22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent reference book on the subject, December 4, 2004
This review is from: The Aging Eye (Hardcover)
This is the third book I read published by the Harvard Medical School. They all have invariably been excellent. They rely on science, medical studies, and in depth analysis. They all do an excellent job of educating the public on the medical topics they cover. They differentiate between the marketing hype and established science.
The Aging Eye is an excellent reference book that outlines what happens to our eyes as they age since our mid thirties. This is a very short 200 page book with extremely large font. It definitely is made not to strain your eyesight. And, it reads easily in three leisurely hours.
In nine short chapters, it covers everything you need to know. The book explains in detail the three major diseases affecting us with the passage of time [glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataract]. It covers also many other common and less common eye ailments. It gives much information on prevention, treatment, surgery, post-surgery.
My favorite chapter was the last one on how to safeguard your eyesight. There it stresses the benefit of good living, including plenty of aerobic exercises to keep your cardiovascular system in top shape, and good nutrition based on an abundance of fresh produce (fruits and vegetables). It also stresses the necessity to protect one's eyes from sunlight including the dreaded UVAs and UVBs sunrays. Sunglasses need not cost a fortune, but they need to be excellent (very high % protection against UVs) and be worn virtually all the time when outdoors the minute the Sun is out.
My favorite pages are near the end where the book dispels many myths about eyesight. Many I must admit, I believed so far. But, it now makes sense to me that they were actual myths. One of them being that you can actually correct your eyesight with eye exercises. According to the book, you really can't. And, having tried the exercise routines to some degree, I really believe it now.
In any case, I strongly recommend this book. If you are interested in your general health and nutrition (extremely highly correlated to your eye health) I equally strongly recommend "Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy" by Walter Willett, and "The Harvard Medical School Guide to Men's Health" by Harvey Simon.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
There is a new edition of this guide, essential for all readers, December 16, 2009
This review is from: The Aging Eye (Hardcover)
Amazon doesn't seem to carry the new edition -- at least I haven't found it -- it is available at the address in the first Comment.
Harvard Medical's key recommendations include:
1. Regular eye exams are the cornerstone of visual health as people age.
2. "If you smoke, stop. Smoking increases the risk of several eye disorders, including age-related macular degeneration."
3. Maintain a nutritious diet, with lots of fruits and vegetables and minimal saturated fats and hydrogenated oils.
4. "Wearing sunglasses and hats is important for people of any age."
5. Take the time to learn about the aging eye and learn about the risks and symptoms -- this book is an excellent source of current information.
I found this section interesting reading:
5 common eye myths dispelled
Myth: Doing eye exercises will delay the need for glasses.
Fact: Eye exercises will not improve or preserve vision or reduce the need for glasses. Your vision depends on many factors, including the shape of your eye and the health of the eye tissues, none of which can be significantly altered with eye exercises.
Myth: Reading in dim light will worsen your vision.
Fact: Although dim lighting will not adversely affect your eyesight, it will tire your eyes out more quickly. The best way to position a reading light is to have it shine directly onto the page, not over your shoulder. A desk lamp with an opaque shade pointing directly at the reading material is the best possible arrangement. A light that shines over your shoulder will cause a glare, making it more difficult to see the reading material.
Myth: Eating carrots is good for the eyes.
Fact: There is some truth in this one. Carrots, which contain vitamin A, are one of several vegetables that are good for the eyes. But fresh fruits and dark green leafy vegetables, which contain more antioxidant vitamins such as C and E, are even better. Antioxidant vitamins may help protect the eyes against cataract and age-related macular degeneration. But eating any vegetables or supplements containing these vitamins or substances will not prevent or correct basic vision problems such as nearsightedness or farsightedness.
Myth: It's best not to wear glasses all the time. Taking a break from glasses or contact lenses allows your eyes to rest.
Fact: If you need glasses for distance or reading, use them. Attempting to read without reading glasses will simply strain your eyes and tire them out. Using your glasses won't worsen your vision or lead to any eye disease.
Myth: Staring at a computer screen all day is bad for the eyes.
Fact: Although using a computer will not harm your eyes, staring at a computer screen all day will contribute to eyestrain or tired eyes. Adjust lighting so that it does not create a glare or harsh reflection on the screen. Also, when you're working on a computer or doing other close work such as reading or needlepoint, it's a good idea to rest your eyes briefly every hour or so to lessen eye fatigue. Finally, people who stare at a computer screen for long periods tend not to blink as often as usual, which can cause the eyes to feel dry and uncomfortable. Make a conscious effort to blink regularly so that the eyes stay well lubricated and do not dry out.
*****
Harvard Medical has come under some criticism for receiving some medical companies, but whatever the case may be in other areas, there's nothing in this guide that would be helpful to commericial interests. This is very important reading for any book lover -- of whatever age.
Robert C. Ross 2009
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