If you are under 40 you may be thinking this information does not pertain to you. Keep in mind however, you could possibly develop symptoms of this very common, and highly irritating, eye condition at some point in your life. And, it may happen to you sooner than you think.
Dry eye is one of the most common, although not serious, eye conditions of middle aged people. It greatly interferes with the quality of life for approximately 14 percent of people over the of age 40. About 21 million people in the United States, it is realistically estimated that figure is probably more like 60 million, reported experiencing chronic dry eye symptoms. Out of those numbers, the condition is more prevalent in women because, it is believed, they experience more hormonal shifts. In both sexes, regardless, the condition usually worsens with age.
Here is a rather short and simplified version of why this eye condition begins to happen.
The surface of the eye needs tears to support the delicate living cells that covers the surface of the eye. Instead of using a blood supply or oxygen, the eye surface uses a thin, watery layer called 'tears'. This layer of water is so important, that the eyelids produce a layer of oil just to help protect tears from evaporating. When the eye surface first starts to become dry, tears have lost water, and have become too salty. This causes symptoms such as:
1.burning and stinging 2.dryness 3.itching 4.redness 5.blurred vision
When the eyes become really dry, it has been described as feeling like there is dirt in the eye, or a sandy grit irritation.
Many who experience this type of uncomfortable eye condition, often times, opt to quickly treat it with an over-the-counter or prescription eye drop solution. Unfortunately, most eye drops will only provide temporary relief, at best.
The problem with artificial tears is, if the solution being used does not biologically match the substances naturally found in normal tears produced by the eye, eye drops will actually starve the surface of necessary electrolytes the eye surface needs. The result will be a lack of lubrication quality. Certainly, this is a no-win, or long-term, solution that will ever get to the real root of the problem.
When quality tear production ceases, it is also possible to notice a decrease in corneal sensation, thus affecting clear vision. There are several risk factors that may potentially increase your odds of, eventually, suffering from dry eye. They are:
1.Long-term use of hard contact lenses 2.Having had 'Lasik' eye surgery 3.Certain viral infections of the cornea 4.Diabetes 5.Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
And finally, another area that is often not considered, at all, is prescription drug use. Medications such as antihistamines, diuretics, antidepressants and many others can cause dry eye symptoms. You might be wondering, how prescription drugs could be affecting normal tear production. Here is one educated professionals clinical experience, and observations, with prescription drugs.
In Dr. F. Batmanghelidj's brilliantly researched, medical breakthrough self-help book to the public titled, "Your Body's Many Cries For Water", page 162, states," I would like to inform you that a vast majority of very frequently used medications are either directly or indirectly strong antihistamines. The strongest variety are used in the discipline of psychiatry and for patients with depression".
And, in his reference to severe dehydration problems common in the vast population of the world, on page 14, he says, "The regulating neurotransmitter systems (histamine and its subordinate agents) become increasingly active during the regulation of water requirements of the body. Their action should not be continuously blocked by the use of medications. Their purpose should be understood and satisfied by drinking more water".
And, there is more promising news on how you can reduce, or even possibly eliminate, this irritating eye condition with dietary relief interventions. Three separate dietary studies conducted, so far, have linked dry eye to a low omega-3 essential fatty acid intake. Eating more cold water, oily fish, or by supplementing with a high quality fish oil, can produce long-term relief rather quickly. Most eye doctors have no idea that most cases of dry eye problems can be cleared up, naturally, with simple dietary measures.
Dry eye syndrome should never be ignored. It could, eventually, turn into more than just an uncomfortable eye nuisance. After all, the cornea is responsible for two-thirds of our vision power. When it dries out, it is like trying to look at your world through a dirty windshield. This eye condition is also closely related to another common eye problem called 'age-related macular degeneration'. Both, of which, respond rather well to increased water, omega-3, and antioxidant (found in fresh, raw fruits and vegetables) consumption.
Eating more omega-3's, raw fruits and vegetables, and increasing your water intake, all three, are very doable strategies you can use to, realistically, attack this annoying eye condition.
About the Author
Brenda Skidmore has spent over the last five years actively researching natural health care alternatives. She can attest to the many positive results natural practical cures and preventive strategies bring to human health. Along with the many medical professionals whose public works she has studied, it is her sincere desire to empower others by sharing this important information. To improve your health today visit: http://www.mywater4life.com
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Are Eye Braces Safer Than Laser Eye Surgery?
A long time ago, back in the 1960's, two California doctors when getting feedback from their patients who wore contact lenses, kept hearing the same type of story over and over again. Many times their patients would leave their home, drive to work and then halfway through the day notice that they were not wearing their contact lenses. And they were seeing perfectly well. It appeared that the constant wearing of the contact caused a gradual reshaping of their cornea, improving their ability to see. This chance discovery eventually led to experimentations and studies on shaping the eyes using contact lenses.
Corrective eye braces or CRT (Corneal Refractive Therapy) lenses as they are formally known, are hard contact lenses that act much like a retainer or braces do on your teeth. You put them on at night just before you go to bed. During the night, while you sleep, they reshape the cornea of your eye. When you wake up in the morning, your blurred vision is gone. You can see the pictures on your wall, the buttons on your clothes, and the alarm clock on your dresser. You have 20/20 vision.
Unlike laser eye surgery, the changes are not permanent. The changes to the cornea will last only a day on some people. On others, it has lasted up to a week.
So who are the most likely candidates for these eye braces?
Young teenagers for one. Many good eye surgeons will not operate on a teenager or a person under 18 or 21 because the body, including the eyes. may still be growing and changing. At those ages, they doctor may legitimately determine that the risk is not worth it and rule out corrective eye surgery altogether. In this case, eye braces, may be a good alternative.
The eyes are one of our most important senses and many people are leery of making any type of permanent change to them. Add to that the growing number of malpractice lawsuits involving refractive surgery, and some people, especially those already wary of surgical operations, begin to look for alternative ways of improving their vision. For them, eye braces are a good compromise between permanent contact lenses and laser eye surgery.
Those looking for a bargain will also like eye braces. The cost of CRT lenses is much less than the cost of laser eye surgery.
The news is not all good, however. The braces have to be hard, in order to reshape the cornea. This can make them uncomfortable to wear. And although most people will get used to them, some find they can't adjust.
Also, although relatively infrequent, the wearing of contact lenses, does increase the risk of microbial infections of the eye.
And thirdly, there have been no long term studies of the effect of wearing eye braces on a nightly basis for an extended period of time.
So if you want CRT lenses how do you get them? You can't just go into an eye doctor's office and order them. A CRT lens has to be prescribed by a doctor who has been certified in CRT lenses.
About the Author
Dana Siconolfi is a freelance writer who writes articles relating to custom eye laser surgery as well as other health related topics. Visit her site at http://www.lasereyesurgeryupdate.com.
Corrective eye braces or CRT (Corneal Refractive Therapy) lenses as they are formally known, are hard contact lenses that act much like a retainer or braces do on your teeth. You put them on at night just before you go to bed. During the night, while you sleep, they reshape the cornea of your eye. When you wake up in the morning, your blurred vision is gone. You can see the pictures on your wall, the buttons on your clothes, and the alarm clock on your dresser. You have 20/20 vision.
Unlike laser eye surgery, the changes are not permanent. The changes to the cornea will last only a day on some people. On others, it has lasted up to a week.
So who are the most likely candidates for these eye braces?
Young teenagers for one. Many good eye surgeons will not operate on a teenager or a person under 18 or 21 because the body, including the eyes. may still be growing and changing. At those ages, they doctor may legitimately determine that the risk is not worth it and rule out corrective eye surgery altogether. In this case, eye braces, may be a good alternative.
The eyes are one of our most important senses and many people are leery of making any type of permanent change to them. Add to that the growing number of malpractice lawsuits involving refractive surgery, and some people, especially those already wary of surgical operations, begin to look for alternative ways of improving their vision. For them, eye braces are a good compromise between permanent contact lenses and laser eye surgery.
Those looking for a bargain will also like eye braces. The cost of CRT lenses is much less than the cost of laser eye surgery.
The news is not all good, however. The braces have to be hard, in order to reshape the cornea. This can make them uncomfortable to wear. And although most people will get used to them, some find they can't adjust.
Also, although relatively infrequent, the wearing of contact lenses, does increase the risk of microbial infections of the eye.
And thirdly, there have been no long term studies of the effect of wearing eye braces on a nightly basis for an extended period of time.
So if you want CRT lenses how do you get them? You can't just go into an eye doctor's office and order them. A CRT lens has to be prescribed by a doctor who has been certified in CRT lenses.
About the Author
Dana Siconolfi is a freelance writer who writes articles relating to custom eye laser surgery as well as other health related topics. Visit her site at http://www.lasereyesurgeryupdate.com.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Boulder LASIK
Lasik eye surgery is a very common and effective treatment for many vision problems. Doctors all over the country perform hundreds and even thousands of these operations each year. As a result, this is a very safe and quick outpatient procedure. Boulder lasik offers one of the most affordable options in Colorado.
Boulder lasik surgery is the process of correcting one's vision through the use of a laser procedure. It is used mainly for people who are nearsighted, far sighted, or have astigmatism. The surgeon will make an incision around the cornea of the eye, making a flap. Then they will use a laser to correct the vision abnormality. The cornea flap is then replaced and the eye will heal itself within several days.
Boulder lasik surgery is highly effective with relatively few complications or side effects. The first few days after undergoing Boulder lasik surgery you will feel mild irritation in your eyes. Many patients describe this as an itching or feeling as if there were a grain of sand in their eye. This discomfort should subside within a couple of days after your Boulder lasik surgery. Patients also report symptoms of dry eye, which can be readily treated with moisturizing eye drops, and lights or a halo around the edge of their vision. These symptoms usually go away with time. Less than one percent of Boulder lasik patients report that their vision worsens after the treatment.
Boulder lasik patients enjoy a very short recovery time. Within a few days, your vision should clear and you can resume normal activities as soon as this occurs. For some Boulder lasik customers, this occurs within a few hours after the treatment. You should not drive yourself home from the surgery since your vision will be blurred for a while. Make arrangements for a friend to pick you up or plan on taking public transportation.
Choosing a reputable Boulder lasik doctor is very important. You want to find someone who has extensive experience performing these types of procedures. In general, the more experience the doctor has, the better your Boulder lasik experience will be. This is not an area where you want to choose a practitioner based solely on price. That is not to say, however, that you cannot get a great Boulder lasik surgeon at a great price. Just make sure you are choosing quality over price.
A good way to find a great Boulder lasik doctor is to ask friends and family for recommendations. If they are willing to refer you, you can be fairly confident of a good experience. If you don't know anyone to ask, you do have other options. Check a prospective Boulder lasik doctor out with the Better Business Bureau or the AMA. Also, ask any prospects for recommendations and be sure to actually call them. Ask lots of questions and be sure you are comfortable with your Boulder lasik doctor.
Boulder lasik surgery is a great option. There are many qualified Boulder lasik doctors who do great work. Just make sure that you are comfortable with your choice and that they address all of your needs.
About the Author
Going for any LASIK operation? Need more help? Now get more FREE information about LASIK Surgery today by visiting our website at http://www.eyes4lasik.com/ and read more on LASIK Eye Surgery
Boulder lasik surgery is the process of correcting one's vision through the use of a laser procedure. It is used mainly for people who are nearsighted, far sighted, or have astigmatism. The surgeon will make an incision around the cornea of the eye, making a flap. Then they will use a laser to correct the vision abnormality. The cornea flap is then replaced and the eye will heal itself within several days.
Boulder lasik surgery is highly effective with relatively few complications or side effects. The first few days after undergoing Boulder lasik surgery you will feel mild irritation in your eyes. Many patients describe this as an itching or feeling as if there were a grain of sand in their eye. This discomfort should subside within a couple of days after your Boulder lasik surgery. Patients also report symptoms of dry eye, which can be readily treated with moisturizing eye drops, and lights or a halo around the edge of their vision. These symptoms usually go away with time. Less than one percent of Boulder lasik patients report that their vision worsens after the treatment.
Boulder lasik patients enjoy a very short recovery time. Within a few days, your vision should clear and you can resume normal activities as soon as this occurs. For some Boulder lasik customers, this occurs within a few hours after the treatment. You should not drive yourself home from the surgery since your vision will be blurred for a while. Make arrangements for a friend to pick you up or plan on taking public transportation.
Choosing a reputable Boulder lasik doctor is very important. You want to find someone who has extensive experience performing these types of procedures. In general, the more experience the doctor has, the better your Boulder lasik experience will be. This is not an area where you want to choose a practitioner based solely on price. That is not to say, however, that you cannot get a great Boulder lasik surgeon at a great price. Just make sure you are choosing quality over price.
A good way to find a great Boulder lasik doctor is to ask friends and family for recommendations. If they are willing to refer you, you can be fairly confident of a good experience. If you don't know anyone to ask, you do have other options. Check a prospective Boulder lasik doctor out with the Better Business Bureau or the AMA. Also, ask any prospects for recommendations and be sure to actually call them. Ask lots of questions and be sure you are comfortable with your Boulder lasik doctor.
Boulder lasik surgery is a great option. There are many qualified Boulder lasik doctors who do great work. Just make sure that you are comfortable with your choice and that they address all of your needs.
About the Author
Going for any LASIK operation? Need more help? Now get more FREE information about LASIK Surgery today by visiting our website at http://www.eyes4lasik.com/ and read more on LASIK Eye Surgery
Sunday, September 23, 2007
What To Expect From A Lasik Clinic
If you said that you were going to a lasik clinic twenty years ago, you would have gotten some strange looks. When the basic lasik procedure first became available in the early 1990's it was only available at a few prominent medical centers. The equipment necessary to perform the corrective laser eye surgery had not yet been developed on a mass scale and was not available, or affordable, for many eye surgeons. The popularity of the procedure has given birth to a completely new genre of medical clinics though. Now, there is a lasik clinic in every major town, and the number just keeps growing.
For those choosing to have corrective eye surgery, unique surgical opportunities are provided by a specialized lasik clinic. Patients will receive specialized care in these clinics, dedicated exclusively to corrective laser eye surgery. Comprehensive training in this special optic medical branch is required for staff, as the facilities are devoted to and specifically designed for lasik procedures. As laser eye surgery techniques and types increase, consumers will be able to shop around. This in turn, will compel the lasik clinics to keep moving forward in order to stay on the cutting edge of this medical branch.
Choosing a lasik clinic may seem complicated due to the numerous choices available. A bit of study and investigation should be performed, as with any high-dollar expense. You can find most medical clinics on the internet. Visiting their web site and reading customer reviews is well worth the time spent. Recommendations are also available on medical discussion boards. Your insurance carrier may provide a service that can give recommendations. If you are looking for a doctor to perform your lasik eye surgery, consider speaking with a friend that has been through the process with good results. Their good experience may bode well for you also.
Feel free to visit a lasik clinic and get a feel for the practice before you make the decision to use them. Most eye surgeons will require a consultative visit before performing the corrective laser eye surgery anyway, so you can feel free to keep shopping around if you are not comfortable with your initial visit. Sometimes doctors forget that people are their customers, and you should never commit yourself to a lasik surgeon who doesn't seem to have your best interests at heart. Remember, you are paying them to make you happy.
With new clinics opening up everyday, you should be able to combine your observations to make a good decision concerning which lasik clinic you want to use. Process your own personal experience with the information that you find from others to find the place that best suits you. In some cases, your insurance provider may tell you which eye surgeons you have to pick from, but in the majority of cases, it is entirely up to you.
About the Author
Heather Gurzell is a nurse in California. Like many she got tired of dealing with glasses and did her homework for the best Lasik Sacramento clinic. She highly recommends the Pacific Laser Eye Center with five convenient Northern California area locations such as their Oakland Lasik clinic.
For those choosing to have corrective eye surgery, unique surgical opportunities are provided by a specialized lasik clinic. Patients will receive specialized care in these clinics, dedicated exclusively to corrective laser eye surgery. Comprehensive training in this special optic medical branch is required for staff, as the facilities are devoted to and specifically designed for lasik procedures. As laser eye surgery techniques and types increase, consumers will be able to shop around. This in turn, will compel the lasik clinics to keep moving forward in order to stay on the cutting edge of this medical branch.
Choosing a lasik clinic may seem complicated due to the numerous choices available. A bit of study and investigation should be performed, as with any high-dollar expense. You can find most medical clinics on the internet. Visiting their web site and reading customer reviews is well worth the time spent. Recommendations are also available on medical discussion boards. Your insurance carrier may provide a service that can give recommendations. If you are looking for a doctor to perform your lasik eye surgery, consider speaking with a friend that has been through the process with good results. Their good experience may bode well for you also.
Feel free to visit a lasik clinic and get a feel for the practice before you make the decision to use them. Most eye surgeons will require a consultative visit before performing the corrective laser eye surgery anyway, so you can feel free to keep shopping around if you are not comfortable with your initial visit. Sometimes doctors forget that people are their customers, and you should never commit yourself to a lasik surgeon who doesn't seem to have your best interests at heart. Remember, you are paying them to make you happy.
With new clinics opening up everyday, you should be able to combine your observations to make a good decision concerning which lasik clinic you want to use. Process your own personal experience with the information that you find from others to find the place that best suits you. In some cases, your insurance provider may tell you which eye surgeons you have to pick from, but in the majority of cases, it is entirely up to you.
About the Author
Heather Gurzell is a nurse in California. Like many she got tired of dealing with glasses and did her homework for the best Lasik Sacramento clinic. She highly recommends the Pacific Laser Eye Center with five convenient Northern California area locations such as their Oakland Lasik clinic.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Misconceptions About LASIK Eye Surgery
Many people don't fully understand the details of LASIK eye surgery, even people who are undergoing the procedure! Don't be someone who waits until after your surgery to discover the things you should have known beforehand. The following are the real truths behind the two most common misconceptions about LASIK eye surgery.
1. After LASIK eye surgery I'll Never Need Glasses/Contacts Again
Depending on your age and the issues with your vision, you may or may not need corrective lenses of some kind immediately after LASIK eye surgery or later on, as you age. The vast majority of patients who undergo LASIK refractive surgery report significant improvements in their vision, which generally allow them to drive without glasses within days of their surgery. A small percentage of LASIK patients require "enhancement" surgery, which is a second LASIK eye surgery, conducted to fix any over- or under-correction of your vision resulting from the initial LASIK surgery.
Also, many people, as they age (generally between the ages of 40 and 50), develop poor vision for reading (called presbyopia). If you had LASIK surgery prior to developing presbyopia, you could still need reading glasses as you get older. Presbyopia is sometimes treated with Monovision LASIK, which corrects one eye for distance vision and the other eye for close vision.
However, patients with Monovision are still counseled to keep glasses on hand for those times when perfect distance or close vision or good depth perception (which requires both eyes) is necessary. For most people, LASIK eye surgery reduces their use of glasses to only very specific situations and specialty vision needs.
2. LASIK eye surgery wouldn't be so common if it was risky.
LASIK is surgery and all surgery comes with certain risks. More than one million people had LASIK eye surgery in the United States in 2006, and less than 1% of those patients experienced significant complications. This means that statistically, your chances of having a LASIK eye surgery without significant complications are very good.
However, given that this is surgery on your eyes, and your eyes play a vital role in your everyday life, the risks of LASIK are something you want to be aware of and take into consideration when deciding whether LASIK is right for you. The possible complications can range from minor (and temporary) increases in dry eye symptoms, to visually debilitating and permanent dry eye symptoms. A small percentage of patients lose vision at specific distances, which cannot be fixed after surgery with any kinds of corrective lenses or follow-up surgery. Another small percentage of patients develop glare, halos, or double vision. For some these problems are temporary, but for others they're permanent and especially noticeable in challenging visual situations, such as at night or in fog. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, LASIK eye surgery is safe and effective for most corrections. (The worse your vision is prior to surgery, the less likely LASIK is right for you.) Many ophthalmologists believe
that the risks of long-term contact lens use may exceed the risk of LASIK, although the fact that LASIK has only been around for just over 10 years means that the long-term effects of LASIK can not yet be known.
Conclusion
In general, the thing to keep in mind is that all but statistically few LASIK patients end up with improved vision and good results. However, those who experience complications from LASIK eye surgery tend to be VERY unhappy (and vocal) about it. You don't get your money back whether your vision is better or worse after LASIK eye surgery.
You shouldn't let a vocal unhappy minority convince you that LASIK eye surgery is terrible any more than you should let slick marketing campaigns convince you that it's risk-free and perfect. Carefully discuss the visual situations you hope to correct, your various expectations, and all potential risks and complications with your LASIK surgeon in a (often free) consultation prior to surgery. And, as with any major medical procedure, it's wise to get a second opinion.
About the Author
Did you find these tips on LASIK eye surgery useful? You can learn a lot more about LASIK that can help you do what's right for YOUR eyes by clicking here. Cambria Reid researches and writes in-depth articles on LASIK laser eye surgery, its risks, costs, FAQs, benefits, and more for the popular http://www.Likely-LASIK.com.
1. After LASIK eye surgery I'll Never Need Glasses/Contacts Again
Depending on your age and the issues with your vision, you may or may not need corrective lenses of some kind immediately after LASIK eye surgery or later on, as you age. The vast majority of patients who undergo LASIK refractive surgery report significant improvements in their vision, which generally allow them to drive without glasses within days of their surgery. A small percentage of LASIK patients require "enhancement" surgery, which is a second LASIK eye surgery, conducted to fix any over- or under-correction of your vision resulting from the initial LASIK surgery.
Also, many people, as they age (generally between the ages of 40 and 50), develop poor vision for reading (called presbyopia). If you had LASIK surgery prior to developing presbyopia, you could still need reading glasses as you get older. Presbyopia is sometimes treated with Monovision LASIK, which corrects one eye for distance vision and the other eye for close vision.
However, patients with Monovision are still counseled to keep glasses on hand for those times when perfect distance or close vision or good depth perception (which requires both eyes) is necessary. For most people, LASIK eye surgery reduces their use of glasses to only very specific situations and specialty vision needs.
2. LASIK eye surgery wouldn't be so common if it was risky.
LASIK is surgery and all surgery comes with certain risks. More than one million people had LASIK eye surgery in the United States in 2006, and less than 1% of those patients experienced significant complications. This means that statistically, your chances of having a LASIK eye surgery without significant complications are very good.
However, given that this is surgery on your eyes, and your eyes play a vital role in your everyday life, the risks of LASIK are something you want to be aware of and take into consideration when deciding whether LASIK is right for you. The possible complications can range from minor (and temporary) increases in dry eye symptoms, to visually debilitating and permanent dry eye symptoms. A small percentage of patients lose vision at specific distances, which cannot be fixed after surgery with any kinds of corrective lenses or follow-up surgery. Another small percentage of patients develop glare, halos, or double vision. For some these problems are temporary, but for others they're permanent and especially noticeable in challenging visual situations, such as at night or in fog. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, LASIK eye surgery is safe and effective for most corrections. (The worse your vision is prior to surgery, the less likely LASIK is right for you.) Many ophthalmologists believe
that the risks of long-term contact lens use may exceed the risk of LASIK, although the fact that LASIK has only been around for just over 10 years means that the long-term effects of LASIK can not yet be known.
Conclusion
In general, the thing to keep in mind is that all but statistically few LASIK patients end up with improved vision and good results. However, those who experience complications from LASIK eye surgery tend to be VERY unhappy (and vocal) about it. You don't get your money back whether your vision is better or worse after LASIK eye surgery.
You shouldn't let a vocal unhappy minority convince you that LASIK eye surgery is terrible any more than you should let slick marketing campaigns convince you that it's risk-free and perfect. Carefully discuss the visual situations you hope to correct, your various expectations, and all potential risks and complications with your LASIK surgeon in a (often free) consultation prior to surgery. And, as with any major medical procedure, it's wise to get a second opinion.
About the Author
Did you find these tips on LASIK eye surgery useful? You can learn a lot more about LASIK that can help you do what's right for YOUR eyes by clicking here. Cambria Reid researches and writes in-depth articles on LASIK laser eye surgery, its risks, costs, FAQs, benefits, and more for the popular http://www.Likely-LASIK.com.
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