Zinc

Zinc is going to be the last important nutrient talked about in these blog posts for a while. There are other important minerals and nutrients, but this is a good stopping point until a later time. The role of Zinc is  sweet and to-the-point for the role of eye care. It helps carry Vitamin A from the liver up to the retina. This helps the eye produce a protective pigment in the eye called melanin.

Where is Zinc found in foods? Lobster, Oysters, Beef, Pork, Yogurt, Salmon (bonus points for being a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids), Milk and Hardboiled Eggs. Basically, these are all my favorites so I know I'm personally getting enough Zinc to possibly give me x-ray vision. If  you aren't getting enough Zinc, studies have linked a deficiency to things like poor night driving or impaired vision.

When you schedule your next eye exam with an Optometrist and have been eating a balanced diet with eye healthy foods, don't be surprised if the eye doctor gives you a high-five. Many people neglect their eyes, but there are some simple and easy ways to keep them healthy for a long time.

10 Normal Symptoms for New Contact Lens Wearers

When people need vision correction, they usually start out with glasses. Most people usually try contacts at some point in their life and some people get discouraged by some common symptoms of getting used to contacts. Here are 10 normal symptoms for new contact wearers as they adjust to the lenses -

Lens Movement

If it feels like the lenses are moving, that is what is supposed to happen. There is a natural fluid flow in the eye and contacts need to permit it.

Minor Irritation

The first couple of times a new wearer puts the contacts in, they will say they can "feel" the contact. It takes a bit of time for the eye to accept the contact because it is a medical device. Any feelings of discomfort should ease away in 15 minutes.

Tearing

Contact lens wearers will tear up when they put the contact in their eye. It's totally normal and once adapted to the lens, the tears will stop.

Light Sensitivity

New wearers will sometimes note sensitivity to bright lights. Like other symptoms on this list, this should go away with lens adaptation.

Burning

This symptom is cause for concern for a lot of new contact wearers. Rightfully so, a burning sensation in your eye is alarming. What it signals is that the eyes are dry and need moisture. Eye drops will do the trick and re-lubricate the eyes.

Blurring

Contact lenses are supposed to clear up vision, not blur it. If the lens is making a new wearer see things blurry it typically means there are a lot of tears generated or there are oils on the lens. Using solution to clean the lenses and reinserting the contacts will clear up the vision. If the problem persists, call your eye doctor.



Dislodged Lenses

The lens will seldomly either go "off-center" or lift off from the cornea. If this rare occurrence happens, a simple blink will reposition the lens.

Excessive Blinking

This symptom is actually beneficial to new contact wearers. Full, complete blinks when the lenses are first inserted will keep the lens comfortable.

Red Eyes

This symptom is fairly common with the burning. Basically, the eyes are dry if this is a mild case. Some saline solution eye drops should do the trick.

Itchy Eyes

This symptom usually comes paired with red eyes. Eye drops should sooth the eyes.

---

It should be noted these are common for soft lenses. If problems persist, contact your eye doctor immediately. Hard lenses are an entirely different animal to tackle and have a whole other set of normal symptoms for lens adaptation. Soft contacts keep improving with more scientific advances so the symptoms of adaptation might not be as severe for new wearers as they were in the past. It all depends on the type of contact and how well it fits with the wearer. There are so many different options for contact lenses that there is bound to be a great fit for anyone.

The World Vision Expo West 2010

I just caught on the 4greatvision Twitter feed that The World Vision Expo is happening right now in Las Vegas. Essentially, it's the who's who in the world of optical fashion and science. Companies from all over the world will be exhibiting the latest designs, procedures and science during the event. There are tons of things to see and do, celebrities will be there to promote lines of eye ware as well. Probably the best way to explain it is by showing a video the Expo put together -



You can find out about the Expo at their website or check the Expo's YouTube channel which will be updating during the show.

A Cautionary Tale: Double Check the Labels

Watch the video below-



Yes, that happens more than it should. When people are given eye drops for an infection, disease or after surgery they may not have perfect vision yet. That is when mix ups occur. The bottles of strong glues look very similar to eye drop prescriptions.  If it needed to be stated, super glue and the eye do not mix. If it happens, seek medical help immediately. If the eye gets glued shut, emergency medical attention is necessary. The woman in the news report is right, it can happen to anyone.

If you are unsure or have questions about what bottle is what there are some steps you can take if you are unable to see the label yourself.

• Call the pharmacy, they'll be able to tell you what the bottle looks like and the colors


• Ask someone to re-read the lable


• Keep medicines and household items of similar shape and size in different rooms or locations


• Always remember to put away materials like super glue in safe places where it will not get confused with other products

It cannot be stressed enough that if you are on prescription medicine, always double check the label.

DHA/EPA

DHA/EPA are docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids, respectively. More commonly, they are referred to as Omega-3 Fatty Acids. They are commonly found in cold-water fishes and have been recently found to be incredibly beneficial for health of the body and eyes. Including DHA/EPA into the daily diet has shown to be important for visual development and retinal functions. If the body is deficient in DHA/EPA, it could lead to chronic problems with dry eyes. Salmon, Tuna, Mackerel, Anchovy, Trout and others are all really great sources for DHA/EPA.



DHA/EPA is definitely one of those  nutrients you must see a doctor before starting a supplemental regimen of Fish Oil. Studies have shown it can have an effect on blood pressure medications and other parts of the body, so there has to be precautions taken before intaking more  DHA/EPA.

Vitamin E

The next healthy nutrient on the series of posts is Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant found in nuts, some breakfast cereals, peanuts and sweet potatoes.

Vitamin E promotes the health of cell membranes. There is an important membrane in the eye called the "conjunctiva," which helps lubricate the eyes. When it gets inflamed, the diagnosis is called conjunctivitis, or, "Pink Eye." So that is why it is important to remember to include Vitamin E in the daily diet. Vitamin E acts along side other nutrients to slow progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

As for the proper dosages for healthy, consult optometrists before taking incorporating more Vitamin E in your diet through select foods or supplement. The reason is because The United States National Library of Medicine suggests dosages over 400 IUs a day can be harmful.

Impress your eye doctor next eye exam and tell them you have been eating healthy foods that are healthy for the eyes. Not only will the Optometrists thank you, your eyes will too.

Vitamin C

I'm on a health kick lately. All the talk about lutien and its ability to help the health of the eye made me look for other possible vitamins and minerals. There are quite a few that have been studied and believed to be very healthy for the eye. It should be no surprise that Vitamin C helps contribute to healthy eyes. That way, you can tell your optometrist during your next eye exam, you've been taking care of your eyes.



Basically, all cells in the body depend on Vitamin C. The eyes have a high concentration of cells in all the tissues that are constantly active. What Vitamin C does exactly is promote healthy ocular blood vessels, help promote healthy capillaries, cartilage and iron absorption across the board and is believed to reduce the risk of cataracts in women by 64 percent if they take sufficient levels for 10 years. Fruits like oranges, grapefruits, strawberries and others are some of the best sources for Vitamin C.

The recommended intake of Vitamin C is 90 mg/day for men and 75 mg/day for women. However, research suggests that for Vitamin C to play a part in eye health, the intake needs to be at about 500 mg/day. The trick is that Vitamin C is water soluble so too much too quickly will be flushed away. One word of caution, megadoses of Vitamin C can have adverse effects. It usually is only a concern when there are supplement pills are taken. Normal, healthy diets will provide all the necessary Vitamin C.

It's becoming the norm for optometrists to talk about nutrition during eye exams. Your eye doctor might give some recommendations if they see fit to help care for the eyes and there is a growing body of research that shows vitamins and minerals play an important role in keeping eyes healthy.