With the wide selection of lutein products, some people become skeptical about the effectiveness of these products in various forms. Some sellers make promising claims about their lutein products, but people with poor vision may wonder whether lutein will actually improve vision.
In fact, lutein products can only help patients with bad vision, which is exactly caused by a lutein deficiency. Lutein in the eyes can protect eye tissue from the damage caused by free radicals, which are highly reactive atoms. These free radicals in the eye act on other healthy atoms and damage them, because they require a supply of free electrons. Lutein can effectively fight against these radicals.
In either dry or wet form, age-related macular degeneration is the most common result of these reactive radicals, especially in elderly individuals. And lutein has been found to reverse macular degeneration by combating these radicals and thus improve overall eyesight.
Accounting for 80% of vision defects, dry form of AMD is usually caused by abnormal growth of blood vessels below the retina, which in turn results from reactive chemicals in the tissue. Fortunately, lutein supplements have proven to reverse this condition a lot.
In fact, lutein acts like a neutralizing agent and prevents harmful light rays from damaging the tissue in the macula, which is situated in the center of the retina. As a result, a deficiency of lutein can lead to eye tissue damage.
Lutein is actually only one of the 600 carotenoids in the nature and it is the only one present in the macula of the eye. This lucky carotenoid is available from all the green leafy vegetables consumed by ordinary people every day. A healthy way is to take lutein by eating a nutritious meal every day, including lots of fruits and vegetables.
However, some people have no time to maintain such a balanced diet but they also want to get enough lutein every day. Nutritional supplements are a good choice for those people. It is important to strictly follow the doctor’s instructions on the dosage of these supplements and the way they are administered.
reference
·Lutein and zeaxanthin for healthy eyes
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Just as the name reflects, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been a severe eye disease among people over 65. The estimated number of AMD affected Americans is 3 million by 2020. As a part of the retina, macula is responsible for sharp and central vision, so that AMD may lead to vision loss.
There are generally two types: dry AMD and wet AMD, the former of which accounts for about 85-90 percent. Obvious symptoms of dry AMD include yellowish spots from deposits or debris from deteriorating tissue around the macula. Both macular tissue aging and thinning and pigment depositing can lead to dry AMD. Studies show that vitamin A, C and E may help prevent or slow progression of dry AMD. Dry AMD patients are also advised to wear sunglasses when outdoors. People with wet AMD have more severe problems: new blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid, which damage light-sensitive retinal cells. Wet AMD is caused by the body’s misguided attempt to supply more nutrients and oxygen to the retina, which instead causes scarring and potential vision loss. Occult wet AMD has light blood leakage and less vision loss danger, while classic wet AMD has clear scarring and more vision loss danger.
If you have AMD, your central vision has shadowy areas. During a retinal exam, the doctor may detect early signs of AMD and then an Amsler grid can be used to measure your central vision. For a further affirmation, your retinal blood vessels surrounding the macula will be examined. Many researches have showed that macular degeneration is mostly caused by aging and eye tissue deterioration. Other confirmed or potential risk factors for AMD include drug side effects, smoking, family ADM history, high blood pressure, lighter eye color, obesity, over-exposure to UV lights, fat diet and so on.
AMD-affected people in their 90 develop vision loss at a possibility that is 15 times of that for people in their 60s. And overweight patients have a risk of advanced ADM that is double of that for people with normal body weight. Gene variants are also related to AMD, which is known as family disease. Smoking is reported to bring higher rates of vision loss on ADM patients. AMD occurs more frequently in whites, so that people with lighter eye color are suspected to suffer AMD at a higher incidence. Toxic drugs such as Aralen and phenothiazine may cause side effects that lead to AMD.
Currently, no outright cure is available for AMD. For dry AMD, FDA has never approved any treatment, although nutritional intervention may slow its progression. Those nutrients include zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin A, C, and E. For wet AMD, FDA has approved drugs including Lucentis, Macugen and Visudyne to stop or slow abnormal blood vessel growth.
Since complete recovery from vision loss caused by ADM is impossible, regular Amsler grid tests are useful to detect underlying AMD risk. For people with vision loss, many low vision devices such as magnifying glasses are available.
this article is come from: http://vision.firmoo.com/eye-diseases/causes-and-treatments-for-macular-degeneration.html
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When in 1946 a German ophthalmologist named Gerd Meyer-Schwickerath used the focused light beam from a xenon arc lamp to perform a retinal coagulation on a human eye, his procedure completely revolutionized the world of ophthalmology. Light is noninvasive when it comes to reaching internal eye structures. That’s why, when Theodore Maiman tested the first successful laser in 1960, the optometry industry quickly began to research and develop ways of using this new technology. The lasers used in optometry today are incredibly precise and sophisticated. Computer software has made them especially powerful and accurate. Here are five of the most commonly used lasers in the field.
Femtosecond laser
The microkeratome blade is an uber-precise mechanical shaver that cuts a thin flap of exterior cornea during laser surgery. The femtosecond laser performs the same task as the microkeratome blade, but without the risks inherent. All-laser surgery minimizes healing period and reduces post-surgical discomfort.
Nd: YAG laser
A solid state laser, the YAG laser is one of the most commonly used lasers in optometry and in other medical procedures as well. Its typical wavelength is around 1054 mm and it can be used in pulse as well as continuous mode. Cataract surgery and peripheral iridotomy use YAG lasers. At higher frequency, the laser can be used for photocoagulation.
Krypton laser
Krypton lasers are a type of gas laser that employ krypton ions as gain mediums. They are commonly used in the treatment of macular degeneration, a disease that often affects the elderly and results in a loss of one’s central field of vision due to retinal damage.
Excimer laser
The excimer laser is the most widely used laser in the field of ophthalmology. It is extremely precise and, rather than burn through matter, it creates enough energy to break the molecular bonds holding matter together, so that the tissue it targets literally disintegrates into the air without affecting the remaining eye tissue.
Argon laser
Because it can be emitted at various different wavelengths in the ultraviolet spectrum, the argon laser is versatile in its uses. Discovered by laser technology pioneer William R. Bennett in the 1960s, it is commonly used in diabetic retinopathy, panretinal photocoagulation and open-angle glaucoma.
The history of ophthalmology has revolutionized since 1946, read about the ophthalmic equipment and the newest technology at Nidek.
Ryan Frank is a 23 year writer and blogger living in San Diego, CA
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/vision-articles/5-lasers-commonly-used-in-ophthalmology-1047017.html
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