Iritis is an inflammation of the iris and occasionally includes the ciliary body (the circumferential tissue inside the eye located behind the iris). In iritis, small white blood cells from the inflamed area and excess protein leaked from the small blood vessels inside the eye float into the aqueous fluid between the iris and the cornea.
The symptoms include: redness, throbbing pain, light sensitivity, tearing, and the pupil of the affected eye may become smaller.
The cause of iritis is unknown, but it generally runs its course in six to eight weeks.
For natural treatment options for iritis, please visit our website: http://www.naturaleyecare.com/diseases.asp?d_num=19
Weightlifting, especially if one holds his or her breath during the exercise, may cause a temporary increase in pressure within the eyes. Glaucoma is sometimes linked to increased pressure in the vitreous humor of the eye.
Generally, intraocular pressure generally decreases after both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Higher intraocular pressure has been reported during the Valsalva maneuver (air is forced against a closed windpipe causing an increase of pressure in the chest). This action occurs during coughing, vomiting, playing wind instruments, as well as during some weightlifting sessions.
According to ScienceDaily.com, study authors note that a certain type of glaucoma (normal-tension glaucoma) is more common in individuals who are subjected to frequent changes in eye pressure. “Prolonged weightlifting could be a potential risk factor for the development or progression of glaucoma. Intermittent intraocular pressure increases during weightlifting should be suspected in patients with normal-tension glaucoma who perform such exercises,” they conclude. “Patients with normal-tension glaucoma should be questioned as to a history of regular weightlifting.”
Learn more about glaucoma’s causes and how to prevent it at our website.
The Centers for Disease Control has recently turned its attention to the increasing rates of diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes in which the blood vessels of the eyes are damaged resulting in potential vision loss. The study, published in Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that those with diabetes require more comprehensive eye care. 31.6% men and 25.7% of women over age 40 who have diabetes are estimated to have diabetic retinopathy.
Study authors intend their findings to guide policy makers as they oversee the country’s eye care services and rehabilitation for the estimated 8% of the U.S. population with diabetes.
Source: WebMD.com
Studies have shown beneficial effects of lipoic acid treatment on cataracts in rats. It may be of therapeutic use in preventing human cataracts and their associated complications. Lipoic acid has also been used to treat glaucoma.
Lipoic acid, also known as alpha-lipoic acid, is a sulfur-containing fatty acid. It is found inside every cell of the body, where it helps generate the energy that keeps us alive and functioning. Lipoic acid is a key part of the metabolic machinery that turns glucose (blood sugar) into energy for the body’s needs.
Lipoic acid is an antioxidant, which means that it neutralizes naturally occurring but harmful chemicals known as free radicals. Unlike other antioxidants, which work only in water or fatty tissues, lipoic acid is unusual in that it functions in both water and fat. By comparison, vitamin E works only in fat and vitamin C works only in water. This gives lipoic acid an unusually broad spectrum of antioxidant action.
Source: HealthLibrary
For more research on cataracts, please visit our Research Pages.
Australian scientists may have made a discovery that could lead to the development of better tests to detect eye diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration. Research published in the Journal of Vision suggests that color sensing cells in retina, which were previously believed to be able to only respond to specific colors, can also detect black and white moving objects as well. According to lead researcher Paul Martin: “For a long time we’ve had an image of the brain as a kind of computer, with particular pathways or ‘wires’ for particular nerve signals. Now, it is becoming clear the wiring is a lot less precise than a computer.”
What might this mean for you when its time to be screened for eye disease? Discoveries like this one help scientists better understand how cells in the eyes respond to stimuli, and the more they know about how the eye works, the more able they are to improve eye testing procedures and technologies.
Source: ABC Science
Measuring serum lycopene levels may help doctors diagnose and evaluate patients with diabetic retinopathy.
A recent study finds that lycopene levels were significantly lower in individuals with diabetes. According to the study, “subjects with proliferative diabetic retinopathy had significantly lower lycopene levels than subjects without diabetic retinopathy or with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.”
This study and others have found that oxidative stress is related to the development of microvascular complications (conditions related to diabetes including include diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy) in patients with diabetes. Lycopene has been found to play a role in the prevention of oxidative stress-related disease.
Lycopene is found in its high levels in tomatoes, but apricots, guava, watermelon, papaya, and pink grapefruit are also significant sources.
For more on diabetic retinopathy, please visit our website: http://www.naturaleyecare.com/diseases.asp?d_num=4
