Page 4 - Extra River Valley and Ozarks Jan 2015

4VV • SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2015 EXTRA ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
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The best course of action when experiencing symptoms of dry eye is to talk to an eye-care pro- fessional.A comprehensive examination will be conducted, including tests to evaluate for dry eye.
f your eyes feel as dry as the desert or you experience a stinging sensation that makes you feel like you’ve spent the last eight hours lost in a sandstorm, you might have a
winter essentials}
condition called dry eye.
About 40-million Americans are affected by dry eye and ocular-surface diseases, according to the Schepens Eye Research Institute, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Many suffer from the symptoms without even realizing there is treatment.
The eye depends upon a flow of tears for consistent lubrication and protection. These tears are created from a combination of water, oil and mucus that are secreted by special glands located around the eye. An imbalance in this tear system can lead to inadequate eye lubrication, causing irritation or blurred vision. A person with dry eye may also produce excess tears, which are caused when the eye sends a distress signal through the nervous system for more lubrication. Since these tears are mostly water, they lack the lubricating qualities or composition of normal tears, failing to properly coat the eye’s surface. Either way, a lack of quality tears can cause dry eye. If left untreated, this condition can damage the front surface of the eye and impair vision.
Inflammation is a hallmark of dry eye. Reducing the inflammation on the surface of the eye and regulating the glands that produce tears are essential to effectively manage the condition.
Most people assume these symptoms are a result of age. Dry eye is a part of the natural aging process, as a majority of people over age 65 experience some dry-eye symptoms.
But most people also assume there is no treatment for the discomfort. As a result, many sufferers reach for artificial tears or rewetting drops, hoping for immediate relief. Self-medicating by using over-the-counter treatments can delay diagnosis and effective therapy. The results are often temporary, as eye health is a systemic process, and inflammation needs to be addressed within the body.
There are a number of options available for dry-eye sufferers. Since diet affects eye health, some optometrists direct patients to nutritional supplements containing omega-3
fatty acids to manage dry-eye symptoms. Daily supplements of flaxseed oil or fish oil, when used alone or in tandem with lubricating eye drops, appear to reduce dry-eye symptoms, including burning, stinging, redness and intermittent visual disturbances, according to
AllAboutVision.com.
Omega-3 fatty acids are important for
maintaining significant structural components of tissue cell membranes throughout the body and may help reduce inflammation that can contribute to dry-eye syndrome. Supplements containing fish oil derived from wild fish, as a source of omega-3, are thought to possess more nutritional benefits.
Other nutrients found to help dry-eye conditions include vitamin A, as retinyl palmitate, and vitamin E, as d-alpha tocopherol. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble (absorbed by the body with the help of fats) antioxidant shown to protect corneal-surface health. Fat-soluble vitamin E is also thought to protect the cells of the eyes from damage caused by unstable molecules that break down healthy tissue. These compounds are found in a healthy diet and are important in stabilizing omega-3-fatty- acid formulas. Green-tea extract has also been shown to contain antioxidants for systemic and ocular tissues.
Since long-term use of fish oil may cause a vitamin E deficiency in some people, fish-oil supplements containing vitamin E are ideal.
Eye vitamins contain nutrients — including omega-3s, vitamin A and vitamin E — to attack the cause of dry eye by improving the quality of the tears produced and provide rapid relief by soothing inf lammation.
The first step toward relief is talking to an eye-care professional about your symptoms and concerns. After conducting a comprehensive examination, including tests to evaluate for dry eye, an optometrist or ophthalmologist can recommend the best course of action.
— Courtesy of BrandPoint
Bold colors, a statement coat, interesting scarves and some simple strategies to prevent hat hair can have you looking fashionable, no matter how low temperatures dip this winter.
even when the weather is cold
t is difficult to look your best when you’re bundled up to protect yourself against cold winter weather. After all, fashion tends to fall by the wayside when
the focus is on keeping warm. However, there are ways to put a fashionable foot forward, even if that well-clad foot is stepping in a puddle of slush.
Scarves
Scarves serve a practical purpose, helping to keep your body warm, and they’re also a fashionable staple of winter wardrobes. Scarves can be used to dress up an ordinary ensemble, providing a chic or bohemian look as you navigate city streets. Crocheting or knitting scarves is still popular, but you don’t have to be a seasoned craftsman to include scarves in your wardrobe. Scarves come in a variety of styles, sizes and materials, and there are many ways to knot a scarf so you can create a different look each day.
Bold colors
Don’t get trapped in a pattern of dressing drab just because it’s gray outside. Embrace some bold splashes of color, and they can brighten your day. Patterned dresses in bright hues were seen on the runways at Givenchy, Burberry and Prada shows this fall. Pair such attire with a long, flowing wool coat with a cinched, belted waist, and you will look on point for winter.
Contrasting fur
The “it” jacket on many runways this fall featured a contrasting shearling or fur collar. Whether you prefer faux fur or the real thing, a dash of something fuzzy by the neck can keep you warm and instantly add style to your look. Fur can be used to dress up jeans and a sweater or even add a sophisticated touch to a business ensemble.
Statement coat
Boring winter coats need not be your only way to stay warm. Invest in a coat with a fun pattern, fabric or embellishments,
and it won’t matter what you are wearing underneath because the coat will attract all of the attention. Patterns will pop against the white background of a snowy landscape.
Convertible mittens
Fingerless gloves that have a mitten flap that can cover chilly fingers are a prime accessory for cold days. They allow easy access to smartphone screens, while also keeping your hands cozy when the wind kicks up.
Hats
The prospect of flattened, lifeless locks compels many men and women to forgo hats on cold days. But a few tricks can give you the best of both worlds: a warm head and nice hair. Begin by going for regular trims that will keep dried-out or split ends from becoming problematic. After washing your hair in the morning, apply a conditioning treatment to prevent flyaways. Be sure your hair is completely dry before donning a hat, otherwise hair can become matted and look flat all day. Loose-fitting cotton or fleece hats may be less likely to flatten hair than a wool hat, and you can keep the hat slightly off the crown of your head to prevent your hair from flattening. When all else fails, women can pull their hair back into ponytails before putting on a hat, helping to keep a style in place.
The arrival of winter does not mean you have to sacrifice your fashion sense. There are plenty of ways to look your best, even when the temperature has plummeted.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative Services