May
23
2011
Image by Beer
Traditional Chinese Medicine offers invaluable tools for diagnosing and treating conditions of the eyes.
For example,
dark circles under the eyes relate can be attributed to imbalances in the kidneys, the organs that provide us with our vitality. People who present with a “Kidney Qi Deficiency ” are advised to follow one of the simplest at home remedies around: get sufficient sleep.
Chinese Medicine attributes the onset of cataracts often to deficiencies in the kidney and liver meridians. The resulting reduction of the energy and blood flow to the eyes leads to poor eye nutrition and eventually can cause the lens to become opaque. Also, the spleen meridian plays a role in the nourishment of the eyes. A dysfunction along this meridian can cause cataracts.
This information is from a chapter of our book, A Comprehensive Manual for Practitioners of Oriental Medicine.
May
21
2011
Image via USDA
Blueberries and their European cousins, bilberries, have long been used to regulate blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Recent studies of mice are convincing researchers of the bilberry’s potential in helping people deal with diabetes.
A study published in Nutrition Journal describes a trial involving the examination of the effect of consuming oat meal drinks that contained bilberries or rosehips on healthy young adults. Researchers specifically looked at how these drinks influenced individuals’ glycemic indexes and insulin levels. The drinks with bliberry induced a lower insulin response. Scientists credit either the bilberry or the oat meal base. Source: Nutrition Journal (Published: 21 May 2011).
Bilberries are also known to impact eye health in remarkably positive ways. mostly due to their antioxidant properties. Studies show it has helped patients who suffer from diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, just to name a few conditions.
May
13
2011
Image by xptakis
Are cataracts just an inevitable part of getting older? There is a lot of scientific research that indicates your diet and lifestyle choices actually have a lot to do with your risk of developing cataracts.
One study indicates that sugar of all kinds can impinge upon the eye’s ability to keep the lens clear.
Another study points to cigarettes as being a major cause of cataracts. In fact, smoking is implicated as the cause 20% of all cataracts cases. Men who smoke more than a pack a day increase their risk for cataracts by 205%! For female smokers, that risk increases a still substantial 63%.
For more research studies on the causes of cataracts and how to prevent them, please visit our research pages.
Apr
09
2011
The following is an excerpt from my article that appears in the program foe next weekend’s Whole Health Expo in Northampton, Massachusetts.
There seems to be a broadly held perception that eye disease is unavoidable. Though people will work hard to control their weight and cholesterol, they tend to have a “what will be will be” attitude about their eyes. The truth is, there are numerous peer-reviewed studies that show clearly that eye conditions can respond to proper diet, lifestyle adaptations, and nutritional supplementation, and that people can preserve their vision.
You can read the rest of the article here to learn about how certain eye diseases including cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration can respond to dietary and lifestyle adjustments.
Stop by an visit our booth for a complementary vision evaluation. I will be speaking at 2:00 on Saturday, April 16. My topic: 10 Ways to Preserve Eyesight Naturally.
I look forward to meeting you!
Mar
27
2011
If you have been concerned about your chances of experiencing dry eye syndrome post cataracts surgery, your fears may be warranted.
A new study finds that people who have had cataracts surgery are more likely to suffer from dry eyes than is usually reported. An assessment of 143 people who underwent cataracts surgery showed that while only 22.1% of patients received a dry eye diagnosis, more than 30% reported stinging, burning, dryness and foreign body sensation, while 40% reported itching, sensitivity to light, blurred vision and fatigued eyes. Source: OSNSupersite
Learn more about natural strategies to cop with dry eyes at our website.
Also, read about natural ways we have helped people suffering from cataracts.
Mar
08
2011
In addition to removing a cataract, cataract surgery can also lower eye pressure. Eye pressure or intraocular pressure is often (but not always) associated with the development of glaucoma.
A study presented at the American Glaucoma Society meeting explains how patients who had ocular hypertension before cataracts surgery exhibited a marked decrease in eye pressure after the procedure. Their pressure readings decreased by 18%. They were not taking any medication to lower their eye pressure. Source: OSN Super Site
It is possible to avoid what has become the most common surgery in the US – cataract removal – through a combination of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes. Learn more about how to prevent cataracts naturally. Fighting free radicals by boosting you antioxidant intake is a great place to start.
You can also learn more about how to prevent glaucoma by reading up on other studies on our glaucoma research pages.
Mar
06
2011
March is the American Dietetic Association’s National Nutrition Month.
This year, the theme is “Eat Right with Color.” That seems particularly fitting since seeing color is one of the things we value most about our eyes. The colors of the foods we eat – we are specifically talking about fruits and vegetables here – are often indicative of the nutrients they will deliver.
Check out the ADA’s guide for what colors indicate what great health benefits.
What’s an optometrist’s favorite color? Blue.
Bilberry (a cousin of the blueberry) is the ultimate eye food, mainly because it contains carotenoids, which are powerful antioxidants. Getting your does of blue foods will help anyone concerned about Poor Night Vision, Glaucoma, Myopia , Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy , Cataracts , or Computer Eye Syndrome.
Learn about how to prevent and treat diabetes naturally at our website.
Also, get the facts about the related condition, diabetic retinopathy.
Jan
24
2011
If you’re considering
cataract surgery and are looking to block your eyes’ exposure to UV radiation your best bets are yellow or orange filters. A study published in
Ophthalmology, which specifically focused on intraocular lenses (most commonly used to replace the eyes’ lenses after
cataract surgery), found that yellow and orange filters were best when exposed to both sunlight and artificial light.
The researchers concluded that, on the whole, most IOLs did a decent job of blocking both UVC and UVB light.
Jan
02
2011
image via pueblo.gsa.gov
Hormone therapy has been proscribed to some men suffering from prostate cancer. Unfortunately, this treatment has been linked to cataracts according to a study published in the Annals of Epidemiology.
Research shows that study participants on hormone therapy were 9% more likely to develop a cataract compared to those who were not treated with hormone therapy. In men whose testicles had been removed the risk soared to 26%. The study involved 66,000 prostate cancer victims. Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101227/hl_nm/us_prostate_cancer
Learn more about natural cataracts prevention and treatment at our website.
For more about drugs that can harm the eyes, have a look at this page.
Oct
29
2010
A
retinal detachment is a separation of the retina, the nerve cell layer, from the outer layers of the eye. The detachment might be small and relatively innocuous. In much more serious cases, the entire retina could detach; immediate medical care is necessary to prevent blindness. The sudden appearance of eye floaters and flashes in one’s vision are indications that the retina has detached.
A recent study out of Berlin, Germany indicates that highly myopic people who have had
cataract surgery are not necessarily more likely to suffer spontaneous retinal detachment. Researchers intend this study to help inform highly myopic considering cataract surgery that their already elevated risk of retinal detachment is not increased by the cataract removal procedure.
