StemCell Therapy

Did God send covid-19?

Some far right fundamentalist Christian pastors do claim that God sent this pestilence and blame various groups, LGBTQ people, Jews, apostate churches and the entire sinful world. Some more influential evangelical pastors like Robert Jeffress are a little more subtle but nonetheless connect this pandemic to God. Jeffress, "All natural disasters can ultimately be traced to sin." Franklin Graham doesn't think it is God's plan but, "It's because of the sin that's in the world. Man has turned his back on God." Other more moderate and liberal Christian leaders absolve God of any culpability in this pestilence or plague and say that sin has no connection to covid-19.

Some point to John 9:3 where Jesus explained that no one's sin caused a man to be born blind from birth, "...but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him." Notice that Jesus says there was a purpose for the man being born blind therefore, it must have been planned. According to God himself, blindness is not just a happenstance, "Who gives them (humans) sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?" Exodus 4:11. Also, "I create disaster." (evil KJV) Isaiah 45:7 "I create"= present tense. In Colossians 1:16 it is Jesus who created all things visible and invisible!

God planned everything before he created the world, (1 Peter 1:20, Ephesians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Corinthians 2:7 and Titus 1:2). God also controls everything to conform to his purpose. (Ephesians 1:11). God has sent pestilence on his chosen people numerous times and killed thousands, in Chapter 24 of 2 Samuel, God sent a pestilence on the people of Israel and killed 70,000 men for no good reason except that he was punishing a sin of David.

The Apostle Paul says that God makes everything work out according to his plan. Ephesians 1:11. In "The Purpose Driven Life" Pastor Rick Warren writes, "[God] planned the days of your life in advance, choosing the exact time of your birth and death. The Bible says, 'You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your Book!'" (Psalm 139:16 TLB). So, God planned and scheduled the exact time and circumstances for each covid-19 victim's birth and death,

That is the biblical truth, so help me God!

Oren Piper

Siloam Springs

Editorial on 05/06/2020

Print Headline: Letter to the Editor

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Letter to the Editor - NWAOnline

Star Wars: The Clone Wars has finally come to its end, and the final season added some expansive (and tragic) depth to the Skywalker Saga prequels. One of the most important storylines Clone Wars had left to tell was that of Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker's former padawan, and how she managed to escape Order 66 and the eradication of the Jedi Order. Clone Wars revealed that Ahsoka was locked in battle with Darth Maul up to during the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, and that conflict raised a major question that Star Wars fans are now debating:

Could Ahsoka Tano have saved Anakin Skywalker from falling to the dark side, and becoming Darth Vader, and the entire Jedi Order from collapsing?

The question about Ahsoka's pivotal moment comes up in the penultimate episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, "The Phantom Apprentice" and "Shattered". Ahsoka Tano had to lead the Siege of Mandalore alone, as Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi were called away to rescue Chancellor Palpatine from Count Dooku and General Grievous (as seen in the opening sequence of Revenge of the Sith). When Ahsoka confronts Maul, the dark side crimelord reveals to her that he senses his former master Darth Sidious' plan is about to be carried out, and that Anakin Skywalker is Sidious' chosen apprentice. Ahsoka doesn't believe Maul's warning, thinking it's a dark side mind-trick.

When Ahsoka eventually wins her duel with Maul, she takes him into custody. We then see a new version of a key scene from Revenge of the Sith, in which Mace Windu and Yoda and the Jedi Council begin to realize that Palpatine may be an evil threat. Clone Wars adds a scene where Ahsoka joins that same meeting mid-broadcast, and steps on into one of the most pivotal moments in the entire Skywalker Saga. Even though Yoda and Windu hint that Palpatine could be a major threat, Ahsoka chooses not to mention anything about what Maul tried to warn her about. That choice obviously has fans now debating if Ahsoka didn't let one of the darkest events in the galaxy unfold, when she could've potentially stopped it.

However, anyone who watched The Clone Wars will almost certainly argue something different. The entire point of Ahsoka's story is that she fell out with the Jedi Order because she thought they had lost their way - and as it turns out, she was right. It's been examined in everything from Star Wars Rebels to the Original Trilogy films, as surviving Jedi like Obi-Wan, Yoda, or Kanan all struggle with the hindsight that the Jedi Order got too into politics and war to see the Sith threat against them with clarity. That blindness led to the rise of the dark side across the galaxy - but it was a blindness that Ahsoka didn't share. Ahsoka stayed on her own path and followed the light, and when her former masters were either dead, hiding, or corrupted, she fought on in their place and helped steer the galaxy back into the light, and bring balance back to the Force (see: Star Wars Rebels), and apparently did so more than once (see: The Rise of Skywalker).

If the Jedi Order had listened to and trusted in Ahsoka more, it may have lasted longer.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is now streaming on Disney+.

Disclosure: ComicBook is owned by CBS Interactive, a division of ViacomCBS.

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Star Wars: Could Ahsoka Have Saved Anakin Skywalker and the Jedi Order? - ComicBook.com

New research results show promise in treating people who are blind.

The National Eye Institute funded the study, which is research considered to be ethical.

Dr. David Prentice of the Charlotte Lozier Institute says there have been discussions over using adult stem cells to restore sight, which he calls a different tack for advancing science and medicine.

It's still an ethical way to go about this, he observes. There's no embryonic stem cells, no fetal tissue, none of this unethical type of research direction.

What the scientists did was turn a skin cell directly into a photoreceptor for vision then transplanted it.

Prenticeadvises the testing is very preliminary after the experiment on mice.

But what they find was when they transplanted this newly formed type of vision cell into the eyes of these blind mice, he says, they restored their vision.

The researchers applied chemicals that transformed one cell type into another needed for vision, and there is now potential to help people with all forms of vision blindness or vision correction, which would include macular degeneration and other retinal disorders.

Editor's note: Original posting attribute comments to wrong person.

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Lozier praises promising, and ethical, blindness study - OneNewsNow

India is home to 472 million children. According to a study published by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, out of 668 hospitals, only 192 (28.7 percent) reported that they provided pediatric eye care services a handful in a country as vast as India.

Primary and quality eye care is a necessity, and to make it accessible, Orbis International, a non-profit non-governmental organisation, started its saving initiative in India with its flagship Flying Eye Hospital. Orbis International was founded in 1982 in the United States. After running multiple Flying Eye Hospital programmes in Hyderabad and New Delhi, Orbis India established an office in New Delhi in 2000.

Orbis India launched India Childhood Blindness Initiative (ICBI) flagship programme in 2002. Its aims to ensure that Indias children across geographies have access to quality eye care for generations to come.

Dr Rishi Raj Borah has been an integral part of the Orbis journey for the last 12 years and has developed innovative, impactful, and sustainable home-grown eye care initiatives for millions of children in Indian and Nepalese communities. He is the Country Director of Orbis India.

Before working in the field of eye care, Dr Rishi worked with UNICEF, CORDAID and Don Bosco Institute. He is also a Board Member of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight India.

As part of Orbis Comprehensive Childhood Blindness Project, their partner, Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital (AJEH) conducts school screenings in some of Bihars districts. Several children with vision problems were identified and prescribed spectacles during the school screening in the village of Dariyapur.

In one of Dariyapurs schools where the screening was conducted, a girl named Rinky was identified to have poor vision. The AJEH team discovered that the 13-year-old had been suffering for the last two years.

Rinky

Her poor vision would also hinder her daily activities and despite being scolded in class for being unable to read, Rinky was largely unaware of her problems. Due to uncorrected refractive error, which was blurring her vision, Rinky would be uncomfortable while watching the television and identifying objects in low light conditions. She even had difficulties in seeing under bright light.

Rinky and her friends

The Orbis-AJEH team came to Rinkys rescue. They identify cases like Rinkys, while generating awareness for teachers in these schools. The team also actively engages with the parents of children who go on to get treatments done via the screenings.

Rinky was identified with myopia, which is the inability to see objects at a distance, and was prescribed with a pair of spectacles by the team.

Rinky in her classroom

Rinky was glad about wearing spectacles and soon realised that, like her friends, she was also able to see things clearly.

As of today, Orbis India has presence in Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam.

Millions of childrens lives have been positively affected by programs similar to the one in Rinkys school. 33 Childrens Eye Centers (CEC) have been established across the country, which are supported and equipped with quality partners and teams.

How has the coronavirus outbreak disrupted your life? And how are you dealing with it? Write to us or send us a video with subject line 'Coronavirus Disruption' to editorial@yourstory.com

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Clear vision, many smiles: How a non-profit is helping children in India see better - YourStory

News Release

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Babies born prematurely who require treatment to prevent blindness from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) could be treated with a dose of Avastin (bevacizumab) that is a fraction of the dose commonly used for ROP currently. Results from the dose-finding study were published April 23 in JAMA Ophthalmology. The study was conducted by the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) and supported by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Preterm babies are at high risk of abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye. These abnormal blood vessels are fragile and prone to leaking. If left untreated, vessel growth can lead to scarring and retinal detachment, the main cause of ROP-related vision loss. ROP is one of the leading causes of blindness in children.

Established ROP treatments include laser therapy and cryotherapy. Both interventions work by causing the abnormal blood vessels to stop growing before they can cause scarring and retinal detachment.

Avastin is one of several available drugs that inhibit abnormal blood vessel growth by suppressing the overproduction of a signal protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Avastin in 2004 as a cancer therapy. Since then, ophthalmologists have used it off-label to inhibit abnormal blood vessel growth in ROP, as well as in other ocular disorders. Results from a clinical trial published in 2011 confirmed the benefit of using Avastin over laser therapy for treating the most severe cases of ROP, which occur in a region of the retina known as posterior zone 1.

As a faster and easier treatment option, anti-VEGF eye injections were a welcomed alternative to laser therapy for treating severe ROP, said the new studys protocol chair, David Wallace, M.D., MPH, chair of ophthalmology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Laser therapy requires sedating the baby for as long as 90 minutes; an Avastin injection takes much less time and is generally less stressful to the infant.

But we know that anti-VEGF agents injected into the eye also get into the bloodstream, and doctors worry that inhibiting VEGF systemically could interfere with normal development of brain, lung, bone, and kidney tissues, he said. Evidence suggests that injections of anti-VEGF in the eye reduce levels of VEGF in the bloodstream.

In this study, Wallace and colleagues in the NEI-funded PEDIG hoped to pinpoint the lowest possible therapeutic dose of Avastin by testing progressively lower doses in 10-14 infants per dose. We didnt want to start by testing an ineffective dose and risk a child going blind, so we started with 40% of the dose commonly used for ROP. When a dose was successful, we halved it and then tested that dose. Eventually we cut the dose in half seven times, he said.

In the current study, we found that 0.004 mg of Avastin a dose thats merely 0.6% of the dose used in the 2011 study of Avastin for ROP may be the lower limit to be effective for most infants with ROP, said Wallace. The findings set the stage for a randomized controlled trial comparing long-term effects of low-dose Avastin with laser therapy for treating ROP, he said.

They plan to follow children over time to compare the long-term effects of each strategy on vision and organ development. Previous studies suggest that babies treated with Avastin versus laser may be less likely to become myopic and require glasses for nearsightedness as they grow older.

The study involved 59 preterm infants with type 1 ROP, the most severe form. Each infant had one eye treated by a single injection containing 0.016 mg, 0.008 mg, 0.004 mg, or 0.002 mg of Avastin. If the other eye required treatment, it received twice the concentration (one dose level higher). By comparison, currently used doses of Avastin for ROP range from 0.25 mg to 0.625 mg.

Treatment was considered a short-term success if ROP improved by day four after therapy, and if there was no recurrence or need for additional treatment within four weeks. Such success was achieved in all eyes treated with the 0.016 mg and 0.008 mg doses, and in 9 of 10 eyes receiving 0.004 mg, but only in 17 of 23 eyes receiving 0.002 mg, resulting in the conclusion that 0.004 mg may be the lowest effective dose.

The study was supported by NEI grants EY011751, EY023198, and EY018810. The clinicaltrials.gov record is NCT02390531.

NEI leads the federal governments research on the visual system and eye diseases. NEI supports basic and clinical science programs to develop sight-saving treatments and address special needs of people with vision loss. For more information, visit https://www.nei.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

NIHTurning Discovery Into Health

Wallace DK, Kraker RT, Freedman SF, Crouch ER, Bhatt AR, Hartnett ME, Yang MB, Rogers DL, Hutchinson AK, VanderVeen DK, Haider KM, Siatkowski RM, Dean TW, Beck RW, Repka MX, Smith LE, Good WV, Kong L, Cotter SA, Holmes JM for the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG). Short-term Outcomes After Very Low-Dose Intravitreous Bevacizumab for Retinopathy of Prematurity. Published April 23, 2020 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

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Very low-dose Avastin effective for preventing blindness in preterm infants - National Institutes of Health

While the film description, a horror movie where the protagonist wears a blindfold, would conjure 2018 sci-fi horror Bird Box in most peoples minds, it also serves to describe the 2010 Spanish movie,Julias Eyes.

Released on Netflix, Bird Box depicts a post-apocalyptic world where humans are forced to wear blindfolds to avoid seeing madness-causing monsters. Starring Sandra Bullock as Malorie, the movie leans heavily into its star power. It came out the same year A Quiet Place hit theaters, and many were quick to point out the similarities between the two. WhileA Quiet Placewas the higher-rated movie,Bird Boxbecame something of a viral, meme-worthy hit, garnering significant acclaim and attention. Despite all eyes being on the Sandra Bullock-led thriller, which was based off a novel by Josh Malerman, a lesser-known foreign horror is the more direct choice for comparisons, notA Quiet Place.

Related: Why Bird Box 2 Shouldn't Happen

Julias Eyes was directed by Spanish director Guillem Morales and produced by two-time Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro. A horror thriller, it follows the story Julia, a woman who is slowly losing her sight. Played by the extremely talented Beln Rueda, Julia investigates her sisters suicide while also undergoing an eye surgery that temporarily blinds her.

In both movies, the blindfold serves both a mechanical and symbolic purpose. In Bird Box, supernatural monsters take the shape of ones worst fear, leading those who see them to either madness or suicide; blindfolds are a protective measure. The audience never sees the monsters outright, only their effect. It represents a fear of the unknown.

In Julias Eyes, the blindfold is a necessary measure to ensure her eye operation takes. Here, the blindfold represents sacrifice, a running theme through the movie: a moment of darkness for a brighter future. Much of the tension comes not just from knowing that something sinister is happening around Julia, but that if she peeks to look at it, it condemns her to permanent blindness. It exchanges one kind of blindness for another.

In terms of reception, Julias Eyes has Bird Box beat. Its 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes is leagues ahead of Bird Boxs 63%. The blindfold mechanic in Julias Eyes is much more organic as well. In eschewing any sci-fi elements, Julias Eyes grounds its horror in humanity. It is a story that weaves its concept with its horror, developing multiple levels of tension. The film leans into dramatic irony; from the first scene, the audience knows something is amiss, while Julia is left to grope in the dark.

Related: Every Sci-Fi Horror Movie Releasing In 2020

It is also an extremely beautiful movie. Its high caliber cinematography and acting put it in the realm of horror like Silence Of The Lambs and Psycho. Julia's Eyes alsoincludes one of the most arguably tense scenes in horror history, combining open eyes and a knifes edge to capture many of humanitys innate fears, while developing character-specific tension.

Spanish-language cinema has had a lot to offer horror. The Orphanage balances a terrifying atmosphere with supernatural dread. [REC] uses high stakes zombie horror to make one of the most tense found footage films. The acting is one of the strongest points of Julias Eyes, something that would be lost in an adaptation.

Julias Eyes rarely makes it onto top ten horror lists. It released at a time when horror and foreign language horror were generally still treated as separate. There is a bias in the film world towards English language movies; instead of distributing East Asian horror globally as is, it is usually adapted and translated in the West, often to the detriment of the story. Limiting horror to a single language limits the scope of imagination and possibility.

Fortunately, this trend is slowly disappearing, as exemplified by Korean thriller Parasite becoming the first non-English film to win the Oscar for Best Picture. The future holds hope for movies like Julias Eyes, which have the merit but still deserve to one day reach the scope of films like Bird Box.

Next: Netflix Is Adding So Much Foreign Horror (& What That Means For Streaming)

Jennifer's Body: Every Similarity To 2000's Ginger Snaps

Shannon Lewis is a features and news writer on Screen Rant. She has experience in editorial working as the deputy editor for Specialty Food, an online and print magazine, curating its news section and social media. She has worked as a freelance writer since 2017, writing articles, features, and profiles in a wide range of topics, from business and tech to pop culture and media. Previously, she has also worked as a ghost writer for a fiction manuscript, and co-founded arts-and-literature magazine, Octarine.Hailing from Queretaro, Mexico, she is a graduate of the University of East Anglia's English Literature with Creative Writing program. An avid reader and fan of writing, she leverages her love of literature to dissect movies in her favorite genres, including horror, rom-coms, and superhero movies. Her focus is on the cross-section between story, cultural background, and character development. When she isn't busy reading everything ever published under the mantle of Image Comics, you might find her writing fiction, rock climbing, or putting together a horror anthology with friends.

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Why Julia's Eyes Is Better Than Bird Box (& Is Overlooked) - Screen Rant

London, Apr 22 (IANS): A common eye condition, glaucoma, could be successfully treated with a single injection using gene therapy, which would improve treatment options, effectiveness and quality of life for many patients, say researchers.

Glaucoma affects over 64 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. It is usually caused by fluid building up in the front part of the eye, which increases pressure inside the eye and progressively damages the nerves responsible for sight.

Current treatments include either eye drops, laser or surgery, all of which have limitations and disadvantages.

"At present, there is no cure for glaucoma, which can lead to loss of vision if the disease is not diagnosed and treated early," said study researcher Dr Colin Chu from the University of Bristol in the UK.

For the findings, published in the journal Molecular Therapy, the research team tested a new approach that could provide additional treatment options and benefits.

The researchers designed a gene therapy and demonstrated proof of concept using experimental mouse models of glaucoma and human donor tissue.

The treatment targeted part of the eye called the ciliary body, which produces the fluid that maintains pressure within the eye.

Using the latest gene-editing technology called CRISPR, a gene called Aquaporin 1 in the ciliary body was inactivated leading to reduced eye pressure.

"We hope to advance towards clinical trials for this new treatment in the near future. If it's successful it could allow a long-term treatment of glaucoma with a single eye injection, which would improve the quality of life for many patients whilst saving the NHS time and money," Chu said

The researchers are currently in discussion with industry partners to support further laboratory work and rapidly progress this new treatment option towards clinical trials.

Excerpt from:
Glaucoma can be successfully treated with gene therapy - Daijiworld.com

Could a drug discovered in the 1970s help to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic? New evidence from research in Australia shows that the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin can inhibit the virus that causes Covid-19 from replicating in cells in the lab.

While findings show promise, the news should be greeted with caveats, according to Donegal scientist Professor William C. Campbell, who shared a Nobel Prize for his role in the discovery of ivermectin.

The report is, in itself, of great importance, says Prof Campbell of the study, which was carried out by scientists at Monash University in Melbourne. But perspective is needed, even though perspective can be boring when the results are exciting.

The researchers in Melbourne grew mammalian cells in the lab and infected them with the Sars-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. Then they exposed the cells and viruses in the lab to ivermectin, a drug that has been widely used for decades to control parasitic worms and insects in livestock, pets and humans.

One of the best known uses of ivermectin in humans is against the worm that causes river blindness - the pharmaceutical company Merck donated the drug for that use for millions of people in affected areas.

Prof Campbell, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015 for his part in the discovery and development of ivermectin and its use in treating river blindness.

While he was working at Merck Research Laboratories in New Jersey, he was part of an extensive team that identified a substance called avermectin, which was produced by bacteria and could stop parasitic worm infections.

The compound was enhanced and developed as ivermectin, becoming a treatment for parasitic diseases such as heart worm in dogs and river blindness in humans. The Royal Irish Academy will publish Campbells memoir this June.

While ivermectin has not been approved as a drug against viruses, it is known to be effective in the lab against a broad range of viruses including HIV, Dengue and Influenza.

The Australian research showed that ivermectin resulted in a 5,000-fold reduction of Sars-CoV-2 RNA within 48 hours. Ivermectin therefore warrants further investigation for possible benefits in humans, explains the study authors in the journal Antiviral Reports.

The experiments used high concentrations of ivermectin, notes Proff Campbell: the concentration of drug needed to kill the virus in the lab was many times higher than the concentration of ivermectin found in the blood of people in the normal use of ivermectin to control parasitic disease.

So the probability of ivermectin being used safely to kill the virus in people must be considered low, he says.

On the other hand, there is, as the authors of the report point out, the possibility that a safe dosage of ivermectin might reduce the rate of viral replication in the mammalian body, or affect the virus in other ways that might be revealed by further research. That is a more positive prospect.

Commenting on the study, lead researcher Dr Kylie Wagstaff from the Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University says: Ivermectin is very widely used and seen as a safe drug. We need to figure out now whether the dosage you can use it at in humans will be effective - thats the next step.

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Ivermectin emerges as possible treatment option for Covid-19 - The Irish Times

A new study led by the University of Bristol has shown a common eye condition, glaucoma, could be successfully treated with a single injection using gene therapy, which would improve treatment options, effectiveness and quality of life for many patients.

Glaucoma affects over 64 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. It is usually caused by fluid building up in the front part of the eye, which increases pressure inside the eye and progressively damages the nerves responsible for sight. Current treatments include either eye drops, laser or surgery, all of which have limitations and disadvantages.

The research team led by academics at the Bristol Medical School: Translational Health Sciences tested a new approach that could provide additional treatment options and benefits. Their findings are published in the journalMolecular Therapy.

The researchers designed a gene therapy and demonstrated proof of concept using experimental mouse models of glaucoma and human donor tissue.

The treatment targeted part of the eye called the ciliary body, which produces the fluid that maintains pressure within the eye. Using the latest gene editing technology called CRISPR, a gene called Aquaporin 1 in the ciliary body was inactivated leading to reduced eye pressure.

Dr Colin Chu, Visiting Senior Research Fellow in theBristol Medical School: Translational Health Sciencesand corresponding author, said: "Currently there is no cure for glaucoma, which can lead to loss of vision if the disease is not diagnosed and treated early.

"We hope to advance towards clinical trials for this new treatment in the near future. If it's successful it could allow a long-term treatment of glaucoma with a single eye injection, which would improve the quality of life for many patients whilst saving the NHS time and money."

The academics are currently in discussion with industry partners to support further laboratory work and rapidly progress this new treatment option towards clinical trials.

Reference: Wu et al. (2020). Gene Therapy for Glaucoma by Ciliary Body Aquaporin 1 Disruption Using CRISPR-Cas9. Molecular Therapy.DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.12.012.

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Glaucoma Could Be Successfully Treated With Gene Therapy - Technology Networks

A CAMPAIGN has been launched that could help save the lives of babies during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Bradford Partnership, which works to safeguard children in the district, says the Covid-19 lockdown can make it especially difficult for anyone coping with the challenge of caring for a new born infant.

Often new parents would be able to call on the support of other family members, such as grandparents, or take time out with support from others and get out and about with the baby.

Self-isolation, social distancing restrictions on activities which might lessen stress, like sports, social engagements and entertainment, and restrictions on parent and baby groups and classes, and baby clinics, might all add pressure.

The Partnership understands that mums and dads who cant calm their baby can feel helpless, or think they are a poor parent. When this happens some people feel they are going to tip over the edge. They can become so angry and frustrated they act on impulse and shake their baby.

Shaking or losing your temper with a baby is very dangerous and can cause blindness, learning disabilities, physical disabilities or even death, the Partnership says.

Using the message Babies Cry, You Can Cope, a four step approach using the word ICON is designed to give parents a strategy for managing a crying infant.

Jane Booth, Independent Chair of the Partnership, said: A babys cry is designed to get our attention. Unfortunately, when a parent is very stressed or anxious it can cause an over-reaction that can sometimes lead to physical abuse.

The ICON approach sets out clear steps parents can take that will relieve pressure so that they dont find themselves in a position where they shake or strike an infant. Its about providing support at a time when people cant always get help in their community because of social distancing.

Cllr Adrian Farley, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Children and Families, said: Bringing up young children can be stressful, and we know that coronavirus (Covid-19) is putting families under additional strain.

This initiative helps to provide parents with helpful ways to try and stop a baby crying and advice on what to do if they cant.

The Partnership says babies can cry for no particular reasons or because they are hungry, tired, wet/dirty or unwell.

Dont get angry with your baby or yourself. Put the baby in a safe place and walk away so that you can calm yourself down by doing something that takes your mind off the crying. After a few minutes when you are calm, go back and check on the baby.

Parents can visit Bradford Council's Early Year's advice website for more information.

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New campaign could save lives of Bradford babies during lockdown - Bradford Telegraph and Argus

A RESTAURANT has lost its licence after three Bangladeshi men were found illegally working in the kitchen during an immigration raid.

The Home Offices Immigration Compliance and Enforcement (ICE) team executed a search warrant alongside Essex Police at the Great Gurkha in Old Road, Clacton, earlier this year.

Police and immigration officers found five men in the restaurant, three of whom were working illegally.

All three had overstayed their visas and were arrested before being released on immigration bail.

The restaurant was previously raided in February last year and two men were arrested for immigration offences.

It was decided at that time to issue a formal warning rather than to apply for a review.

But following the latest raid on January 10, Essex Police called on Tendring Council to revoke the restaurants licence, which gives it permission to sell alcohol on and off the premises, play recorded music and offer late night refreshment.

A report by Essex Police said: Whether by negligence or wilful blindness one or more illegal workers were engaged in activity on the premises, yet it is a simple process for an employer to ascertain what documents they should check before a person is allowed to work.

Essex Police asks that the premises licence is revoked. Merely remedying the existing situation - for instance by the imposition of additional conditions or a suspension - is insufficient to act as a deterrent to the licence holder and other premises licence holders from engaging in criminal activity by employing illegal workers and facilitating disqualified immigrants to work illegally.

A firm response to this criminal behaviour is required to ensure that the licence holder and its agents are not allowed to repeat the exercise and in particular, in the interests of the wider community to support responsible businesses and the jobs of both UK citizens and lawful migrants.

Tendring Councils licensing sub-committee met online on Wednesday to considered the reports and evidence presented by the licensing team, Essex Police and immigration officials, and decided to revoke the premises licence.

This sanction, the most severe the panel could impose, was issued in line with the council's policy which states that even in the case of a first immigration offence revocation could be considered.

In their reasoning councillors stated that the fact it was a second breach within 12 months meant that a warning, tightening or suspension of the licence would not be severe enough to reflect the seriousness of the offence..

Val Guglielmi, sub-committee chairman, said: There is a wide range of fabulous restaurants and takeaways across Tendring, not only providing delicious food but also creating jobs.

However, it is important that businesses operate legally, and as per our policy we will not hesitate to take action against those who do not follow the law.

Restaurant owner Aishwarya Enterprise and designated premises supervisor Mithula Varatharasa were permitted to take part, but did not attend the online meeting.

But in a statement to the police the supervisor said she had been taking a break due to health issues and that another person was looking after the businesses at the time of the raid The statement said she admitted to having lost control of business and that the chef must have brought his friends in to work independently.

The restaurant could not be contacted for comment, but a notice in the shop window stated it was temporarily closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The licence holder has 21 days within which to lodge an appeal at magistrates court against the decision.

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Restaurant's licence revoked after illegal immigrants found working in kitchen - Clacton and Frinton Gazette

Nathaniel Hiers is no longer a professor at the University of North Texas. He was let go after the administration said he mocked "microaggression" fliers passed out on campus. According to the College Fix, Hiers found a stack of fliers referring to microaggression issues on campus in the faculty lounge and decided to make what he called a "joke." Hiers leaned one of the fliers on the bottom of the chalkboard and wrote above it, "Please don't leave garbage lying around."

Microaggression:

is a term used for brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative prejudicial slights and insults toward any group, particularly culturally marginalized groups.

The fliers reportedly came from the University of New Hampshire's ADVANCE PROGRAM and partially focus onphrases like; "America is a melting pot," claiming a term like this canpropagate the myth of meritocracy and promote color blindness. The fliers also claim that being "forced" to choose male or female when completing basic forms issexist/heterosexist.

In the wake of his firing, Nathaniel Hier filed a First Amendment lawsuit last Thursday (4/16/20) and is being represented byAlliance Defending Freedom. The suit claims Hier was retaliated against and this isviewpoint-based discrimination.

I will now recuse myself from any and all national social discussions of any kind. If this is even a bullet point on the greater agenda in this county, I'll just take the check please. Another day, another "words hurt" topic.

Here's an idea, instead of focusing any energy on language, language use, intent or perceived intent make the life you want and surround yourself with people whose opinions you can tolerate. The reality is no one wants to do that, instead we will all continue to fire hot air at one another about our opinions and feelings while the world melts around us.

Have a ball y'all, I'm out!

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University of North Texas Professor Fired For Mocking 'Microaggression' Fliers on Campus - i95rock.com

Specialist opticians, Flint and Partners Optometrists, is remaining on hand to help people with acute emergency eye problems amid coronavirus.

The opticians, which has sites in Codsall, Wednesfield and Wolverhampton, has made the decision to remain open and doing so has saved the eyesight of Richie Carter, head coach at Wolverhampton Amateur Boxing Club.

The company's decision aims to ease the burden on GPs and hospitals, treating patients with infections, injuries and other sight threatening conditions.

Richie had been sparring in the garden with his son and sustained a blow to the right side of his head.

A few days later, knowing something wasn't quite right, Mr Carter called Flint and Partners to explain his symptoms and an appointment was arranged for him to attend for a consultation at the Tettenhall Road practice.

Using specialist tests, a tear was found in his retina that could have lead to blindness if left untreated - an appointment was arranged with a surgeon at New Cross within the hour, and his eye was operated on the following morning.

Mr Carter said: "I can't thank Flints enough, Mr Lyons - the fella who dealt with me - got me sorted straight away, diagnosed my problem and got me into the hospital - he saved the sight in my right eye".

Anyone with concerns about their eyesight can contact Flints on 01902 422096.

Link:
Wolverhampton optician saves eyesight of city boxing coach - expressandstar.com

Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Its estimated that by 2040 there will be about 112 million people in the world with glaucoma mostly in Africa and Asia. The best that medical science can do at present is identify it early and slow or halt its progression.

The disease affects the optic nerve, which normally sends signals from the eye to the brain. With glaucoma, this nerve doesnt work properly. The first sign is loss of peripheral vision. This gradually progresses to tunnel vision and, ultimately, blindness.

The most important risk factor for developing glaucoma is having high pressure inside the eyeball. Reducing this pressure is currently the only way to treat glaucoma. Its done with eye drops, laser treatment or surgery.

The most common type of glaucoma is primary open-angle glaucoma, which typically begins in middle to older age. Visual loss is only noticeable at an advanced stage of the disease. Its more common in populations of African descent than in those with European or Asian ancestry. In African populations it starts at an earlier age and progresses faster. The prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma in Africans between the ages of 40 and 80 is about 4.2%.

The cause and mechanisms underlying this condition are poorly understood. But its known that family members of affected individuals are much more likely to get the disease. We conducted a study to identify genetic risk factors for primary open-angle glaucoma in African populations.

Identifying glaucoma associated genetic factors could make it easier to identify patients at risk before they develop the disease. It could also shed light on the cause and unlock new treatments.

We found a new genetic association that may help us achieve these goals.

Most primary open-angle glaucoma is inherited in a complex manner. In other words there is not just one mutation in a single gene that is sufficient to cause the disease. Rather there are small variations in several genes that contribute to an increase in risk for the disease.

Genetic risk factors have been identified using association studies. In these studies thousands of affected individuals are compared with even larger numbers of unaffected individuals. This identifies associations between certain genes and either glaucoma or characteristics associated with glaucoma (like high pressure inside the eye). Each association provides information about the diseases.

Most of these studies have been performed on European populations. Genetic enquiry in African populations is challenging because there is so much more diversity within African genomes.

The genome is the complete set of genetic material we carry in all the cells of our bodies. Genes are the parts of the genome that contain instructions to make proteins. All humans genomes are almost identical but tiny variations occur. It is these variants that determine our individuality. The more ancient a population, the more time there has been for variants to develop and the more genetic diversity there will be in that population.

Read more: What we've learnt from building Africa's biggest genome library

This diversity means that African populations are valuable in studies of the links between genes and diseases like glaucoma.

Our group of researchers (the Genetics of Glaucoma in People of African Descent Consortium) recently published an association study of close to 10,000 primary open-angle glaucoma patients of African descent.

We identified a new association, with a gene called APBB2. It occurs in all populations but the variant associated with glaucoma was only found in Africans.

We demonstrated that this genetic variant results in increased amyloid deposition in both the eye and the part of the brain responsible for vision. Amyloid is a protein that is toxic to brain tissue and is associated with Alzheimer-type and related dementias. We cant yet say for certain that amyloid depositions cause glaucoma, but this seems likely. If further studies can prove this, then drugs that were developed to treat dementias might be useful to treat primary open-angle glaucoma.

Read more: Alzheimer's: the 'switch-on moment' discovered

There is no evidence that glaucoma occurs more frequently in individuals with dementia or vice versa. But this study found a genetic link that could help explain how the optic nerve is damaged in glaucoma.

We recently confirmed this direct genetic link in a large analysis of data from different studies all over the world. The analysis identified another three genes that are known to cause Alzheimer-type dementias and are also associated with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Discovering the genetic associations of an inherited disease is an important step. It identifies biological pathways that may cause the disease.

In a complex condition like primary open-angle glaucoma, it is likely that there are several different pathways involved which all end up with damage to the optic nerve. Only by studying multiple populations will a true picture of all the genetic associations emerge. There may already be treatments available that target the biological functions of these associated genes which could then be used to treat glaucoma. Alternatively, new treatments targeting these functions could be developed specifically for glaucoma.

Knowing about genetic associations in specific populations will make it possible to focus prevention and treatment on those who will benefit most, sparing expense and side effects from those who will not.

Ultimately genetics could pave the way for precision medicine in glaucoma: tailoring care to the individual patient.

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How African genetic studies offer hope for preventing a common cause of blindness - The Conversation Africa

We are all dealing with a threat that few of us have the knowledge or skills to combat directly. Helpless dread is an unbearable feeling. What do we do?

Fear is meant to affect our systems. We are to freeze or energetically deal with palpable physical threats that are the focus of fear. Our bodies feel some degree of fear now of the virus, the illness, the uncertainty or the socio-economic upheaval. Yet, no physical flight, fight or freezing can help us here. We are to keep calm and carry on. Still the fear acts on our system. And it can show in our thinking patterns.

Denial is a sort of a mental freeze. We conserve our energy by stating that the problem is not that big or perhaps doesnt even exist. Conserving our energy, not stressing excessively, can serve a purpose, keep us cool. Sadly, it hasnt remained that simple. Were seeing fellow citizens become so attached to their denial that theyre expending energy to prove how much they deny. People have congregated together, carelessly or carefully, to show their disregard for caution. Some have sickened or even died as a result. Their illness endangered, burdened and grieved their loved ones. A natural reaction gone too far.

Sometimes people are rather energized by fear. Good effects of this energy has been the community support organizations springing up, the creation of new ways to be neighborly and the flood of lovingly sewn cloth masks. It seems to me that most people have channeled their energy within this measure. Sadly weve also seen some frenetic extremes: food hoarding; bleach gargling; fistfights for toilet paper. In a panicky desire to feel control over uncontrollable circumstances, some energized minds have latched onto conspiracy theories. Some have acted on them.

People have attacked individuals of Asian heritage, burned cellphone towers and publicly accused everyone else of manufacturing bioweapons. I suppose even a scapegoat as large as a cellular network or a nation could feel less overwhelming than a random, invisible, mutable virus; the chain of cause and effect seems simpler. We all like to strike a blow at feeling helpless. But thats not where these blows ultimately landed. People have been hurt. A reaction gone way too far.

Why have we not been taught more about how our fear works and how we might make it work for us? Fear, like all of our emotions, is information about our situation and should be heeded as such. And fear, like all information, needs to be fact-checked and put in context.

As much as we would like to take direct action and make this threat go away, we dont yet have the tools to effectively fight this novel coronavirus. In the current context, our success will be just making as little happen as possible. The reactive part of our brains ask your kids about Survival State cant understand this lack of action; but our problem-solving Executive State can. We can fortify our executive state with good exercise, good music, deep breathing, prayer, meditation, dance, family hugs, all those arts and crafts you excel at and other techniques you already have. Keep calm and carry on.

Theres yet one more active inactivity that may help. Foldingathome.org is a distributed computing project for simulating protein dynamics. Volunteers let software run simulations on their personal computers that can help medical researchers find the weak points of the coronavirus. Its running in the background of my computer with no harm done. We can even form local teams, letting the Pendleton-Hermiston rivalry ride again for a good cause. Check it out at https://foldingathome.org/covid19.

Vikiirna Wenzel is a learner and a teacher, somewhere in the middle of East Umatilla County.

Read more from the original source:
Somewhere in the middle | Between blindness and frenzy - East Oregonian

Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have identified a so-called "executioner cell" that may hold the key to eventually finding a treatment to slow retinal degeneration that causes blindness in millions of people each year.

A multi-disciplinary team involving experts from TCD believe they have pinpointed a potential new therapeutic target for treating retinal degeneration.

It found a protein described as an "executioner cell", known as SARM1, is involved in neuronal cell injury. They believe that the same cell could also have a role in the progression of retinal degeneration leading to blindness.

The team's findings, which have been published in the journal 'Life Science Alliance', could hold out hope to millions of people around the world who are suffering varying degrees of loss of vision due to what are currently irreversible degenerative diseases of the retina.

In Ireland, around 5,000 people suffer vision impairment due to inherited degeneration of the retina. Another 80,000 also live with age-related macular degeneration.

Dr Ema Ozaki, research fellow at Trinity, said: "Lots of different factors can initiate retinal degeneration and lead to severe visual impairment and eventual blindness, but ultimately the end-point is photoreceptor cell death. Although it seems unlikely, the process of cell-death is in fact a programmed event that directs proteins in our cells to take on 'executioner' roles."

Photoreceptor cells are specialised neurons found in the back of our eyes that convert light into electrical signals that allow us to see. It is the death of these cells, and the cells that nourish them, that is termed retinal degeneration and is a characteristic of blinding diseases such as AMD and retinitis pigmentosa.

Assistant professor of immunology Dr Sarah Doyle said: "Our research indicates that SARM1 is likely to be a key executioner in the process of retinal degeneration, so inhibiting SARM1 activity may offer an option for protecting vision across multiple retinal degenerative diseases."

Irish Independent

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'Executioner cell' find may help to treat the causes of blindness - Independent.ie

Editor: David L. Joffe, BSPharm, CDE, FACA

Author: ChardaeWhitner, 2020 PharmD. Candidate, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Could vision loss and the visual disturbances that diabetes patients experience be prevented?

Diabetes can be a complicated disease, with many compounding factors for patients diagnosed with the disease. One of these many factors would be ocular complications, which are three times more likely to occur in patients with diabetes compared to those without. However, even with the evidence suggesting that patients with diabetes are at a high risk of developing ocular complications, there is limited data that explores the incidence of visual impairment and blindness in patients with diabetes. Also, the predictors of vision loss have limited data. Research conducted by Drinkwater J. et al. aimed to assess the 4-year cumulative incidence of visual impairment and blindness and their determinants in well-characterized community-based people with type 2 diabetes.

The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II (FDS2) recruited 1551 subjects to participate in a prospective, observational study. Participants were selected from a zip code defined as an urban community surrounding the port of Fremantle in the state of Western Australia. Also, individuals who participated in the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase I (FDS1) were eligible to participate.

During this 4-year study, participants were assessed at baseline and biennially with questionnaires covering health care utilization, medical condition, medication use, socioeconomic, demographic and lifestyle data, and physical examination. Fasting blood glucose and urine samples were also obtained. The visual acuity of the participants was measured using a Bailey Lovie chart at a distance of 3m in a well-lit room, with examiners using the best-corrected visual acuity measurement. Visual acuity chart used was 6/48, parameters were set as follows: >6/19 and <6/48 was classified as visual impairment >6/48 and those who could only count fingers or worse was classified as blindness. This measurement was assessed at each biennial face-to-face visit. The difference between the number of letters read by the best eye at baseline, and the year four visits was a way to determine if there was a change in vision. This was defined as a difference in visual acuity of >10 letters (two lines of the visual acuity chart). The presence and severity of retinopathy was assessed by using fundus photography; the severity of the diabetic retinopathy was classified as none, mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, or severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Ascertainment of other ocular conditions was also accessed such as cataract or glaucoma. Researchers used The Hospital Morbidity Data Collection, which captures all hospitalizations within the state of Western Australia, to determine if participants of the study had intraocular lens implantation for a cataract before and during the follow-up to the year four visit. Also, at each face-to-face visit subjects of the study were questioned as to if they had been told by a provider whether or not they had a cataract or glaucoma.

From the results gathered from this 4-year prospective, observational study, 70 of the participants were excluded from the study due to missing visual acuity data at baseline or presence of visual impairment or blindness at baseline. Of the 1481 participants who had a normal or near-normal vision at baseline, 882 participants (58%) had their visual acuity measured at the Year 4 visit. For the participants included in the analysis, during the 4.1 years of follow-up the cumulative incidence of visual impairment was 0.9%, representing a crude incidence of 0.2% per year. None of the participants who were evaluated with normal or near-normal vision at baseline were found to have developed blindness by the Year 4 visit. Of the visual acuity observed, a cumulative incidence of vision loss was 2.9% and 1.9% had improved visual acuity.

The study also measured predictors of vision loss, and it was found that participants who had vision loss during follow up were more likely to be insulin-treated, have had a severe hypoglycemic event, have worse kidney function and be a current or ex-smoker at baseline compared to those without vision loss. Those who had vision loss also were observed as having higher systolic blood pressure and worse kidney function than those without. Those individuals who had improved visual acuity were likely to have had an intraocular lens inserted.

This study found that modifiable risk factors were independently associated with vision loss in community-dwelling patients with type 2 diabetes, which were smoking, severe hypoglycemia and highuACR. Strategies that focus on smoking cessation, avoiding severe hypoglycemia, and persevering kidney function will be pivotal in preventing vision loss in patients with type 2 diabetes.

PracticePearls

Drinkwater, Jocelyn J., et al. Incidence and Predictors of Vision Loss Complicating Type 2 Diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II.Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications, Elsevier, 22 Feb. 2020,www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1056872720300027?via=ihub.

ChardaeWhitner, 2020 PharmD. Candidate, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

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Predicting Vision Loss in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes - Diabetes In Control

The Tej Kohli Cornea Institute is building on its track record for funding research in the USA and on its 6-year legacy of making direct treatment interventions in India.

A new series of grants will support innovative UK technology, science and research projects that can help to alleviate and end corneal blindness by 2035.

The limitations of existing treatments for corneal blindness have created a substantial treatment gap in the poorer countries where 90% of visually impaired people live.

LONDON, April 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tej Kohli Cornea Institute, a longstanding project of philanthropist Tej Kohli, has established a series of grants to support UK-based innovations in science and technology with a clear pathway to alleviating corneal blindness. Annual grants are available to UK-based projects led by scientists, ophthalmologists, doctors, researchers and influencers in science and technology. The Tej KohliCornea Institute has also paid out an emergency grant of 80,000 toward the development of a genetic vaccine for COVID-19.

A young patient of the the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute in India awaits a free corneal transplant. The Tej Kohli Cornea Institute in the UK is building on its track record for making interventions to cure blindness by funding the invention of new and novel treatment solutions in the UK that can be scaled into poorer communities around the world.

The Tej Kohli Cornea Institute's move to support innovations borne from UK based scientific ingenuity reflects the need to develop brand new solutions that can bridge the corneal blindness treatment gap. The Institute will build on its track record for funding research in the USA. It will also leverage its existing knowledge and expertise gained from making thousands of treatment interventionsto alleviate corneal blindness in Indiabetween 2015 and 2019.

An Advisory Board that includes experts in ophthalmology and experimental medicine from institutions such as Moorfields Eye Hospitaland the UCL Institute of Ophthalmologywill connect the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute with high-impact scientific projects across the UK.

Tej Kohli, co-Founder of the Tej Kohli Foundationsaid:

"The UK ranks third out of 128 counties in the 2019 Global Innovation Indexand more than half of UK postgraduate researcherscome from outside of the UK. This UK ecosystem will enable the kind of unique interdisciplinary innovation that is needed to develop novel new solutions."

Sajjad Ahmad, consultant corneal surgeon and clinical academic at Moorfields Eye Hospital, and Tej Kohli Cornea Institute Advisory Board member, said:

"The UK is a leader in translating experimental medicine and laboratory science into corneal therapies. These grants will help to support UK ingenuity in developing new treatments that can be made accessible in poorer communities around the world."

Website: http://www.tejkohlicorneainstitute.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pauipxT3i8

Photo - https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/fae14b4d7cca562c7f85cac838fd20e6

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UK Science Is Boosted by the Tej Kohli Cornea Institute - Yahoo Finance

We often take our sight for granted until it starts to fade. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the top cause of severe vision loss and blindness in adults over age 50 in this country, affecting as many as one in three people as they age. AMD destroys the macula, the part of the eye that provides central vision, the type of vision you need to see whats in front of you in sharp detail. This is important for activities like driving which many of us arent doing as much of right now but also reading, cooking and gardening, which you may be doing more of. Its also important for seeing faces, and thats true whether those faces are in the room with you or on Zoom.

Research suggests that people who eat lots of leafy greens, and a variety of other fruits and vegetables, may have less risk of developing AMD or cataracts. Carotenoids are a family of nutrients that provide the yellow, orange and red colors in many fruits and vegetables. Our bodies use beta-carotene to make vitamin A, which is critical for vision. Two other carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, act as natural antioxidants, protecting eyes from the damaging ultraviolet light that could increase cataract risk.

Your body absorbs carotenoids best from vegetables that have been chopped, pureed or cooked. Cooking vegetables in oil or serving them with fat in the meal also boosts absorption. Dietary sources of carotenoids include:

For a 2015 study, researchers examined data from more than 100,000 adults enrolled in the Nurses Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. The group who had the highest blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin were about 40% less likely to develop advanced AMD than the group with the lowest levels. Other carotenoids seemed to reduce risk by about 25 to 35%.

While getting nutrients from food is ideal whenever possible, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), conducted by the National Institutes of Healths National Eye Institute, examined the effects of a cocktail of vitamin and mineral supplements. Researchers found that the risk of developing advanced AMD dropped by about 30%, helping to preserve vision longer, but it didnt prevent cataracts or early-stage AMD. Participants who benefited most were those who had the least healthful diets and who didnt eat many foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin.

The high levels of vitamins and minerals used in AREDS are difficult to achieve from diet alone. If you have intermediate AMD in one or both eyes, or advanced AMD in one eye, you might consider taking a widely available AREDS supplement, which should contain 500 mg vitamin C, 400 IU vitamin E, 10 mg lutein, 2 mg zeaxanthin, 25 mg zinc (as zinc oxide), and 2 mg copper (as cupric oxide). If you smoke, or used to smoke, its important to avoid older formulations that include beta-carotene, as beta-carotene in supplement form could increase your risk of lung cancer. While there is no treatment that can prevent AMD from developing, the AREDS formula can delay the progression to advanced AMD and help you keep your vision longer. Of course, consult your primary care doctor or eye care specialist.

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Heres how to eat in a way that naturally keeps your eyesight sharp - Seattle Times

An unhealthy lifestyle translates into many health problems.

Smoking, binge drinking and illicit drug use are known to cause cancer, diabetes, heart disease, lung damage, stroke and death. They can also lead to serious eye problems.

Cigarette smoking remains a major health issue despite of years of health warnings and public awareness campaigns.

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Smoking has been linked to early development of macular degeneration and cataracts.

Compared to non-smokers, people who smoke a pack or more per day are two-to-three times more likely to develop macular degeneration an aging condition in the retina, affecting the central vision.

The inhaled substances in cigarette smoke constrict the blood vessels and promote blood clot formation in the retina and optic nerves.

Partial to almost complete blindness happens when there is thrombosis, or blood clot, in the central retinal artery, which is the main artery that supplies blood, oxygen and nutrients to the retina.

Smoking increases the risk of ischemia, or stroke, in the optic nerve, which transmits the images from the eye to the brain, resulting significant permanent visual loss.

About one-in-six adult Americans binge drinks about four times a month, consuming about eight drinks each time.

There is a well-established linkage between Type 2 diabetes and excessive alcohol consumption.

The most serious ocular complications of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. The diabetes-damaged retina develops hemorrhages and swelling, resulting in visual loss.

Alcohol abuse increases the incidence of early onset of cataracts and macular degeneration.

More: Focus on Eyes: Chinese ophthalmologist warned about COVID-19 outbreak

More: Focus on Eyes: Celebrating America's first black ophthalmologist

More: Focus on Eyes: What does it mean to have 20/20 vision

Methanol, or wood alcohol, in contaminated moonshine damages the optic nerve, and if untreated,the person will suffer partial to total blindness.

Ocular trauma with visual loss is too often seen with alcohol intoxication.

Illegal substance abuse is at the extreme end of vices.

It is estimated about 10 percent of adults use illegal drugs.

There are many deleterious effects to the eyes.

Intranasal cocaine use is particularly damaging and potentially leading to acute attack of angle closure glaucoma, retinal hemorrhages and optic nerve damage.

Smoking crack cocaine is associated with infection and diminished blood flow to the retina.

Methamphetamine use is known to cause infection in the cornea which is the transparent tissue in front of the eye.

Retinal inflammation is also seen in methamphetamine use.

Intravenous drug abuse introduces infection to the eyes and particles clotting the blood vessels in the retina and the optic nerve.

Many people assume their vices will get their eyes red and eyelids droopy.

In fact, they can suffer from many sight threatening complications.

Hopefully, this will motivatethem to give up their vices and adopt healthy habits.

Dr. Frederick Ho,the medical director of Atlantic Eye MD and Atlantic Surgery and Laser Center, is a board certified ophthalmologist. Atlantic Eye MDis located at 8040 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne. To make an appointment please call (321) 757-7272. To learn more visit AtlanticEyeMD.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Focus on Eyes: Cocaine, meth, other vices affect eyes more than you know

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Focus on Eyes: Cocaine, meth, other vices affect eyes more than you know - msnNOW