October 27th, 2008 by admin
Modern living is imbalanced and parents need to make extra efforts to protect the eyes of their children. Most children spend 3-5 hours a day staring at a computer screen, either surfing the internet or gaming. Children watch movies, play video games, watch hours of uninterrupted television and hardly ever go out doors or give their eyes a chance to focus on distant objects.
In fact doctors who treat children are finding an alarming increase in eye sight weakness and other ophthalmic problems like red eyes, irritations, and so on. There is a new problem, computer vision syndrome and 25-30% of children need corrective eye wear before they are even six years old.
Protect the eye sight of your kids; consider some of the following tips:
1.Always place things like televisions and computers at appropriate distances. Surf the World Wide Web for recommendations by experts.
2.Ensure that the child has a comprehensive eye exam every year the exam should include near-point and distance testing.
3.Teach the child the importance of splashing clean water on the eyes. This will removes any dust or bacteria.
4.Use soaps that are not harmful to the eyes.
5.Never allow children to use sunglasses or magnifying glasses that are not of good quality. Any eye wear or use must be optically safe.
6.If the child is going to be traveling or out in the sun for long hours, it is best he or she wears a cap that shields the eyes or wears sunglasses. The sunglasses must be bought from reliable manufacturers. Check the internet for high quality sunglasses at low prices. Before you buy a pair for a child check with the doctor whether the glasses should be prescription or non prescription.
7.Ensure that the child does not spend the whole day viewing close objects . Take the child for a drive, to the park, or beach. Teach the child the joys of watching birds fly, clouds float in the sky and so on. It will naturally exercise the childs eyes.
8.Restrict television viewing and computer time to a minimal. Encourage the child to enjoy outdoor activities. Hand held computer games to strain the eye.
It is our duty to bring up kids in the healthiest way possible. Include in the childs diet vegetables, fruits, and fish; things that protect the eyes and prevent wear and tear. Read up on foods that are beneficial to ophthalmic health and are rich in vitamins A and C and beta carotenes. When buying children eye wear ensure that you buy only top quality glasses.
Arthur Raise is a writer for http://www.1866sunglasses.com , the premier website to find Sunglasses, designer sunglasses, sun glasses, reading sunglasses, discount sunglasses, sunglasses at night, mens sunglasses, cheap sunglasses, fishing sunglasses and many more.
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October 27th, 2008 by admin
Laser Eye Surgery: How To Decide What’s Right For You
The introduction of laser eye surgery is definitely one of the biggest technological advances of our time. Many people are afflicted with poor vision and have to wear glasses or contact lenses in order to see properly. Currently these individuals have new choices open to them because the latest methods of laser surgery can fix their eye problems and allow them to do away with wearing glasses or contact lenses.
There are a lot of people out there who would be great candidates for laser eye surgery. This procedure is known quite well as lasik in the modern world. If you would like to look into this option for your eyes, then you need to speak with your eye doctor to get more information.
Although you can find online information about laser eye surgery, it is better to conduct a search in your local area. You have a lot of options to think about when you’re considering LASIK and it is wise to work with your local eye doctor to decide what the best course of action is for you. This starts with getting a complete eye exam. Then you can find out everything you need to know about laser eye surgery. Once you know what is entailed with this type of surgery you can come to the best decision among your various options.
Because insurance generally doesn’t cover LASIK, you might wish to locate a surgeon who indicates on his site that he is willing to set up a payment plan for you. The nation’s capital is currently one of the regions where laser eye surgery has extremely high popularity these days. However, there is just a small cadre of physicians who can actually claim that this is their specialty. You should really pick one who gives the most detailed information about the options that are open to you.
Consider the following while choosing your eye surgeon: Though his experience, credentials will be of primary importance, the eye clinics policies on customer education and prompt customer service with quick response to your questions and needs is an added advantage. Good understanding of your options after your eye examination will bring you the comfort level for your visual health.
The decision to have a LASIK procedure should be based on a thorough examination of your eyes, performed by a skilled local laser eye surgery professional. Unlike many medical procedures, most LASIK can be performed on an outpatient basis. This limits the time you spend at the doctor, and normally the recovery only takes a few days. After being examined, and with the latest LASIK procedures, you, too, can look forward to having better vision without wearing your corrective lenses!.
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October 26th, 2008 by admin
Diabetes Information-Confessions of a Type 2 Diabetic-Part Six-How to be a Control Freak
Well we have talked about why you need to be a control freak when you have Diabetes. I hope you are convinced in the importance of control. If not re-read part five and pay attention the nasty things that can either kill you or ruin your quality of life for the rest of your life-that’ll make believer out of you.How to you get that control? I am so glad you asked. Let’s look at 4 concepts that will at least get you started.MONITOR. Your blood sugars and other critical factors like Ha1c need to be monitored on a regular basis. Get a physical on a yearly basis including a diabetic eye exam. Only thru seeing how well you are doing do you get an idea if anything needs to be tweaked in your program. As they say ‘if you don’t know where you’ve been you can’t figure out where to go.’ LOOSE WEIGHT. Since weight gain was one of the factors that got you into the club of diabetics, weight loss will not get you out-it will get you control-exactly what you want. As little as 5% and as much as 10% should be your goal. You’d be amazed what that will do for you. EXERCISE. If you exercise 20-30 minutes a day 5 days a week not only will it help you lose weight but also it helps to act as a natural blood sugar controller. As an extra added bonus you’ll just feel better too. DIET. Your diet, as you know it, has to change. It is at least partially responsible for getting you where you are now. IT HAS TO GO. Less carbs, more protein, more fresh vegetables, more water will form the basis of the diet. If you can’t figure it out for your self there are plenty of online resources and if that fails hire a dietician. In any event these four ideas will get you going to gain control of your new found disease. Get started today!!Don’t forget to leave me feedback. I welcome your comments.To find out more about Diabetes check the link below. Jack Krohn has had Diabetes, Pre-diabetes and Syndrome X for nearly fifteen years. He speaks from the experiences he has had during that time. He owns SECURITY SOLUTIONS a one stop resource that provides solutions and answers for all your self defense and home security problems.
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October 25th, 2008 by admin
Management and Treatment of Lid Infections
Blepharitis is the inflammation of the lids, and it affects the glands that reside within these tissues. The incidence of lid infection ranges from 3.2% in young adults and increases with age to 71.1% with seniors. The cause of Blepharitis is almost always bacterial in nature, and tests positive in cultures. The bacteria grow in the lipids (fats) of the gland, and produce enzymes that break the lipids down into soaps and fatty acids. These 2 byproducts disrupt the tear film causing dry eye symptoms, and all the discomfort that follows. In some cases there is even a microorganism that attaches itself to the lashes called Demodex Folliculorum. Regardless of the cause, the result is red, painful lids and dry eyes.The diagnosis is made during an eye exam, and some of the clinical signs are collarets around the lash bases, gland obstructions on the lid margins, red crusty lids, and waxy discharges on the lids. In addition, Chalazion is seen in the lids, and inflammation on the cornea as well as marginal ulcers at the cornea/limbal region.The etiology or cause of Blepharitis can be from Staphylococcal bacteria, Seborrhea, allergic, Psoriatic and even start in the glands themselves. Meibomitis is the inflammation of one of the primary lid glands that produce a tear component. The major problem that occurs with Blepharitis is that the bacteria break down the enzymes, disrupting the tear film. This in turn irritates the eye and the cycle begins of red, painful eyes and in turn red, painful lids.The goal of therapy is to alleviate the signs and symptoms, but will not cure the condition. Blepharitis is a chronic condition that will require on going maintenance, and treatment for many years. It most often will reoccur. The acute phase of treatment is to bring the condition under control, and improve comfort and appearance of the lids and eyes. The chronic treatment is to maintain control and keep the lids healthy. The most important part of the therapy is to simply clean the lids. This is done with a soapy solution of diluted baby shampoo and warm water. This solution is employed to clean the lid margin twice per day with a Q tip for at least 2 weeks. Each cleaning must be followed by warm compresses, and gentle lid massage. The warm compresses dissolve the waxy build up on the lids, and the massage removes it while increasing blood flow to the affected areas. In addition, topical antibiotics are always added. The newest and best one is called Azasite. It is Zithromycin in drop form. It is used twice per day for about 3-4 days, and then once per day after that. In addition, another medication is now often added to increase tear production. Restasis decreases inflammation in the tear producing mechanism, and thus increases tear flow. This medicine must be used twice per day for at least 6 months and perhaps even longer. Once the acute phase is treated, then only the Restasis, and once per week lids scrubs are employed.If a very severe case is encountered then oral antibiotics may be used as well. Doxycycline has been shown to be the best for this condition.Blepharitis is a long term problem, but when properly treated and managed; patients can be free of many of the dry eye, lid and painful symptoms. Compliance can become an issue because of the long term care required, but good results and appearances are the reward.
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October 25th, 2008 by admin
Are Giant Pupils A Danger To Having Laser Eye Surgery?
Did you ever think that having giant pupils could disqualify you from being eligible for laser eye surgery? Well they might.The pupil is the opening or hole in the center of the iris that admits light. It’s size changes in direct response to changes in lighting. In bright light conditions, the pupil gets smaller. In poor light conditions, or when it’s dark, the pupil dilates or gets larger. Many people with larger than normal pupils are not even aware of it. If you are highly sensitive to bright lights, this is a good sign that your pupils may be larger than normal.However, it could also be the case that your enlarged pupil is the result of drug or medication interactions with your body. In this case, the condition is most likely temporary and your pupil under normal conditions could very well be normal in size.It’s important to recognize the fact that the size of left and right pupils are not necessarily the same. Having said that, under normal lighting conditions the diameter of an average sized pupil is 3 millimeters. The normal range varies from 2 millimeters to 6 millimeters. If you don’t know the size of yours you can find out from your optometrist who will normally measure it’s size during a regular eye exam.So what exactly is the connection between large pupils and laser eye surgery? If you have large pupils, some surgeons will be reluctant to ok you as a candidate for laser surgery because of previous documented problems. As with any surgery, there is always the chance that there could be post operative problems. On of the post op problems that those with large pupils have experienced following laser eye surgery is seeing persistent halos when looking at bright objects. You may, for example, see halos around car headlights, street lights, bright living room lights, and so on. One reason why some surgeons may give you the ok and others will not is the type of laser used. When having laser eye surgery performed, the type of laser used is a MAJOR factor. One laser that has caused more and more surgeons to ok laser surgery for large pupil patients is the Allegretto laser. The Allegretto laser is a laser system that has been used in Europe since the late 1990s. It was cleared for use by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the U.S. in 2003. The Allegretto laser can reportedly successfully treat pupils with a diameter of up to 6 millimeters. Supposedly it can reduce or eliminate the halo effect that happens when laser surgery is performed on large pupils. If the diameter of your pupil is larger than 6 millimeters, the odds that you will have an error free post op procedure diminishes. Keep in mind, however, that even under the best of circumstances that the success rate for laser surgery is in the high nineties percent range. Not 100%. And even though some doctors using the the Allegretto laser report that they have received far complaints about glare, halos, light sensitivity, and night driving glare - remember, fewer complaints doesn’t equal no complaints. To be on the safe size, if you think that you have larger than normal pupils, take extra care even beyond what you would normally do to ensure that your post operation results will be just as you imagined it.
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October 25th, 2008 by admin
Tips on finding the best lasik cost in Oklahoma
As is the case for many other good-sized cities, oklahoma city lasik mds provide eyesight restoration services for members of the community who could benefit from them. If you are one such person, you may have many questions about LASIK, including Oklahoma lasik cost. While your Oklahoma City Lasik MD can answer many of those questions at your initial consultation, we can answer many of the more frequently-asked questions right here.What Is LASIK?Lasik is an abbreviation for Laser-Assisted inSItu Keratomileusis. If you’re looking at that last word and thinking That’s Greek to me, you’re spot-on. Like a great deal of other medical terminology, it’s derived from a Greek word in this case, %26#954;%26#949;%26#961;%26#940;%26#962; which means horn. Your Oklahoma City Lasik MD uses this word to describe the shape of your eye’s cornea, which just happens to be horn shaped.The LASIK procedure consists of two steps. In the step, the Oklahoma City Lasik MD uses a small cutting tool called the microkeratome to lift the upper layers of the cornea, or corneal cap. The second step involves the use of a fine, precision laser known as the excimer, which is used in order to do the actual reshaping of the cornea that causes minor vision problems such as myopia (near sightedness), hyperopia (far sightedness) and astigmatism (misalignment between the retina and lens of the eye).Can LASIK Help My Eyesight?If you suffer from one of the three problems referred to above, the answer is yes. However, there are more serious (usually age-related) eye problems that the Oklahoma City Lasik MD cannot treat unless s/he holds a degree in ophthalmology as well. These include:- cataracts (clouding of the lens)- macular degeneration (atrophy of the retina)If your preliminary eye exam shows that you have one of these conditions and your Oklahoma City Lasik MD cannot treat you, s/he can refer you to an eye specialist with the requisite skills.The best candidates of LASIK are those who are age eighteen or older and have basically healthy eyes but want be free of the need to wear glasses. What Will It Cost?Since LASIK is considered elective surgery, chance are that Oklahoma Lasik cost will not be covered by any sort of health insurance plan. It pays to do some research here, as the costs can vary tremendously. The oklahoma lasik cost for individuals can run anywhere from $1500 to as much as $4000 per eye, including hospital fees and anesthesiologist’s services. The good news is that your oklahoma city lasik md can usually arrange some kind of financing for your at as little as 0% with nothing down.
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October 25th, 2008 by admin
Can you read this? Contact a Phoenix low vision specialist
Those who are past the age of 60 face the greatest risks of blindness due to macular degeneration, or atrophy of the macula. This is a literal wasting away of that part of the eye that is involved in central vision used for reading, sports, driving and many other everyday activities. Phoenix residents who have low vision problems will want to schedule an appointment with a Phoenix low vision doctor who specializes in .You can usually get a referral to a Phoenix low vision specialist through your optometrist or primary care provider. At your initial appointment, the Phoenix low vision specialist will assess your condition through a comprehensive eye exam. Next, in order to determine the best treatments for macular degeneration to use for your case, your Phoenix low vision doctor will take an inventory of your medical history, noting any conditions that may have predisposed you to macular degeneration (such as high cholesterol), family medical history of blindness (the condition has a genetic basis) and dietary choices (leafy green vegetables and foods high in omega-3 and Vitamin E as well as zinc is thought to help in slowing the symptoms of macular degeneration.In fact, if your condition is diagnosed early enough, your Phoenix low vision eye doctor may in fact order a course of treatment that calls for a change of diet and the taking of supplements.There are also a number of macular degeneration devices that your Phoenix low vision specialist can recommend that can help you in making the most of your remaining eyesight. One of the most common of these devices recommended by Phoenix low vision doctors is bioptic glasses. These are similar to bifocals, except that instead of split or progressive lenses, they have miniature telescopes mounted on them that can assist the wearer in activities such as reading and (in some states) driving.Because it is a degenerative disease that progresses and worsens over time, it is vitally important to contact a Phoenix low vision specialist if you start to notice your central field of vision becoming blurry (peripheral vision is not affected). Therefore, the sooner a Phoenix low vision eye doctor can begin treatments, the more of your vision s/he will be able to help you to preserve. There is today no cure for macular degeneration, although in some cases where the problem is caused by an abnormal growth of capillaries around the macula a Phoenix low vision eye doctor who is a skilled ophthalmologic surgeon may be able to correct the problem using lasers. Otherwise, your best option is to meet with a Phoenix low vision specialist at the earliest sign of a low vision problem.
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October 25th, 2008 by admin
LASIK Monocular Vision Correction by Carson Danfield
For the last several years, doctors have been hesitant to recommend LASIK eye surgery for patients who were farsighted. Such patients could see clearly at a distance, but had trouble focusing on close up objects. This is a common problem for many people as they age and usually starts showing symptoms in the early to late 40s. The first sign of becoming farsighted is that these people have to hold reading material farther and farther away in order to be able to focus clearly. Eventually, they find that their arms are no longer lengthy enough to achieve proper focus.LASIK surgery can resolve the problem of being farsighted, but at the expense of losing distance focusing. A typical farsighted person can see distant objects with no problem, but while LASIK surgery can solve the close focusing problem, the distance focusing is sacrificed in the process. Most people would consider this as just trading one problem for another.However, research has shown that there is a way that LASIK eye surgery can help patients that suffer from farsightedness. It seems that the brain possesses powerful capabilities when processing images. The LASIK solution for farsightedness is to perform the procedure on one eye only, hence the name ‘monocular’.An eye exam is used to determine which eye is best suited for distance viewing and that eye remains unaltered. The other eye undergoes the LASIK procedure and is then optimized for close object focusing. When the patient views an object, whether it’s near or far away, the brain accepts images from both eyes and merges the images thru complex processing. In essence, one eye focuses on far away objects and the other eye focuses on close up objects. The brain uses both images and the end result is that patients can now see close up and far away - problem solved!If you’re at the age where you’ve just begun to notice your farsightedness, it may be best to wait a couple of years before having the LASIK eye surgery. The reasoning is that during the initial onset of farsightedness, your eyes tend to change frequently, so if you have the procedure done too early, your changing eyes could negate the results in a year or two, so you may need to have the procedure repeated. If you wait until your eyes stabilize, or at least the changing process slows, you’re likely to realize longer lasting results.Many LASIK surgery doctors have been offering an option when you elect to have the procedure - for a fairly small extra fee, they’ll provide you with lifetime repeat procedures for free if they’re ever needed. This way, if your eyes do change as you age, you can have the LASIK procedure repeated at no additional cost. This can be a wise investment if you’re in the 40 to 50 age group.If you have the monocular vision correction procedure, you’ll find that it does take a little getting used to. After all, your eyes have been providing very similar signals to your brain for a long time. Now that each eye focuses differently, your brain has to adapt and process the different images into a single view.
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October 25th, 2008 by admin
Coping With Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects many people, it can strike at any time of their lives. If you have diabetes you want to be active in managing your self-care. The more you control your self-care, the more you take control of your health. May you find information on diabetes from a variety of sources, including your doctor. When managing your care, your doctor will encourage you to take responsibility for the care of your diabetes and your will be responsible for you self-care. Be aware that self-care for diabetes does not occur only after the diagnosis of diabetes, If you are in the category of risk of developing diabetes that you should keep an eye on what happens to your body and monitor the symptoms of diabetes. Regular schedule appointments for exams with your doctor. Diabetics who received a diagnosis must be diligent with their care, so that they maintain their health and avoid complications that arise so often as a result of diabetes. Some of the things that a person with diabetes can do to practice self-care are (1) see their doctor regularly, (2) have an annual eye exam to check for any of the related conditions that the eye can occur if a person has diabetes, (3) have an annual dentist, (4) stop smoking, (5) eat a healthy and balanced diet, (6) take care of feet, because diabetes will affect the amount of blood that reaches the feet. Once a person with diabetes has taken the habit of self care and help manage their diabetes, they feel they have more say in their care. There are a variety of other sources, as a Diabetes Care Center, which can provide assistance to obtain medical information. A centre of care for diabetics is providing information to help you with many aspects of your health, including: planning and a balanced diet; administering medication, planning medical examinations are necessary and emotional support loan you and your family. Diabetes Care Centers are also actively involved in research to cure diabetes. Although diabetes is a genetic disease, it can strike at any moment, especially in the years to come. That is one reason why it is so important to maintain a healthy weight and do a sort of regular exercise. If you’re at risk because of a predisposition within your family or because you do not take care of yourself, consult your doctor at least once a year to ensure early detection.
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October 24th, 2008 by admin
Lasik Starts With An Eye Exam
Millions of people are forced to wear glasses in order to see properly. Many others use contact lenses but sometimes and wear eyeglasses occasionally. Most of these people would love to have normal vision and end their dependence on glasses and contact lenses. Excellent vision is something everyone wishes they had. It’s far better than bearing the cost of glasses and contact lenses.
There have been wonderful innovations in vision correction possibilities in recent years. Lasik eye surgery can produce almost miraculous results. It is now the most popular treatment option for people looking for permanent vision improvement.
When this surgery was first introduced, it was quite costly. However, the procedure has become much more affordable to the average person, since the price has been reduced considerably. Some doctors offer this procedure for as little at $300 for both eyes! A few years ago, you could have expected to pay over $2000 per eye for this surgery!
The thought of having perfect vision for such a low price is something we all want. There are many that will do what is necessary to eliminate the burden and prolonged cost of contacts and eye glasses. These people have, or will, contemplate the question “should I have this surgery done?” The surgery may sound tempting, but before you decide to have it done, you should go get an eye exam.
The majority of ophthalmic surgeons want to perform a thorough eye screening on any potential patient. This eye examination will include every part of the eye, and particularly those that will be altered by the eye surgery. The physician can then decide precisely which of the many available procedures is the right one for you. There are actually a variety of lasers with a corresponding variety of benefits.
These effects can be reduction in vision over time or a scratchy dry feeling of the eyes for a long period after surgery, just to name a few. With so many lasik surgery procedures available, it is best to start with an eye exam. It will allow you to make the best choice for your eyes, and provide you information that can be used for a successful surgery. You want to enjoy your new vision, not complain about the side effects.
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