Climate Can Strain the Eyes

Posted on April 30, 2012 | No Comments

Looking across the globe, there are a wide variety of climates and geographies that affect the human body in different ways. People are able to survive in some of the harshest climates on earth including the extremes of the desert. Dubai has reached temperatures of above 100 degrees with little to no rain during the long summer months, which can dry out skin and place strain on one’s eyes due to the sand that reflects the light. This stress can have long-term, negative affects and living in such conditions requires people to take preventative actions. Simple actions like wearing sunglasses and covering your face during a sand storm can make a huge difference.

Vitamin C Deficiency Associated with Cataract Development

Posted on February 22, 2012 | No Comments

Recently, a study involving 5500 individuals, all over the age of sixty, observed a strong link between low Vitamin C and cataract development.  Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness globally. The study controlled for lifestyle factors, including tobacco, alcohol, nutrition, blood pressure, and body mass index. Vitamin C deficiency illustrated a greater incidence of cataracts for both men and women. (Ophthalmology. 2011;118(10):1958

Possibility of Glaucoma Amplified by Near-Sightedness

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Scholars from the Netherlands learned that men and women with myopia have an amplified possibility of developing glaucoma as opposed to those men and women without myopia. This finding was in Ophthalmology (2011;118 (10)1989-1994) to illuminate the link between myopia and glaucoma. People with high myopia had about a 2.5x greater possibility of developing glaucoma against people with low myopia that had a 1.75x possibility. Glaucoma
is one of the most general causes of blindness in the U.S., and it is particularly bothersome because it’s known as a silent disease where there aren’t any symptoms like blurred vision or pain ahead of time. Dr Ashraf suggests to his patients at risk that they have a regular eye exam; he also cautions his LASIK patients with high myopia not
to forget this since their eyes still act as if they have high myopia, in spite of being able to see 20/20.

The Importance of Vitamin D

Posted on January 30, 2012 | No Comments

Researchers in London have studied that Vitamin D minimizes aging effects in mouse eyes as well as enhances vision in older mice. In Neurobiology and Ageing, professor Glen Jeffery stated that when old mice were provided with Vitamin D for 6 weeks, retinal inflammation diminished and tests indicated that vision was improved.  They observed that macrophages, which can result in damage and inflammation, were reduced in the mice that were given Vitamin D supplementation; there was also a reduction in the protein amyloid beta. Amyloid rises with age and has been shown to accumulate in patients with age related macular degeneration and in Alzeheimer’s disease.

“These are promising results in an animal model, however human clinical trials will need to be performed to see if any of these benefits may benefit humans”, says Dr. Ashraf, LASIK surgeon of the Atlanta Vision Institute.  In addition, he states that this is a great starting point in trying to comprehend the mechanisms and pathophysiology of aging.  Once we grasp this, we can try to address potential treatments to help prevent or reverse changes in the ageing process.

Cosmetic Contacts Hoax

Posted on January 16, 2012 | No Comments