Lehigh Valley Center For Sight

A new medicated ring could replace drops for open-angle glaucoma patients. Impregnated with the glaucoma drug Bimatoprost, the flexible ring is inserted under the eyelids. The Bimatoprost Ring works for six months, delivering pressure-reducing medication directly to the eye. Glaucoma patients currently depend on medicated drops, multiple times per day, to control their condition. Up to half of glaucoma patients do not use their drops correctly. Therefore, a long-acting medicated glaucoma ring could improve their prognosis. High Pressure Glaucoma is an eye disease marked by high intraocular pressure. Most glaucoma patients have too much pressure build up in the eye. High intra-ocular pressure (IOP) damages the optic nerve, stealing sight. Glaucoma is especially prevalent in seniors. Drops are the standard treatment for glaucoma. While the disease has no cure, regular application of pressure-reducing eye drops slows down glaucoma’s progression. The drops can cause blurred vision and ...

Whether it’s taking the iPad away from a 3-year-old or asking a 14-year-old to get off Instagram for dinner, parents today engage in an ever-raging battle over screen time with their kids. Some kids even complain about their eyes feeling sore or tired, yet they’re still glued to their screens. Here are 5 tips to help reduce the impact of excessive screen time discomfort. Tip 1 – Are They Complaining About Sore, Tired Eyes? Because children’s eyes are still developing, eye strain caused by screen time often has kids complaining. Vision Source claims headaches, neck and back pain, eye dryness and fatigue, blurry vision, and difficulty shifting focus to objects at a distance are all symptoms of eye strain. Once you connect the dots to their symptoms and their screen time, you can help make decisions about how much screen time is too much screen time – and how you can help them find balance. Tip 2 – Limit At-Home Screen Time The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has provided the fo...

Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA is a naturally-occurring chemical, so why might seniors need to supplement it? Our bodies create small amounts of this omega-3 fatty acid. DHA from the diet, such as seafood, also counts. Docosahexaenoic acid is crucial to brain development in infants, and it is found in large quantities in the brain and retina. Researchers have found that consuming extra DHA can fight eye disease. How much docosahexaenoic acid do you need to get these effects? Can you get enough through your diet, or do you need to supplement DHA for optimum health? DHA Overview A long-chain omega-3 fatty acid, DHA is found in every cell in the human body. DHA is a crucial structural component of your brain, skin, and eyes. Up to twenty-five percent of the fat in the human brain is docosahexaenoic acid. 1 The retina is technically brain tissue. DHA makes up as much as 60% of the total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the retina. A pregnant woman’s body uses docosahexaenoic acid t...

Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (AGTC) , a leading developer of gene therapies, has reported the six-month follow-up data in all patients treated with its gene therapy for X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) in its Phase 1/2 clinical trial. The company reported that no consistently significant clinical activity from the treatment was observed after six months. AGTC will continue to analyze all of the XLRS trial data and complete all visits specified in the clinical protocol. However, if the data at additional follow-up data visits are consistent with the current six-month findings, the company has stated that they will not further develop the product. A total of 27 subjects were treated, and all completed study visits through at least six months. Thirteen adult participants received the high dose of the treatment. The study subjects also included five pediatric patients who received the medium dose, and nine adults who received medium and low doses of the gene therapy. All partici...

You may have heard that French Maritime pine bark extract, or Pinus pinaster , can reduce atherosclerosis. Hardening of the arteries is a leading cause of heart attacks and stroke. The middle-aged and seniors are vulnerable to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. Diet, exercise, and weight management are important for controlling metabolic syndrome. Additionally, this extract has been shown to alter fat metabolism and inflammation that are factors in atherosclerosis. How does French Maritime Pine bark extract address plaque build-up in the arteries? Special Substances in French Maritime Pine Bark Extract Procyanidins, phenolic acids, and other compounds are found in French Maritime Pine bark extract. These substances alter how the body metabolizes fat. They also reduce an important inflammation-signaling chemical. Chronic inflammation is widely accepted as a major player in hardening of the arteries. A scientific review 1 summarized many benefits, including:...

Where do you find nutritious recipes for the eyes? A significant body of research has shown that certain nutrients are very important to healthy vision. This makes sense, because your eyes are the most nutrient-hungry organ in the body for their size. Cooking at home is less expensive and generally more nutritious than eating restaurant foods. Therefore, having an arsenal of healthy recipes could help prevent and support glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and other age-related eye diseases. At Natural Eye Care, we primarily recommend the Vision Diet. By “diet” we mean a daily eating pattern, not necessarily weight loss. Most of the foods are quite tasty on their own. However, you will need recipes to prepare meals. The Vision Diet is a modification of the well-known Mediterranean Diet. Enjoyed by populations living near the Mediterranean Ocean, the diet includes plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, olive oil, whole grains, eggs, and dairy products. Refined suga...

The antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin help keep the eyes healthy. A new study has found that these nutrients also improve the circulation of blood to the brain. Seniors experience gradual cognitive decline. A recent study showed that taking enough of these antioxidants halted cognitive decline. Research supports the idea that nutrition has a direct impact on the brains and eyes of seniors. To work properly, the brain needs blood flow. Blood travels to the brain through arteries. The blood-brain barrier allows select nutrients through. Blood is toxic to the brain itself. However, the nourishment that blood flow provides the brain is vital to its functioning. Without enough oxygen and nutrients, brain cells die. Worst case, the brain shuts down and the person dies. A technical term for brain blood flow is “cerebral blood flow.” Impaired cerebral blood flow is connected to reduced brain functioning. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease have been linked to impaired ce...