Improving My Eyesight

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Hello all….

I wanted to share two useful websites with you.This is courtesy the Program For Better Vision.

Firstly, let’s define what a behavioral optometrist is…

A  behavioral optometrist is a doctor who believes that how you see is the result of how you have learned to use your eyes and that visual skills - including how clearly you can see - can be enhanced through exercise, relaxation and training. He/she has received specialized training, can give you a comprehensive examination and can perform all the required tests.

Of course, a behavioral optometrist, like a regular optometrist, can prescribe glasses and contacts. But a behavioral optometrist would be more likely to comply with your request for an undercorrected prescription (a weaker pair of glasses or contacts that allows your eyes to benefit from a natural vision improvement program).

In addition, a behavioral optometrist can provide a program of training that improves overall visual functioning.

Here are two sites which allow you to search and find behavioral optometrist:

College of Optometrists in Vision Development

Optometric Extension Program Foundation

Hope this helps…

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I got this very interesting article from the Rebuild Your Vision Newsletter today, and I wanted to share it with you guys…

The article relates some information about LASIK. It’s a bit to read, but quite interesting…

It seems so easy—you’re tired of wearing glasses or contacts; tired of waking up in the morning and not being able to see the alarm clock; tired of having to squint to see street signs or holding the menu at arm’s length just to order a meal. So you drive to the nearest of several Lasik centers near you, lured by the promise of “Personalized Vision Correction,” a “Lifetime Satisfaction Plan,” even “NO MONEY DOWN! No interest til 2010!!” You’re a little bit afraid to “go under the knife,” but you console yourself by imagining what it would be like to wake up and see clearly, painlessly, throughout the day—each day, every day.

It’s a seductive vision (pun intended), but the reality, as revealed at a hearing organized by the Food and Drug Administration this past April, is not just ugly, but literally painful and painfully complicated.

As in, complications from surgery. Horrible complications.

From the New York Times:
Patients harmed by Lasik eye surgery alternated between fury and despair Friday as they told federal health officials of suffering years of eye pain, blurred or double vision—even of people driven to suicide.

From the Washington Post:
“Since Lasik, I am visually handicapped,” patient David Shell told [the] panel … “My eyes never feel comfortable … 10 years have passed and I still suffer from this problem,” Shell said.

From eFlux Media:
“I have no night vision. I can’t drive at night. When I look across my living room, it’s like looking through used wax paper,” said Barbara Berney, who underwent the procedure in 2001 and now is president of the Vision Surgery Rehab Network, which helps patients who have experienced complications. “I deal with people every day who are miserable and depressed after Lasik surgery.”

Turns out that, of the estimated 700,000 Americans who undergo the procedure each year, many more are reporting post-Lasik problems than the industry’s self-proclaimed “95 percent satisfaction rate” would have us believe. Here is a partial list of complications:

* “Starbursts and halos that make it difficult to see” (Post)
* Poor vision even with glasses
* Complete lack of night vision
* Extreme blurriness, haze, glare
* “Dry eye … so severe that people suffer intense pain and need surgery to retain what little moisture their eyes form” (Times)
* Depression and other psychological problems

That a Lasik patient could still have 20/20 vision while experiencing these complications—and thus be claimed as a “success story” by the Lasik industry—is part of what Matt Kotsovolos describes as “a deceptive industry practice.” Kotsovolos underwent a so-called successful Lasik procedure, but testified at the FDA hearings that “For the last two years I have suffered debilitating and unremitting eye pain.” It seems pretty obvious that ongoing serious eye pain would trump any claim to “perfect” vision, but the industry statistics are, well, fuzzy, to say the least. Although the FDA convened the panel precisely to ascertain “the range of effects on patients’ quality of life,” which hitherto had been “a big unknown,” the panel ended up concluding that “Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is safe and well accepted,” according to MedPage Today.

Ah, but like those inadvertently hilarious TV commercials for miracle drugs with a list of side effects that take longer to announce than the benefits of the drugs themselves, the panel recommended these caveats to those seeking Lasik (from MedPage Today):

* The panel suggested labeling changes to more fully state what and how problems can occur, including extreme blurriness, haze, glare, halos, and starbursts. It also suggested that the label take note of possible depression or psychological problems.

* The panel also recommended that the FDA’s LASIK Web site should include photographic illustrations of visual disability, detailed statistics as to risk of side-effects or complications, and an expanded explanation of the benefits of LASIK, i.e., that improving distance vision will mean the need for reading glasses.

Caveat emptor, as they say: Buyer beware. When you consider not only Lasik’s potential horrific side effects but also that you’re paying anywhere from $2,000 to $2,500 an eye for the possibility of ruining your sight, squinting at street signs or holding the menu at arm’s length doesn’t sound so bad. Of course, there’s another option—with NO side effects and for a fraction of the cost—but it requires a little bit more work than just strolling into surgery. It’s called “Eye Exercises for Natural Vision Correction.” And no FDA panel has ever had to be convened for that!

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Yesterday I was searching on a news site for information on vision improvement, eye exercises, etc…

I found quite a number of articles and videos, such as this one on computer vision syndrome…

I will post the other videos/articles over the coming days.

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This is useful tip I got from the Program For Better Vision Newsletter, that I would like to share. It’s about using sunlight to nourish and relax your eyes… Try it!

It’s called The Sun Cycle Exercise and addition to nourishing and relaxing your eyes, it also reduces your sensitivity to light.

Here are the Instructions:

1. Close your eyes and face toward the sun. (If you cannot face the sun with your eyes closed without squinting or tightening your facial muscles, then begin the Sun Cycle by facing slightly away from the sun so that your face and closed eyes can relax. Then, as you become more accustomed to the light, gradually turn closer and closer towards the sun.)

2. Let the sunlight fall on your closed eyes for five seconds.

3. Place your cupped palms over your closed eyes, shutting out all light for five more seconds, then take your hands away, keeping your eyes closed.

4. Repeat steps 1 - 3 ten to twenty times, for a total of three to five minutes.

The Sun Cycle helps to nourish your visual system, exercise the focusing muscles of the eyes and reduce sensitivity to light and glare.

Practice the Sun Cycle regularly. Most people experience a decrease in sensitivity within twenty to thirty days.

And here are some additional tips:

To get the light nourishment that your eyes and body need, spend at least 30 minutes a day outdoors - without glasses or contacts - so that your visual system can receive unfiltered sunlight. Any glass - window glass, car windshield, eyeglasses or contacts - filters part of the full spectrum of light and reduces the beneficial effect that sunlight has on your eyes and body.

We recommend sunglasses only in situations of glare or reflected light (the beach or ski slopes).

Your eyes most fully rest in total darkness. The best way to rest your eyes is to close them and place your cupped palms over your closed eyes. You can palm for as little as 30 - 40 seconds any time that your eyes feel tired or strained. While palming, it is also helpful to visualize a pleasant scene in your mind’s eye.

If you find this tip useful, then consider signing up for the Program For Better Vision Newsletter…

William

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Today’s recommendations are about protecting your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun.

Sunglasses should be a part of your daily attire. Here’s what to look for in a good pair of sunglasses:

Expensive does not always mean protective.

What really counts is the degree to which the lenses filter out UV rays. Make sure your sunglasses have a statement on the label telling you how much UV protection they offer. The American Optometric Association offers a Seal of Acceptance for sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UV radiation. Look for this seal to be sure you are getting the maximum protection.

Darker is not always better.

Although it would seem that the darker the sunglasses, the more light they block, in fact dark sunglasses may still allow UV rays to enter the eye. They can even be more harmful than wearing no glasses at all, because they cause the pupil of the eye to dilate, which allows more UV rays to enter. It’s a special coating on the lens that makes them safe, not their darkness.

Choose the special feature that’s right for you.

Polarizing lenses, which reflect glare from snow, water, and roads, are good for skiers, boaters, and cyclists. Photochromic lenses darken or lighten with the amount of light present and may be useful if weather conditions are erratic. Mirror coatings are best for intense glare (snow or water). Wraparound and close-fitting frames block more glare, wind, and debris around the sides of the eyes.

 Take Care of your eyes…

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Today, let’s talk about ways to improve the health of your eyes through getting the proper nutrients.

There’s no doubt that lack of certain nutrients can lead to vision problems. The research behind the beneficial effects of certain vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements to your eyes is endless. Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Bilberry, Chromium, Copper Gluconate, Eyebright, Ginkgo Biloba, Glutathione, Lutein (containing Zeaxanthin), N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), Quercetin, Rutin, Selenium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Zinc all play an important role in vision health.

These nutrients can improve the clarity of your vision, increase blood flow and nutrient delivery to your eyes, and help to prevent potentially blinding conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts.

To learn more about nutrition and your eyes, you can read these articles:

1. Nutrition and Eye Health
2. Vitamin Supplement For Your Eyes

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about ways to protect your eyes..

William

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I recently received an email from RebuildYourVision.com about ways that you can improve the health of your eyesight. I found the email quite interesting and decided to share it. There are basically three parts -

1. Things you should do when using computers
2. Things you should eat to nourish your eyes
3. Things you should do to protect your eyes

In this first part I will tell you about computers and your eyes:

Monitor Position: Repositioning your monitor is an easy and effective way to avoid awkward head or eye movements. It should be squarely in front of you at a distance of 18 to 28 inches, with the top of the monitor (not the screen) level with your eyes. You may also have to adjust the angle of your monitor to allow your eyes to remain in a natural position (straight ahead and slightly down). The ideal viewing angle is 10 to 20 degrees below your eye level.

Glare: Adjust blinds or curtains to minimize sunlight. Turn down overhead lights so that the brightness of the screen and the surrounding room are balanced. Do not, however, work in the dark: the contrast between computer-generated light and lack of background light strains the eyes.

The 10-10-10 Rule: Every time you are performing close vision work for over 10 consecutive minutes, look up and focus on anything that is at least 10 feet away, for at least 10 seconds.

You can also learn more about reducing the effects of computer use on your eyes by reading this article - “Computers and Your Eyes“.

In the next post I’ll talk about things you can eat to nourish you eyes

Till next time,

William

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Here is an article about the effects of watching too much television on your health including your eyesight. There article is about children, but I expect that the effects on adults would be similar. Sorry about the advertisement next to the article.

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I recently received an email from the Cambridge Institute for Better Vision. They are responsible for another eye exercises program called “Program For Better Vision“.

They are going to be conducting an eyesight improvement project in the near future, and they asked if I wanted to be a part of it. Well I decided to participate…

Here is an copy of the email…

Hi! - Martin Sussman here.

I invite you to be a part of a research project on
nearsightedness. It’s easy to participate - you can do
it from your home - and it will help advance the
understanding of how to change vision.

Contact Ms. Yarboro directly if you’re interested
(her email is below.)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
for
STUDY ON EYESIGHT

Do you have 20/20 (normal) vision?
OR
Trouble seeing at a distance (nearsighted)?
And…
* 18-65 years of age
* Never had eye surgery
* Not wear bifocal/trifocal lenses?

Why? To be part of a research study on eyesight.

What? Simply fill out two multiple choice surveys.
Takes less than 45 minutes!

Where? In your own home! All materials mailed to your home.

When? Now through June 15th, 2007

Cost? NONE - other than under 45 minutes of your time.

Your name will be entered into a drawing
for a $50.00 Visa gift card.
Guaranteed at least a 1 in 25 chance of winning!

Just a little of your time could help to
advance research on vision
and may help to improve current treatments
for nearsightedness.
Final results of this study will be
mailed to all participants.

If you are interested in participating
or have any questions,
please contact Katherine Yarboro, Doctoral Candidate,
Holos University Graduate Seminary.
Phone: ***** Email: *****

I hope you can find the time to participate!

Care for your eyes,

Martin Sussman
founder
Cambridge Institute for Better Vision

I will of course be posting my experience with the project on the blog. You can also check out the “Program for Better Vision“

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I found an interesting article about a link between eye exercises and your memory.

The article talks about a small study, the conclusion of which is that eye exercises can actually boost your memory.

I found it interesting. You can read it here - Eye Exercises Can Boost Your Memory By 10%.

Tomorrow I’ll talk about a natural vision improvement study that I am going to be involved in…

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