Eye News: Do You See What I See?

From Australia’s Courier News: A striking woman once told me how growing up wearing glasses taught her valuable lessons about the ways of the world: the stupidity of vanity and the capricious nature of beauty.

She recalls as a child observing how people interacted with her pretty non-glasses-wearing sisters, how easily they received attention simply by smiling and looking cute.  Then, she grew up and left behind childhood awkwardness, grew tall, killer curves, luscious brunette hair, swapped glasses for lenses and suddenly she was seen by the world as a beauty.  She had Laser Eye Surgery a few years ago.  You need to be a risk-taker to let someone cut a thin flap in both your corneas.

If you never needed glasses, you have no idea.  It’s not about vanity.  It’s about vulnerability.  You wake to feed a crying baby, but first you have to find the baby, or even the baby’s room.

I cannot understand why anyone wouldn’t do anything they could to avoid bad eyesight.  Yet there is a myopia epidemic going on.  In Japan, two-thirds of teenagers are myopic, in Singapore 80% of 18 year old male army recruits are short-sighted, compared to 25% 30 years ago, Myopic numbers are rising in Australia. Read more

Lasik Surgery Pays For Itself’

From Contactlenses.co.uk: Experts say the cost of Lasik eye surgery will be recouped in just a few years.  It’s an investment in your health that not only improves your quality of life, but actually pays for itself over time.  Money is saved on buying vision correction products, such as glasses, lenses, solution.

Sharp Eyesight Thanks To Proper Nutrients

Nutrients to maintain healthy retina and sharp eye sight

From PRNewswire: A recent study in Germany indicates that one should take several specific micro-nutrients to maintain sharp and clear vision.  A current scientific review article has confirmed that an optimal supply of carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, is essential for keeping our eyes healthy.  The authors emphasise the potential of these nutrients for protection of the retinal cells and the prevention and treatment of age-related degenerative eye diseases.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently asserted that taking a dose of 250 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acid DHA each day, can make an important contribution towards maintaining vision.  Lutein and zeaxanthin play an especially important role in eye function: both carotenoids form the pigment of macula (‘yellow spot’) in the centre of the retina, responsible for sharp vision, just like internal sunglasses, leading to improved contrast sensitivity and reduced susceptibility to glare.  Moreover, both substances keep the retina healthy due to their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects.  Read more.