bstruss's blog

ABSTRACT

In doing some research, it seems that tumeric is not readily absorbed due to the harsh environment of the GI tract. However, taking a little oil or fat, black pepper ( extract: bioperine), and enzymes like bromelain seem to aid in absorption.  In fact, the better supplements of tumeric are sold with bioperin added.

I have mentioned my love hate relationship with tonometry a couple of times and Dave asked me to elaborate. Well, when I started by purchasing an AT555 a few months ago, I decided to do so primarily because my doc, for the first time, recently found my pressures to be high while I was using xalatan. However, I had started using the Indian generic 'latanoprost'. My doc didn't think that was the problem (though tonometry has now revealed otherwise). 

Having done research on the effects of alchohol on IOP and not finding much, I decided to do a little test. I measured my average pressures a couple of times at 4 pm and found them 12pt in each eye. Following this, I consumed 2 glasses of wine on a fairly empty stomach and after feeling a moderate 'buzz' I measured my pressures again and found them to be 16.5pt (there were no other changes I can account for during this period).  After 1 hour had passed, I measured them again and they were 13pt.  I would speculate that alchohol may initially act as a stimulatant and raise pressures.

I have found that my eyes tend to be more subject to irritation when I measure them later at night. For example, while I am performing the three per eye puff tests with the AT555, my eyes will burn a bit while trying to keep them open (but mostly later at night when they are tired). However, what I want to know is whether eyes feeling irritated/burning can momentarily raise pressures (I have noticed that they seem a bit higher just before going to bed and trying to determine a correlation with this irritation).

A new type of medicated eye drop may be able to reverse symptoms of glaucoma, an Italian study has suggested.

Lets hope this pans out. Here is the full article..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8180992.stm

I don't know if this has been previously discussed, but I thought I would post it just in case it wasn't..

From a 1985 study..

I have read articles on bed and pillow elevation and have slightly raised the head of my bed accordingly. However, I was wondering if there is a preferred sleep position regarding IOPs? I have a habit of sleeping on my stomach and then twisting my neck so that my head lays sideways on the pillow (not face down etc). However, after reading articles regarding how neck pressure from tight collars can elevate IOP, I wonder if this position with neck twisted might not do the same.

I started using the AT555 this past week and it has been very helpful in revealing what is going on with my eyes on a number  of different areas. For one, I have determined what I always suspected, and that is that my eye pressures spike about 1/2 hour after arising in the morning and then continue high until about 12 noon. I have open angles and ocular hypertension, and surprisingly no visual field or optic nerve damage (yet).  After noon time, my pressures will decline to normal values and even get down to around 12 without drops!

More 'eye stuff' from the plant kingdom..

The ocular dynamics of bolus consumption of 300 mg total dose was undertaken on visually active volunteers with a view to finding its ocular effects or complications. Results showed that the aqueous extract of X. aethiopica was neither a miotic nor a mydriatic, but lowered the intraocular pressure (17.48%)

 I have recently acquired and been using a Reichert AT555 and getting familiar with it. So far it has confirmed what I have suspected since getting a diagnoses of ocular hypertension 10 years ago - and that is that my pressures vary widely throughout the day.  Fortunately, I do not have any optic nerve damage or visual field impairment, but my pressures can vary as much as 16 points from the time I get up till later in the evening (31mm Hg (AM) - 16mm Hg (PM) without drops.