Teaching Eyes to Work Together: Treatment for Amblyopia or Lazy Eye

Depth perception, the ability to see our 3D world, relies on the eyes’ ability to work as a perfect team.  In people with an eye imbalance or amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, one team member (one eye) is stronger than the other and depth perception becomes compromised.

Push Pull Training Method

A study published in Current Biology presents a new way to correct sensory eye dominance.  Researchers call it a “push-pull training method” that proved to improve depth perception in study participants.

When caught early, amblyopia (lazy eye) in children can be corrected through covering the stronger eye so that the weaker eye is forced to do the work of seeing.  This new method is focused on adults who do not respond as well to such strategies.  The researchers’ new approach involves making the two eyes compete to see an image but giving the weaker eye an advantage so that it learns how to win, so to speak.

Source: medicalnewstoday

Acupuncture Treatment for Lazy Eye

Chinese medicine is a key aspect of our treatment plan at Natural Eye Care, and acupuncture is one of the best tools we have in our medicine chest.

A new study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology finds that acupuncture can help treat lazy eye or amblyopia.

It is vital that amblyopia is diagnosed and treated early – up to age 7 is ideal.  Between ages 7 and 12 the chances of remedying lazy eye with the traditional method – patching the “good” eye so the affected eye learns to work harder – is reduced to a 30% effective rate.

The Chinese researchers who published this study found that acupuncture alone was more effective than eye patching.  In 41.5% of the children who received acupuncture the lazy eye was considered “resolved” compared to only 16.7% of kids whose eyes were patched.

Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com

Neurological Cause

Researchers at New York University have found a neurological cause for amblyopia.

Amblyopia is actually the result of developmental problems in the brain and its neurons, rather than the eye itself.  Also, they have found that the issue is not only related to problems in the visual cortex (the part of the brain that processes images), but from other parts of the brain as well.

For more on binocular conditions, visit our website.

Treating Glaucoma Naturally; Focusing on the Needs of Individual Patients

eye close up
Image via nida.nih.gov

At Natural Eye Care, we tend to have a different philosophy on how to treat and prevent eye conditions such as glaucoma compared to those in the conventional medical community.  One thing we definitely agree with, however, is that patients need to be seen as individuals with specific needs, especially when it comes to a disease like glaucoma.

An article at OSN SuperSite discusses the importance of crafting a specific medical regimen for glaucoma patients. They talk about pharmaceutical options, while we are advocates of natural approaches including diet, exercise, stress management, and nutritional supplementation.  (See our Vision Wellness Protocol for an introduction to this approach.)

While the doctors interviewed  in the above mentioned article focus a great deal on managing intraocular pressure and look at it as the major way to manage the progression of glaucoma, we know that more and more people are developing normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and that progressive vision deterioration can occur even with IOP-lowering intervention. We advocate natural supplements such as ginkgo biloba that have been proven to improve pre-existing visual field damage in some individuals suffering from glaucoma.

 

Computer Eyestrain: Men Say It’s a Bigger Problem for Them

man looking at computer monitor
Image courtesy of bls.gov

The results are in from a online survey sponsored by the American Optometric Association.  It seems that men and women seem to see the world differently – at least when it comes to reporting computer eyestrain. Source: www.medicinenet.com

The numbers are relatively close.  Fifty-nine percent of men compared to 53% of women say that they have vision problems from spending too much time looking at a screen.  Over 50% of all respondents say that they take breaks every half hour or hour, but women are more likely to take a break every 20 minutes.

Less than 20% of people do take breaks every 20 minutes as we at Natural Eye Care recommend to prevent computer eyestrain.

Other tips to ward off computer eyestrain:

  • Frequently look at something more than 20 feet away.
  • Blink regularly to keep your eyes moist.

See more tips on preventing computer eyestrain and an important warning on the connection between computer time and glaucoma.

Exercise Supports Eye Health – A New Perspective on Stretching

woman exercising
Image courtesy of healthysd.gov

At Natural Eye Care, we know that exercise is a vital part of keeping both the eyes and the entire body healthy.  Exercise is a key part of our prevention protocol and essential to anyone who wants to preserve their sight and avoid developing such diseases as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, or cataracts.

A story aired on NPR talks about how that old pre-exercise stretching routine you have been doing for years may not be effective when it comes to warding off injuries.

A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that “competitive runners are less efficient after static stretching.”

According to a coach interviewed in the same story, consider an alternative to the “bend and hold” style of stretching – a repetitive set of 2 to 3 second stretches called “active isolated stretching.”

 

Diabetes Related Hospitalizations On the Rise For Young Women

person on bathroom scale
Image courtesy of genome.gov

Over a fourteen year period (1993-2006) diabetes related hospitalizations increased by 66%.  This study, published in the Journal of Women’s Health, shows an even more marked increase for people in their 30s.  Diabetes related hospitalizations for both men and women nearly doubled, but women were 1.3 time more likely to be admitted than their male counterparts.

According to study authors, this discrepancy could be due to women receiving less preventative care for their diabetes.  Pregnancy can be a factor on the development and progression of diabetes, but this study shows that impending motherhood is not the main culprit.  Researchers blame these figures on high obesity rates in the age 20-39 female segment of the population and less aggressive medical management of women’s cases of diabetes.

Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/204245.php

For more information about how to control and prevent diabetes naturally, visit our website.

Also, learn more about how to prevent the related condition, diabetic retinopathy.

Twice As Many Americans Treated For Retinal Disease Over 10 Years

An analysis of Medicare records over a period stretching from 1997 to 2007 showed that within the decade the number of older Americans receiving treatments for retinal diseases doubled.  The treatments were for retinal conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy.

This study specifically focused on the sort of treatment that patients received.
Source: Yahoo News

At Natural Eye Care, we advocate a natural approach to vision health.  For information on how to prevent eye disease through a combination of diet, lifestyle, nutritional supplementation, and exercise, please visit our website.

Careful With Your Eyes, Guys: Males Likelier to Suffer Eye Injuries

man on ladder
Image courtesy of columbiabasin.jobcorps.gov

A survey by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ocular Trauma finds that men are three times as likely to suffer from eye injuries than women are.

Each year, 2.5 million American experience injuries of the eye.  Almost 75% of those injuries happen to men and over half of all of the injuries occur at home.

Highlighted of the findings from the annual Eye Injury Snapshot include:

– One quarter of the eye injuries that happened at home were associated with play or sports
– Another 25 percent were due to home repair or power tools.

Source: aao.org

Low Birth Weight and Heredity Signal Infantile Cataracts Risk

A study of babies born with cataracts found that infantile cataracts in one or both eyes are associated with very low birth weights (babies born at less than 3.3 pounds).

Infantile cataracts also seems to be an inherited condition – nearly fifty percent of babies born with the condition had a first degree relative who was also born with cataracts.

Since early detection is key to providing the most effective treatment, determining potential risk factors for infantile cataracts increases the likelihood of diagnosing the problem quickly.

Researchers mentioned the following factors that might also play a part in the development of cataracts at birth, but deemed them all to be “statistically insignificant”: maternal urinary tract infections,  aspirin use, alcohol consumption, and smoking.

Source: https://www.osnsupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=68191

For more on cataracts, visit our website.

Warnings Against Decorative, Non-Prescription Contact Lenses

decorative contact lenses
Image courtesy of fda.gov

It’s October and Halloween is around the corner and that means that many people are going to want to do something to change their appearance.  This year, wear a great mask instead of trying out decorative contact lenses.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued many warnings against buying illegitimate over-the-counter contact lenses.  Even non-corrective lenses are monitored by the FDA out of concerns for public health.  According to the FDA, “Unauthorized contact lenses of all types present risks to the eye that include corneal ulcers, corneal abrasion, vision impairment, and blindness.”

The American Optometric Association has issued its own warnings.  They caution consumers that using  contacts that are not proscribed by a licensed medical professional can lead to “conjunctivitis, swelling, allergic reaction and corneal abrasion due to poor lens fit.”

For information on natural treatment options for conjunctivitis, visit our website.

It is possible to see an eye doctor to determine if you can safely wear cosmetic contact lenses and to get a proper prescription.

Diabetic Retinopathy Patients Susceptible to Dry Eye

Diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to progressively blurred vision, is a real concern for diabetes patients.  In truth, only 6% of those with diabetes will lose their vision entirely because blindness in diabetics is largely treatable.  Changes in diet and lifestyle can help control both diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.

Those with diabetic retinopathy are much more susceptible to dry eye symptoms.  Diabetics have decreased tear break-up time, which indicates poor tear film stability.  A review of a number of studies on diabetic retinopathy and its effects published in the Expert Review of Ophthalmology states that “patients whose dry eye symptoms worsened tended to be those whose serum glucose was poorly controlled.”  Get more information on how to treat dry eye syndrome naturally.

 

Source: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/729120