People who have genetic variations associated with lowering LDL-cholesterol appear to have an increased risk of developing cataracts and having cataract surgery, according to new research published in June 2022 in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA). JAHA is an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association (AHA). Previous research has… Continue reading Cataracts: A Newly Discovered Genetic Link
Category: Vision Health
Understanding the Symptoms and Treatments for Cataracts
June Is Cataract Awareness Month Know the symptoms and treatments. A cataract is a clouding of a lens in your eye. Leading causes are age, smoking, and diabetes, with increased risk from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight and a family history of cataracts. Cataracts may also develop after eye surgery or an eye injury. “Early… Continue reading Understanding the Symptoms and Treatments for Cataracts
Health Tips to Reduce Risks of Age-Related Eye Diseases
September is Healthy Aging Month As people age, they are at higher risk for certain eye diseases and conditions that can cause low vision and impact quality of life. These include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. September is Healthy Aging Month and a great time to talk about preserving vision as… Continue reading Health Tips to Reduce Risks of Age-Related Eye Diseases
What You Should Know about Floaters
Every once in a while – and sometimes more frequently – small dark shapes may float across your vision. They can look like spots, threads, squiggly lines, or even little cobwebs. Most people have these “floaters” that come and go, and they often don’t need treatment. But sometimes floaters can be a sign of a… Continue reading What You Should Know about Floaters
The Trouble with Eyelids
You probably don’t give your eyelids much thought. But many conditions can irritate them. One of the most common issues is called blepharitis. Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelid. It can affect the inside or the outside of the skin that lines the eyes. The condition can make your eyelids red, swollen, irritated, and… Continue reading The Trouble with Eyelids
Direct Injections into Eye Show Promise for Treating Visual Illness
Although most of us shiver at the idea of injecting medicine directly into the eye, that method may work better when it comes to treating the serious eye illness macular edema, research shows. The study, conducted by researchers at a number of institutes including Johns Hopkins and Mount Sinai, was published in the journal Ophthalmology.… Continue reading Direct Injections into Eye Show Promise for Treating Visual Illness
Solar Eclipse Eye Safety Tips from Lighthouse Guild
Excitement continues to build for the solar eclipse that will take place on Monday, August 21. Lighthouse Guild offers five tips to help protect your eyes while watching this extraordinary event. The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or… Continue reading Solar Eclipse Eye Safety Tips from Lighthouse Guild
5 Ways to Protect Your Eyes
Are you paying enough attention to your vision health? Think About Your Eyes, a national public awareness campaign presented by The Vision Council and the American Optometric Association, has some suggestions for essential eye care: “Watch” What You Eat: Certain foods can help keep eyes healthy. The antioxidants in coffee are beneficial to eye health,… Continue reading 5 Ways to Protect Your Eyes
Fish May Hold the Key to Curing Eye Illnesses
New research has raised the possibility that human retinas may someday be induced to regenerate themselves, thus restoring vision. Fish retinas have this self-regeneration ability, and it was while investigating the phenomenon in zebrafish that biologists from Vanderbilt University discovered a “signal” that appears to trigger the self-repair process. If confirmed by follow-up studies, the… Continue reading Fish May Hold the Key to Curing Eye Illnesses
Routine Eye Exams Lead to Change in Vision Care
Do you really need to get your eyes checked–even if you haven’t noticed any vision problems or eye-related symptoms? More than half of routine eye examinations in asymptomatic patients lead to a change in vision prescription or other changes in care, according to a study in the June 2016 issue of Optometry and Vision Science,… Continue reading Routine Eye Exams Lead to Change in Vision Care
Good Contact Lens Care = Good Eye Health
So many of us (30 million, actually) wear contact lenses that it’s easy to think of them almost as a natural part of the eye—and something that doesn’t need a lot of our attention. But while contacts are usually safe and effective, they do carry some risks, including serious infections, if you don’t care for… Continue reading Good Contact Lens Care = Good Eye Health