Eye Conditions Archives - Page 60 of 66 - Natural Eye Care Blog: News & Research on Vision

Canadian Study: Large Increase In Cases of Computer Eye Strain Reported

Optometrists are seeing more patients with CVS syndrome than they were five years ago, and 40 per cent of baby boomers aged 45 to 54 associate their eye and vision problems with prolonged screen time, higher than any other age group, according to a survey conducted by Leger Marketing for the Canadian Association of Optometrists.

According to a study released Thursday by the Canadian Association of Optometrists, baby boomers are spending on average of 7.5 hours a day peering at computers, televisions, cellphones and smartphones.

While both men and women are suffering eye strain with long hours at the computer, women are reporting more eye and vision ailments associated with their screen time than men.

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Editor’s Note: Our visual system was designed for hunting and gathering, and not for extensive near work as demanded by today’s work and educational needs. Taking regular breaks from the computer to relax the eyes and do eye exercises can go a long way in preventing and/or managing CVS. Research shows that supplementing with nutrients such as Astaxanthin, Lutein and Black Currant Seed Oil can also help relieve eyestrain.

See more information on natural eye care and computer eye strain.

Studies Show Benefits of Pomegranate Juice in Preventing Heart Disease

Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is a leading killer of older adults. Pomegranate extracts work at every step in the deadly atherosclerosis cascade to prevent or reverse the damage, thereby extending life.

Ref: Nutr Rev. 2009 Jan;67(1):49-56.
Mol Nutr Food Res. 2009 Mar;53(3):322-31.

Pomegranate juice helps protect the heart by reducing inflammation, reducing LDL (low density lipoproteins), as well as reducing oxidative stress and platelet clumping,

Studies also indicates pomegranate juice has anti-cancer properties and helps lower blood sugar for diabetics and pre-diabetics.

Healthy circulation is critical for helping prevent eye disease. For related information, go to www.naturaleyecare.com

Researchers Predict Number of Americans with Diabetic Retinopathy Will Soar By 2050

The number of Americans with diabetic retinopathy is expected to increase from 5.5 million to 16 million by the year 2050. Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the retina caused by complications of diabetes, which can eventually lead to blindness.

Researchers used data from the National Health Interview Survey and the US Census Bureau to project the number of people with diabetic retinopathy (DR), vision-threatening DR (VTDR), glaucoma, and cataracts among Americans 40 years or older with diagnosed diabetes mellitus for the years 2005-2050.

Study results showed:

the number of Americans 40 years or older with DR will triple from 5.5 million in 2005 to 16.0 million in 2050
the number of Americans 40 years or older with VTDR will also triple, from 1.2 million in 2005 to 3.4 million in 2050
increases among those 65 years or older will be more pronounced (2.5 million to 9.9 million for DR and 0.5 million to 1.9 million for VTDR)
the number of cataract cases among whites and blacks 40 years or older with diabetes will likely increase 235% by 2050, and
the number of glaucoma cases among Hispanics with diabetes 65 years or older will increase 12-fold.

Study authors stress the importance of efforts to prevent diabetes as well as to optimally manage diabetes and its complications.

SOURCE: Projection of Diabetic Retinopathy and Other Major Eye Diseases Among People With Diabetes Mellitus, Saaddine, et al, Arch Ophthalmol. 2008;126(12):1740-1747.

Cataract Surgery not tied to Macular Degeneration Progression

Researchers have found that cataract surgery is not associated with an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progression in patients with non-neovascular AMD.

Surgeons enrolled 108 patients with non-neovascular AMD who were awaiting cataract surgery. Fluorescein angiography was performed preoperatively, and again at postoperative week 1, month 3, and month 12 visits.

After 12 months, neovascular AMD developed in only 3 of 65 eyes (4.6%) that did not have neovascular AMD at the preoperative visit or the one-week postoperative visit. This statistic is consistent with an estimated one-year progression rate in the general AMD population.

Results of this study, published in the November issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology, state that the low incidence of neovascular AMD development between 1 week and 1 year after cataract surgery did not support the hypothesis that cataract surgery increases the risk of AMD progression.

Researchers also noted that several eyes appeared to have disease progression on postsurgery week 1 fluorescein angiograms, suggesting that many cases of presumed progression to neovascular AMD following cataract surgery may have been present prior to cataract surgery, but not recognized owing to lens opacity.

Read other studies about macular degeneration.

SOURCE: Progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration After Cataract Surgery, Dong, et al, Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(11):1412-1419.

Survey Shows That Americans Lack Significant Knowledge of Age-Related Vision Problems, Particularly Macular degeneration and Glaucoma

According to the AOA’s American Eye-Q(R) survey, which assesses public knowledge and understanding of issues related to eye and visual health, only 18 percent of Americans know that macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in adults 65 years of age and older, and less than a quarter of all Americans understand the effects of glaucoma.

This is particularly concerning as with the baby boomer population coming of age as seniors.

Source: SOURCE American Optometric Association, URL: http://www.aoa.org www.prnewswire.com

Editor’s Note: Through diet, lifestyle and specific nutritional supplementation, there is a great deal one can do to maintain healthy vision and significantly reduce the risk of onset of eye diseases such as macular degeneration. For more information, go to www.naturaleyecare.com

Microchip Implants May Help Restore Lost Vision

Scientists at MIT and other research organizations are testing chip technologies that could help bring eyesight to individuals with conditions like age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.

Microchips place onto or inside the eyeball are assisted by a pair of electronic glasses the patient wears. Results vary, but many subjects report significant improvement in orientation and mobility. MIT hopes to have a device within two years so that they can get FDA approval from for use on chronic patients.

See information on macular degeneration, nutrition and health.

Avocados for Eye Health

Avocados contains a wide range of phytonutrients are thought to help prevent many chronic diseases, and are excellent for the eye health. Nutrients include trans neoxanthin, neochrome, lutein-5, 6-epoxide and chrysanthemaxanthin. The scientists also confirmed the presence of lutein, zeaxanthin, b-cryptoxanthin, a-carotene and b-carotene (all nutrients that support retinal health).

Avocados contain a wide range of phytonutrients, which are thought to help prevent many chronic diseases, and are excellent for the eye health. Nutrients include trans neoxanthin, neochrome, lutein-5, 6-epoxide and chrysanthemaxanthin. The scientists also confirmed the presence of lutein, zeaxanthin, b-cryptoxanthin, a-carotene and b-carotene (all nutrients that support retinal health).

Since most of the nutrients are located near the skin of the fruit, you get most nutrients out of an avocado by peeling the fruit before slicing it.
See more information on foods for the eyes.

Omega-3 and vitamin D linked to 40% reduced risk of macular degeneration

Study shows that consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-3 rich fish could slash the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 40 per cent.

This study adds further support for increasing the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids with the finding that arachidonic acid (AA, omega-6 fatty acid) is associated with an increased risk of AMD.

Ref: “Association Between Vitamin D and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988 Through 1994”

Authors: N. Parekh, R.J. Chappell, A.E. Millen, D.M. Albert, J.A. Mares

Archives of Ophthalmology

May 125, 2007 Volume 125, Pages 671-679

See more related information on macular degeneration.

Leber’s Disease – Gene therapy transforms eyesight

Pennsylvania researchers using gene therapy have made significant improvements in vision in 12 patients with a rare inherited visual defect, a finding that suggests it may be possible to produce similar improvements in a much larger number of patients with retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration.

Pennsylvania researchers using gene therapy have made significant improvements in vision in 12 patients with Leber’s disease, a rare inherited visual defect, a finding that suggests it may be possible to produce similar improvements in a much larger number of patients with retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration.

The team last year reported success with three adult patients, an achievement that was hailed as a major accomplishment for gene therapy. They have now treated an additional nine patients, including five children, and find that the best results are achieved in the youngest patients, whose defective retinal cells have not had time to die off.

The youngest patient, 9-year-old Corey Haas, was considered legally blind before the treatment began. He was confined largely to his house and driveway when playing, had immense difficulties in navigating an obstacle course and required special enlarging equipment for books and help in the classroom.

Today, after a single injection of a gene-therapy product in one eye, he rides his bike around the neighborhood, needs no assistance in the classroom, navigates the obstacle course quickly and has even played his first game of softball.

The 12 patients had Leber’s congenital amaurosis, which affects about 3,000 people in the United States and perhaps 130,000 worldwide. Victims are born with severely impaired vision that deteriorates until they are totally blind, usually in childhood or adolescence. There is no treatment.

Leber’s is a good candidate for gene therapy because most of the visual apparatus is intact, particularly at birth and in childhood. Mistakes in 13 different genes are known to cause it, but all 12 of the patients suffered a defect in a gene called RPE65. This gene produces a vitamin A derivative that is crucial for detecting light

The study, led by Dr. Katherine A. High, Dr. Albert M. Maguire and Dr. Jean Bennett of those two institutions, enrolled five people in the United States, five from Italy and two from Belgium. Five were children, and the oldest was 44.

Editor’s Note: In addition to the exciting research described above, there are specific nutrients that may help strengthen vision for those with Leber’s Disease

Macular Degeneration Patients: Blood Thinners Increase Risk of Retinal Hemorrhage

Patients with macular degeneration, for heart and other conditions are receiving antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications such warfarin, and clopidogrel run a higher risk of retinal hemorrhage or over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin than people who do not.

Researchers reviewed the records of nearly 200 eyes of patients whose average age was 83. Nearly 1/2 of them were taking antiplatelets and/or anticoagulants every day.

63% of these patients taking the drugs every day developed retinal hemorrhage compared to the 29% who didn’t take the medications. Retinal bleeding was also found to be highest among patients who were using more than one drug for this purpose.

Because the medical professionals feel that these patients must continue to take the drugs it is important that the patients work closely with their ophthalmologist and that the use of these drugs be noted on the eye doctors’ patient charts.

{Published: “The Association of Antiplatelets and Anticoagulants With Intraocular Hemorrhage in Patients With Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration,” https://www.asrs.org/

Editor’s Note: In such cases, it is important that patients maintain diets and consider other complementary treatment to support the health of their retina and macula.