PAGE 15
My eyes suddenly test normal
On the morning of
the 18th July 1994, I set out on the two hour journey from Wairoa to Hastings
for my annual visit to my ophthalmologist. Half way there I remembered I had not
put any drops in my eyes that morning.
I reported this fact to my eye
specialist as he began his examination. His response was, “That is good. We will
get a good test.”
An unexpected result
A few
minutes later he said “Look, I don’t think you need to put any more drops in
your eyes. Your pressures are normal.”
He told me to return again in one month and he would check me
again free of charge.
After receiving assurance that no harm could come to my eyes by
not using the eyedrops for a month, I departed.
Another check
Two
months later I was re-examined and my pressures were still normal.
Over those two months I had pondered the reasons as to why
glaucoma, that had been with me for 12 years should suddenly decide to depart. I
formed the opinion that the element Selenium, which I had recently been taking,
was responsible.
I asked the specialist if I could look through my records from
the time I was first diagnosed as having glaucoma. This we did and found that I
had begun using drops some 12 years ago, when the pressure was found to be 25 mm
Hg.
Always ask, “What is my pressure?”
Incidentally,
in all those years I had never asked what glaucoma was, or what my pressures
were. To me glaucoma was like a wart. I had it. It didn’t hurt. It was a
nuisance.
PAGE 33
What are cataracts?
Cataracts are an eye condition where the
lens of the eye, which is normally crystal clear, becomes cloudy. This leads to
increasingly blurred vision. Eventually no light can enter the eye.
It is a condition that usually develops slowly and is seldom seen
in people under 50 years of age.
In almost all cases, cataracts are caused by a lack of minerals
and vitamins, especially Vitamin A and C, although in some cases a faulty
thyroid gland, a diabetic condition, or steroid drugs can be at fault.
Can cataracts be eliminated?
Yes, if remedial action is taken
as soon as cataracts are discovered, they can in almost 100% of cases be
eliminated. This requires a correct intake of minerals, vitamins and
anti-oxidants.
Current treatment of cataracts is to operate and insert a plastic
lens (at a price exceeding $3000 in NZ) into the lens sheath.
In most cases this succeeds, but the complication or failure
rate, which I believe is about 6%, still requires your cash payment in full.
Supplements on the other hand, enable your eyes to heal
naturally. The lens begins to clear from the outer edges and the full clearance
generally takes about six months.
And you don’t need to visit a specialist to know what’s
happening, you can tell by your improved sight.
Are there different types of cataracts?
Indeed, there are seven main
recognisable types:
Posterior sub-capsular cataracts. In this type the eye finds it very hard
to operate in bright lights. This normally signifies a lack of Vitamin A. People
who use steroids, or are diabetic, or lack chromium (which is a common factor in
diabetics), or have a thyroid deficiency are the ones who are more prone to
develop this type of cataract.
