Optometrists are Changing Lives

Because optometrists are trained to recognize critical health issues, such as diabetes and hypertension, while examining the eye, having an eye exam can save your life as well as your vision.

• A farmer came in to have a piece of metal removed from his eye. While removing the object, the doctor recognized he had glaucoma. “This early detection may have saved his sight,” said Dr. Burton.

• A man in his 20s thought he needed eyeglasses because he had been having severe headaches and blurred vision. It turned out he had critically high blood pressure. “He didn’t need glasses; he needed to be hospitalized,” said Dr. Lee. “He was in kidney failure and was on dialysis within 2 days.”
• While performing an eye health exam, an optometrist recognized a condition that needed urgent evaluation and treatment by a neurologist on a priority basis. “She was diagnosed one week later with a brain tumor,” said Dr. Lewis. “Due to the timely referral, it was successfully treated.”  ~American Optometric Association~

For questions, or to schedule a comprehensive eye exam, contact:
Premier Eyecare, Julie Moore, O.D., #405.513.8150

Connecting The Dots…In Life and Relationships

Insight Ministries presents:  Connecting the Dots workshop.  Come experience a week that will change your life!

*  Practical hands on activities to discover who you are, where you are going, and why you do the things you do.
*  Packed with innovative tools and insight for you and those you love.
*  Participate in interactive groups that will improve your ability to do relationships.

Have Fun Learning and improve your life!

Connecting The Dots workshop
February 24-28, 2010
Located in north Oklahoma City
Space is limited
ENROLL TODAY!
For more information call
405.341.1904

 

 

 

Glaucoma – the “Sneak Thief of Sight” – Can Lead to Vision Loss

Although not preventable, glaucoma can be treated if detected early

Glaucoma – often called “the sneak thief of sight” because it can strike without pain or other symptoms – is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans – 91 percent – incorrectly believe glaucoma is preventable, according to the newest survey by the American Optometric Association (AOA). Although glaucoma is not preventable, if diagnosed and treated early, doctors of optometry can help a patient control the disease. Medication or surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss.

Approximately 2.2 million Americans age 40 and older have glaucoma, according to National Glaucoma Research; of these, as many as 120,000 are blind because of the disease. The number of Americans with glaucoma is estimated to increase to 3.3 million by the year 2020, as baby boomers age.

According to the AOA, glaucoma is a group of eye disorders that occur when internal pressure in the eye increases enough to cause damage to the optic nerve, leading to loss of nerve tissue, resulting in vision loss. The AOA’s annual Eye-Q® survey, which identifies attitudes and behaviors of Americans regarding eye care and related issues, showed that a large number of consumers do not know what glaucoma is and how severe the effects of the disease can be. Ninety-five percent of respondents did not know that glaucoma damages the optic nerve, and only 21 percent of respondents were aware that glaucoma causes deterioration of peripheral or side vision.

According to the AOA, there are two types of glaucoma. The most common type, primary open-angle glaucoma, develops gradually and painlessly, usually without symptoms. A rarer type, acute angle-closure glaucoma, occurs rapidly, and its symptoms may include blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, seeing colored rings around lights, and pain or redness in the eyes.

“As glaucoma progresses, a person may notice their side vision gradually failing,” said Kerry Beebe, O.D., Chair of AOA’s Clinical Care Group Executive Committee. “When glaucoma remains untreated, people may miss seeing objects to the side and out of the corner of their eye. Without treatment, people with glaucoma will continue to slowly lose their peripheral vision, and eventually their central vision as well. And vision lost to glaucoma cannot be recovered, so early detection and treatment is paramount.”

Anyone can develop glaucoma. However, some people are at higher risk than others. They include:

• African-Americans over age 40
• Anyone age 60 and older, especially Hispanics
• People with a family history of glaucoma

 

Since vision lost to glaucoma cannot be restored, the best way to detect glaucoma is in its early stages by having regular, comprehensive eye exams. A comprehensive exam should include dilating the eyes which allows a doctor to clearly see the retina, optic nerve and vessels in the back of the eye. The exam should also include a test to measure corneal thickness, eye pressure, and a visual field assessment to measure retinal function. African-Americans and Hispanics are genetically more susceptible to glaucoma. Yet, 37 percent of African-Americans and Hispanics did not have their eyes dilated during their last eye exam, according to the American Eye-Q® survey. The AOA recommends eye exams every two years for adults under age 60 and every year thereafter. A doctor may recommend more frequent exams depending upon a patient’s medical or family history.

Treatment for glaucoma includes prescription eye drops and medicines to lower pressure in the eyes. In some cases, laser treatment or surgery may be effective in reducing pressure.  ~ American Optometric Association ~

For questions, or to schedule a comprehensive eye exam, contact:
Premier Eyecare of Edmond, Julie Moore, O.D., #405.513.8150

One Flesh Marriages

God’s Three Principles For A One Flesh Marriage…

The Heavenly Father’s “Convenant”

The Lord Jeasus’s “Committment”

The Holy Spirit’s “Communication”

To learn more about the One Flesh Marriage, or to purchase the “Pray The Word” book or other material.  Contact:

Bob and LaRue McDaniel
Insight Ministries
P.O. Box 2020
Edmond, OK  73083
405.341.1904
http://www.insightministries.net

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

Nearsightedness, or myopia, as it is medically termed, is a vision condition in which close objects are seen clearly, but objects farther away appear blurred. Nearsightedness occurs if the eyeball is too long or the cornea, the clear front cover of the eye, has too much curvature. As a result, the light entering the eye isn’t focused correctly and distant objects look blurred.

Nearsightedness is a very common vision condition affecting nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population. Some research supports the theory that nearsightedness is hereditary.  There is also growing evidence that it is influenced by the visual stress of too much close work.

Generally, nearsightedness first occurs in school-age children. Because the eye continues to grow during childhood, it typically progresses until about age 20. However, nearsightedness may also develop in adults due to visual stress or health conditions such as diabetes.

A common sign of nearsightedness is difficulty with the clarity of distant objects like a movie or TV screen or the chalkboard in school. A comprehensive optometric examination will include testing for nearsightedness. An optometrist can prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses that correct nearsightedness by bending the visual images that enter the eyes, focusing the images correctly at the back of the eye. Depending on the amount of nearsightedness, you may only need to wear glasses or contact lenses for certain activities, like watching a movie or driving a car. Or, if you are very nearsighted, they may need to be worn all the time.

Another option for treating nearsightedness is orthokeratology (ortho-k), also known as corneal refractive therapy. It is a non-surgical procedure that involves wearing a series of specially designed rigid contact lenses to gradually reshape the curvature of your cornea. The lenses place pressure on the cornea to flatten it. This changes how light entering the eye is focused.

Laser procedures are also a possible treatment for nearsightedness in adults. They involve reshaping the cornea by removing a small amount of eye tissue.  This is accomplished by using a highly focused laser beam on the surface of the eye.

For people with higher levels of nearsightedness, other refractive surgery procedures are now available. These procedures involve implanting a small lens with the desired optical correction directly inside the eye, either just in front of the natural lens (phakic intraocular lens implant) or replacing the natural lens (clear lens extraction with intraocular lens implantation). These procedures are similar to one used for cataract surgery patients, who also have lenses implanted in their eyes (intraocular lens implants).

What causes nearsightedness?

If one or both parents are nearsighted, there is an increased chance their children will be nearsighted.

The exact cause of nearsightedness is unknown, but two factors may be primarily responsible for its development:

• heredity
• visual stress

There is significant evidence that many people inherit nearsightedness, or at least the tendency to develop nearsightedness. If one or both parents are nearsighted, there is an increased chance their children will be nearsighted.

Even though the tendency to develop nearsightedness may be inherited, its actual development may be affected by how a person uses his or her eyes. Individuals who spend considerable time reading, working at a computer, or doing other intense close visual work may be more likely to develop nearsightedness.

Nearsightedness may also occur due to environmental factors or other health problems:

• Some people may experience blurred distance vision only at night. This “night myopia” may be due to the low level of light making it difficult for the eyes to focus properly or the increased pupil size during dark conditions, allowing more peripheral, unfocused light rays to enter the eye.

• People who do an excessive amount of near vision work may experience a false or “pseudo” myopia. Their blurred distance vision is caused by over use of the eyes’ focusing mechanism. After long periods of near work, their eyes are unable to refocus to see clearly in the distance. The symptoms are usually temporary and clear distance vision may return after resting the eyes. However, over time constant visual stress may lead to a permanent reduction in distance vision.

• Symptoms of nearsightedness may also be a sign of variations in blood sugar levels in persons with diabetes or an early indication of a developing cataract.

An optometrist can evaluate vision and determine the cause of the vision problems.

For questions, or to schedule your comprehensive eye exam, contact:
Premier Eyecare, Julie Moore, OD – #405.513.8150
http://www.okpremiereyecare.com

 

Just Ask!

Are you getting married, struggling with something in your life, or just have questions you would like answered?  Just ask!

Post your question here…or, feel free to email or call us direct:

Insight Ministries, Bob & LaRue McDaniel
Phone:  405.341.1904
Email:  info@insightministries.net
Website:  http://www.insightministries.net

Stress, depression and the holidays: 10 tips for coping

Stress and depression can ruin your holidays. Here’s how to keep the joy alive.

The holiday season, which begins for most Americans with Thanksgiving and continues through New Year’s Day, often brings unwelcome guests — stress and depression. And it’s no wonder. In an effort to pull off a perfect holiday, you might find yourself facing a dizzying array of demands — parties, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining, to name a few. So much for peace and joy, right?

Actually, with some practical tips, you can minimize the stress and depression that often accompany the holidays. You may even end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would.

Recognize holiday triggers

Learn to recognize common holiday triggers, so you can disarm them before they lead to a meltdown:

• Relationships. Relationships can cause turmoil, conflict or stress at any time, but tensions are often heightened during the holidays. Family misunderstandings and conflicts can intensify — especially if you’re thrust together for several days. On the other hand, facing the holidays without a loved one can be tough and leave you feeling lonely and sad.
• Finances. With the added expenses of gifts, travel, food and entertainment, the holidays can put a strain on your budget — and your peace of mind. Not to mention that overspending now can mean financial worries for months to come.
• Physical demands. Even die-hard holiday enthusiasts may find that the extra shopping and socializing can leave them wiped out. Being exhausted increases your stress, creating a vicious cycle. Exercise and sleep — good antidotes for stress and fatigue — may take a back seat to chores and errands. To top it off, burning the wick at both ends makes you more susceptible to colds and other unwelcome guests.

Tips to prevent holiday stress and depression

When stress is at its peak, it’s hard to stop and regroup. Try to prevent stress and depression in the first place, especially if the holidays have taken an emotional toll on you in the past.

1. Acknowledge your feelings. If someone close to you has recently died or you can’t be with loved ones, realize that it’s normal to feel sadness and grief. It’s OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season.
2. Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community, religious or other social events. They can offer support and companionship. Volunteering your time to help others also is a good way to lift your spirits and broaden your friendships.
3. Be realistic. The holidays don’t have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones. For example, if your adult children can’t come to your house, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing pictures, emails or videotapes.
4. Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don’t live up to all your expectations. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they’re feeling the effects of holiday stress and depression too.
5. Stick to a budget. Before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don’t try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Try these alternatives: Donate to a charity in someone’s name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.
6. Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list. That’ll help prevent last-minute scrambling to buy forgotten ingredients. And make sure to line up help for party prep and cleanup.
7. Learn to say no. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can’t participate in every project or activity. If it’s not possible to say no when your boss asks you to work overtime, try to remove something else from your agenda to make up for the lost time.
8. Don’t abandon healthy habits. Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don’t go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Continue to get plenty of sleep and physical activity.
9. Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Take a walk at night and stargaze. Listen to soothing music. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.
10. Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for a while, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.

Take control of the holidays

Don’t let the holidays become something you dread. Instead, take steps to prevent the stress and depression that can descend during the holidays. With a little planning and some positive thinking, you may find that you enjoy the holidays this year more than you thought you could.  ~ Mayo Clinic.com ~

For more information on Christian Counseling, contact:
Insight Ministries, Bob and LaRue McDaniel
#405.341.1904
Email:  Info@insightministries.net
Website: http://www.insightministries.net

Diet & Nutrition

Adding powerful antioxidants to your diet
can improve your eye health.

There’s no substitute for the quality of life good vision offers.  Adding certain nutrients to your diet every day – either through foods or supplements – can help save your vision.  Researchers have linked eye-friendly nutrients such as lutein/zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc to reducing the risk of certain eye diseases, including macular degeneration and cataract formation.

• Lutein & Zeaxanthin

  Lutein and zeaxanthin are important nutrients found in green leafy vegetables, as well as other foods, such as eggs. Many studies have shown that lutein and zeaxanthin reduce the risk of chronic eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

• Vitamin C

  Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables. Scientific evidence suggests vitamin C lowers the risk of developing cataracts, and when taken in combination with other essential nutrients, can slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration and visual acuity loss.

• Vitamin E

  Vitamin E in its most biologically active form is a powerful antioxidant found in nuts, fortified cereals and sweet potatoes. It is thought to protect cells of the eyes from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals which break down healthy tissue.

• Essential Fatty Acids

  Fats are a necessary part of the human diet. They maintain the integrity of the nervous system, fuel cells and boost the immune system. Two omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be important for proper visual development and retinal function.

• Zinc

  Zinc is an essential trace mineral or ‘helper molecule.’ It plays a vital role in bringing vitamin A from the liver to the retina in order to produce melanin, a protective pigment in the eyes. Zinc is highly concentrated in the eye, mostly in the retina and choroid, the vascular tissue layer lying under the retina.

• Emerging Research

  In the last 20 years, eye health research has linked diet and nutrition with a decreased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

For questions, or to schedule your comprehensive eye exam, contact:
Premier Eyecare, Julie Moore, OD
#405.513.8150

Flexing Your Muscles: Saving on Your Health Insurance

Americans’ concern over their health insurance and health care is at epic proportions. There is relief if you know where to look. The government has made many tax changes to assist and encourage people to use their health-care dollars wisely. When utilized correctly, they will save you money on your health-care spending.

The first program is one you must get through an employer. The official term is Flexible Savings Account. It is more generally known as a “Flex” or cafeteria plan. In simple terms, what a flex plan does is allow you to automatically deduct a set amount from your paycheck, which is then held on your behalf by a plan administrator. These funds are deducted before you pay federal and state income tax on them, effectively saving you 15 to 31 percent or more (depending on your tax-bracket). Then, throughout the year, you can use the funds you have set aside to pay for certain expenses. You have to choose from one or both of the following categories at the time you elect to participate:

1) Medical Expenses and/or
2) Dependent Care Expenses

Medical Expenses are pretty self-explanatory; however, they don’t have to necessarily be covered by your health plan. Dental care (including braces), LASIK surgery, etc., are eligible whether or not they are covered by health insurance. Dependent care expenses are exactly that. If you have children or elderly parents in daycare, you can submit those receipts and get reimbursed from your plan administrator. The downside to a flex plan is that if you don’t use the funds by the end of the year, you lose them…they won’t roll over to the next year. So you should budget carefully for your expenses, or you may find yourself buying a case of aspirin to use up your money at the end of the year.

While Flex plans have been around for a while, similar plans that the employer contributes to are relatively new. HRAs or Health Reimbursement Arrangements have only been around for a short time, but more and more employers are offering them. As of 2006, the average cost for an employee’s medical premium was $4,500 a year. Depending upon the employee’s age and health, an individual policy purchased through an insurance company can be $2,000 to $3,000 a year. What an HRA does is allow the employer to get out of the health insurance business by contributing to an account for the employees to purchase their own coverage. If the employer contributes $3,000 a year and the employee’s premium is $2,500 a year, the employee still has $500 left over to pay for deductibles, co-pays, etc. The employee wins by being able to customize their plan, shop for the best deal, and keep their policy up to age 65 if they should leave the employer. The employer wins by cutting their costs, avoiding COBRA administration, and having to deal with rate increases caused by high employee claims throughout the year. Your individual policy’s premiums cannot be raised because of your claims. Unhealthy employees still get the same contribution, but will have a harder time getting coverage unless they can go on a spouse’s plan. We talked about getting unhealthy people coverage in previous columns.

Last on the list are HSAs or Health Savings Accounts. These can be offered through an employer or purchased directly. They allow people to purchase high-deductible health insurance plans (thereby saving money on the premiums) with the added benefit of pre-funding their deductible tax-free through either:

1) Payroll deduction
2) Employer contribution

In plain language, this simply means if you have a $2,250 deductible, you can have your employer deduct almost $44 a week from your check before taxes. Any health care expenses would then come out of that money that’s set aside, saving you upwards of 30 percent. Once you hit your deductible for the year, then the insurance company pays 100 percent. If your employer puts in the money, even better!

Here are some great things about an HSA: Many now have wellness care covered immediately. Also, you don’t lose the money at the end of the year. Whatever you don’t spend rolls over to the next year, earning interest. Once you hit 65 and retire, you can use that money to supplement your retirement. If you’ve been careful with your medical expenses, that amount can be quite substantial over time.

A couple of caveats need to be uncovered about the above plans. If you take moneys out for non-approved expenses, you’ll typically get penalized and pay full taxes as well. Also, individual policies typically require maternity as an add-on, so be sure to check. With the trends in health insurance going toward high-deductible plans to save employers money, there is also a trend to help employees pay for smaller, first-dollar expenses through voluntary products. ~HeathNewsBlogs, Dan Heffley~

Use it before you lose it!  Schedule your annual eye exam today!
Premier Eyecare of Edmond, Julie Moore, OD
#405.513.8150

Insight Ministry

The Mission:

Preparing couples for a “one flesh” marriage of mutual respect, taking the love that God has given us and giving that love to others, who will give it to others, who will give it to others.

As with any “successful” partnership in today’s world, time and effort has been invested in the business, project, or “relationship” to make it successful.  Much like a professional athlete who works on their technique on a daily basis to make it “all it can be”, as couples, we must do the same.  Marriage is really no different than an athletic event.  The more practice you put into it, the better the relationship will get.

Insight Ministries
Bob and LaRue McDaniel
#405.341.1904
http://www.insightministries.net