Eye Problems Will Grow:
Take Action Now

The aging of the large baby boom generation could mean a doubling in the number of blind Americans because growing older is a major factor in developing eye disease, a National Eye Institute study says.

The report was released by the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, and Prevent Blindness America, a volunteer eye health and safety organization. It is an important report to everyone over age 40 because we can do so much to protect our vision and delay eye problems.

For example, regular eye exams could help to prevent much of that vision loss, the lead author of the report, Dr. David S. Friedman, told reporters.

On the other hand, "If nothing is done and we just go on the way we're going now, we're going to have a massive increase in the number of visually impaired and blind in America," says Friedman, a professor at the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Paul Sieving, director of the National Eye Institute, says that "the longer we live, the more likely we are to develop one of these eye diseases."

Four Major Threats to Vision
The same study lists the following four primary threats to age-related vision: Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration, Cataracts, and Glaucoma.

A common complication of diabetes, in cases of diabetic retinopathy the blood vessels in the retina break, leak or become blocked, impairing vision over time. It affects nearly half of all people with diabetes to some extent and risk increases with age. There are approximately 5.3 million Americans currently affected. The report said laser surgery and a procedure called a vitrectomy are effective in treating diabetic retinopathy.

Age-related macular degeneration currently affects 1.6 million Americans. It primarily affects the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision. Also known as AMD, it is the most common cause of legal blindness and vision impairment in older Americans.

Currently there is no generally accepted treatment for AMD. Laser therapies to destroy leaking blood vessels can help reduce the risk of advancing vision loss in many cases.

Cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens. Most cataracts appear with advancing age, but there are additional factors, such as smoking, diabetes and excessive exposure to sunlight.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world, and affect nearly 20.5 million Americans, age 40 and older. By age 80, more than half of all Americans develop cataracts.

Surgical treatment can eliminate vision loss due to the disease, but cataracts still account for a significant amount of vision impairment in the United States.

Glaucoma causes gradual damage to the optic nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Because the loss of vision is not noticed until significant nerve damage has occurred, as many as half of all people with glaucoma are unaware of it. About 2.2 million Americans, age 40 and older, have been diagnosed with glaucoma, and an additional two million do not know they have it.

Energ-eyes™ Can Help
Acombination of zinc, beta-carotene and vitamins C and E, as contained in Energ-eyes from Whitewing Labs may also reduce the risk of advanced AMD by 25 percent, as well as the risk of cataracts. In addition, Energ-Eyes provides lutein, a key carotenoid that also is strongly associated with ocular health as one ages.

The Good News
Most cases can be controlled and vision loss can be slowed or halted by early nutritional intervention with improved diet and a quality eye health formula and regular check-ups. That's why consuming your fair share of carrots and green leafy vegetables is critical to your eye health, as well as daily use of Energ-eyes is so important for anyone over age 40. Don't take chances with your precious eye sight.

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