1: Photochem Photobiol. 2003 Jul;78(1):88-92.  Related Articles, Links

Focal length variability and protein leakage as tools for measuring
photooxidative damage to the lens.

Wahlman J, Hirst M, Roberts JE, Prickett CD, Trevithick JR.

Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario,
Canada.

Hypericin is the ingredient used to standardize the popular over-the-counter
antidepressant medication St. John's Wort. Because hypericin readily produces
singlet oxygen and other excited state intermediates, it is a very efficient
phototoxic agent in the eye that can potentially induce the development of the
cataract photooxidative mechanism. Hypericin absorbs in the UV and visible
ranges, binds to the lens crystallins (alpha, beta and gamma) and damages these
proteins through a photooxidative mechanism. Effects were measured previously
using fluorescence, UV and mass spectrometry. We report here two additional
methods to monitor lens damage: (1) measuring focal length variability using a
ScanTox instrument and (2) measuring protein leakage from the damaged lens.
Because nonenzymic glycation results in free radical production, we chose to use
elevated glucose concentrations as a convenient model for studying oxidative
stress. To compare and contrast photooxidative damage against oxidative damage
to the lens, we also measured the focal length variability and protein leakage
induced by the presence of elevated glucose concentrations. We found that the
total accumulated protein leakage was positively correlated (r = 0.9) with
variability in focal length. Lenses treated with hypericin and irradiated with
UVB had an increase in focal length variability as compared with the lenses that
were only UVB-irradiated. Lenses without UVB irradiation had much lower focal
length variability than irradiated lenses. For non-hypericin-treated lenses,
UVB-irradiated lenses had a larger variability (4.58 mm) than the unirradiated
lenses (1.78 mm). The lenses incubated in elevated glucose concentrations had a
focal length variability (3.23 mm) equivalent to that of the unirradiated
hypericin-treated lenses (3.54 mm). We conclude that photooxidative damage by
hypericin results in changes in the optical properties of the lens, protein
leakage and finally cataract formation. In contrast to this, high concentrations
of glucose induced protein leakage but not changes in optical properties or the
opacity associated with a cataract. This work provides further evidence that
people should protect their eyes from intense sunlight when taking St. John's
Wort.

PMID: 12929754 [PubMed - in process]

Hi Wayne,

>    What about a thread or two relating to nutrients for the eyes?

Great idea...

The subject of nutrition for vision health is not OT at all. I have a
large folder about it in the group files, which I add to frequently.
There are a number of VTODs who specialize in nutrition and
eye health, and I intend to be one of them someday.

Please feel free to post a list of the nutrients in the supplement
that you are taking, your perceived results, etc. It would be useful
if you posted about your entire nutritional and health regimen, as
a matter of fact.

I also hope that this thread gathers some momentum.

Cheers,
Francine

-----------------


--- In focus_on_vision_training@yahoogroups.com, Wayne Fugitt
<wayne@f...> wrote:
> Morning Francine,
>
> >OK guys, let's not get too OT.
> >This is a group about Vision Training. I allow, and even
> >encourage some posting about "other" methods of vision
> >improvement,
>
>    What about a thread or two relating to nutrients for the eyes?
>
> I just finished a bottle of "Vision Essentials" blend and am
ready to order
> another one.
>
> There must be hundreds on the market.  Some are a bit
expensive, others are
> very low priced.
>
> Somewhere in between, there should be a bargain.
>
> Wayne
>
> Still trying to improve my night vision so I can see like an
Owl.........

Morning Francine,

>OK guys, let's not get too OT.
>This is a group about Vision Training. I allow, and even
>encourage some posting about "other" methods of vision
>improvement,

    What about a thread or two relating to nutrients for the eyes?

I just finished a bottle of "Vision Essentials" blend and am ready to order
another one.

There must be hundreds on the market.  Some are a bit expensive, others are
very low priced.

Somewhere in between, there should be a bargain.

Wayne

Still trying to improve my night vision so I can see like an Owl.........





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

OK guys, let's not get too OT.

This is a group about Vision Training. I allow, and even
encourage some posting about "other" methods of vision
improvement, as VT is rather a broad discipline and it very likely
will evolve in the future to include some methods not yet in
common usage among VTODS.

That said...proselytizing about your "other" method of choice is
not encouraged, and posting the url of your web site is enough
for others to find the information you are a proponent of. I do
encourage communication off-list about these "other" methods,
unless they are something I deem questionable or harmful and
in that case I tend to make rather blunt statements to that effect.

Jeez...I hate to have to repeat myself practically every day around
here...

Fran
FOVT list administrator.

Dear Dr. Taub,

My interest is exclusively in the PREVENTION of nearsightedness.

But I always enjoy pleasant discussions about the dynamic
behavior of the "natural eye", as philosophy.

Best,

Otis
(Engineer)

http://www.myopiafree.com




----- Original Message -----
From: <eyedoc23@...>
To: <focus_on_vision_training@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 6:25 PM
Subject: Re: [focus_on_vision_training] natural vision website
VisionsOfJoy.org


> I am familiar with the concepts of the Bates method.  What levels of
myopia
> does it "cure"?
>
>
> Dr. Marc Taub
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> General Notice To All Members:
> It is necessary before undertaking Optometric Vision Therapy that you
> get a full eye exam. We need to rule out the possibilty of other eye
> diseases, such as glaucoma, retinitis, etc. that would contraindicate
> your undertaking vision therapy. We also need to know as much as
> possible about your diagnosis, prescription numbers, etc. so that you
> know what your eye weaknesses are.These are the things that you will
> be working on the most in your practicing.
>
> I will be putting up links to doctors who teach vision therapy in the
> Files section of the group. There are doctors all over the world, but not
> all that many. In some countries there are only a few, or  none at all.
> This is one of the reasons why I started the group, because it is such
> a wonderful system of vision improvement, and it is not all that
> well-known or even available. It is absolutely, positively, better to do
> this under a doctor's supervision than it is to do it all on your own. I am
> acting as unofficial (and unpaid, LOL) advisor to you in lieu of an OD or
> certified vision training professional, which I am not, as of yet.
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> focus_on_vision_training-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>

--- In focus_on_vision_training@yahoogroups.com, eyedoc23@a... wrote:
> I am familiar with the concepts of the Bates method.  What levels
of myopia
> does it "cure"?
>
>
> Dr. Marc Taub

Dear Dr. Taub,

I am glad you put "cure" in quotes.

I know Fran does not like the concept of discussing
effectiveness, but I believe the following
is a reasonable statement.

I think that Dr. Bates would be willing to
sign-up for clearing vision from 20/50 to
DMV standard.

I the final anlaysis, the person himself can
verify this result by:

1.  Baselining his vision, i.e., verifing 20/50 vision.

2.  Use is chosen method.

3.  Pass the DMV required standard of 10 minute-of-arc
     vision.

Only in this way will he know the "effectiveness"
of his chosen method.

Best,

Otis



>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In focus_on_vision_training@yahoogroups.com, eyedoc23@a... wrote:
> I am familiar with the concepts of the Bates method.  What levels
of myopia
> does it "cure"?
>
>
> Dr. Marc Taub

Hello Marc
None, and All, is the answer ;-)  But I'll explain that off-group.
Regards,
Esther Joy
www.VisionsOfJoy.org

Dear fellow members,

A bunch of unpleasant stuff lately. First SachinT's fetishes,  now
this (see below).

I'm posting this fellow's message to remind everyone: This is a
Vision Training Group. The idea is to get the message about VT
out there, as it is the most effective vision improvement method
in existence. I started this group for that purpose, and not to
engage in senseless squabbling.

There are lots of other groups about vision improvement on the
internet, and they are a mostly a chaotic mess. There is enough
to discuss without our having to debate about the efficacy of VT,
which, BTW, no one was doing this week at all. There is in fact a
huge amount of info in the group files about the efficacy of VT,
which any member can download as they wish.

I've said this so many times: The group messages are open to
the public, and the group policies are posted on-group every
single month. Anyone can read them without having to join.
Anyone who has joined this group hoping to start an argument
about the efficacy of VT has certainly come to the wrong place.

Best regards,
Francine Eisner

________________________________________


From: "william johnston" <wyelm@...>
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 20:57:36 +0100
To: focus_on_vision_training@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [focus_on_vision_training] Digest Number 213

I have skimmed briefly through today's digest and discovered
that there seems to be a discussion over the efficacy of VT,
which is not permitted on the board, contrary to the principles of
open rational debate. I request that I be unsubscribed from the
group, since I cannot make a sensible judgement of its efficacy
without hearing both sides of the argument, and am not
interested in engaging in offlist communications, a lengthy and
time consuming process, open to misinterpretation and lack of
objectivity.

thank you.

ps I am familiar with the procedure of unsubscribing: I am
making a procedural point.

--------------------------------------

From: Francine Eisner <feisner@...>
To: <wyelm@...>
Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 16:42:17 -0500
Subject: <no subject>

Obviously you never bothered to look through the group
messages or group policies before you subscribed.

Unsubscribe yourself.

Hi Doc,

I hope that you are having a very pleasant Thanksgiving holiday.

My "official" position on the Bates Method is a matter of public
record here on FOVT. I've made numerous statements about its
usefulness as "adjunct" for VT training. There are many such
messages, since the group has been in existence now for 9 months. You
may want to read some of the ones I authored back in March; no need
to wade through them all.

I allow cursory presentation of material about Bates on FOVT, but it
really is primarily a group about Optometric Vision Training. I run
this group, and as far as I'm concerned, "VT rules...!" The efficacy
of VT is something that I don't even allow debating about. My mission
is to inform people about it and to help them to get referrals.

You and Esther may want to discuss Bates at length off-list.

Cheers,
Francine
FOVT list administrator

----------------------------


--- In focus_on_vision_training@yahoogroups.com, eyedoc23@a... wrote:
> I am familiar with the concepts of the Bates method.  What levels
of myopia
> does it "cure"?
>
>
> Dr. Marc Taub
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I am familiar with the concepts of the Bates method.  What levels of myopia
does it "cure"?


Dr. Marc Taub


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all

After a year of working on it, my website is ready for an official
launch.  This year I've used it as reference material for my
students, and have steadily worked at expanding the information
presented on it.  There is more to be done, but right seems a good
time for a proper introduction into the big wwworld.  So, here it is:
(drum-roll please)   http://www.VisionsOfJoy.org

My aim with Visions Of Joy is to increase awareness of the natural
option as an answer to blurry vision.  I dream that one day every
person in this world will know the basics of natural eyesight
improvement, and from then on, glasses, contact lenses and laser
surgery will be an oddity of the past.  Please check out the website,
and help me spread the word by forwarding the link to others.

Thanks for your interest, I look forward to receiving any comments,
suggestions, polite critiques that you have!

Love,
Esther Joy VanderWerf
www.VisionsOfJoy.org

Dear fellow members,

I have just had to ban the member called Sachin T, who spammed the
group yesterday and just attempted to do so again.

I apologize to other members whom he may have spammed. He has been
banned from FOVT, and I have never before had to resort to doing
this. I have also reported his behavior to yahoo, as he has an
account with them.

Let's hope that no one else here is a troll or spammer.

..............

OT personal stuff: Yesterday was truly a joyous occasion for my
family, as my father was able to come home despite having had a
rather severe heart attack last week. He was given a pacemaker but
his doctors think they can control his aterial blockage with
medication. He is acting like his usual self...joking around and
teasing me as usual. Whatever sense of humor I have I got from him.

Thanks to everyone here and my other email pals for sending prayers
for his recovery. Looks like the guy upstairs was listening.

Warmest regards,
Francine
FOVT list administrator

Hi guys,

Sorry to have to keep repeating this:

This is a reminder to you that if you know of a product intended for
vision improvement that has not been mentioned in the group messages
or files, please email me privately about it so that I can
investigate its efficacy.I have to do this in order to protect you
all from the possibility of fraud.

Most people will read about a new product and be a bit skeptical.
Others will immediately reach for a pen and their checkbook.

So...again...please email me first, OK?

Cheers,
Francine
FOVT list administrator
feisner@...

Otis S. Brown wrote:

>--- In focus_on_vision_training@yahoogroups.com, "subub_98"
><subub_98@y...> wrote:
>
>
>I would look for another "cause" of the
>headaches.
>
>
>
I can't help mentioning this whenever I hear about somebody having
headaches every day.  I had headaches every day for many years of my
young life, then I started drinking a bunch of water every day for
another health reason, and the headaches stopped cold and haven't been
back.  As long as I set a jug out for myself and drink it every day, I
don't get headaches.  If I forget for a few days, the evening headaches
come creeping back.  It's worth a try.  Even the gov't recommends eight
8oz glasses a day.  Most people don't drink nearly enough.  Also try
deep breathing... sometimes the cause of headaches is lack of oxygen to
the brain.
Janel

Dear Rachel,

The coin exercise is meant to be a convergence exercise but it can also be done
as divergence. You say that convergence is easy, but I wish you would report
exactly what you see when you converge the coins. There is much more to the
exercise than just seeing the "fusion coin."

In response to your other question: Yeah, you should be able to fuse by
divergence with objects much farther than the distance between your two eyes. If
you have divergence problems of course this will be a challenge to you and your
progress at this will likely to
be much slower.

Other available divergence exercises include the stereograms and also Dr
Gottlieb's exercises.

Please don't rush things too much. What do you see when you converge? What about
the small letters on the coins? I think I already requested that you give a
report. If I were a VTOD I would be asking you the same questions.

Yeah...Happy Thanksgiving to EVERYBODY...whether they are American or not.

Cheers,
Fran

.....................................

cinnamonnoodle <cinnamonnoodle@...> wrote:
Hello,

Is the base out coin exercise meant to be viewed with eyes crossing
in toward the nose (convergent) or going out away from the nose
(divergent)?

Convergence was very easy for me, but divergence is much harder,
especially for images that are further apart than the distance
between my eyes. Is it possible to fuse such images?

Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving to those from the US,
Rachel




---------------------------------
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello,

Is the base out coin exercise meant to be viewed with eyes crossing
in toward the nose (convergent) or going out away from the nose
(divergent)?

Convergence was very easy for me, but divergence is much harder,
especially for images that are further apart than the distance
between my eyes. Is it possible to fuse such images?

Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving to those from the US,
Rachel

--- In focus_on_vision_training@yahoogroups.com, "subub_98"
<subub_98@y...> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I posted some time ago regarding my daughter. This time it is about
> me. I am 32 years old and have always had good vision. The last few
> months I have been having headaches in the evening regularly. so, I
> went to the optometrist and he said I had +1.25 in both eyes. He
gave
> me reading glasses but I find it harder with the glasses than
> without. I can read perfectly fine without glasses, its just that I
> get headaches.
>
> What exercises can I do to fix this problem? I dont want to have
> +1.25...
>
> Thanks, Abby.

Dear Abby,

I believe that Fran is correct on this issue.

If your vision if fine, then do not wear
the +1.25 diopter lenses.
You will not need them for another 10 or
15 years.

I would look for another "cause" of the
headaches.

Best,

Otis

Dear members,

I have put in some new files and folders. I try to do this every
week, and we really have what amounts to a very good small
reference library now about Vision Training and the visual
system.

The following have recently been added to the group files:
____________________________________________

Added file: "SIDE_EFFECTS_Pharma.doc"

Added folder: "LEARNING PROBLEMS & VISION"

Added file: "Vision_Learning_Dyslexia.doc"

Added folder: "AMBLYOPIA & STRABISMUS"

Added file: Amblyopia.pdf"

Added file: VT_for_Amblyopia.doc"

Added file: "Amblyopia_Treatment.doc"

Added file: "Genetics_Dev_Defects.doc"


To the vision professionals here who are members: Your
membership is so very welcome. Please feel free to make any
suggestions as to possible additions to the group files.

...........................

I hate to repeat myself, but no one is allowed to promote their
websites or to post questionable material without my written
approval.

............................

OT PERSONAL STUFF: I am going to probably be offline for a
few days, as I am going to be with my mother and visiting my
father in the hospital. He fortunately is on the road to recovery
from his heart attack, but we have postponed "Turkey Day" until
he is home and feeling much better. I certainly am thankful,
however, as he gave us quite a scare.

To those of you who are in the USA or who are Americans living
abroad: Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. See you next week...

Cheers,
Francine

Best regards,
Francine

Dear Nelson,

Please read my response to you on-group. This kind of thing unfortunately
happens sometimes even though my group rules really are extremely strict.
Sachin's posting has surely offended other members of the group besides you
and I, but I like to give a warning before I actually ban someone.

I understand your anger, but you will get a lot out of FOVT if you decide to
stay. The internet is extremely vast, but there really is no group like it
anywhere. Both the group files and group messages really are a "treasure
trove."

As I've said, I need this trouble even less than you do, as my father is in
the hospital right now.

You may want to adjust your membership options so that you read the messages
online instead of receiving a Daily Digest. Unfortunately, even if I removed
a message 10 seconds after it is posted, it will always appear on the Daily
Digest. I have spoken to Yahoo about this but they will not adjust their
software in order to prevent this from happening.

Of course you are free to unsubscribe at any time. I may try to convince
people to stay, but it is always your choice to do so or not.


Best regards,
Francine

---------------------

on 11/26/03 7:36 AM, Neilson de Lara at ohneil31@... wrote:

> Please remove me from this group!
>
> "Sachin T." <idc95@...> wrote:Dear All,
> I have added two albums with really pretty GWGs. Go
> and see them,
> they are really really cute...
>
> Albums
> Susan Weiss in Action- (This is the favourite)
> Poulina in action
>
> my yahoo group:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/girlswithglassesSachinT
> girlswithglassesSachinT@yahoogroups.com
>
> Thanks
> Sachin T.
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now
> http://companion.yahoo.com/
>
> Yahoo! Groups SponsorADVERTISEMENT
>
> General Notice To All Members:
> It is necessary before undertaking Optometric Vision Therapy that you get a
> full eye exam. We need to rule out the possibilty of other eye diseases, such
> as glaucoma, retinitis, etc. that would
> contraindicate your undertaking vision therapy. We also need to know as much
> as possible about your diagnosis, prescription numbers, etc. so that you know
> what your eye weaknesses are.
> These are the things that you will be working on the most in your practicing.
>
> I will be putting up links to doctors who teach vision therapy in the Files
> section of the group. There are doctors all over the
> world, but not all that many. In some countries there are only a few, or none
> at all. This is one of the reasons why I started the group, because it is such
> a wonderful system of vision improvement, and it is not all that well-known or
> even available. It is absolutely, positively, better to do this under a
> doctor's supervision than it is to do it all on your own. I am acting as
> unofficial (and unpaid, LOL) advisor to you in lieu of an OD or certified
> vision training professional, which I am not, as of yet.
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> focus_on_vision_training-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> General Notice To All Members:
> It is necessary before undertaking Optometric Vision Therapy that you get a
> full eye exam. We need to rule out the possibilty of other eye diseases, such
> as glaucoma, retinitis, etc. that would
> contraindicate your undertaking vision therapy. We also need to know as much
> as possible about your diagnosis, prescription numbers, etc. so that you know
> what your eye weaknesses are.
> These are the things that you will be working on the most in your practicing.
>
> I will be putting up links to doctors who teach vision therapy in the Files
> section of the group. There are doctors all over the
> world, but not all that many. In some countries there are only a few, or none
> at all. This is one of the reasons why I started the group, because it is such
> a wonderful system of vision improvement, and it is not all that well-known or
> even available. It is absolutely, positively, better to do this under a
> doctor's supervision than it is to do it all on your own. I am acting as
> unofficial (and unpaid, LOL) advisor to you in lieu of an OD or certified
> vision training professional, which I am not, as of yet.
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> focus_on_vision_training-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Dear ohneil31@...<

> "Sachin T." <idc95@...> wrote:Dear All, I have added
> two albums with really pretty GWGs. Go and see them, they
> are really really cute...

Did you not read my postings? This kind of thing is totally
unacceptable here, and Sachin T, who has been a member
since June, has now caused the entire group to be put on
moderation for awhile.

I don't like getting this kind of trash any more than you do. I
removed Sachin's message, and if he does this again he will be
banned.

But there is, unfortunately, nothing that can keep something from
getting on the daily digest once it is posted.

If the safeguards I have now set in place are not enough for you,
you are free to unsubscribe.

Best regards,
Francine

------------------

Please remove me from this group!

"Sachin T." <idc95@...> wrote:Dear All,
I have added two albums with really pretty GWGs. Go
and see them,
they are really really cute...

Albums
Susan Weiss in Action- (This is the favourite)
Poulina in action

my yahoo group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/girlswithglassesSachinT
girlswithglassesSachinT@yahoogroups.com

Thanks
Sachin T.



__________________________________
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Yahoo! Groups SponsorADVERTISEMENT

General Notice To All Members:
It is necessary before undertaking Optometric Vision Therapy that you get a full
eye exam. We need to rule out the possibilty of other eye diseases, such as
glaucoma, retinitis, etc. that would
contraindicate your undertaking vision therapy. We also need to know as much as
possible about your diagnosis, prescription numbers, etc. so that you know what
your eye weaknesses are.
These are the things that you will be working on the most in your practicing.

I will be putting up links to doctors who teach vision therapy in the Files
section of the group. There are doctors all over the
world, but not all that many. In some countries there are only a few, or none at
all. This is one of the reasons why I started the group, because it is such a
wonderful system of vision improvement, and it is not all that well-known or
even available. It is absolutely, positively, better to do this under a doctor's
supervision than it is to do it all on your own. I am acting as unofficial (and
unpaid, LOL) advisor to you in lieu of an OD or certified vision training
professional, which I am not, as of yet.

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
focus_on_vision_training-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi guys,

This article about a recent study looks very interesting. It may
explain the cause of multiple developmental problems, including
vision problems.

Cheers,
Francine

_________________________

Source:  University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center At
Dallas

Date:  2003-11-25

Researchers Show Absence Of Key Oxygen-sensing Molecule
Leads To Developmental Defects

DALLAS – UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
researchers have shown that the absence of a key
oxygen-sensing molecule can lead to multiple developmental
defects – from an enlarged heart to eye problems. The
researchers generated the first mouse model that lacks entirely
a member of an important family of proteins involved in sensing
hypoxia, a state of reduced oxygen in the body's cells that is
associated with conditions such as heart attacks, stroke and
lung disease.

This new model allowed the scientists to take a closer look into
the exact physiologic function of these proteins, which was
unknown until now, and the model provided clues as to what
human diseases may be caused by alterations in these
proteins. The researchers reported in the online version of
Nature Genetics that the absence of this crucial oxygen-sensing
molecule leads to developmental defects due to the inability of
the mice to respond to high, damaging levels of oxygen-based
molecules called reactive oxygen species.

Their knockout mice lacked the gene Epas1, which encodes
HIF-2á (hypoxia inducible factor 2á ), a molecule activated in
response to hypoxia. In the mice that lacked HIF-2á, the
researchers reported abnormalities including cardiac
hypertrophy or enlarged heart, fatty liver, eye defects, serum
biochemical abnormalities, and increased oxidative stress –
conditions seen in human patients with mitochondrial defects.

"The surprise was that mice lacking the nuclear DNA-encoded
Epas1/HIF-2á had changes in multiple organs that was
suggestive of a mitochondrial disease state," said Dr. Joseph
Garcia, assistant professor of internal medicine and senior
author of the study. "Both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA
mutations can adversely affect these crucial intracellular
organelles and lead to widespread abnormalities in humans as
well as animal models."

The body has a normal response to hypoxia, which includes
turning on specific genes that have protective roles to alleviate
the detrimental effects of reduced oxygen in the cells. It likewise
has an adaptive response to oxidative stress that involves
increasing the expression of genes whose function is to
eliminate oxygen radicals and their potentially harmful
derivatives.

"This study provides evidence that Epas1/HIF-2á is an important
regulator of gene expression for a particular group of genes
involved in oxidative stress response," Dr. Garcia said. "In the
absence of Epas1/HIF-2á, mice are not able to turn on the
expression of these antioxidant genes, and the overall balance
of the cell favors a state of oxidant excess, which led us to
hypothesize that the mitochondria in the Epas1/HIF-2á knockout
mice were impaired.

"We attributed the cause of impairment to increased oxidative
stress and decreased elimination of reactive oxygen species."

To test their hypothesis, the researchers treated the mice with a
chemical compound that mimics the activity of proteins encoded
by genes that Epas1/HIF2á would normally activate. This
chemical compound, which has antioxidant properties,
substantially prevented or reversed the organ and metabolic
abnormalities in the mice. In addition, treatment of pregnant
females with the same molecule led to increased viability in their
newborns, suggesting that "therapy that reduces oxidative
stress, increases (newborn) survival to birth," the researchers
reported.

"This research also has implications for a role of Epas1/HIF-2á
and possibly other HIF factors in human mitochondrial
disorders," Dr. Garcia said. "Their role in other human conditions
associated with increased oxidative stress such as aging,
cardiovascular disease and diabetes will require future studies."

Other researchers who contributed to the study included Dr.
Michael Bennett, professor of pathology and pediatrics; Dr. Kan
Ding, postdoctoral researcher in internal medicine; Yavuz Oktay,
student research assistant in the Integrative Biology Graduate
Program; Dr. James Richardson, professor of pathology; Dr.
Marzia Scortegagna, postdoctoral researcher in internal
medicine; John Shelton, a research scientist in internal
medicine; Arti Gaur, a former research assistant in internal
medicine; and researchers at the University of Washington
School of Medicine.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/11/031125070912.h
tm

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the
American Heart Association and the Donald W. Reynolds
Foundation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

This story has been adapted from a news release issued by
University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center At Dallas.

Dear Members,

Please don't attempt to override the rules of this group. I don't
allow advertising or posting of material that is unrelated to vision
improvement or the visual system. I don't like debating either, but
this still leaves room for lots of different kinds of discussions on
this board and most people seem to find FOVT a pretty
interesting place to be.

The group policies are posted virtually every month, but if you are
unsure of what they are, they are also in the group files.

I don't like to have to delete postings and I would prefer not to
have to moderate people who have been members for a long
time, but I will do this if I absolutely must.

Please respect my wishes. I have even less patience than usual
with nonsense, as my father just had a heart attack.

Fran

Dear Sachin,

While feeling good about how you look if you need to wear
glasses is a good thing, posting about your sexual fixation with
girls who wear glasses is not acceptable in this group. I'm sure
you know this already, as I post the group policies virtually every
month.

Please don't attempt to do this again.

Fran

--------------------


--- In focus_on_vision_training@yahoogroups.com, "Sachin T."
<idc95@y...> wrote:
> Dear All,
> I have added two albums with really pretty GWGs. Go
> and see them,
> they are really really cute...

>
> my yahoo group:

> Thanks
> Sachin T.

Dear Max,

> Does that mean that light entering the center of the pupil are not
> distorted, regardless of the refractive error of the eye?

I am unfortunately not an Optometrist. My understanding of optics is limited
to having had a year of college physics, and to some reading I have done on
my own. I can, though, perhaps shed at least a little light on the subject.

I think you are assuming that the light passes through a perfect medium with
no distortions, and this is not all that common. There is usually some
distortion due to an imperfectly shaped cornea,a lens that is less than
perfectly transparent, irregularities in the vitreous, or other factors
before the light rays even reach the macula. This will result in at least
some scattering of the light rays. The link below contains interesting
references to limitations on visual acuity. There is, apparently a known
"point spread" function due to distortions created by the optics of the eye.

http://webvision.med.utah.edu/KallSpatial.html#factors

For the rest of you who are interested, The link below also has a lot of
info about optics and the eye:

http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/class/refrn/u14l6a.html

> And how about the fact that the fovea is displaced temporally?
> How does that affect central fixation?

The answer to this question is quite beyond my knowledge at present.


Your questions are very interesting, but pretty much outside the scope of
this newsgroup, which is primarily a support group for people who want to
improve their vision. But feel free to keep them coming, as they are
interesting to ME.

Please also feel free to give links of your own regarding central fixation
and the cause or causes of foveal displacement.


Best regards,
Francine

-----------------

on 11/25/03 8:30 PM, lyncaeus2002 at lyncaeus2002@... wrote:

> According to optics, a light ray striking a medium perpendicualr to
> its plane, is not bent, regardless of the medium's refractive index.
>
> Does that mean that light entering the center of the pupil are not
> distorted, regardless of the refractive error of the eye?
>
> And how about the fact that the fovea is displaced temporally?
> How does that affect central fixation?
>
> Thank you for any clarification of this (intriguing for me) matter.
>
> Max Mandolini
>
>
>
> General Notice To All Members:
> It is necessary before undertaking Optometric Vision Therapy that you get a
> full eye exam. We need to rule out the possibilty of other eye diseases, such
> as glaucoma, retinitis, etc. that would
> contraindicate your undertaking vision therapy. We also need to know as much
> as possible about your diagnosis, prescription numbers, etc. so that you know
> what your eye weaknesses are.
> These are the things that you will be working on the most in your practicing.
>
> I will be putting up links to doctors who teach vision therapy in the Files
> section of the group. There are doctors all over the
> world, but not all that many. In some countries there are only a few, or none
> at all. This is one of the reasons why I started the group, because it is such
> a wonderful system of vision improvement, and it is not all that well-known or
> even available. It is absolutely, positively, better to do this under a
> doctor's supervision than it is to do it all on your own. I am acting as
> unofficial (and unpaid, LOL) advisor to you in lieu of an OD or certified
> vision training professional, which I am not, as of yet.
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> focus_on_vision_training-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

According to optics, a light ray striking a medium perpendicualr to
its plane, is not bent, regardless of the medium's refractive index.

Does that mean that light entering the center of the pupil are not
distorted, regardless of the refractive error of the eye?

And how about the fact that the fovea is displaced temporally?
How does that affect central fixation?

Thank you for any clarification of this (intriguing for me) matter.

Max Mandolini

Hi Abby,

You probably have developed a bit of early presbyopia, and possibly
eyestrain from computer usage. My advice:

(1) Read, download, and implement info from the folder on Computer Vision
Syndrome.

(2) Take frequent breaks from reading or computer use: About every 20
minutes.

(2) Start practicing with the coin card and also Ray Gottlieb's presbyopia
exercise. Please post on the group about what you observe when doing the
exercises. Be very specific and give details.

(3) Do Bates Method exercises, which are very helpful whenever one has a
headache or tired eyes. Please refer to the Bates Folder in the group files.

...................


You are clearly having difficulty adjusting to the glasses, and there are
any number of possible reasons for this. Reading glasses will magnify the
text, and you may find this distracting. The frames may not fit well, etc.
But getting those headaches usually indicates a developing vision weakness
in the near department, even if you don't perceive a problem. It may be just
a very subtle problem. Whatever you do...don't go around wearing them all
the time. This is not necessary in your case.

Please try to become a keen observer of what makes seeing easier, what
alleviates headaches, etc. You may want to play around with ambient
lighting. You may observe that too bright a light bothers you, or that you
don't see as well in moderate to dim light. You may have undetected sinus
trouble. You may have a pinched nerve in your neck. There are so many things
that can affect vision and how we feel in general. The only solution is to
become a very astute observer of one's own physical reactions. Then we are
often able to inform the doctors of things they haven't thought of...!

Please keep me posted on your observations/progress with the suggested
exercises. The problems you have reported are ones that are often reported,
and it's likely that you will soon feel much better if you try some of the
things I have suggested.

Cheers,
Francine

--------------


on 11/25/03 4:26 PM, subub_98 at subub_98@... wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I posted some time ago regarding my daughter. This time it is about
> me. I am 32 years old and have always had good vision. The last few
> months I have been having headaches in the evening regularly. so, I
> went to the optometrist and he said I had +1.25 in both eyes. He gave
> me reading glasses but I find it harder with the glasses than
> without. I can read perfectly fine without glasses, its just that I
> get headaches.
>
> What exercises can I do to fix this problem? I dont want to have
> +1.25...
>
> Thanks, Abby.
>
>
>
> General Notice To All Members:
> It is necessary before undertaking Optometric Vision Therapy that you get a
> full eye exam. We need to rule out the possibilty of other eye diseases, such
> as glaucoma, retinitis, etc. that would
> contraindicate your undertaking vision therapy. We also need to know as much
> as possible about your diagnosis, prescription numbers, etc. so that you know
> what your eye weaknesses are.
> These are the things that you will be working on the most in your practicing.
>
> I will be putting up links to doctors who teach vision therapy in the Files
> section of the group. There are doctors all over the
> world, but not all that many. In some countries there are only a few, or none
> at all. This is one of the reasons why I started the group, because it is such
> a wonderful system of vision improvement, and it is not all that well-known or
> even available. It is absolutely, positively, better to do this under a
> doctor's supervision than it is to do it all on your own. I am acting as
> unofficial (and unpaid, LOL) advisor to you in lieu of an OD or certified
> vision training professional, which I am not, as of yet.
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> focus_on_vision_training-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

Hi,

I posted some time ago regarding my daughter. This time it is about
me. I am 32 years old and have always had good vision. The last few
months I have been having headaches in the evening regularly. so, I
went to the optometrist and he said I had +1.25 in both eyes. He gave
me reading glasses but I find it harder with the glasses than
without. I can read perfectly fine without glasses, its just that I
get headaches.

What exercises can I do to fix this problem? I dont want to have
+1.25...

Thanks, Abby.

Dear Betsy,

It's difficult to tell from scanty info exactly what is happening with your=

eyes.It is possible that once a certain level of convergence is required yo=
u
essentially become monocular, or just use one eye. It is also possible that=

you have a visual field problem with the right eye. A third possibility is =
that
you are not converging, but are making the mistake of diverging in order to=

fuse the coins. Using divergence would essentially make the coins a
distance vision exercise. This can be done, but this was not my intention
when I told you to try the coin exercise.

• The best thing of course would be to get a complete eye exam from a
VTOD, and to get Vision Training with a qualified OD. I am really only
guessing, and acting in lieu of a professional trainer/advisor.

• You also need to give more details about what it is that you see when
you fuse the coins.

– How far away from your face are you holding the coin card? You should
have printed it, not be reading it off your monitor. If printing is done
accurately, the top row should be about 2 inches apart, and I think each
coin is about 3/4 " in diameter.

– What color is the fusion coin in each row?

– Does the fusion coin in the center seem larger or smaller than the origin=
al
pair? Does it seem closer or farther away?

– Can you hold the fusion coin or does it break apart soon after fusion?

– Do you perceive any 3D effect with the fusion coin? With the letters
written on the coin?

– What, exactly, do you see with regard to the small letters on the coin? D=
o
some seem closer or farther away from you? Please give very specific
details.

– How do your eyes feel when doing this exercise? How many times a day
do you do it, and for how long each time?

..............

If you answer these questions I will know a bit more about how your eyes
are functioning. And I'll be able to better advise you. There are ways of
working your weaker eye, but I need to know more at this point.

Cheers,
Francine

-----------




--- In focus_on_vision_training@yahoogroups.com, Betsy Okonski
<okonskis@j...> wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I am new here and am just starting to experiment with some of the
> resources in the files. I was working with the coins card, and noticed a
> few things that I thought were kind of odd. First, I can converge pretty
> easily all the way up to the fourth row, but curiously enough, when I
> converge, one of the coins falls into the blind spot of my right (weaker)=

> eye, completely at the top row, and partially in the two middle rows.
> This does not happen with the left eye. Also, my visual acuity decreases
> significantly in the right eye when I converge, but not in the left eye.
> My right eye is moderately myopic, 20/60 to 20/50, and my left eye is
> 20/20 but I see slight double images. Any thoughts on what this means
and
> how I can train to correct it?
>
> Thanks,
> Betsy

Hi Everyone,

I am new here and am just starting to experiment with some of the
resources in the files. I was working with the coins card, and noticed a
few things that I thought were kind of odd. First, I can converge pretty
easily all the way up to the fourth row, but curiously enough, when I
converge, one of the coins falls into the blind spot of my right (weaker)
eye, completely at the top row, and partially in the two middle rows.
This does not happen with the left eye. Also, my visual acuity decreases
significantly in the right eye when I converge, but not in the left eye.
My right eye is moderately myopic, 20/60 to 20/50, and my left eye is
20/20 but I see slight double images. Any thoughts on what this means and
how I can train to correct it?

Thanks,
Betsy