Toast to Healthy Eyes!

With recent science, we know that regular consumption of red wine (that means one to two glasses a day) can counter-balance fatty diets, leading to overall better health. Good news is that eyes can also benefit from the antioxidants shown to decrease risk of heart disease and certain forms of cancer.

Red wine is one of the most readily available sources of an antioxidant called resveratrol found in plants which has shown to fight inflammation, inhibit oxidation of some cells and preserve cell vitality. You can find resveratrol in berries, nuts and grape juice, too for those of you, who like me, aren't big fans of vino. Red wine happens to contain about twice the antioxidants than the alternatives though and is absorbed more easily by the body.

How does red wine help our vision (at least in the long run :) )?

• Cataracts: After following non-drinkers and moderate drinkers for five years who were age appropriate for cataracts, 32.2% of non-drinkers developed cataracts vs 13% of drinkers.
  

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): In addition to resveratrol, red grape skins show high concentrations of carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, both proven in clinical studies to combat AMD. A strong negative association between AMD incidence and moderate red wine consumption has been demonstrated. New research also suggests that resveratrol may have value in treatment and management of the disease in more advanced stages by inhibiting new vessel growth. This vessel growth is a sign of progression of AMD to the wet, more debilitating stage.

• Cornea: An enzyme that plays a role in recurrent corneal erosion (in which the surface of the cornea occasionally sloughs off resulting in great discomfort and vision loss) can be suppressed with resveratrol.

Though many of you welcome the encouragement to walk down the wine aisle after the vitamin aisle, remember : don't drink too much! Moderation is key because ironically, heart disease, cancer and liver disease can become more of a risk when you overdrink.

So, on that note, if anyone has any recommendations for good wine, I'd appreciate suggestions for someone like me who doesn't know a pinot from a merlot. Cheers!

Information Displays on Contacts

Here's something to 'look forward' to. We put ear buds in our ears for hands free but in the future we may be able to keep our eyes on the road too, while we fiddle with our information gadgets.

Engineers at the University of Washington are creating a contact lens with an embedded electronic circuit and lights. The display would be superimposed on your view of the world so you could mapquest, play games, ebay or whatever else you absolutely need to do, while keeping sight on a real world backdrop.

The lenses have not yet been tested on humans but so far show to be safe and effective. The engineers behind the lens are intending to make the lens wireless capable and power the circuit with a small solar cell on the lens. (UV protection enforced, hopefully - see previous post.)

Amazing but not unbelievable. I'll let you know when these lenses become available in my office.... :)

UV and You

We've all seen it lately, albeit not often enough and not for very long.

The sun is starting to shine and we're spending more time outdoors to soak it in. Along with the warmth and light comes UV radiation which we know can be harmful.

The wavelength for visible light ranges from 400nm to 700nm. The wavelength for UV radiation is shorter and therefore contains more energy which can cause molecular changes. You've probably heard of UVC (100nm to 280nm), UVB (280nm to 315nm) and UVA (315nm to 380nm). UVC for the most part, is filtered by the atmosphere. That leaves UVA and UVB to worry about.

UV damage of the eye can come in the form of photokeratitis (sunburn of the eye), pterygium (thickening of the tissue on the white of the eye), cataracts (clouding of the lens) and cancer of the lids and globe.

How you can minimize UV exposure:

• Wear protective eyewear : make sure that both your tinted and untinted spectacles specifically protect against UV radiation. Some contact lenses now can block over 90% of UV rays. Make sure you are fit in the most protective materials available.
• Wear a brimmed hat. This can block up to 50% more UV light.
• Avoid mid-day sun when UV rays are strongest.
• Take these precautions even if the sun isn't shining. Clouds don't block out UV.

Otherwise, have fun in the sun!

Behind schedule!

Wow. How did I let two months go by without a post? I had a pretty good record there for a while though :P

Work has been busy - I finally left the job at the mall yesterday and had a big celebration from which I'm still on a high. That means more time at Eagle Eye, my home away from home.

For those of you who have visited Eagle Eye recently, we have had very limited hours due to the optician, Melaina, dealing with some personal challenges and me being committed to work at other locations. I apologize to anyone who hasn't received prompt attention. We're always devoted to giving the best service and appreciate your understanding.

Otherwise, I'm working on the next vision tip. If anyone has any requests, email me at eyedocto@gmail.com.

Enjoy the blossoms and the sun - with your UV-protected eyewear on.

Computers and Eyestrain - the way we use our eyes these days

With all the time we spend in front of our computer monitors these days, we don't realize how much strain we put on our eyes and how simple it can be to keep our eye muscles happy.

Unless you are nearsighted in the exact degree that matches the distance of your computer, your focusing muscles are working when you look up close without additional correction. Eyes were made to focus, but not for hours at a time as most of us are doing, both at work, then once we get home, too.

Signs and Symptoms of Eyestrain:

• Soreness - eyes, neck, headache
• Irritation - burning, itching, watery eyes
• Blurred vision - delayed focus when shifting your gaze between objects, after-images, blurred objects or edges, sensitivity to light

Relief:

• Take eye breaks! We shouldn't be slouched over staring at one distance for more than 20 minutes at a time. Follow the 20/20/20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This allows the focusing muscles to relax.

• Take full body breaks! Your mind and body deserve and need a break, too. Try to stand up and walk around then close your eyes for a few minutes every hour. Here's a relaxing exercise from the mayoclinic website: Place your elbows on your desk, palms facing up; let your weight fall forward and your head fall into your hands; position your head so that your eyebrows rest on the base of your palms with your fingers extended toward your forehead. Close your eyes and take a deep breath through your nose; hold it for 4 seconds, then exhale. Continue for 15 to 30 seconds. Do this several times a day.

• Blink! When we concentrate and stare, we tend not to blink as much. The average person should blink about 12 times a minute. Without a fresh, full tear layer, eyes sting, feel scratchy, and get red. If eyes still feel dry, use preservative-free artificial tears every hour or so, before symptoms begin, to refresh your eyes and prevent the irritation from beginning, when some damage has already been done.

• Wear computer glasses! Using the right prescription strength for the computer distance can relieve your muscles. These glasses or adjusted for that particular distance and would need to be removed to see across the room. Anti-glare coatings can be applied to reduce glare from the monitor.

• Optimize your environment! Keep the top of your screen at eye level or below so you look slightly downward at the monitor. This can help prevent sore neck. Keep your keyboard and reading material directly in front or adjacent to your monitor to reduce the need to adjust focus. Use plenty of light and direct it to reduce glare. Check for glare with your monitor off. The worst glare usually comes from light directly above or behind you. Wipe the dust off your screen regularly and consider using a glare-reducing screen.

If you experience further discomfort, schedule an appointment for a thorough evaluation.

Dry Eyes - more and more common

Many of us suffer from dry eyes, including myself. That burning sensation, overly teary eyes, redness, scratchiness, even blurred vision and pain can be from insufficient or unhealthy tears.


Tear chemistry: Our tears are made of 3 components.
1. Oil from the Meibomian glands in our eyelids. This component is the outermost layer of the tear film and works to slow evaporation.
2. Aqueous which is the watery middle layer, produced in the tear gland.
3. Mucin, the layer closest to the eye which coats the cornea and to which the aqueous sticks.

If any of these components are lacking, the imbalance can lead to dryness.

Treatments: Simple things you can do on your own.
1. Warm compresses (or washcloths soaked in warm water and wrung dry) twice a day for 5 -10 minutes a day. Gently massage your closed lids with the compresses to open up the oil glands and encourage flow.
2. Lid hygiene using a mild soap like diluted baby shampoo (no more tears) to gently scrub the lash line and keep that area clear of debris.
3. Artificial tears, preferably preservative-free, used periodically throughout the day, depending on severity of symptoms. Often when your eyes feel dry, the damage has been done and it takes a couple days for your cornea to heal. Try to use artificial tears before the symptoms start, preventing the discomfort to begin with. If you find yourself using artificial tears more than four times a day, please use preservative free since extensive preservatives administered to the eye can actually cause the symptoms of dryness. Severe dry eye may merit lubricating ointment at night for sustained protection.
4. Evaluate your diet. Do you drink 6 - 8 glasses of water a day? Sodas, caffeine and alcohol as well as some medications can promote dry eye.
Fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines, halibut, cod), soy and flaxseed provide essential fatty acids, Omega-3 and -6, to protect cells and stabilize the tear film. A good supplement is 500 mg of fish oil or flaxseed oil twice a day with meals. B Vitamins (green leafy vegetables) tend to build up membrane tissues.
5. Evaluate your environment and activity. Cold temperature and dry air can cause irritation. Consider using a humidifier. Reading, driving, and computers for extended periods of time can dry your eyes from the tendency not to blink. Remind yourself to blink when you're engaged in concentrated staring.
Treatments: If all that isn't enough, I can help.
1. Punctal Plugs are small plastic plugs that are inserted by your eye doctor to block the drainage path that leads from your eye to your nose. These are permanent, though they may fall out, but can be removed.
2. Some dry eyes are caused by low grade inflammation. Medications like Restasis can be prescribed for use twice a day and need to be used for a few weeks consistent for results.

Welcome to the new blog for Dr. Summy To, Optometry!

I'm writing this blog as another way to connect to my clients as a doctor as well as a member of the community. I hope to post something new every two to four weeks . Postings will be anything from technological and medical news to updates on the growth of the business to expressing my personal thoughts and inviting yours as well. Please feel free to leave comments and suggestions.

Happy 2008 to everyone! May it be filled with clarity, vision and focus! Come see me if it isn't! :)