Macular Degeneration? Going Blind IS NOT Your Only Option

By Dr Edward Paul

Betsy Graham of Baily, NC thought that her driving days were over. “I could not read the street signs soon enough and I couldn’t pass the vision test at the DMV office.”

Bill Henderson of Belhaven, NC wanted to be able to read and write more easily. He wanted to see the nails and screws when he tried to use them in home repairs. He wanted to recognize people’s faces and see his grandchildren singing in the church choir. But he thought those days were over when he was diagnosed with macular degeneration.

Neither Besty nor Bill knew that a low vision optometrist could help with some of those issues.

In some states, telescopic glasses can be used to pass the vision test for driving. This can allow some with conditions like macular degeneration to continue driving.

“Amazing!” says Betsy. “I can read the street signs twice as far as I did before. I can now drive to work, to the supermarket, and even see the television better … I have my independence back!” In Betsy’s case, we also provided special reading glasses to make the newspaper a little easier to read.

Macular Degeneration is the most common eye disease amongst the senior population. As many as 25% of those over the age of 65 have some degree of degeneration. The macula is one small part of the entire retina, but it is the most sensitive and gives us sharp images.

When it degenerates, macular degeneration leaves a blind spot right in the center of vision making it difficult to recognize faces, watch TV, read a book, or pass the drivers vision test.

Major risk factors for macular degeneration include aging, smoking, and improper nutrition.

Vitamins can help. The results of two studies, AREDS and LAST demonstrated a lowered risk of progression by about 25% when treated with a high-dose combination of vitamins and lutein, a plant pigment derived from the marigold flower. Recent studies have also indicated that increased consumption of fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids may slow progression of the disease.

Nine out of ten people who have macular degeneration have the dry type. The wet type is more aggressive and results in more dramatic vision loss. It involves leaky blood vessels that can sometimes be remedied with new injectable medications, such as Macugen and Lucentis.

A low vision evaluation is for anyone who, even with regular eyeglasses, cannot see well enough to do what they want to do. While most patients who consult with a low vision optometrist have macular degeneration, help is also available for patients with diabetic retinopathy, inoperable cataracts, glaucoma, and retinitis pigmentosa.

Dr. Edward Paul http://www.DrEdwardPaul.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Edward_Paul

Genuine Ray Ban Sunglasses

By John Rich

Have you ever had problems with your eyesight? I have had a problem with my eyesight ever since I was about 8 years old. I found it hard to read objects from a distance. I would squint and frown. Anyway after wearing eyeglasses for a few years I decided it was time to try out some contact lenses. I went to the iCare specialist and made an appointment.

The first thing I noticed while in the reception area was the vast array of designer sunglasses. They had Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses with polarized lens and RayBan sidestreet sunglasses. Taking a closer look at the prices I noticed that they were in the three hundred dollar plus range. Why was this so unusual? Well, after dealing in designer sunglasses for a period of time you get an idea of pricing and quality, including an idea of what looks authentic and what is genuine.

So I knew that these sunglasses probably have a markup of anywhere between 100% and 300%. What surprised me more was that this iCare specialist was located in a small country town of about 5,000. Obviously there was a market for these type of sunglasses and frames and that people were willing to pay the prices asked for.

After having my eyes examined and finding out that they were still the same when I last visited about 3 years ago, I was ready to get my contact lenses. Unfortunately, I cant get Ray Ban contact lenses, or not yet anyway. Another question comes to my mind, which you may have asked. How can you tell if they are genuine? It's a lot of money to spend if you are only getting copies. Especially if you have spent a while saving for Ray Ban wayfarer sunglasses with polarized lens.

The best way to determine genuine RayBan sunglasses is to go to a reputable retail outlet and get them to show you some Ray Ban sunglasses. Hold them and get a feel for the type of materials used. Look at markings, logos and where they are positioned.Try them on and see how they look when viewing objects and people. This is invaluable advice for determining the real thing.

Now when you find outlets or websites selling cheaper models, find out if you can get a money back guarantee. When you purchase the RayBan sunglasses you will be able to determine if they are genuine or fake and return them later if you find them to be fake.

To cut a long story short I finally got my contact lenses and found them incredibly difficult to put in and take out. I may go back to spectacles.

For more advice on Genuine Ray Ban Sunglasses please visit our website on designer sunglasses at http://www.designersunglasses.co.nz

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Is Lasik Vision Eye Surgery For Me - Caring For Contact Lenses

By Abigail Franks

Lasik Vision or lasik plus is a procedure to correct many vision problems usually corrected by eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Although a common procedure, eye surgery is not for everyone. Still there are some important benefits that should be considered when thinking about Lasik surgery. One big benefit is that after the sugery, the need to the daily routine of contact lens maintenance is eliminated.

There are 3 main types of contact lenses sold. There are the Daily wear hard lenses, the daily wear soft lenses and the extended wear contact lenses. The care for these lenses is simple but care must be taken to make sure you do it properly for the health of your eyes. Misuse of contact lenses can damage your eyes permanently. Proper care will also make wearing the lenses more enjoyable for the lifestyle you enjoy.

Below you will find some simple yet effective ways to take care of your contact lenses.

General self care contact lens guidelines:

1. You should always wash your hands before handling your lenses or touching your eyes. Chemicals or residue on your hands can not only harm your eyes but ruin your contact lenses.

2. Put your lenses in your eyes before applying any makeup to your eyes. Especially before applying any to the edges of your eyes like eyeliners. If your lens touches the makeup it will then get on the lens and may cause you discomfort or damage the lens completely.

3. Make sure you always keep your lens case clean. You never really know when you may need to remove your lenses. If you keep your case with you and clean you will be able to quickly remove your lenses without worry of damaging them in a dirty case.

4. Don't use hairspray while wearing your contact lenses. This should be obvious you don't want hairspray residue coating your eyes.

5. Be sure to remove your contact lenses before going swimming. The lenses will absorb chemicals from the water. This will destroy your lenses and you will be ordering new ones.

6. Do not sleep in your daily wear contact lenses. This is bad for your eyes as well as the lenses. It is easy to lose them in the bed and recovery is almost impossible. You could also damage your eyes this way.

7. Limit the amount of time you wear your lenses. There is a recommended amount of time you should wear your lenses to protect the health of your eyes.

Your eye doctor can let you know what is best for you The benefit of a simple, modern procedures like Lasik Vision should be clear. By having laser surgery, the need to adhere to a daily routine of contact lens care is eliminated. No more cleaners, insertions and other mess to deal with. Laser surgery can free us from the trudgery of yet another daily routine in our lives.

Abigail Franks writes on many subjects. She has done serious study on vision options like understanding Lasik Eye Surgery Risks and Lasik Eye Surgery Costs.

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Proclear Compatible Toric Lenses: Could They Be A Godsend For You

By Garry Allen

Could the Proclear compatible toric lenses be a solution for you?

Here is more information that may help you to make that decision.

Toric contact lenses are known for requiring an extra long time for fitting from your doctor giving them a by and large bad rap, and then when you finally do get your prescription your toric lenses still may not fit entirely right on your eye which unfortunately may leave them feeling more uncomfortable than the usual soft contact lenses.

Now if that isn't enough, they also usually cost a lot more than regular lenses.

Ok, now that may have been the case in the past, but now that Proclear compatible toric lenses are on the market. These lenses bring only the positive points to wearing toric lenses.

The Proclear compatible toric lenses allow you to have unmatched comfort when wearing your lenses, all day long.

The secret to this rare comfort is the special PC Technology put into every Proclear lens. Now let's be clear on this, PC technology does not have to do with computers.

In this matter, PC technology is a novel material called phosphorylcholine (PC), an element found in the membranes of human cells. Are you still following me here? These PC molecules are so essential in the body, and in your eye, because they collect water around themselves.

In essence, that means that Proclear lenses are always comfortable and moist , even after a days worth of wear.

Which means that Proclear compatible toric lenses are the perfect fit for people who have had problems with comfort and toric lenses in the past.

In plain fact, for contact wearers who experience problems associated with dry eyes these lenses are the only ones that can boast a special FDA claim that they offer improved comfort.

There are no other regular brand of plastic soft lenses can make this claim, but even more importantly for people with astigmatism, no other toric brand can definitely make this claim.

Proclear compatible toric lenses can give you the clear sightedness and comfort that you would only find previously in your eyeglasses. Now, if you are tired of wearing glasses, Proclear can be a godsend.

These lenses will open the door to a world without glasses that you may once have felt locked out of. Take off those glasses and put on Proclear, and you will be able to see clearly for hours every day before even thinking about taking the lenses out.

So if you are still wearing glasses or are using toric lenses you are not happy with, ask your doctor about Proclear compatible toric lenses. You will be glad you did.

Simple reports reveal everything you need to know about contacts and how to choose the right ones for you. Visit Your Discount Contact Lenses website today for more Free Info.

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Presbyopia Treatment with LASIK

By Marc Hirsch M.D.

Presbyopia is a term that is used when a person develops difficulty in seeing up close. It is related to the use of eye muscles to reshape the natural lens of the eye to achieve accommodation. Accommodation is a when the focusing power of the lens is increased and allows a person to see images up close.

The accommodative power decreases throughout life and eventually a person will need a positive power lens to improve the near vision. These lenses are often called "cheaters". The need for these glasses is dependent upon a person's eyeglass prescription. A nearsighted or myopic person can often decrease the need for reading glasses by taking off his/her distance glasses.

Why is this? Well, a nearsighted or myopic person has a location up close that they can see clearly without glasses. In mathematical terms it is 1/(the eyeglass prescripton) in meters. In optical terms is the near focal point of the eye.

For many people, the loss of near vision is a frustrating experience and they seek laser vision correction for treatment. In eyeglasses, they have an option of a bifocal style lens. However, this is not possible for laser vision correction. At this time a bifocal laser treatment cannot be applied to the cornea; the tissue that undergoes the laser treatment.

What can be done? The laser can create blended or monovision. In this scenario, one eye is corrected for distance and one eye is corrected for near. The eye that is corrected for near is made intentionally myopic or nearsighted. Once this occurs the patient will function in that eye like a nearsighted person. There will be a focal point at near where the vision is clear without glasses.

The reason this is called blended vision is because the eyes work together. One eye is more dominant for distance and one eye is more dominant for near. But both eyes has some functional vision at distance and near, although each eye dominates in one area.

For many people, this is a satisfactory experience. There are many contact lens users who wear monovision contact lenses. When considering monovision laser vision correction it is important to undergo a contact lens trial. If you are unsuccessful in a contact lens trial, I would not recommend monovision laser vision correction.

If you a successful in a contact lens trial, its important to know that the monovision correction that is appropriate at the time of surgery, many not be the same correction 3-4 years later. This is because the muscles continue to fatigue and accommodation continues to worsen even after the laser vision correction. A healthy outlook is being happy with being glasses free the majority of the time. If you would only be happy with 100% glasses free for the rest of your life, then I don't think you'll be satisfied with monovision.

Marc Hirsch M.D. is a practicing laser vision correction surgeon. He publishes a blog http://www.visioncorrectionsurgery.blogspot.com which discusses laser vision correction information.

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Bioptic Glasses For Low Vision

By Susan Slobac

Low vision devices include eyeglasses, but there are many more low vision products available today that can assist patients in living with macular degeneration symptoms. While laser surgery can be used to treat the "wet" variety of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, there is no known cure for the "dry" form of this leading cause of blindness. However, low vision devices can help such a victim in making the most of what eyesight remains.

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the central part of the retina, and therefore one's ability to determine fine details such as print, faces, and images. Essentially, one develops a "hole" in one's vision; if the subject is looking at an object that appears smaller than this "hole," the object cannot be seen clearly. Therefore, the purpose of low vision devices is to increase the apparent size of these objects.

Because we use our eyes in different ways in different situations, there is no one solution for addressing macular degeneration symptoms. One patient may require several different low vision products. Bifocal reading glasses are one of the best known and most common low vision devices, but may not be appropriate for all macular degeneration symptoms.

Bioptic glasses for low vision, also known as bioptic telescopes, are low vision devices that actually consist of miniature telescopes mounted atop a pair of regular glasses. Such low vision devices can be adjusted for a wide range of activities that require both distance and near vision. While bioptic glasses for low vision work in the same way (you tilt your head forward slightly), they differ from bifocal reading glasses in that the telescopic lens is not integrated into the primary lens itself.

Other low vision products for age related macular degeneration include such products as the portable digital magnifier, which resembles "virtual reality" goggles and is used in conjunction with a special pair of glasses. One of the most interesting low vision products on the market today consists of a miniature TV camera that actually rests on the surface of whatever the patient is reading, magnifies it, and sends that image electronically, projecting an image on the inner surfaces of eyeglass lenses! Such a system allows the patient's head to remain in an upright position; no longer is it necessary to tilt one's head.

Of course, such high-tech vision aids are quite expensive at the present. However, if the history of other technologies such as the PC and the DVD is any indicator, the cost of such low vision devices should come down substantially over the next few years.

Susan Slobac has a parent diagnosed with macular degenration. During the course of his treatment, Ms. Slobac has become familiar with number of low vision products and aids currently in use.

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The Most Common Eye Disorders

By Mike Adley
The four most common eye disorders, or “refractive errors”, are nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. They are not diseases, but simply minor flaws in the construction of the eye.

The human eye attains its adult size and shape when a person reaches his or her twenties. At that point, nearsightedness, astigmatism, and farsightedness usually stabilize.

Nearsightedness, known scientifically as myopia, means that a person sees nearby objects more clearly than distant objects. It does not mean that a myopic person has excellent near vision and poor distance vision. Extremely nearsighted people do not see anything clearly. In the normal eye, parallel rays of light passing through the cornea bend slightly and then bend again as they penetrate the lens to focus on a small, single spot on the retina. In the nearsighted eye, a steeply curved cornea or an elongated eyeball, or both, focus rays of light before they reach the retina. From this focal point the light rays begin to diverge. By the time light reaches the retina, the image is blurred.

Farsightedness, known as hyperopia, is the opposite of myopia. It is not necessarily the ability to see objects clearly at a distance and poorly close up, although this can be the case. In the farsighted eye, rays of light streaming through the cornea and lens reach the retina before they come into focus, creating a blurred image. In a sense, the eyeball is too short for the refractive power of its own optical system. Sometimes, mildly farsighted people do not discover this refractive error until middle age, when they begin to have trouble seeing clearly at close distances. This explains the common need for reading eyeglasses among our middle-aged population.

An astigmatic eye results from an imperfectly shaped cornea. The cornea of the astigmatic eye might be poorly curved from top to bottom or from side to side. This error of design gives the cornea different refractory powers across its length and width and distorts sight. Some light rays focus in front of the retina and others, behind it. As a result, the retina never receives a single, sharp image.

Presbyopia is an optical flaw that eventually affects almost everyone. As the eyes age, their powers of accommodation decline. It becomes increasingly difficult for the eye to bring nearby objects into focus. An individual with presbyopia can also be farsighted, nearsighted, or astigmatic at the same time. If this is the case, bifocals can give the eyes extra help with nearby objects, no matter what other refractive errors the eyes may have.

By M Adley

http://www.eyes-and-vision.com

If you have an eye disorder or specific vision problem, you can learn about ways to correct it (including laser eye surgery, contact lenses and eyeglasses) at eyes-and-vision.com, where M Adley is webmaster.

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