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Cataract
Description: A painless clouding in the lens of the eye which gradually expands over a large period of time. It starts as blurred vision but if cataract is untreated, it can lead to blindness.

Macular Degeneration
Description: Damage to the retina causing loss of sight at the centre of your visual field. Vision will be blurred, can be distorted and this disease often affects older people. Macushield eye vitamins are highly recommended for this.

Diabetic Retinopathy
Description: Fluid which blurs and blocks your vision. The fluid is from burst or damaged blood vessels in the retina caused by diabetes mellitus. Diabetic Retinopathy can lead to blindness if untreated.

Glaucoma
Description: Optic nerves are damaged causing permanent visual loss. Loss of vision is not easily detected as it begins outside the usual visual range and gradually progresses towards the centre where if untreated, can lead to blindness.

Myopia
Description: A refractive defect in the eye making light unable to focus on the retina. This causes visual images to appear blurred when looking at distant objects. Prescription spectacles can help reduce the effects of Myopia.

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Once the eyes have been fully developed during the child years, eye sight continues to deteriorate until the day we pass away. Eye sight deteriorates at different rates in different people, hence why some adults do not need to wear glasses and some do. We will all reach an age where our visual function has decreased so much that it begins to have an effect on the daily tasks we do, such as driving.

Numerous studies have been conducted by numerous researchers, and depending on whose facts and figures you read, it may influence what you believe. Some studies by researchers show clear correlation that the older you get, the more likely you are to be involved in a driving accident. The claim is that your eye sight deteriorates to such as point that visual image is no longer clear, even with glasses on. Also with old age, your reflex from the nerves and neck movement has dulled; therefore the argument is that you will react far too slow if a problematic situation arises leading to an accident.

Other studies have shown that whilst there may be a correlation, it is too weak to base older drivers with having more accidents. Facts clearly show that most driving accidents often involve the younger or more correctly termed, newer-generation drivers. The claim is that older drivers have amassed plenty of driving experience over the years and can use this experience to avoid possible problematic situations far better than the judgment of newly qualified drivers.

As visual acuity deterioration differs from person to person, there is no clear age where once reached, you are considered a dangerous hazard on the road. Also many different factors can come into play such as eye disorders (i.e. glaucoma), glare (lenses for glasses), car (i.e. engine), the driver's mental state and more. If you are unsure whether you should or can continue to drive, you should consult 2nd opinions from the Opticians and Doctors. Do remember that driving safely is important, not only to you as the driver but to everyone else concerned such as passengers, other drivers and public passersby. There are always other alternatives such as public transport.

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1. Detecting Health Conditions

   Optometrists can detect health conditions including cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, cancer and more. Many people are unaware that a lot of the conditions mentioned have symptoms in the eye that the optician can pick up in a regular check up.

2. Spotting Eye Conditions

   Not all eye conditions have symptoms we can be aware of instantly. Symptoms can be gradual and some you won’t notice at all. Optometrists are trained to spot all eye conditions including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, myopia and others. Not all eye conditions when treated return your eye sight back to original capacity, therefore regular visits to the optician regardless of your eye health is highly recommended. Optometrists also have the power to refer you to the hospital if necessary.

3. Style & Fashion

   Opticians aren’t just for eye tests. You can go to an optician to try and buy glasses and sunglasses. You may have perfect eye sight but wear spectacles and shades as a fashion statement. Dispensing Opticians usually can help you with the look and size of spectacles to go for. Sunglasses are also highly recommended accessories for protecting the eyes from harmful UV rays from the sun.

4. Repairing & Maintenance

   If your specs are broken, your glasses are uncomfortable or appear misaligned on your face, don’t attempt to fix them yourself. The first stop should be the opticians where trained staff can offer their services and try to help. If the problem is missing nose-pads or missing screws, these are minor things that the optician can take care of. Adjusting the glasses to align with the head is also part of their services.

5. Contact Lenses, Hearing Care & Miscellaneous

   Most opticians can offer the services of contact lenses for people who find glasses a hassle. Some opticians also offer hearing care services for people who believe they may have hearing loss. Hearing loss is not easily detected at the beginning but will usually be noticed quicker by friends and family who talk to you often. Opticians will have any eye related accessories you may need such as eye vitamins, solutions and glasses cases, etc.

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Can you imagine life being blind? Being able to see through our eyes should be seen as a privilege. We can be thankful that in this day and age, the advances in technology and knowledge is so great that we know a great deal more about our eyes, vision, how to protect and maintain them. Yet the number of people going blind is increasing. Researchers have released an astounding fact that in 90% of cases where people go blind, they were actually preventable.

The three most common diseases/disorders that can cause blindness are cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). All 3 are age or time related. In most cases, people can be. You can help prevent or delay the oncoming of disorders by monitoring what you eat. Nutritional value is very important as different foods contain vitamins and nutrients essential for combating any deficiencies of the body.

Doctors and health experts recommend food containing vitamin A, B, C and E, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Meso-zeaxanthin, zinc and magnesium to be great for the eyes. They say it helps prevent or delay the progress of the diseases/disorders.

Foods with:

Vitamin A: Pig liver, cod liver oil, carrots, sweet potato, spinach, kale, butter.
Vitamin B: Spinach, kale, milk, meat, liver, eggs, cheese, peas, fish, brown rice, butter.
Vitamin C: Sweet red pepper, strawberries, orange, brussel sprouts, broccoli, grapefruit.
Vitamin E: Almonds, hazelnuts, sweet potato, mayonnaise, wheat germ oil, margarine.
Lutein: Kale, collard greens, spinach, cress leaf, swiss chard, chicory leaf, parsley, red pepper.
Zeaxanthin: Collard greens, kale, spinach, yellow corn, orange peppers, goji berries.
Meso-zeaxanthin: Prawns, fish.
Zinc: Red meat, poultry, crab, lobster, nuts, beans, milk, yoghurt, cheese.
Magnesium: Artichoke, milk, nuts, beans, spinach, tomato.

The alternative to getting your intake from food would be vitamin and supplement tablets. These are vitamins manufactured to cover the most important nutrients your eyes require in sufficient quantity. Macusan, Ocuvite and MacuShield are 3 particular vitamin supplements. MacuShield is especially great for AMD but good for eyes generally as it contains Meso-zeaxanthin, the core compound for vision.

With many foods, super foods and vitamin supplements available you should eat these to keep your eyes healthy. They do not guarantee eye disorder protection as some disorders are genetic or happens due to aging but at least they can delay the progress of the diseases. Don’t wait until you see symptoms of eye disorders before you decide to act. Sometimes it may be too late, especially so with glaucoma. Glaucoma makes your vision deteriorate over a long period of time so change is not easily detectable. By the time you’ve noticed, the lost vision cannot be restored. Eat healthily and get your eyes checked regularly at the opticians.

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