Up to 80% to 90% of school age kids in major East Asian countries like China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and South Korea suffer from myopia or near-sightedness. This represents an enormous burden of disease that will lead to further problems in the future, as 10 to 20% of those affected suffer from ‘high’ myopia that can ultimately lead to loss of vision, impaired vision, as well as blindness. Professor Ian Morgan reported in The Lancet Series on Ophthalmology that this extremely high prevalence of myopia is linked to increased schooling, according to recent data, which indicates that the lack of daylight exposure could have a major impact on this gigantic problem. It was previously believed that myopia was mainly based on genetics. However, more recent evidence shows that environmental factors are involved as well. Numerous studies have demonstrated that an association exists between schooling and myopia, with reading books close-up and intensive study having been determined as the causes of myopia. According to more recent epidemiological surveys, it has been suggested that longer periods outdoors protect against developing myopia.

Dr Ashraf of the Atlanta Vision Institute notes that great strides have been made in epidemiology and identifying the risk factors associated with myopia, however no proven methods have been shown to prevent myopia in children. Unfortunately children do not qualify for any corrective surgery, such as LASIK, until at least the age of 18, he adds.

According to research on vision, there are a variety of techniques people can execute that could help improve their vision. One technique is eye exercises that when performed regularly and effectively, could lead to improved vision. Eye relaxation techniques have been known to help improve vision and entail nothing more than sitting in a comfortable position, covering the eyes gently using the hands and breathing deeply. In addition, eye muscle building is effective for improving vision, which can be done through eye tracking or tracing figures with the eyes. Another technique that can be utilized to improve vision is to change your diet to incorporate more vitamins and anti-oxidants. People who consume more foods like fruits, vegetables, fish and eggs have seen an increase in their vision. Protecting the eyes from the sun’s UV rays with sunglasses is also a great technique for improving vision. For many people, it’s hard to achieve perfect vision naturally/on their own, which is why LASIK surgery can be a great alternative.

These warm months in the South are perfect for spending time outside and especially swimming. Many people notice that their eyes may be red or burn after going for a long swim in the pool. This may be due to the large amounts of chlorine that are put in the water to keep it clean and sanitary. The irritation from the chlorine is a short-term irritation that can be fixed by running your eyes under clean, fresh water and putting in a few eye drops. To prevent such irritation, wearing goggles is a great alternative. It is also a good practice to take your contacts out before going in the water, too.

A recent study involving 5500 men and women over the age of 60 noted a strong association between Vitamin C deficiency and cataract formation.  Cataracts are the number one cause of blindness throughout the world.  The study controlled for lifestyle influences, alcohol, tobacco, nutritional status, blood pressure, and body mass index. Low Vitamin C showed higher prevalence of cataracts for both men and women. (Ophthalmology. 2011;118(10):1958-1965).

Researchers in London have reported that vitamin D reduces the effects of ageing in mouse eyes and improves vision of older mice. In the current issue of Neurobiology and Ageing, professor Glen Jeffery reports that when old mice were given vitamin D for just 6 weeks, retinal inflammation was reduced and subsequent tests revealed vision was improved.  They noted that macrophages, of which can cause damage and inflammation, were reduced in the mice with vitamin D supplementation and there was also a reduction in the protein amyloid beta. Amyloid increases with age and has been shown to accumulate in patients with age related macular degeneration and in Alzeheimer’s disease.

“These are promising results in an animal model, however human clinical trials will need to be performed to see if any of these benefits may benefit humans”, states Dr. Ashraf of the Atlanta Vision Institute.  He adds that this is a good starting point in trying to understand the mechanisms and pathophysiology of the ageing process.  Once we understand this, we can then try to address potential treatments to help prevent or reverse changes in the ageing process.

The suffering linked with this condition is substantial and gets worse if left untreated. However, early and proper intervention can slow, halt, or even reverse disease progression. Tons of patients have dry eyes and can no longer endure contact lens wear. “These patients then usually seek LASIK surgery”, explains Dr Ashraf of the Atlanta Vision Institute. He adds that, “here at Atlanta Vision, we pay particular attention to the ocular surface and try to identify these patients. Approximately 50% of our patients have some form of ocular surface disease. These patients are then started on treatment prior to and after surgery.” He adds that, “this has
significantly improved patient comfort and visual results of the surgery.” Yet, despite these statistics, lots of eye care providers continue to underestimate the impact of this eye disease on patients’ eye-related health, vision, and quality of life.

In 1983, an ophthalmologist and a team of scientists at the IBM research laboratory applied the newly developed excimer laser onto corneal tissue. Unlike other lasers, this laser produced incredibly precise cuts without any heat nor any damage to the surrounding tissue. During the following 15 years, advances in biomedical research and technology evolved into the modern form of LASIK surgery. This technology has helped millions of people worldwide improve their vision and quality of life.