Eye Conditions

A genetic glitch may be responsible for incidents of cataracts in children.

According to a press release from Maine’s Jackson Laboratory, researchers have found that RNA granules, which are key components in the reproduction of genes, might be linked to eye development.  Problems with RNA granules can result in juvenile cataracts and glaucoma.  If there is a problem with a key gene, Tdrd7, the development of the lens of the eye will be compromised, leading to these potentially blinding conditions.
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Another major study describes how some of the spices in your kitchen can help treat diabetes.

Garlic, ginger, and turmeric were found to have positive effects on diabetic rats.  The study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition (2011), 105: 1210-1217, finds that ingesting these common spices helped the animals who suffered from metabolic syndrome and helped modulate oxidative stress levels.

Rats who took the spices in powder form mixed with water for 28 days showed a 80-97% reduction in metabolic syndrome symptoms.  The animals’ insulin production increased by 26-37% and their antioxidant defense systems were boosted by up to 52%.
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Acupuncture is an effective treatment for the potentially blinding condition retinitis pigmentosa.

An article in the Journal of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion describes how acupuncture treatments alleviate stress on the retinal and optic nerves by relieving intraocular pressure.
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A holistic perspective on health means that we recognize the interrelated nature of the body’s systems. It also means that we understand the connection between the eyes and seemingly unrelated conditions like sleep apnea and circulatory problems.

People who have sleep apnea are 75% more likely to have glaucoma than those without sleep conditions.
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Many years after the release of radiation disaster at Chernobyl, Russia, cataract have appeared  as one of the health issues changing the lives of those people who were exposed to radiation when the reactor exploded.  This has been reported by  the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, UNSCEAR.

Researchers publishing in the journal Radiation looked at the eyes of 8,607 Chernobyl clean-up workers 12 and 14 years after they were exposed.  Only 3.9% had nuclear cataracts, but 25% had posterior subcapsular or cortical cataracts from radiation exposure. Finding the prevalence of this other type of cataract leads scientists to believe that the exposure limits set for clean up workers by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) were in fact too high.  An article at EyeWorld.com states, “Thus,  conventional wisdom regarding acceptable doses of radiation to the eye for space activities are actually not acceptable, according to this study.”
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Spring will probably be a relief for all of us in northern climates, but especially those who suffer from dry eye syndrome.

A study published in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science describes how dry eye syndrome can be worse when temperatures sink below 30 degrees Celcius¹,².  Since that is about 86 degrees Fahrenheit, any time you are out in (especially windy, dry weather) you may have the dry eye burning and tearing experience.  Not until the hot weather of summer will weather related relief for your dry eye symptoms arrive.  Luckily, there are other effective strategies that you can try to prevent and treat your dry eye symptoms.
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