Help Your Eyes to See Better

Sometimes, having corrective glasses or contact lenses is not enough to combat low-vision problems. This eye condition occurs when it becomes increasingly difficult to see well enough to complete everyday tasks, such as reading, cooking, or even walking with confidence. Sufferers of low vision may also have difficulty in making out familiar faces, or recognizing and reading street signs. Often, the brightest lights don’t ever seem quite bright enough. Living with low vision is unpleasant, but some simple lifestyle adjustments can make a world of difference. For example:

· Use special low-vision tools and aids, such as large-print reading material and audio tapes
· Write with large, bold markers
· Put coloured tape on the edge of your stairs
· Use large-print telephones, clocks and watches
· Install motion lights, as well as dark-coloured light switches (which can easily be seen against a lighter background)


Eat Fish & Quit Smoking!
It has been reported that 75% of adults over the age of 75 will be affected by age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Two recent studies published in the Archives of Ophthalmology provide evidence that smoking and eating fish can have a dramatic impact on the development of this devastating disease. In the first study involving American twins, those who ate two or more servings of fish a week were 37% less likely to develop AMD than those who consumed little or no fish. In the second study, from Australia, people who ate fish three or more times a week were 75% less likely to develop age-related maculopathy, which often leads to AMD. Smoking increased the likelihood of developing AMD by 90%. So quit smoking and make fish a regular part of your diet.


Source: The University of Berkeley Wellness Letter

Your Skin’s Best Protection Against UVA

Sunscreen containing Mexoryl, also known as ecamsule, provides the best available protection against UVA rays, which penetrate the skin deeper than UVB and can cause more damage. Mexoryl has been patented by L’Oreal and has been available in Canada for several years. It has recently been approved by the FDA and should be available in the U.S. this winter. The first FDA-approved product to be released on pharmacy shelves will be Anthelios SX.

Vitamin D Prevents Disabilities

Dutch researchers have found that persons over the age of 65 with low blood levels of Vitamin D were three times more likely to end up in a nursing home. Vitamin
D keeps bones strong and maintains muscle strength, particularly in the lower legs, which helps prevent falls. It is recommended that persons over 65 consume as much as 800-1000 IU (International Units) of vitamin D daily.