In this June addition of the Healthy Eyes Report, Dr. Buensuceso focuses on choosing sunglasses and how they can contribute to helping you prevent Macular Degeneration. With summer almost in full swing, this is the time to learn how the color and style of sunglasses have an impact on helping to prevent Macular Degeneration. We touch on pricing as well, and a less expensive sunglasses option that still allows you to protect your eyes from damaging rays from the sun.
We also share how the high antioxidants in blueberries can help fight AMD and provide you with a delicious Cold Blueberry Soup recipe.
We hope you start you summer off right with this great issue of the Healthy Eyes Report!
Sincerely,
Volker Gallichio
Vice-President, MedOp Health
In This Issue
- FROM THE DOCTOR: Preventative Sunglasses Care
- NUTRITION: Blueberries & Macular Degeneration
How Sunglasses Can Prevent Macular Degeneration
Hello! It’s summer now and along with that, longer days and more time in the sun, so this month we’ll be delving into how sunglasses can help to prevent Macular Degeneration. A fact you may not know – sunlight creates free radicals inside your eye which, in turn, help cause Macular Degeneration.
We’ll look in to different aspects of sunglasses to make it protective against Macular Degeneration. So, for those of you who are shopping around for the best sunglasses to help prevent Macular Degeneration, you’ve come to the right place.
For starters, good sunglasses are supposed to provide you with 100% protection from ultraviolet light (UVA/UVB). They are also designed for glare reduction, color and contrast enhancement. A bonus is that sunglasses can reduce eye strain and enhance comfort for the wearer.
COLOR
Sunglasses should be gray, bronze or amber. Gray offers good glare protection while bronze and amber lenses enhance color and definition as well as depth perception in bright sunlight.
Additional colors that may be helpful would be yellow and orange since they block Blue Light which is harmful to your eyes and provide contrast in low light and overcast conditions.
STYLE
The first and foremost job of sunglasses is to block sunlight. Sunlight is not always in the front of your face but all around your head. To get the maximum protection, it is recommended that your sunglasses should wrap around your head and shaped so that is fits with the contours of your forehead and eye area.
PRICE
Quality sunglasses often cost $150 or more on average which is expensive by anyone’s standards. But what if you don’t have the money to pay that much but still need great eye protection?
The solution is wraparound sunglasses that fit over your existing glasses if you wear prescription eye wear. These oversized sunglasses can be found anywhere, from your closest optical shop to shopping online. Make sure to look for the “100% UV protection” or “UV400” sticker indicating 100% protection from ultraviolet light and either gray, amber, and bronze in color or yellow/orange.
So, go out there and have fun shopping for your favorite sunglasses!
In next month’s e-newsletter, we’ll be looking in the back of the eye and talking about early warning signs of Macular Degeneration and what questions you should be asking your eye doctor on how to prevent and/or manage AMD. So, if you are planning to get any eye exam or have questions about it…be on the lookout for our next issue!
How Blueberries Can Help with Macular Degeneration
Blueberries’ ability to produce more antioxidants in the body than any other fruit or vegetables makes it invaluable in combating free radicals which has been linked to a higher incidence of Macular Degeneration.
Antioxidants help prevent AMD by supplying an electron to a free radical to balance the cell and reduce oxidation which ages your cells. This reduces the damage to the collagen matrix of healthy cells such as macular pigment in your eyes.
So add some blueberries to your cereal, enjoy them in Greek yogurt or just snack on them for a super-healthy treat that’s good for your eyes.
