Diseases of the eye: a new emergency

admin — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:46:17 +0000

An aging population increases the risk of disease: 23 million Italians have visual defects
The sight of men of the third millennium has changed, in the functions and wears in. Eye more stimulated, but also seen at risk of time. Also because the years of use of the visual medium has been lengthened by about one third. In Italy 11 thousand centenarians living in good health but at least with glasses. A hundred years ago, the cataract did not exist, or almost. Not because it was not known, but it does not have to come to terms with what is today the most widespread expression of the lens (the natural lens of the eye). From a culture of candles, nightlife very low rate of vision and reflexes adapted to natural movements, we moved to the artificial light, a television and computer radiating light from within, at a speed appropriate to the media also very fast and they require deep space and reflexes of fractions of a second, more time for daily use and over an increasingly long life.
And the main eye diseases that can affect vision and limit the autonomy of those affected are typically associated with aging: cataracts, glaucoma, and degenerative maculopathy. In most progress has led to the first contact lenses (glasses, goodbye!) Then the defects of refractive surgery with the laser. And problems were also from abuse news: corneas damaged by contact lenses used without precaution and correct defects badly in the first years of introduction of the laser. In Italy more than 23 million people suffer from visual defects. Wearing glasses or contact lenses. The sight of the five senses can perceive more than 83% of the information coming from the outside world. Just then, a small flaw is not just to complicate his life. It put at risk when, for example, to drive the car, do not have all the visual skills. “The eye has no problem that is defined emmetrope-Piovella says Matthew, secretary of the Italian Society ophthalmologic (Soi) -. In this eye, the images are far from fully brought into focus on the retina. For those closely need to use the crystal, the natural lens. The visual defects are defined ametropia. They are: hyperopic, myopia, astigmatism, presbyopia. To not get to a world of ‘disabled’ need to focus on prevention and research. The intraocular lens (IOL) custom, or tailor-made for each eye, is the last frontier (without refractive surgery) to correct visual defects. In addition (and this is a novelty), or in place of the natural lens, the custom Iol is inserted behind the eye and can correct all defects also combined with each other. “The perfect focus of the optical system allows eye impressive improvement in visual acuity – says Carlo Lovisolo, head of the Center of Milan Quattroelle -. The rehabilitation is early (patients are already well out of the operating room) and the stability of results over time ensured. It is also a technique reversible. In case of complications or wrong choice of the lens, the Iol can be easily removed or replaced. “Lovisolo has developed a software who designs the lens (size, thickness, power) ad personam. The correction of presbyopia is possible, along with of astigmatism. Better still time to act. Especially for the three diseases by ‘wear’ emerging cataracts (blurring of the lens, the natural lens of the eye), glaucoma, degenerative maculopathy (Dms). Today about one in 5 (20%) has more than 65 years and this relationship is destined to grow significantly in the coming years up to one in three (33%) which will record in 2030. “Increased of expectation of life is an increase in disabilities – says Piovella-eye diseases caused by senile.” The World Health Organization has estimated that the cataract in most industrialized countries is the leading cause of blindness, from 12 to 15 million blind people in the world. Moreover, the cataract affects over 90% of subject’s ultra seventy.
Fortunately, the current surgical techniques allow you to return to this great part of the population a very good vision. The removal of cataracts plant an artificial lens can be an advantage in the treatment of a serious eye disease of aging: glaucoma. “The open-angle glaucoma (the most widespread form) – Corrado Balacco Gabrieli intervenes, the University of Rome La Sapienza, president of Soi-senile is a disease. In fact, its incidence in the general population goes from 0% to 40 years to more than 4% at 80 years. Glaucoma is a disease more complex and more difficult to diagnose because of cataracts and many cases are still not diagnosed. If impact assessments in addition to glaucoma also introduce some probable glaucoma and glaucoma can go from 0.2% in their forties and more than 11% after 80 years. Today, this disease can be diagnosed and controlled very well with medication and, when necessary, with surgery. “In Italy, there are approximately 550,000 affected by the glaucoma, but the figure is set to rise. At least 200,000 people suffer from blindness caused by glaucoma, and it is estimated that in the coming years, the cases will increase by 30%.
And here is the age-related macular degeneration (AMD): The aging disease more difficult to counter because there are still not optimal cares to keep it under control. In Italy there are about 3 million and a half from the affected maculopathy: half a million between 50 and 60 years, 1 million between 60 and 70 and over 2 million over 70 years. Aging the risk of developing the disease is growing significantly, it affects 32% of over 75. 60 percent of the affected has maculopathy ‘dry’, the rest have the wet form (the most severe, rapidly reduces the view). It is estimated, in addition, 90,000 new cases each year, with about 25,000 of the wet form. Balacco Gabrieli explains: “As against the damp maculopathy can do with an attempt therapeutic drugs available to us today, unfortunately we can still do anything against the dry form if not take high doses of mixtures of antioxidants already before the disease it occurs.” Prevention, then. Green tea and lute in protect the view, however, to all. The drugs that keep under control the wet form (the most severe) are the anti angiogenesis regular injections into the eye. Balacco Gabrieli reaffirms the importance of sight, from start to 3-3.5 years of age: “It is the best time to detect any visual defects and start with the fix. It is also the right age for the correction of any abnormal motility of the bulbs (strabismus). In the absence of problems, a second visit to control should be mandatory for all around 40 years, to detect glaucoma at an early stage (which affects 2.5-3% of the subjects of the white race), by assessing the tone eye and to assess the condition of the retina. “Particular attention to their views should have the family members of those with hypertension or diabetes, because of an increased risk of glaucoma or retinopathy. I have a healthy compulsory third visit in 65 years. Proper nutrition, no smoking, regular physical activity, also applies to the view.

Yoga for the face against the eyelids falling

admin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 07:55:56 +0000

This is an exercise a little ‘more complicated to explain, but very useful. You should:
1) Support, horizontally, the tip of the index on the upper eyelid, ending exactly where the eyebrows (the outside)
2) To support the tip of the thumbs on the lower eyelid, symmetrically to that of the index.
3) ‘As if by a thread tendeste thumb to the index. At that point, you attempt to close his eyes.
4) The tip of the index and thumbs exert pressure equal and contrary to the efforts of the eyelid to close.
Be careful not to scratch my face with my nails!

Studiomatic Network » Eye care

Diseases of the eye: a new emergency

Yoga for the face against the eyelids falling