| Eye Damage On the Rise in Wales |
As First Lady Michelle Obama launches her U.S. campaign against childhood obesity with its related early-onset diabetes issues, specialists in Wales are combating one of diabetes' side effects, severely damaged blood vessels in the eye.
This condition, known as diabetic retinopathy, has been far more common in older people but is now affecting an increasing number of people in their late teens and 20's. According to a BBC report, diabetes has almost doubled in eight years and vision care professionals are dealing with younger and younger patients. This trend mirrors figures in the U.S. indicating that the link between obesity, diabetes and eye disease is not just a domestic issue.
Diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels in the eye and even blindness. Poor management of the condition is a likely factor in the trend toward younger patients. Younger people are less likely to accept advice on diet and lifestyle. They also often fail to acknowledge vision problems until they become more severe.
Younger children in Wales are now being diagnosed with diabetes, too. But awareness often lags behind disease trends. Many parents don't anticipate that their child could be vulnerable and don't request screening.
Early detection is key to prevention of eye disease at any age. The Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service for Wales now offers countrywide clinics to assess for damage.
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| Saffron: A Good Color for Eyes
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The American Optometric Association (AOA) reported recently on an Australian study that suggests a visual benefit to eating saffron, the spice that adds color to curry and paella.
The test, using a saffron pill, showed a reversal in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to researcher Silvia Bisti at the University of Sydney. "All patients experienced improvements in their vision while taking the saffron pill," she noted. The test also showed that the effect disappeared when participants stopped taking saffron. Further studies are planned.
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| What is Achromatopsia? |
| People who can only see the world in black, grey, and white have a condition called achromatopsia. It is a more severe form of color vision deficiency, the inability to distinguish certain shades of color.
Being unable to differentiate between shades of red and green is most common, followed by blues and yellows. If the cause of the deficiency is inherited, it affects both eyes. If the cause is injury or illness, it usually affects just one eye.
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