The Optical Vision Site

Understanding Sun and Sports Eyewear-The Market

Getting ready for sunglass season, (which is actually all year), this is a good time to review the features and benefits of sunwear, the performance factors, lens performance, mirror coats for performance and frame designs and materials.

In the February Issue of  Visioncare Product News there is a continuing education insert was absolutely fantastic! Approved for ABO credit, it is written by Sharon Leonard and one the best pieces of sport and performance eyewear pieces I have read. What Puts the Performance in Sports Performance Sunwear?.

Even if you are not looking for ABO credit, I would highly recommend reviewing this article at a staff meeting and brush up on your sport and performance eyewear presentation. Just in case you don’t think their is a market: From Totally Optical:

WHO WEARS IT?

‘You might be a bit surprised by how big and lucrative the sports performance market is. According to the National Golf Foundation, there were 26.8 million active golfers in the U.S. in 2008, with 489.1 million rounds of golf played, and over $18 billion spent on “performance-enhancing” products. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost $14 billion are spent on accessory ski equipment such as gloves, goggles, and specialized eyewear. Cycling is another biggie. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that approximately 57 million of the U.S. population aged over 6 were on bicycles during the last few years. That includes racers and recreational cyclists. Then comes fishing! The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service surveys revealed that over 30 million people aged over 16 were fishing in lakes, oceans, and waterways. And there are other activities, like mountaineering, motorcycling, tennis, sailing, and hiking that might be enhanced with performance eye- wear. Yes, this is a big market indeed. can provide. This may include high-tech frame materials and designs, or unique lens designs, materials, and colors.

Many recreational activities, like skiing, tennis, fishing, cycling, boating, and golfing also have their own unique eyewear needs in terms of safety and light protection. Whatever the activity, if wearers spend enough time doing it, then they want to do it well. And, they want to look pretty cool while doing it, too!’

Get Your Mojo Risin’ With Science Based Nutrition For Eyecare And Mojo Trivia

Every Friday I look forward to reading Friday Pearls from Biosyntrx, This week, Ellen Troyer wrote about Mojo, the concept and how do you get it. She also recommends a book by Dr Marshall Goldsmith on  Mojo: How to Get It, How to Keep It, How to Get It Back if You Lose It (about $15.00 from Amazon)

Mojo: How To Get It, How To Keep It, How to Get It Back If You Lose It.

An excerpt from Ellen Troyer’s, Friday Pearl-  Get Your Nutrition Science Mojo Working: ‘The Optometric Nutrition Society (ONS) faculty at last weeks six hour COPE approved continuing education course in Atlanta had their collective Mojo working.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the concept of Mojo, Marshall Goldsmith, PhD, defines it this way, “It’s the positive spirit toward what we are doing that starts from the inside and radiates outside to those around us.” Mojo is that much-sought-after sweet spot where everything falls into place. It’s the confidence that comes from mastering an area of study, and enjoying the process.  ” Read the full story at Friday Pearl (biosyntrx.com/Article.php?ArticleID=803)

For those interested in getting their Mojo Rising, Biosyntrx has a full line of science based nutritional natural supplements for the Eyecare professional. Good for eyecare profits, better for customer service and the best for patient eye health.

For those who want to tune into The Doors singing Mojo Rising and only have the LP like me- you can order the DVD here from Amazon The Doors (the greatest hits) or download it on your iPod, or if you want to save money, watch the YouTube Video,

Mojo Trivia

• The word mojo has been around for about 100 years and appears to have African roots referring to a small bag containing a magic charm
• Mojo” first appeared in the 1920s in the southern United States, and probably entered Black English in the US from the Gullah word “moco” (magic), Gullah being a creole (mixture of languages) spoken by some groups of African-Americans in the coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina.  The ultimate root of “mojo” was almost certainly the word “moco’o,” which means “shaman or medicine man” in the African language Fulani.
• Jim Morrison used Risin Mojo to refer to him- it is an anagram of his name.
• Mike Myers in Austin Powers, refers to ‘mojo’ as a combination of all the right stuff that makes a man successful. So, the term is used in a sexual context, referring to a man’s libido, virility or ability to attract someone they like or would like as a mate.
• Mojo is a type of sauce, with varying degrees of spiciness, made of olive oil, garlic, paprika, cumin and citrus such as lemon, orange, lime or vinegar. It originated in the Canary Islands and variations are popular in Cuba, Puerto Rico and various Caribbean Islands.

Why Highly-prized Saffron Could Save Your Sight

An interesting headline that caught my eye in the Life Extension Daily News: Why Highly-prized Saffron Could Save Your Sight. Here is an excerpt from the article:

Saffron Flower

It is one of the world’s most valuable spices. Patiently collected flower by flower, the deep red stamens of the saffron crocus can fetch up to $750 per pound, writes Anastasia Stephens. But now there is more reason than ever to covet it. A study at Sydney University and the University of L’Aquila in Italy has found that when eaten, saffron may protect eyes from UV damage and slow the progress of diseases such as macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.

In macular degeneration, the cells in the retina at the back of the eye, which are responsible for clear vision, begin to die. But when patients with macular degeneration taking part in the study began eating a diet containing saffron, these cells began to recover. Professor Silvia Bisti, who led the research, says: ‘Saffron appears to affect genes that regulate the fatty-acid content of the cell membrane, and this makes the vision cells tougher and more resilient.’ The 25 participants in the study took saffron supplements or a placebo every day for three months. All those who took the saffron pill experienced improved vision, but the improvements disappeared when they stopped taking it.

Healthy Eye Foods!

Monique Simmonds, who investigates medicinal properties of plants at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, explains: ‘The unique compounds found naturally in saffron that we believe may have medicinal value include crocin and safranal. They belong to a family called carotenoids, which includes betacarotene. Carotenoids give plants such as carrots or red peppers their color.

‘Studies show that these compounds play key roles in preserving eyesight, protecting against cancer and preventing Alzheimer’s.’ Added to pilau rice, risotto and dishes such as paella, saffron threads give a slightly bitter taste as well as a yellow color. To replicate the Italian study, 20mg of neat saffron – about 16 threads – would need to be eaten daily.

However, 1g of saffron is expensive – around $10. It is not yet available in supplement form and the quality of culinary saffron can vary hugely.

To read more you can link to the original article in the Daily News

For more information on specific nutritional products for healthy eyes you can go to Friday Pearls From the Desk of Ellen Troyer, MT MA – Biosyntrx Chief Research Officer. We have posted several of Ellen’s Friday Pearls. Vitamin C and Eye Health is a very informative post for example.

Important Eyecare Supplies From Amcon-The Eyecare Supply Center

I don’t know if our readers are aware of this, but Amcon, The eyecare supply center, has a blog called the Amcon Gazette. We subscribe to the blog and recommend that you do as well.

Anyway they have done a few posts that are interesting and eye -provoking with some subjects that we have never thought about before. Some excerpts from their blog that you might consider reading:

EpiPen By Amcon Eyecare Supply Center

Supplies Your Practice Should Have For Emergencies- It’s better to be safe than sorry.  These three products are important to have on hand for different types of emergencies: Epipens, the Biohazard Spill Kit and the Angle Closure Glaucoma Emergency Treatment Kit.

Allergic reactions can be triggered by medications or other elements in the environment. Epipens inject epinephrine very quickly, suppressing the immune system and curbing the allergic reaction. Epipens are a new product for Amcon, just recently added to our product line.   They are currently offered on the Amcon web site and will make their debut in the 2010 Amcon product catalog.  Amcon carries two types of Epipens: a standard Epipen and Epipen Junior for patients weighing 33-66 lbs.

Developing an Dry Eye Center - which was taken out of a Review of Optometry issue.- Adding a Dry Eye Center to your practice is a great

Developing A Dry Eye Center

way to offer new and valuable services to your existing patients as well as bring in new business. Many patients who suffer from dry eyes are not diagnosed and continue through their daily activities with eye irritation and discomfort….

Getting started does not have to involve a large investment. Brush up on recent studies about Dry Eye Disease and make sure you educate your staff as well. Integrate a Dry Eye Evaluation as part of the pre-exam paper work that patients fill out. Then make sure your office is stocked with a few basic supplies needed to diagnose dry eyes. We recommend Amcon’s Tear Flow Test Strips and Amcon’s Dry Eye Test Strips. These will allow you to accurately test for dry eye and have measurable results to record in your patient’s charts.

Solar Power Under Your Skin- Talk About Super-Charged!

Solar power is definitely the trend of the future, and it seems there are no boundaries where to utilize solar cells, in contacts, in clothing, in eyewear….

Photo:Medgadget.com

This comes to us from Medgadget: A collaboration between researchers from Donghua University in Shanghai, China and Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam, Germany has developed photovoltaic cells that can be used to recharge batteries in implanted devices by shining a near infrared laser beam through the skin

Nanowerk reports:

They use rare earth upconverting nanophosphors to absorb 980 nm laser light and then emit visible luminescence which can subsequently excite traditional solar cells to produce electricity.

In their work, the research team determined that, under the irradiation of a 980-nm laser with a power of 1W, the visible up-converting luminescence of rare-earth nanophosphors can be efficiently absorbed by the dyes in 980LD-PVCs so that they exhibit a maximal output power of 0.47 mW.

In particular, after being covered with 1 to 6 layers of pig intestines (thickness: ca. 1mm per layer) as a model of biological tissues, 980LD-PVCs still possess a maximal output power of between 0.28 and 0.02 mW, which is efficient enough to drive many kinds of biodevices.

More from Nanowerk: Photovoltaic cells to power biological nanorobots inside the body…

Tarantula Shoots Hairs in Owners Eye

Photo: jeromegoddard.com- not the actual tarantula

A creepy case of a man who got tarantula hairs stuck in his eye has doctors advising people to wear eye protection when handling the eight-legged pets.

In February 2009, a 29-year-old man visited the St. James’s University Hospital in Leeds, England, after enduring three weeks of a red, watery and light-sensitive eye. A dose of antibiotics for what was presumed to be conjunctivitis didn’t clear the symptoms.

Doctors at the hospital examined the eye under high-magnification lenses and spotted hair-like projections sticking into the cornea of the right eye. Read the full story at MSBNC

High Dose Vitamin C Can Increase Cataract Risk

Women who took 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily were 25 per cent more likely to develop cataract

Photo: www.kellogg.umich.edu

If you want to preserve your vision as you age, you might consider tossing your vitamin C supplement. According to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, high-dose vitamin C supplements – 1,000 milligrams daily – can increase the risk of developing cataracts.

Researchers followed 25,593 women, aged 49 to 83, for eight years and found that those who took 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily were 25 per cent more likely to develop cataracts than those who did not use supplements.

Among women 65 and older, vitamin C use increased the risk of cataract by 38 per cent. Taking vitamin C in combination with hormone replacement therapy or corticosteroid medication was associated with an even greater risk.

Read the full story at the globeand mail.com

101 Optimal Life Foods Can Change Your Life

101 Optimal Foods to Change Your Life

I haven’t read this book yet, but I am definitely intrigued by it. From HealthNewsDigest.com – Expert nutritionist and former spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association David Grotto says YES! You can improve your physical, mental, emotional and sexual well-being by what you eat, and in his new book, 101 Optimal Life Foods, he serves up a helping of his simple yet effective health philosophy to tackle dozens of common health ailments from acne to migraines and shows how each one can be treated—not with the latest pill—but with good-tasting, good-for-you foods.

101 OPTIMAL LIFE FOODS is organized by seven distinct health challenges for easy reference, each complete with an individualized, three-meal-a-day menu plan featuring satisfying recipes–everything from bean and cheese tostadas and polenta pizza to Mediterranean grilled bluefish and baked custard for dessert—while explaining the science of just why it is that lettuce can help with insomnia, blueberries with memory loss, and oysters with fertility. And Grotto himself is living proof of using the 101 foods to target a specific health issue—when his cholesterol hit an all-time high, he added almonds, figs, cranberries, and salmon to his diet and saw his levels drop 70 points in just one month!

101 OPTIMAL LIFE FOODS delves into the seven health challenges and how to battle them with delicious food. They are:

The Skin You’re In. From aging skin to acne, Grotto reveals why foods high in Vitamin C can restore a healthy glow.

How to Go With the Flow. For some, cold feet and hands aren’t just seasonal. The catechins in green tea improves blood circulation to make you feel toasty.

The House of Pain. Overdid it at the gym? Grotto details why foods rich in Vitamin D like salmon and mushrooms can restore your tired muscles.

How it’s All about Performance. Whether you want less stress, more sleep, or better sex, Grotto has the foods for you (spinach for nerves, bananas for more zzz’s, and blueberries for a bedroom boost).

Your Plumbing. Grotto explains why passion fruit is good for your heart (and heartburn) and how cinnamon can cure bad breath.

A Good Foundation. Grotto goes beyond milk and yogurt for foods that can build and protect your bones (pass the prunes and onions).

Eyes for the Future. More over carrots! Almonds, avocados, and kiwis are essential for eye health.

With more than 100 healthy and delicious choices, David Grotto’s 101 OPTIMAL LIFE FOODS is an empowering and practical guide that is a must-have for anyone concerned with their health and enjoys good eating.