OE Patients

Category: Health & Well-Being

Pay attention to your health & well-being with expert insights on eye health and vision care.

  • 6 Ways To Keep Your Mind Young

    6 Ways To Keep Your Mind Young

    Every brain changes over time, but smart routines and practices can keep our minds young, sharp and healthy, even in our later years.

    We are all empowered with brain plasticity, or neuroplasticity. This wonderful, innate ability gives us the potential to change at any time in our lives. While aging may weaken certain neural connections, the persistent practice of good habits can enhance and even build new pathways.

    Here are 6 ways to strengthen your mind.

     

    A smiling woman running in a park.


    1. Exercise daily.

    If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a million times — exercise is good for you. It’s impossible to exaggerate the positive benefits of a habit that helps young and old alike. Research shows that staying active promotes healthful aging, and helps both brain and body.

    Physical activity helps blood flow to your brain and forges new connections between its many cells. Even bursts of exercise as brief as 10 minutes can temporarily enhance energy levels, focus, problem-solving, and memory. 

    Sharpen your reasoning and thinking skills and boost your overall well-being while you’re at it. Start with a commitment to mild or moderate physical activity for 25 to 30 minutes each day, such as walking or yoga. Pair with your favorite music or audiobook to help you enjoy the time.

     

     

    Healthy fruits and vegetables in paper grocery bag.


    2. Eat well.

    Nutrition begins at the table. Make sure you sit down to foods that nourish your mind, as well as body. For a delicious and brain-boosting diet, look no further than the Mediterranean-style plate, rich in fruits, fish, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans and olive oil.

    Enjoying a Mediterranean-style diet has been shown to decrease the likelihood of cognitive decline, reduce the risk of some neurodegenerative illnesses and to overall enhance brain function.

    Stay away from or moderate your intake of high-calorie, highly-processed foods. Such foods can frustrate your cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and the balance of nutrients that helps your brain operate at its best.

    Make conscious, small changes where possible, by switching to or substituting ingredients with healthful options. Find unique recipes that help you look forward to your meal. While eating, savor your bites.

     

     

    Closeup of artist with palette and brush painting colorful still life.


    3. Keep learning.

    The practice of new skills stimulates your mind and keeps it strong. Whenever you try a novel, complex activity, your brain kindles connections between its cells. Continual learning and practice can even produce new cells, which shores against future cell loss. 

    Start by experimenting with a hobby or activity that ignites your interest.

    Learn a new language. Speaking two or more languages has been proven to promote mental elasticity and one’s ability to understand information. Try studying a new musical instrument through a private or group music class. Playing an instrument can have a protective effect on your brain, as well as improve your memory, listening, hearing and motor skills.

    You can pick up a book, try a crossword puzzle or Sudoku, or even try your hand at drawing, painting or photography.

    If an activity seems difficult at first, stick with it. Don’t throw in the towel just yet. The more challenging it is for you to master, the more rewarding the brain-boost. Once you’ve practiced a skill enough times, you’ll find that it becomes easy, even rote.

     

     

    White lotus flower floating peacefully on a pond.


    4. Practice mindfulness.

    The fast pace of our modern world, along with our ever-plugged-in connectivity, means that we are in a constant state of processing. Taking intentional pauses here and again, gives our minds the much-needed time and space for rest.   

    In fact, meditation over a long period of a time can help the brain to age slower, by increasing overall grey matter volume.

    In a Harvard study, eight weeks of meditation resulted in changes to key areas of the brain; specifically, an increase in the thickness of the hippocampus, an area of the brain that controls learning and memory.

    You can reap the benefits of mindful breaks too. Ease into the practice incrementally. Start by finding a quiet, calm place, free of distractions. Carve out five minutes to sit and bring your focus to your breath. Be patient with yourself if your mind wanders.

    Extend the time only when you are ready — even meditating for a few minutes each day may make a difference.

     

     

    Bed with comfortable linen, pillows, and desk plant on a side table.


    5. Sleep soundly.

    Don’t give into the myth that you need much less sleep as you age. A good night’s rest of around six to eight hours each night keeps your mind fresh and alert.

    Science shows that sleep regenerates neurons that allow your brain to function at its best. Sleep also clears your brain of bad toxins that can stack up over time.

    Getting consistently good rest leads to a number of positive effects. It boosts your power of recall, helps you make better decisions, improves your focus, and expands your learning capacity. Even 60-90 minutes of additional sleep per night can have an impact.

    Set the way for success. Power down your devices — TVs, computers, and other blue-light sources — an hour before you head to bed. Opt for light evening snacks rather than heavy meals that may weigh down your digestive system. If you find yourself distracted by noises at night, a white noise app or machine can be helpful.

    Lastly, if you have a lot on your mind, try reading, listening to calming music, taking a bath, or journaling. A relaxing activity can help you close down the day and ease into sleep.

     

     

    Grandfather happily greeting granddaughter at family gathering.


    6. Stay connected.

    Research shows that social relationships are important to keeping brains young. Strong connectivity to others boosts our overall health, and is even associated with lower risk of dementia, as well as longer life expectancy.

    Time spent with close family, friends, and our community helps us to enjoy life, feel appreciated and find purpose. Friendship allows us to share experiences, overcome challenges, and pursue learning and activities outside of our comfort zone.

    Getting to know new people also supercharges your brain, as much as a puzzle or crossword, since socializing requires a combination of skills, including focus, short-term memory, and attention.

    Strengthen your circle. Take time to reach out to those closest to you. Pick up the phone, write an email, plan a coffee or dinner date, tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. Attend the event where you’ll meet new people and widen your network. You never know which new acquaintance will turn into a lifelong friend and open up your perspective.

     

    Keep your mind young and the spring in your step, anywhere and anytime in life, through persistent engagement and a positive outlook. Remember: every little change or resolution counts, and there is never a better day to start than today.

     

  • Charles Bonnet Syndrome: Visual Hallucinations

    Charles Bonnet Syndrome: Visual Hallucinations

    About a year ago, Marjorie Louer began having hallucinations. In a letter sent to the Association for Macular Diseases, OE Patients’ parent organization, Ms. Louer detailed her startling, mysterious experience:

    “The most regular hallucination was a miniature of a woman’s round face, surrounded by bushy gray hair that extended onto the chin. She appeared as a bearded lady. Sometimes three or four images of my bearded lady would appear at the same time. These hallucinations would come and go. Other images were of varying patterns and colors of textile designs and of a New York City subway map.”

    The constant hallucinations distressed Ms. Louer to the point she went to the Emergency Room of a prominent NYC hospital. She spent a night there and completed a series of brain scans and interviews. She also informed the doctors of her diagnosis of macular degeneration.

    The next morning, she left the hospital with no better understanding of the hallucinations. But the reassurance that nothing was wrong with her brain came as a huge relief.

    Solving the Mystery

    Still, Ms. Louer was determined to find out why she continued to hallucinate often enough to puzzle and distract her. She enlisted the aid of her daughter who set out to research the problem on the internet.

    Ms. Louer’s daughter’s work online not only uncovered some important information for her mother but also identified pathways to explore the subject further. She learned that her mother’s condition was known as “Charles Bonnet Syndrome”.

    Bonnet was a late 18th-century Swiss scholar who was trying to cope with the hallucinatory problems of his 87-year-old grandfather who had vision problems.

    According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the reported incidence of Charles Bonnet Syndrome in people with vision impairment is 10% to 38%. This wide range is attributed to differences in definition, history-taking, and unwillingness by patients to disclose the symptoms because of concern that it implies mental incompetence.

    “My grandfather is a respectable man,” Bonnet wrote in 1760, “full of health, of ingenuousness, judgement, and memory, who completely and independent from all outside influences, sees from time to time, in front of him, figures of men, of women, of birds, of carriages, of buildings. All of this appears to have a seat in that part of the brain involved with sight”.

    The condition resulted from various signals sent by components of the eye to the brain.

    Historically, not all authors cited loss of vision as a component of the diagnosis. However, the association with vision loss is now widely thought to be a required part of the diagnosis. Hallucinations as part of this Syndrome can occur in patients of any age with any type or degree of visual loss.

    Takeaways

      • Patients with loss of vision may experience vivid recurring visual hallucinations, such as formed images of people or animals.
      • If you should experience the hallucinations, discuss it with your eye specialist. There are a number of things that might help the situation.
    • If you consult doctors other than eye specialists about these hallucinations, inform them of your vision impairment.

    We are very grateful to Marjorie Louer and her very helpful daughter for raising awareness about an important, common problem for people diagnosed with vision loss.

    Originally published on December 15, 2016 and updated on September 25, 2018.

  • Put Sunglasses On Your Kids, The Benefits Are Long Term

    Put Sunglasses On Your Kids, The Benefits Are Long Term

    The natural inclination to protect our children from harm has for many decades included sun protection. On any summer day, at a whole host of outdoor venues, parents can be seen diligently slathering up their little ones with the prescribed application (and re-application) of sunblock. It only makes sense that protecting young eyes from the damaging rays of the sun should also be a priority, right?

    Grown-ups, for the most part, automatically put on the shades at the beach and during outdoor activity. This is behavior we like to see kids mimic.  Young children and adolescents are most vulnerable because their eyes do not filter ultraviolet light as well as adults. The damaging effects are cumulative and irreversible, experts say most of the damage occurs by age 18. This is why the sunglasses must be applied, with the sunscreen, from a very early age.

    Needless to say, helping your kids develop the habit of protecting their precious eyes from sun exposure, will benefit them for decades to come. It might actually help them avoid age-related macular degeneration and cataracts much later in life.

    Sunglasses do not only apply to the summer months, winter offers no reprieve. Children are exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays year round. All prolonged sun exposure and sporting activities should be accompanied by protective eyewear (and maybe, even, a brimmed hat). It is best to keep babies, under 6 months, out of the sun entirely, shielded by hats, stroller canopies and umbrellas.

    Here are 4 practical tips for buying children’s sunglasses:

    • Including your children in the selection process will make buying sunglasses fun. If they love the glasses they will be happy wearing them.
    • Be sure to choose sunglasses with lightweight polycarbonate lenses with 100% UVA and UVB protection and maximum impact resistance.
    • Look for frames that are rounded, flexible and have wraparound coverage. They should fit snug and may include a velcro band, good for playing sports. Comfort and style are key factors in selecting glasses your child will keep on wearing.
    • Good quality children’s sunglasses are available in a range of prices.  A higher price is not necessarily indicative of superior quality. If there is any doubt, have the sunglasses tested by an optician to confirm they provide maximum protection. (Note: Sunglasses lacking UV protection can be riskier than no glasses at all, as the dark lens will cause the pupil to dilate, allowing ultraviolet rays to enter the retina.)

    Remember, teaching kids to protect their eyes from a young age will pay off through old age. They’ll thank you for it!

     

  • Doctor, Am I Going Blind?

    Doctor, Am I Going Blind?

    To the question, “Am I going blind?,” the answer is most often, “No.”

    For the great majority of patients diagnosed with disease-causing progressive vision loss, use of the word “blindness” actually does not apply.  Fortunately, most patients treated for degenerative diseases retain some degree of visual function.

    While the amount varies (dependent on disease type, severity, persistence, and progression), it is far more accurate to describe most cases as visual impairments and not as blindness.

    Obviously, total loss of light perception is the ultimate fear.  Ophthalmologists must be extremely careful in their discussions with patients to address this fear.  While some diseases are severe, most can be limited.

    Macular Degeneration

    A frightening diagnosis always, and is the most common ocular disease in older age.  Some forms are genetically inherited and present in adolescents, teens, and much younger adults.  Although often described as the “leading cause of blindness in people over 65,” it is highly unlikely and extremely rare that it results in loss of light perception or blindness.  Macular degeneration generally affects the central vision, leaving peripheral intact.

    Progression of the disease is slow in most cases and can be well compensated.  Patients are able to continue their full and productive lives, making some adjustments and utilizing magnification and speech in widely available accessible technologies.  A strong mental approach coupled with a willingness to learn, are proven factors in maximizing remaining vision and enjoying life.

    Diabetic Retinopathy

    Diabetes-related eye disease is another common malady often associated with the reduction in normal sight.  While historically unrelenting, attention to medical and ocular problems early in the course of diabetes have completely altered the potential for devastating visual loss.  With current and updated treatments, visual loss can be prevented or at least limited.  Often, patient cooperation and participation in treatment is the key to success for diabetics.

    Glaucoma

    Primarily a disease of superficial retinal loss associated with elevated pressure within the globe of the eye.  The earliest patterns of visual loss from glaucoma are peripheral, not central, so a reduction of visual field can go relatively undetected by the patient.  As the disease progresses, more of the peripheral field is lost, followed finally by the loss of the central areas.

    Fortunately, with treatment and early recognition by a qualified professional, visual loss can be prevented or limited.

    Legal Blindness

    Many have heard the term “legal blindness” and automatically interpret it to mean “blindness.” Legal blindness is a government definition or statute utilized to determine qualification for disability benefits.  The definition requires 20/200 vision or worse in the best eye with correction in place or visual field limitation to 20 degrees in diameter.  The condition causing the vision loss must be present or expected to be present, for one year or more.

    Legal blindness does not mean “no vision” and many people with this degree of vision loss live very full visual lives, albeit with a significant visual impairment.  On the other hand, “blindness” is usually understood to mean “no visual perception”.

    Clarification of the language associated with vision loss is critical, especially for those on the receiving end of these difficult words.  Speak with your ophthalmologist.  Make sure you understand your visual status and to what degree it is likely to change over time.  Most of the time vision can be preserved and loss can be limited.

  • What Is A Cataract?

    What Is A Cataract?

    A cataract is a natural lens that becomes cloudy, or less than clear. Cataract is the leading cause of reversible blindness and vision loss in the world.

    The natural lens always becomes more opaque and denser with age, but this process may be accelerated by trauma to the eye including previous ocular surgeries, certain medications such as steroids, medical conditions such as diabetes, poor nutrition, and extreme sun exposure, amongst many other conditions.  

    As the natural lens opacifies, a decrease in vision may be noted. The ability to distinguish objects, halos, glare, or even doubling of images can occur. If an individual’s vision is unable to be corrected adequately with glasses or contact lenses, the patient may be a candidate for cataract removal.

     

    Cataract Surgery and Risks

    Cataract surgery involves the removal of the cloudy natural lens and replacement with an artificial lens implant. The surgery may take many different forms, from extraction of the lens in total to a fragmentation of the lens. The replacement lens implant is made from a type of plastic, usually acrylic or silicone, and may correct vision for distance, near or both.

    In addition, some lens implants can correct preexisting astigmatism allowing for more spectacle independence. The choice of lens implants is made after a discussion of the patient’s visual needs by patient and physician.

    A prescription for glasses may be necessary for best visual correction post operatively depending on the patient. The techniques and implants used are determined by a combination of the patient’s input and physician expertise.

    Cataract surgery is one of the safest surgical procedures. However, there is no surgery that is risk-free. Complications, although very rare, may result in loss of vision and this needs to be considered prior to undergoing cataract surgery.  

    A majority of cataract surgery is considered elective. The surgery itself is painless, and “same-day,” going home and back to normal activities in short order. Usually drops are necessary in the immediate post-operative period to protect the eye from infection and inflammation. If needed, a final prescription is given usually approximate one-month post-surgery.

    Surgery is a permanent solution; the cataract does not grow back.

     

  • Should Floaters and Flashes Concern Patients?

    Should Floaters and Flashes Concern Patients?

    To understand why floaters and flashes happen, you first need to review a little bit of eye anatomy.

    The eye is essentially a ball which I like to divide into three areas of interest.  The front (or cornea) is the window that allows light into the eye.  The middle is composed of the iris, pupil and focusing lens.  Behind the iris-lens area is a large cavity filled with a clear gel-like substance called vitreous.  And behind the gel is the back wall that is lined with a thin “wallpaper” called the retina.

    Most do not realize that the retina is actually an extension of the brain.  So retina is really brain tissue!  It is responsible for transforming light that enters the eye into electrical signals that are processed and interpreted by the rest of the brain into shape and color.  You really do not see with your eye.  The eye is really a transducer of energy, light into electrical signals.  The rest of your brain forms the image.

    Anatomy of an Eye
    Anatomy of an Eye

    Why is the doctor so interested in FLASHES and FLOATERS?

    The usual normal process of vitreous gel aging and separation from the retina occurs over a lifetime and does not usually cause problems.  The gel liquefies and collapses separating from the retina.

    During this process, the patient may begin to notice small translucent or darker particles occasionally “floating” in their field of view.  These floaters represent the projected shadows of fine vitreous particles floating in front of the retina.  In some situations, however, the separation of the gel occurs too suddenly or the pull of the gel is too forceful for the delicate retina resulting in retinal tears.

    Usually, these more violent vitreous separations are associated with more symptoms- more noticeable flashes and floaters.   (The retina does not have pain fibers only light fibers so when pulled or torn, light flashes are seen).  Doctors take all flashes seriously.  With careful examination, it is possible to determine if tears occur and treat damaged areas before any further changes follow.

    Often a tear may be associated with many floaters, not just a few minor shadows, but large clumps.  These larger and more numerous floaters often represent the clotted blood that exudes from vessels at the edge of the torn retina.  These clots absorb over time, the floaters appear to decrease.  The tear or tears do not repair themselves and some permit liquid to invade beneath the retina producing first a blister of retinal tissue around the tear(s).

    With time and eye movement, more and more fluid infiltrates under the retina creating a larger separation of the retinal “wallpaper”.  When larger separations are present they are called retinal detachments.  A detached retina is seen by the patient as an increasing shadow or veil-like black area within the normal field of view.  Detachments require more extensive treatment (often surgery) to reattach the separated areas.

    So floaters may be simply a normal aging process (common) or a symptom of something more ominous.  Most individuals go through the process of vitreous gel separation without tear formation, however, it is always prudent to have a careful exam until the gel separation is complete and the symptoms subside.

    Strong flashes and many floaters are more alarming symptoms and are more often associated with damage that may require immediate attention.  Early detection is the best way to improve the chances for success in treating retinal tears and avoiding detachments with potential serious vision loss.

    An examination is always better sooner than later.

  • Frank Bruni Faces Vision Loss with Grace

    Frank Bruni Faces Vision Loss with Grace

    It is one of those things you hope never happens to you, and then it does. “Am I Going Blind?” (NY Times Feb. 23, 2018) is Frank Bruni’s intense and honest account of the life-altering experience known as vision loss. In his case, a stroke of the eye took a “chunk” of sight from one eye as he slept.  And it might come back for more.

    In the months that ensue, he navigates an altered dimension.  There is the cycle of doctors, diagnostics, and treatment (or lack thereof).  The seemingly endless stream of questions that sometimes are left hanging in the air.  He resists the pull of fear or anger.  Despite the increase in typos, he finds careful determination is key to adjusting as he works. He discovers the best antidote to weakness is strength.

    He draws inspiration from others. David Tatel, a Federal Appeals Court Judge, who lost his sight 40 years before and coped successfully by never dwelling on it.  Peter Walsten, Senior Politics Editor for the Washington Post, is not deterred by a lack of central vision.  He tells Frank to remember, “it’s not your brain that’s affected, it’s your eyesight.”  Joe Lovett, a filmmaker who documents his slowly progressing glaucoma in “Going Blind,” advises respect for the “blessings of the here and now’ because you cannot live in fear of “future losses.”

    He is grateful for all the sights he can take in today and states, “My eyesight is in jeopardy.  But I see some things more clearly than ever.”  The fact is, he knows seeing clearly has little to do with visual acuity.  I think it would be safe to say we can look forward to Frank Bruni’s clarity on the op-ed pages for a long time to come.

    The article is recommended reading for anyone living with vision loss. It reminds us that life goes on.

    Read “Am I Going Blind?” on the NY Times.

    Frank Bruni. Source: MSNBC
    Frank Bruni. Source: MSNBC

     

    Main Image Source: Ben Wiseman

     

  • FDA Approves Gene Therapy for Rare Mutation

    FDA Approves Gene Therapy for Rare Mutation

    The first gene therapy for a rare inherited retinal disease has been approved.  The treatment is specific to the RPE65 gene mutation which causes progressive vision loss in children and adults, resulting in legal blindness, and sometimes even total blindness.

    The therapy, brand name Luxturna, is approved for a small group, approximately 1,000 to 2,000 patients in the US. It consists of the injection into each eye with a normal correcting RPE65 gene. The cost of this treatment expected to be in the high six figures.

    The hope is, this progress potentially opens a door to treatments for many more gene mutations causing inherited retinal diseases and progressive vision loss.

    Here is the United States Food & Drug Administration’s bulletin:

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Luxturna (voretigene neparvovec-rzyl), a new gene therapy, to treat children and adult patients with an inherited form of vision loss that may result in blindness. Luxturna is the first directly administered gene therapy approved in the U.S. that targets a disease caused by mutations in a specific gene.

    “Today’s approval marks another first in the field of gene therapy — both in how the therapy works and in expanding the use of gene therapy beyond the treatment of cancer to the treatment of vision loss — and this milestone reinforces the potential of this breakthrough approach in treating a wide-range of challenging diseases. The culmination of decades of research has resulted in three gene therapy approvals this year for patients with serious and rare diseases. I believe gene therapy will become a mainstay in treating, and maybe curing, many of our most devastating and intractable illnesses,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. “We’re at a turning point when it comes to this novel form of therapy and at the FDA, we’re focused on establishing the right policy framework to capitalize on this scientific opening. Next year, we’ll begin issuing a suite of disease-specific guidance documents on the development of specific gene therapy products to lay out modern and more efficient parameters — including new clinical measures — for the evaluation and review of gene therapy for different high-priority diseases where the platform is being targeted.”

    To read more please continue to the FDA’s bulletin here 

  • AutoDrop Is A Real Eye Opener

    AutoDrop Is A Real Eye Opener

    An eye drop prescription for newly-diagnosed glaucoma was accompanied by a simple, stunning little gizmo that totally resolved the issues that commonly occur when trying to deliver the drops into the eye, and not onto the face.

    This clever invention takes the mess and the aggravation out of the self-administration of medication directly into the eye. And it has a companion device that controls the dose. Both the AutoDrop and the AutoSqueeze are products developed in England by Owen Mumford in collaboration with the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

    An eye drop guide is something you may have never heard of before today. It is a fascinating solution to a problem that can be annoying and even detrimental. This is one of those discoveries you’ll be sharing with friends.

    It’s really not unusual at all to have difficulty self-administering eye drops. The eye naturally blinks as the drop approaches, and it winds up on your eyelid instead of your eyeball. This eye drop guide is designed to override that reflex by holding still the lower lid and drawing the focal point away from the drop as it positions the bottle and steadies the hand for accurate delivery, without waste.

    The bottle of drops clips into AutoDrop and can be used with its companion AutoSqueeze to further enhance stability for patients with dexterity issues. The accurate delivery of medicine is essential for successful treatment.

    This is not the only eye drop guide on the market, but it does seem to be a favorite. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice on these products. AutoDrop can be found online at Amazon, Walmart, and Walgreens for a retail price in the vicinity of $5. It is easily cleaned and can be used on multiple bottles, or you can give each dropper you use its own guide.

    Autodrop Eye Drop Guide (Video)

     

    Please note that this article was not paid for, affiliated with, or endorsed by any third-party companies. The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author’s.

     

  • An Introduction to Ophthalmic Edge Patients

    An Introduction to Ophthalmic Edge Patients

    Welcome to OE Patients.

    The Association for Macular Diseases, Inc. has partnered with Ophthalmic Edge to provide this empowering resource for patients living with visual impairments and progressive vision loss.

    We’re here to help you keep up with helpful tips and encouraging advice. Learn about Making Adjustments that will keep you doing the things you need and love to do. Get the inside scoop on today’s game-changing Accessibility & Technology for vision. Pay attention to your Health & Well-being, and stay tuned for upcoming Voices of Experience.

    Accessibility settings are always available at the upper right corner to make text larger or increase contrast. For total ease, click the ReadSpeaker button on every page and listen as the text is read aloud.

    We want to hear from you. Please feel free to post a comment, share on social media, or send an email to [email protected].

  • Keep The Sun Out Of Your Eyes

    Keep The Sun Out Of Your Eyes

    Experts in vision care urge us to be diligent in taking steps to protect our eyes from the sun. By now we should all take this advice very seriously.

    Concerns about the summer sun are a thing of the past. Ultraviolet rays are dangerous year round and they are not confined to the bright sunny days — they sneak through the clouds and the haze too. Protecting your eyes is a full-time job, 365 days a year.

    This important advice must be taken very seriously. No one should be negligent. Get into the good habit of putting on your sunglasses every time you go out the door. Adding a brimmed hat is another good habit. Try walking in the shade whenever possible.

    Protecting and preserving the sight we have is a high priority not just to the aging eye. Significant damage occurs early in life — that means everyone should protect their eyes from the sun at every age. Children are by no means exempt from this rule, in fact, their young eyes are the most vulnerable.

    Here are 10 tips that can keep your eyes healthier this year.

    • Protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful invisible ultraviolet rays. Exposure to UV radiation without protection can lead to a range of very serious problems, including cataracts and cancer. It can also accelerate the degenerative effects of progressive eye disease.
    • Select and WEAR sunglasses that block 99-100% UV-A and UV-B rays.
    • With sunglasses, you typically get what you pay for. Bargain sunglasses from a street vendor or dollar store may be of questionable quality and not worth the risk.
    • Avoid blue lenses — they can emit some ultraviolet rays instead of blocking.
    • Be aware — between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. UV radiation is strongest — take every precaution to protect your eyes and your skin during these hours.
    • Wear your sunglasses on hazy days and on cloudy days.
    • Close fitting wraparound styles provide maximum protection.
    • The sun reflecting off water, sand, snow, ice, and even pavement, is more intense and warrants extra caution. It also can create vision-impairing glare.
    • Ask your ophthalmologist or optometrist about UV coating for your regular eyeglasses.
    • Don’t play with fire.

     

    *Article edited by Dorrie Rush*

  • The Worst That Could Happen?

    The Worst That Could Happen?

    In The News…

    The title of Jane Brody’s article “The Worst That Could Happen? Going Blind, People Say” (NY Times Feb20, 2017), is provocative. It refers to research finding Americans most feared ailment is loss of eyesight. 

    In a recent study, 23.7 million American adults reported that they are unable to see at all or have trouble seeing even with corrective lenses.

    It is important to note that over 90% of people living with vision loss today are not blind. The language associated with visual impairments can be misleading. Even the great majority of people who meet the designation for legal blindness are not totally blind.

    We know people, can and do,  rise to the challenges of vision loss every day in quite remarkable ways. 

    They can also actively take steps to slow or stop progression, and many causes of vision loss can be prevented entirely with early detection. So Jane Brody’s good advice should be heeded by all:

    • Get annual & comprehensive eye exam
    • Eat a diet rich in leafy green vegetables and colorful fruits
    • Protect your eyes from sun damage
    • Don’t Smoke

    Click here to read the full article on nytimes.com