Healthy, strong eyesight is vital to our everyday lives, though many of us take extra precautions against eye damage. To help improve eye function, shield against harmful Ultraviolet (UV) rays, and minimize the chances of developing degenerative diseases, check out the following nutrients. 

Vitamin A
One of the most common causes of blindness throughout the globe is Vitamin A deficiency. Essential for sustaining photoreceptors, a deficiency of Vitamin A can result in night blindness, dry eyes, or worse, blindness. Vitamin A is found in liver, egg yolks, dairy products, kale, spinach, and carrots.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin
Yellow carotenoid antioxidants, these macular pigments are concentrated in your retina and act as a natural sunblock. They protect your eyes from harmful blue light. Ingesting these nutrients can lower the chances of macular degeneration by as much as 43 percent. Lutein and zeaxanthin can be found in spinach, Swiss chard, kale, parsley, pistachios, green peas, egg yolks, sweet corn, and red grapes. 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA are essential for optimal eye health. DHA helps to optimize eye function and is crucial for eye development in infants, so a deficiency can impair vision in children. The combination of EPA and DHA can increase tears, thereby reducing dry eyes. They also prevent other eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy. These nutrients can be found in oily fish.

Vitamin C
This antioxidant is indispensable for eye health, as the levels of Vitamin C have been found to be higher in the eye than any other bodily fluid. People with cataracts generally have decreased antioxidants; those taking vitamin C supplements are less likely to develop cataracts. Fruits and vegetables, including bell peppers, citrus fruits, grapes, kale, and broccoli are high in vitamin C.  

Zinc
This nutrient is an essential enzyme and is suspected to be involved in the formation of visual pigments in your eye. Those who are night blind might suffer from zinc deficiency. Macular degeneration can be slowed by supplementing zinc, and visual sharpness can also be improved. Zinc can be found in oysters, meat, pumpkin seeds, and peanuts. 

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 to learn more.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/ 

A study published in Nature outlines how scientists at the University of Utah and Scripps Research restored life in human eyes after death. A team of researchers tracked activity in both mouse and human retinal cells soon after their passing. After only a few hours and a couple of tissue adjustments, scientists were able to revive the cells’ ability to communicate. 

B-waves, which are specific electrical signals, are typically seen in living retinas and indicate active communication between cells. Scientists were able to reignite the deceased eye cells with light stimulation. 

This novel discovery is the first of its kind, leading scientists to speculate further about death when pertaining to the central nervous system.

Biomedical scientist, Fatima Abbas from the University of Utah, said, “We were able to wake up photoreceptor cells in the human macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for our central vision and our ability to see fine detail and color. In eyes obtained up to five hours after an organ donor’s death, these cells responded to bright light, colored lights, and even very dim flashes of light.” 

Visual scientist, Frans Vinberg from the University of Utah, said, “We were able to make the retinal cells talk to each other, the way they do in the living eye to mediate human vision. Past studies have restored very limited electrical activity in organ donor eyes, but this has never been achieved in the macula, and never to the extent we have now demonstrated.”

Retinal cells prodded by the researchers reacted to light for just about five hours after passing; however, the b-wave signals immediately ceased due to a lack of oxygen. 

The study authors wrote, “Since the retina is part of the CNS, our restoration of the b-wave in this study raises the question of whether brain death, as it is currently defined, is truly irreversible.”

Vinberg said, “The scientific community can now study human vision in ways that just aren’t possible with laboratory animals. We hope this will motivate organ donor societies, organ donors, and eye banks by helping them understand the exciting new possibilities this type of research offers.” 

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 to learn more.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/

Pupil size fluctuates to let just the right amount of light into the eye. Vision is improved by contracting the brightness and dilating in the dark. New research shows that beyond light changes, pupil size might also change based on perceptual and cognitive circumstances. 

Mental imagery was shown to facilitate pupillary responses to light in this study published in the Association for Psychological Science (APS). 

Another study, published in the Journal of Vision (JoV), suggests the pupil constricts in response to a high-light luminance object in a photo, such as the sun. 

A condition known as aphantasia is diagnosed as the inability to produce mental images in the mind. Aphantasia can stem from birth or manifest later in life, despite being otherwise healthy. Researchers studied pupillary responses of people who experience aphantasia to better understand how the brain’s visual and ocular reflexes work.

The study, published in eLife, compared the pupillary responses of people with and without aphantasia. 

Professor Julia Simner leads the MULTISENSE lab at the University of Sussex and was not involved in the study. After analyzing the data, she said, “The fascinating finding reported here is that people imagining light or dark objects show the same type of pupillary action as we would normally find when the eyes are exposed to light and dark objects in the real world. This suggests that their imagination is treated [as] a simulation of the real world. [Meanwhile,] people with aphantasia — who imagine in a more abstract way because they cannot build a picture in their mind’s eye — don’t show the same effect.”

The study participants were asked to imagine 32 white or gray shapes while their pupil size was measured. Other experiments were conducted, as well as a questionnaire. Researchers concluded that people without aphantasia reacted to perceived and imagined luminous images, which affected their pupillary size. Those with aphantasia did not note a change in pupillary size when perceiving or imagining luminous images. 

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Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 to learn more.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com

Fear and anxiety commonly surround Lasik procedures, and most of the time, it’s purely based on the unknown. One of the most beneficial tactics to combat nervousness about surgery is to inform yourself thoroughly about the procedures.  

Lasik is a quick and painless procedure that generally takes around 15 minutes, and the laser usually touches the eye’s surface for only a few seconds. Most patients are worried about sneezing or coughing, causing injury or bad results. 

Fortunately, complications from Lasik surgery are extremely rare. Also, there are procedures in place that help prevent sudden movements during the process. An intricate laser system monitors even the slightest eye movement and adjusts the laser accordingly, with pinpoint accuracy.

Lasik has a growing track record, as it’s been used successfully for more than two decades. Lasik has the highest success rate of any elective procedure, with a 96 percent satisfaction rate reported in 2016. 

Specialists are trained to support patients through the entire process from start to finish. Laser eye surgeons will supply the patient with information on what to do the day before, the day of, and after the procedure. By being wholly informed and knowing what to expect, patients will undoubtedly feel more at ease about the procedure. 

Deep breathing exercises are always recommended for patients who experience anxiety or stress. It’s imperative to practice the technique a few days prior to surgery. Slow and steady breathing is key. 

Friends or family members can also accompany the patient to provide emotional support and help them through post-surgery. These guests can provide comfort for the patient to keep the mind occupied or remain calm before the procedure. 

Anesthetic drops will numb the eyes, and the physician can provide low doses of anti-anxiety medication if necessary. Overall, Lasik is a painless procedure; most clients report more than slight pressure if anything at all. 

Life without contacts or glasses is possible. Lasik surgery is easier than you think. Contact the experts at Rohr Eye & Laser Center today to learn more. 

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 to learn more.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com

An effective treatment for dry eyes has emerged from a collaboration between an industry leader in dry eye treatment and an innovative medical device startup. Mann Eye Institute and ThermaMEDx partnered to evaluate EverTears, a novel combination of a self-heating eye compress with a pre-moistened cleansing pad.

Carl Sweat, a co-founder of ThermaMEDx, said that EverTears is designed to provide a convenient, affordable, over-the-counter dry eye solution that is similar to standard, in-office treatments. With precise heat and eyelid cleaning, the novel patented technology provides relief for dry eyes and restores the eyes’ natural tear film. 

Dr. Dana Ondrias, Mann Eye Institute CEO and Executive Director, said, “Just as our founder, Dr. Mike Man, was one of the first doctors in America to perform refractive surgery in 1981, our dedicated staff embraces innovative solutions that advance patient care. Our doctors and staff began administering EverTears treatment for dry eye patients last year and we’ve been pleased with both patient feedback and improvement in their underlying MGD.” 

Ben Nobles, co-founder of ThermaMEDx, said, “Texas is the epicenter of dry eye disease in America and innovative organizations like Mann Eye Institute are at the forefront of bringing the latest technologies to their patients. We are committed to support the implementation of EverTears as the best treatment for dry eyes related to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).”

Have concerns regarding the health and vision of your eyes? Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Rohr today!

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Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

After years of seeking FDA approval for its implanted vision-correcting lens, Staar Surgical has successfully reached a regulatory milestone. The Evo/Evo+ Visian implanted collamer lens is designed to treat myopia (nearsightedness) with or without astigmatism and is an alternative to other vision correction options such as glasses or contacts.

Staar first applied for FDA review in 2019 but was given a denial early that year. In August 2019, the FDA approved a clinical study of the lens. Premarket has been approved, and the device has already been implanted in more than one million patients in more than 75 countries outside of the United States. 

Roughly one-third of the United States population (100 million people) between the ages of 21 and 45 who have myopia over -3.0D could be eligible to receive the device.

The Evo device is implanted between the iris and the crystalline lens in the posterior eye chamber, making it a swift procedure that does not require a preoperative peripheral iridotomy, where a laser is used to create a hole in the iris. 

Unlike LASIK surgery, Evo/Evo+ does not require the removal of corneal tissue and is removable by a doctor if necessary. Since myopia is becoming more common, the newly FDA-approved solution to vision loss is necessary. Forecasts imply almost half of the world’s population could be nearsighted by 2050.

Staar has been in the ophthalmic surgery field for more than 30 years, as they design, develop, manufacture, and market implantable lenses for the eye.

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Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com. 

Nearsightedness (also called myopia) is common in people of all ages. It is typically defined as an inability to see far away or long distances. Millions of people worldwide suffer from myopia, a relatively prevalent condition. Read on to explore popular questions – and answers – about nearsightedness.

Q: What is nearsightedness?
A: Technically speaking, myopia is a refractive error that results in the eye’s inability to focus on light correctly. While distant objects are blurry, those nearby are visibly clear and crisp. In those who do not have myopia, light rays enter the eye and pass through the cornea and lens, followed by the retina at the back of the eye. When the eyeball grows too long (or the cornea is uneven), light rays focus in front of the retina instead of centered on it, and the image sent to the brain is blurry. Those with nearsightedness can correct their vision by donning prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, or laser vision correction such as LASIK.

Q: How common is nearsightedness?
A: In a recent study published by Jama, an estimated 30 to 40 percent of adults in the United States are nearsighted. It is estimated that by 2050, nearly half of the world’s population will suffer from myopia.

Q: What causes nearsightedness?
A: The exact cause of myopia is unknown, but contributing factors are well-known and include genetics, eyestrain (books, computers, tablets), and lifestyle (not being outdoors where light is much brighter.)

Q: Is laser vision correction for nearsightedness permanent?
A: While laser vision correction reshapes the cornea and corrects nearsightedness at that exact moment in time, the possibility for the patient’s vision to deteriorate in the future is still plausible. If the patient develops cataracts, glaucoma, or presbyopia (natural aging of the eye), glasses will probably still be necessary when the lens loses its ability to focus on nearby objects.

Q: What demographics are good candidates for laser vision correction?
A: Typically, adults over the age of 20 who have a stable prescription, healthy corneas, and are in good general health are recommended for LASIK or other vision correction procedures.

Are you tired of suffering from nearsightedness? Contact the vision experts at Rohr Eye & Laser Center to learn about our treatment options today.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes many people to stop breathing while sleeping, often multiple times per night. Those who suffer from this condition generally have ocular irritation, risk of floppy eyelids, dry tear ducts, and an increased risk of developing glaucoma.

There are different types of sleep apnea, the most common being Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which causes the airways to be partially blocked because of relaxed muscles in the nose and throat. Apnea (the absence of breathing) or hypopnea (slow, shallow breathing) is twice as common in men. It also generally affects people with obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and/or heart disease.

When the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much to allow regular breathing, sleep apnea occurs, causing lower-quality sleep. The body’s oxygen supply is also greatly affected, which can typically lead to serious health conditions. Contrary to the popular misconception, not all those who snore suffer from sleep apnea.

Interrupted sleep can cause a variety of issues such as fatigue, daytime tiredness, irritability, depression, headaches, difficulty concentrating, distractedness, or sore throats.

When it comes to the eyes, sleep apnea can cause several major issues:

• Glaucoma: increased pressure within the eye can damage the optic nerve, leading to vision loss or blindness.
• Floppy Eyelid Syndrome (FES): marked by an unusually large and floppy upper eyelid, FES can cause eye redness, irritation, discharge, and blurry vision.
• Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION): symptoms occur when there is significant vision loss in one or both eyes without any pain, caused by a loss of blood flow to the optic nerve.
• Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO): also called an eye stroke, it is categorized by a blockage within the small veins that carry blood away from the retina.

Other eye conditions correlated to sleep apnea include papilledema, keratoconus, and central serous chorioretinopathy.

Getting regular eye exams can prevent vision issues; contact Dr. Rohr’s office to schedule an appointment.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

This article might make your decision more straightforward if you question getting cataract surgery. Not only can the correction of cataracts improve your quality of life, but new studies suggest cataract surgery may help protect you against dementia.

A study published in Jama Internal Medicine found that developing dementia was 29% lower for individuals who’ve had cataract surgery versus people with similar traits who didn’t have the surgery. While this information sounds remarkable, it’s important to note that more research is required to say definitively whether or not cataract surgery helps with dementia.

Other studies have taken a look at why cataract surgery may help with dementia. One study explores the idea that impaired vision caused by cataracts can lead to reduced sensory input to the brain. Reduced input means reduced simulation, leading to a loss of brain function. Additionally, a vision loss due to cataracts could lead you into a depressive state. Depression could increase the chance of developing dementia.

We do not know enough about the link between cataract surgery and dementia, and future studies will continue. However, there are some other exciting factors and benefits to consider in the meantime. For example, did you know that cataract surgery has also been thought to help with depression, encourage a longer life span, and reduce the risk of falling?

If you’re struggling with vision, don’t wait until it worsens. Talk to a doctor or medical professional about the benefits of cataract surgery today.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Over ten million Americans have had LASIK eye surgery since its FDA approval in 1999. With 96% of patients achieving their ideal vision through LASIK, it’s no surprise that the procedure has started gaining even more traction. Unfortunately, our increased screen time puts extra strain on the muscles that allow our eyes to focus, a side effect of the digital age.

There’s always a slight risk of complications, including LASIK, as with all surgeries. However, the incident rate is less than 1%. The FDA’s maximum complication rate for approval is 5% which positions LASIK as one of the safest elective surgeries available.

Working with a board-certified surgeon for LASIK procedures is the key to a successful surgery. They’ll be able to answer questions you may have about the procedure, possible side effects, and if any pre-existing conditions could interfere.

Once the surgery is complete, you’ll be given a custom aftercare routine to follow to achieve maximum benefits and promote a quick recovery. LASIK’s common temporary side effects include dry eyes, double vision, glares, and halos from solid light.

These side effects will resolve in 3 to 12 months, with the severity lessening along the way. Their impact is similar to the glare on regular glasses when driving under street lights.

LASIK’s long-term complications make up less than 1% of patients who weren’t satisfied with the outcome. In these cases, patients typically reported an over or under correction of their vision, requiring an additional visit to correct. More corneal tissue will be removed for under corrections, or enhancements can be used to fix overcorrections.

To learn more about LASIK Eye Surgery, call Rohr Eye & Laser Center today. Board-certified Dr. Jeffrey Rohr has over twenty years experience in laser vision correction and cataract surgery.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.