New Year, new vision, who knew?

I give to you the Hoya Recharge Lens. The potential problems with blue light emitted from our digital devices range from blur to eye fatigue. Filtering that high energy light is technically beneficial and possible. Look into Hoya Recharge EX3 for your next lens if you want to optimize your vision while enjoying your time viewing your phone or tablet. I did and I like them quite well.

Contact Lenses blurry? Let me count the ways.

Credit to our colleagues at www.bausch.com for this photo of a soft contact lens that is coated with fungal organisms.

There are so many reasons that your contact lenses may be blurring your vision, here are some for your consideration:

1. Your prescription is incorrect. Sounds simple enough. I can tell you that the art and science of determining the baseline prescription of a person's visual system is not for the simple minded. It takes serious communication, instrumentation and technique to get this right.

2. The lens is ill-fitting. The best fitting lens requires that the following factors are analyzed and considered: and this is just to name a few...

• corneal diameter
• corneal topography
• eyelid position
• eyelid tension/laxity
• eyelid friction
• tear quantity
• tear quality
• lens diameter
• lens curvature
• lens lubricity
• lens modulus

3. The lens is, for lack of a better term, dirty. Lenses can be coated with oils, mucous, makeup, fingerprints, solution chemicals and probably air born contaminants.

I suppose the next time you experience blurry vision with your contact lenses in place you can start to consider some of the possibilities. Thanks for reading.

See well,
Dr. Greg

National Eye Institue

http://www.nei.nih.gov/

This is the link to the National Eye Institute. It is a very useful site for eye health information, clinical studies, educational programs, research, and all things eye related.

I hope you will bookmark this site in your favorites like I have.

Please come chat with us November 20 on Twitter, I will be there and I hope to learn and contribute to the Healthy Eyes chat. Do join us please.

NEI will be hosting a Twitter Chat on the topic of Healthy Eyes November 20, 2-3 p.m. ET. Join us using hashtag #NEIchat.

New is good...

And new is called for. Here is the before and after if the carpet makeover. Super New Zealand wool is so wonderful!

There's A New Lens In Town

To date prescription eye glasses can be made with glass, plastic, hi-index plastic, polycarbonate and trivex. Before I go into the new lens I will let you know what my take is on the current options.

Glass: AKA Crown Glass. Optical clearity is super, scratch resistance is great, although tempered it will shatter into shards if luck is not on your side, but the real doozy is the weight. This material is heavy. While european and asian opticians will produce ultra thin glass lenses to minimize the wight issue, we are bound by some safety laws that require thicker glass lenses. All in all this lens is filled rarely at best.

Plastic: AKA CR39. Optical clearity is good, scratch resistance is so-so, not shatter-proof but much less likely than glass, will get thick in moderate to high prescriptions. Decent work horse lens.

Hi-Index Plastic: Optical clearity is not the best and the higher the index the worse it gets. The higher the index the thinner it gets. All in all this lens is well tolerated and is recommended with higher prescriptions.

Polycarbonate: The poorest optical clearity, the most impact resistance, the easiest to scratch, fairly light and thin. All in all my least favorite lens other that glass.

Trivex: Best optics, lightest, equal impact resistance to polycarbonate, but not the thinnest. All in all I would choose this lens if thickness was not an issue.

Now from the scientists at PPG Industries, Tribrid.

Think Trivex hybrid Hi-Index: Best optics, lightest, thin but not the thinnest, most impact resistance, also very scratch resistant. All in all I think this will be my new favorite lens.

Here is a link to learn more:http://www.ppg.com/en/newsroom/news/Pages/20130316A.aspx

The scoop on #AREDS2 and the eye from the source

NIH study provides clarity on supplements for protection against blinding eye disease

May 5, 2013

Normal vision


The same scene as viewed by a person with age-related macular degeneration

Adding omega-3 fatty acids did not improve a combination of nutritional supplements commonly recommended for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a major cause of vision loss among older Americans, according to a study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The plant-derived antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin also had no overall effect on AMD when added to the combination; however, they were safer than the related antioxidant beta-carotene, according to the study published online today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"Millions of older Americans take nutritional supplements to protect their sight without clear guidance regarding benefit and risk," said NEI director Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D. "This study clarifies the role of supplements in helping prevent advanced AMD, an incurable, common, and devastating disease that robs older people of their sight and independence."

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), which was led by NIH’s National Eye Institute and concluded in 2001, established that daily high doses of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and the minerals zinc and copper—called the AREDS formulation—can help slow the progression to advanced AMD. The American Academy of Ophthalmology now recommends use of the AREDS formulation to reduce the risk of advanced AMD. However, beta-carotene use has been linked to a heightened risk of lung cancer in smokers. And there have been concerns that the high zinc dose in AREDS could cause minor side effects, such as stomach upset, in some people.

In 2006 the NEI launched AREDS2, a five-year study designed to test whether the original AREDS formulation could be improved by adding omega-3 fatty acids; adding lutein and zeaxanthin; removing beta-carotene; or reducing zinc. The study also examined how different combinations of the supplements performed. Omega-3 fatty acids are produced by plants, including algae, and are present in oily fish such as salmon. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids, a class of plant-derived vitamins that includes beta-carotene; both are present in leafy green vegetables and, when consumed, they accumulate in the retina. Prior studies had suggested that diets high in lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids protect vision. Before the AREDS2 study finished, manufacturers began marketing supplements based on the study design.

In AREDS2, participants took one of four AREDS formulations daily for five years. The original AREDS included 500 milligrams vitamin C, 400 international units of vitamin E, 15 milligrams beta-carotene, 80 milligrams zinc, and two milligrams copper. Other groups took AREDS with no beta-carotene, AREDS with low zinc (25 milligrams), or AREDS with no beta-carotene and low zinc. Participants in each AREDS group also took one of four additional supplements or combinations: these included lutein/zeaxanthin (10 milligrams/2 milligrams), omega-3 fatty acids (1,000 milligrams), lutein/zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids, or placebo. Progression to advanced AMD was established by examination of retina photographs or treatment for advanced AMD.

AMD breaks down cells in the layer of tissue called the retina in the back of the eye that provide sharp central vision, which is necessary for tasks such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces. Advanced AMD can lead to significant vision loss and, in the United States, is the leading cause of blindness. About 2 million Americans have advanced AMD; another 8 million are at risk.

In the first AREDS trial, participants with AMD who took the AREDS formulation were 25 percent less likely to progress to advanced AMD over the five-year study period, compared with participants who took a placebo. In AREDS2, there was no overall additional benefit from adding omega-3 fatty acids or a 5-to-1 mixture of lutein and zeaxanthin to the formulation. However, the investigators did find some benefits when they analyzed two subgroups of participants: those not given beta-carotene, and those who had very little lutein and zeaxanthin in their diets.

"When we looked at just those participants in the study who took an AREDS formulation with lutein and zeaxanthin but no beta-carotene, their risk of developing advanced AMD over the five years of the study was reduced by about 18 percent, compared with participants who took an AREDS formulation with beta-carotene but no lutein or zeaxanthin," said Emily Chew, M.D., deputy director of the NEI Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications and the NEI deputy clinical director. "Further analysis showed that participants with low dietary intake of lutein and zeaxanthin at the start of the study, but who took an AREDS formulation with lutein and zeaxanthin during the study, were about 25 percent less likely to develop advanced AMD compared with participants with similar dietary intake who did not take lutein and zeaxanthin."

Because carotenoids can compete with each other for absorption in the body, beta-carotene may have masked the effect of the lutein and zeaxanthin in the overall analysis, Chew said. Indeed, participants who took all three nutrients had lower levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in their blood compared to participants who took lutein and zeaxanthin without beta-carotene

Removing beta-carotene from the AREDS formulation did not curb the formulation’s protective effect against developing advanced AMD, an important finding because several studies have linked taking high doses of beta-carotene with a higher risk of lung cancer in smokers. Although smokers were not given a formulation with beta-carotene in AREDS2, the study showed an association between beta-carotene and risk of lung cancer among former smokers. About half of AREDS2 participants were former smokers. "Removing beta-carotene simplifies things," said Wai T. Wong, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the NEI Neuron-Glia Interactions in Retinal Disease Unit and a co-author of the report. "We have identified a formulation that should be good for everyone regardless of smoking status," he said. Adding omega-3 fatty acids or lowering zinc to the AREDS formulation also had no effect on AMD progression.

More than 4,000 people, ages 50 to 85 years, who were at risk for advanced AMD participated in AREDS2 at 82 clinical sites across the country. Eye care professionals assess risk of developing advanced AMD in part by looking for yellow deposits called drusen in the retina. The appearance of small drusen is a normal part of aging, but the presence of larger drusen indicates AMD and a risk of associated vision loss. Over time, the retina begins to break down in areas where large drusen are present during a process called geographic atrophy. AMD can also spur the growth of new blood vessels beneath the retina, which can leak blood and fluid, resulting in sudden vision loss. These two forms of AMD are often referred to as dry AMD and wet AMD respectively.

In a separate study, published online today in JAMA Ophthalmology, the AREDS2 Research Group evaluated the effect of the various AREDS formulas on cataract, a common condition caused by clouding of the eye’s lens. Globally, cataract is the most common cause of blindness and is a major health problem in areas where cataract surgery is unavailable or unaffordable. About 24.4 million Americans are directly affected by cataract.

As reported in 2001, the original AREDS formulation does not protect against cataract. In AREDS2, none of the modified formulations helped reduce the risk of progression to cataract surgery, although a subgroup of participants with low dietary lutein and zeaxanthin gained some protection. "While a healthy diet promotes good eye health and general well-being, based on overall AREDS2 data, regular high doses of antioxidant supplements do not prevent cataract," Chew said.

Many factors contribute to the development of AMD and cataract, including genetics, diet, and smoking. Scientists are unsure how supplements in the AREDS formulation exert their protective effects. However, an April 2013 report in the journal Ophthalmology by the AREDS Research Group shows the beneficial effects of taking the AREDS vitamins are long-lasting. The report describes a follow-up study of AREDS participants. Those who took the AREDS formulation during the initial five-year trial were 25 to 30 percent less likely to develop advanced AMD—mostly due to a reduction in the number of neovascular, or wet, AMD cases—over the next five years, compared with participants who took placebo during AREDS. Seventy percent of all participants were taking the original AREDS formula by the end of the follow-up period.

"Long-term use of AREDS supplements appears safe and protective against advanced AMD," said Chew. "While zinc is an important component of the AREDS formulation, based on evidence from AREDS2 it is unclear how much zinc is necessary. Omega-3 fatty acids and beta-carotene clearly do not reduce the risk of progression to advanced AMD; however, adding lutein and zeaxanthin in place of beta-carotene may further improve the formulation."

The AREDS2 study results provide physicians and patients with new information about preventing vision loss from AMD. People over 60 years old should get a dilated eye exam at least once a year and should discuss with their eye care professional whether taking AREDS supplements is appropriate.

For more information about AREDS2, visit www.nei.nih.gov/areds2.

The research described in this news release was supported by the NEI Intramural Research Program and contracts N01-EY-5-0007, N01-EY-0-2127, HHS-N-260-2005-00007-C. Additional research funds were provided by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; the National Institute on Aging; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements.

The AREDS follow-up is registered in www.ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT00594672. AREDS2 is registered as NCT00345176.

References:

• AREDS2 Research Group. "Lutein/Zeaxanthin and Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Age-Related Macular Degeneration. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial." JAMA, published online May 5, 2013.
• AREDS2 Research Group. "Lutein/Zeaxanthin for the Treatment of Age-Related Cataract." JAMA Ophthalmology, published online May 5, 2013.
• Chew et al. "Long-Term Effects of Vitamins C, E, Beta-Carotene and Zinc on Age-Related Macular Degeneration." Ophthalmology, published online April 11, 2013.

# # #

Bifocals, thanks a lot Ben Franklin, I had no idea...

In the last year of my forties, I have noted a bit of eye strain after spending one day per week staring at a computer and looking at paperwork. It crossed my mind that I have a pair of single vision prescription reading glasses I enjoy using from my nightstand for prolonged reading, I figured a computer bifocal with a large wide computer prescription up top and a reading segment down under might be a nice tool for "Desk Day".

I have not been so visually annoyed.

The prescription is current, the focal lengths and working distances are measured and calibrated for the task. Bifocals, it turns out, are just a bad way for me to wear glasses.

Issue number one: The large wide computer prescription up top, as in the computer monitor viewing lens, is fine. But, and in the largest sense of the word, there is a very large, 28 millimeter to be exact, blurry floater in my inferior field of view. The issue is, it will not go away, ever.

Issue number two is about the line. I had always heard and probably even calculated for National Board exams how much an image would jump when gazing from one lens to the other across a bifocal segment line. I visualize no such jump. What I do see is a large horizontal blur all of the time. At 40 centimeters that blur occupies two lines of print. At my feet, like where a golf ball or sidewalk curb might be, it occupies some 10 centimeters and at optical infinity it takes up a good 25 centimeters. Yes, ten inches of my vision is obscured by a blurry line. Whatever!

Thank you so much for your time, I am off to order lined trifocals to wear all of the time now, NOT!

Good Day,
Dr. Greg

Oakley & Murrayhill Little League in April

There are plenty of community activities and groups to get behind and support. One of my choices this year is to team up with Oakley and promote great eye wear and sunglasses during great baseball month of April.
We are please to report that Murrayhill Little League will receive 10% of our sales, up to $2,000.00, in the month of April 2013 of Oakley product.
Thanks to the support of Oakley we are featuring the most current sunglass and eyeglass technologies.  Purchasers will receive a gift with purchase and be entered into the grand prize drawing for an Oakley back pack full of Oakely gear and sunglasses at the end of the month.
We are also donating the same stuffed back pack to the Murrayhill Little League for their end of year athlete raffle prizes.
If you happen to be a family member of a baseball or softball athlete we are also extending a 20% off professional service discount for April 2013.

We are looking forward to a great baseball and softball season!

Watch the ball!

Dr. Greg

Frames that fit

Here is one fantastic view about frames fitting:
There are some very specific theories about certain frame shapes and colors suiting your facial features and shapes.
Life is too short and certainly a year or two of life is most certainly too fleeting to concern ones self about such things.
If you find a shape or color you like, own it.

Cheers,
Dr. Greg