Fast Fix for Blurry Vision

Don't miss any of HealthyWoman from Bottom Line. Add our address, HealthyWomanfromBottomLine@ebhw.bottomlinesecrets.com, to your Address Book or Safe List. Learn how here. April 10, 2011  Is "Phakic" Better Than Lasik? Heart Attacks Are Now Preventable Cool Cantaloupe Soup Forever Young Clove Oil Kills Nasty Drug-Resistant Skin Bug   Is "Phakic" Better Than Lasik? For years, I’ve considered getting the vision-correcting eye surgery Lasik in the hopes of no longer needing contacts or glasses, but the thought of lasers being used on my eyes and the fear of something going wrong have held me back. After all, these are the only eyes I’ve got! Recently I learned about a newer procedure, Phakic (FAY-kick) intraocular lens implantation (IOL), which can help some people who are not candidates for Lasik. But: I also heard that Phakic’s possible side effects, though rare, can be extremely serious. So I contacted ophthalmologist David Rex Hamilton, MD, medical director of the UCLA Laser Refractive Center, to find out how Phakic compares with Lasik. Before we get into that, let’s review some facts about vision. Ideally, an image enters the eye and falls on the retina at the back of the eyeball. The optic nerve then transfers that image to the brain. But: The image appears blurred if it falls in front of the retina (resulting in myopia, or nearsightedness)... or behind it (resulting in hyperopia, or farsightedness). Glasses and contact lenses fix such refractive errors by bending light rays so that the image falls correctly on the retina and is in focus. The two primary vision-correcting surgeries accomplish this same goal, Dr. Hamilton said, but use different techniques... With Lasik, the surgeon cuts a thin flap in the surface of the cornea (the clear, outer window of the eye) with a laser or blade... uses a laser to remove precise amounts of the underlying corneal tissue, reshaping the cornea to be flatter (to correct nearsightedness) or steeper (to correct farsightedness)... then folds the flap back into place, where it adheres immediately and heals on its own. With Phakic IOL, no eye tissue is removed. Instead, a tiny synthetic lens is surgically implanted behind the cornea and in front of the eye’s natural lens. Depending on the type of Phakic lens, it sits in front of or behind the iris (colored part of the eye). COMPARING PROS AND CONS When I asked Dr. Hamilton which surgery was superior, he said, "It’s not a question of which technique is 'better,' because neither is a one-size-fits-all procedure. I take a number of variables into account -- eye health, age, current visual acuity, lifestyle -- before recommending a specific type of surgery." Similarities in the procedures... Both Lasik and Phakic IOL are outpatient procedures that take 15 to 20 minutes. Anesthetic eyedrops and a mild sedative may be administered. After surgery, the patient wears a clear eye shield for a few nights to protect against accidental rubbing during sleep and uses antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eyedrops for several weeks. Do you have presbyopia, a condition in which aging leaves the eye’s natural lens too stiff to focus clearly up close? This can be addressed with either Phakic or Lasik by creating monovision -- one eye is corrected for near vision and the other eye is corrected for distance vision. For Phakic and Lasik patients alike, vision generally is excellent the day after surgery, Dr. Hamilton said. However, there are no guarantees. With either procedure, patients have a small risk of experiencing glare, double vision or halos around lights. Rarely, patients still may need contacts or glasses to achieve the best vision... very rarely, they can wind up with worse vision than before. Phakic’s advantages over Lasik... Phakic can correct more extreme nearsightedness -- up to -16.0 D (the D stands for diopter, a measure of refractive power), compared with up to -8.0 D for Lasik. Phakic works for people whose corneas are too thin, flat or irregular for Lasik. Patients who get Phakic seldom develop dry-eye syndrome, whereas it’s fairly common for Lasik patients to experience dry eyes, typically lasting three to six months. Phakic lenses are intended to be permanent, but if results are unsatisfactory, they can be removed, allowing (though not guaranteeing) the eye’s return to its original condition. Lasik cannot be undone, though it can be redone -- in fact, 5% to 10% of Lasik patients need a second "touch-up" surgery for optimal results, Dr. Hamilton said. Phakic’s disadvantages compared with Lasik... In the US, Lasik devices were first FDA-approved in 1998, versus 2004 for Phakic IOL -- so doctors have less experience with Phakic and there is less data on its long-term safety. There is no FDA-approved Phakic IOL for farsightedness (though such lenses are used in other countries)... whereas Lasik can correct farsightedness of up to about +4.0 D. Astigmatism -- a refractive error in which the cornea is abnormally curved, causing vision to be out of focus -- can be corrected with Lasik. A Phakic IOL that corrects astigmatism does exist and has been used in other countries but is not yet FDA-approved, Dr. Hamilton noted. Phakic costs more -- about $3,500 to $4,500 per eye, compared with about $2,150 per eye for Lasik. Insurance generally does not cover either of these elective surgeries. Phakic IOL potential complications... Because Phakic surgery takes places inside the eye, it is more invasive and there are potential complications that do not exist with Lasik. Problems occur only very rarely, but of course you should be aware that there is a risk for... Cataracts (clouding of the eye’s natural lens). These can be treated and excellent vision restored, Dr. Hamilton said. A sudden rise in internal eye pressure that, if untreated, can lead to glaucoma and loss of peripheral vision. If elevated pressure occurs, it can be effectively treated and glaucoma avoided. Damage to or loss of cells on the cornea’s inner surface. This can lead to corneal swelling that, in extremely rare situations, could require a corneal transplant. If you’re interested in Phakic or Lasik, talk with a refractive surgery specialist. Referral: American Academy of Ophthalmology (www.GetEyeSmart.org). What’s my plan? I haven’t decided yet -- but if I end up getting either surgery, I’ll tell you how it turns out. Source: David Rex Hamilton, MD, is medical director of the UCLA Laser Refractive Center and an associate clinical professor of ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles. Readers can contact him at 888-825-2737. www.Lasik.ucla.edu Heart Attacks Are Now Preventable The number of heart attacks has increased by 27% over the past 20 years, in spite of all the supposed advances of modern medicine. What’s going on here? Could we be mistaken about some things? Perhaps we’re under some major misconceptions about heart disease. Like... Myth #1 -- Heart disease and heart attacks are an inevitable part of aging. Myth #2 -- Cholesterol is the main cause of heart disease and heart attacks. Myth #3 -- Blood pressure drugs help you avoid heart problems and live longer. Myth #4 -- Aggressive, "type A" behavior increases your risk of a heart attack. Myth #5 -- Low-fat, low-cholesterol diets are good for you and your heart. Learn more... Cool Cantaloupe Soup I appreciate the potential health benefits of foods rich in the yellow-orange antioxidants called carotenoids -- including a reduced risk of dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease. But I can eat only so many carrots! So, I asked dietitian Lauren Braun, RD, LD, coauthor of Soup for Every Body, for a refreshing alternative. Her suggestion: Chilled Cantaloupe Dessert Soup. Not only is it rich in both alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, it’s a cinch to make and delicious, too. What you need... 2 large ripe cantaloupes, cut into chunks 1 cup low-fat or fat-free sour cream ½ cup cassis liqueur or orange juice or other fruit juice ¼ cup chopped fresh mint leaves What to do... In a blender or food processor, puree the cantaloupe until smooth. In a bowl, blend the pureed fruit, sour cream and cassis or fruit juice... stir in mint leaves. Cover and chill until cold. If desired, garnish with a spoonful of sour cream and a whole mint leaf. Makes six servings. Calories per serving: About 150. Source: Lauren Braun, RD, LD, is a dietitian and menu planner in private practice in Miami, Florida, a recipe analyst for the National Association of Specialty Foods and coauthor, with Joanna Pruess, of Soup for Every Body (Lyons). www.NutriSmart.com Forever Young Getting old can be awful. Aches... pains... illness... constant bouncing from doctor to doctor. We all dread it. You can’t stop the clock, but you can banish the miseries that sometimes come with it. Bulging belly Cholesterol-choked arteries Brain failure and fatigue Weakness and impotence Frozen joints or back pain Spotted, decrepit skin Tumors taking over your body Parkinson’s tremors Menopausal miseries Fading, cloudy vision And all other indignities of aging! Read on... Clove Oil Kills Nasty Drug-Resistant Skin Bug Scabies is an intensely itchy and highly contagious inflammatory skin condition that is common worldwide -- including in the US. It develops when an eight-legged parasitic mite called Sarcoptes scabiei burrows under the skin and lays eggs, triggering an allergic reaction and leaving bumpy tracks on the skin. Problem: The mite is becoming increasingly resistant to topical and oral medications -- yet unless patients are successfully treated, they can develop secondary bacterial skin infections... or a scaly version of the infection called crusted scabies, which covers large portions of the body. Now there is an encouraging new study from Australia and Wright State University in Ohio. Researchers placed scabies mites in petri dishes, then added various essential oils at different concentrations to see what effect each oil might have. Result: Clove oil killed all mites -- both drug-resistant and nondrug-resistant -- within 15 minutes, even at concentrations as low as 6.25%. The active component appears to be eugenol, a substance that makes up 80% of clove oil. Essential oils contain components that may be toxic at high doses, even to humans. So, researchers said, before clove oil could be recommended as a home remedy for scabies treatment, human studies are needed to determine a safe and effective dose. In the meantime, ask your doctor about dabbing a tiny amount of clove oil on scabies-affected skin to see if it helps. Source: Cielo Pasay, PhD, is a research officer at the Clinical Tropical Medicine Laboratory of Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane, Australia, and leader of a laboratory study on essential oils and scabies. Tamara Eberlein, the editor of HealthyWoman from Bottom Line, has been a health journalist for nearly three decades. An award-winning author or coauthor of four books, she is committed to helping other women in midlife and beyond live healthy, fulfilling lives. Her latest book is the updated, third edition of When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads (HarperCollins). She is also the "chief health adviser" to her husband of 25 years, college-age twins and teenaged son. BOTTOMLINESECRETS.COM Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy About Us Contact US Bottom Line Publications | 281 Tresser Boulevard, 8th Floor | Stamford, CT 06901 You received this free E-letter because you have requested it. You are on the mailing list as healthwellness82@gmail.com. Or... a friend forwarded it to you. Click here to easily unsubscribe. To change your e-mail address click here. To update your e-mail preferences click here. © 2011 by Boardroom Inc. All Rights Reserved.