Study links low levels of vitamin D to high blood pressure

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that teenagers with the lowest vitamin D levels were more than twice as likely to have high blood pressure and blood sugar and were four times more likely to have metabolic syndrome, defined as having three or more conditions that contribute to heart disease and diabetes including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, big waists and high cholesterol.

Pterygia- Causes and treatment

The fleshy growth that often covers the corner of the cornea is called a pterygium. It usually remains small, but may grow to interfere with the center of the cornea and thus decrease vision. The precise cause is not known but ultraviolet light plays a role and at times this causes the growth of the pterygia toward the center of the cornea. In addition to the sunlight, wind, dust and eye irritation are common causes. The growth actually begins on the conjunctiva (lining of the white part or sclera). The condition can be treated with steroid drops but if it becomes large enough it may be surgically removed.

Shopping for Sunglasses

Wearing proper sunglasses is essential for protecting your eyes from the sun. There are many different types of sunglasses in shapes, sizes and colors. There are sunglasses to suit many different activities including:
Prescription Sunglasses
Polarized Sunglasses
Photochromic (changeable to light levels)
Mirrored Sunglasses

How To Clean Your Eyeglasses

By following these simple tips every day you will prolong the life of your frames and lenses:
1) Rinse your glasses with water before cleaning them which will prevent tiny particles from scratching the lenses.
2) Clean the lenses with an eyeglass spray or liquid cleaner. Gently rub both sides of the lenses and all sides of the frames between you thumb and forefinger.
3) Rinse with lukewarm water and dry the glasses with a soft, lint-free cotton cloth.
4) Never lay your glasses face down
5) Remove your glasses with both hands
6) Always store your glasses in a hard case

Are you putting your eyes at Steak for Macular Degeneration??

According to a study published in the April 2009 issue of American Journal of Epidemiology eating a lot of red meat raises the risk for age-related macular degeneration by 50%! The study examined 6,734 subjects aged 58 to 69 years who lived in Melbourne, Australia concluding that individuals who ate red meat 10 times per week were 50% more likely to develop AMD in old age.

Hypertension and Your Eyes

Just by looking in your eyes during your eye exam your eye doctor can tell a lot about your overall health. Early detection of hypertension or high blood pressure may reduce the long-term costs associated with the disease as well as the complications in the internal structures of the eyes. Hypertension can impact many parts of the body including arteries, heart, brain and kidneys.

7 Good Habits for Eyesight

7 Good Habits for Eyesight
1) Protect Your Eyes with Sunglasses which include anti-reflective (non-glare) coatings, polarization, tint, and UV protection
2) Do Not Smoke
3) Limit Alcoholic Beverages
4) Keep blood sugar within accepted ranges
5) Keep blood pressure and cholesterol under control
6) Eat Antioxidant-rich foods
7) Have regular eye exams

How to Buy Eyeglasses

Choosing eyeglasses is a challenge for some people. Trying to figure out which styles match your appearance or lifestyle can be quite stressful. The following tips should guide you in finding the eyeglasses that fit both you and your lifestyle:
1) Go for a comprehensive eye exam which will also determine your eyeglass prescription.
2) Look at a variety of frames with different colors and shapes
3) Find a qualified optician
4) Consider different lens options

Protect Your Eyes during fireworks displays

Each year over the holiday, thousands of adults and children are seriously injured as a result of fireworks and pyrotechnic devices. Many burns and injuries affect eyesight, permanently damaging and in some cases blinding victims. Believe it or not, sparklers are the highest cause of fireworks injuries requiring trips to the emergency room.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 50% of the injuries are suffered by bystanders not people igniting these devices.

Scientists developing gene therapies to treat retinitis pigmentosa.

Scientists developing gene therapies to treat retinitis pigmentosa.
A neuroscientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ed Boyden, applied his “novel technology” in making nerve cells sensitive to light using it to activate specific neurons damaged in different diseases including retinitis pigmentosa. This technology centers on channelrhodopsin-2, a light-sensitive protein derived from algae. When it is delivered to the brain or eyes via gene therapy it sits on the cell membrane and opens when exposed to light. Then positively charged ions rush into the cell triggering20an electrical message that is transferred to the next cell in the circuit