T.I.E.T.

Protecting The Gift Of Sight
By Andrea R. Garrison

Imagine a world full of darkness. A world without the sunset, beautiful fall foliage and moonlit star-studded skies. Our eyes enable us to see such beauty and to experience such pleasure. Often times we take for granted the wonderful things that we experience daily. Imagine a world where our ability to see the beautiful things fades to black and all we have left is a picture of a memory. There are so many things that we do because of our ability to see from reading, writing, driving and looking into the eyes of those we hold dear.

Eye care is such an integral part of our health. It has been said that the eyes are the mirrors of our souls. When one is not feeling well it usually shows in the eyes by weakness, redness and inflammation. So it is important to protect your eyes by having your eyes examined because often times our best chance in defending ourselves is by early detection.

Here are just a few of the eye problems that are possible:

Cataracts - With cataracts the vision becomes cloudy. The transparency of the human lens inside of the eye begins to deteriorate which disrupts the transmission of light to the retina. Cataracts are usually a result of aging disease or injury. Though cataracts are usually more common in people over the age of 55 it can also affect younger ages. Cataracts can be successfully treated.
Computer Eye Strain - With the computer becoming a large part of our lives at home and in the workplace often times the eyes become fatigued from the hours of the glare of the screen. It is important to keep the monitor at eye level, have a screen saver, proper lighting and to look away from the screen periodically. It is great to have an eye lubricant (tear replacement) on hand to alleviate dry eyes. Some people may actually need corrective lenses for a clearer viewing of the computer screen. Whenever possible take a break. Resting your eyes is always good medicine.
Conjunctivitis - (Pinkeye) The eyes become very irritated with redness, discharge and crusting on the on the eyelashes. This is a common childhood infection. This is very contagious so it is important to wash your hands frequently to keep from spreading the infection to other members of your household.
Farsighted -This is when you can not see things that are close. This is typically corrected by wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Glaucoma - This is when the pressure of the liquid inside the eyeball gets too high and causes damage to the eye nerve. Picture an over inflated tire. This is the kind of pressure that develops when you get Glaucoma. This intense pressure then begins to destroy the (optic nerve) eye nerve. Generally there are no symptoms in the early stages. When signs and symptoms begin to appear they can include loss of peripheral (side) vision, headaches, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, loss of central vision, blind spots, seeing halos around lights, poor night vision and pain. Typically Glaucoma runs in families and is one of the most common eye disorders in people over the age of 60 though it could strike at any age. Glaucoma is very common in African Americans and patients with diabetes. If you have a history of Glaucoma in your family you should start getting Glaucoma tests early during your yearly eye exam. If not treated Glaucoma can lead to blindness.
Macular Degeneration is a leading cause of blindness among older adults. The symptoms include blurry vision, straight lines appear to be wavy, and the central line of vision some times seems dark or empty. This is a disease that can be detected early in a routine eye exam. Macular Degeneration is a degenerative disorder that causes the loss of the central reading vision though the peripheral vision stays intact. An estimated 13 million adults have this eye disease which is one of the leading causes of blindness among people over the age of 50.
Nearsighted - This is when you can not see things that are far away. This is typically corrected by wearing eye glasses or contact lenses.

There has been some research to indicate that eating carrots and other vegetables that are loaded with beta-carotene is a good nutritional approach to protecting your eyesight. Vegetables loaded with beta-carotene are some of the highest sources of Vitamin A. Often times an early sign of Vitamin A deficiency is night blindness. Vitamin E and Vitamin C have been reported to help the vision as well. The good news is that scientific studies indicate that antioxidants may slow down cataracts and macular degeneration. Some studies show that Bilberries and Ginkgo Biloba can also be beneficial in protecting your eyes. Always exercise caution when taking any supplements by consulting your physician first.

Often times when people are tired it shows in the eyes by redness and dark circles. During these times it is important to take a moment to rest your eyes. Some eye care professionals think that exercising your eyes could be beneficial as well.
Here are a couple of exercises for you to try:

The Nose Index Finger Exercise
Take your index finger and place it directly in front of your nose practically touching it and slowly move it away from your face, keeping the finger directly in front of the nose. You can extend it about a foot away from your face then slowly bring the finger back to your nose. Keep your eyes on the index finger at all times. You can do a set of 5 or 10 and then repeat it as often as you like through out the day.

The Around The Clock Exercise
Create an imaginary clock. Look at the twelve and then slowly look at the 1and gently and slowly move to the 3 and then to the six. Continue to move around the clock until you get to the 12 again. Then return in the other direction starting with the 12 moving to the 9, the six, the three and back to the 12. Repeat this as often as you like. The important thing is to feel comfortable at all times. There are no guarantees that these exercises will improve your vision but research has proven that exercise can really make a difference in your overall health. So why not exercise your entire body including your eyes.

Remember the best defense is to get your eyes checked on a regular basis. If you experience any unusual symptoms such as pain, discharge, blurry vision, etc., see your eye care practitioner immediately.

© Andrea R. Garrison
Andrea R. Garrison is the Author/Producer of The Crossing Over of Mattie Pearl, on amazon.com, Host/Producer of onlinewithandrea and an enthusiastic supporter of TIET's Let there be sight Campaign.