================================================================= V I S I O N U P D A T E ================================================================= 20 Nov 2003 Issue #26 Promoting Health Through Knowledge Ted Roxan, Editor editor@visionupdate.net ================================================================= IN THIS ISSUE... 1. Feature Article Laser therapy looks good as vision treatment tool 2. Ask the Doctor Talking with the experts 3. News Briefs Sharp Eye, No Laser 4. Relevant Links Important resources. 5. Preventative Medicine Lose Your Glasses ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Feature Article Laser therapy looks good as vision treatment tool Timely laser treatment can mean the difference between sight and blindness for patients with serious eye disease. Last year at Royal Jubilee Hospital, home to the region's ophthalmology services, more than 7,000 such treatments were given to stem the effects of a variety of eye conditions. One of the newest forms of laser treatment, photodynamic laser therapy, is saving the vision of patients with certain forms of macular degeneration, a condition that causes deterioration of the macula, or central part of the retina. The therapy, which prevents leakage from abnormal blood vessels, has been in use for only a little over three years, said ophthalmologist Dr. Stanley Shortt, a retina specialist. He said 40 per cent of people between 43 and 74 will develop some type of age-related macular degeneration. The condition is categorized as either "dry" or "wet", in which fluid leakage tends to occur. No "dry" cases, the least severe of the two forms, and only a portion of "wet" cases can be treated with photodynamic laser therapy. http://www.canada.com/health/story.html?id=7FD4C8FC-91B4-4914-94D0-A225B013CF34 ----------------------------------------------------------------- ASK THE DOCTOR SPONSOR The Homemaker`s Journal is an e-mail newsletter published Mon- Fri that poses fun questions to readers about organizing, crafting, gardening, frugal living and other homemaking subjects; readers can respond to the questions and receive the resulting, very informative `tip sheet`. Join the fun!http://www.getswap.com/subscribe.asp?list=2-7 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Ask the Doctor Talking with the experts Question from Alan: What is GPC? Dr. Webber: GPC is Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis, which is an allergic reaction in the eye lids that results in bumps on the inner surface of the lids. Question from Deon Zonte: When you see black dots in front of your face what does it mean? Dr. Webber: Black dots are usually Vitreous Floaters, which are bits of old tissue floating in the jelly of the eye. You should have an eye exam with a dilation to fully evaluate the retinal to rule out any retinal hole or tear. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 3. News Briefs Sharp Eye, No Laser The FDA recently approved a contact lens you wear to bed at night so you can ditch the contacts or glasses during the day. "Reverse-geometry contact lenses work by flattening the front surface of the cornea," says Joseph Barr, O.D., a professor of Optometry at Ohio State University, who researched the lenses. "After a couple of weeks, your cornea's shape becomes similar to the way it would be if you'd had refractive surgery." The one major down side: If you stop wearing them, the positive effects will start to reverse in 2-3 days. While the lenses are approved for nearsightedness, researchers are studying other types of corrections. Reverse-geometry lenses range from $1250 to $2500 for a year's worth. To find a doctor who can fit you for them, call 1-212-752-1212. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter Courtesy of VisionUpdate http://visionupdate.net ----------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Relevant Links Important resources. National Eye Institute http://www.nei.nih.gov Eye Net http://myeyenet.com/ Blind Foundation http://www.afb.org Macular Degeneration Foundation http://www.eyesight.org LASIK Institute http://www.lasikinstitute.org NIH http://www.nih.gov ----------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Preventative Medicine Lose Your Glasses Bifocals may be part of your father's future, but they don't have to be part of yours. A group of U.S. scientists has found a way to remove the fluid in the eye and replace it with a new manmade gel that smooths and softens the "aged" lens, improving its ability to focus and eliminating the need for bifocals. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CLASSIFIED AD Our low cost discount Health Benefit plans include savings for Physicians, Hospitalization, Specialists, Dental, Vision Care, Prescriptions, Chiropractic, Alternative Medicine and more. All Pre-existing conditions accepted. Plans from $9.95 to $69.95 a month. Nationwide provider networks. 30-day money back guarantee. We will also include FREE vision care benefits for one year even if you cancel your benefits! See: www.affordable-health.com/visionupdate now for more information or to enroll. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CLASSIFIED AD Is your dog's behavior driving you crazy? If you own a dog, you need this information. It will save you Hundreds of hours, and thousands of dollars. The Best part is, it's FREE! By signing up you'll receive each and every week, real time training tips that reveal secrets only top pro's know. Sign-up now and start learning secrets that you'd normally pay thousands of dollars for. Without proper training your dog is a disaster waiting to happen. http://www.dogowners.info/cam16.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------- To un subscribe; reply to this email with the subject un subscribe ----------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2001-2003 VisionUpdate Inc. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please rate this Ezine at the Cumuli Ezine Finder. http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/ra22176.rate ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~