Mom was right when she told you carrots are good for your eyesight.

But carrots aren’t the only food that can protect your eyes. CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton discussed on “The Early Show” some other foods for your eyes that might surprise you.

Send Dr. Jennifer Ashton your question for “Ask It Early”

But what about makes foods good for your vision?

Ashton said antioxidants known as carotenoids represent one of the most widespread groups of naturally occurring pigments that can help your eyes. And among cartenoids, the most beneficial for eye health is lutein and zeaxanthin, Ashton said.

You can get your daily dose of both, Ashton said, from the best source: leafy greens. Ashton said greens, such as spinach, kale, peas, zucchini and broccoli are the richest food. Yellow pigmented fruits and vegetables, such as orange peppers, corn, oranges and honeydew melon, Ashton said, are also great sources of these eye-protecting carotenoids.

Aside from fruits and vegetables, Ashton said egg yolks are also high in lutein and zeaxanthin, which help protect the retina and filter the eye-damaging components of sunlight, according to the Journal of Food Science.

Ashton said, “The thinking is that our eyes age just like other parts of our body, and things like these substances can really make a big difference in preventing things like macular degeneration and cataracts.”

While experts know lutein and zeaxanthin are important to eye health, there are still questions about the best way to get them. Ashton said supplements may not have the same effect as naturally-occurring nutrients in fruits and vegetables. Also, there are no precise guidelines for how much lutein is needed for prevention of cataracts and macular degeneration.

Ashton added, “It’s probably best to eat a lot of colorful fruits and vegetables.”

LASIK surgery is now quite popular among people, especially the adolescences. With the help of LASIK, they can get rid of the inconvenient spectacles to enjoy the broad vision.

Though we hear some terrible cases of poor surgical result, they are quite rare, only about 1~5%. Actually, each surgery has some risks, and there is no 100% guarantee for a surgery. If you can do careful evaluation of your surgeon and his clinic, the risks can greatly be reduced. A good surgeon can provide you with all the steps of the procedures, and tells you what to expect after each procedure. Meanwhile, a duteous surgeon will inform you about the risks of the surgery, about the recovery time after the surgery, and ask you to reconsider about your decision. He will also offer the complete cost of the operation before doing the surgery, and promise no fees at all except that. In one word, the surgeon should be both professional and duteous.

The common complications of the LASIK surgery include the halos, dry eyes and loss of clarity and sensitivity. All the risks happen in the process of cornea cutting and reshaping procedures, and the risks may be caused by the poor surgical equipments. So using the modern equipments can lead to excellent results.

Not every people can afford the LASIK surgery because the relatively high cost, but don’t worry, your insurance may cover the surgery procedure and you may only have to pay part of or even do not have to pay at all. You can request the doctor if their clinic covers the vision insurance. Considering from the long term, LASIK surgery is a beneficial investment, because after you do not spend the cost on aided vision tools the surgery and you can enjoy the good vision in a happy mood.

LASIK surgery is regarded as a time and money saving activity to effectively solve the vision problem which uses the laser to complete the process. According to diagnoses, the risks of surgery are quite minimal, so you can set you heart at rest and do the surgery with confidence.

more info http://vision.firmoo.com/vision-surgery

Dr. William Boothe, a famous ophthalmologist known as Dr. Lasik in Dallas, is one of the pioneers of Lasik eye surgery and his motto is: details makes perfect. It is with this motto that he has successfully perform more than 100,000 operations of lasik on eye and many patients come to ask for an eye surgery for admiration.

Lasik eye surgery is a very delicate operation, for example, a surgeon has to use a tiny blade to make a incision to create the corneal flap, therefore, besides scrupulosity, Dr. Boothe attaches much attention to details because he knows how important role the little details perform in a surgery. One of the concrete manifestations is that Dr. Boothe always applies the latest techniques and equipments to supply a gap of the old microkeratome procedure. He uses IntraLasik computer to control the procedure, the excimer laser to correct the shape of tissue and to make an occlusive seal with osmotic pressure, helping the natural healing process. Thus, patients of Dr. Lasik are greatly guaranteed the best possible outcome after the surgery and most of them are able to get immediate improvement of the vision.

As a matter of fact, Dr. Boothe has developed such a concept of helping his patients see better since the first time he stepped into the ophthalmology world. In his professional life up to now, he’s always bear it in mind. That is the reason why he devotes so much to his career. As he once has said that no investment is too much to get the best.

Therefore, if you are a person who is still puzzled about which eye center you should go to have a Lasik surgery, Boothe Eye Care is definitely your best choice. There best equipment and techniques and eye surgeons with rich experience are available.

more info http://vision.firmoo.com/vision-surgery

Nowadays, more and more people are tending to take Wave Front LASIK surgery, which is one of the most advanced eye correction methods. Patients can almost regain their natural perfect visions after the surgery. However, not all eyeglass wearers are suitable to receive Wave Front LASIK surgery. Delicate laser beam is used in the correction of visions. Since the day when it comes into being in 2002, Wave Front LASIK surgery has gained much popularity. A computer, with 3-dimensial pictures, is used in the process of operation. For example, the computer will make an analysis of the patient’s eyes in 3-dimensial pictures. Then the doctors will know what the eye problems are and where to operate on.

According to the specific conditions of the eyes, doctors will design different methods for each patient. Some eyes problems, as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism that can not be cured completely in the past, now can be solved perfectly with the latest technologies.

Comparatively speaking, LASIK surgery is much expensive than other methods, and patients have to pay over $1,500 for each eye. Still more, the cost of Wave Front LASIK surgery is much higher than common LASIK surgeries, and patients have to pay over $3,000 for each eye. The reason is that LASIK surgery is the result of the latest technologies and patients can regain their perfect visions after the surgery. People who are interested with Wave Front LASIK surgery can have consultations with their local eye doctors, so as to have very specific ideas and comprehensive knowledge of this surgery and other LASIK surgeries.

The price matters very much. But if people can afford the cost Wave Front LASIK surgery, they are suggested to receive Wave Front LASIK surgery for perfect visions.

more info

·Wavefront measurements for higher-order aberrations

·Advantages of wavefront LASIK

Some tips are useful to get cheap designer eyeglasses. Customers can use these tips to save money.

One of the facts on the market is that eyeglasses stores usually release new lines of products at the beginning of each season. Optical stores have to make room for these new goods, which means old styles of eyeglasses should be sold as quickly as possible. As a result, those old designer eyeglasses are always on sale at varying discounts. Buying these glasses in an old fashion can save much money.

Another tip for purchasing cheap designer eyeglasses is shopping online. Buying designer glasses from online stores has a couple of benefits. Customers can save time and money, because they can simply surf the Internet without going to local stores. In addition, many online shops offer coupon codes, which can be redeemed for savings including discounts, free shipping and so on. Customers can find such a code with little effort. Frames Direct frequently offers coupon codes at different discounts.

Another way is to check out an online auction, from where a customer may get a great pair of designer glasses quite cheaply. The price of designer eyeglasses is always quite lower than that at designer shops. However, these online auctions need caution from customers. They should always choose trusted sellers or online stores.

Currently, there are also many online designer discount stores. These designer websites often offer clearance sections that show the latest glasses and sunglasses. With careful research, significant savings can be achieved.

Some eyeglasses stores even provide buy-one-get-one deals. To conclude, the basic means to save money of buying eyeglasses is to search for special sales.

Frame is a very important factor to determine whether the eyeglasses are fashionable, gorgeous and high-quality. The color, shape and embellishments are all part of a stylish frame. In this case, designer eyeglasses must have incomparable advantages over the ordinary ones. But when we go to purchase a pair of designer eyeglasses, we may find they all look fabulous in the shop window, however, they actually do not look fabulous on your face.

Therefore, it is most significant to get the satisfying designer eyeglasses. Three tips on choosing suitable eyeglasses are introduced below.

Firstly, you should know your face shape well. You can look into the mirror by pulling back your hair to assess your face shape. If you are not very sure about that, you can draw your face in the mirror or you can draw the outline of your face according your non-distorted photo. In that way, you can have a general idea of your face outline, round, square or heart-shaped? Then you can decide on what kind of frame shape fits your face shape well. If your face is round, square and rectangular glasses are both right choices, which can offset the curve of your face and make it seem not that round. If your face is heart-shaped, which means you have a wider forehead and a narrower chin, the frame that has a narrow top and wide bottom is strongly recommended. However, this kind of style is not easy to find, so you can refer to the rimless eyeglasses or the shape that has a round top and square bottom. If your face is oval, almost any shape of eyeglasses looks fine on you. So enjoy different shapes and different colors on you, even you can try the extravagant designer eyeglasses. It is likely to have stunning effects. In one word, the frame shape being opposite to your face shape may be more attractive.

Secondly, you come to consider the size of your eyeglasses. It still depends on your face size. If your face is small, just try the small frame. If your face is large, please do not even try the small one, for small frame may put people’s attention on your large face, which means eyeglasses emphasize the drawback of your face. Please remember one sentence that the size of your eyeglasses should complement the size of your face considering to be balanced and harmonious.

Finally, you come to the color of your eyeglasses. Learn it by heart that your frame color is decided by your skin color. If you have warm skin tone, you’d better choose the warm tone. If you have cool skin tone, you’d better choose the cool tone.

The temperament of a person is often extruded by some tiny decorations, such as neckerchief, necklace, earring, eyeglasses and so on. So it is very necessary to own a pair of suitable eyeglasses to make you to be charming. Following the general three tips, you can at least get a pair of good-looking eyeglasses. However, if you are brave enough to try some extraordinary, bold or unique designer eyeglasses, you may find another charming aspect on yourself.

more info

http://blog.firmoo.com/buying-options

Contact lenses are so prevalent that most people suffer from myopia, even those who don’t, have ever worn, is wearing or will wear contact lenses, either for vision correction or for cosmetic purposes. Contact lenses have brought much benefit to people, however, the drawback is that contact lens is always of high value, and then buying contact lens on line becomes popular.

Since no one wants to risk their eye health, only to save money, it is necessary and important to know some notices concerning buying contacts on line.

Firstly, before you start to choose contacts on Internet, you must get a valid doctor’s prescription. With the prescription you are more able to purchase a pair of contacts that suit your eye condition most. Therefore, when you encounter some sellers on line who are intended to dump lenses without a prescription, you should pay special attention to them and avoid negotiating with them.

Secondly, do not take price into the first consideration when purchasing something concerning your health, including contact lenses.

Thirdly, make sure what kind of contacts is suitable for you and what kind are not. Take hard lenses as an example, hard ones are very rigid and not air-permeable. Therefore, if you are a person why always suffer from dry eyes, hard lenses are not suitable for you. Hard lenses are usually much cheaper than other lenses, many people may choose them just for low price. What I want to remind them is that eye health is more important than the money you have saved.

What listed above are part of the important tips you must bear in mind when buying eyeglasses online. And another simple tip is—-never believe those sellers who are too eager to provide discounts and concessions to customers.

more info http://blog.firmoo.com/buying-options

Optometrists, also known as doctors of optometry, are the main providers of vision care. They examine people’s eyes to diagnose vision problem, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, as well as eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataract, and then prescribe according medication.

Being an optometrist, one has to get the admission to a optometry school to receive basic university education for three years, after which a year of training is needed. In addition, one must pass both the written National Board examination and a National, regional, or State clinical examination so as to be licensed. Other requirements for an optometrist who prepares to start his or her career include specific training to the particular area of specialization they choose, ranging from contact lenses, eye treatment to low vision detection and so on so forth.

Being a professional optometrist is another thing, besides what have mentioned above, when one is going to run his or her own private practice, things come to be more complicated. On one hand, he or she has to make sure he or she is qualified; on the other hand, he or she needs to do more things, like supervising the functioning of their offices and eye-care centers, hiring efficient and dependable staff, making right investments in equipment and keeping up with technological developments in the field of eye care.

Since more and more eye care centers are for profit, they pay less and less attention on quality and efficiency, then, it is your own business to check whether the eye care center is trusted. Usually a formal eye care center involves vision acuity exam which is done to check whether you have defective vision that must be corrected with lenses; eyesight problem determination to check whether you are nearsighted, farsighted or something else; try-in various lenses to find one type that provides you most comfort and clearest vision. Moreover, during the eye check-up, the optometrist is also supposed to check whether there are eye problems, such as glaucoma, hypertension, high blood pressure and so on so forth. If you do have those eye problems, the optometrist will tell you and suggest corresponding therapy options to improve your eyesight under such conditions. Sometimes, the optometrist will also give a prescription to such conditions.

There are people who always confound an optometrist with an ophthalmologist, regarding them in the same occupation. As a matter of fact, they are, although both engage in issues concerning vision, totally different professionals. An optometrist is responsible to diagnose problems and prescribe remedies that are to diagnose you are nearsighted or farsighted and the power of your nearsightedness or farsightedness; while an ophthalmologist is mainly perform eye surgery, excluding eye diseases.

In today’s society, with people pressed more and more by life with a rapid pace, they suffer from both mental and eye strain frequently, resulting in a large amount of people with eyesight problem, together with over-exposure to TV and computer, the sufferers range from children at the age of 5 or so to the elder. Thus, in such a situation, the need for optometries, especially professional optometries is in urgent need.

more info

·Optometrists and ophthalmologists

Many people find it’s absolutely annoying when buying eyeglasses. They have to consider many aspects of the glasses, the size of the frames, for example, must suitable for the shape of their faces; they also have to decide what material they’d like, metal or plastic. Men used to have two kinds of glasses-metal and thick plastic for selection, nowadays they still envy women because the latter have a variety of choices, like the sizes, shapes, colors, styles and patterns. However, more choices actually bring more trouble and make you feel more helpless. You must learn to buy a pair of glasses that make you more handsome.

So what you need to do is to learn how to choose a pair of stylish prescription glasses that will set off your look and temperament. After reading the following tips, you’ll find it’s really effortless to choose the glasses that suit you best.

Ask a friend for his suggestion. When you go shopping with your friends, they always give you proper and honest opinions about your clothes, and it’s the same when you want to buy eyeglasses. Therefore, you should go the optician accompanied by your best friends, who will honestly give their suggestions about what kind of glasses is suitable for you, whether you look wired or not in this pair of glasses, or look very good in that one. Even you decide to buy glasses from the web, don’t forget to ask a friend to sit with you!

Do not deviate from your normal style. Sometimes people want to make some changes, a new style, a new kind of color, for example, they alter their usual frame color from black to gunmetal over gold. Here’s a suggestion, always stay in line with your normal style when you pick glasses! If you used to wear the black-frame glasses, you shouldn’t just try some new and switch to the gunmetal over gold one. This huge change says that you are not only a extremely miserable man. Remember to get a pair of cheap one from the websites if you insist on doing this, which will mitigate the waste since you won’t wear the glasses for long.

Stay consistent with your fashion taste. If you are the person who prefer to wear casual jeans and T-shirts than business suits all day, dual-toned plastic frames is good for you, another choice is black frames with thinner plastic, which make you a little more elaborate than the former one. But if you have a taste of chic style, silver or gold metal frames are best choices, because they are much simpler and won’t cover up your face.

Stay calm and unruffled. You know eyeglasses aren’t toys and you have to invest much money, so remember one thing: look before you leap! Consider thoroughly before you decide to buy new glasses, do I really in need of a new pair? Do the glasses really suit me? if you indeed need to buy the new glasses,  and you find a pair that you love much more, do not hesitate to get them!

Glasses are the asset of your costumes and a good accessory added to your outward aspect, so it shouldn’t be the wracking task when you need to buy eyeglasses. So get yourself a pair of glasses happily!

more info

·How to choose eyeglasses

Can blindness be cured? trends and new products that may be in eyeglasses marketing for 2010:

1. Presbyopes, or people with near vision problems from presbyopia, may soon be able to adjust their own eyeglasses to achieve sharper focus. One company recently introduced adjustable lenses that give clearer focus up close or in the distance, depending on the individual’s vision needs.

2. For frazzled parents who find it tough to keep eyeglasses and sunglasses attached to young children’s faces, more conveniences are available in the form of adjustable straps, headbands and Velcro for attachments. That’s especially good news for tiny tots, who need sunglass protection outdoors just as much as adults do.

3. Companies are expanding availability of self-service vision screening kiosks in malls, grocery stores and drugstores. These self-service kiosks help assess vision and determine when the person should see an eye doctor for a full eye exam to update his or her prescription and help prevent eye problems.

4. Advances continue to be made in gene therapy, which eventually may cure blindness caused by eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa. In fact, scientists recently used gene therapy to reverse blindness in animals with an eye disease similar to retinitis pigmentosa. Human trials using this method could begin in 2010.

5. Scientists also have used gene therapy to reverse color blindness in monkeys, which could have long-term implications for humans with color blindness.

6. Several companies are very close to creating more modern drug delivery systems for the eye that could eliminate the need for painful injections used to control macular degeneration, a common eye disease affecting the elderly that can be blinding.

7. New drug delivery methods other than eye drops also are being investigated for common eye diseases such as glaucoma. Tiny devices the size of a grain of rice (punctal plugs) could be inserted in the corner of the eye to slowly release medications needed to control high eye pressure that can damage the eye in glaucoma.

8. Smart phone applications will help users monitor their vision and certain eye conditions.

9. New corrective lens technology will provide greater customization of vision correction than current glasses and contacts, providing sharper vision than “20/20.”

10. All-laser cataract surgery may replace more traditional methods that use ultrasound (phacoemulsification) to break up the cataract in the eye before it is removed. Newer methods use a special laser to create incisions in the eye and also to break up the cataract.

11. The same special laser (femtosecond laser) is being studied as a way to correct near vision problems caused by presbyopia, which affects most people beginning after age 40. The laser creates incisions on the front of the eye to steepen it, which improves near vision.

12. Tiny implants inserted just below the clear surface of the eye (cornea) also are showing promise as a way to correct presbyopia.

13. The eye may become a diagnostic tool for identifying people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists have found that examining the retina in the eye’s inner, back region can reveal lesions indicating presence of the disease.

14. Stem cells may soon be used to treat Stargardt’s macular dystrophy (SMD), a retinal disease that causes blindness in young people. The treatment uses embryonic stem cells to re-create a type of cell in the retina that supports the photoreceptors needed for vision.

15. Contact lenses are being studied for many futuristic uses, such as monitoring a person’s vital body signs and blood sugar. Contact lenses currently are being developed to give instant views of charts, graphics and other displays through sources such as wireless Internet connections.

For more information on vision, eyewear and eye health, please visit AllAboutVision.com.