Complete Eye Care

Hands-free cataract surgery successfully conducted

2011-07-11T12:53:00.002+05:30

In a pioneering effort, eye surgeons from Maxivision here (Hyderabad) on Saturday successfully conducted an eye surgery without using the human hand.

Conventional surgeries need 40 per cent involvement of hands to make primary and secondary incisions and to cut open the lens capsule of the eye so that the cataract is removed using modern methods such as phaco surgery.

Surgeons, led by Maxivision CMD Dr. Kasu Prasad Reddy, used Femtosecond Laser, branded as Customlens, to conduct the surgery.

After the surgery, the laser could be used to conduct a refractive surgery to reduce the dependency on glasses and contact lenses. Customlens is developed by German company Technolas.

“The significant part of this new method is that surgeons now can make precise incisions, which is usually not possible with hands. This ensures better vision quality and excellent results. Apart from removing cataract, we are also using this laser to conduct refractive surgeries so that patients need not use spectacles,” Dr. Reddy told The Hindu.

The surgery was beamed live to eye surgeons, who were in a surgery convention in Chennai organised by Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society on Saturday.

This is the first time in the country such a novel surgery was taken up by using Customlens, the surgeons said.

“The surgery is hands-free and there is no margin of error. The safety and precision of the surgery has improved now. This technology is 100 per cent error-free,” said Dr. Reddy.

Traditionally, there are two steps involved in cataract surgery.

The first one involves using the surgeon's hand to make entry wounds known as primary and secondary incisions and to open up the lens capsule to remove the cataract.

In the second step, the cataract is removed by phaco surgery, which involves making a small incision and removing the cataract.

The Femtosecond Laser, which is introduced to India by Trivitron Healthcare, will be 10 to 15 per cent costlier than conventional surgeries.

“In future, when technology is readily available, prices will come down. At the end of the day, this method is safer,” Dr. Reddy said.

Helpful Eyecare Tips

2010-03-01T21:57:00.006+05:30

With so many of us spending lots of time in front of the computer every day it comes to no surprise that research is showing a rise in visual problems. What can one do? First, it’s important to find out how you can protect your eyes through eye health exams and by making a few minor changes in your computer viewing habits.

Here are some simple yet Useful, Helpful and Important Eyecare Tips one should definitely take note of -

Positioning is everything

Correct positioning of your computer, keyboard and typing copy is essential. Your screen should be positioned about an arm’s length from your eyes and 20 degrees below eye level. Consider foot and wrist rests for added comfort.

Lighting can make all the difference

Room lighting should be diffuse, not direct, to reduce glare and reflections from your screen. Look into an internal or external glare screen and be sure to set your colour, contrast and brightness levels to suit you.

A little extra help for your glasses

Anti-reflective coatings on the lenses of your glasses can be applied by your optometrist to reduce discomfort and to ease reduced vision from bright and/or flickering light sources such as VDTs and fluorescent lights. And don’t forget, your doctor of optometry can talk to you about eyeglasses designed specifically for people who use computers a lot.

Take time out, our 20-20-20 rule

Step I :-
After every 20 minutes of looking into the computer screen, turn your head and try to look at any object placed at least 20 feet away. This changes the focal length of your eyes, a must-do for the tired eyes.

Step II :-
Try and blink your eyes for 20 times in succession, to moisten them.

Step III :-
Time permitting of course, one should walk 20 paces after every 20 minutes of sitting in one particular posture. Helps blood circulation for the entire body.

It’s all in the blinking

Did you know that on average we blink 12 times per minute? But wait, did you know that when we’re on the computer we only blink 5 times per minute? That can add up to dry eyes. Relieve the discomfort by using artificial tear drops or gels and remember to blink!

Palming

Sit straight at your workstation and rub your palms against each other till you feel them warm. The warmth of your palms helps soothe and relax tired eyes. Then, lightly cup your eyes with your palms and relax for 60 seconds. Count the seconds in your mind. Repeat this exercise two to three times whenever your eyes feel tired, or as often as you want. While palming, you can either rest your elbows on your desk or keep away from the desk and cup your eyes. Both ways are fine.

Splash water on your face

During breaks, splash water on your face while closing your eyes. This has an overall relaxing effect and helps you feel refreshed.

Use tea bags

Keep two used tea bags in the refrigerator before you leave for work. Once you are home, place the tea bags on your eyes for a few minutes as you relax. This not only soothes tired eyes, but also reduces puffiness.

Eat healthy

Incorporate Vitamins A, C, and E on a daily basis; eat citrus fruits, green leafy veggies, tomatoes, spinach, poultry and dairy products. Pack a box of chopped carrots, cucumber and fresh fruits and munch in-between meals at the office.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ) - Cataract and S-MICS

2008-11-28T22:21:00.009+05:30

Q. What is cataract?
A. Cataract is opacity of the clear, natural lens inside the eye generally due to progression of age. Just like graying of hair, one gets cataract with age. When this lens becomes opaque with ageing it does not permit light to reach the retina causing poor visibility, known as cataract.
A cataract can occur in either or both eyes and is seen in all if we live long enough.

Q. What are the symptoms in patients suffering from cataract?
A. Cataract causes gradual, progressive, painless decrease in clarity of vision. Typically people complain of blurred vision, difficulty in driving, not being able to read for long and frequent change of spectacle power. Some may experience glare while looking at light and even double vision or Diplopia.
If untreated this may lead to total blindness also.

Q. What are the causes of cataract?
A. Most common cause of cataract is ageing. Other risk factors include, diabetes, smoking, alcohol abuse and environmental factors such as prolonged exposure to sunlight

Q. How to prevent cataract?
A. Diet, yoga, exercise or even medications can not prevent age related cataract. Good control of diabetes and protection from UV rays can delay the onset of cataract.

Q. What are the treatment options for cataract?
A. The only scientific proven treatment is surgical removal of the natural lens, which has turned opaque and replaced with an artificial lens implant such as, Akreos AO MIL. No medicine or exercises are scientifically proven to cure cataract till date.

Q. What are the surgical options available?
A. Earlier cataract surgery was performed with an incision of 12 mm which required stitches and patching of eye. Over the last few years with the advent of a technique called Phacoemulsification or Phaco, the cut in eye had been reduced to the incision size of 2.8 mm - 3.4 mm. This (Phaco) has been the current popular trend for cataract surgery worldwide.
Keeping in line with the surgical procedure trends where cut size is being reduced day by day, S-MICS ( Stellaris - Microincision Cataract Surgery ) with its global break-through technology takes it a step further by reducing the incision size to a mere of 1.5 mm - 1.8 mm.

Q. What are specific advantages of S-MICS?
A. The specific advantages of S-MICS over Standard Phocoemulsification , which is the present popular method of cataract surgery are:

S-MICS requires a smaller incision size ( 1.6 mm - 1.8 mm ), which is 50 percent smaller than the standard Phaco which entails an incision size of 2.8 mm - 3.4 mm.
A smaller incision size means a smaller wound that heals faster leading to quicker vision recovery and lesser chances of infections.
Faster healing means minimal restrictions and an early return to normal life.
Smaller incision includes little change to the original shape of the eye, resulting in lower chances of developing surgery-induced astigmatism ( cylindrical power ) and lesser requirement of postoperative spectacles.
S-MICS helps in enhanced quality of postoperative vision due to improved Intra Ocular Lenses ( IOLs ) such as Akreos AO MIL, which uses advanced optics technology leading to superior vision contrast.

Q. What are the lens options available?
A. There are two basic types of lenses, non-foldable and foldabel , with the former having restricted usage. Foldable lenses are those which require smaller incisions and open after insertion into the eye and they are of two types, monofocals and multifocals. Among the monofocals, Zero Abberation lenses like, Akreos AO MIL, are most technically advanced and provide better visual outcome with better contrast and depth of vision.

Q. Is cataract surgery safe?
A. Any procedure or surgery in the medical field may have risks and benefits. Fortunatlely, due to improved technology like Stellaris, procedures like S-MICS and skills of the doctors, cataract is one of the top rated surgeries with regard to excellent surgical results.
Cataract surgery is the most performed surgery in the world even more than dental extraction procedure. This is one surgery with maximum gratifying results.

Q. Is cataract surgery painful?
A. No this surgery is relatively painless and last for a few minutes only. It does not even require painful injections around the eye in majority of cases and can be performed by simply putting one or two eye drops a few minutes prior to the surgery to numb the eye.

Q. How soon can I rejoin my office after cataract surgery?
A. The visual recovery in a cataract surgery can vary from a patient to patient and especially by the kind of procedure performed. In a standard cataract surgery the patient may take a week or two to recover where as a standard Phaco surgery may take 3 to 4 days before the patient may feel fit to resume his daily routine, but with S-MICS the patient may even drive back home if he feels up to it.

Q. Which is the good time of a year to undertake cataract surgery?
A. Cataract surgery can be done at any time of the year and S-MICS technology has now made it even more safe.

Q. I am wearing -8.0 specatacle power and diagnosed with cataract, will I require spectacles after surgery?
A. Using modern technology like S-MICS, we can get rid of this -8.0 power and make the patient see without glasses, except for reading purposes.

Q. I am diabetic and am afraid of wound healing and infections. What is the surgical option for me?
A. Thanks to modern day technology using S-MICS technique, cataract surgery can be performed with 1.8mm incision for quicker healing thereby making it safer than the current 3.2mm Phaco for diabetic patients.

Q. What are the usual precautions after cataract surgery?
A. With modern techniques like S-MICS, the restrictions are minimal. They are limited to avoiding rubbing the operated eye, dusty and polluted places and contact of the eye with water for a week to ten days, depending on the surgical procedure used and use of dark protective glasses when going outdoors.
Diabetic patients should maintain their blood sugar after the surgery. One can resume their normal daily activities whenever one feels comfortable.

Natural Vision Improvement Tips

2008-11-28T21:43:00.003+05:30

Since eyes are the most delicate and the most important sensory organs of the human body, we need to be extra careful. Here are some simple tips for a healthy eye that improves the natural vision.

Natural Vision Improvement Tips:

1. Always take medication on the advice of a medical practitioner and never take medication off the shelf as advised by pharmacists.

2. Weak eye sight in children should not be ignored and prescribed spectacles should be worn; overlooking this can lead to Amblyopia (Visual impairment without apparent organic pathology ) / Lazy Eye and irreversible loss to vision

3. Contact lens users should maintain strict hygiene. They should never overuse and should discard their old pair of contacts as prescribed by the manufacturer.

4. Daily diet should contain fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure healthy eyesight life long.

5. The recent trend of using anti oxidants for prevention of age related diseases is showing encouraging results among elderly and can be taken in consultation with an eye specialist.

6. Staring into a computer screen over long durations in air conditioned atmosphere, can lead to excessive strain on eyes and cause dryness of the eyes. To prevent the same, regulate the duration of computer usage.

Eye Care - Take Care of Your Eyes

2008-11-05T17:42:00.003+05:30

Eye injuries among kids is more common than we think.What’s the most boring thing you’ve ever heard? It’s probably ‘don’t sit so close to the television’ from an irate grown up. Next time, before you feign deafness, think. Television, from too close, doesn’t do our peepers any good.

Protect your eye

“India has among the highest rates of blindness in the world,” says Dr. Mohan Rajan. “Eye injuries among children are more common than we think.”
Injuries when playing, cracker related injuries, scratches that might lead to internal eye bleeds — our eyes are more prone to danger than ever.
“Presentation and detection of such problems as early as possible is important. The treatment is then more effective.” he says.

Contact lenses for children over 12 is a good idea. Disposable ones are the best and aren’t too expensive. Wash your hands before you touch them. Change the lens solution everyday. Wear them for about 11 hours. Never sleep with your lenses on. The lens won’t break in your eye thanks to the soft lens we use today. Cut your nails. They can scratch the lens and tear them. Glasses with poly carbonate lens which are shatter proof are the safest option.

Tips

The eye is a delicate organ but caring for it can be a breeze if we follow what the doctor says.

Myopia (short sight) affects children who watch television from close quarters.

Take Vitamin E to stay healthy, as eye balls grow with you and can do with some help.

Outdoor activity in the sun helps too. The sun produces dopamine which helps the eye.

If your parents wear spectacles then make sure you get your eyes checked regularly.

Bad news for gaming and computer addicts. The screen with it flickers tire eyes out and cause unnecessary strain. School project needs urgent attention? Take frequent breaks. Blink frequently. Wash your eyes with clean cold water. Don’t rush to read or watch television the minute you are done. Let the eyes rest a while.

Green leafy veggies, eggs and Vitamin E are musts. Forget snuggling down with a book. Lying down and reading is probably the worst thing you can do to your eyes for the angle is too strenuous for it.

If you have hurt your eyes get a doctor to take a look immediately. Squinting can make you the popular class clown but too much of it can make the squint permanent leading to something called a “lazy eye”. In short all your eye would then want to do is squint and not help you ‘see’ stuff properly.

If the urge to rub your eyes is too great to be avoided, check for allergies. Keep an adult posted about any redness or persistent watering.

Some exercises

Pencil push ups: Hold a pencil at arm’s length. Look at its tip. Move it gradually towards your eyes. Stop when you see double. Repeat for about 20 times.

Pendulum move: Watch a pendulum move.

“They won’t reduce your spectacle power but will help tone the muscles and keep the eye healthy,” says Dr. Mohan Rajan.

The aging eye

2008-10-26T17:44:00.002+05:30

AMD is not painful and does not lead to complete loss of vision. So one can learn to cope with the loss of the central vision.

Blind spot: Reading writing and recognising people may be difficult.

The eye is shaped like a ball. The pupil, close to the front, allows light to enter the eye. Just behind the pupil is the lens, which focuses the light on the retina at the back of the eye. The retina converts the light into images, and sends them to the brain. The macula is a small area at the centre of the retina that is responsible for what we see straight in front of us, allowing us to see fine detail for activities like reading and writing, and our ability to see colour.

Sometimes the delicate cells of the macula become damaged and stop working due to many different conditions. If it occurs late in life, it is called “age-related macular degeneration” or AMD.

Broadly speaking, there are two types of AMD, usually referred to as “wet” and “dry”. This is not a description of what the eye feels like but what the ophthalmologist can see when looking at the macula. “Dry” AMD, the most common form, develops very slowly causing gradual loss of central vision. There is no medical treatment for this type. However, aids such as magnifiers can be helpful with reading and other small detailed tasks.

“Wet” AMD results in new blood vessels growing behind the retina causing bleeding and scarring, which can lead to sight loss. “Wet” AMD can develop quickly and sometimes responds to treatment in the early stages.

Both kinds usually involve both eyes, although one may be affected long before the other. This may make the condition difficult to notice at first because the sight in the “good” eye compensates for the loss of sight in the affected eye.

The good news is that AMD is not painful, and almost never leads to total blindness because only the central vision is affected. This means that almost everyone with AMD will have enough side (or peripheral) vision to get around and keep his or her independence.

Blurred vision

In the early stages, central vision may be blurred or distorte. This may happen quickly or develop over several months. The patient may be very sensitive to light or actually see lights, shapes and colours that are not there. This may cause occasional discomfort.

Because AMD affects the centre of the retina, people with the advanced condition will often notice a blank patch or dark spot in the centre of their sight. This makes reading, writing and recognising small objects or faces very difficult.

If you suspect that you may have AMD see an eye specialist. First, there will be an assessment of vision in both eyes. Then the eye will be dilated so that the eye specialist can look into your eye. If you are diagnosed with AMD, you will receive an Amsler grid, which helps you to keep track of any minor change in your vision on a daily basis, a sign of wet AMD. This quick test works best for people who still have good central vision.

In some cases fluorescein angiogram will also be needed. This involves taking a rapid series of photographs of your retina with bright flashes of blue light. These photographs give an accurate map of the changes occurring in the macula and help your eye specialist to decide on the best treatment.

If you have “wet” AMD affecting the middle of the macula, in some cases, photodynamic therapy (PDT) or the Visudyne therapy is possible. This involves infusing a light sensitive drug through your bloodstream to identify the new blood vessels growing in the wrong place behind the retina. A “cold laser” is then shone into the eye to activate the drug thus destroying the new blood vessels preventing them from causing too much damage. This can help stop the “wet” AMD progressing to its worst stages though more than one treatment may be needed.

The second option is Laser Photocoagulation. While this process cannot restore vision, it seals leaky blood vessels and inhibits their growth in selected cases. This prevents further vision deterioration in a small percentage of patients. Laser provides a concentrated beam of high energy light, resulting in scar formation in the area treated. This creates a permanent blind spot in the field of vision. However this loss of vision is usually less severe than the eventual vision loss if the disease is left untreated.

New treatment

Newer treatments for “wet” macular degeneration are being developed. Anti VEGF (anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) therapies are the next group of treatments. They involve an injection into the eye that stops the development of the new leaky blood vessels. The injections have to be repeated on a monthly or bi-monthly basis.

Like PDT it is limited to people whose “wet AMD” affects the middle of the macula and its main aim is to stop it from getting worse. However, in some cases, it has been shown to restore some of the vision already lost and it can help with a wider range of people than PDT.

At the moment there isn’t any medical treatment for “dry” AMD. Some research suggests that vitamin supplements can help slow the progression. Studies have shown that a combination of high-dose beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc can reduce the risk of developing advanced AMD by about 25 per cent in those patients who have earlier but significant forms of the disease. This is the only proven intervention to decrease the risk of advanced AMD at this time. They do not restore sight, but may have a preventative role.

A natural reaction to being diagnosed with AMD is to feel upset or worried about the future. Adjusting to any major change in life can feel difficult, so you may need some support especially at first. If you would like to talk things over with someone outside your circle of friends or family your family doctor may be able to help you find a counsellor.

The Macular Disease Society ( http://www.maculardisease.org) has local groups and a telephone counselling service. Talking about and sharing experiences can be a good way of learning to cope with feelings and problems that other people with the same condition may also have come across before.

Don’t be discouraged. You can be helped make the best use of your remaining sight. This means learning to use your side (or peripheral) vision. Low vision services can help find the best magnifiers for you and give advice and training on the many ways, often quite simple, in which you can make the most of your remaining sight. Ask your eye specialist, optometrist (optician) or GP about a low vision service near by.

* * *

Risk factors
At the moment the exact cause for AMD is not known. However risk factors have been identified.

Age: AMD is an age related condition so growing older makes the condition more likely.

Genetics: There appear to be a number of genes, which can be passed through families and may have an impact on whether someone develops AMD or not.

Smoking: Smoking has been linked to the development of AMD. Studies have also been shown that stopping smoking can reduce the risk of developing AMD.

Sunlight: Some research suggests that lifetime exposure to sunlight may affect the retina. Wear sunglasses to protect the eyes.

Nutrition: Research suggests some vitamins and minerals can help protect against AMD.

Cardiovascular status: High cholesterol, obesity, Hypertension

High fat intake: This also causes increased risk of AMD. Eat more cold-water fish, (at least twice weekly and any type of nuts.

Oxidative stress: It has been proposed that age related accumulation of low molecular weight, phototoxic, pro-oxidant melanin oligomers in the retinal pigment epithelium may be partly responsible for lipofuscin formation - a classic sign associated with macular degeneration.

CHALAZION: HOW TO TREAT IT

2008-09-23T21:49:00.002+05:30

A chalazion is a lump in the eyelid that is caused by inflammation of a gland within the skin. Typically , this lump grows over days to weeks and is occasionally red, warm, or painful. A chalazion is caused by the oil in the gland becoming too thick to flow out of the gland. This oil blocks the gland, but the gland still produces more oil. Without anywhere to go, the oil builds up inside the gland and forms a lump in the eyelid. Eventually, the gland ruptures (breaks open) and releases the oil into the tissue of the eyelid, causing inflammation.

A chalazion is not a sty .A sty can resemble a chalazion in the sense that it is also a lump in the eyelid. However, a sty involves glands and eyelash hair follicles that are closer to the skin surface of the eyelid. In addition, a sty is usually more painful and looks infected.

Symptoms

Swelling of the upper eyelid may occur gradually over weeks. The condition rarely involves the lower eyelid.
A chalazion appears as a localized hard lump that may grow as large as an eighth of an inch.
Occasionally, you may feel pain and your eyelid may be red.

Treatment

Self-Care at Home

Warm compresses may be helpful. Hold a warm, wet towel on the eyelid for 10-15 minutes, 2-4 times a day, to reduce swelling.
Lightly massage the area several times a day .
Do not “pop” or scratch the chalazion.

When to Seek Medical Care

You should call your ophthalmologist if eyelid redness or swelling does not improve with warm towel compresses in 3-4 days. You should contact your ophthalmologist immediately if you have frequent bouts of eyelid swelling or if you experience any of the following:

Fever
Headache
Any visual changes (eg, blurred vision, decreased ability to see)
Eye pain or drainage
Extensive swelling or redness
If both the upper eyelid and the lower eyelid of one eye are swollen
If both eyes are swollen

Medical treatment

Treatment of the chalazion may include the following:
Application of war m compresses for about 15 minutes, 2-4 times a day, to reduce swelling
A prescription for antibi otic eyedrops or ointments if a bacterial infection is suspected to be the cause
Injection of a steroid medicine to help decrease the inflammation
Surgical removal of the lump if it creates symp toms or lasts for weeks

Optical Illusions Challenge

2008-09-18T21:59:00.002+05:30

Fun optical illusions quiz - it's an amazing illusion trivia challenge which will amaze you! Enjoy!

Illusions

2008-09-18T20:08:00.006+05:30

An illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people. Illusions may occur with more of the human senses than vision, but visual illusions, optical illusions, are the most well known and understood. The emphasis on visual illusions occurs because vision often dominates the other senses. For example, individuals watching a ventriloquist will perceive the voice is coming from the dummy since they are able to see the dummy mouth the words. Some illusions are based on general assumptions the brain makes during perception. These assumptions are made using organizational principles, like Gestalt, an individual's ability of depth perception and motion perception, and perceptual constancy. Other illusions occur because of biological sensory structures within the human body or conditions outside of the body within one’s physical environment.

Some of the best illusions are collected here for your enjoyment:

Optical Illusions.

Eye Illusions.

Scary Optical Illusions

Visual Illusions.

They are really amazing.View them now

Eye Illusions

2008-09-16T22:57:00.014+05:30

Is this really a spiral?

There is nothing moving on the picture. (© Akiyoshi Kitaoka: Used with permission.)

Another static picture. (© Akiyoshi Kitaoka: Used with permission.)

Motion is just an eye illusion. (© Akiyoshi Kitaoka: Used with permission.)

Beautiful scene. But there is something more to it(hidden-woman-child).

Are the horizontal lines parallel? (of course they are)

There is nothing moving below. (© Akiyoshi Kitaoka: Used with permission.)

See the face of a soldier and a man that is bending over on the below eye illusion.

Given the wood do you think you could make this?

This impossible object is called "Devil's Fork" or "Schuster's Conundrum" (by D. H. Schuster)

Try to arrange dice like this.

If you can read the following picture, then you can shout ...( EUREKA )

Are there really just flowers?

It is quite interesting that all numbers can be created by using only two numerals - 4 and 8.

You may read across and upright.
A-B-C or 12-13-14?

Boats on the picture are not moving. It's just an eye illusion. (© Akiyoshi Kitaoka: Used with permission.)

Given the wood do you think you could make this?

Or this one?

Another interesting building.

1st Color Blindness Test - can you see a "12" on this plate?

2nd Color Blindness Test - there is a "26" on this plate.

3rd Color Blindness Test - can you trace a line from one "X" to the other?

4th Color Blindness Test - you should see 58 (upper left), 18 (upper right), E (lower left) and 17 (lower right).

Play outdoors for your eyes

2008-09-05T22:30:00.004+05:30

Parents now have another reason to shoo their kids outdoors to play, along with making sure they get enough fresh air and exercise because, In a study, Australian researchers found evidence that children who spent the most time outdoors were the least likely to suffer from myopia, also called nearsightedness or shortsightedness

"Our evidence suggests that the key factor is being outdoors, and that it does not matter if that time is spent in having a picnic or in playing sport," Dr. Kathryn A. Rose told Reuters Health. "Both will protect a child's eyes from growing excessively, which is the major cause of myopia."

Common Problem

Myopia has become increasingly common in recent decades, with more than 80 percent of people in some highly-educated groups being nearsighted, Rose of the University of Sydney and her colleagues point out in the journal Ophthalmology. Work that requires a person to focus on something close up -- for example reading -- has been proposed to cause nearsightedness, they add.

To investigate how viewing activities at various distances might influence myopia risk, the researchers looked at 1,765 six-year-olds and 2,367 12-year-olds participating in the Sydney Myopia Study. Just 1.5 percent of the six-year-olds were myopic, but 12.8 percent of the older children were. Both age groups spent about 2.3 hours outside each day, on average.

Time spent outside had no significant relationship to myopia prevalence among the younger children, nor did the amount of close work they did.

But among the 12-year-olds, those who spent more than 2.8 hours outside every day were less likely to be myopic than their peers who spent more of their time indoors. Children who spent less than 1.6 hours outdoors every day and more than 3.1 hours in near-work activity had double to triple the likelihood of being nearsighted compared to kids who spent the most time outside and the least time in close-up work.

"We have not yet established why being outside is protective," Rose said. "But a likely candidate is the high levels of light experienced outside compared to inside. Studies in animals suggest that retinal dopamine is released in response to light, and dopamine is known to be able to block eye growth." Myopia is caused when the eyeball grows too long.

Advice

The researcher offers the following advice to parents: "Try to ensure that your children spend time outside because we have evidence that the more time they spend outdoors, the less likely they are to develop myopia. This is true, even if they are also doing a lot of close work such as reading and studying." But also, she adds, parents should be sure their kids are wearing hats and sunscreen.

SOURCE: Ophthalmology, August 2008.

ACUPRESSURE MASSAGE FOR THE EYES

2008-08-24T13:11:00.002+05:30

ACUPRESSURE EXERCISES FOR BETTER EYE HEALTH

Acupuncture/acupressure is an ancient system of healing developed over thousands of years as part of the traditional medicine of China, Japan and other Eastern countries.

The practice of acupuncture is thought to have begun with the discovery that the stimulation of specific areas on the skin affects the functioning of certain organs of the body, and that there exists currents of energy that flow in distinct patterns throughout the body called meridians. The belief and experience has been that when these currents of energy are flowing smoothly, there is health, when any of these currents are blocked there is pain and disease.

MAJOR ACUPUPRESSURE EYE POINTS

There are a number of acupuncture/acupressure points around the eyes (basically around the orbits of the eyes which are the bones that surround the eyeballs). The points shown above are some of the major local eye points.

Jingming (Bl-1) Urinary Bladder Channel, lies where the inner corner of the eye meets the nose. Bladder 1 and 2 are perhaps the best two points for eye problems of all kinds from early-stage cataracts or glaucoma to hysteria with vision loss. They are also used for problems with conjunctivitis due to Wind-Heat and Liver Heat, to blurred vision in the elderly due to Deficient Jing and Blood

Zanzhu (Bl-2) Urinary Bladder Channel, lies in the depressions at the inner ends of the eyebrows. See Bladder 1.

Yuyao Midpoint of the eyebrow in the hollow. Good for eye problems related to worry, excessive study and mental strain.

Sizhukong (T.B. 23) Sanjiao or Triple Burner Channel, in the depression at the outside end of the eyebrow. This is a local point good for eye and facial problems, whether due to Wind invasion or the Liver Yang and Fire.

Tongziliao (G.B. 1) Gall Bladder Channel, lies in the cavities on the outside corners of the eye sockets. Good for eye problems including conjunctivitis, red sore eyes, photophobia, dry, itchy eyes, early-stage cataracts and blurred vision, as well as lateral headaches.

Qiuhou Midway between St-1 and GB-1 along the orbit of the eyes.

Chengqi (St.1) directly blow the pupil on the infraorbital ridge bone. This is a main point for all eye problems, including those due to Wind Cold, Wind Heat and Hyperactive Liver Yang.

Instructions for doing self-acupressure for eye health:

GENTLY massage each acupuncture point around the orbit of the eye, starting with B1-1 and massaging each point as you go up and outward. Each point should be massaged for approximately 5-10 seconds. You can massage both eyes at the same time. You can do this massage as often as you like over the course of the day. You may find that each point feels different in terms of sensitivity.

Keep BREATHING as you massage. Deep breathing helps the cells of your eyes receive the oxygen they need for healing. Practice long, slow abdominal breathing while massaging the acupressure points.

CAUTION: If you are pregnant, consult a trained acupuncturist before treating yourself. Do not massage on an area if it has a scar, burn or infection.

BASIC EYE EXERCISES - Exercises 6 to 11

2008-08-24T13:04:00.005+05:30

For OVERVIEW and INTRODUCTION please Click here

Exercise # 6: SCANNING

Staring is bad for your eyes because it freezes the energy and muscles, restricting the blood flow. Having your eyes scan is the opposite of staring. Scanning objects in your environment keeps your alive and energetic.

INSTRUCTIONS for Exercise # 6:

Remember to breathe. Take two deep breaths.

You can stand, sit or move around your environment.

As you look at objects, let your eyes glide over them as if you were painting them with your eyes. Continue to breathe deeply and easily.

As your eyes shift from object to object allow them to move easily without staring and continue to breathing and blinking. They should move in a relaxed manner without any tension. Make sure to release any release any tension in the moth or the jaw.

Exercise # 7: EFFORTLESS FOCUS

This exercise is done to increase your awareness of the object you are focusing on and what surrounds it.

INSTRUCTIONS for Exercise # 7:

Remember to breathe. Take two deep breaths.

Choose a point to focus your attention with great effort towards the point. Then relax your focus and look at it effortlessly. Be aware of the difference in how you look with effort and without effort. Notice how your peripheral vision expands when you look with ease.

This way of seeing should permeate your everyday seeing and allow your vision to expand rather than become more narrow.

Exercise # 8: NEAR AND FAR FOCUS

This exercise is done to improve the flexibility of the eyes as they change from distance viewing to near visual focus.

INSTRUCTIONS for Exercise # 8:

Remember to breathe. Take two deep breaths.

Either sit or stand with feet shoulder width apart. If you are standing bend your knees slightly.

Hold your thumb six inches away from your eyes directly in front of your nose.

Gaze easily at the thumb and take a deep breath. Then focus on a distant object at least ten feet away and take a deep breath. Change this focus every breath. Feel the muscles in your eyes change as you shift your focus.

Exercise # 9: EYE MASSAGE

Throughout China, eye exercises are done in schools, offices and factories. By taking regular breaks for eye exercises, many people are able to prevent the need for glasses. These massage exercises are primarily concerned with relaxing the eye muscles. You will be using finger massage to stimulate what are known as "acupressure points."

INSTRUCTIONS for Exercise # 9:

Remember to breathe. Take two deep breaths.

Sit quietly and relax, feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent.

Close the eyes gently.

When you press each point, be gentle. Don't use too much force and avoid putting pressure on the eyeballs.

Put your thumbs below your eyebrows and above the inside corners of your eyes and place the other four fingers of each hand on your forehead. Press your thumbs into the point for four breaths.

Use the thumb and index finger of either hand to massage the bridge of your nose. Press the point and then squeeze with an upward motion. Press and squeeze four times for four breaths.

Place your middle fingers on your cheek bones, directly below the center of each eye. Massage the center part of your cheek for four breaths.

Massage a point starting at your temples right below the eyebrows and level with the outside end of your eyes. Then place your thumbs on the inside end of the eyebrows and massage. Move to the middle of the eyebrow and massage. Then massage the end of the eyebrow. Lastly, massage right below the middle of your eye.

All these exercises can either be done at a separate time in the order given or incorporated into your daily life activities.

Exercise # 10: ZOOMING

This exercise is designed to improve the flexibility of your eye muscles.

INSTRUCTIONS for Exercise # 10:

Remember to breathe. Take two deep breaths.

Place your thumb out at arm's distance from you on your midline

As you breathe in move your thumb slowly towards you as you focus your eyes on it.

When you get three inches from your face move your arm away and begin again.

Exercise # 11: SUNNING

This exercise is done without any glasses or contact lenses. The eyes are light-sensing organs, they are designed to receive and interpret light energy. Eyes need good, natural light in order to stay healthy and vibrant. Even though we have heard that the reduction in the ozone layer, we need to protect ourselves from ultra-violet radiation, it is still important to allow the eyes to receive natural sunlight at least 20 minutes per day. (full-spectrum lights can be used if it is not possible to experience natural light.)

INSTRUCTIONS for Exercise # 11:

Remember to breathe. Take two deep breaths.

Sit or stand in a place where the sun is shining on you or under a full spectrum light source.

Close your eyes gently.

Move your head slowly from side to side so that you go from an area of shade into an area of light falling on your closed eyelids. Remember to continue to breathe easily and deeply. Feel the light on your eyelids; visualize accepting the light energy.
Alternate between five breaths of sunning and two breaths of palming.

BASIC EYE EXERCISES - Exercises 2 to 5

2008-08-24T12:54:00.004+05:30

For OVERVIEW and INTRODUCTION please Click here

Exercise # 2: VISION STATEMENTS

Your attitudes and belief systems are extremely important to improving your vision. Anatomy and physiology show that the eyes are tools for the mind, therefore focusing your mind in the correct way is essential for improving your vision. Therefore you should begin your program by declaring your intentions about your vision. The following are some possible statements you may use.

I can improve my vision.

My eye sight can get better.

I don't have to depend on my glasses to survive.

I am ready to see the world.

I can see without glasses.

I am now ready to see better.

These are just some examples of Vision Statements. You can create your own or adjust these to your particular vision condition.

Exercise # 3: PALMING

This exercise is done without any glasses or contact lenses. Palming is done to reduce stress around the eyes, by placing your palms around your eyes you are stimulating very powerful acupuncture points which help to calm the mind, relax the muscles around the eyes and bring healing energy to the eyes (through increased circulation).

INSTRUCTIONS for Exercise # 3:

Remember to breathe. Take two deep breaths.

Find a flat table to sit at, lean forward, place your elbows on the table, and close your eyes gently.

Now, place the palm of your left hand over your left eye, your fingers on your forehead, and the hollow of your palm directly over the eye, but not touching it. There is still room to blink. The heel of your hand rests on the cheekbones.

Then place the other hand over the other eye with the fingers crossing over the fingers from the other hand. The palm should be over the eye and the heel of the hand resting on the cheekbones.

Make sure your elbows are low enough so that your face and the weight of your head are resting in your palms so that there is no stress on the neck.

Palming gives you the opportunity not to try to see, but to just focus on relaxing your mind and eyes simultaneously. Even though we recommend that you do this for only three minutes, palming can be done for as little or as much as you like throughout the day as a way to relax your eyes and calm down from the tensions of daily life.

Exercise # 4: FIGURE EIGHTS

This exercise increases the flexibility of your eye muscles in a relaxed way.

INSTRUCTIONS for Exercise # 4:

Remember to breathe. Take two deep breaths.

Either stand or sit with your feet shoulder width apart with your hands at your sides. Do not cross your hands. Let your knees bend slightly.

Imagine a figure eight approximately ten feet from you lying horizontally (lying in the shape of an infinity sign)

Let your eyes trace along the figure eight without moving your head. First trace in one direction, then in the opposite direction. Always remember to continue to breathe and blink as your eyes move effortlessly along the figure eight. Check for tension in the jaw and let it release.

Exercise # 5: THE HOT DOG

This exercise is done to improve the flexibility of the inside muscles of your eyes (called the ciliary muscles). It is important to keep those muscles flexible.

INSTRUCTIONS for Exercise # 5:

Remember to breathe. Take two deep breaths.

Either stand or sit with your feet, shoulder width apart. If you are standing, make sure your knees are slightly bent.

Aim your eyes on any target in the distance.

While looking at your distant target, bring your index fingers, tips touching about eight inches in front of your eyes and into your line of sight.

Still aiming your eyes at the distant target calmly notice a mini hot dog has appeared between the tips of your fingers. Remember to continue to breathe easily and deeply. Do not let the awesome beauty of the mini hot dog to distract you and to cause you to aim your eyes directly at it. Continue to aim your eyes toward the distant target.

Pull the tips of your fingers apart slightly and observe the hot dog floating in the air.

Now keep the hot dog for two breaths, then look directly at your fingers and the hot dog will disappear. Do not retrieve the hot dog for two breaths; then look again in the distance and find it once again. Switch back and forth for two minutes.

BASIC EYE EXERCISES-Exercise 1

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OVERVIEW

Eye exercises have been used for many years and by many cultures to help maintain healthy vision. The eyes need to be exercised much like any other part of the body. Unfortunately, the increased use of computers, television viewing, near work both at school and on the job, has created chronic, excessive stress on our visual system. Our eyes and bodies were not designed to withstand this ongoing stress, which we believe contributes to poorer vision, eye disease, and often neck and back problems.

Is it little wonder that 75% of students in graduate school are nearsighted?

Eye exercises can strengthen eye muscles, help maintain flexible lenses and help maintain sharper vision with just 5-10 minutes each day. Just choose a few of the eye exercises to do during each session. For people who spend hours on the computer each day, you should take a 2-3 minute break each hour for eye exercises (palming is an excellent exercise to do each break).

The exercises below do not represent a vision therapy program. For an individualized vision therapy program or to get an evaluation, you can contact the Optometric Extension Program at (949) 250-8070, or visit their website at www.oep.org to find a qualified vision therapist near you.

BASIC EYE EXERCISES

Exercises To Help Keep The Eyes Healthy
RULES FOR SUCCESS

In order to achieve your goal of improved vision, it is important that you have a good space in which to work. That space should be quiet and private. It should have good lighting.

GETTING READY

The following are essential components to integrate into your vision improvement program.

BREATHE: as in yoga the importance of good breathing is essential to getting the most out of your exercises. As you look around your world become aware of when you are holding your breath. Breathing regularly will bring more oxygen to your eyes and reduce stress on your vision.

BLINK: remembering to blink will help you from staring and working too hard as you do your exercises. It will also soothe, and moisturize the eyes.

SMILE: adding a smile to your exercises will help reduce any tension you might be holding in your eyes. So smile as you go through life.

HAVE FUN: these exercises should be looked at as something you enjoy doing rather than a task you have to do. This is for you so enjoy your self.

COMMIT: as in anything you really want in life it is important to commit your self towards that goal. If you don't think that this is the proper time for you to make this promise of improved vision to yourself, then you might have to put this program off to another time.

BELIEVE: you must believe so you can conceive. So check in with your belief systems around improving your eyes. It is possible, so make sure you believe it as you begin the program.

THE EXERCISES

In general, each of the exercises selected should be done for one to three minutes. For active computer users, try to take a 2-3 minute break every hour on the computer for eye exercises. Pick 2-3 exercises out (Palming is a good one to keep doing every hours).

Exercise # 1: BREATHING

How you breathe is an integral part of your health and your vision improvement. Smooth even breathing, deep and rhythmic helps us to center our attention on our inner self. We concentrate on the steady intake and exhalation of breath. Air is taken in all the way down to the bottom of the lungs. As it fills the lungs, they expand and our stomach pushes outward. As we exhale pushing air up slowly from the bottom of the lungs our stomach contracts. Most of us breathe very shallowly. We contract our lungs pull our stomach in and lift our shoulders when we inhale and push them out while we exhale. This is backwards!!! This exercise is very soothing. It can be done anytime, anywhere. It is difficult at first; so practice it patiently.

INSTRUCTIONS for Exercise # 1:

Do not wear any glasses or contact lenses if possible.

Sit on the floor or on a comfortable chair in a quiet room. Or stand in a balanced position with your knees slightly bent.

Close your eyes gently

Notice the rhythm of your breathing

Inhale deeply through the nose. Try to let your shoulders remain down and loose. Lungs are like balloons so let them expand as they fill imagining that they go all the way down to your pelvic seat.

Exhale slowly and evenly through the mouth, pushing the air out from the bottom of your lungs. Feel your stomach and chest flatten but do not squeeze the air out. Let your lungs rest at the end of your exhale and simply allow your body to begin its next inhale. Try not to force the inhale, but wait for the natural impulse to breathe.

Repeat the inhale and the exhale letting a natural rhythm flow continuously. Do not overbreathe.

Concentrate all your attention on the intake and exhalation of air. Let thoughts simply evaporate.

Let your eyelids hang heavy until they gently close. Your eyes should be unfocused and the eye muscles relaxed. Let your jaw go slack. Your mouth should be slightly opened. Say the word " Duuuuuuh" in order to help your jaw drop.

Let your body move slightly to prevent muscles from becoming locked.

Continue breathing for three minutes.

When you open your eyes, don't look at anything in particular. Just let your eyes open without refocusing so that they can momentarily receive light in the most natural and relaxed way.

Practice this breathing technique as often as you wish with and without your glasses/contacts on.

Laser in-situ keratomileusis for farsightedness (H-LASIK)

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Surgery Overview

Hyperopic laser in-situ keratomileusis (H-LASIK) is the preferred procedure for correcting farsightedness (hyperopia) . In H-LASIK, a thin flap is made on the cornea using a blade or laser. The flap is lifted, and a laser is applied to the central corneal tissue. The laser makes contact with the cornea in a circular pattern around the central optical zone, which changes the profile of the cornea, making it steeper. The laser removes tissue from the cornea very precisely without damaging nearby tissues. The flap is then replaced, allowing for rapid healing.

H-LASIK is performed in a surgeon's office or same-day surgery center and does not require a hospital stay.

This procedure may not be available in all areas, but it is done in most large cities.

What To Expect After Surgery

H-LASIK usually requires less recovery time than H-PRK, though it is longer than recovery from LASIK for nearsightedness. Most who have the surgery see quite well the next day. In contrast to hyperopic photorefractive keratectomy (H-PRK), there is little or no pain after the surgery.

Your doctor will want you to come in for an exam the day after the surgery and for regular follow-up exams for about 6 months.

Following H-LASIK surgery to correct farsightedness:

You will feel irritation and scratchiness in the eye the day of surgery, and a lot of tears may come out of your eye.
You may need to wear an eye shield for a few days after surgery.
Your vision may be hazy or blurry for a few days or a week after surgery. Do not drive until your vision has cleared.
Your doctor may prescribe eyedrops to reduce inflammation and the risk of infection. You may need to use them for several months after surgery.
You should avoid vigorous sports, eye makeup, and any activities during which water may get in your eye. The surgeon may recommend that you shower before the surgery, then avoid showering for a day or two afterward to avoid getting water in the eye.
Dry eye symptoms are common but usually temporary.

Why It Is Done

H-LASIK surgery may be used to correct mild to moderate farsightedness. Treating severe farsightedness is not as effective as treating mild or moderate farsightedness.

H-LASIK is an elective, cosmetic procedure, done to correct farsightedness in otherwise healthy eyes.

The procedure may not be done for people who:

Have not had stable vision for at least 1 year.
Are under age 18.
Are pregnant, because pregnancy may cause changes in the cornea.
Have a disease or abnormality of the cornea, such as keratoconus or corneal edema, or another eye disease, such as advanced or uncontrolled glaucoma or cataracts.
Have poorly controlled diabetes, or complications of diabetes that affect vision.
Have significant risk of injuring their cornea from a job or hobby.

How Well It Works

H-LASIK is a relatively new surgery (it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2000). Little is known about the long-term outcomes. Doctors continue to improve the technique and to study the long-term results.

Over the short term, LASIK has been shown to be effective and consistent in reducing mild to moderate farsightedness. The results are not as good as LASIK for nearsightedness, but studies showed that between 80% and 85% of eyes with 3 diopters of farsightedness were corrected to within 1 diopter of the desired correction.

H-LASIK is better at treating lower levels of farsightedness than higher levels. H-LASIK is not as consistent or safe for people with more severe farsightedness.

Risks

The risk of complications from H-LASIK surgery is low, and it decreases even further with a more experienced surgeon. Look for a corneal specialist or surgeon who does the surgery frequently.

The risk of regression, or loss of any improvement gained through the surgery, is greater with H-LASIK than with LASIK for nearsightedness. The exact cause of regression after H-LASIK is not yet known.

Complications and side effects from H-LASIK may include:

Night vision problems, such as halos (often described as a shimmering circular zone around light sources such as headlights or streetlights).
Glare, or increased sensitivity to bright light.
Double vision (diplopia), usually in one eye.
New astigmatism caused by wrinkling in the corneal flap or other flap complications.
Loss of best corrected vision. This may be even less common with H-LASIK than it is with H-PRK.
New or worse dry-eye symptoms.
Clouded vision (clouding of the cornea as a result of healing). This is sometimes also referred to as corneal haze. This is less common with H-LASIK than it is with H-PRK and tends to go away quickly.

Serious vision-threatening complications are rare but may include:

Infection of the cornea (keratitis).
Elevated pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure) leading to glaucoma.

Because H-LASIK is a relatively new procedure, long-term risks are not yet known.

What To Think About

If you are considering surgery to improve farsightedness, consider the different options (H-LASIK, H-PRK, intraocular lens implants, CK, and LTK) and discuss them with your doctor. H-LASIK is the refractive surgery of choice for most people.

Though both procedures are relatively new, H-LASIK is being done more frequently than H-PRK, largely due to the good results and quick, painless visual recovery that H-LASIK offers. It is not yet clear whether H-LASIK is superior to H-PRK for people with mild to moderate farsightedness.

It is important to retain a record of your original eye measurements from this procedure (your doctor can give them to you), in case you need cataract surgery in the future. This is helpful in calculating the power of future post-cataract implants.

H-LASIK is a cosmetic procedure. The cost of refractive surgery varies in different locations, but it can be a significant expense. Most insurance companies do not cover the cost of refractive surgery.

Eye Muscle Exercise, Eye Exercise for Natural Vision Correction

2008-08-22T20:06:00.005+05:30

Not many people have heard that you can exercise your eyes but it is true there are many different types of eye exercises. We can try to remember to take plenty of breaks from computer and stare at far and near places away from the computer. Take "eye breaks" by looking off into the distance and focusing on many different targets. We all fear of losing our sight because it will keep us from having an active normal life.

What Do the Eye Exercises Involve?

Eye exercises are often called physical therapy for the brain and the eyes. Through these therapeutic exercises, patients can control their eye muscles and to see properly. The eye exercises are usually unique to the patient and vary depending on the patient's age and other existing eye problems. Examples of different types of eye exercises include any of the following:

covering one eye with one hand and looking at different objects continuously instead of staring at just one object;
concentrating the eye on a solitary object; or having the eye follow a pattern in order to build vision muscles.
Rub your hands together vigorously to make them warm. Cup the hands slightly and cover your closed eyes with your hands.
Rest your hands on the tissue surrounding the eyes rather than the eyes themselves.
Move both eyes simultaneously in small circles. You can imagine a clock or move a finger in a circle before your eyes to get you started.
Shut your eyes for a long blink while you rub your palms together until your palms are warm.
Cover your eyes completely with a soft fabric (make certain no light is getting through the edges) and rest them for three to five minutes.

Also remember Eye exercises will not help patients who have dyslexia, or this will also not help people who have near sidedness. Excessive blinking or squinting of the eyes. These exercises are not effective for paralysis of an eye muscle, eye muscle spasms, or eyesight problems. With conditions such as amblyopia, eye exercises are usually the most helpful. Vision therapy exercises given to a person with amblyopia will help best because it will force the brain to see through the amblyopic eye, and helps to restore vision in the patient.

Try this Eye Exercise:

Eye exercises are sometimes called by people physical therapy for your brain and also the eyes. When a patient goes through these exercises it teaches them to work with their eye muscles and will help them to see better. One exercise that is sometimes used is called hydro therapy which involves placing a bowl of hot water and one with cold water in front of you. Make sure the water is hot but not too hot so that it will burn you. The water in the other bowel should be ice cold so either put ice cubes in it or take it out of the freezer. Put a wash cloth in each bowel then place the wash cloth from the hot water on to your closed eyes and leave it there for 30 seconds and then put the one from the cold water over your eyes and do the same thing After you have done that massage you eyes for another 30 seconds. Another exercise is called blinking this exercises is a real help if you have dry eyes. Because it helps to produce more tears, you can do this by squeezing your eyes shut really tightly. Then blink normally a few times, and squeeze again. Repeat a few times, and your eyes will feel more relaxed and comfortable.

All this exercises should help your eyes to feel better from any strain that you may have put on them and will also help you to improve your eyesight. But if you have tried this exercises and they still do not help or your vision keeps on getting worse be sure to talk to your eye doctor about it because it could be signs of a far more serious problem. Far more serious than eye strain and something that should be dealt with right away so that you do not lose your eye sight.

Understanding the Visual Acuity

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By looking at lots of people, eye doctors have decided what a "normal" human being should be able to see when standing 20 feet away from an eye chart. If you have 20/20 vision, it means that when you stand 20 feet away from the chart you can see what the "normal" human being can see. (In metric, the standard is 6 meters and it's called 6/6 vision). In other words, your vision is "normal" -- most people can see what you see at 20 feet. (From here on, please assume that the word "normal" has quotes around it).

If you have 20/40 vision, it means that when you stand 20 feet away from the chart you can see what a normal human can see when standing 40 feet from the chart. That is, if there is a normal person standing 40 feet away from the chart and you are standing only 20 feet away from it, you and the normal person can see the same detail. 20/100 means that when you stand 20 feet from the chart you can see what a normal person standing 100 feet away can see. 20/200 is the cutoff for legal blindness in the United States

You can also have vision that is better than the norm. A person with 20/10 vision can see at 20 feet what a normal person can see when standing 10 feet away from the chart.

Hawks, owls and other birds of prey have much more acute vision than humans. A hawk has a much smaller eye than a human being but has lots of sensors (cones) packed into that space. This gives a hawk vision that is eight times more acute than a human's. A hawk might have 20/2 vision!

Type of vision correction

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The three factors that produce unclear vision are:

the light that enters your eyes cannot focus at the proper place.
the curvature of the cornea.
the length of eyeball.

There are a number of ways to help individuals who suffer from impaired vision or "poor eyesight" For example:

Spectacles
For centuries, mankind has known how to use spectacles to refocus the rays of light to their proper points. It is a safe and popular method of correcting ones vision, but there can be limitations, such as when playing sports, occupational hazards or restrictions and even self-consciousness that the eyeglass wearer may feel.

Contact Lenses
When Contact lenses were developed, people were given another method to correct their vision. One advantage that contact lenses offer over eye glasses is a wider field of vision, but the daily, required rituals of cleaning the lenses, inserting them into the eyes and taking them out and re-cleaning them again at night causes some people to shy away from converting to contacts. Additionally, if the lens are not taken proper care of and cleaned regularly, there is a risk of infection. For some people with high astigmatism, contact lenses simply do not work.

Refractive Surgery
Researchers have developed Radial Keratectomy and PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) and LASIK (Laser In-situ Keratomileusis). For LASIK, this is the great revolution in ophthalmology innovation.

Understanding the Diopter

2008-08-20T23:03:00.001+05:30

The unit of measuring refraction is called Diopter; the higher the range of myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism, the higher the number. The way we measure the power of eyesight is put into 3 numbers.

For example: -5.00-1.50*180
The first number is the refractive power of the myopia or hyperopia , the - sign in front represents myopia and the + sign for the hyperopia.

The second number is the astigmatism power which will also uses the "-" or "+" sign.

The third number is the degree or axis of the astigmatism.

So,5.00-1.50*180 means, 5 Diopter myopia, with 1.5 Diopter astigmatism at 180 degrees.

Lasik- Frequently Asked Questions

2008-08-20T22:47:00.002+05:30

How old do I have to be for laser vision correction?
You need to be over 18 years of age, and your Glasses or Contact Lenses prescription should not have changed in the last year. If your eye is still changing from year to year, you should not have the procedure until the Cornea is stable.

Isn't all laser vision correction the same?
No. Many of the discount LASIK centres want you to believe that LASIK should be purchased like a commodity and that Surgeon experience, lasers, diagnostic technology and follow-up care don't matter. Laser vision correction will affect the way you see for the rest of your life. You should make your decision to have laser vision carefully, not quickly.

What are the diagnostic tests done before one can undergo LASIK procedure?
Besides routine eye examination two preoperative tests viz. Topography Test & Pachymetry Test need to be performed. Topography Test is done to map the refractive power of the Cornea and to rule out certain corneal conditions like conical Cornea, etc. The Pachymetry Test is done to measure the thickness of the Cornea.

Will the procedure hurt?
There is no pain during any of the laser vision procedures since anesthetic eye drops numb your eyes.

Will I need Glasses after LASIK?
If thoroughly evaluated and performed in the right candidate with the latest technology, patients who have LASIK do not generally require Glasses for most activities. When you come for a consultation to our Doctor, he will best advice on the same.

If I choose to have mono-vision, does that mean I'll never need reading Glasses?
The benefit to having mono-vision is that there won't be a complete dependence on Glasses for close vision. Many who have mono-vision are able to see well enough both at distance and near to do things at any age without corrective lenses.

Can I have both eyes operated upon at the same time?
This is what we recommend. It has been demonstrated in several large, clinical studies that LASIK's results and safety are identical whether the procedure is reformed on both eyes simultaneously versus one eye at a time. Most patients elect to have both eyes operated upon the same day out of convenience, less time out of work, and avoiding imbalance between the two eyes.

How long does the procedure take?
Once in the laser room your eyes will be cleaned and prepared for surgery. The surgery itself usually only takes five minutes or so per eye, however the preparation process of surgery may vary between 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on technology and procedure chosen. For the exact process Click here.

What keeps the flap in position?
Following your procedure, the flap stays in position without the need for stitches. Initially, there is a vacuum effect created by the cells lining the inner surface of the Cornea. As the eye heals over the first few days, the epithelium (the outer surface of the Cornea) seals the edges of the flap.

Will I have 20/20 vision following laser vision correction?
The goal of any Refractive surgical procedure is to reduce/eliminate your dependence on corrective lenses. The vast majorities of our patients are extremely happy with their results and can do most activities without dependence on corrective lenses after laser vision correction. Our surgeons always aim to provide 20/20 vision following laser vision correction.

Is laser vision correction safe?
If your eyes qualify for laser vision correction, then the procedure is safe.
How long will the results of the surgery last? Laser vision correction is considered to be permanent. If you're over 40 years of age, you may want to consider monovision.

What if I move my eye during the laser treatment?
While the treatment is performed, you will be asked to look at a light under the laser. You are required to look steadily at the light throughout the operation, since this keeps the eye centered under the laser. However, if you temporarily look away or lose the ability to look at the fixation light, do not be concerned. The WaveLight Allegretto Laser is equipped with a special eye tracker that tracks the eye at 400 times a second throughout the procedure.

Do I have to go without my contacts before having laser vision correction?
If you are wearing hard or gas permeable contacts, it's important that you remove them at least three weeks prior to your treatment. Soft lenses should be out for at least one week before your treatment. Soft toric lenses may need to be out longer. Your Doctor will advise you how long you need to be out of your contacts prior to your surgery.

Does LASIK cause dry eye?
Following a LASIK procedure, every patient has temporary dry eye, which can be treated most often with artificial tears. This dry eye sensation usually clears up in one to three weeks.

Patients with pre-existing dry eye should discuss it with the Doctor at the pre-op examination. A thorough evaluation of your current medications, medical history and work environment should all be taken into account.

What will my recovery be like?
All LASIK patients usually see quite well the day following their procedure and are able to resume most of their normal daily activities. Patients with higher prescriptions may recover slightly slowly.

Can I have laser vision correction while I am pregnant or trying to conceive?
No.

Does insurance cover this procedure?
No, insurance does not cover this procedure as it is considered primarily cosmetic.

Can I drive home after the surgery?
We recommend you should not drive immediately after the surgery. For the first couple of hours your eyes will be sensitive to light and the vision blurred, so you should wear the special dark Glasses to protect your eyes.

I have a "lazy" eye; can I still have LASIK to correct myopia?
Many patients with lazy eye have enjoyed their results following LASIK because they no longer need Glasses or Contact Lenses to achieve their best acuity.

My child has Keratoconus and I would like to know if he is a candidate for laser eye surgery.
Laser vision correction is not suggested for patients with Keratoconus. However, it is important to treat this condition to prevent it from progressing. Our very sensitive topolyzer grades the keratoconus and gives us the right treatment plan and rigid contact lens fit.

Lasik-Pre Treatment Care and Preparation

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If you are found suitable for the surgery and you wish to go ahead with the process, you will be advised to follow the instructions below before the treatment.

1. Mix a drop of JOHNSON'S baby shampoo with a couple of drops of water and clean both the upper and lower eye lid margins and eyelashes with the same 4 times a day for 4 days prior to coming for treatment.

2. After cleaning, apply OFLACIN eye drops 4 times a day in both eyes for 4 days before the treatment. This is just to clean the eyes.

3. Have a head wash and a shave before coming for the treatment.

4. Discontinue wearing semi-soft and hard contact lenses for at least 2 weeks prior to treatment. Soft contact lenses preferably should be discontinued for a week prefer to treatment.

5. There is no diet restriction. Patients can continue with all their routine activities right up to the time of coming for treatment. There are no other special procedures or clothing required while coming for the treatment except that perfumes/body sprays should be avoided.

Lasik-Post Operative Care

2008-08-20T22:30:00.001+05:30

After the treatment you will be examined after one hour, drops will be applied and then you can go home. Pay careful attention to the detailed instructions your Doctor gives you regarding additional drops to use at home and when to return for your first visit.

Make sure you have arrangements for a qualified person to drive you back. A cup that has small holes will be placed on each eye through which you can continue to see. This is mainly placed to prevent the patient from rubbing the eyes and it can be taken off at home itself the next day morning.

To be most comfortable, you should go home and take a long nap. When you awaken you will notice several things. First you will notice a dramatic improvement in your vision. It will most likely not be as good as it will get in a few days as your eyes will need to continue to heal. You should expect to feel some mild "grittiness" or like a little sand or dust has gotten into your eyes for up to a day or so. This is normal. As your eyes heal it is normal and expected to be a little sensitive to light and perhaps see some glare or even haloes around lights at night. This too will diminish as your eyes heal.

Drops have to be applied for about a week after treatment. There will be mild redness, irritation, watering immediately after treatment that usually subsides by next day morning. You can normally resume all activities like attending office, college etc right from the next day after treatment. Bathing, shaving can be normally carried out. Direct rubbing of the eyes and splashing of water into the eyes are to be avoided for a week after treatment.

What is Lasik-Consultation Process

2008-08-20T22:27:00.003+05:30

Laser vision correction is now in its second decade of helping patients reduce or eliminate their dependence on glasses and contact lenses. As testimony to its life changing benefits, thousands of ophthalmologists and optometrists around the world have become so impressed with the results of laser vision correction that over one million procedures are now performed each year. At New World iCare our patients continuously tell us they appreciate our commitment to being on the cutting edge of this exciting technology.

One of the most popular ways to correct vision is with a procedure called LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis), which uses a laser to change the curvature of the Cornea (outer window of the eye). LASIK has quickly become the procedure of choice for most patients because they recover quickly and have fewer side effects and complications than with other methods of vision correction. In fact, most LASIK patients notice a significant improvement in their vision soon after surgery. LASIK removes tissue within the Cornea to treat low to high levels of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

LASIK is an acronym for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusi, a Refractive surgery procedure performed by Ophthalmologists intended for correcting the vision in order to reduce a person's dependency on corrective devices such as glasses or contact lenses. The procedure is usually a preferred alternative to PRK, or photo refractive keratectomy, as it requires less time for full recovery, and the patient experiences less pain overall.

The first step in the procedure consists of mapping the corneal surface with a computer controlled scanning device to determine the exact shape. Then the appropriate amount of tissue which needs to be removed is calculated, such that upon replacing the flap there is no need (or less need) for corrective devices like spectacles and lenses.

LASIK is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the Cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser. A blade, called a microkeratome, is used to cut a flap in the Cornea. A hinge is left at one end of this flap. The flap is folded back revealing the stroma, the middle section of the Cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the stroma and the flap is replaced. When the Cornea is properly reshaped, it will then better focus light onto the Retina. This results in improved vision.

Both nearsighted and farsighted people can benefit from LASIK. Sufferers of astigmatism can also benefit.

Suitability for process

Generally to be a good candidate for LASIK, you should

Be above 17-18 years of age
Have stable refraction (glass number) for 6 months.

Consultation Process

Before the actual process of conducting the LASIK surgery, the Doctor will have a consultation and examination of your eyes to determine your suitability for the process. This process begins with a discussion regarding what your expectations are and what you wish to achieve by being less dependent or eliminating eyeglasses or contact lenses. Then the Doctor takes a careful review of your health and eye history.

Next, in order to determine the exact prescription that will need to be treated, a refraction will be performed to measure the amount of nearsightedness or farsightedness and astigmatism. This will require the use of eye drops to get the best possible measurements. It is necessary to map the surface of the eye, called the Cornea, with a corneal topographer that gives the Doctor a blueprint of the shape of your eye. An important step is to measure the corneal thickness, called pachymetry, in order to help determine whether the anatomy of your Cornea is appropriate for LASIK or perhaps another laser eye surgery procedure. Once all of these steps have been completed, the Doctor will examine the health of the Retina and inner structure of your eyes as a final check.

The consultation process is an excellent opportunity for you to have a one on one discussion with the Doctor on whatever you may want to know about the process, benefits and risks. The consultation establishes whether or not you are a suitable candidate for the LASIK procedure.

How the Eye Works-Common Vision Problems

2008-08-20T22:03:00.004+05:30

In its simplest sense, your eye is like a camera. Your eye has

A reusable "film" at the back, called the Retina
A lens system, which includes the transparent covering called the Cornea and a spherical lens
A variable opening at the front, called the Pupil
Various sets of muscles (The muscles control the size of the opening, the shape of the lens system and the movements of the eye).

On the back of your eye is a complex layer of cells known as the Retina. The Retina reacts to light and conveys that information to the brain. The brain, in turn, translates all that activity into an image. Because the eye is a sphere, the surface of the Retina is curved.

In the Retina, sensory cells called rods and cones change the photons of light into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to and interpreted by the brain. The ability to focus the light on the Retina depends on the shapes of the cornea and the lens, which are controlled by their inherent shapes, their elasticity, the shape of the eyeball and sets of attached muscles.

So, when you look at something, muscles attached to the lens must contract and relax to change the shape of the lens system and keep the object focused on the Retina, even when your eyes move; this is a complex set of muscle movements that is controlled automatically by your nervous system.

When you look at something, three things must happen :

1. The image must be reduced in size to fit onto the Retina.

2. The scattered light must come together that is, it must focus at the surface of the Retina.

3. The image must be curved to match the curve of the Retina.

As shown in the image below, light passes through the cornea and Pupil, is bent (refracted) by the lens, and comes to a point (focus) on the Retina, where the image is formed.

To do all of that, the eye has a lens between the Retina and the Pupil (the "peep hole" in the Center of your eye that allows light into the back of the eye) and a transparent covering, or cornea (the front window). The lens and the cornea work together to focus the image onto the Retina.

Out of Focus

Have you ever looked at a written page and it looked blurry? Perhaps, you have taken an eye exam for your driver's license and found that you couldn't read the signs very well. May be you have discovered that, as you are nearing 40, you have to hold books and newspapers farther away to read them.

Changes in the shape and size of your eyes can cause problems that affect the way you see elements that are close or far from you. These problems are referred to as refractive disorders. So you go to the Ophthalmologist or Optometrist and find that you need glasses. And your life is not the same any more!

Most vision problems occur when the eye cannot focus the image onto the Retina. Here are a few of the most common problems:

Myopia (Nearsightedness)
Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
Astigmation
Presbyopia

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

In Nearsightedness (Myopia), the light from distant objects gets focused in front of the Retina rather than on it. Myopia happens usually when the eyeball is too long; however, it is sometimes caused by too much focusing power in the lens system. The result is that the person can see close-up objects clearly, but distant objects are blurry.

Hyperopia (Farsightedness)

In Farsightedness (Hyperopia), the light gets focused in back of the Retina rather than on it. See following illustration. Hyperopia usually happens when the eyeball is too short or when the focusing power of the lens system is too weak. The result is that a person can see distant objects fine, but close-up objects are blurry. Hyperopia can by corrected by using a convex lens to concentrate or converge the light so that when it passes through the lens system, it comes to focus on the Retina.

Astigmation

In Astigmatism, the shape of the Cornea or the lens is distorted so that the light comes into two focal points. Imagine that the lens is egg-shaped instead of spherical and that light coming over the top and bottom edges is brought to a different focal point than light coming over the right and left sides. To correct this problem, a lens that is shaped to correct the distorted shape of the eye's lens system is made.

Presbyopia

In Presbyopia, the Cornea and lens of the eye become less stretchy, and therefore cannot change shape as readily to bring light to a focus on the Retina; this happens naturally as we grow older and is usually observed when people reach their 40s. If you have Presbyopia, you have trouble focusing light from near objects on the Retina. To correct this problem, you might get a pair of bifocal lenses to replace your existing glasses. If you don't already wear corrective lenses, you may be able to simply use reading glasses.

LASIK is very effective in treating Myopia and, in many cases, can correct vision problems resulting from Astigmatism and Hyperopia as well. However, Presbyopia is not easily corrected through the use of laser eye surgery.

Fish for Sight

2008-08-17T14:59:00.005+05:30

Mackerel

Intake of oily fish once a week may reduce age-related macular degeneration(AMD),a major cause of blindness and poor vision in the elderly,says a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

There are two types of AMD,wet and dry.Of the two,wet AMD is the main cause of vision loss.A team of researchers across seven European countries and co-ordinated by the London School Of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine sought to investigate the association between fish intake and omega 3 fatty acids with wet AMD,comparing people with wet AMD with controls.

In the study,participants were interviewed about their dietary habits including how much fish they ate and what type.Information on the main omega 3 fatty acids( docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ) was obtained by linking dietary data with food composition tables.The findings show that people who habitually consume oily fish at least once a week compared with less than once a week are 50 percent less likely to have AMD.

There was no benefit from consumption of non-oily white fish.There was a strong inverse association between levels of DHA and EPA and wet AMD.People in the top 25 percent of DHA and EPA levels (300 mg per day and above) were 70 percent less likely to have wet AMD.

Astrid Fletcher, Professor of Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who led the study,said:
"This is the first study in Europeans to show a beneficial association on wet AMD from the consumption of oily fish and is consistent with the results from studies in the US and Australia.Two 3oz servings a week of oily fish, such as salmon, tuna or mackerel, provides about 500 mg of DHA and EPA per day."

The research team is not, however, recommending omega 3 supplements as the study did not investigate whether supplements would have the same benefit as dietary sources.

Great Leap Forward-Cataract Surgery

2008-08-17T14:43:00.004+05:30

Better now?: Checking the lens after surgery.

A revolutionary technology has further minimized the stress of the cataract surgery.

Cataract is an opacity in the lens of the eye. The normal lens is transparent and allows light to reach the retina. When it becomes opaque (cataract) light does no reach the retina and the patient is unable to see clearly.

Till date there is no proven cure of cataract. The only available treatment is surgery. And so the method and technique of surgery is of importance. Earlier surgery was done only when the cataract was mature and vision was impaired to the extent that daily activities were hampered. But today no one waits so long. Cataract surgery is done electively. This is possible because of the new techniques and developments in surgery

Past techniques

There was a time when cataract was removed through a 12mm large opening. Now with the latest technology we remove the lens through a small opening of 2.8mm with the help of ultrasonic aspiration technique called phacoemulsification. A foldable intraocular lens is then implanted in the eye.

The success rate is close to 99.5 per cent. The present options in phaco surgery are Standard phaco or the first generation phaco surgery using simpler machines and an incision size of 3.2 mm . This was first conducted in late 1970s. In Cold phaco or the second generation surgery, the incision size reduced to 2.8mm but it was much safer since the amount of heat being delivered to the eye was reduced significantly thus reducing the trauma.

Now there is Microincisional (Mini Keyhole) Cataract Surgery. Introduced by Bausch and Lomb this is a revolutionary technology that enables cataract surgery to be done through the a 1.6 mm to 1.8 mm incision.

A new intraocular lens has been devised which can be inserted through this small incision and gets unfolded inside the eye. This is called a micro intraocular lens (MIL). The advantages of this are quicker surgery (sutureless); faster recovery; minimal post–operative restrictions; better vision quality and astigmatism neutral.

After effects

Most people do not need to wear glasses for distance vision but will need them for reading. This can be avoided if a multi-focal lens is placed in the eye. Then glasses may not be required for most work. A few may require glasses to refine their vision.

About five per cent of people get a thickening of the posterior capsule after the surgery, which is called after cataract. This can be easily dealt with by a laser procedure done as an out patient procedure.

The authors are Chennai-based Ophthalmologists.

Causes

Ageing, UV light, Deficiency in protein and vitamins, Intrauterine Infections leading to congenital cataract, Developmental cataract seen in adolescents, Injury and Systemic factors like diabetes mellitus.

Symptoms

Blurring of images, Double images, Image distortion

Lasik and Laser Eye Surgery

2008-08-15T21:59:00.001+05:30

Laser surgery for the eyes involves scraping or lifting the cornea and using laser beams to re-shape the tissue beneath it. This has been proven to be effective for astigmatism, near sightedness and far sightedness.

The most common cause of poor vision results from poor refraction of light due to distortions on the surface of the eye. Before each laser surgery for eyes, a doctor uses an aberrometer's laser beams to produce a 3D image of the actual shape of the cornea on a monitor. This helps him find the exact area where re-shaping of tissues should be done.

Intraocular Pressure - The pressure within the eye is determined by how much aqueous fluid is created and drained inside the eye. An increase in intraocular pressure can put pressure on the optic nerve, causing serious vision problems. The intraocular pressure is measured with a tonometer.

Those who suffer from problems with contact lenses and dry eyes need to pay particular attention to the various contact lens products on the market. By comparing brands and manufacturers, the perfect contact lens will be found.If irritation of the eyes continues, the contact lenses should be removed immediately and a health care professional consulted.

There are four different types of eyeglasses available. Reading glasses are worn when working close up. Bifocals are eyeglasses with two points of focus for near vision and distant vision. The top part of bifocal lens is used to correct other eye conditions like myopia or astigmatism while the bottom part is used to correct close up vision.

AcrySof ReSTOR IOL The FDA-approved AcrySof ReSTOR is a breakthrough in intraocular lens technology for most people with cataracts, with or without Presbyopia, that may restore the eyesight of youth. The apodized diffractive optic design gives it the ability to focus light correctly on the retina for images at various distances without mechanical movement of the lens.

Inflammation is a tissue's reaction to trauma often associated with pain, heat, redness, swelling, and/or loss of function. Inflammation may be caused by mechanical trauma,infections, bacteria, viruses, immune reactions or other causes.Ophthalmologist is a medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis and medical or surgical treatment of visual disorders and eye disease.

Legal Blindness - A definition of blindness which enables a person to apply for government disability benefits. It can be either a visual acuity of 20/200 (or worse), with corrective lenses, in the better eye, or tunnel vision in the better eye of 20 degrees in diameter. This level of blindness is severe, but does not necessarily prevent a person from functioning at all.

There are several types of glaucoma, the most frequent one being Open-Angle Glaucoma, which has no obvious symptoms at first. About 15% of glaucoma cases are Closed-Angle Glaucoma, and there are noticeable symptoms, such as nausea, eye pain, blurred vision, and headaches. There is also Normal-Tension Glaucoma, where the intraocular pressure doesn't build up, and no cause has yet been established for this yet, although there are theories.

Verisyse The Verisyse Phakic Intraocular Lens (IOL) implant is recommended for patients who do not qualify for LASIK due to severe nearsightedness, farsightedness, or cases where the cornea is too thin for LASIK.

Alcon LADARVision 4000 and CustomCornea Alcon Surgical’s LADARVision excimer laser system with LADARTracker tracks the eye at a rate of 4,000 times per second - tracking the fastest eye movements with 4x safety margin. Only LADARVision has expanded FDA claims for improved accuracy in corneal shaping.

Patients who have experienced an eye infection or injury in the past year should not undergo LASIK. If you are interested in LASIK, an eye surgeon or ophthalmologist can determine if you are a candidate for the procedure. During a comprehensive eye exam, your ophthalmologist will check your eyes and medical history.

Refractive Error - Too much or too little bending of the light rays entering the eye, so that they focus not on the retina, which would give clear vision, but either in front of it (myopia) or behind it (hyperopia). When the cornea is slightly oval-shaped, rather than perfectly round, it has two curvatures, a steeper one and a flatter one. This also causes refractive error (astigmatism), bending the light rays in two different ways, so that they are skewed and unable to focus. Refractive error is measured in diopters.

Inflammation the body's response to surgery, injury, irritation, infection, or some foreign substances, often associated with pain, heat, redness, swelling, and/or loss of function.FDA is the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA is the United States government agency responsible for the evaluation and approval of medical devices.

With the advent of lasik technology, eye correction with the use of surgery has become more affordable, more convenient and even painless. The accuracy by which eye surgeons have dealt with real eye problems has been remarkable. Patients have been thrilled with results. What a miracle! They can see! If you’re having both eyes done the same day, the surgeon will probably do the other eye after a short period of time. Dr. Boothe, some people choose to have their second eye done a week later. The doctor may prescribe medication for any postoperative pain, but many people feel no more than mild discomfort after LASIK. That’s one advantage over PRK, which can be quite painful afterward.

A number of laser surgery for the eyes are available to address different forms of vision problems. PRK and LASIK are two of the most common laser surgery for eyes recommended to correct vision problems.

One may experience increased sensitivity to light and some blurring of vision but these are normal and will clear up in a matter of 3-4 days. Doctors often give eye drops or oral medication to prevent infection and to counter some minor side-effects.

Advanced age can also lead to diseases that can seriously undermine vision. This is best exemplified by age related macular degeneration. New and defective blood vessels form networks that prevent normal eyesight. Dr. Boothe, through laser surgery for eyes, these unhealthy blood vessels are removed. Trifocals have three focusing points; one for near vision, one for immediate vision, and one for distant vision. Progressive addition lenses (PALs) uses different focus points but gradually changes them so that no visual sections are as noticeable as in bifocals and trifocals. Bifocal and monovision contacts are also available. In monovision, one eye is corrected for near vision and the other for distant vision.

Through laser surgery for eyes, leaky capillaries, swelling and any build-up of fluids can be removed. This helps on preserving and restoring normal eyesight for these patients.

For these, the application of creams around the area may not simply work. Blurred vision due to conditions like astigmatism, near sightedness and far sightedness can be a burden to a lot of people too. Wearing eyeglasses or being highly dependent on contact lenses can be cumbersome. If you are serious about changing these problems, you might want to try laser cosmetic eye surgery.

Until recently, contact lenses and dry eyes seemed to come hand in hand. Modern technology, however, has developed several ways for contact lens wearers to deal with dry eyes. When eyes become dry, they can be irritable, bloodshot and in severe cases, vision can become impaired.

Having problems with vision and having to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses can be burdensome. Some have problems with constantly losing or breaking glasses and tearing contact lenses. Some find it difficult to look for glasses that perfectly fit the shape of their faces and some feel that it makes them look older. These procedures however, do not correct crow’s feet or wrinkles around the eyes. These may require separate surgical procedures. If you are looking for contact lenses for dry eyes, take some time to review and make a comparison before you select the best contact lenses for your circumstances.

A good candidate for LASIK eye surgery must meet several general requisites. LASIK patients should be at least 18 years old, demonstrate no change in refraction for at least one year, and have realistic expectations regarding the results of LASIK eye surgery.

Source:http://drwilliamboothe2.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/dr-william-boothe-lasik-eye-surgery/

Eye Care Tips-Exercises-Don'ts of Eye Care

2008-08-15T21:25:00.005+05:30

General Eye Care Tips:

1.To rest the eyes, lift them occasionally from close work and look into the distance.

2.Give rest to your tired eyes by applying two thin slices of cucumber as cool compress and relax as you do so.

3.Splash cold water occasionally to eyes to relax them and bring back the sparkle to tired eyes.

4.Prevent the glare of light which has a fatiguing effect on the eyes. Light fixtures in the bedroom should reflect light upwards as well as outwards and not direct on the eyes.

5.Dip gauze pads in light tea and keep on the tired eye for 15 minutes.

6.To fade away -dark circles below the eyes, make paste of three almond kernels and milk. Apply this paste: and leave till it dries.

7.When applying cream or make up around the eyes use the ring finger (as it exerts less pressure).

8.Dark shadows and tiny lines under the eyes can be disguised by applying a light coloured foundation under them and smoothening them.

9.To remove puffiness under the eyes, use raw potato paste sandwiched between two thin pieces, of (for each eye) and keep on the eyes for 20 minute.

10.If your eyes are on the smaller side, open them using subtle Grey, beige or brown shades of shadow, using a darker shade on the crease of the lid.

11.Apply a pale shade of eye shadow on the lid and deeper shade below the brow for deepest eyes.

12.When applying mascara, brush with an outward sweep to the underside of the top lashes and allow it to dry before giving a second coat. After this, use a small comb or a small brush to separate them.

13.Remove mascara from the eyes by rubbing a little moisturizer on the lashes or by dipping a bit of cotton wool in hot water and wiping them. Or place a roll of cotton wool under the top lashes and wipe from above with another piece of damp cotton wool.

14.If your brows are thick, pluck hair from inner corners with a pair of clean tweezers and pluck from the middle to make an upward arch and let the brow end in a thin line.
Before you start plucking the hair from the brows, draw the sort of eyebrows you have in mind with an eyebrow pencil and pluck from beneath.
When tweezing hair from the eyebrow, pull in the direction of the hair growth with a quick flick of the hand.
Never pluck from above the brow or the re-growth will give a greenish appearance.

15.For a long face, give the brows a shape by extending them past the outer corners of the eyes to give the illusion of width.

16.For a square face, pluck above the inner eye-corners curving gently out.

17.For a round face pluck hair giving a straightest arch.

18.If the eyes are deepest, pluck the hair from under the brows to give the illusion of large eyes.

Simple everyday eye exercises

After every hour before a computer screen, close your eyes gently for 30 seconds to relax them.
Yoga experts recommend you to rotate your eyes often to relax muscles. Move your eyeballs from extreme left corner to the right corner.
Hold a pencil at arm's length and slowly bring it towards your nose, keeping eyes focused at all times. This helps prevent blurred vision.

When to see a doctor

If you have persisting headaches see a doctor and well light your work area and correct your reading/writing posture. · If you have sties often, they may indicate refractive error.
If you squint every time you read a book or watch television.
If you have dryness of the eyes, check out if it's due to antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics, muscle relaxants, tranquilizers that you may have taken.
If you plan to take oral contraceptives they may decrease tolerance of the eye.
Even if you have no complaints it's important to see a doctor and have a routine eye check up.

Don'ts of eye care

Don't wear contact lenses for extended periods of time or overnight as this leads to complication.
Don't rub eyes frequently as this can cause an eye infection as few of us bother to wash our hands before touching our eyes.
When you splash water do not do this furiously believing doing this will take away tiredness instead wash gently as splashing may hurtle the smallest dust particles or an allergen which may minutely damage the cornea.
Use disposable tissues instead of handkerchiefs to wipe eyes, as they are more hygienic.
Don't sit near than 15 feet from the television and keep your book at least two feet away for stronger eye muscles.
Use cream based eye makeup as powdery eye shadows can enter eyes and, cause irritation. Be very gentle in case you wear lenses.
Avoid using aerosol products like hairspray if you wear lenses.
Don't use your mascara for more than a year.

Protecting Your Eyes During Allergy Season

2008-08-10T12:16:00.006+05:30

For some people, it seems like every season is allergy season. In the spring, it is the tree and flower pollen; with summer's arrival the tree and flower pollen are joined by grass pollen; and in the fall it is weed pollen. The result? Red itchy eyes that also burn and sting. For some allergy sufferers in warmer parts of the country, these eye-aggravating allergies can be a bother for as many as 10 months out of the year.

How do I protect my eyes during allergy season?

Because seasonal allergies are most often caused by plant life that releases pollen into the air, they can be difficult to avoid. Nevertheless, there are some approaches that you can take to help lessen your allergy symptoms:

Pay attention to the pollen reports. Your local weather channel or weather-related Internet site regularly gives the pollen counts for your area of the country. When pollen counts are high, restrict your outdoor activities when possible.

Have someone else mow your grass when possible.

Limit your exposure to wooded areas.

Close your doors and windows and use your air conditioning during warmer months. However, because allergens are spread through the air, they can be circulated throughout the house through the air conditioning's filter. If you have severe reactions to pollens, the use of air conditioning may not be wise if flare-ups are severe during this time.

Consider purchasing a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter. These filter systems are very effective at removing allergens from the air in your room or house.

Taking these preventive measures is often just the first step to controlling seasonal allergies.

For many people, the next step is discussing with their doctor possible allergy drugs to help relieve their symptoms. There are many effective medications to help eliminate allergy symptoms, and by making a trip to the doctor for an eye allergy valuation, he or she can prescribe the correct medication to help prevent irritation or itchiness from occurring.

Over-the-counter allergy drugs can also be purchased to help an eye allergy sufferer with mild symptoms. The medicine is usually less expensive than prescription medications and can clear up mild irritation. Eye drops are also available that can help wash out the eyes. The drops usually contain antihistamines and decongestants that help calm eye allergies.

Regardless of whether your medication is over-the-counter or prescribed, be sure to follow the directions exactly as stated by the label or by your doctor. If you have any questions about your medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Which LASIK Surgeon Is Right For You?

2008-07-25T15:33:00.001+05:30

Have you determined if you are the right candidate for LASIK laser surgery by considering all the things that can go wrong, and looking at all the available options? If you have, and you still think it is the right thing to do, then the next logical step is to start looking for a LASIK surgeon.

Even though the risks associated with LASIK are relatively smaller than other conventional types of surgery, you should still take researching a LASIK surgeon seriously. Do your homework by compiling a set of criteria and evaluating each surgeon against this set of criteria.

Carefully consider what each LASIK surgeon regard as their procedure of choice. Do they use the traditional LASIK that uses a blade to make the incision or do they prefer "bladeless" InterLase lasers to make all the cuts. Ask them as to what they regard as the most reliable and what they mostly use.

Don't limit your criteria to cost or experience alone, but look at what you feel most comfortable with. This decision will affect you for the rest of your life, so don't do something to please anyone.

Be skeptical about claims such as "20/20 vision" or "your money back guarantees." Once you vision is messed up, no amount of money may be able to restore it. Go as far as checking these doctors against the consumer affairs office or better business bureau to verify that they are in good standing. Know and understand your rights as it relates to surgery and LASIK in general.

Appreciate what can happen during the surgery and ask your potential LASIK surgeon how he/she would deal with a situation that could potentially end a procedure. Mistakes can happen which can lead to your eyes damaged permanently without even a chance to have corrective surgery.

Also ask your LASIK surgeon how he/she would handle the following situations that may come up after surgery. For example:

-the migration of the flap,

-the inflammation or infection,

-intensive eye drop treatments, or

-additional procedures that may be necessary after
the initial surgery.

There is a FDA standard that all LASIK surgeons are held to, which relates to the type of laser used during the surgery. Find out what type of laser your potential LASIK surgeon uses and compare it to the FDA's approved list.

Am I A Good Lasik Candidate?

2008-07-25T15:30:00.002+05:30

LASIK is a surgical procedure intended to reduce a person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses. The goal of this Web site is to provide objective information to the public about LASIK surgery.

Eye Examination

A complete eye examination will be done before surgery to make sure your eyes are healthy. Once this is determined, the doctor will measure the curve of the cornea and the size and position of the pupils, the shape of the eyes (making sure there are no irregularities that would prevent LASIK as an option), and the thickness of the cornea (making sure there will be enough tissue left, once the cornea is cut and reshaped).

A signed informed consent form is needed before the procedure, confirming knowledge of the risks, benefits, alternative options, and possible complications.

Am I a Good Lasik Candidate?

A large percentage of nearsighted, farsighted, and astigmatic patients are potential candidates for LASIK. Patients who are 18 years of age or older, have healthy eyes that are free from retinal problems, corneal scars, and any eye disease are suitable. Along with being medically suitable, the best candidates are people with a lifestyle or occupation in which they are dissatisfied with their contact lenses or glasses. By having an evaluation, examination, and consultation with you, the doctor will be able to determine if you are a good lasik candidate.

Only after a comprehensive examination and consultation can you really be sure you are a good candidate for LASIK Laser Eye Surgery or Custom LASIK Eye Surgery.

How Soon After LASIK Can I Exercise?

Non-contact sports can be resumed as soon as you feel capable. Eye protection is always recommended for racquet sports or rough sports where there is a risk of being hit in the eye.

We urge you to find out more about Lasik Eye surgery and find out how it can benefit you today!

Lasik Laser - Get Yourself A New Vision

2008-07-25T15:27:00.001+05:30

LASIK surgery is available today with the new technology ushering its way into the ophthalmologic industry. It can actually get you rid of those bulky glasses and uncomfortable lenses.

LASIK is a medical term used as an acronym for Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. This technology called LASIK uses laser beam known by the name of ‘excimer’ to rematerialize the eye lens and thus correcting any vision deformity. A flap is created by picking up the corneal layer and the laser beam is then focused towards the desired area. The beam’s energy evaporates particles from the affected area and thus reshapes it.

LASIK can correct refractory vision problems such as hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism. But it proves fruitless in case of age related vision deformities such as presbyopia, where LASIK cannot work due to the thickening of eye lens and weakening of eye muscles.

Much new advancements are coming in the LASIK procedures, like the complete bladeless surgery, where the flap in the cornea is also created by using the LASIK laser beam. Blade tools such as microkeratome which is used in traditional LASIK laser surgery, is not used in the newer method mentioned above known as Intralase LASIK. Other technologies such as Wavefront give much better results, both in terms of vision enhancement, and healing time required. Usually not many complications are involved.

What is done actually in Wavefront procedure is that some unique waves are focused on your eye, which then gets reflected back carrying the description of your eye. They are taken in software, which then works on this information and produces a graphical representation of your eye on a computer screen, telling your surgeon exactly where the problem lies.

LASIK laser industry is fast growing through such timely advancements. There is something to fulfill every patient’s individual need. A good LASIK surgeon first spends some time understanding the patient’s requirements which are unique in every case. These pre-surgery sessions are very important which makes all the difference between surgery which gives fruitful results, and one that goes awfully incorrect. This is easy to understand, as obviously no two eyes are alike.

Different combinations of the technologies can be configured to choose one that is best suited for you. Intralase LASIK laser surgery combined with the Wavefront technology has produced some of the most wonderful results for so many eyes. This surely has made it one of the most popular options amongst the surgeons and patients alike. The most vital thing, you should be careful about is to choose the best lasik surgeon.

LasikAide is an online information hub for those who have minor defect in vision and want liberty from lenses and glasses. Lasik Eye Surgery has been designed to change the shape of cornea to correct the defect.

Features of Wavefront Lasik.

2008-07-25T15:23:00.001+05:30

With the advancement in the medical field at an exponential rate in the past few decades, the process of surgeries has undergone a major shift. The development of Wavefront Lasik surgery is one such change that has sparked new hopes for seriously ill patients. It is an offshoot of Lasik (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis), a form of eye surgery through the use of laser beams. This operation is carried out by a trained ophthalmologist and has proved to be an effective treatment method for eye disorders like hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism.

Wavefront Lasik is a method in the above said surgery procedure which uses a spatially changing correction technique to get the most optically correct eye. It is a bit different from the usual Lasik procedures where simple correction of the cornea is done to make its focusing power better. Since the Wavefront technology uses the three dimensional scanning of the eye while the operation is being carried out, the precision of the entire process is enhanced. It is a more preferred method of eye correction process these days as the doctor can get to know about the exact point of fault in the eye of the patient. This customized treatment can go a long way in knowing the peculiarity of a case, and the right treatment can be done accordingly. One of the best things about Wavefront Lasik surgery is that it reduces numerous post-Lasik surgery side-effects like halos, glare and irregularities in night vision.

Wavefront Lasik is similar to Lasik in many ways. It uses the same excimer laser for the operation as its earlier counterpart and creates a flap in the corneal region of the eye of the patient. It also is precise like Lasik in its treatment and simply eliminates the faults in the cornea by vaporizing them. It has an edge over the traditional Lasik in a few more ways. Many HOA (High Order Aberrations) cannot be treated using the traditional Lasik method of operation. Disorders like halo formation or night vision problem can be corrected using only Wavefront Lasik as the older Lasik method is not developed to cure them.

The procedure of Wavefront Lasik surgery is simple, a beam of light is sent to the cornea of the patient which is reflected back to the computing device to create a three dimensional image. This image gives an idea of the flaws present in the eye to the doctor who then uses the data to guide the laser at the precise faulty points. This way, the disorder on the cornea of a patient can be treated effectively and in the least risky way. It is a highly customized method of treatment and every operation is unique in its own way. It is specially designed to cure the particular patient rather than giving a general treatment for a range of similar disorders. Wavefront Lasik might be the right choice for you if you have a disorder that is deteriorating the quality of your vision. It is simple, less risky and widely available at all the leading hospitals across the world.

Lasik Eye Surgery - A Refractive Eye Surgical Procedure

2008-07-25T15:11:00.002+05:30

Lasik Eye Surgery is a refractive surgical procedure that works wonders on the eyes of people suffering from nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. It reduces a person's complete dependency on glasses and contact lenses. The full form of Lasik is Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and is a procedure that involves permanently changing the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye using an excimer laser.

How is Lasik surgery done?

The surgery should be done with great skill as it involves the most delicate part of human body. It is done with a knife called microkeratome and is used to cut a flap in the cornea. A hinge is done at one end of this flap and then the flap is folded back revealing the stroma, which is the middle section of the cornea. Instant pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the stroma and the flap can be easily replaced.

How is Lasik advantageous over other surgical procedures?

Lasik eye surgery is quite advantageous over other surgery procedures because they often involve much less pain as an aftermath. Lasik unlike other eye surgeries also promise extremely good vision that can be achieved almost immediately or at least by the next day.

What to do in Lasik eye surgery?

But before you go for the Lasik surgery, you should have a proper test done by your physician. The optician will examine your eyes to determine their health, analyze the kind of visual correction needed and determine how much Lasik ablation is required. Risks like losing vision, developing debilitating visual symptoms, severe dry eye and large refractive errors are often associated with Lasik eye surgeries. So you consult a proper eye surgeon for the best results.

Once you are confident about undergoing the Lasik eye surgery you should follow certain rules to get quick results from the surgery.

11 Helpful eye care tips for Computer users

2008-07-17T18:21:00.004+05:30

Most of our work is done on computers, and there is usually no escape from it. It is a visually intensive task and, unfortunately, our work pressure and lifestyles do not give us the opportunity to be kind to our eyes.

Which is why these tips should come in handy.

i. Know your eyes

Tears: The first line of defence, they also serve as lubrication by keeping the eyes moist and nourished; they also have a corrective lens function.Eyelids: Their main job is to protect your eyes from dirt, dust and harsh light.

Eyelashes: A protective net for your eyes.

Cornea: A refractive zone that guides light to reach the retina.

Pupil: Controls the amount of light that enters your eyes.

Lens: A refractive zone that also guides light into the retina.

Retina and Optic Nerve: A bunch of intricate wiring that carries vision signals between your brain and eyes.

ii. Exercise your eyes

Dr Harish S Belvi, a practising ophthalmologist (eye specialist) based in Mumbai, says that regular work hours should be infused with short breaks. During such breaks, he suggests a small and easy exercise: “First, blink your eyes several times. While you keep your eyes closed, roll your eyeballs both clockwise and anticlockwise and take a deep breath. Gradually open your eyes while releasing your breath. This exercise lasts for a minute and you can repeat it three times before getting back to work.” It serves as a good workout for the eyes.

iii. Look away

While working for long hours, look at distant objects either in your office or outside. Looking at a distant object and then returning to your task helps your eyes focus better. Try taking such visual breaks for about five to 10 minutes every hour.

iv. Palming

Sit straight at your workstation and rub your palms against each other till you feel them warm. The warmth of your palms helps soothe and relax tired eyes. Then, lightly cup your eyes with your palms and relax for 60 seconds. Count the seconds in your mind. Repeat this exercise two to three times whenever your eyes feel tired, or as often as you want. While palming, you can either rest your elbows on your desk or keep away from the desk and cup your eyes. Both ways are fine.

v.Splash water on your face

During breaks, splash water on your face while closing your eyes. This has an overall relaxing effect and helps you feel refreshed.

vi. Take a walk

After you’re done with lunch, take a stroll outside your office for a few minutes. This will give your eyes a much-needed break and get them some fresh air.

vii. Use tea bags

Keep two used tea bags in the refrigerator before you leave for work. Once you are home, place the tea bags on your eyes for a few minutes as you relax. This not only soothes tired eyes, but also reduces puffiness.

viii. Drink water

Drink plenty of water. It helps reduce puffiness. When a person is dehydrated, especially in an air-conditioned office, the body starts storing water as a defence mechanism. This adds to puffiness around the eyes.

ix. Eat healthy

Incorporate Vitamins A, C, and E on a daily basis; eat citrus fruits, green leafy veggies, tomatoes, spinach, poultry and dairy products. Pack a box of chopped carrots, cucumber and fresh fruits and munch in-between meals at the office.

x. Know your contact lenses

“Ideally, a person who uses lenses should wear it for not more than 10-12 hours a day and occasionally for 14 hours a day,” suggests Dr Belvi.

Never wear your contact lenses while swimming. The pool water houses various micro-organisms as there are several people using it. This may lead to fungal infections in the eyes. In addition, the chlorine in the water can damage your contact lenses.

“Lenses are like sponge, making them susceptible to attracting dirt,” says Dr Belvi.

xi. Eye dos and don’ts

~ Visit your doctor

“One should ideally visit their ophthalmologist once a year, but if there is a problem with your eyes, visit sooner,” suggests Dr Belvi.

In addition, before buying an eye-care product such as eye drops, always check the expiry date and don’t forget to check the prescription. It is always advisable to visit your ophthalmologist prior to visiting your optician. Remember, your ophthalmologist is trained to detect several other eye related diseases, apart from the reading of your eye power.

~ Wear antiglare glasses while driving or at work

“Antiglare glasses are mainly used for focused light — such as full beam car headlights — and serve well for night driving. These can also be used while working on the computer,” says Dr Belvi.

Using a pair of antiglare glasses while working on a computer can reduce the strain on the eyes to a certain extent. If you wear contact lenses, wear a pair of zero powered antiglare glasses for the same purpose.

~ Use re-wetting eye drops

An office environment that is predominantly air-conditioned, coupled with a computer intensive job, this is the perfect combination for dry eyes.In such cases, you can use re-wetting eye drops to give relief to your eyes. Why? “When dry eyes occur, the aim is to get the tears back into our eyes — whether it is naturally (by simple blinking exercises), or artificially (if the problem aggravates),” says Dr Belvi.“Re-wetting eye drops have a similar in composition to natural tears. One should go for eye drops that do not have any preservatives. Eye drops with preservatives are toxic to the eyes in the long run. You can use re-wetting eye drops as and when required, but preferably span it to a minimum of four to six times a day. If the problem persists, visit your ophthalmologist as soon as possible.”The two most commonly used preservatives in all eye drops are Benz Alkonium Chloride and Chlorbutol. Read the contents of the bottle carefully and avoid eye drops with these preservatives.~ Reduce your smoking and alcohol intake“Smoking and alcohol consumption (either alone or combined) causes irreversible optic nerve damage. As both nicotine and alcohol are nerve toxins, they affect the nerves in the long run. Over a period of time, this can lead to poor or weak eyesight,” warns Dr Belvi.~ Never rub your eyes

If dirt enters your eyes, do not rub as this may cause the dirt to stick inside. “Blink several times to start your tears flowing; this will help flush out the dirt,” advises Dr Belvi. “If you rub your eyes, the dirt particle will keep disturbing your vision and irritate your eyes. In such cases, seek your ophthalmologist’s help immediately.”

Treating Dark Circles

2008-07-17T17:58:00.001+05:30

Massage with almond cream and wipe off with cotton after 5 minutes to get rid off eye circles.
Apply milk around eyes to cure the dark circles.
Wet cotton with rose water and keep on eyes and remove after 10 minutes to treat dark circles.
Grate potato and squeeze juice. Apply around the eyes.
Put ice cubes in tea decation and put in refrigerates for 1 hour. Apply with cotton and wash after 1 hour.
Massage a good whitening cream very gently around the eyes, starting from the corners of your eyes and working outwards, it will help to avoid the dark circles.
Apply cucumber juice below your eyes every night just before going to bed.
Mix the pulp of a quarter tomato, turmeric powder, lemon juice and gramflour (besan). Apply this mixture on your dark circles and wash off once it dries.

Eye care tips

2008-07-17T17:46:00.002+05:30

Take A vitamin diet to make eyes brighter. (papaya, eggs, fish, milk, cilantro etc.,)
Wash eyes with cold water to get sparkling eyes.
Put sliced cucumber over your eyes to treat dark circles.
Put potato slices on your eye to get rid off those dark circles.
Soak amla overnight in water and use this water the next morning to wash the eyes.
Soak cotton in Luke warm milk and cover eyes with it for 15 min.
If your eyes are red and feeling itchy, massage your scalp with curd.
To soothe tired eyes, dip cotton pads in chilled milk and place on closed eyes for 10 minutes. Now relax completely.
To completely relax the eyes and the surrounding muscles, close your eyes and think of something that is pleasant or soothing and at a distance. Now gently open your eyes and look into the distance. Next focus on an object at arm's length. Do this extremely relaxing exercise four or five times a day.
Soak 1 tsp. dry amla in one cup of water overnight. Next morning strain it through a muslin cloth and then add one extra cup of water. Splash your eyes with this solution each morning. This makes your eyes sparkle.

For Puffy Eyes: Grate a potato with its peel and apply on your closed eyelids for about 20 minutes and relax completely. You may even take a nap.
wash your face before sleeping, and ensure that there is no make-up on your face before you sleep, because, make-up creams may spoil your face as it will be there for the whole night. It is better if no cream is applied. What I feel is, wash your face before sleeping and if at all you want to apply any cream, just apply night cream and none other than that.

General Eye Care

2008-07-17T17:42:00.002+05:30

To rest the eyes, lift them occasionally from close work and look into the distance.
Give rest to your tired eyes by applying two thin slices of cucumber as cool compress and relax as you do so.

Splash cold water occasionally to eyes to relax them and bring back the sparkle to tired eyes.
Prevent the glare of light which has a fatiguing effect on the eyes. Light fixtures in the bedroom should reflect light upwards as well as outwards and not direct on the eyes.
Dip gauze. pads in light tea and keep on the tired eye for 15 minutes.
To fade away -dark circles below the eyes, make paste of three almond kernels and milk. Apply this paste: and leave till it dries.
When applying cream or make up around the eyes use the ring finger (as it exerts less pressure).
Dark shadows and tiny lines under the eyes can be disguised by applying a light coloured foundation under them and smoothening them.
To remove puffiness under the eyes, use raw potato paste sandwiched between two thin pieces, of (for each eye) and keep on the eyes for 20 minute.

If your eyes are on the smaller side, open the using subtle grey, beige or brown shades of shadow, using a darker shade on the crease of the lid.
Apply a pale shade of eye shadow on the lid and deeper shade below the brow for deepest eyes.

When applying mascara, brush with an outward sweep to the underside of the top lashes and allow it to dry before giving a second coat. After this, use a small comb or a small brush to separate them.
Remove mascara from the eyes by rubbing a little moisturizer on the lashes or by dipping a bit of cotton wool in hot water and wiping them. Or place a roll of cotton wool under the top lashes and wipe from above with another piece of damp cotton wool.

If your brows are thick, pluck hair from inner corners with a pair of clean tweezers and pluck from the middle to make an upward arch and let the brow end in a thin line.
Before you start plucking the hair from the brows, draw the sort of eyebrows you have in mind with an eyebrow pencil and pluck from beneath.
When tweezing hair from the eyebrow, pull in the direction of the hair growth with a quick flick of the hand.
Never pluck from above the brow or the re-growth will give a greenish appearance.

For a long face, give the brows a shape by extending them past the outer corners of the eyes to give the illusion of width.

For a square face, pluck above the inner eye-corners curving gently out.

For a round face pluck hair giving a straightest arch.

If the eyes are deepest, pluck the hair from under the brows to give the illusion of large eyes.

Simple everyday eye exercises

After every hour before a computer screen, close your eyes gently for 30 seconds to relax them.
Yoga experts recommend you to rotate your eyes often to relax muscles. Move your eyeballs from extreme left corner to the right corner.
Hold a pencil at arm's length and slowly bring it towards your nose, keeping eyes focused at all times. This helps prevent blurred vision.

When to see a doctor

If you have persisting headaches see a doctor and well light your work area and correct your reading/writing posture. · If you have sties often, they may indicate refractive error.
If you squint every time you read a book or watch television.
If you have dryness of the eyes, check out if it's due to antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics, muscle relaxants, tranquilizers that you may have taken.
If you plan to take oral contraceptives they may decrease tolerance of the eye.
Even if you have no complaints it's important to see a doctor and have a routine eye check up.

Don'ts of eye care

Don't wear contact lenses for extended periods of time or overnight as this leads to complication.
Don't rub eyes frequently as this can cause an eye infection as few of us bother to wash our hands before touching our eyes.
When you splash water do not do this furiously believing doing this will take away tiredness instead wash gently as splashing may hurtle the smallest dust particles or an allergen which may minutely damage the cornea.
Use disposable tissues instead of handkerchiefs to wipe eyes, as they are more hygienic.
Don't sit near than 15 feet from the television and keep your book at least two feet away for stronger eye muscles.
Use cream based eye makeup as powdery eye shadows can enter eyes and, cause irritation. Be very gentle in case you wear lenses.
Avoid using aerosol products like hairspray if you wear lenses.
Don't use your mascara for more than a year.

LASIK

2008-07-17T17:24:00.002+05:30

Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis.As the name suggests, Lasik is a laser eye surgery used to correct different eye defects such as myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia.

How much does Lasik eye surgery costs in Los Angeles?

In Los Angeles Lasik eye surgery varies from surgeron to surgeon.There are other,more advanced techniques ,that can be more expensive that a traditional Lasik eye surgery.For example IntraLase.IntraLase is a newly developed technology that uses a laser beam to create a corneal flap instead of using a metal blade.This technique raises the costs of the lasik surgery by $300 per eye.

In Los Angeles the costs of Lasik varies from $1000 to $2500-$3000 depending on the lasik eye surgery center and surgeon.The best (and most expensive) lasik surgery centers are in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica area.

What are the other alternatives?

Some of the alternatives for Lasik eye surgery are PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) and

LASEK (laser epithelial keratomileusis).LASEK is a newer procedure similar to PRK.
There are also alternatives to laser eye procedures like Refractive Lens Exchange (your eye's natural lens is replaced with an artificial one) or CK for Hyperopia (Conductive keratoplasty).Conductive keratoplasty is a new

procedure that uses heat form radio waves to shrink the collagen in the periphery of the cornea.It's important to know that RLE ( Refractive Lens Exchange) does not have U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval yet.

Lasik complications

Every surgery has risks and Lasik eye surgery is no different.Here are some frequently reported complications of LASIK :

- Overcorrection or undercorrection

- Dry eye

- Infection

- Double vision

Although there are some risks involved , patients having unresolved complications six months after surgery has been estimated to about 3%.

Lasik Recovery Time

2008-07-16T13:27:00.003+05:30

Irrespective of what many people say, including the doctors who perform the LASIK procedure, LASIK recovery time is not a 20 minutes phenomenon, but you take up to six months to completely recover. Patience is required by people who undergo LASIK surgery, as Addams Family of vision after surgery will depend on the procedure adopted, your refractive error, Apparition post-operative complications, if any. ajax hosting is often claimed that clarity of vision is attained immediately after the surgery, but it may not be true in most of the cases.

It is normal that post surgery, you face complications, such as ghosts, halos, starbursts, regular or irregular astigmatism, and reduction in clarity for a short period of time. Over a period of time, from as little as a few weeks to as much as six months, these complications may dissipate, and in certain cases, you may need further surgery before recovering fully. If these complications continue beyond six months, you may assume that these are permanent.

Step-By-Step Recovery after LASIK Eye Surgery

Let us look at the LASIK recovery time in stages:

* First Day After Surgery Most people can return to their normal routines a day after the surgery. You will need to regularly use antibiotics, steroids, and other medications for your dry eye syndrome. Do not rub your eyes for the first 7 days and, while the Archies do not let the water strike you on the face directly. Soap and shampoo in the eyes should be avoided strictly. Computer work, watching TV, and reading are acceptable, provided you lubricate your eyes regularly, and blink frequently. Light exercises are OK, but keep the sweat out of your eyes.

* One Week After Surgery Avoid touching your eyes, as well as keep sweat out of your eyes. Exercises are fine, but avoid swimming, whirlpools and hot tubs. Keep your eyes well lubricated, and use lotions, creams and eye makeup with care, unless advised to the contrary by your doctor.

* Three Weeks After Surgery Strenuous sports, including swimming, can be started, but with eye protection. You can start outdoor activities, but ensure that your eyes are well protected.

* 3 to 6 Months After Surgery It will take, at least this much time for your vision to stabilize. Fluctuating vision is part of the healing process and will take time to recover.

You may need re-surgery to correct certain anomalies. It is imperative that you follow your doctors instructions after the surgery. LASIK recovery time depends on the care you take with your eyes.

Find more information on www.lasereyeplus.com/lasik.html

A Very Useful Eye Exercise

2008-07-07T19:44:00.002+05:30

#3 - 3 CUPS

The following describes a very useful eye exercise:

1. Refer to the above image labeled "#3 - 3 CUPS." You will also need a pen or pencil.

2. Sit relaxed and adjust your chair so that you are 12 to 24 inches from the computer monitor at eye level. If the image is not perfectly clear to you, that's all right, as long as you can make out the image.

3. Hold the pen vertically between the two circles approximately 1 inch from the screen. The top of the pen should be at the same level as the image.

4. Focus on the top of the pen as you slowly bring it toward your face. (Refer to Figure 3.2 below.) As you bring the pen closer to your face you will notice the two circles appear to become three circles. When it appears that the three circles are all the same shape and proportion, stop moving the pen.

5. Try to shift your focus from the pen to the center circle. This may be difficult and could take a few days to master. If you have trouble doing this, refer to "Troubleshooting" below.

6. Once you can focus on the center circle, move your pen away while maintaining your focus. Try to see the center circle as clearly as possible. As you increase your focus you will notice that the center circle becomes three-dimensional. It will look as if you were peering down into a Styrofoam cup. (Refer to Figure 3.3 below.)

7. Your final goal is to look at the two circles and create the three circles, the center one appearing three-dimensional, without using your pen.

Troubleshooting:

a) You have trouble creating the third circle.

Move closer or farther from the monitor. Also, your eyes may have become tired very quickly, so briefly look away or perform the Distant Night eye exercise to refresh your eyes.

b) You see four circles.

Focus closer to the tip of your nose. Bring the pen closer to your face and keep your eyes focused on it. This should transform the four circles into three. Another option is to move a few inches farther from the monitor.

c) You cannot focus on the center circle.

If you can see the center circle but have trouble focusing on it without the pen, be assured that this is normal when you're first performing this eye exercise. Focus on the top of the pen, then slowly look over it at the center circle. Keep going back and forth between the two until you are able to focus on the center circle without the pen.

10 Helpful Eye Care Tips For You

2008-04-27T01:43:00.004+05:30

The below mentioned eye care tips helps you have an healthy and beautiful eyes free of eye wrinkles and dark circles around the eyes:

1.Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables like carrots, drumstick, spinach., papaya and mangoes. All these are rich in beta carotene which helps to have healthy eyes.
2.Take adequate rest. Rest will refresh the eyes and help them work more efficiently.
3.Exercise regularly to improve blood circulation. Only then your eyes are sure to receive enough oxygen for good performance.
4.Drink at least 12 glasses of water to avoid any kind of puffiness in the eyes. Drinking lots of water helps to flush out waste from the body.
5.Do not rub your eyes for any reason but instead just blink your eyelids. Blinking is a good massage and exercise to the eyes.
6.Use a clean cotton ball dipped in milk to clean your eyes. Milk is a good and safe natural cleanser.
7.To induce a glow into your eyes insert 2 drops of pure rose water using a dropper.
This also gives you an special eye lift.
8.Regularly apply oil mixed in glycerin to your eye lashes and eye brows to keep them dense and dark.
9.Always use sunglasses during the peak day time to protect your eyes from sunrays. Direct sunrays cause heavy damage to eyes.
10.Place a slice of potato or cucumber on both the eyes, after 10 minutes remove and wash the eyes. This helps to avoid under eye wrinkles and dark circles around the eyes.

How to exercise your Eyes

2008-04-26T18:30:00.004+05:30

Sit comfortably on a chair. Rub your hands together until they feel warm. Close your eyes and cover them lightly with your cupped palms. Avoid applying pressure on your eyeballs. Place your palms so that the nose remains uncovered, and the eyes remain behind the slight hollow of the palms. Make sure that no light rays enter the eyes, and leave no gaps between fingers or between the edge of the palms and the nose. You may still see other lingering traces of colors. Imagine deep blackness and focus on the blackness. Take deep breaths slowly and evenly, while thinking of some happy incident; or visualize a distant scene. After your eyes see nothing but blackness, remove your palms from your eyes. Repeat the palming for 3 minutes or more.

Close your eyes tightly for 3-5 seconds, then open them for 3-5 seconds. Repeat this 7 or 8 times.
Close your eyes and massage them with circular movements of your fingers for 1-2 minutes. Make sure you press very lightly; otherwise, you could hurt your eyes.
Press three fingers of each hand against your upper eyelids, and hold them there for 1-2 seconds, then release. Repeat 5 times.
Sit and relax.Roll your eyes clockwise, then counter-clockwise. Repeat 5 times, and blink in between each time.
Sit about 6 inches (200 mm) from the window. Make a mark on the glass at your eye level (a small sticker, black or red, would be perfect). Look through this mark and focus on something far away for 10-15 seconds; then focus on the mark again.
Hold a pencil in front of you at arm's length. Move your arm slowly to your nose, and follow the pencil with your eyes until you can't keep it in focus. Repeat 10 times.
Look in front of you at the opposite wall and pretend that you are writing with your eyes, without turning your head. It may seem difficult at first, but with a bit of practice it is really fun. The bigger the letters, the better the effect.
Imagine that you are standing in front of a really big clock. Look at the middle of the clock. Then look at any hour mark, without turning your head. Look back at the center. Then look at another hour mark. Do this at least 12 times. You can also do this exercise with your eyes closed.
Focus on a distant object (over 150 feet or 50 m away) for several seconds and slowly refocus your eyes on a nearby object (less than 30 feet or 10 m away) that's in the same direction. Focus for several seconds and go back to the distant object. Do this 5 times.
Focus on an object in the distance (as far as possible) with a low contrasting background. Do this for a few minutes every half hour or so. This does not improve your vision, nor does any other technique. It can, however, maintain your best eyesight level during the day and prevent significant further vision deterioration.

Tips

It's more important to do the exercises regularly than to do them for a long time. Even 30-60 seconds of eye movement every hour is very helpful. For example, when your computer takes its sweet time to do something, most people just swear at the poor thing and waste the time, but you can make a few circles with your eyes. Even the first day you do this, you should notice that, when you finish working, your eyes aren't as tired as usual.
Taking short breaks from near work (e.g. staring at a computer monitor) to stare out to the distance also relieves some strain.
palming is a good method to help your eyes feel better. You close your eyes and put you palms over them, this will rest your eyes as the natural chi power that flows from your hands will rest your eyes.

Warnings

Consult your optometrist (eye doctor) before doing any of these exercises. The last thing you want to do is add further strain to your eyes, or damage them permanently.
When doing these exercises, make sure that you're not facing anybody, or that they know you're doing eye exercises. Otherwise they might think you've gone nuts.
Extensive peer reviewed research has shown that visual clarity is not improved by exercise. Some people have weakness in the ability to turn their eye in or out. You may have esotropia (eye naturally turned in) or exotropia (eye naturally turned out). Exercise may help these conditions.
Doing these exercises when you wear contacts may cause them to suction to your eyeball. They might also move around and possibly become folded and/or dislodged, which can be extremely uncomfortable as well.
Do not apply pressure on your eyes.

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How Are Some Common Defects Caused?

2008-04-21T08:49:00.001+05:30

Vision changes are one of the inevitable effects of aging - and yet deteriorating sight comes as a surprise and shock to many people.

Most of us won't escape this age-related change and many will struggle with eye diseases. Some 72 percent of U.S. adults require vision correction, according to 2006 data from the Vision Council of America.By 2020, for example, the number of people who have cataracts is expected to grow by 10 million, according to the National Eye Institute.

The first vision changes typically come in the 40s, as the lens stiffens and has trouble shifting between near and far. It's called presbyopia.

Some people may find it harder to see at a distance as the eyes adapt to demands of close-up work, such as sitting at a computer screen all day.

At this stage, there is an easy fix: reading or distance glasses. It may be helpful, too, to take frequent breaks from reading or computer work and to sit farther away from a computer screen.

There also are two surgical options: Implantable lenses, a relatively new and expensive alternative with unknown long-term implications; or, LASIK eye surgery.

LASIK surgery doesn't fix focusing problems. Instead, it gets around the problem by creating monovision - giving you near vision in one eye and distance vision in the other.

Some people may have trouble adjusting to monovision, which can affect depth perception and ability to see in low light. And some people find they still need reading glasses. A doctor may ask to you to experiment with contact lenses before proceeding with the surgery.

Expert says, LASIK for the treatment of myopia is very successful in people with low to moderate myopia and normal corneal thickness. But, LASIK surgery for the correction of presbyopia is not a very good option and not generally recommended.

Expert says that aside from presbyopia, many people will have healthy eyes throughout their lives.

Still, millions will find themselves battling eye problems as they age, the first problems typically surfacing between the ages of 40 and 60.

Cataracts, which cause the lens to become hard and cloudy, are "very much age dependent. Environmental changes, such as using brighter lighting, and glasses may help; surgery to replace the lens may be necessary.

Age-related macular degeneration, which causes the retina to deteriorate, typically appears around age 60 and is signaled by difficulty seeing things at the center of the field of vision.

Another condition that may surface with age: glaucoma, in which pressure increases inside the eye and damages the optic nerve. Glaucoma often develops without any symptoms, although loss of peripheral vision can be a clue something is amiss.

Experts says there are things you can do to maintain good eyesight as you age. At the top of the list: quit smoking. A healthy diet, regular exercise and use of sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat when in bright sunlight also are recommended. You also may need to increase the lighting in your home, particularly in areas where you work or read.

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LASIK or Photorefractive Keratectomy Which Will be Best for You?

2008-04-21T08:46:00.001+05:30

Q. I had RK surgery about ten years ago; four slits on each eye. About three years ago, it went south and I now am wearing glasses again. Can I have LASIK done? I am nearsighted and wear bifocals.

AnsweredBy Edward Rashid, M.D, WOAI.com LASIK Expert :

It may be safer to have PRK (laser) instead of LASIK. PRK will laser on the very surface tissue of the cornea and will not disturb the old incisions very much. LASIK will go deeper into the layers of cornea and run the risk of separating the old incisions. PRK is an excellent choice for low degrees of nearsightedness.

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) has been performed for over 15 years. For the PRK procedure, the excimer laser is used on the outer surface and top layers of the cornea to reshape and correct the curvature. This is the same laser treatment as in the LASIK procedure, but with PRK, making a “flap’ is not necessary. I do not use a bladed device in either procedure.

With PRK the outer surface layer of the cornea needs to heal over a few days. Although the healing time is longer with PRK, the benefits are that it is sometimes safer to have PRK than LASIK and it can be a little more accurate and stable than LASIK for some cases. Schedule an appointment so that I can thoroughly evaluate your eyes and look at records from your previous surgery, and then I’ll be able to recommend the best procedure for you.