Simple Tips for Healthy Eyes

http://www.nei.nih.gov/healthyeyes/eyehealthtips.asp

Your eyes are an important part of your health. There are many things you can do to keep them healthy and make sure you are seeing your best. Follow these simple steps for maintaining healthy eyes well into your golden years.

Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. You might think your vision is fine or that your eyes are healthy, but visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really be sure. When it comes to common vision problems, some people don抰 realize they could see better with glasses or contact lenses. In addition, many common eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and age-related macular degeneration often have no warning signs. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages.

During a comprehensive dilated eye exam, your eye care professional places drops in your eyes to dilate, or widen, the pupil to allow more light to enter the eye the same way an open door lets more light into a dark room. This enables your eye care professional to get a good look at the back of the eyes and examine them for any signs of damage or disease. Your eye care professional is the only one who can determine if your eyes are healthy and if you抮e seeing your best.

Know your family抯 eye health history. Talk to your family members about their eye health history. It抯 important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with a disease or condition since many are hereditary. This will help to determine if you are at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition.

Eat right to protect your sight. You抳e heard carrots are good for your eyes. But eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale, or collard greens is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too.ⁱ Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. If you are having trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your doctor.

Wear protective eyewear. Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for a certain activity. Most protective eyewear lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times stronger than other plastics. Many eye care providers sell protective eyewear, as do some sporting goods stores.

Quit smoking or never start. Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. Research has linked smoking to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to blindness.^{ii, iii}

Be cool and wear your shades. Sunglasses are a great fashion accessory, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun抯 ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.

Clean your hands and your contact lenses梡roperly. To avoid the risk of infection, always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as instructed and replace them as appropriate.

Practice workplace eye safety. Employers are required to provide a safe work environment. When protective eyewear is required as a part of your job, make a habit of wearing the appropriate type at all times and encourage your coworkers to do the same.

Vision Care acupuncture FAQ

Notice: all words here come from Binbin Zhang, if you want to forward, please let me know. Thank you.

Do eyes problems can be healed by alternative way?

YES. When I do a lot of research about how acupuncture can help people’s eyes in natural way, most report shows it does work well. According to Chinese medicine system, eyes problems are related to the whole body, not only eyes.

Does it working well? Why you do eyes acupuncture?

Yes.

My first experience which is acupuncture for visions care since 2006 in Beijing, I was a practitioner in an eyes acupuncture clinic in Beijing, they are specialised in Myopia and Amblyopic. Since then, I am interested in eyes acupuncture. 

I love acupuncture and I will do it in my whole life. So I try my best to do it.

I do more practice about acupuncture for more eyes problems (like dry eyes, eyes fatigue…) is started my family members first, and then my friends and regular patients…… the result is surprising. So it does working well.

Maybe it is new for Australian, but I get more support. According to more and more people support my acupuncture to treat eyes problems; I hope it can help more and more people with eyes problems in natural way in Australia. 

What kinds of problems can be used in your acupuncture in My Acupuncture clinic?

Well, right now in MY ACUPUNCTURE clinic, we use acupuncture to treat Myopia, Amblyopic, Dry Eyes, Asthenopia (eyes fatigue), Optic Neuritis, Diabetic Retinopathy, Optic Nerve Atrophy, Macular Degeneration, and Glaucoma.

How many times pr week I come to do acupuncture for my eyes problems?

Best result is 3 times pr week to improve fast. For protect your eyes, you come 1-2 times pr week is fine. 

Do I have to bring my eyes examination results?

If you have, please bring your result when you come for your initial consultation. The eyes examination results like your past Optometrist Diagnosis or eyes specialist’s diagnosis is needed.


How long should I take for one session?

30 ~ 45 minutes for one session.

Will you put your needle inside my eyes?

No, no needle inside your eyes, mostly on your hands and feet. You can sit on a bed or sleep, it’s up to you.

How many sessions should I do?

It depends on your eyes condition.

Where is your clinic?

It located in Shop1A/102-106 Boyce Road, Maroubra, 2035, which is in the corner of Boyce Road and Bruce Bennettes Place. Contact Binbin 0451262035.

Prevention and Early Detection for AMD

                        http://www.amdalliance.org/

Given that there is currently no cure for AMD, and treatment options are limited to therapies to halt the progress of the condition, prevention needs to be a key objective. Even though the precise causes of AMD remain unknown, there are a number of risk factors that contribute to the likelihood of developing AMD.

Whether we are dealing with avoidable risk factors (such as smoking or poor diet) or unavoidable risk factors (such as increased age and genetic predisposition) it is essential to raise awareness in the general population so that people can make informed lifestyle choices.

Early Detection

Whether or not people fall in one of the high risk categories, a key message needs to be the importance of early detection. Wet AMD can lead to severe sight loss within as little as three months (anecdotal evidence suggests as little as a few days in some extreme cases). Early detection ensures that all treatment options remain available. Regular eye tests are therefore an absolute necessity.

To find out how you can spot first signs of AMD please go to the “Check your eyesight” page of this site. However, please note that only a trained professional can establish whether or not you have symptoms of AMD. So if in doubt, make an appointment with your eye doctor.

The earlier AMD is diagnosed, the better the chances of preventing vision loss in those types of AMD that respond to treatment. The eye exam might include the following tests:

VISUAL ACUITY TEST

This measures how well you see at various distances.

PUPIL DILATION

Enabling your eye care professional to see more of the retina and look for signs of AMD. To do this, drops are placed into the eye to dilate (widen) the pupil. After the examination, your vision may remain blurred for several hours.

OPTHALMOSCOPE

By shining a small light into the back of your eye, the doctor is looking for the presence of drusen, the most common early sign of AMD. The presence of drusen alone does not indicate a disease, but it might mean that the eye is at risk for developing more severe AMD.

Early detection is key for effectively treating AMD.

Amsler Grid

While conducting the eye exam, your doctor may ask you to look at an Amsler Grid. This grid is a pattern that resembles a checkerboard. You will be asked to cover one eye and stare at a black dot in the center of the grid. While staring at the dot, you may notice that the straight lines in the pattern appear wavy to you. You may notice that some of the lines are missing. These may be signs of wet AMD.

If your eye care professional suspects you have wet AMD, you may need to have a test called fluorescein angiography. In this test, a special dye is injected into a vein in your arm. Pictures are then taken as the dye passes through the blood vessels in the retina. The photos help your eye doctor evaluate leaking blood vessels to determine whether they can be treated.
The Amsler Grid is a chart that may be helpful in revealing signs of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD); however, it is not a substitute for regularly scheduled eye exams. The chart looks like a piece of paper with dark lines that form a square grid with one dot in the middle.

 

Prevention

There is growing evidence that by improving your diet, you may also improve the health of your eyes. Research has suggested an association between macular degeneration and a high saturated fat diet.

There is also evidence that eating fresh fruits and dark green, leafy vegetables – foods rich in vitamins C and E, selenium, and carotenoids (including beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin) – may delay or reduce the severity of AMD.

Foods to Enjoy

Eat the freshest and brightest fruits and vegetables. Pick the most colorful vegetables and fruits you can find - red, dark green, orange, or yellow. These foods play a key role in keeping your eyes healthy:

• Carrots
• Corn
• Kiwi
• Pumpkin
• Yellow squash
• Zucchini squash
• Red grapes
• Green peas
• Cucumber
• Butternut squash
• Green bell pepper
• Celery
• Cantaloupe
• Sweet potatoes
• Dried apricots
• Tomato and tomato products
• Dark green leafy vegetables
• Spinach
• Kale
• Turnips
• Collard greens

Fish

Eating fatty fish such as salmon, tuna or mackerel two to three times per week can slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) according to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

This research further confirms earlier studies that suggested eating fish can help reduce the risk of getting AMD and demonstrates that some of those already affected by the disease can benefit as well.

Nuts

Nuts not only contain Omega-3 fatty acids, but also copper which can play a role in preventing age-related eye diseases. Even just a handful of nuts at two or three times a week can reduce your risk of AMD.

Foods to Avoid

A high-fat, high-cholesterol diet can lead to fatty plaque deposits in the macular vessels, which can hamper blood flow and increase the risk of AMD. A diet low in fat promotes good eye health. Skip foods and processed baked goods with high-fat content. In addition recent research has indicated that those consuming red meat (10 times a week or more) were at 47% higher risk for macular degeneration.

Vitamins and Supplements

The National Eye Institute’s Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that taking a specific high-dose formulation of antioxidants and zinc significantly reduces the risk of advanced AMD and its associated vision loss. Slowing AMD’s progression from the intermediate stage to the advanced stage will save the vision of many people.

People who should consider taking the combination of antioxidants plus zinc include those who are at high risk for developing advanced AMD. These people are defined as having either:

1. Intermediate AMD in one or both eyes. Intermediate AMD is defined as the presence of either many medium-sized drusen or one or more large drusen.
2. Advanced AMD in one eye, but not the other eye. Advanced AMD is defined as either a breakdown of light-sensitive cells and supporting tissue in the central retinal area (advanced dry form), or the development of abnormal and fragile blood vessels under the retina (wet form) that can leak fluid or bleed. Either of these forms of advanced AMD can cause vision loss. Ask you doctor if taking this special formulation is right for you and where you can obtain the specific formula in your country.

The doses used in the study were:

• Vitamin C 500 mg
• Vitamin E 400 IU
• Beta-carotene 15 mg (approximately 25,000 IU)
• Zinc 80 mg, as zinc oxide
• Copper 2 mg, as cupric oxide (copper should be taken with zinc, because high-dose zinc is associated with copper deficiency.)

While most patients in the study experienced no serious side effects from the doses of zinc and antioxidants used, a few taking zinc alone had urinary tract problems that required hospitalization. Some patients taking large doses of antioxidants experienced some yellowing of the skin. Some supplements may interfere with each other or other medications. Smokers and former smokers should not take beta-carotene, as studies have shown a link between beta-carotene use and lung cancer among smokers. The long-term effects of taking large doses of these supplements are still unknown.
Again, before embarking on a vitamin supplement program, consult with your eye care professional and follow his or her dosage recommendations carefully.

Additional Recommended Preventative Measures

No Smoking! Various studies show a correlation between smoking and AMD. Some studies suggest that people who smoke may be three to four times more likely to have AMD. Exercise. Studies have shown that exercise can reduce risk of AMD and slow the progression of the disease as well. Control your body weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Protect your eyes! There is some evidence that light exposure may be associated with a higher risk of developing AMD. Wear sunglasses, especially in strong light.

 

Eyes Healing in My Acupuncture clinic

               www.myacupuncture.org              Binbin Zhang


There are more than 5000 years for people use Acupuncture and Chinese medicine to treat eyes diseases in China.

Acupuncture treats patients through energy pathways called meridians in the body. The practice aims to restore the body's normal balance and flow of energy, so that organs and systems can work together in harmony to repair the body and maintain health.

In Australia, people turn to acupuncture and other holistic remedies to treat numerous conditions such as allergies, migraines, digestive problems and more, but what about the eyes? When people are faced with an eye condition like myopia or dry eyes, a holistic treatment probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind.

“For many who suffer from these degenerative eye conditions, acupuncture and Oriental medicine may be the last and only hope. Conventional medicine has little to offer people suffering with conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and retinitis pigmentosa.

Acupuncture can offer so much and it is our duty as active practitioners to educate the public about the benefits. The more people know, the more people we can help.

Putting drugs in, and/or taking organs out is just not acceptable mainstream therapy anymore. People want more, and they deserve better. Through acupuncture and natural healing "cure" can be achieved without drugs, without surgery.”

In My Acupuncture clinic, Binbin uses acupuncture and Chinese medicine to help people improve their vision. Your vision is our mission.

Our eyes healing treatments include:

• Myopia 近视

• Amblyopic 弱视

• Dry Eyes  干眼症

• Asthenopia (eyes fatigue) 视疲劳

• Optic Neuritis  视神经炎

• Diabetic Retinopathy  糖尿病视网膜病变

• Optic Nerve Atrophy  视神经萎缩

• Macular Degeneration    黄斑病变

• Glaucoma     青光眼

 • Potsis     上睑下垂

Chinese Herbal Medicine

Unlike western medications, Chinese herbs are selected to address both acute symptoms and the patient’s underlying condition, and are free from unwanted side effects.