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Thanksgiving Recipes For Eye Health

Thanksgiving Recipes For Eye Health

Thanksgiving Recipes For Eye Health

In our last blog, we discussed the nutrients that are beneficial to maintaining healthy vision. Since Thanksgiving is this week (how?!), we thought we should share a couple of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes for eye health. Prepare to get hungry!

Kale and Apple Salad

Kale and other leafy greens pack a big punch of Vitamin E, lutein, and zeaxanthin, all of which are important to maintaining great vision.

Dressing

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

 

Salad

  • 1 large bunch of kale, washed, ribs removed, and chopped finely
  • 1/4 cup reduced sugar dried cranberries
  • 1 large apple, either Honeycrisp (for sweet fans) or Granny Smith (for tart fans), cored and chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans or slivered almonds, toasted
  • 1 ounce shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese

 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Toast the almonds or pecans on a foil-lined baking sheet for 5 minutes, or until they start to become fragrant. Watch carefully so that they don’t burn. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

When the toasted nuts are cooling, whisk together dressing ingredients. Pour over chopped kale. Stir and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes.

When the kale is finished and the pecans/almonds are cool to the touch, stir all the ingredients together. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper.

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce

thanksgiving recipes for eye healthVitamin C is highly beneficial to healthy vision. So ditch the canned cranberry sauce and make this easy, flavorful addition instead.

  • 12 ounces fresh cranberries, washed
  • 1 cup freshly squeeze orange juice
  • Zest of 1 orange or lemon
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

 

In a large saucepan, heat all ingredients over medium heat, stirring occasionally. After the mixture begins to boil, reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until cranberries will begin to pop (think the sound of bubble wrap). Remove from heat and transfer to a sealed container. The pectin in the cranberries will begin to gel as the mixture cools down.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our Thanksgiving recipes for eye health. Remember that items such as turkey, Brussels sprouts, spinach, eggs, and broccoli can also help to keep you thankful for good eyesight.

Happy Thanksgiving from the EyeLASIK team!

 

Medically Explainable But Spooky Eye Conditions

Medically Explainable But Spooky Eye Conditions

spooky eye conditions

Just because it’s strange doesn’t mean it’s unexplainable.

Boo! Are you ready for Halloween? All of us at EyeLASIK are certainly looking forward to it. The eyes are some of the most interesting parts of the human body. However, there are some spooky eye conditions that can occur. We’re here to share some information about unusual eye conditions that can be considered eerie, but are medically explainable!

Star-Shaped Cataract

From a medical standpoint, cataracts are often considered to be fairly common (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataract). Generally, they occur in older patients or those with a history of smoking, diabetes, or genetic predisposition. The lens begins to cloud, causing vision difficulty. If they aren’t treated, the patient will eventually become blind.

However, one type of cataract is quite stunning in appearance. Several patients who have been involved in traumatic incidents have been diagnosed with star-shaped cataracts. You can see a video with the patient, who complained of gradual vision loss after being punched, here.

Heterochromia

While we’ve touched on this condition before, it’s important to note that this condition can affect both animals and humans. In this condition, the irises are two different colors. There are two types of heterochromia:

  • Complete – Each iris is two separate colors.
  • Sectoral – A portion of the iris is a separate color than the remainder.
  • Central – Spikes of color different from the rest of the iris radiate from the pupil.

    spooky eye conditions

    Having multiple eye colors isn’t creepy at all!

Haemolacria

This condition is by far the most unusual and is probably the most disturbing. This medical condition essentially causes a person to cry blood. Though there are only a handful of documented cases, they results are just as nerve-wracking. Some of the patients have experienced red-tinged tears, whereas others produce actual blood.

Some of the cases are attributed to unusual hormone production or tumors, while others were caused by eye injuries. However, the creepiest part is that, for some of the cases, there has been no medically explainable reason why the patients are producing bloody tears.

We hope we haven’t spooked you with these spooky eye conditions. Happy October!

Manage Fall Allergies

Manage Fall Allergies

manage fall allergiesAre puffy, itchy, red, watery eyes getting you down? Many people can relate. While most allergy sufferers think spring is the worst season for symptoms, autumn is a close second. However, we’re here to help you manage fall allergies to get your life back under control.

Know What You’re Dealing With

In order to successfully treat your allergies, it’s important to know what you’re up against. Though the most common spring allergen is pollen, fall brings additional allergens to the mix. Dust, ragweed, and mold are usually brought in with cooler fall weather.

Keep It Clean

While the thought of cleaning your house more frequently is frustrating, it’s critical to keep surfaces swept, mopped, or vacuumed as often as possible. Be sure have your air filters changed regularly, especially when alternating between the heat and air conditioning.

In order to control mold and mildew spores, invest in a dehumidifier. Keeping your environment between 35% and 50% humidity. This “sweet spot” can alleviate dryness in your home without making it a welcome environment to spores.

Animal dander is also a common allergen. If you have indoor pets, it’s important to keep them professionally groomed to reduce shedding. Secondly, frequent baths and at-home grooming, like brushing, help to reduce dander particles.

Properly Medicate

Allergies can cause plenty of issues: severe eye irritation, wheezing, nagging coughs, and constant sneezing. However, there are various medications available to treat allergies, including many over-the-counter options. We recommend that you talk to your primary care physician, allergy specialist, or optometrist for symptom-specific recommendations.

However, we have a few options for eye-related allergy sufferers:

  • Use synthetic tears and rewetting drops can be to replenish moisture and flush out allergens.
  • Antihistamines block the body’s nature response to allergens, the most common of which is itching.
  • Decongestant drops can help shrink the blood vessels in your eyes, which reduce redness and irritation

 

We hope these tips have helped you figure out some techniques to manage fall allergies. While they can be bothersome, these are definitely practical steps you can follow to prevent them from taking over your life.

Fourth Of July Eye Safety Tips

Fourth Of July Eye Safety Tips

Fourth of July Eye Safety Tips

Happy Independence Day 2016!

Boom! Bang! Crack! Pow! Before you oooh and aaah over the amazing fireworks this Independence Day weekend, be sure to read our Fourth of July eye safety tips!

Stay In The Shade

The sun is one of the hardest things on your body, including your eyes. Staying in the shade can definitely prevent photokeratitis, the condition that is basically a sunburn on your eyes. An added benefit is that you won’t receive a traditional skin sunburn!

Get Your Grill On…Safely

Burgers, hotdogs, and other yummy foods are a big part of the Independence Day festivities. However, when using a grill, whether charcoal, wood, or gas, you should exercise extreme caution. Flames, smoke, and debris can cause serious eye damage if you aren’t careful. Read your user manual and remember…when it comes to fire, bigger isn’t always better.

Sunnies Are Awesome

Sunglasses are not only a great fashion statement. They also take a lot of the work out of keeping your eyes healthy. Choosing good quality sunglasses with proper UV protection can prevent photokeratitis, squinting (which can cause crow’s feet and wrinkles), and foreign objects from entering your eyes.

The Big Bang

Fireworks are obviously the showstopper of the holiday. It’s definitely important to be very careful around firecrackers. A few tips for preventing eye damage:

  • Wear protective eyewear
  • Never touch an unexploded firework
  • Keep a bucket of water around to place used firecrackers in after they’ve popped
  • Never get too close to the firecracker to prevent eye injury and burns.
  • Always supervise child near fireworks (We found this video that may be really helpful to show your kids, too! https://youtu.be/BIu1jFLf5Qg)

 

Everyone at EyeLASIK wishes you an incredibly fun, safe, and happy Fourth of July!