Sight is a precious gift, but we often ask so much – too much – of our eyes, especially when we spend hours at the computer. Computer eye strain can be a real problem, but you can take natural steps that will prevent undue health risks. Please have a look at this video for three different eye exercises that can help alleviate computer eye strain. At our website, we feature several educational videos that can help you cope with many eye conditions.

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After having declined for much of the last decade, the teen smoking rate has reached a plateau in the last couple of years.  A new U.S. government study shows that the declines in teen smoking between 2006 and 2009 were not statistically significant – from 19.8%t to 17.2%  among high school students and from 6.3 percent to 5.2 percent among middle school students.  In 2000 number as many as 28% of high school students were classified as smokers.

There are now calls for increased smoking and tobacco use prevention efforts aimed at young people.

Source: http://www.naturalhealthlibrary.org/2010/08/27/youth-smoking-rates-now-stalled/

Cigarette smoking can contribute to many eye diseases including macular degeneration.  Vision health is about whole body health.  Learn more about our Vision Wellness Protocol.

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In 2006, researchers reported on a study of the effect of acupuncture on cases of dry eye.  Because acupuncture has proven to help those suffering from dry mouth, scientists, who discussed their findings at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, decided to try to technique for patients exhibiting dry eye.

The small study involved twelve patients, half of whom received needles in the Traditional Chinese Medicine points and and half of whom received “sham” acupuncture .  Those who received real acupuncture demonstrated a significant improvement while those who received needles in random places on the body displayed a slight worsening of symptoms.  Source: Medscape

According to ClinicalTrials.gov, researchers are currently recruiting participants for a similar study at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  The trial is set to run through 2011.

To learn more about treatment options for dry eye syndrome, please visit our website.

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Interventional cardiologists and other workers in catheterization labs (facilities where diagnostic imaging equipment used to support catheterization procedures) are at risk for cataracts if they do not wear the proper protective equipment.  They are exposed to surprisingly high levels of ionizing radiation to their eyes if they do not wear the recommended specialized leaded glasses designed to protect them.

A study published in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions finds that exposed health care workers who did not wear the glasses were five times more likely to display symptoms of cataracts.

Source: HealthLeadersMedia.com

For more on cataracts and the causes of cataracts, please visit our website.

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A new study finds that the majority of people who self-administer eye drops to manage their glaucoma are having trouble hitting the target.  More than 25% of those studied failed to get the drops in their eyes.  Of those who were successful, few were able to give themselves exactly the right dosage.  Researchers were surprised by the low success rate and by the fact that most people did not realize that they were having trouble getting the study’s required single drop in each eye.

Study authors say that this proves that eye care providers should teach patients the best way to administer the drops, which is usually with a mirror, tilting the head back and placing the drop in the eye while holding down the lower eyelid. Family members and certain devices may also be of help.

SOURCE: http://link.reuters.com/rum98m

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A recent article in Yahoo News states that the changing nature of the US population will mean more cases of glaucoma.  Age, obesity, and race can all be factors that may influence one’s chances of getting glaucoma (blacks and Hispanics are more likely to develop the disease).  Known as the “silent thief,” by the time one notices the tell-tale decrease in peripheral vision, the disease is already in a very advanced stage. Glaucoma is the damage of the optic nerve, and though often linked to pressure in the eyes, this is not always the culprit.

The number of cases of glaucoma does not have to increase, however, just because we are living longer or because the population is becoming more diverse.  Changes in diet and lifestyle can reduce your risk of glaucoma and other eye diseases and improve your overall health.  For more details, please visit our pages on glaucoma prevention.

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Sunglasses are more than just a fashion statement – they help to protect you from eye developing eye diseases including cataracts, macular degeneration, and cancers of the eye and eyelid. Wear wrap-around sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection whenever you’re outside in the sun. The fairer your skin, the older you are, and the lighter your eyes, the higher your long-term risk of sun damage.

Exposure to the sun can cause or exaggerate dark circles under your eyes. Even in darker skinned people, time in the sunlight, especially during the summer months, can cause a higher-than-normal level of skin pigmentation (melanin) under the eyes. People get suntans because exposure to the sun increases the natural pigmentation of the skin and draws that pigmentation to the surface. The same principle applies to the skin under the eyes. You can find more information on how to treat and prevent dark circles here: http://www.naturaleyecare.com/pub-darkeyes.asp

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A large proportion of the world’s adult population is affected by hypertension, and this condition affects the eyes in multiple ways.  Researchers who recently published and article in The Lancet assert that “any patient with hypertension should have an ophthalmological assessment to detect hypertensive retinopathy or other retinal vascular complications.”   Signs of hypertensive retinopathy are frequently seen in adults 40 years and older, and may indicate, independent of traditional risk factors, that one is likely to suffer from congestive heart failure or a stroke.

Blood pressure control has been established as a treatment for diabetic retinopathy, but researchers have yet to determine whether intensive blood-pressure control measures in patients with hypertensive eye diseases would reduce the risk of visual impairment and death. Early detection of hypertension’s effects on the eyes could assist physicians in the overall management of the life threatening aspects of disease.

Source: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2807%2960198-6/abstract

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Pumpkin seed oil is rich in zeaxanthin, which protects the retina and slow the progress of macular degeneration. In 2003, the Medical Research Council Environmental Epidemiology Unit at the University of Southampton in England announced that zeaxanthin “may be far more important in preventing or stabilizing macular degeneration than previously realized.” For more on zeaxanthin, visit our website.

Another benefit of pumpkin seed oil?  Used in combination with saw palmetto it can reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).   Researchers have suggested the zinc, free fatty acid, or plant sterol content of pumpkin seeds may account for their benefit in men with BPH, but this has not been confirmed. For more on BPH and prostate health, please click here.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/about_5106341_health-benefits-pumpkin-seed-oil.html#ixzz0s6uN19rb

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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) already supports the assertion that omega-3 in the form of ALA aids cognitive and eye function and may soon be extending this designation to DHA.  Products will be able to make this claim on their packaging.
Source: http://www.nutraingredients.com/Regulation/EC-considers-extending-ALA-claim-to-DHA?utm_source=RSS_text_news

DHA has been documented to help those who suffer from retinitis pigmentosa.  Click here for more information.

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