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Low Vision

According to recent studies funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the number of Americans who are visually impaired—including those with low vision— is expected to double to more than 8 million by 2050. With the increasing life expectancy rates, these numbers are extremely concerning as this goes to show that an increasing amount of people are at a risk of developing a visual impairment. Therefore, it is extremely important to spread awareness about such vision impairment tendencies and ensure that people receive the necessary help. But in order to spread awareness about this, take a moment to understand more about low vision, its symptoms and its impact.

What is low vision?

When low vision occurs, people find it difficult to read or see even with regular glasses, contact lenses and medicine or surgery. Tasks like watching TV, cooking, driving and even writing can seem extremely challenging. People aged 65 or older are most likely to be impacted by low-vision. The leading cause of low vision is due to improper treatment or delay in the detection of eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, cataract and glaucoma. In case of younger adults, low-vision is usually caused by genetic tendencies or the prevalence of an undetected eye disease. Take a look at some facts related to low-vision and its widespread impact.

According to National Federation of The Blind:

  • It is estimated that about 1.3 million people in the U.S. are legally blind.
  • It is estimated that as many as 10 million Americans are blind or visually impaired.
  • There are 5.5 million seniors in the United States who are either blind or visually impaired.
  • Studies show that over the next 30 years, aging baby boomers will double the current number of blind or visually impaired Americans.
  • Just 1% of the blind population is born without sight. The vast majority of blind people lose their vision later in life because of macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetes.
  • With macular degeneration, central vision deteriorates, resulting in blurred vision and eventually leads to blindness. While there are treatments to delay these conditions, there is no cure.
  • Macular degeneration is known to affect about 13 million Americans.

What Can You Do If You or Someone You Know is Suffering from Low-Vision?

Low vision can be extremely tough to deal with, and may leave people feeling helpless, and anxious, that is why it is necessary to remind them that they can get help.
First and foremost, it is extremely important to schedule regular visits to your ophthalmologist in order to supervise your eye health regularly. In case of those affected by low-vision, you must speak to your ophthalmologist about your treatment options to help reduce its impact and slow down the process. Your eye doctor will also be able to provide low vision aids to help improve the transition.

As for those of you who are at a risk of low-vision or AMD, it is best to visit your eye doctor regularly and get dilated eye exams regularly to ensure optimum eye health. If you are looking for an Ophthalmologist in Fresno, we at Insight Vision Center, have a talented team of eye care specialists to address any of your vision related queries or eye health issues. So, if you have noticed any changes in your vision, don’t ignore the signs and book an appointment with us today, to know more about how you can protect your vision and keep it healthy.

Blurry vision

Blurred vision can be a result of numerous health conditions. It may be temporary or permanent, with the condition worsening over time. Some people can have blurry vision from birth due to a congenital disability, while others develop one over time. Long-term medical issues are typically to blame for the blurred vision that gradually gets worse. Most frequently, a single event is what causes sudden blurry vision.

Blurry vision can be corrected through LASIK eye surgery, or sometimes naturally, based on how common or serious the problem is, which generally depends on the causes. In this article, we will discuss both the causes for blurry vision & sudden blurry vision along with the natural and medical cures available. Continue reading Sudden Blurry Vision: Causes and Cures

great eye health

Your organs tend to get weaker and lose their functionality as you age, and eyesight is no exception to this rule. As you grow older and your eyesight weakens, it becomes susceptible to infections, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degenerative eye diseases. Though we’re aware of this fact, what we don’t realize is that our habits also affect our eye health significantly. Here are 10 simple changes you must make in your daily routine if you want to improve your eye health: Continue reading 10 Changes You Must Make in Your Routine for Great Eye Health

Do you have diabetes? If yes, then you are at a risk of developing serious eye diseases. High blood sugar can lead to problems like blurry vision, cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy. In fact, diabetes is the primary cause of blindness in adults between 20-74 years. Let us look at some eye diseases that result from diabetes.

4 Eye Conditions Related to Diabetes

1) Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)

One of the most serious eye conditions, diabetic retinopathy occurs when the tiny blood vessels present at the back of the eye become blocked and start leaking.

Types of DR

a) Background Diabetic Retinopathy

This doesn’t affect the eyesight but the eyes need to be monitored to ensure that the retinopathy doesn’t worsen.

b) Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

If background diabetic retinopathy gets worse, then many retinal blood vessels get blocked or damaged. If these changes occur over a large area of the retina, then the blood vessels to the retina will be reduced, which the body tries to fix by growing new blood vessels on the retinal surface or into the vitreous gel. However, these new vessels are generally weak and bleed very easily, thus affecting your vision

c) Diabetic Maculopathy

This occurs when the macula is affected by retinopathy. It affects the central vision, which is required to see fine details and color, and makes it blurry.

Causes of DR

The primary cause of this eye disease is chronically high blood sugar from diabetes as it directly damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina.

Symptoms

The early stages usually don’t have any symptoms, which is why the disease progresses unnoticed until it starts affecting your vision.

If the abnormal retina blood cells start bleeding, then it can cause an appearance of ‘floating spots’ in the eye. These spots may be clear on their own but if there is no proper treatment, the bleeding will recur and increase the risk of permanent vision loss.

Treatment

If your eye condition is detected in the early stages, then you will be given a laser treatment. It helps in preventing bleeding or growth of new blood vessels.

Reducing Risk

You can reduce the risk of DR by:

  • Controlling the blood glucose levels
  • Controlling the cholesterol levels
  • Controlling the blood pressure
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Quitting smoking

Get a regular retinal screening as it can help in detecting diabetic retinopathy at an early stage and early treatment will stop you from losing sight. You must have the retinal screenings more often if you’re pregnant and have gestational diabetes. The screenings must be done during your pregnancy and after your baby is born.

2) Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)

This eye disease causes an accumulation of fluid in the macula, which is a part of the retina that controls our detailed vision abilities, due to the leaking of blood vessels. You must have diabetic retinopathy in order to have DME. It damages the blood vessels and results in vision impairment. If left untreated, these blood vessels begin to build up pressure in the eye and leak fluid, causing DME.

Causes of DME

High blood sugar is one of the main causes of DME. It can make the blood vessels leak or grow uncontrollably in your retina. DME occurs when the fluids leak into your retina. This leaking will cause the retina to swell, thus hampering the work of your macula.

Symptoms

It usually doesn’t have symptoms, however, you may experience the following:

  • Blurry images that are directly in front of you
  • Washed out colors

3) Cataract

This occurs when there is clouding or fogging in the otherwise clear lens of the eye. Since the lens allows you to focus and see images clearly, the cataract will cause blurry, cloudy or glazed vision. Cataract can strike anyone but those with diabetes can get cataract at an earlier age than others and the condition will progress more rapidly in diabetic people.

You can treat cataract through a surgery where the cloudy lens is removed or cleaned out and replaced by a clear man-made lens.

4) Glaucoma

Glaucoma damages the eye’s optic nerve. It occurs when fluid builds up in the front part of the eye. This extra fluid builds pressure in the eye and damages the optic nerve and blood vessels, thus affecting the vision.

Symptoms

It does not cause any symptoms until it starts affecting the eyesight and you have major vision loss. However, in the early stages, you can experience headaches, blurred vision, eye aches, watery eyes and halos around a light.

Treatment

The treatment of glaucoma includes medications that can treat open-angle glaucoma. They lower eye pressure, reduce the amount of liquid the eye produces and speeds up the drainage.

Preventive Steps to Take

  • If you have type 1 diabetes, you should have a dilated eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist within three to five years after diagnosis.
  • Those with type 2 diabetes should have a dilated eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist shortly after diagnosis.
  • Annual eye exams are a must for people suffering from both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. You can make the check-ups more frequent if necessary.
  • Women with a history of diabetes considering pregnancy should have an eye exam before and during pregnancy. This does not pertain to women with gestational diabetes.

Make an appointment today with an eye doctor at Insight Vision Center to rule out any eye diseases that may be caused due to diabetes.

The glorious season of spring is almost here! Most of you shall be gearing up for some fun in the sun. However, many others are finding ways to protect themselves from the effects of seasonal allergies. Various factors such as dust and pollen grains are the usual troublemakers, causing allergic reactions in multiple ways.

But, in order to take preventative measures against such allergies, we first need to be able to identify the symptoms of such allergies to be better prepared. Mentioned below are some of the most common indications of allergic reactions:

  • Redness of eyes
  • Itching
  • Swelling or puffiness
  • White discharge from the eyes
  • Teary or watery eyes
  • Soreness or pain in one or both the eyes

So, how do you avoid suffering from these symptoms without compromising on your fun time in the glorious spring sun? Take a look at these 7 simple yet effective preventative measures that you can take in order to stay allergy-free this spring.

 1. Wear Sunglasses

Since spring calls for a lot of outdoor celebrations, picnics and barbeques, make sure you keep your eyes protected from Sun damage, caused due to the harmful UV rays. Wear sunglasses with 100% UV ray protection and supplement that by using a hat. Doing so will help you protect your eyes as well as your face from direct sunlight.

2. Keep Your Hands & Face Clean

When you’re spending your days outside, it is easy to get your hands dirty. Dust and pollen particles are the prime causes of contamination, as a result of which it is extremely easy to trigger your allergies. It could even be something as simple as lightly rubbing your eyes. That is why it is crucial to keep your face and hands clean at all times.

3. Wear Glasses instead of Contact Lenses

Avoid using contact lenses and use glasses instead, when you plan on staying outside for extended length of time. This is because pollen can build up on your contacts and further irritate your eyes. Glasses make a better alternative as they can shield your eyes from flying particles of pollen and dust.

Pro Tip – You can talk to your doctor about getting polarized lenses for your prescription spectacles. This will give you the dual benefit of protecting your eyes from the harsh glare of the sun and the risk of infection causing contaminants.  

If you find both glasses and contact lenses quite the hassle to handle, then simply opt for a vision corrective procedure such as LASIK! It is the most commonly opted procedure as it is almost pain free, requires negligible recovery time and has zero side effects.

4. Protect Your Eyes from Extreme Activities

Spring calls for outdoor sports, bonfires, barbeques and fireworks! This means increased exposure to extreme heat and smoke, making it even more important to ensure that you are fully protected from the impacts of the same. Keep your distance in case of witnessing or lighting fireworks and open fires, and ensure that you and everyone around you use protective eyewear. Appropriate eye gear is also crucial when playing sports or indulging in other outdoor activities like hiking and swimming.

5. Use an Air Purifier

Allergens like pollen and dust spread quickly and find their way into your homes quite easily. Therefore, in order to keep yourself completely protected from contracting allergies, it is advisable to invest in an air purifier so that you are safe indoors as well.

6. Keep Your Eyes Moist

The sunny days of spring can leave your eyes dry as you venture outside to enjoy the warm weather. Restore the lost moisture of your eyes by applying artificial tear drops that help lubricate the eyes and improve visual comfort
by soothing the ocular surface.

7. See Your Ophthalmologist for a Comprehensive Eye Exam

With the dryness of the spring season at your doorstep, the best way to protect your eyes from itching, irritation and allergies is to have a comprehensive eye exam by an experienced ophthalmologist. He will check your eyes for signs of seasonal allergies and symptoms of other eye conditions. If any changes are identified in your visual health, your ophthalmologist can initiate treatment immediately so that your eyes remain healthy for the rest of the year.

If you still face a lot of difficulties as a result of spring time allergies, book an appointment with Insight Vision Center today. Our dedicated team of experts will guide you in every way possible, with specialized solutions and treatment options!

Ever thought about eating right for healthy eyes? Yes, our eyes may be the most neglected and strained organ of our body. Hectic work schedules, long hours before lit screens, harsh sun rays – are all adding to the stress of our eyes. But we don’t realize this until major damage is done.

So be wise and begin with the basics to improve the health of your eyes. We have listed 10 super foods which promote healthy vision. These are rich in powerful antioxidants such as vitamin C, carotenoids, alpha-lipoic acid, omega-3 fatty acids etc. All of them work together to protect the retina and lens by absorbing and controlling free radicals, thus shielding your eyes from damage. Read below to know more about the 10 super foods.

1. Berries
Include these sweet, sour and tangy superfoods in your diet and see a marked difference in your vision. Strawberries are rich in vitamin C, which will relax and soothe the swelling of eyes. Other antioxidants present in strawberries help prevent dryness, vision defects and macular degeneration.

Blue berries with their anti-inflammatory, vasoprotective, collagen stabilizing and rhodopsin-regenerating properties, benefit the functioning of your eyes. They strengthen the posterior blood vessels of eyes. The anthocyanins present in blue berries not only prevent blockages in retinal arteries, but also lower high blood pressure. Other berries such as cranberries, blackberries, mulberries etc., also benefit your eyes.

2. Broccoli
The wide-spread dislike for broccoli is well known. Well, it’s time you opened your eyes to its benefits. Broccoli is packed with antioxidants, and carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin. Both these carotenoids act as protective pigments in the back of the eyes.
A vitamin B2 deficiency can lead to eyes which are super sensitive to light, resulting in fatigue, inflammation and hazy vision. Broccoli can help you prevent these problems, as it contains a lot of vitamin B2. Have it in salad or a side dish, or as a snack with a dip.

3. Brussels Sprouts
These are another rich source of vitamin C which eases the inflammation of stressed eyes. Besides, they also contain zeaxanthin, an antioxidant which helps filter out the harmful blue light rays and prevents them from entering the cornea. This helps protect eyes from damage and disorders like macular degeneration. Add some texture to salad with these wonder sprouts or enjoy as a light snack.

4. Carrots
These are easy on your pocket and heavy on the benefits. They are loaded with beta carotene, which is converted into vitamin A by the body. Vitamin A protects vision, prevents night blindness, and maintains a healthy and clear cornea. Salads, smoothies or healthy desserts – there are numerous ways to add carrots in your diet.

5. Chia Seeds
They have high omega-3 fatty acids content as compared to flax seeds or salmon, more calcium than a glass of milk, and more antioxidants than blue berries. Make them a part of your daily diet to reduce the oxidative damage of the lens and retina, and promote the overall health of eyes.

6. Dark Chocolate
Most of us love this delicious super food. For those who don’t, here are some reasons to ditch the regular and pick a dark bar instead. Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids which enhance the blood flow to the eyes. They also help your eyes see better in low light and focus properly in excess bright light, while reducing the strain. Besides, dark chocolate also contains minerals which ensure correct functioning of the optic system.

7. Kale
Kale is rich in vital nutrients and vitamins. The nutrients are crucial for a clear and perfect vision. Moreover, the lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin A, B6 and K help protect the eyes from harmful light rays, contribute to visual development, protect the cornea and strengthen the optical nerve. Kale also provides ample amount of vitamin C. So do not shy away from the greens on the menu! Kale, spinach, mustard leaves, swiss chard, turnips – all of these are must-haves in your diet.

8. Peppers
These are one of the richest sources of vitamin A and C. Both these vitamins help maintain healthy eyesight by preventing night blindness, reverse near and far sightedness and prevent formation of cataracts. The peppers also contain ample amount of vitamin B6, lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene and lycopene. All of these are important for healthy vision.

You can choose from the many varieties of peppers available today. So bake, grill, stir-fry or simply have them raw for maximum benefit.

9. Proteins
Some of the most easily available protein-rich super foods are eggs, salmon, oysters, crab, beef, etc. Eggs are loaded with biotin, lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin A and retinol – the most vital element responsible for maintaining healthy vision. Salmon also has a good amount of retinol and omega 3 fatty acids, both of which are required for maintaining a good eyesight. However, the red meats need to be consumed in moderation.

10. Seeds & Nuts
Give your eyes the advantage of the duo – vitamin C and vitamin E. Both of these together, are great at keeping a tissue healthy and strong. Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans and sunflower seeds are the best sources of vitamin E and zinc. Besides, they are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial to the eyes. So, toss aside your fried snacks and grab these nutritious seeds and nuts instead.

Apart from these, a regular eye check up is essential. Visit us at Insight Vision Center today, and find out more about how you can keep eye ailments at bay and maintain a healthy vision.

myths about vision

We’ve all heard myths related to eyesight and vision, causing confusion about what’s good for eyes and what isn’t. But, are any of them actually true?

Here are 12 common misconceptions and the truth behind them:

Myth #1 – Prescription Glasses/Lenses Fix (or Harm) Your Eyesight

Wearing vision aids all the time helps improve eyesight and prevent vision deterioration. However, some believe it makes eyesight worse.

Reality – Glasses or contact lenses only make your vision clearer. Wearing them constantly does not increase or decrease your power, but could help prevent eye strain.

Myth #2 – TV Screens/Computer Monitors Hurt Your Eyes

You will harm your eyesight by sitting too close to the television/staring at the computer all day.

Reality – Electronic screens don’t cause vision loss, but staring at them constantly can increase dryness and strain. Use anti-glare glasses and lubricating eye drops, take frequent breaks, and remember to blink!

Myth #3 – Glaucoma Is a Risk Only for Those with Poor Eyesight

People with 20/20 vision and no symptoms of glaucoma are not at risk of developing the disease.

Reality – Glaucoma symptoms only show up in the moderate or advanced stage of the disease, but early detection and treatment can slow its advance.

Myth #4 – Staring at the Sun Can Strengthen Your Eyes

Looking directly into the sun helps to strengthen your eyes and improve your eyesight.

Reality – No, no and no! Looking directly at a solar eclipse causes retinal damage, and so can looking at the sun without protective eyewear.

Myth #5 – Diabetes Doesn’t Always Increase Eye Health Risk

Diabetics won’t suffer eye damage and vision issues if their blood sugar is under control.

Reality – Other than blood sugar levels, the duration of illness is also a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy. Early detection and treatment can help prevent irreversible blindness.

Myth #6 – Your Vision Is Affected By Reading in Poor Light

Don’t read in dim light. It will harm your eyesight, make you shortsighted and increase your power.

Reality – You won’t suffer eye damage or become shortsighted, but your eyes may get strained or tired. Point a lamp directly on the page while reading.

Myth #7 – Carrots Are the “Magic” Food for Eye Health

Eating a lot of carrots protects your eyes, prevents the need for glasses, and improves your eyesight.

Reality – It isn’t carrots that protect your eye structure, but Vitamin A. Carrots are rich in this antioxidant, but so are dark green leafy veggies and fresh fruits.

Myth #8 – Eyeballs Are Removed During an Eye Transplant/Surgery

Doctors remove your eyeball during eye surgery, and can transplant the whole organ when it’s damaged.

Reality – Eyeballs are connected to the optic nerve (part of the brain), and can never be removed from their sockets. Only corneas can be transplanted/operated upon.

Myth #9 – Sunglasses and Safety Goggles Aren’t Necessary

Sunglasses are just a way to look “cool”, while safety goggles are only needed for high-risk activities.

Reality – Sunglasses offer glare and UV ray protection. Safety goggles protect your eyes against accidents, injury and blindness (during sports or even at home!).

Myth #10 – Poor Eye Health/Vision Loss is Genetic

You’re safe if your family has no history of glaucoma. If your parents have good eyesight, so will you.

Reality – While some types of glaucoma, cataracts and other issues are inherited, there’s no guarantee either way. Get regular checkups!

Myth #11 – Eyesight Gets Worse with Increasing Age

You will definitely face issues with retinal damage, vision loss and eye-related diseases as you get older.

Reality – If you eat a healthy, balanced diet, get regular eye exams and avoid smoking, drinking and high sugar intake, your eyes can remain healthy even in old age!

Myth #12 – Eye Exercises Can Prevent/Fix Vision Loss

Doing eye exercises or “eye yoga” on a regular basis will delay, prevent or correct vision loss.

Reality – Your spectacle number depends on eye tissue health, eyeball shape and other factors. Eyesight is not significantly affected by eye exercises.

When myths are treated as fact, proper eye care suffers. Don’t wait till you’re 40 (another myth) to get annual eye checks, since early detection is the best treatment! Visit InSight Vision Center and get your eyes checked.

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Your kid has made a successful visit to an eye doctor without causing any problem and has come out with a prescription for glasses. But the challenging part may begin now if he/she refuses to wear the glasses. The following suggestions will help you get the kids acclimatized with their new glasses.

Important Tips

  • Ensure The Glasses Have A Perfect FitThe frame should not pinch the ears or nose of your child. A well-fitting frame sits comfortably without leaving any pressure marks on the nose-bridge or ears. Check regularly if there is any skin irritation – change the frame if any signs of irritation show up. Most frames for infants and young kids are made of rubber-like materials for comfort. They also have bands that wrap around the head which prevents constant falling of the glasses, and also makes it difficult for kids to remove them frequently.
  • Check If The Prescription Is CorrectIf you child complaints that he/she can’t see clearly even with glasses or if they constantly look over the glasses, then chances are that the prescription is incorrect. Visit an eye doctor to get the accuracy of prescription rectified.
  • Take Baby StepsYoung children may find glasses very obtrusive when they first start using them and may start coming up with excuses not to use them. Don’t force it upon them – rather tell them to start wearing it for a few hours every day. Gradually increase their wearing time to full day. This gradual transition will allow them to get accustomed to glasses and, before they know it, they will be start wearing it regularly.
  • Make It A RoutineDeveloping a routine around the glasses will be beneficial for the children. Encourage them to put on the glasses after waking up and take them off only while sleeping or bathing. It might take some time but once they get into a daily routine, it’ll come easily and naturally for them to use glasses on a daily basis.
  • Practice Positive ReinforcementLetting the kids know that they look good in glasses will encourage them to wear the glasses. Treat them with a present for wearing the new glasses. Praise them every day, till they get comfortable, as positive reinforcements go a long way in convincing them to wear glasses regularly.

What If My Child Refuses To Wear Glasses

It’s normal for a child to resist wearing glasses when they are new for them. However, don’t let their resistance and annoyance make you lenient. Ensure that the prescription is correct and then gently explain why it’s important for them to wear glasses regularly. Positive reinforcement usually works. Be persistent and eventually the kids will start wearing them regularly.

Precautions to Take While Playing Sports

Children are prone to dozen of eye injuries on the sports fields and courts when they play without protecting their eyes. Protective eye-gear come in prescription and non-prescription lenses. If your kid participates in any of the following sport, make sport goggles a must in their sporting kit.

  • Baseball/softball
  • Soccer
  • Hockey
  • Basketball
  • Swimming
  • Tennis/racquetball
  • Karate/martial arts

Children may hesitate to wear protective lenses if they are the only ones using the glasses in their team. Convince them to put on their glasses nevertheless. Allowing kids to choose their own eyewear will persuade them to wear the glasses.

If your child can’t see distant or nearby objects clearly, make a visit to an eye doctor or an optician to get their vision checked. Once prescribed, make sure they diligently use the eye glasses to prevent further damage to the vision.

One of the most common tricks that parents use to encourage or trick their kids to eat vegetables is to amplify the ‘good’ a particular vegetable can provide. The common ones include eating spinach for strength, broccoli to make you smarter, drinking milk will make you taller etc. But one of the oldest and the most popular saying remains – ‘Eat carrots to get excellent eyesight’. Tricking younger kids may be simpler but there may come a time when they will start questioning the authenticity of such claims.

Let us delve into the history to see of how this adage came into existence and became one of the most used statements by parents across the world.

The History

Bugs bunny’s favorite food became associated with strong eyesight during World War II when the British Royal Air Force managed to gun down German aircrafts even at nights. The air force fabricated a story of how their skilled fighter pilot John “Cats’ eyes” Cunningham attributed his excellent night vision due to a carrot-enriched diet. Soon, everyone began to eat more carrots get stronger night vision so that they could work in the dark as well. However, it turned out to be mere propaganda as the Air Force was, in fact, utilizing radar to locate the German bombers.

Why Should You incorporate Carrots in Your Diet

Even though it started as a myth, having carrots do help in maintaining healthy eyes due to the presence of the following nutrients:

Vitamin A

It is extremely essential for healthy eyes. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a carotenoid pigment which is an essential precursor for vitamin A. If you don’t get enough Vitamin A, you risk getting cataracts, macular degeneration and xerophthalmia (A disease characterized by dry eyes, corneal ulcers and swollen eye lids). Deficiency in vitamin A also leads to blindness.

Lutein

This is an important antioxidant which is present in carrots. Food products that are rich in lutein are known to increase the pigment density in the macula. When the pigment density increases, the retina is protected more, thus reducing the risk for macular degeneration.

How Many Carrots is too Many Carrots

 

Even though carrots are rich in nutrients, binging on them won’t improve your eyesight significantly. Once there is enough beta-carotene in your body, it will no longer convert to vitamin A. In fact, it’ll regulate the excess vitamin A to prevent accumulation of toxic levels of the substance in the body. Though there is no ‘ideal number’ of carrots one should consume, it can safely be said that having a moderate amount in your daily diet will be helpful. Most eye and vision problems are either genetic, due to aging, disease or an accident. Just eating carrots and infusing beta-carotene and lutein will not help in such situation. The right medication and eye treatment are essential.

We can safely say that eating carrots every day will not sharpen your eyesight beyond a certain measure and will definitely not restore the vision to 20/20, nor can it correct certain optical deformities such as astigmatism, diseases like glaucoma and conditions like strabismus. If you have weak eyesight, using prescribed glasses or contact lenses is recommended. That definitely doesn’t mean that carrots don’t make a healthy snack – eat it to satiate those hunger pangs between meals and pack it in the lunches for your kids. But don’t let them believe that they can ditch their glasses just because they will get superman-like vision just by eating carrots.

When you parents and grandparents told you to eat carrots for good vision, they weren’t entirely wrong. But if you are facing vision problems, visit a doctor instead of just relying on a carrot-rich diet.

Human Eye vs Eagle Eye

Eagles are beautiful birds known for their majestic frame and incredible hunting abilities. They have the reputation of having one of the best visions on the planet. What makes ‘eagle eyes’ a thing of envy? Let’s find out.

What is Visual Acuity?

Visual acuity is the eye’s ability to separate details of an object without any blur. The normal or a ‘good’ vision for a human is 20/20. Eagles, however, have retinas with cones and have a much deeper fovea—a cone-rich structure in the back of the eye. These give them a visual acuity of an impressive 20/5, or 20/4 which allows them to hunt even the tiny prey from hundreds of feet up in the air.

Also read: What is Visual Acuity Test?

How Is the Eagle’s Vision Measured?

There is a scientific set-up to determine the strength of eagle’s vision. The birds are trained to fly down a long tunnel where two TV screens are kept at the end. One screen has a display of striped pattern to attract the eagle towards it and when they land on that screen, they are given a treat. The birds’ acuity is tested by changing the width of the stripes and determining from what distance the eagles begin to turn in the correct direction.

The Range and Vividness of Colors

Eagles have the ability to see colors more vividly than humans can. They can even see ultraviolet light and pick out more shades of one color. Their ability to even see the UV light allows them to see the bodily traces left by their prey. Mice’s and other small prey’s urine is visible to the eagles in the ultraviolent range, making them easy targets even a few hundred feet above the ground.

Positioning of the Eyes

Human eyes are positioned at the front of the heads, giving us a binocular vision and a peripheral vision of just 180 degrees. We can only see complete images when we use both eyes, as closing one will block a portion of vision that was visible with that eye. The use of both eyes gives us that ability to determine the depth of field and help us realize the speed of any moving object. Unfortunately, our peripheral vision is quite poor.

On the other hand, an eagle’s eyes are rotated towards the front of the head and are angled 30 degrees from the midline of the face. This allows them to have a 340 degree field of vision. Their peripheral vision is quite impressive, which greatly assists these predatory birds.

Ability to Focus Clearly

The ability to switch between seeing things that are near and far clearly require quick changes in the lens of the eyes, which is known as accommodation. As humans age, the muscles required to change the shape of the lens get stiff and become less effective, requiring us to wear glasses to see distant and nearby things equally clear. However, the eagles not only have a lens that changes the shape to accommodate the changing distance but even their cornea has the ability to change shape to better focus on near and far objects.

Can We Get Eagle Eyes?

It is obvious to want vision like an eagle but the characteristics and dimensions of human eye’s lens, cornea, iris, retina etc. limits our visual acuity. The best vision we can achieve is 20/10 or even 20/8. LASIK can help you in getting 20/20 vision even if you have poor vision, but achieving the visual acuity of an eagle is next to impossible.

While attaining eagle eyes will remain a fantasy for us, you can improve your eye sight through LASIK. Visit InSight Vision Center and make an appointment today to explore your options.

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