Staying Hydrated for Better Health and Wellness

Senior Staying Hydrated by drinking waterStaying hydrated is an essential part of maintaining health. Drinking healthy fluids throughout the day helps the body detoxify and is critical in maintaining temperature control and proper blood viscosity. Seniors, in particular, generally do not drink enough water.

Why are we told to stay hydrated for our health? At Natural Eye Care, we care about the eyes and the body. Thus, keeping the body’s fluid balance is part of maintaining vision health. While 60% of the human body is composed of water, the eye is 98% water. Dehydration impairs the functioning of all systems in the body. Overhydration is also dangerous. In this article, we discuss the benefits of hydration, the deleterious effects of chronic dehydration, and how much water you need to drink. Continue reading “Staying Hydrated for Better Health and Wellness”

Eye Floaters in the Vitreous: A Guide by Natural Eye Care

vitreous floatersHave you ever noticed specks or clouds in your field of vision? They are most likely eye floaters. Floaters can look like cobwebs, blobs, dots, or little insects that float around. Eye floaters can be semi-transparent or darker. If you have them, they are more noticeable in certain lighting conditions, such as bright sunlight. You might not notice them at all unless you are looking for them. Continue reading “Eye Floaters in the Vitreous: A Guide by Natural Eye Care”

Anti-Inflammatory Vision Diet for the Holidays

anti-inflammatory dining at the holidaysInflammation is a factor in many eye diseases, and what you eat affects inflammation. Whenever major holidays comes along, we are tempted to eat special foods. Many of these treats are high in calories and sugar, which contribute to inflammation. While you don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun, you can choose to eat foods that are anti-inflammatory. At the end of this article, you will find tips for limiting the damage while still enjoying the holiday. Continue reading “Anti-Inflammatory Vision Diet for the Holidays”

How to Give Your Eyes Enough Nutrition

poor nutrition burger fries sodaHave you ever heard that your eyes need plenty of nutrition? It’s true, and research backs this up. But did you know that the Standard American Diet tends to be very low in some eye-essential nutrients? The eyes are the second most physiologically active part of our body (#1 is the brain). At Natural Eye Care, we believe the eyes require approximately 25% of the nutrients we take into our body, if we eat a healthy diet. Even though most Americans consume enough calories, we may still have poor nutrition for the eyes. No wonder Macular Degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, optic nerve Continue reading “How to Give Your Eyes Enough Nutrition”

New Supplement Package for Retinal Support

macular puckerA macular pucker is most common in seniors. A slow-progressing problem, the epiretinal membrane is like a layer of thin plastic wrap. Sometimes when this membrane contracts in seniors, it causes wrinkling of the retina. The symptoms include central vision distortion and blurring. Macular swelling may also ensue.

Doctors have limited options for treating macular pucker. Wait-and-see and using the Amsler grid for screening are common. Doctors may recommend vitrectomy surgery for profound vision loss. Continue reading “New Supplement Package for Retinal Support”

Antioxidants, Eye Disease and Oxidative Stress

antioxidant foodsThe links between antioxidants and vision health are strong. Antioxidants are the antidote to oxidization. Normal metabolism creates free radicals. These are atoms that lack an electron. Free radicals roam about the body, scavenging electrons and stealing electrons from healthy cells.  This results in permanent damage to these afflicted cells which ultimately can result in disease. Significant research has shown that antioxidants protect against this cellular damage and are essential for maintaining health. The eye is especially vulnerable to free radical damage. Therefore, providing the body with sufficient antioxidants Continue reading “Antioxidants, Eye Disease and Oxidative Stress”

Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Complete Overview from Natural Eye Care

retinal vein occlusionRetinal Vein Occlusion is the blockage of veins that drain blood from the retina in the eye. The eye circulatory system depends on releasing blood back to the heart after it has nourished the retina. When the vein is blocked, hemorrhaging occurs, damaging the retina. It is typically caused by atherosclerosis, a common condition especially in older people that damages the arteries. “Occlusion” means the blockage or closing of a blood vessel.

Symptoms and How Retinal Vein Occlusion Is Diagnosed

A sudden change in vision may indicate retinal vein occlusion.

  • A blurred or missing area of vision is the most common, indicating a branch vein occlusion
  • Less commonly, there is a severe loss of central vision, associated with a central vein becoming blocked.

Any sudden vision changes should be reported Continue reading “Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Complete Overview from Natural Eye Care”

Myopic Macular Degeneration

Myopic macular degeneration is not commonly known in the U.S. even though it is the 7th highest ranking cause of legal blindness. In other parts of the world, such as Japan and China, it is the second highest cause of legal blindness. In addition, people of Jewish and middle eastern extraction are greater risk of developing the condition.

What is It?
MMD-300Myopic macular degeneration (MMD) arises primarily from genetic abnormalities. 30% of all cases were present at birth; 60% of all cases develop before the child is 13. It often continues to worsen, becoming quite severe myopia by the late teens or early 20s and by 60, 50% of MMD patients are legally blind.

The condition is caused Continue reading “Myopic Macular Degeneration”

Lattice Degeneration, a Retinal Disease: Complete Overview

lattice degenerationWhen our far peripheral retina, which is responsible for our extreme side vision, becomes weak and thin, its most common form is called “lattice degeneration.” This condition occurs in 8 to 11 percent of the normal population. It affects both eyes in 30-50% of patients who have the condition.

The fibrosed vessels within the atrophied retina form a “lattice” pattern, hence its name. Sometimes it is accompanied by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) hyperplasia (an increase in cells), which gives the lesions a pigmented appearance. Some 18 to 42 percent of the Continue reading “Lattice Degeneration, a Retinal Disease: Complete Overview”

Central Serous Choroidopathy/Retinopathy: Leaks that Damage the Eye

retina exam can detect Central Serous Choroidopathy/RetinopathyCentral Serous Choroidopathy, also known as Central Serous Retinopathy (CSR) and Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC), is an eye condition which causes visual impairment. It usually occurs in one eye, and it is usually temporary. But studies show that both eyes are affected on a cellular level even when damage is only apparent in one eye.

CSC is characterized by fluid leakage beneath the retina. Fluid leaks from the layer of the eye called the choroid. This is a heavily vascularized membrane that nourishes the Continue reading “Central Serous Choroidopathy/Retinopathy: Leaks that Damage the Eye”