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INOVISIO [Carnosine] Eye Drops Can Help Your Dog

Does your beloved dog suffer with cataract? Is your dog facing increasing blindness or cataract surgery? INOVISIO L-Carnosine [1.0%] eye drops can help your dog and offer an effective non-surgical treatment for canine cataract.

The prevalence of cataract in dogs increases with age and by the age of 13-14 years most dogs will have some degree of lens opacity. Not all dogs will go on to develop cataract, however, those that do will lose some of the quality of their life as they become increasingly blind. Some dogs like Labrador's inherit the condition (via their genes), however, all dogs whether pure or mixed breed are likely to develop cataract in the later stages of their life. The age at which a particular breed of dog is most likely to develop cataract appears to be correlated with the longevity of the breed in question. Much more research into canine cataract development is needed and INOVISIO hopes to be a part of that process.

But what if your dog has cataract now? Well it seems that most dogs will respond very well to treatment - the most important factors are the age of the dog and the degree of the cataract development. Therefore, the younger your dog and the less mature the cataract the better are the chances of vastly improving your dog's condition.

Many dog owners are using INOVISIO eye drops on their dog's right now - if you would like to join them - just dial the Toll Free Number 800-566-5924 and place your order.

Place your order by January the 31st and you will qualify for a generous 20% discount.

The sooner treatment is started the sooner you will see an improvement in your dog's cataract.

Make that call!

Top 10 Super Foods

We're all entitled to having our particular likes and dislikes when it comes to the food we eat. But which foods should we all make a point of including in our diets, because they're simply magic?

Take a look at our list of top 10 super foods – and find out why you just can't afford to go without them. The good news is that some of your favourites probably made the list:

1. Tuna
Tuna, and other fatty, dark-skinned fish, came out tops.

Fatty fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which help to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Research suggests that the omega-3s can also play a role in preventing conditions like hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, depression, dry eye syndrome, and possibly cancer. These are all diseases that affect a staggering number of people across the globe.

Make a plan to eat fatty fish at least two to three times a week. Just make sure you lay off on the batter and added fat.

2. Eggs
A single egg is packed with goodness. And while eggs do contain cholesterol, the effect is not as detrimental as scientists once believed.

For as little as 75 calories, an egg provides 12% of the daily recommended value for protein, as well as a wide variety of other nutrients such as vitamin A, B6, B12, D, folate, iron, phosphorous and zinc.

On top of this, the humble egg is now also categorised as a "functional food", i.e. a food that provides health benefits beyond its basic nutritional benefits.

The key is the carotenoids, lutein [you can read more about lutein below] and zeaxanthin, found in egg yolks. These substances collect in parts of the eye and have been shown to play a role in promoting vision and preventing some common causes of blindness.

A word of warning though: make sure your cholesterol levels are normal before you start including more eggs in your diet. You may be suffering from high cholesterol without knowing it.

However, if your cholesterol levels have been tested and are normal, two or three eggs per week could boost your health. Just remember to opt for poached, boiled or scrambled eggs instead of fried ones.

3. Beans
Baked beans, black beans, lima beans, kidney beans. Eating plenty of beans can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke and help prevent cancer, researchers say.

This is mostly due to the fact that beans are a rich source of antioxidants. A variety of veggies, fruits, legumes and nuts recently battled it out for the top spot on a new list of the 20 most antioxidant-rich foods. The small red bean came out tops, and red kidney beans and pinto beans weren't far behind.

A serving (one-third cup of cooked beans) contains about 80 calories, little fat, no cholesterol, and plenty of complex carbohydrates. These legumes also provide a good source of B vitamins, potassium and fibre.

Legumes make a great side dish and can also be used as a substitute for meat. While legumes don't contain complete proteins such as meat, you could supplement your diet by eating grain or dairy products along with legumes. This is particularly useful in the diet of the vegetarian.

4. Cocoa
Here's a bit of good news for chocoholics: the delicious treat could lower your risk for heart disease and hypertension.

It looks like cocoa exerts its positive effect mainly in three ways: firstly, by keeping the endothelium (the layer of cells that lines the heart and blood vessels) healthy, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks; secondly, by lowering blood pressure, which is also related to heart disease; and thirdly, by modulating platelet function in a similar way as aspirin does.

However, the key ingredients in cocoa, what scientists call flavanols, are only present in dark chocolate.

Although more research needs to be done, it's probably safe to say that a small helping (10 g) of good-quality chocolate every day could do no harm – if the chocolate is of the darker variety, and if it forms part of an energy-controlled diet.

5. Brazil nuts
Due to Brazil nuts' high selenium content, these nuts can be seen as a "complete" protein source.

This means that, unlike the proteins in most plant products, Brazil nuts' proteins contain all the necessary amino acids to foster optimal growth in humans in the same way as proteins from animal products do. But even animal products, like chicken and beef, don't contain as much selenium as Brazil nuts do.

Selenium is also a powerful antioxidant. And Brazil nuts are also a very good source of zinc (essential to digestion and metabolism).

Eight medium Brazil nuts count as one serving (30 g). Since these nuts are high in fat, they shouldn't be included in the diet more than three times per week. These nuts should also replace other fats in the diet and shouldn't just be added.

Note, however, that, because of its high saturated fat content, Brazil nuts could be a dangerous addition to your diet if you are at risk of heart disease. Rather opt for nuts with less fat, like almonds, if this is the case.

6. Garlic
Garlic is not only a great way to add a little kick to a pasta dish; it also offers tremendous health benefits.

Research has shown that garlic could help prevent heart disease, hypertension and cancer, and can possibly improve lung function. Garlic is also a great way to boost one's immunity – especially in wintertime.

Include a clove or two of garlic in your diet every day. Just make sure that the garlic isn't overcooked. And steer clear of garlic if you're on anti-coagulant medication.

7. Yoghurt
Yoghurt not only contains bone-building calcium, but is also a great source of probiotics.

Probiotics are microbial foods or supplements that can be used to change or improve the intestinal bacterial balance to boost the health of the host. Probioics thwart the overgrowth of harmful bacteria by competing for attachment sites and nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract.

Include a tub of fat-free or low-fat yoghurt in your diet every day – just make sure the label states "live AB cultures".

8. Citrus
You probably know that citrus fruits are a fantastic source of vitamin C, but did you know that oranges, naartjies, lemons and grapegruit are all also rich in antioxidants?

Citrus contains zeaxanthin (like eggs) that maintains healthy vision. These fruits are rich in flavanones that play a role in preventing cancer. Citrus fruits also contain caffeic acid that may reduce the risk of heart disease and eye disease.

A variety of delicious citrus fruits are available. Depending on the season, try to include citrus fruits in your diet as often as possible.

9. Bananas
Research has shown that high-potassium foods, of which the banana is a prime example, may lower the risk of stroke.

Potassium also plays a vital role in the functioning of the muscles, heart and nerves. It ensures that the body’s fluid levels remain balanced and that the body is neither too alkaline nor too acidic. It also prevents calcium from being lost in the urine.

Eating bananas before bedtime can also make for a good night's sleep, as bananas help to increase serotonin levels. To top these benefits, bananas help to maintain bowel health and are good energy-boosting snacks.

10. Cranberries
Cranberries are packed with proanthocyanidins that have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, and improve urinary tract health. New research shows that cranberry juice may also work against gastrointestinal viruses.

Drink 300 ml cranberry juice every day to reap the benefits.

The Online Eye Doctor suggests that if you can eat more of these Super Foods your eyes and all other organs will benefit. Be sure and add these items to your shopping list.

Eat Plenty Of Fish

Several tips on how to maintain healthy eyesight:

Maintain a healthy way of life — and don't forget the fish

One recent study found eating one serving of fish a week reduced the risk of developing early-stage macular degeneration by 40%, strengthening a connection between fish and eye health that other studies have found. Walter Willett, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, says salmon is a good source of the omega-3 fatty acids that appear to benefit vision. He also recommends spinach and other green leafy vegetables for their lutein, a vitamin that has been shown to reduce the risk of cataracts.

RELATED: Sights set on diseases of aging

Other helpful vitamins include zinc, vitamins A and C and beta-carotene, which can protect eyes from macular degeneration, according to one study.

Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, which is one more reason to quit.

Don't be a stranger to your eye doctor

The risk of eye diseases increases with age, so be sure to see your doctor at least once a year. People who have conditions that put them at greater risk for eye problems, such as diabetes, may want to see their doctors more frequently.

It's especially important to keep up with regular doctor visits if you have a family history of eye disease. Race is another genetic factor that increases your chance of certain vision problems. Whites more frequently get macular degeneration, and African-Americans have higher rates of glaucoma.

Your future's brighter if you wear shades

Sunglasses help protect eyes from ultraviolet rays that increase risk for cataracts and macular degeneration. Look for sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Price and darkness of the glasses have nothing to do with how well they deflect rays.

It's important to wear sunglasses even if your contacts have UV protection. A wide-brimmed hat or cap can keep light from hitting your eyes from directly above.

Don't Rush Into Cataract Surgery!

BUPA takes a stand against 'poor surgeons who charge excessive fees' Nigel Hawkes, Health Editor

Read the candid thoughts of a practicing GP BUPA, Britain’s biggest medical insurer, has declared war on surgeons who charge too much and are not as good as they think they are. It plans to set up networks of approved surgeons, first in ophthalmology and later in orthopaedics and ear nose and throat surgery, have angered surgeons, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. But BUPA, which has more than three million members in the UK and a 40 per cent share of the market, has rejected the objections. It said that its own research revealed huge variations in the price and quality of eye operations carried out in private hospitals by surgeons who also work in the NHS. Premiums for private medical insurance have been rising at 12 to 15 per cent a year, pricing many people out of the market. BUPA claimed that some surgeons charged four times as much as the NHS price for operations. It also said that the standards varied greatly. Its own networks of “approved” surgeons are designed to reverse these trends. Policy-holders who choose to go elsewhere will find that their costs are not reimbursed in full, if at all. BUPA has insisted that it needs to provide its premium-payers with the highest possible quality of care, but the surgeons argue that it was more interested in narrowing choice for patients and driving down costs. Natalie-Jane Macdonald, medical director of BUPA Health Insurance, denied this charge. She said that BUPA’s research so far had shown that there were indeed big variations in the quality of eye surgery provided by private hospitals. “Consultants were very resistant to us looking at it at all. But we found that clinical standards and auditing of results were very patchy. Doctors are not really very willing to be held accountable. “We found that clinical guidelines were hardly used. Only half of ophthalmologists use their own Royal College’s guidance for measuring the effectiveness of operations,” Dr Macdonald said. “If you point this out, they say ‘Oh, you know . . . and brush it aside. It’s very hard for a lay person even to know what questions to ask. We’re acting as experts on their behalf and our prime purpose is a really high standard of care.” BUPA’s review of ophthalmology found that almost a quarter of facilities did not routinely monitor two important complications of cataract surgery. It also found weaknesses in auditing services and the outcomes of surgery, which were both important if services were to be improved. “All facilities where our members receive treatment and the consultants who treat them meet Healthcare Commission and General Medical Council standards,” Dr Macdonald said. “However, it is worrying that there is such variation in clinical practice for no apparent reason.” The survey also found huge variations in the prices charged by private hospitals. The NHS tariff for a cataract operation is between £702 and £1,015. But in some cases BUPA was being asked to pay £3,500 for an operation in the private sector. These prices have a direct effect on premiums. BUPA said that a typical policy-holder, aged 32, who was paying £655 a year for medical insurance cover in January 2004 will be paying nearly £867 by January. But the Federation of Independent Practitioner Organisations, which represents surgeons and anaesthetists, claimed that far from improving care BUPA was introducing a “dysfunctional” system from the United States that would break the link between the patient and the consultant. Doctors sign up to chambers plan More than 300 surgeons have signed up to a new organisation designed to improve their bargaining power with medical insurers such as BUPA. Alliance Surgical aims to become a barrister-like set of “chambers” for surgeons, with listed shares. It plans to negotiate with insurers, private hospitals or with the NHS to deliver surgery at valuefor-money prices. The advantage for the surgeons is that they will have an organisation to bid for work on their behalf, saving them time and effort. They will also be able to acquire shares in the company, which could have a monetary value if it is successful. When they retire, they would be able to sell these shares. Paul Howlett, the businessman who founded Alliance Surgical, also believes that surgical standards would be raised by by strict adherence to medical protocols and procedures, and more vigilant regulation. In the past year the group’s members have completed about 80,000 surgical procedures, a spend of about £200 million in the private healthcare sector. It plans to acquire the services of up to 450 surgeons and to quadruple the number of procedures over the next two years. The company is controlled by a medical directorate, led by Ged Byrne, Dean of Clinical Studies at South Manchester University Hospitals and a cancer surgeon. He said: “Alliance Surgical is my chance to become a stakeholder in the delivery of the highest possible standards of private practice." Mr Howlett said that his company was “group practice without the hassle” and that he aimed to make it the premier provider of independent surgical services in Britain. Insurance companies and private hospitals would be able to negotiate with a single point of contact for medical services across all disciplines, he added.

Cataract Surgery - Risks!

Cause of eye disease never found at Montreal hospital

Last Updated: Thursday, November 30, 2006 | 5:57 PM ET

CBC News

Hospitals in Montreal and Toronto have seen a cluster of cases of a mysterious eye disease following cataract surgery.

Toxic anterior segment syndrome, or TASS, causes an inflammation in the eye's interior. The disease has appeared at about 127 eye centres across North America in the past 19 months.

In mid-November, Scarborough Hospital in Toronto's east end was shut down as doctors tried to track cases. Last March, 14 cases of TASS were reported in a single day at Montreal's St. Mary's Hospital.

TASS often resolves quickly with anti-inflammatory treatment, but in severe cases can lead to torn or detached retinas, a form of glaucoma and vision loss.

In TASS, the eye reacts to something foreign such as bacteria or a chemical, and the cases may be dismissed as an infection, although bacteria and viruses do not cause the disease.

TASS is like a poisoning of the eye, specifically the anterior segment which is located between the lens and the cornea — the area targeted in cataract surgeries.

Continue Article

In Montreal, the patients all responded well to steroids, said Dr. Conrad Kavalec, a surgeon at St. Mary's.

It doesn't matter if the surgery is done in a private or public clinic, Kavalec said. Anytime the eight-minute cataract operations are done, TASS can result.

Since the cases at St. Mary's, staff increased the number of trays they used so one is used for each patient, meaning instruments do not have to be sterilized between surgeries.

The hospital never determined the cause of the TASS cases, but no new cases have occurred since the new instruments were purchased.

Patients are advised to ask about the sterilization process before they go in for surgery. If flash sterilization is used, where instruments are cleaned between cases and reused quickly, there could be risk of TASS, ophthalmologists say.

Kavalec suspects contaminants in the ointments or solutions used in surgery or the surgical instruments themselves led to the cases.

Presbyopia and beyond

Visual changes that accompany aging, such as presbyopia and floaters, are natural and gradual. However, several eye diseases are more likely to occur in older people, and with older baby boomers now shifting into their 60s, the incidence of these diseases is likely to increase.

"Macular degeneration is the biggest source of blindness in this country of people of retirement age, and it's going to be an ever-growing population because of the baby boomers," says Pravin Dugel, a Phoenix retina specialist.

In addition, vision problems are associated with other problems in older adults, such as falls, hip fractures, driving difficulties and depression.

Some eye diseases of older adults:

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is painless but insidious. It begins with blurriness in peripheral vision and can progress to blindness. It's caused when the optic nerve is damaged, often by increased pressure in the eye.

Glaucoma is three to four times more common in black people than in white people, and blacks are six times more likely to be blinded by glaucoma, possibly because they have thinner corneas, according to a study by the National Eye Institute.

It's treated by reducing eye pressure with eyedrops or surgery.

Macular degeneration

Macular degeneration happens when the cells on the retina begin to deteriorate, leading to a loss of central vision. In the "dry"form, which is the most common, deposits will dim vision. There is no treatment to stop or reverse vision loss. In the "wet" form, affecting 10 percent of people with macular degeneration, blood vessels grow, leak and scar. New drugs can stop the progression and partially reverse the effects of the wet form.

Smoking is a double whammy for macular degeneration. Not only does it increase the likelihood of the disease, but smokers are unable to take supplements with beta carotene -- recently shown to slow the progression of macular degeneration -- because it increases their chances of lung cancer.

Macular degeneration is also more common in people who have it in their family history, and it is less common in black people than whites.

Diabetic eye disease

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new blindness in adults, and there is no cure. High levels of glucose in the blood damage the small blood vessels in the retina, impairing vision gradually. Untreated diabetic retinopathy can cause the retina to detach, possibly causing permanent blindness. Early diagnosis and treatment, usually laser surgery, can help prevent blindness if the diabetes is managed.

Post Cataract-Surgery Inflammation

Thursday, 16th November 2006 10:43

Evolutec now expects to publish lead compound Phase 2 results in early 2007

LONDON (AFX) - Biopharmaceutical company Evolutec Group PLC said it now expects to publish phase 2 trial results of its lead compound to treat post cataract-surgery inflammation in early 2007 as initial recruitment of 150 patients is completed.

In September, the company said the recruitment of the required 150 patients for phase 2 trial of rEV131 had been slow and expected the trial results were likely to be delayed until first half of 2007.

The company said it sees the value of the post cataract-surgery inflammation market at around 500 Million US$.

The Online Eye Doctor would like to comment that if you try the new L-Carnosine eye drops from INOVISIO you won't have to worry about post cataract-surgery inflammation because you can AVOID SURGERY in the first place!

INOVISIO hits South America!

The Online Eye Doctor has received a very encouraging Spanish message of support from South America regarding the new INOVISIO L-Carnosine eye drops. Word is spreading and interest is growing in this potentially very useful alternative to cataract surgery. Please keep your comments coming in.

"Hace un tiempo compré unas gotas para los ojos en internet llamadas INOVISIO L-Carnosine,  ya había oído algunos comentarios muy positivos sobre las mismas y decidí probarlas. Pude comprobar que las mismas se sienten muy bien en los ojos sin producir esa sensación de picazón o quemazón tan molestas. En una palabra, podría decir que son fantásticas.Estoy realmente contenta de poder tener acceso a estas gotas desde América del Sur.

Ya he recomendado a amigos visitar el website ´The Online Eye Doctor´ porque  el ´blog´ además es muy atractivo, está muy bien logrado".

Sra. M., Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Don't miss out!

The new INOVISIO eye drop is causing a big buzz. It represents the culmination of an enormous investment to finally bring a HIGH QUALITY L-Carnosine [1.0%] product into a marketplace crowded with inferior products.

It is the only eye drop of its type to include the patented and totally non-toxic preservative called Biopolynate.

If you are going to try an L-Carnosine eye drop you will not find a higher quality product at any price. Don't miss out!

Cataracts, presbyopia and the rest

Vision of your future

What to expect from your aging eyes

Mary Beth Faller
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 7, 2006 12:00 AM

Even if you're a 40-something who can pass for 30, your vision can't keep up the same charade. Changes in vision are an inescapable part of aging, and by 45, nearly everyone has noticed those natural but annoying differences in their eyesight: presbyopia, or difficulty focusing close; floaters; cataracts; dry eyes; glare sensitivity and just the overall sense that you don't see as well as you used to.

"It is annoying," says Lynne Noon, an optometrist in Sun City and Mesa. "But it's all a normal part of aging."

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your eyes. It can accelerate the normal degeneration of the eye, increase the risk of cataracts and aggravate dry eyes.

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But other than eating a balanced diet, including a vitamin and mineral supplement, protecting your eyes from ultraviolet light and staying healthy, there's nothing you can do to prevent these vision changes. Eye exercises don't help.

Most of these inexorable changes are gradual. Any sudden changes in vision require a dilated-pupil eye exam, Noon says.

Below are some changes that happen to eyes as we age. The information is from Noon, an optometrist at View Finder Low Vision Resource Centers in Mesa and Sun City, as well as www.agingeye.net, an informative Web site produced by AgingEye Times, the American Foundation for the Blind and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Presbyopia

If you compare the eye to a camera, in people younger than 40, the camera is on autofocus, with the lens adjusting to accommodate near and far vision simultaneously. After age 40, the lens becomes less flexible, like a "fixed focus" that's able to see clearly at only one distance. This is why up-close reading becomes more difficult.

Presbyopia is treated with glasses or contact lenses, including a technique called "monovision," in which one eye is corrected for distance and the other is corrected for near.

Floaters

The vitreous, or gel inside the eyeball, starts to shrink as we age. This causes the fibers in the vitreous to become denser and to move around more, and that causes shadows on the retina, which are seen as spots that float in the field of vision.

People who are nearsighted tend to get more floaters.

Floaters are painless and harmless. Your brain learns to ignore them, so they seem less bothersome and eventually they settle to the bottom of the vitreous.

If floaters are extremely bothersome, they can be treated with laser surgery or even by draining and replacing the vitreous, but few doctors recommend these procedures, which can have serious complications.

If you suddenly get a large floater or a large number of dark spots, see an eye doctor immediately to rule out a retinal tear or detachment.

Cataracts

Besides becoming less flexible, the lens of a middle-age person also becomes yellow and cloudy, called a cataract. The condition is painless.

"Everyone gets cataracts if they live long enough," Noon says. "It's kind of like wrinkles. You don't get there without it."

Some people with cataracts see well and never need treatment. But when a lens with a cataract becomes a problem - causing blurred or foggy vision or difficulties with glare - it must be surgically removed. The surgery, very safe for most people, removes the cloudy lens and inserts an artificial lens.

Dry eyes

The eyes are moistened by tears, which coat the eye as we blink. Aging can reduce the amount of tears we produce, leading to dry eye syndrome, which can create an irritating, burning, gritty or itchy feeling in the eyes. More women than men are affected because of changes that occur after menopause, Noon says. Dry eye syndrome can be aggravated by oral contraceptives, antihistamines, antidepressants and some hypertension or Parkinson's medications.

Climate can also affect dry eyes. Last summer, the National Women's Health Resource Center named Phoenix as the eighth-worst city for dry eyes. Las Vegas was the worst.

Dry eye syndrome is chronic and has no cure, but it can be treated with lubricating eyedrops or ointments. Eating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon or flaxseed oil, also can help, as can some supplements. For severe cases, silicone or gel plugs can be inserted into the tear ducts to prevent tears from leaving the eye.

Glare sensitivity

and need for more light

As we age, the pupil shrinks and becomes less able to adjust to lighting conditions, so less light reaches the retina of an older person. A 60-year-old needs 15 times more light to see clearly than a 10-year-old, Noon says.

The type of lighting is important because older eyes are more sensitive to glare. Pure white light, like sunlight, is best, though sunlight can produce glare. Indoors, task lighting is helpful, and incandescent bulbs are better than fluorescent, which tend to be blue.

Glasses can be specially tinted to cut glare, but if the tint is too dark, it can decrease vision. Wearing frames with side shields that fit close to the face also reduces glare. Noon says these types of frames come in fashionable styles.

Contrast sensitivity

In the eye-examination room, the patient reads a white chart with black letters.

"This does not actually measure how a person sees in the real world, where objects are not black and white but have varying degrees of contrast," Noon says. A patient may read well on an eye chart but still complain he does not see well.

Contrast sensitivity decreases with age, making low-contrast objects difficult to see, such as blue and black socks or milk in a white cup. "If you have poor contrast sense, and you're coming on a curb that's in the shadow, you may not see the curb and trip," Noon says.

People with decreased contrast sensitivity need good light and possibly stronger reading glasses. Yellow- or amber-tinted glasses can help.