Berry benefits ( Goji Berry)

Naturally sweet and intoxicatingly delicious, berries also pack a punch with a myriad of health benefits. The enticing red, purple, and blue skins of berries contain bioflavonoids such as anthocyanins.

These compounds are beneficial because they are antioxidants, which reduce free radical damage. The antioxidant content of berries is more potent than vitamins C and E. The anthocyanin in berries also helps to reduce inflammation - more effectively even than aspirin!

The blueberry wins extra points for being the berry with one of the highest level of antioxidants. Blueberries have neuroprotective properties that shield brain cells from damage caused by trauma, chemicals, and plaque; in other words, blueberries help slow down the age-related onset of memory loss, Alzheimer's, and senility.

In fact, research has found that rats bred to develop Alzheimer's do not develop the symptoms of the disease if blueberries are incorporated into their diet.

Cherries also contain these beneficial anthocyanin compounds, which stimulate your pancreas to produce insulin; for hundreds of years Chinese researchers have observed that cherries help keep diabetics healthy.

These compounds also protect you against cancer, arthritis, and heart disease because they lower cholesterol. So I recommend that you eat lots of cherries and other dark-colored fruits to maintain balanced blood sugar and enjoy a healthy long life!

Go for Goji Berries, "the Superfruit"
While we are on the subject of berries, let's talk about a well-known member of the traditional Chinese herbalist's arsenal of herbs for thousands of years: goji berries. Also known as lycium berry and wolfberry, this fruit native to China has long been known for its tonic effects, especially on vision, hormonal system and the brain.

Goji berry contains polysaccharides, which stimulate the immune system and signal the pituitary to secrete human growth hormone. Goji also has the highest concentration of carotenoids, especially beta-carotene, of any plant in the world, making it a powerful antioxidant.

The berry is traditionally used together with other Chinese tonic herbs to increase sexual potency and fertility. Rich in linoleic acid (precursor to GLA), riboflavin, selenium, calcium, vitamins B and C, zinc, and other trace minerals, these berries are safe to use and have been used for thousands of years in Asia.

Laser Eye Surgery (LASIK)

LASIK and Presbyopia

Laser Eye Surgery and in particular LASIK surgery, is a safe effective and predictable method of correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. These common vision problems occur because the refractive power of your eyes is not accurate so as to allow light to focus at a precise point on your retina. Another type of common vision problem that is due to a deficiency in the actual focusing mechanism within your eyes is called presbyopia.

Presbyopia, which literally means "old eyes", is a normal and expected consequence of the aging process. The crystalline lens within your eyes is composed of proteins. These proteins are soft and flexible when you are younger. Beginning as you approach your 40's presbyopia occurs as the protein composition of the crystalline lens changes, making it harder and less flexible. When the crystalline lens loses its ability to flex, it is no longer able to change its shape and effectively bend light rays as sharply, and the ability to focus on near objects is diminished. As mentioned above, the clinical symptoms of presbyopia typically commence between age forty and fifty and progressively worsen through age sixty-five. When presbyopia begins, people who already wear glasses may need bifocals or trifocals, and those who have never worn glasses may require reading glasses.

If you are 40 and considering LASIK, presbyopia is an important concept to understand. LASIK has no absolutely no effect on your eye's focusing muscles or on the crystalline lens, so it does not correct ordinary presbyopia. So, if you only need eyeglasses for reading, LASIK is not a good vision correction option for you. However, if you need to have your distance vision corrected because you are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism and need some help with close vision because your are beginning to experience presbyopia, LASIK may be an option if performed as a specialized monovision LASIK.

Another important consideration applies if you are mildly nearsighted and in your forties. Patients who are mildly nearsighted, perhaps less than -3.00 D of nearsighted correction, may notice that while it is not possible to read clearly or comfortably with your glasses or contact lenses on, you can read quite well by removing them. This is actually a unique advantage of mild myopia - you can be presbyopic and still be able to read by removing your eyeglasses or contact lenses. Depending on your lifestyle and daily activities, this may make you a poor candidate for LASIK. If you are mildly nearsighted, over 40 and have LASIK, in all likelihood you will achieve excellent distance vision after having LASIK, as you will become "normal sighted." This will result in your losing the ability to read since you will no longer be nearsighted. Again, depending on your individual lifestyle and vision requirements for daily living, monovision LASIK may be an option that you wish to discuss with your LASIK surgeon.