Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Macular degeneration is a disease of the central retina (called the macula) that affects central vision. It is the leading cause of vision loss among people over age 65.

Because it affects only central vision, macular degeneration does not cause total blindness. But it can make most daily activities like driving and reading difficult or impossible.

What causes it?

The exact cause of macular degeneration is still not understood, but it is thought to be associated with atherosclerotic changes in the tiny blood vessels that nourish the macula, compromising the blood flow to this part of the retina.

Age clearly plays a role in the disease. For this reason, it is often referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Macular degeneration has two forms

There are two forms of AMD:

• Dry AMD is the more common form, affecting approximately 90 percent of those who have macular degeneration. It typically develops slowly and causes mild visual distortion to moderate central vision loss.
• Wet AMD affects only 10 percent of people with macular degeneration, but causes more severe vision loss. In wet AMD, new blood vessels that form under the macula leak fluid and can cause a rapid and severe loss of central vision.

How common is AMD?

Macular degeneration is the most common cause of severe vision loss among individuals over age 65. It's estimated that over 11 million people in the United States have AMD. It affects about 9 percent of the population over age 40, and causes vision loss of 20/200 or worse (legal blindness) in 15 to 20 percent of those with the condition.

Age is the greatest risk factor. People in their forties have only about a two percent. Those over age 75 have a 30 percent risk.

Other risk factors include:

• Smoking
• A family history of AMD
• High cholesterol
• A poor ability to tan when young
• Excessive exposure to sunlight
• High dietary intake of saturated fat and cholesterol
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• A high body mass index in men
• Race - AMD affects Caucasians more frequently than people of other races
• Gender - Women are twice as likely to develop AMD

What are the symptoms of AMD?

Macular degeneration is painless. Visual symptoms are constant and limited to the central area of a person's visual field. They include:

• Distorted vision
• Blurred vision
• A central darkened spot or empty area

Can macular degeneration be treated?

Though there is currently no widely accepted treatment for macular degeneration, promising new medications are currently being developed. If you or a family member has AMD, ask your eye doctor about new treatment options that may be available.

Can macular degeneration be prevented?

Recent research suggests certain antioxidant vitamins and other nutritional supplements may slow or prevent the development of macular degeneration in some individuals. Vitamins A, C and E; zinc; Carotenoids; and lutein may be beneficial in maintaining a healthy retina. (These substances, however, have not been shown to reverse existing damage to the retina from AMD.)

Actions you can take to lower your risk of AMD include:

• Get plenty of exercise
• Maintain a proper weight
• Eat a healthy diet
• Avoiding smoking
• Take a multiple antioxidant vitamin supplement daily

Because excessive exposure to sunlight is a risk factor for AMD, it's also a good idea to wear sunglasses outdoors that provide 100 percent UV protection. A wide-brimmed hat also helps limit the amount of UV radiation reaching your eyes.

Low vision aids

People who have lost vision due to AMD can often benefit from low vision aids. These specialized optical devices provide high magnification and help a person with AMD use their remaining central vision as effectively as possible.

How to Get Energy from Vitamins

The biggest complaint that doctors often hear from patients is a lack of energy, or the constant feeling of fatigue. Due to these types of complaints, it really isn't a surprise that people want to know the best types of vitamins and supplements they can get for energy. All vitamins are ideal for staying healthy, as well as keeping your body performing in top shape.

Among vitamins and supplements, one of the most common for energy is folic acid. Folic acid is a B vitamin that has been proven to increase energy levels. Even though you can look for vitamins that provide energy, it would be in your best interest to find those that can be effective with fighting fatigue as well. There are vitamins, nutrients, and supplements that are great for fighting fatigue and helping the body stay alert.

The vitamin known as NADH is very powerful for energy, although many people aren't aware of it. People who use vitamins on a regular basis would find themselves very impressed with the boost NADH provides. It is often used with chronic fatigue, although the way it works can be quite complicated indeed. Other vitamins that are great for providing energy include the msm supplement and gingko biloba.

If you happen to be on a blood thinner, such as aspirin, you should always consult with a doctor or other trained specialist before you take gingko biloba, as it is a blood thinning agent. Even though it is considered to be an energy vitamin, if you use it with aspirin it can thin your blood down a bit too much. If you get your blood too thin, it may lead to medical problems later on in life that can prevent you from doing the things you love.

With any vitamin that you take as a source of energy, you should always consult with your doctor. If you have any type of heart or other serious medical condition, you may not be able to take the vitamin you are interested in. For this reason, you should always consult with your doctor and ask for his advice. After a few tests and exams, your doctor will be able to tell you what type of vitamins you should or shouldn't take.

In the world of vitamins and supplements, there are many alternative sources that you can take for energy. Whether you are a senior citizen looking to do more activities or an athlete looking to get more energy, there are many different vitamins out there that can give you what you need. Before you rush out and explore your options though, you should always consult with your doctor first and see if there are any vitamins you shouldn't be taking.

What is Conjunctivitis - Pink Eye?

Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is an irritation of the thin, normally transparent lining (called the conjunctiva) that covers the inner surface of the eyelids and the outer surface of the white of the eye (the sclera). The symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness, itchiness, irritation, and sensitivity to light.Conjunctivitis is commonly called "pink eye" because of the pale red appearance of the infected eye. Pink eye is a common and highly contagious infection among young children.

What causes conjunctivitis?

Allergies, an infection by bacteria or viruses, or by exposure to chemicals or other irritants can cause conjunctivitis.In allergic conjunctivitis, the conjunctiva usually appears swollen and red. The eyes are usually very watery, and itchiness can be severe.If conjunctivitis is caused by bacteria, a sticky, yellow discharge may be present. This discharge may accumulate between the eyelids during sleep, causing the lids stick together.Viral conjunctivitis is usually characterized by redness, itchiness, and a clear, watery discharge.

How common is conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis is very common, especially among people with allergies.

How is conjunctivitis treated?

Most types of conjunctivitis are treated with medicated eye drops or ointments. In some cases, oral medicines may also be used.Most types of conjunctivitis are not damaging to the eye or sight threatening. However, conjunctivitis caused by exposure to chemicals is a medical emergency, requiring immediate action to prevent eye damage. If a chemical has gotten in your eye, flush the eye with a gentle stream of cool water for at least 10 minutes. Then cover the eye and go to an urgent care facility or hospital emergency room immediately. Though flushing the eye with water alone may prevent eye damage from some chemical exposures, it is important to have your eye examined as soon as possible by a doctor.

To avoid contracting or spreading conjunctivitis, take the following precautions

• Wash your hands frequently during the day, especially before and after touching your eyes.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes.
• Do not share washcloths, pillows, towels, and make-up items with others.
• Wash your bedding and towels frequently.
• If you have a case of bacterial or viral conjunctivitis, discard and replace your current make-up, mascara, and eyeliner.
• If you wear contact lenses, clean and disinfect your lenses as directed.
• Wash your hands thoroughly before applying and removing your lenses.
• Replace your contact lenses frequently.
• Don't share your contact lenses with others.
• Wear protective goggles when working with or near chemicals.
• Avoid swimming in nonchlorinated pools or stagnant lakes or ponds.

How Water Could Possibly Form in the Freezing Darkness of Interstellar Space

Water is the most abundant solid material in space. Astronomers see it on various planets, on moons, in comets and in interstellar clouds. But how did it get there? Nobody really knows how water could possibly form in the freezing darkness of interstellar space.

At least they didn’t until now. Today, Akira Kouchi and buddies at the Institute of Low Temperature Science at Hokkaido University in Japan say that have created water for the first in conditions similar to those found in interstellar space.

Water forms quite easily when oxygen and atomic hydrogen meet. The problem is that there is not enough of it floating around as gas in interstellar dust clouds. So instead, the thinking is that water must form when atomic hydrogen interacts with frozen solid oxygen on the surface of dust grains in these clouds.

Kouchi and co recreated this process by creating a layer of solid oxygen on an aluminum substrate at 10K and then bombarding it with hydrogen. Sure enough, infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of water and hydrogen peroxide, and in the right quantities to explain the abundance of water seen in interstellar clouds.

That’s cool and in more ways than one. All the water in the solar system–in comets, on Mars and in the oceans on Earth–must have formed in exactly this way in the interstellar dustcloud which pre-dated Sol and the planets.

So that’s not just any old water you’re sipping, that’s interstellar star juice.