is a contributing editor for VisionUpdate.net, and a practicing doctor for New York Vision Associates, http://newyorkvisionassociates.com,

Cataract – Causes, treatment and tips!

Cataract is a condition where an opaque or cloudy area is developed in lens of eye, which causes difficulty in vision. Let us read something about cataract…

Millions of people all over the world are suffering from cataract, which is one of the reasons causing blindness. Cataract is a condition in which opacity is developed in lens of the eye because of an opaque area. Normally, adults who have crossed 40 year of age face the problem of cataract in their eyes. Aging, over-exposure to sunlight, excessive smoking, some problems and diseases related to eyes or metabolic diseases such as diabetes, poor nutrition (less use of nutritious food elements important for eye), use of some medications etc. are some of the possible risk factors/causes of cataract. Along with the causes enlisted above, family history also plays an important role.

Our eyes work just like a camera; it captures images from the outer world and sends them to our brain so that we can interact with environment. Suppose, if the lens of a camera is spoiled, scratched or half covered with dirt then in that case the picture taken will not be clear enough or it may happen that we would not identify the picture. Same way, if our eye develops cataract, because of opacity we would not be able to see anything clearly. This will cause problems and will hinder our day-to-day activities at large extent.

Cataract generally starts developing painlessly in eye; it slowly causes difficulty in vision with increase in opaque or cloudy area. Usual symptoms of cataract are: cloudy or blurry vision which results from the development of cloudy and opaque area in eye lens, person face difficulty while reading as cataract advances, problem facing bright light: when the person faces bright light, halo around light or sunlight it appears to be brighter to him/her, color vision deteriorates increasingly as cataract advances, night vision of the person worsens and sometimes the person complains of having multiple vision etc.

If you are come across any of the symptoms as given above, you need to visit your ophthalmologist at earliest. Diagnosis of cataract requires examination of your eyes. The tests of cataract include slit lamp evaluation and other devices; also Glare test, Contrast sensitivity test, Potential vision test etc. are some other tests. There are variations in cataract found in each person; some people develop a dense opaque area whereas in some people cataract is just in developing stage where it can be eliminated. There are very few known medications, which help preventing cataract; however the only known best way to get rid of cataract is surgery. According to some researches, Vitamin C and E are recognized to help in reducing risks of developing cataract.

The surgery to remove cataract is generally done after the cloudy area ripens at a certain level i.e. when it becomes denser and the patient cannot see anything clearly even with glasses to perform his/her activities. If the cataract is not troubling much, it is not removed until it does not mature. Generally, cataract surgery consists of removing the lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens. The type of artificial lens to be used, type of removal of the eye lens etc. depends upon the patient’s choice.

Cataract surgery for most of the patients has a very low risk and fewer complications. Patients after cataract operation can see more clearly. They do not need spectacles to see things at long/short distances.

Although it is very hard to state causes of cataract, there are some measures, which we can follow in order to prevent cataract. It is very important to take complete care of our eyes. Take necessary precautions to control diseases, which are associated with cataract i.e., increase the risk of cataract. Smoking, exposure to some poisonous elements etc. can also increase risk of developing cataract, try to avoid these factors. Wear sunglasses when you go outside to reduce exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin Supplements for Cataract Prevention, Proceed with Caution

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.

Many studies have suggested that taking Vitamin E will prevent cataract formation. As such, many seniors have rushed out and started taking this fat soluble supplement. However, a recent 10 years study published in the May issue of Ophthalmology concluded that there is NO benefit in taking the vitamin E with regard to preventing cataracts. The study followed over 37,000 women and found no difference between those taking the vitamin and those that did not.

Cataracts form when the internal lens of the eye becomes yellow as a result of Ultraviolet light absorption. This high energy light transforms a type of protein in the lens making it less transparent. Previous studies have found that taking Vitamin C will block this transfer of protein types, and can reduce the severity of the cataract. One must always balance the intake of any supplement with toxicity. Too much Vitamin C can cause kidney stones in those that are predisposed.

We always recommend that patients wear quality sunglasses which will protect the eyes from the UV light, avoid cigarette smoke which increases the protein transfer, and eat a well balanced diet. In doing so, individuals will get all the nutrients that one needs. Taking supplements is a good idea if there are certain medical conditions or needs, but to most Americans a good diet is all that is needed.

Dr. Jay B Stockman is a contributing editor for VisionUpdate.net, and a practicing doctor for New York Vision Associates, http://newyorkvisionassociates.com.