Eyesight

Eating Pumpkins, rich in Vitamin A, can help your Eyesight

October 2, 2013 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

The leaves are beginning to turn a beautiful combination of reds, oranges, and yellows; the temperature is steadily dropping; and the days are growing shorter. Fall is finally here, which means Halloween is right around the corner. Children everywhere are already picking out their costumes and dreaming about their pillow case full of candy. Meanwhile, adults everywhere are decorating their homes with an array of spider webs, tombstones, ghosts, goblins, and other such creepy crawlies. These same adults are also dusting off their favorite pumpkin recipes: pumpkin lattes, pumpkin pies, pumpkin bread, and so much more. And not only are these foods delicious, they are also good for you!

Eating Pumpkins, rich in Vitamin A, can help your Eyesight

Did you know that one cup of cooked pumpkin has over 200% of your daily value of vitamin A, a powerful vitamin that helps preserve your vision? Vitamin A is a group of antioxidant compounds that help the surface of the eye (cornea) fight bacteria and viruses, reducing the risk of eye infections. Additional benefits of Vitamin A include:

Vitamin A has been shown to reduce the chances of developing cataracts and macular degeneration.
Vitamin A, which is consumed by our retina in the form of a retinal, also helps in our ability to see in low light.
Vitamin A eye drops have been shown to help treat dry eyes.
Vitamin A, combined with lutein, may even prolong eyesight in people with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye disease that causes gradual deterioration of the eye’s photoreceptor cells, the light-sensitive cells of the retina.

Of course, Vitamin A can never replace the benefits of regular, comprehensive ophthalmologic eye exams from the Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC). Our caring staff is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone. Board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at AAEC have helped preserve thousands of patients’ vision. Let us help you too!

If you have any questions about Vitamin A and your Eyesight or wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Sources:

Heiting, Gary. “Vitamin A and Beta Carotene: Eye Benefits”. All About Vision
Black, RE; Allen, LH; Bhutta, ZA; Caulfield, LE; De Onis, M; Ezzati, M; Mathers, C; Rivera, J et al. (2008). “Maternal and child undernutrition: global and regional exposures and health consequences”. Lancet 371 (9608): 243–60.
Walters, J. (2012, Oct. 12). “5 reasons to eat toasted pumpkin seeds.”
Wolf, G. (2001). “The discovery of the visual function of vitamin A”. Journal of Nutrition 131(6): 1647–1650.

Is there a correlation between Exercise & Eyesight? A 2006 Study says “Yes”

February 15, 2013 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

According to a 2006 study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, exercise may not only help you improve your physical fitness, but it could also save your eyesight. In fact, this study suggests that regular exercise (three or more times a week) can reduce a person’s risk of Age Related Macular Degeneration by as much as 70%.

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative eye disease that damages the central part of the retina, known as the macula, and may eventually permanently distort a person’s central vision. AMD, which is divided into two categories: wet AMD and dry AMD, is the leading cause of severe vision loss in individuals over the age of 60.

Wet AMD: With wet AMD, a growth of abnormal blood vessels underneath the macula leak into the retina.
Dry AMD: With dry AMD, which is the more common of the two forms of AMD, individuals experience deposits called drusen in the macula.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health followed close to 4,000 men and women between the ages of 43 and 85 for 15 years, detailing both their exercise habits and lifestyle. Then, researchers administered comprehensive eye exams every five years to track eye health.

Research Findings: Regular exercise can reduce a person’s risk of Age Related Macular Degeneration by as much as 70%. Researcher M.D. Knudston also suggests other factors, especially diet, could also affect the risk of AMD.

Comprehensive Eye Exams in Annapolis, Maryland

Led by board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Sam Boles, Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC) is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, cataracts and other eye diseases, like Age Related Macular Degeneration. AAEC offers comprehensive ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care.

To learn more about Age Related Macular Degeneration, please contact Dr. Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com. Staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals, our state-of-the-art treatment center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Source:

Exercise may protect Eyesight WebMD
Knudtson, M. British Journal of Ophthalmology, Oct. 31, 2006, online first edition. News release, BMJ Specialist Journals. WebMD Medical Reference in collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic: “Eye Health: Macular Degeneration.”

What You Should Know About Diabetic Retinopathy

July 15, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Diabetes affects more than 23.6 million people in the United States alone – meaning that 7.8% of the population has the disease. Of these individuals, between 40 to 45 percent have some degree of Diabetic Retinopathy, the most common progressive eye disease resulting from long-term diabetes. Diabetic Retinopathy, which damages to the blood vessels in the eye, is also the leading cause of blindness in American adults.

It is extremely important for those with diabetes to not only seek regular medical care, but also regular eye exams (at least once a year), as well. If caught early enough, Diabetic Retinopathy is very treatable. However, if you wait until you experience symptoms of the disease, it may be too late to reverse the damage, though worsening of Diabetic Retinopathy may be slowed with treatment even in advanced stages of the disease.

Symptoms may include:

Blurred vision
Shadows or loss of areas of vision
Difficulty seeing at nighttime

In the early stages of Diabetic Retinopathy, no symptoms occur, making the disease almost impossible to diagnose without the help of a professional. This is why regular eye exams are so important.

There are two types (stages) of the disease:

Non-proliferative (the first stage): Enlarged blood vessels and fluid/blood leaking into the retina cause problems with eyesight.

Proliferative (advanced): New blood vessels form in the eye and hemorrhage, causing scarring on the retina and other parts of the eye. This results in many problems with sight and can lead to complete vision loss.

While new treatment options are in development as scientists work toward a better understanding of this disease, regular eye exams and early detection remain your best options for fighting Diabetic Retinopathy.

If you have any questions, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

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