Diet & Nutrition

There's no substitute for the quality of life good vision
offers. Adding certain nutrients to your diet every day - either through foods
or supplements - can help save your vision.

Eye Friendly Nutrients that reduce the risk of certain eye diseases, including macular degeneration and cataract formation.

Zinc
Zinc is an essential trace mineral or 'helper molecule.' It plays a vital role in bringing vitamin A from the liver to the retina in order to produce melanin, a protective pigment in the eyes. Zinc is highly concentrated in the eye, mostly in the retina and choroid, the vascular tissue layer under the retina. Zinc is found in meats such as eggs, beef and pork.


Essential Fatty Acids
Fats are a necessary part of the human diet. They maintain the integrity of the nervous system, fuel cells and boost the immune system. Two omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be important for proper visual development and retinal function. Essential fatty acids can be found in fish oils.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E in its most biologically active form is a powerful antioxidant found in uts, fortified cereals and sweet potatoes. It is though to protect cells of the eyes from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals which break down healthy tissue. Vitamin E can be found in nuts, vegetable oil and peanut butter.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an atioxidant found in fruits and vegetables. Scientific evidence suggests vitamin C lowers the risk of developing cataracts, and when taken in combination with other essential nutrients, can slow the progressino of age-related macular degeneration and visual acuity loss.

Lutein & Zeaxanthin

Lutein and zeaxanthin are important nutrients found in green leafy vegetables, as well as other foods, such as eggs. Many studies have shown that lutein and zeaxanthin reduce the risk of chronic eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

Emerging Research

In the last 2 years, eye health research has linked diet and nutrition with a decreased risk of age-related macular degeneration

Information was provided by the American Optometric Associaton. www.a0a.org

Adult Vision Health - Prevent and Manage

It's a fact of life that vision changes as you get older. But these changes don't have to compromise your lifestlye. Knowing what to expect and when to seek professional care are important steps to safeguarding your vision.

Warning Signs of Age Related Eye Health Problems

• Many eye diseases have no early symptoms
• May develop painlessly
• May not be aware of changes to your vision until the condition is quite advanced

Wise lifestyle choices and regular eye exams can significantly improve your
chances of maintaining good eye health even as you age

Affects of Health Problems

Health problems affecting other parts of your body can affect your vision as well. Individuals with Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Medications that have eye related side effects are at greater risk for developing vision problems.

Age-related Eye & Vision Problems

In the years after you turn 60, a number of eye diseases may develop that can change your vision permanently. The earlier these problems are detected and treated, the more likely you can retain good vision.

Age-related Macular Degeneration

• Eye disease affecting the macula (center of the light sensitive retina at the back of the eye)Causes loss of central vision
• Decrease in fine details and colors
• Activities like reading, driving, watching TV and recognizing faces all require good central vision
• Peripheral or side vision remains unaffected
  

Dry Eye

• Happens when there is an insufficient amount of tears or a poor quality of tears to lubricate and nourish the eye
• Tears are essential for maintaining the health of the front surface of the eye
• Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem
  
  
  

Glaucoma

• A group of eye diseases characterized by damage to the optic nerve resulting in field vision loss
• People that are at higher risk of developing Glaucoma are those with a Family History of Glaucoma, African Americans and Older Adults

Diabetic Retinopathy

• Occurs with people who have Diabetes
• A result of progressive damage to the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina
• They leak blood and other fluids that cause swelling and clouding of vision
• Affects both eyes
• The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they will develop diabetic retinopathy, which could lead to blindness if untreated
  

Cataracts

• Cloudy or opaque areas in the normally clear lens of the eye
• Usually they develop in both eyes, but one may be worse than the other
• Cataracts can cause a Decrease in Contrast Sensitivity, a Dulling of Colors, and an Increase in Sensitivity to Glare

Retinal Detachment

• A tearing or seperation of the retina form the underlying tissue
• Cause by Trauma to the Head or Eye, health problems like Advanced Diabetes, Inflammatory Disorders of the Eye, but most often Occurs Spontaneously
• If not treated promptly, it can cause permanent vision loss

- Information in this post was provided by the American Optometric Association - www.aoa.org

Crossroads Senior Center

On October 20 at 11:15, Dr. Kowallis will be giving a presentation for the Seniors in our area at the Crossroads Center in Roosevelt. He will be speaking on the many eye problems that affect those over the age of 60, and how to prevent eye diseases and manage eye health.

Please join us there!

If you aren't able to make it, we will be posting the same information shortly.

Different Look - Same Great Service

For the past 3 years, the staff at the Roosevelt Vision Clinic have been working hard to transform their world of files and stacks of papers to a stream line electronic medical record system. Below, you can see the now empty case that use to be filled to the max with hundreds of patient files that had to be managed daily to keep up of the piles of paper records being created. About a year ago, we started to scan every paper into a electronic system, and in June we finished this seemingly daunting task. But now what to do with the empty case?

So along with an updated record system, we thought we could update the look of our office. This update wouldn't include just our empty file case, it also included new carpet, cabinets, dispensing tables and front desk.

And on July 22, 2010 workers from Karl's Carpet and Country Cabinets turned our office from this (the pictures above) into that (the pictures below).

We also recruited members of our staff's family to assist in our effort to do an over the weekend transformation since we were scheduled to be back in business by the following Monday.

So through out the evening and the next few days, the workers continued to remove and replace pieces of our office that had been the look of the Roosevelt Vision Clinic for the past

15 years.

And on Monday July 26, the office was put back together.


Look forward to future posts about the new look for the Roosevelt Vision Clinic.