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 Do your eyes spend more than 4 hours a day looking at the screen of an electronic device? If so, you are at risk for computer vision syndrome. Computer vision syndrome symptoms include eye strain, fatigue, dry eyes and headaches from staring at a screen too long.
To find out if you are at risk, keep a journal for a week of how long you spend watching TV, gazing at a smartphone, surfing the Internet, working on the computer, playing video games, and reading on a tablet device. The typical American youth is getting 7.5 hours of “screen time” a day – and since many adults use computers at work, they may get much more time.
Continue reading Computer Vision Syndrome: Electronics Take Their Toll on Eye Health
 Increase in the delivery of a treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) has resulted in a significant 50% reduction of new cases of blindness in Denmark, according to a study published in the American Journal of Opthamology. Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of blindness in the West. Specifically, AMD patients lose reading vision and their ability to drive, resulting in revocation of their drivers’ license.
Wet AMD is the most serious type of macular degeneration. Abnormal blood vessels start to grow in the eye, toward the yellow spot in the middle of the retina called the macular. The macular provides the most visual acuity, as well as perception of color. Wet AMD results in quick and severe loss of vision.
Continue reading Incidence of Blindness Drops in Denmark Due to Treatment of Wet ARMD
 Patients taking statin drugs to lower cholesterol might be more likely to get muscle injuries, especially elderly patients.(1) Side effects and adverse reactions, according to other research, may include increased stroke risk, higher risk of Type II Diabetes, low iron, pancreatic dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, suppressed immune system, muscle pain, and more.
Be aware that increased incidence of cataracts may also be linked with statin drugs. A study(2) suggests that statins are associated with an increased risk of cataracts in both men and women. In the study, cataracts risk went up within 12 months of starting a statin drug, continued while taking the drug, and dropped back to normal Continue reading Statin Drugs and Muscle Problems
 When you are in your 30′s, your skeletal muscle mass will peak. After that, they will reduce slightly in number and size every year. By the time you are in your 50′s, 15% of muscle mass may be lost, and by your 80′s, as much as 30% of muscle mass may be lost.
Obviously, strength training is crucial to increasing the strength and size of your muscles. Being strong and fit helps maintain good health and energy, reduces osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, burns calories for weight management, improves sleep, cuts cancer risk, and much more!
Everyone should make exercise a priority throughout their lives. However, up to 75% of older Americans do not get enough exercise.(1)
It is generally recommended that older adults should do strength training two or three times per week, performing 10-15 repetitions of approximately 8 to 10 different exercises.(1)
Recent research Continue reading Strengthen Your Muscles from Your Eyes to Your Toes
 Did you over-indulge in too many high-calorie foods over the holidays? Put on a few extra pounds? Two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, and a few extra pounds add up to health risks. However, drinking green tea may help fight body fat and also lower cholesterol levels.
Green tea is lower in caffeine than coffee, so it makes a great coffee substitute. A high intake of caffeine can cause nervousness, dependence, and sleep problems.
A recent, small study on green tea in Japan showed that taking green tea extract was associated with losing fat and weight. The more green tea extract the study participants took, the bigger the effect. The subjects also had lower LDL cholesterol and lower blood pressure (to counteract hypertension). Continue reading Drink Green Tea to Reduce Body Fat
 While everyone, regardless of gender, must take care of their eye health, women have more eye disease, blindness and vision problems than men. A major study in 2001 shows that around the world, eye disease is more common in women.
Topping the list for women vs. men is dry eye syndrome, autoimmune diseases, and certain forms of cataract. Women tend to live longer in industrialized nations, so age-related eye problems are more common for them, including cataracts and macular degeneration.
Third world countries have 4/5th of the blind and visually impaired people in the world. Infectious diseases, like trachoma, are more common in women in third world countries. If women have less access to medical care than others, any eye condition will likely be more serious before they seek treatment. Continue reading Eye Disease More Common in Women
 - Don’t let air travel dry out your eyes!
Does the idea of flying out to spend the holidays with family and friends make your eyes mist up?
Good! You’re going to need the moisture!
One of the biggest problems with air travel is dry eyes. Why?
Low Humidity
You are probably used to a relative humidity above 40%. If you have a hygrometer or humidity sensor in your house, you are in the habit of monitoring your home’s relative humidity. When the humidity gets too low, such as in cold climates in the winter, you may experience dry eyes, sinus irritation and dry skin. Some homeowners install a humidifier in the winter to keep humidity at a comfortable level that does not allow mold growth, in the range of 40% – 49%.
The cabins in airplanes have relative humidity of 5% to 20%. This can lead to the surface of the eyes starting to dry out. Your eyes are naturally moistened by tears produced by the tear ducts. However, if the air on the outside of the eye is dry, moisture on the eye’s surface will start to evaporate more quickly than the tear ducts can produce moisture. Continue reading Prevent Dry Eyes During Holiday Travel
 Blephartis sufferes should not rub their eyes Blepharitis is an inflammatory condition that affects lids of the eye. There are several types of blepharitis. Blepharitis can be caused by infections, allergies, irritations, insect bites, clogged oil glands in the eyelid, etc.
Symptoms vary, but can include swelling, itching, redness, blurry vision, irritation, scaling and crusty lashes. Blepharitis can be occur alongside chalarions and styes. Only an eye doctor can accurately diagnose blepharitis, because its symptoms are similar to many other eye conditions.
Blepharitis is becoming increasingly common. Continue reading Inflammation of Eyelid Increasing in Frequency – About Blepharitis
 The rise of myopia, also known as shortsightedness, has increased significantly in the past 30 years in the United States. Time spent outdoors has dropped off in this time period. Researchers at the National Eye Institute conducted a study of children and teens that shows a possible link between less time spent outdoors and myopia.
In the early 1970′s, 25% of 12 to 54 year olds in the United States had myopia. In 1999-2004, that figure was 42%, a huge increase.
Myopia means that the eye focuses in front of the retina, making vision blurry. This condition is thought to be caused by Continue reading Outdoor Activity Might Reduce Myopia in Children
 The FDA has issued a Class I recall of certain contact lenses in the AvairaTM line. The lenses may be contaminated with the residue of silicone oil. These contaminated lenses can cause problems, including severe pain, blurred vision and eye injuries, including torn corneas. Not all users of the contaminated lenses experience symptoms.
The recall started with just one type of lens in August 2011, and has been expanded as of November 2011 to include certain packages of Avaira Toric and Avaira Sphere contact lenses. These lenses are used to Continue reading CooperVision Contact Lenses Recalled
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