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Cataracts result when the naturally clear lenses of your eyes begins to cloud, causing you to see halos around lights and experience difficulty seeing in dim light, eventually leading to blurred vision or complete vision loss.

Over 24 million adults over the age of 40 in the U.S. have cataracts and by the age of 80 over 50% of people will suffer from the condition.

Currently, the only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery to remove the clouded lens and replace it with an artificial one.

This makes focusing on cataract prevention vital to maintaining healthy eyesight.

Signs youre developing cataracts There are some warning signs to look for that could mean youre on the road to cataract development.

These include:

Discoloration of your eyes A yellowish or brown color in your eyes can be caused by clumps of protein that clouds your lens. Sensitivity to light Increased sensitivity to the light from car headlights, sunlight or indoor lighting such as lamps is often one of the first signs of cataract development. Cloudy vision This usually starts in a small part of your eye and then progresses to cover your entire lens. Frequent changes in prescription glasses or contacts If you find yourself needing a higher prescription for your contacts or glasses regularly, this could be a sign of cataract development. Problems with night vision Since cataracts cause problems with eyesight in dim light, night vision can be a problem. Fading or yellowing of colors The protein build-up in your lens that goes along with cataracts can result in problems perceiving true colors. Natural cataract prevention Now that you know if youre at risk, here a few things you can do to prevent cataract development naturally.

1 Take a multivitamin

Daily multivitamin use has been associated with a decrease risk of cataracts. In fact, some studies have shown up to a 36% decreased risk thanks to multivitamins for some types of cataracts.

2 Add bilberry and vitamin E

In one study, a combination of bilberry and vitamin E stopped the progression of cataracts in 96% of subjects. The dosage in the study was 180 mg of bilberry, standardized to contain 25-percent anthocyanosides and 100 mg of vitamin E twice per day for four months.

3 Supplement A and C

Vitamins A and C are antioxidants that help your eyes fight the damage caused by a free-radical attack. This is vital because this free radical damage can lead to cataracts. To achieve the optimal level of antioxidants for your eyes, take 5,000 IU of vitamin A (1.5 mg) and 2,500 mg of vitamin C per day.

4 Take lutein and zeaxanthin

In one study, people with the highest intakes of lutein and zeaxanthin were half as likely to develop cataracts as those with the lowest intake. For cataract prevention, take 15 20 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin daily.

You can also get more of these important nutrients through your diet. Spinach and kale especially offer high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin, so eat up.

5 Wear sunglasses at times

Your doctor will tell you to wear sunglasses to prevent cataracts. But, while its important to protect your eyes against ultraviolet light, you also need the natural wavelengths found in sunlight to feed your eyes the nutrients they needs for good health.

Wear sunglasses for high exposure times such as when you plan to be out in the sun all day or in the snow or on the water where sunlight reflections can damage the eye. Otherwise, allow your eyes to absorb the sunlight they need.

6 Control your blood sugar

High blood sugar and diabetes increases your risk of developing cataracts. Watch your blood sugar levels, decrease your intake of carbohydrates and sugars and get more exercise to lower your risk and maintain healthy eyesight. Try this simple trick to lower your morning blood sugar.

7 Stop smoking

Smoking is directly linked to the development of cataracts. The good news is that kicking the habit reduces your risk steadily, the longer you avoid smoking so quit now.

Preserving your eyesight and preventing cataracts means taking steps every day to improve the health of your eyes. Use the tips above to maintain optimal vision for life.

Source: Easyhealthoptions

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7 Cataract Prevention Tips To Save Your Sight - Information Nigeria

(Sentinel Photo By Allen Hamil) With players representing nearly all 31 of Marty Kurths Gehlen teams behind him, Kurth stands at home plate and looks at the trophy presented to him for his achievements including the 500 win milestone surpassed earlier this season.

LE MARS After reaching the 500-win plateau earlier this season against Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, long-time Gehlen Catholic baseball coach Marty Kurth was honored prior to the Jays game against Akron-Westfield on Friday.

After announcing all the seniors and their parents, Kurth was summoned to home plate to be recognized for his achievements in his 31 years of coaching at the school. As part of the celebration dozens of alumni baseball players returned to the Riverview Complex to honor their former coach as they lined up behind him on the infield.

Im not going to lie, it was pretty cool, Kurth said. I didnt know all of those guys were behind me. When they said turn around and take a look and I saw the group of guys back there and they thought one from almost every year that I coached was back there and then some more, that was pretty special. Then to go around and tell them thank you, it meant a lot. Its hard to put that into words, but it was a pretty cool night.

One of the reasons why he didnt realize the group was behind him was the fact it was meant to be a surprise. Another reason is the fact that Kurth is suffering from diminished eyesight, nearing blindness in both of his eyes.

I lost vision in both eyes, dramatically lost vision in both eyes, Kurth said. I lost one last summer in July, but I didnt really think much of it because a lot of people lose vision in one eye and I thought Id be okay for a while. But then 11 months later, just three and a half weeks ago, I lost most of the vision in my right eye. The world got turned upside down in the matter of a day.

Kurth said it is hard to explain the current state of his vision.

In my left eye, I have vision in the far left quadrant and on my right eye I have the upper quadrant, but when I look straight ahead I dont see so good straight ahead, not much there, Kurth said. Nothings really, really clear. I cant see very far away, but in my own little area I can see to get by.

Family and Baseball

Kurth has tried to stay positive through the situation and says he has relied on two things to help him: family and baseball.

The one thing that has always been a constant has been my family and baseball, and thats where I turn to, Kurth said. These kids have done a great job. My wife is unbelievably supportive. I cant say enough about her.

(Sentinel Photo By Allen Hamil) Above, Marty Kurth stands at home plate with members of his family by his side, just outside of the batters box. Kurth said that he has relied on two things throughout his situation: his family and baseball. His son Ty (far left) has helped as an assistant coach this season, while Marty says his wife Jen (third from left) has been unbelievably supportive.

The crossroads of baseball and family meet in Martys son, Ty. A former player for his dad, Ty has stepped into a role of being an assistant coach for the team. He said he had wanted to coach with his dad before, but the situation changed this season with the further deterioration of Martys eyesight.

Its been tough, but were getting through it, Ty said. Hes still living life like he normally does. Hes still out here at the ballfield every day doing what he does. Its been tough, but were living life like before. Its been great having us both out on the field again. I got my coaching license last summer in hopes we would coach together this summer, but with me getting a job at Total (Motors), I just didnt have the time to do it. I cant thank them enough for letting me hop out of work sometimes to come out here and be with these guys and be with this team.

Also helping coach the team is another former player of Martys in Solomon Freking. Ty Kurth and Freking were classmates and members of the last Gehlen team to reach the state tournament in 2014. That familiarity has helped the team to not skip much of a beat en route to a 16-9 record at the end of June.

Freking has taken over coaching at third base, but is quick to point out that Marty is still the one in charge.

Its really huge for me to be able to really step up and be on the bases where Coach Kurth is usually at, Freking said. It is a bigger role for me, but I still have him in the dugout still telling me in my ear Lets do this or lets do that. I mean it may look like Im calling shots, but hes right there really calling the shots.

Baseball Family

Along with his personal family, Kurth has the support of his baseball family. Whether it has been from his own team or those competing against the Jays, the respect Kurth has in the coaching ranks is second to none.

Freking said Coach Kurth has always been there for him as he grew up playing sports with Ty.

Its huge for me to come back and help out because I felt hes done so much for me, so its the slightest thing that I could do, Freking said. Im just on the baselines to listen to him. He takes it as a big thing, but I think its just the smallest thing that I can do. Hes always been there for me in my downs and definitely my ups so Im glad to be here and help him out.

Akron-Westfield Head Coach Gordy Johnson presented Kurth with a gift at the pregame ceremony and said he has great respect for Marty.

(Sentinel Photo By Allen Hamil) Above, Marty Kurth accepts a gift from Akron-Westfield head baseball coach Gordy Johnson at the pregame ceremony honoring the long-time Jays coach.

Complete respect, Johnson said. Hes a quality coach and a quality man. I strive to be as good a coach as he is. Hes just a really good guy.

Dean Harpenau, co-head coach at Remsen St. Marys, worked with Marty for several years at Gehlen during the teams most successful stretch in the 1990s that included state championships in 1995 and 1999 and a runner-up finish in 1994.

Martys always done a great job at Gehlen, Harpenau said. I really enjoyed coaching with him. He believes in a lot of the same things as former coach Marv Thelen.

Thelen was head coach for both Kurth and Harpenau when they were players at Remsen St. Marys. From 1969 to 1987, Thelen compiled an impressive record of 687-265 for his career at RSM and Harpenau said Kurth fits the mold of his mentor.

Hes a Thelen disciple and he (Kurth) had a lot of great success over at Gehlen, Harpenau said. Winning the 95 and 99 state titles and then runner-up in 94. A lot of good times. I enjoyed my time there. We worked well together and it was a great combination.

According to Gehlen senior Colin Wise, Kurth is a baseball genius.

Ive never met a man that knew more about baseball than him, Wise said. Its really unfortunate what happened to him, but thats what makes our wins even more sweeter. We do it for him. He loves the game of baseball. You know he doesnt want to give it up, he never wants to give up, but unfortunately he has to. This gives us something to play for.

(Sentinel Photo By Allen Hamil) With a tip of the hat to the crowd, Gehlen's Marty Kurth is recognized by current and former players. Kurth reached 500 wins earlier this season, joining an elite group in Iowa high school history.

Playoff push

Kurth said he is focused on the team and this season as the Jays look to return to Principal Park.

To be honest, I havent really focused on much other than this season, Kurth said.

While a chance at state is possible for this team, it wont be easy. West Sioux sits on the opposite bracket in the district while Remsen St. Marys is a strong contender in the opposite district where a substate meeting could be possible.

Gehlen lost to both of those teams as part of their 0-4 stretch to start the season, but has avenged both of those losses with Wise on the mound. The teams first game of the season featured a loss to Akron-Westfield which the team avenged on Friday night, again with Wise taking the win.

This was a good game for us to get ready for that, Kurth said of the 3-1 win over the Westerners. Theyre a quality ball club and were going to see quality ball clubs down the tournament. So, if we can play with this enthusiasm and excitement and get pitching like that, who knows.

Gehlen will open with Trinity Christian on July 11 at West Sioux. From there, the future for the baseball team and that of Coach Kurth is up in the air.

Ive tried not to look ahead, because I dont know whats ahead right now, Kurth said. The good Lord probably has something in mind for me and well figure out what that is, but right now, Coach Solomon and I and my son Ty, weve got a job to do and thats to get the most out of this baseball team and if we can get what we got out of them tonight, were pretty formidable.

Excerpt from:
Kurth honored as Gehlen coach faces failing eyesight - Le Mars Daily Sentinel

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Doctors once told Walfre Lopez they could not keep his vision from fading away due to a degenerative eye disease. A revolutionary artificial-vision procedure recently done at University of Florida Health has restored sight to the 46-year-old man who has not seen his children and wife for some 20 years.

Early this year, Lopez got what he calls a bionic eye a microelectrode array implanted in the retina, according to UF.

I put the glasses on and I saw her standing in front of me, he said of his 12-year-old daughter. I got very excited. I saw her shape and the outline of her face. It was so special to see her for the first time.

The electrode takes over the function of damaged retinal cells, sending signals to a special pair of glasses that allows Lopez to see shapes and contrasting images. Lopez is the first patient to receive the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System at UF Health.

Syed Gibran Khurshid, M.D., is the first retina surgeon at UF Health to have expertise in this area.

Lopez lost his sight to retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder that destroys light-sensitive cells in the back of the eye. It affects about one in 4,000 people worldwide, according to the National Institutes of Healths National Eye Institute.

He has been living in a dark, black cave for almost all of his life, Khurshid said of his patient. Now, hes able to see and navigate around. Its a 180-degree turn in his life.

UF Health News contributed to this story.

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Florida man enjoys 'bionic eye' retinal implant - News965

Acute loss of vision associated with pain may be due to infection (corneal ulcer, endophthalmitis); Inflammations (Iritis, optic neuritis); or acute glaucoma. Corneal Ulcer: An infection of the cornea presenting with pain, redness and cloudiness of the cornea. This may follow contact lens related injury, scratches of the cornea by a fingernail, by a branch in the garden, a foreign body hitting the eye. A corneal ulcer can lead to permanent vision impairment from corneal scarring. Scarring may require treatment by a corneal transplant operation. Infection may spread inside the eye resulting in loss of the eye. Corneal ulcers must, therefore, be seen and treated immediately by an ophthalmologist. You are at risk of developing a corneal ulcer if you suffer an injury to the eye. Treatment for the injury by the Ophthalmologist will prevent corneal infection. Severe infection of the inside of the eye (endophthalmitis) may follow eye surgery or penetrating injury. It causes blindness by damage to the retina and optic nerve (nerve of sight). Infection of the tissues behind the eye (orbital cellulitis) is more common in children. This presents with painful swelling of the eye and redness in a sick looking child with lids that are closed. This is an emergency that requires intensive treatment in hospital with injectable antibiotics. It can cause blindness by affecting the optic nerve behind the eye and also has the risk of spreading to the brain. It is therefore life threatening.

Inflammatory (non-infective) Disease of the Eye: Iritis inflammation of the coloured part of the eye causes pain, redness, blurred vision and glare sensitivity. This condition responds readily to treatment with anti-inflammatory (usually steroid) eye medications. Other medications are used to prevent complications of the inflammation which include glaucoma and cataract. Inflammation of the front of the eye may also be accompanied by inflammation of the back of the eye. This is usually not painful but may lead to impaired vision due to scarring of the retina. Iritis can follow blunt injury to the eye. Iritis is also associated with other (systemic) disease that affect other parts of the body eg. rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory disease of the spine. Other inflammatory diseases associated with vision loss and pain affect the optic nerve (optic neuritis) blood vessels of the temple and optic nerve. This needs prompt treatment to prevent blindness. Acute angle closure glaucoma

Chronic glaucoma (the common type) leads to slow loss of vision and is painless. Acute glaucoma causes severe eye pains and headaches, associated with nausea and vomiting. There is redness of the eye and blurred vision. If not treated immediately will lead to loss of sight in the affected eye. It occurs when the drainage angle inside the front of the eye becomes blocked. This interferes with the drainage of fluid out of the eye. This fluid (not tears which is on the outside) builds up within causing the eye pressure to suddenly rise. The result is acute angle closure glaucoma which is an emergency. Acute glaucoma may also occur following eye injury, surgery and the use of certain medications used in treating epilepsy, migraine or for weight loss. Immediate treatment uses i) medications topically to the eyes, orally (by mouth) and intravenously for the acute problem and ii) the use of laser treatment or surgery to prevent recurrence. Any condition of the eye causing pain, redness and blurred vision must be treated as an emergency, by an ophthalmologist. They are sight threatening and in some cases life threatening. Presented as a public service by the Caribbean Eye Institute. Caribeyett@icloud.com

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Treating acute painful loss of vision - Trinidad & Tobago Express

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These are not hard-and-fast rules. Sometimes, typically because of relative light demand for op/ed space, the editorial editor may waive one or more of the guidelines. At times of high demand, he may not be able to do so.

Columns should be submitted to: wayne.greene@tulsaworld.com

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Letter to the editor: The eyes disprove evolution theory - Tulsa World

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NEW YORK Monty Capers says she desperately needs a pediatric wheelchair for her oldest son, 3-year-old Christopher.

"He makes me smile. He makes my heart skip a beat. He is suffering," said Capers.

Christopher Capers was born with cerebral palsy.

Right now, he is sharing a stroller with his baby sister, Malaysia, which is a tight fit for his long legs.

"He's very long for a child for his age. So it's uncomfortable for him to be positioned like this. He needs the chair for pre-school on July 7th," said Capers.

PIX11 News reached to a company with a generous spirit called Rehabco. Rehabco delivered Christopher's chair in 48 hours.

Jacqueline Kotschenrwurher is a survivor and a fighter. A domestic violence survivor, she says 10 years ago, during a fight with her husband, her husband shot her in the back. Kotschenrwurher survived the ordeal but became paralyzed.

"I'm angry. But I forgive him. Now I have make the best of my life," says Kotschenrwurher.

Now in a wheelchair, she says her home is now her world, and it's falling apart. Her bedroom walls are constantly dripping water.

"I can't sleep," said kotschenrwurher.

We reached out to the New York City Housing Authority for answers. NYCHAsays they first took care of the problem back in April.

A spokesperson for the New York City Housing Authority says,

All NYCHA residents deserve to live in well maintained homes. This reoccurring leak is unacceptable and we will find a permanent solution. A specialist will inspect the residents apartment tomorrow to find and resolve the underlying leak as quickly as possible."

NYCHA sent a team of workers to fix the wall.

Arianna Padilla, 25, from Central Islip says watching her 8-month-old son grow is her biggest joy. But Padilla was given bad news by her doctor.

She says in just a matter of months, she will lose her sight.

"I'm already experiencing problems with my vision. I can't drive and it scares me," said Padilla. Padilla needs cataract surgery in both eyes and suffers from severe diabetes.

The cost of treatment is $1500 an eye. Living paycheck to paycheck, she says she can't afford it.

"I don't have the money," said Padilla.

PIX11 News called her insurance companies and doctors and she got a call.

"Health First and my doctors will cover the surgery," said Padilla.

PIX11 News will follow Padilla every step of the way during her recovery.

If you would like to help, visit https://www.gofundme.com/arianas-eyesurgery

If you have a story reach out to Monica Morales on Facebook at monicamoralestv.

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Follow-up Friday: Toddler gets pediatric wheelchair, Islip mother's critical eye surgery will be covered - New York's PIX11 / WPIX-TV

It is predicted that by 2020 over 2,250,000 will register with some variety of sight loss. This is a shocking statistic; Vision loss is difficult to imagine until it happens and it can be hard to find solutions or workarounds.

AMD sufferers to hit 288 million

For many people their sight loss is down to a condition known as Age-related Macular Degeneration, or AMD. By 2020, the number of people living with AMD in the UK is estimated to increase to over 750,000. The number of people worldwide is expected to reach 196 million by 2020, increasing to 288 million by 2040. AMD is a condition that comes from deterioration, deriving from a breakdown of the macula which is a small area in the back, or retina, of the eye. This area has an important function in that it sees fine details clearly and allows us to perform activities that require precision. Anything that traumatises or damages the macula will affect your central vision.

Imagine seeing a painting but only the frame is visible

The result is that the central vision will become blurred, there will be dark areas and distortion. The periphery can remain; imagine seeing a painting but only the frame is visible. Because of this, it can be difficult to do activities like reading, driving, cooking and texting to name but a few. In the end stages the condition can make recognising a face difficult or impossible. The condition is also associated with increased cases of stress and depression as the eyes deteriorate.

The symptoms can be hardly noticeable, particularly as it can happen in one eye first, only becoming apparent when the other eye is afflicted. At this point the loss of central vision is apparent very quickly, words on a page become blurred, a dark and empty area appears in the centre of your vision or straight lines look warped or distorted. These are all indicators that you may have developed AMD and should go for an eye test.

Affecting nearly 30% of those over 75

AMD presents in two forms; the most common type is dry AMD which afflicts about 90% of sufferers and results from ageing and thinning of the tissues in the macula, the loss of vision is gradual. The other type, wet AMD, is due to abnormalities in the blood vessels underneath the retina in the back of the eye. The blood vessels leak or have trauma and therefore the vision loss is severe and rapid.

Age is a prominent risk factor for age-related macular degeneration. The risk of getting advanced age-related macular degeneration increases from 2% for those ages 50-59, to nearly 30% for those over the age of 75. A family history of this can be a factor, particularly if diagnosed at a young age. In terms of gender, women are more likely to get the condition but this could be down to life expectancy. Recent data has shown that smokers, and ex-smokers, are up to 4 times more likely to contract AMD.

Magnifying a solution

Living with AMD is hard as both types damage your central vision, but there are solutions to help ease the situation. A technique known as eccentric viewing can encourage your peripheral vision when it comes to reading. Larger print, better lighting and higher contrasting colours can also help.

In order to assist those suffering with AMD, at IntelliSight we stock the Eschenbach SmartLux Digital Magnifier. This subtle yet powerful mobile phone-shaped device offers variable levels of magnification, takes photos to allow users to zoom in and see more detail and offers increased contrast options between black, white and yellow. These three colours arent chosen at random; many AMD sufferers report that yellow background or text is easier to see than just plain black and white.

Were here to help. If you want to book an eye test, hear more about viewing aids, or have questions about AMD, then contact our friendly team on 01642 450 982 or visit us at High Street, Redcar just look for the black and orange store.

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Digital magnifiers - a sight for sore eyes? - Bdaily

Ever wondered what it's like to be blind or severely vision impaired?

Now, you can see for yourself with the Fred Hollows Foundation's sight simulator.

Using the new online tool, you can enter a familiar location -- the Sydney Opera House, Parliament House or even your home address -- and see a familiar location through the eyes of someone who has cataracts, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.

With cataracts, a person develops blurred vision, glaucoma creates tunnel vision and someone with diabetic retinopathy sees patches of dark, light and blurred sight.

The tool was launched in the United States earlier this year and has now been unveiled in Australia. It uses images from Google Street View, while a sliding tool allows you to adjust the severity of the eye condition.

Fred Hollows Foundation CEO Brian Doolan said he hopes the simulator will help more people understand what its like to have a visual impairment.

"Sight is something that, unless we have a problem with it, we hardly ever think about it. We just take it for granted," he told HuffPost Australia.

There are more than 32.4 million people in the world who are blind -- that's more than the population of Australia. For 80 percent of these people, their eye disease is preventable or treatable, but isolation, lack of money or education prevents them getting help.

"The leading cause of blindness is poverty, and the second leading cause is gender," Doolan said, noting that the majority of legally blind people in the world are women.

The Foundation works in 25 countries across Asia and Africa to help restore sight to many of these people. In 2016, the charity supported over 1 million eye surgeries and treatments, more than any other year in its 25-year history.

One of those people was Nabiritha, a seven-year-old girl from rural Kenya.

Nabiritha was born with cataracts and legally blind.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, accounting for 51 percent of cases.

When the Foundation stepped in, a simple surgery taking less than an hour was able to give Nabiritha sight for the first time.

"Imagine for all those years my child has never known what I look like. I never thought this day would come," her mother Emily told the Foundation.

You can check out the Foundation's Sight Simulator for yourself here.

ALSO ON HUFFPOST AUSTRALIA

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See The World Through The Eyes Of A Person With Visual Impairment - Huffington Post Australia

Surrounded by family and unexpected friends from afar, Bob B.J. Jenkins exited Triangle Waffle of Dunn to get into his brother Ed Jenkins rented sport utility vehicle to begin a quest for vision renewed.

Mr. Jenkins left Saturday morning on an 11-hour East Coast road trip to Retina Associates in Margate, Fla., to undergo an experimental eyesight operation.

He began to lose his vision more than 17 years ago, by way of macular degeneration, and it has deteriorated to the point of almost complete blindness. After losing sight in his right eye completely, he began to spend a lot of time in consolation with optometrists and eye specialists to save sight in his left eye.

He said he has peripheral vision, but everything in the center of his sight line is a blur. His current vision is 20/400.

He has been seen by opthamologists in Raleigh and Wilmington and through this network, Mr. Jenkins found Retina Associates of south Florida. His surgery is today.

See Surgery, Page 3

B.J. Jenkins, right, left Saturday on an 11-hour East Coast road trip to Margate, Fla. It is there he will undergo an experimental stem cell eyesight procedure costing more than $19,600. He raised funds for the surgery from many individuals and businesses in and around Dunn. His brother, Ed Jenkins, left, is his wheel man and moral support for the trip and todays operation.

Daily Record Photo/Shaun Savarese Surgery

Continued From Page One

Mr. Jenkins set a $22,000 goal that had to be reached in May. With 152 donations, he raised $21,249 in three months.

The money is for travel, room, board and the cost of a stem-cell operation that could possibly give him back his vision.

He said that through his Go-FundMe page and through personal and business donations, his fundraiser averaged a couple of thousand a week.

Though there had been concern over the legitimacy of the eyesight surgeons and operation, Mr. Jenkins was reassured by a guarantee of a refund if the doctors are unable to go through with the surgery.

Mr. Jenkins had a heart full of love before departing Dunn, thanking everyone who donated and raised awareness for his fundraising campaign and promising a chauffeured car ride to The Daily Record staff if the operation is a success.

Shaun Savarese

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Vision Quest: BJ Jenkins' Eye Surgery Today - The Daily Record (registration)

Optegra releases Vision for Britain report

29 Jun 2017 by Emily McCormick

An estimated 15% of people risk losing their sight by not having regular sight tests, according to research by Optegra Eye Health Care.

The statistic is highlighted in the private eye hospitals newly-published Vision for Britain report.

Questioning 2000 people, Optegra reported that 50% of patients having their first sight test require vision correction, while one in 10 people require spectacles or treatment, despite thinking their eyesight is fine.

Despite research showing that 24% of people shy away from an eye test in fear of having to wear glasses, 82% of those questioned said they desired 20:20 vision. Furthermore, 60% said that they value their sight above all other senses.

In a bid to drive awareness of the importance of regular sight tests and support people in achieving perfect vision, Optegras 20-page report contains advice on daily eye care, tips on identifying vision problems in children and updates on the latest technological advances.

Having found that one-in-four people mistakenly believe that wearing glasses will make their eyesight worse, the report also contains some myth-busting information, Optegra highlighted.

Commenting on the report, optometrist and head of Optegra Eye Sciences, Dr Clare ODonnell, said: Without regular eye examinations, problems are being left undiagnosed and untreated which can lead to serious vision damage.

It is vital for everyone to have regular eye checks, even if they suspect nothing is wrong with their eye sight. By giving up just 2030 minutes of your time once every two years, you can potentially save your vision.

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Failing to have sight tests leaves Brits at risk of losing their sight - AOP

Designed by Pierpaolo Lazzarini from Italian company Jet Capsule. The I.F.O. is fuelled by eight electric engines, which is able to push the flying object to an estimated top speed of about 120mph.

Jet Capsule/Cover Images

A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore

Getty Images

A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore

Getty Images

Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea

Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea

Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company

Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea

Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi

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Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session

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A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

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A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

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A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China

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A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China

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A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China

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A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London

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A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv

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Electrification Guru Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart talks about the electric Jaguar I-PACE concept SUV before it was unveiled before the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, U.S

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The Jaguar I-PACE Concept car is the start of a new era for Jaguar. This is a production preview of the Jaguar I-PACE, which will be revealed next year and on the road in 2018

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Japan's On-Art Corp's CEO Kazuya Kanemaru poses with his company's eight metre tall dinosaur-shaped mechanical suit robot 'TRX03' and other robots during a demonstration in Tokyo, Japan

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Japan's On-Art Corp's eight metre tall dinosaur-shaped mechanical suit robot 'TRX03'

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Japan's On-Art Corp's eight metre tall dinosaur-shaped mechanical suit robot 'TRX03' performs during its unveiling in Tokyo, Japan

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Singulato Motors co-founder and CEO Shen Haiyin poses in his company's concept car Tigercar P0 at a workshop in Beijing, China

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The interior of Singulato Motors' concept car Tigercar P0 at a workshop in Beijing, China

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Singulato Motors' concept car Tigercar P0

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A picture shows Singulato Motors' concept car Tigercar P0 at a workshop in Beijing, China

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Connected company president Shigeki Tomoyama addresses a press briefing as he elaborates on Toyota's "connected strategy" in Tokyo. The Connected company is a part of seven Toyota in-house companies that was created in April 2016

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A Toyota Motors employee demonstrates a smartphone app with the company's pocket plug-in hybrid (PHV) service on the cockpit of the latest Prius hybrid vehicle during Toyota's "connected strategy" press briefing in Tokyo

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An exhibitor charges the battery cells of AnyWalker, an ultra-mobile chasis robot which is able to move in any kind of environment during Singapore International Robo Expo

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A robot with a touch-screen information apps stroll down the pavillon at the Singapore International Robo Expo

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An exhibitor demonstrates the AnyWalker, an ultra-mobile chasis robot which is able to move in any kind of environment during Singapore International Robo Expo

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Robotic fishes swim in a water glass tank displayed at the Korea pavillon during Singapore International Robo Expo

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An employee shows a Samsung Electronics' Gear S3 Classic during Korea Electronics Show 2016 in Seoul, South Korea

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Visitors experience Samsung Electronics' Gear VR during the Korea Electronics Grand Fair at an exhibition hall in Seoul, South Korea

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Amy Rimmer, Research Engineer at Jaguar Land Rover, demonstrates the car manufacturer's Advanced Highway Assist in a Range Rover, which drives the vehicle, overtakes and can detect vehicles in the blind spot, during the first demonstrations of the UK Autodrive Project at HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground in Nuneaton, Warwickshire

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Chris Burbridge, Autonomous Driving Software Engineer for Tata Motors European Technical Centre, demonstrates the car manufacturer's GLOSA V2X functionality, which is connected to the traffic lights and shares information with the driver, during the first demonstrations of the UK Autodrive Project at HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground in Nuneaton, Warwickshire

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Ford EEBL Emergency Electronic Brake Lights is demonstrated during the first demonstrations of the UK Autodrive Project at HORIBA MIRA Proving Ground in Nuneaton, Warwickshire

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Full-scale model of 'Kibo' on display at the Space Dome exhibition hall of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tsukuba Space Center, in Tsukuba, north-east of Tokyo, Japan

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Miniatures on display at the Space Dome exhibition hall of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Tsukuba Space Center, in Tsukuba, north-east of Tokyo, Japan. In its facilities, JAXA develop satellites and analyse their observation data, train astronauts for utilization in the Japanese Experiment Module 'Kibo' of the International Space Station (ISS) and develop launch vehicles

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The robot developed by Seed Solutions sings and dances to the music during the Japan Robot Week 2016 at Tokyo Big Sight. At this biennial event, the participating companies exhibit their latest service robotic technologies and components

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The robot developed by Seed Solutions sings and dances to music during the Japan Robot Week 2016 at Tokyo Big Sight

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Government and industry are working together on a robot-like autopilot system that could eliminate the need for a second human pilot in the cockpit

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Aurora Flight Sciences' technicians work on an Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automantion System (ALIAS) device in the firm's Centaur aircraft at Manassas Airport in Manassas, Va.

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Stefan Schwart and Udo Klingenberg preparing a self-built flight simulator to land at Hong Kong airport, from Rostock, Germany

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Phone screens are damaging our vision by making eyeballs grow ... - The Independent

Fifteen percent of Britons risk losing their eyesight by not having regular eye tests, according to new research commissioned by Optegra Eye Health Care.

The Vision of Britain report found people were leaving their eye problems too long before treatment, leaving 9.8m living in fear of losing their sight.

The study of 2,000 people also revealed 50% of first time patients needed vision correction and one in 10 required glasses or treatment, despite thinking their eyesight was fine.

Nearly a quarter of respondents shied away from eye tests in fear of having to wear glasses and one in four mistakenly believed wearing glasses would make their eyesight worse. Despite shunning regular eye exams, the report showed 82% of British adults desired 6/6 perfect vision, with 60% admitting they valued their eyesight above any other sense.

Dr Clare ODonnell, OO and head of Optegra Eye Sciences said: Without regular eye examinations, problems are being left undiagnosed and untreated which can lead to serious vision damage.

It is vital for everyone to have regular eye checks, even if they suspect nothing is wrong with their eye sight. By giving up just 20-30 minutes of your time once every two years, you can potentially save your vision.

In response to the study, Optegra has produced a 20-page report containing advice on day to day eye care, from identifying vision problems in children and myth-busting. http://www.optegra.com/visionofbritain

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Delays present sight loss risk - Optician Online

eyeSight takes its machine learning capabilities that can detect and recognize people and gestures to revolutionize the off-the-shelf security camera market

HERZLIYA, ISRAEL--(Marketwired - Jun 22, 2017) - eyeSight Technologies, a leader in advanced embedded computer vision and machine learning, today announces the expansion of its smart sensing offering to home security camera manufacturers and smart home system developers. Using a combination of advanced embedded computer vision and deep learning modules, eyeSight's complex software can transform any simple Wi-Fi connected IP camera into a smart AI guard.

Adding AI to standard off-the-shelf home security cameras is a game changer in the home security/smart home space as camera manufacturers can now add intelligent-sensing capabilities to their existing standard security camera offering -- no expensive sensors or hardware changes are required.

eyeSight's computer vision technology was designed for a wide range of sensing applications, from active interactions such as touch-free gesture recognition, to passive sensing such as detection of user presence and their actions. Security cameras with eyeSight's software will have the following capabilities that add a layer of intelligent-safety and comfort to the home:

"Our state-of-the-art technology offers manufacturers and smart home providers an amazing upgrade to their products with a simple software update, moving them from providers of a standard security cameras to smart AI guards for the home," said Gideon Shmuel, CEO of eyeSight. "We have years of experience in this field, so we know how to deliver smart, intelligent sensing capabilities to even the simplest of cameras through our proprietary software solutions."

To learn more about eyeSight Technologies, visit http://www.eyesight-tech.com.

About eyeSight Technologies eyeSight is the leading provider of embedded computer vision and deep learning solutions, bringing user awareness and gesture recognition technologies to a variety of devices and industries. The company's technology improves daily life interactions with the home, the car, and other consumer electronics with simplified user interactions that are intelligent and personalized. eyeSight's technology was designed for a wide range of applications, from active interactions with gesture recognition and finger tracking, to passive user detection and face analysis, delivering customized experiences based on user features and actions. For more information, visit http://www.eyesight-tech.com.

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eyeSight Technologies Expands Computer Vision Expertise to Transform any Wi-Fi Connected Home Security Camera ... - Marketwired (press release)

WASHINGTON -- An experimental drug is showing promise against an untreatable eye disease that blinds older adults and intriguingly, it seems to work in patients who carry a particular gene flaw that fuels the damage to their vision.

Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is the leading cause of vision loss among seniors, gradually eroding crucial central vision. There are different forms but more than 5 million people worldwide, and a million in the U.S., have an advanced type of so-called "dry" macular degeneration that has no treatment. At first patients may notice blurriness when they look straight ahead. Eventually many develop blank spots, becoming legally blind.

"These are seniors who are entering their golden years and now they've lost the ability to read, watch television, see their loved ones," said Dr. Rahul Khurana, a retina specialist and spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

The experimental drug, lampalizumab, aims to slow the destruction of light-sensing cells in the retina, creeping lesions that characterize the stage of dry AMD called "geographic atrophy." When those cells die, they can't grow back the vision loss is irreversible.

In an 18-month study of 129 patients, monthly eye injections of the drug modestly slowed worsening of the disease when compared with patients given dummy shots. What's exciting for scientists came next, when researchers from drugmaker Genentech Inc. took a closer look at exactly who was being helped.

It turns out that nearly 6 in 10 of the study's participants carry a gene variation that makes part of the immune system go awry - a genetic flaw already known to increase the risk of getting macular degeneration in the first place.

Those are the only patients who appeared to benefit from the drug; they had 44 percent less eye damage than the untreated patients, the Genentech team reported Wednesday in the journal Science Translational Medicine. While the study is too small to prove if lampalizumab really helps maintain vision, that's a bigger difference than the overall results suggested.

One arm of the immune system, the complement pathway, helps fight infections by attracting immune cells to attack bacteria.

Normally, there's a barrier that keeps such cells away from the retina. But that barrier can break down with age, opening sensitive eye cells to harm from the spillover, explained Genentech immunologist Menno van Lookeren Campagne.

Now for the gene connection: Previous studies have linked macular degeneration to gene variations that remove some of that pathway's natural brakes, so it can become too active.

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The hypothesis: Genentech's drug, lampalizumab, essentially offers a backup method for tamping down the immune reaction. An antibody, it works by inhibiting a particular enzyme named factor D that helps power the immune pathway.

"We try to reinsert the braking ability," said study lead author Brian Yaspan, a Genentech senior scientist.

Wednesday's study detected no safety concerns, clearing the way for Genentech and its parent company Roche to open two large-scale studies that aim to prove if the drug works. Results are expected later this year.

The current research sheds light on how that long-suspected immune culprit might be working, and is "the first suggestion that there may be a treatment for geographic atrophy coming up in the future," said National Eye Institute retina specialist Dr. Wai Wong, who wasn't involved in the study.

"It's a very, very exciting study," said Khurana, the ophthalmologist association's spokesman, who also wasn't part of the research. "From the basic science perspective, it makes a lot of sense."

Macular degeneration tends to occur after age 60, but it sometimes strikes earlier. According to the National Eye Institute, it's less common in people who exercise regularly, avoid smoking, and eat a diet high in green leafy vegetables and fish.

Symptoms often aren't noticeable early on. But several eye tests can detect signs of macular degeneration, including a dilated eye exam and a tool called an Amsler grid with straight lines that may look wavy if the macula, the center of the retina, is harmed.

Macular degeneration patients often are advised to take certain vitamin combinations that may help stave off advanced disease. And it's important for patients to know what type they have. While there's no treatment for the advanced dry form, the "wet" form occurs when leaky blood vessels grow under the retina and there are several therapies that can help those patients preserve vision.

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Experimental drug offers hope to seniors with vision-robbing disease - CBS News

WebMD Medical Reference

Claims you can improve your vision with simple eye exercises and without the need for glasses, contact lenses, drugs, or surgery have been around for decades.

It's an appealing idea but there is no research to back it up, and most experts consider the claims to be bogus and some of the techniques dangerous.

Natural vision correction is an alternative therapy and most practitioners base their approach on the Bates Method.

This was pioneered almost 100 years ago (1919) by Dr William Bates, an ophthalmologist and author of 'The Bates Method for Better Eyesight Without Glasses'. He believed the cause of short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and other refractive errors was tension, and that relaxing the eyes would allow them to function normally.

The Bates Method believes that vision is affected by the mind, body, emotions, and reaction to stress. The emphasis is on using the eyes and mind in a relaxed and natural way. Those who use it are encouraged to do eye exercises, including palming (covering closed eyes with your palms) and sunning (guiding a light source directly onto closed eyes), and to do without their glasses.

Followers of Bates claim all the conditions normally corrected by glasses can be eliminated, and some even say the method can help or eliminate serious eye diseases, such as cataracts and glaucoma.

Teachers of the Bates Method charge in the range of 30 - 75 an hour.

Others believers in natural vision correction use eye exercises, eye patches, eye massages, and nutritional supplements, but reject some of Bates ideas, like sunning, and are also happy to work alongside conventional and licensed optometrists (people who are not doctors, but are trained to evaluate vision and the health of the eye, as well as to prescribe glasses and contact lenses) or ophthalmologists (medically trained doctors who have specialist training in conditions related to the eye).

Practitioners of natural vision correction may have what appear to be convincing anecdotal testimonials from patients, but the Bates Method is not taught in accredited schools of optometry and is not recognised by professional ophthalmology or optometry organisations.

The UK based Association of Optometrists (AOP), with more than 17,000 members, does not support the use of the Bates Method and would always recommend that patients seek professional advice. It says it is unaware of any scientific evidence to suggest that the Bates Method is effective, and goes further by saying solarisation or sunning, is dangerous and could lead to retinal damage in the form of a solar retinopathy.

In 2002, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) published its opinion on visual training programmes to improve eyesight. It found no evidence that they had any effect on the progression of short-sightedness, or that it improved visual function for patients with long-sightedness or astigmatism, or that it improved vision lost because of diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.

It concluded the only risk of visual training was financial, and that glasses and contact lenses may be a nuisance, but they work.

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Natural vision correction & The Bates Method - WebMD.Boots.com

INDONESIA Farmer Kasnan Wonidin thought his life was over when he began losing his eyesight to cataracts last year.

The 48-year-old from a village in Gresik regency in East Java had to give up work, stop riding his motorbike and say goodbye to his favourite pastimes like catching crabs.

Corrective surgery at five million rupiah (S$530) per eye was well beyond his means. Like millions of other low-income cataract sufferers in Indonesia, a country of nearly 260 million people, he could only prepare to go blind.

He said: "I felt so sad. Where can a poor farmer like me find so much money?"

Mr Kasnan's worry ended last May, when the Singapore-based non-profit organisation A New Vision gave him a free small-incision cataract surgery, a quick surgical procedure that cut out and replaced his cloudy natural lenses with clear intraocular ones. It costs the organisation $100 per eye.

A New Vision aims to treat cataracts in countries such as Indonesia, where half of all blindness is caused by cataracts, through the quick, safe and low-cost procedure.

The organisation was set up in 2010 by Nepali humanitarian eye surgeon Sanduk Ruit, 62, Singaporean entrepreneur and philanthropist Tan Ching Koon, 60, Indonesian social worker Indra Wahidin, 65, and Ms Effi Jono, 48, an accountant from Indonesia.

To date, A New Vision's volunteer eye surgeons have performed nearly 20,000 operations for the rural poor through its surgical outreach events in Java and Sumatra.

With funds from multinational companies, foundations and private donors, it has sent 25 doctors for training in specialised eye surgery in Nepal. It is also sending nurses to be trained in eye screening and post-operative follow-up care, and is raising funds to build a high-quality but affordable community eye centre in Indonesia.

Ms Effi said: "Eye care should be a right, not a privilege."

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Gone are dark clouds that had them blind, World News & Top ... - The Straits Times

Object for object, The Inner Eye: Vision and Transcendence in African Arts provides perhaps the most flat-out beautiful museum exhibition in Los Angeles so far this year.

A selection of about 100 sculptures, many of them extraordinary, dates from the 13th to the early 20th century in a variety of cultures in West, Central and East Africa. Polly Nooter Roberts, Los Angeles County Museum of Art consulting curator for African art, traces an ambiguous line running between the visible and the invisible, sight and insight as represented in figures, masks, initiation objects, royal emblems and reliquary guardians.

Frequently the eye becomes a kind of mysterious membrane between material and spiritual worlds.

Take a Liberian mask whose symmetrical face with protruding eyes and mouth is enlivened by dramatically asymmetrical dcor. One eye is crossed out, canceling its outward view. A small length of twisted cord creates a puckish grin when attached over a row of jagged teeth. The mask gleefully seems to say, I know something you dont know.

Esoteric knowledge is a prominent undercurrent throughout the show, nowhere more beautifully or mysteriously expressed than in a Lega mask from what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A white oval head with a broad, heart-shaped face above a narrow, lozenge mouth is either without eyes or, possibly, is all eyes. Blindness reverberates with all-seeing insight.

The ceremonial mask, typically attached to the body as a talisman rather than worn over the face, is like an abstract echo of a human skull. It nods toward ancestors long gone but present during the ritual.

The LACMA show is divided into eight thematic sections. Sometimes the thread unravels and the show is hard to follow.

Among the more compelling groups is Beholding Spirit, which looks at the way royal trappings a throne, a scepter embody spiritual power that its user then wields. A commanding power figure (or nkisi nkondi), hammered with metal spikes across broad shoulders and atop sturdy columnar legs, is a Vigilant Sentinel looking skyward through shell-covered eyes: Earth meets sea meets sky in a mighty guardian. And a staring Dogon hermaphrodite, identifiable as such by conical breasts and a scruffy beard, is Envisioning Origins through the union of male and female.

Some works are surprising in a singular way. Nearly life-size commemorative carvings of a male and female pair of tomb guardians from Madagascar look almost contemporary; weathering outdoors has softened features into smooth planes of unadorned wood. Gone are the rifle and lance he once held for protection, while the jug balanced atop her head speaks of nurturing sustenance.

On the other hand, the section devoted to the Maternal Gaze is fairly prosaic. Art representing the familiar subject of mother and child seems separate from a distinctive consideration of the inner eye.

Yet the section does offer some context for a marvelous LACMA treasure acquired in 2014 an extremely rare fertility figure carved by the Bamana peoples of Mali in the late 13th or 14th century. (Most wooden African sculpture dates from the 19th century and after, a testament to the fragility of the material in sub-Saharan climates.) Three feet tall, seated upright on a bench, limbs and torso stretched and straight as an arrow, shes a tower of expansive strength, sheltering the remaining fragments of her offspring.

The sculpture is one among numerous exceptional works in the show. Some are on loan from public collections, such as UCLAs impressive Fowler Museum, while nearly three-quarters are lent from important private holdings, among them the Bill and Ann Ziff collection in New York. The shows chief drawback is the absence of a publication, neither catalog nor brochure, which seems a shame for such a notable, curiosity-inducing display.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Through July 9; closed Wednesdays. (323) 857-6000, http://www.lacma.org

christopher.knight@latimes.com

Twitter: @KnightLAT

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At LACMA, a don't-miss African art exhibition full of mystery and beauty - Los Angeles Times

The beauty truly is in the details. Andrew Airey was born with a genetic disorder known as Stargardt Macular Dystrophy, but wasnt properly diagnosed until he was an adult. As a result, Airey often struggled with his eyesight as a child, but it wasnt until he was in his mid-20s that he pretty much lost his eyesight entirely.

By then, he was already in a relationship with his now-wife, Kelli, whom he calls a covenant wife.

Kelli knew that I had low vision and it was something that she accepted, Airey tells The Knot. I was going to specialists often and it was not until 2006 that I was able to get some real answers about my eye problems I lost my detail vision, color vision, the ability to focus in on items at several distances. I was upset. Kelli knew that there was no cure and my eyesight would get worse. She has been right by my side through this whole endeavor.

When the pair got married in August 2002, Airey remembers he wasnt able to really see Kellis face or any other details from their special daya fact that still haunts him.

I have been out of focus for too long, he says. When you have an eye disease, it is challenging to function at a high level. I am a tenacious individual and I will try to the best of my ability to overcome any challenge that life brings. I was not able to see my wifes face Honestly, the average person has no idea what it is like and lack of awareness is prevalent in our world.

In 2015, then the couple happened upon eSight Corp, a new technology company giving legally blind individuals the gift of sight, after actively searching for possible solutions. From there, Director of Marketing Jeff Fenton reached out to the couple with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to recreate their wedding. This time, Airey would be able to see it all.

The pair, who share three daughters, gathered close friends and family, and, as documented in a viral video shared on eSights Facebook page, they recreated their celebration of love.It was an incredible experience, Airey says. I was able to see Kelli walk down the aisle smiling the whole time. I saw her beautiful face, her dress, and her veil. I will never forget it.

Airey noticed other details too: When my daughters walked down the aisle I could see their sweet faces, their facial features which have been a blur for so long. I remember seeing my daughter Avas ring on her finger and the diamonds in Kellis veil. The details of everyday life, which so many people take for granted, were brought to life for me again that day.

(Photo courtesy of eSight)

(Photo courtesy of eSight)

Now, Airey and his family are excited to experience life with his rediscovered vision, and he tells The Knot that though there are so many things hes excited to see, the one that hes most thankful for is being able to see his three daughters dancing.

One of the most precious moments was seeing each of my daughters in their dance classes, Airey says. All three girls have a passion for dance and have danced at a local studio, Creative Sole, for years. I have missed out on actually being able to see them during some of their happiest moments. As I write this, my girls are preparing for their recital tonight and tomorrow. Words cannot describe how much I am looking forward to watching them dance on stage. This is their sixth dance recital, but for me, it will all be new thanks to my eSight glasses.

(Photo courtesy of eSight)

In retrospect, Airey says he sees the deeper meaning and implications behind his eye disease and his familys love and support through it all. I know there is a greater purpose for our lives, he says. I believe that God chose me to inspire others through this challenge. I have lost my sight, but not my vision.

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Legally Blind Man Finally Sees His Wife For the First Time at Their Second Wedding - The Knot News

When we cant see clearly, we grasp at what we can. While we cant correct vision without the help of lenses or surgery, there are some fundamental ways you can improve your eyesight and eye health on your own.

The best way to improve your eyesight naturally is to give your eyes what they need to be healthy. A steady supply of nutritious foods and vitamins keeps your eyes and your body in general at their peak.

Two common vitamins and antioxidants shown to help improve eyesight include:

Lutein is a pigment found in high concentrations in a layer of the retina where pigment-packed cells help shield against excess light. Solid scientific research shows that lutein supplementation aids this process in our eyes to naturally improve vision.

Fortunately, lutein is an antioxidant that occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables such as spinach, kale, and Swiss chard

Many of the vitamins and antioxidants that improve eyesight naturally are found in common foods, including:

Many eye exercises are touted as ways to naturally improve eyesight and overcome nearsightedness. The Bates Method suggests palming, movement and visualization techniques to reshape the eyeball and improve vision. Yan Bao Jian Cao suggests massage and acupressure as ways to relieve strain and eye problems.

However, none of these exercises are verified to have more than anecdotal or placebo results. While vision therapy is a serious area of optometry that addresses problems with alignment, tracking and strain, theres no sound evidence that vision exercises can affect clarity.

We cant correct our vision without professional help, and theres no quick-and-easy fix for eyesight problems. But with tools such as good nutrition and diet, you can still help your eyesight naturally and on your own. As always, please discuss with your eye doctor.

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Improve Eyesight & Vision | Eye Exercises | CooperVision

Ellen Ciurczak , American Staff Writer 4:26 p.m. CT June 20, 2017

Bellevue optometrist Megan Sumrall Lott administers vision tests to students who have failed the state's third grade reading test. Her association has found 88 percent of those students who failed had a vision problem. Ellen Ciurczak/Hattiesburg American

For the third year, the Mississippi Optometric Association and the Mississippi Vision Foundation will provide no-cost eye exams to third-graders who didn't pass the state reading assessment and do not have insurance.(Photo: Kathy Matheny, Kathy Matheny)

When Hattiesburg optometrist Megan Sumrall Lott and her colleagues heard in May 2015 that nearly 15 percent of Mississippi's third-graders had failed the state's first administration of the reading test, they were concerned. Lott said they suspected the problem wasn't the students' inability to read, but a difficulty with vision.

"We all got on a conference call and said, 'What can we do about this?'" Lott remembered. "(We said), 'Let's offer free eye exams to children with no insurance who have failed the test and give them glasses at no costif they need them.

"Almost every optometrist participated in 2015 and continues to do so."

Once again this year, members of the Mississippi Optometric Association and the Mississippi Vision Foundation, including Lott at her Bellevue Specialty Eye Care practice, are offering the free exams to third-graders who failed the test.

Hattiesburg optometrist Meagan Sumrall Lott(Photo: Special to Hattiesburg American)

It turned out Lott and her colleagues were right about why a lot of students weren't passing the third-grade reading test. Results of previous association and foundation third-grade eye exams revealed 88 percent of the students who failed the testneeded some form of visual intervention.

"Only by partnering with our schools can we begin to see change take place," said association president Mike Wheeden in a news release. "The MOA and its foundation are pleased to be a part of making a difference in the lives of students, and we are committed to identifying those students who have vision problems."

This May, 8percent of third-graders,or more than 3,000 students in the state,did not pass the test. Lott said many of them may have vision problems. She cites a 2008 study done for the Essilor Vision Foundation which discovered many students are struggling because of poor eyesight or other vision difficulties.

"One in four children had vision problems," Lott said. "(The study) looked at 9-15-year-olds. Ninety percent of children who needed glasses did not have them."

Lott said when schools perform vision screenings, typically only distance vision is tested. But most classroom activities, like reading, writing and computer work, require near vision. Therefore, other tests need to be added toscreenings.

"School exams won't identify anything but nearsightedness," Lott said.

The study foundeven when children with vision problems are identified through school examinations, 40 percent to 60 percent do not receive the recommended follow-up eye exams or glasses.

Lott, whose specialty includes children, has a checklist of 19 symptomsthat help patients identify if they have a vision problem. Some of those symptoms include reading issues like words that run together, closing one eye when reading, omitting small words when reading and poor reading comprehension.

Lott said she hopes students who failed the third-grade reading test and do not have insurance will take advantage of the no-cost eye exams.

"I would hope more and more children would come in every year as the word gets out," she said. "I want parents to know, if a child is struggling (with reading), there is help.

"There are people in the community who want to see their child succeed."

To locate a participating optometrist: Parents of eligible third-graders should go towww.msvisionfoundation.org.

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Optometric association: 88 percent of third-graders who fail reading test had vision problem - Hattiesburg American