My patients often ask: “Doctor, what can I do to save or preserve vision for myself and my family?”
Prevention: Wear sunglasses! Over time, sunlight damages the lens of the eye, causing cataracts. More Medicare dollars are spent for lens replacements than for any other kind of surgery. The average age for cataract surgery is 72. Sunglasses slow the development of cataracts, and that goes for kids, too. Prevention and treatment of visual problems in childhood results in improved vision throughout life. Don’t smoke. Smoking makes you four times more likely to develop cataracts. Exercise and a healthy diet are important, too.
Early Detection: Get regular eye exams! We seniors may develop disorders like age-
“Wet”(bleeding) AMD occurs in 15 percent of patients. Treatment calls for injections into the eye every four to six weeks — probably for life.
People with diabetes suffer bleeding and swelling of the retina, inside the eye. Anyone may develop glaucoma, or “hard eyeball disease,” which is treated with eye drops and lasers. The earlier you seek treatment the better. Getting checkups can help save your vision.
Hawaii Vision Clinic
1330 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite “One Poolside,” Honolulu
P 808-955-5951 | F 808-941-8646
office.personnel@malcolmingeyemd.com
www.malcolmingeyemd.com
The knee is the most often replaced joint in the body. Usually, total knee replacement (TKR) surgery is performed when people have knee damage and pain caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or alignment problems in the leg that make walking or performing daily activities difficult. Successful recovery requires a considerable investment of time and energy in rehabilitation following surgery. A strict timetable of exercise, rest and medication is crucial to heal muscles and tendons. Your physical therapist can speed up your return to normal activity and help make your new knee better than the old one! A rehab program tailored to your specific needs may include land or aquatic range of-
A person with a malocclusion or “bad bite,” prematurely wears down the teeth. Severe wear collapses the space between the chin and nose, creating a very aged facial appearance. Correcting the bite gives the patient an “instant face-lift”.
Aquatic therapy is an effective treatment for OA, giving patients improved mobility, reduced pain and greater flexibility. You might think exercise at a high intensity level would exacerbate the pain. Not so. A recent groundbreaking study published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, demonstrated the benefits of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on an underwater treadmill. For six weeks, subjects with OA walked in water, against alternating high and low resistance. Training resulted in significantly less joint pain, improved balance, better mobility. Walking speed was nearly as fast as control subjects without arthritis. Aquatic exercise gave benefits and relief that individuals with OA would not be able to achieve on land.
Laxatives can help relieve constipation. Overuse of certain laxatives can lead to dependency and decreased bowel function. In general bulkforming laxatives, also referred to as fiber supplements, are the gentlest on the body and safest to use long term. However, seniors must remember to drink adequate amounts of water when taking fiber supplements like Metamucil.
Many patients today with missing teeth have opted for the All-on-4 treatment as a viable solution to permanently replace missing teeth.