Health

In today’s technologically advanced world, it has become increasingly common to spend hours staring at computer screens, tablets and smart phones. According to local experts, staying glued to technology for long periods of time may ruin a person’s eyesight. Dr. Tyson Tanner, optometrist for Southwestern Eye Center in Phoenix and Sun City, calls this condition “square eyes,” a non-literal term used to describe strained or tired eyes, which result from constantly using electronic devices. “The more time we spend staring at our screen the more fatigued our eyes focusing system becomes and the more uncomfortable our vision becomes,” Dr. Tyson Tanner says. Headaches, eyestrain and eye fatigue are common symptoms of experiencing square eyes. Although the condition is not permanent, Dr. Tanner offers great tips for proper visual hygiene that would prevent someone from having square eyes:

1. Rest the eye’s focusing system by looking at a distant object (at least 20 feet away.) This should be done for one to two minutes for every of screen looking.
2. Holding smartphones too close to the face causes eyes to work harder than normal. Try holding the phone a little farther away (at about 16 inches).
3. We often blink less while staring at a screen, which can cause burning or eye irritation. Blink more!
4. Lubricating eyes with eye drops can help moisturize and comfort the eyes. Use a drop for every couple of hours of near work.
5. Eating a balanced diet that is rich in green leafy vegetables is important to maintain eye health.
6. There are vitamins and supplements, which contain certain antioxidants, leutine and xeoxanthine which help promote retinal health.
7. Proper hydration and Omega 3 fatty acids like fish oil can help with dryness and the eyes stay better lubricated.

 Overall, Dr. Tanner says the most important tip is to rest the eyes  periodically from electronic devices—and to remember to blink!

Photo of Dr. Tanner Tyson 

One of the Valley’s leading hospitals unveils a $5 million renovation to its entrance, resulting in a more contemporary, peaceful space.

Many use the wintertime as an excuse to retire from their workout regimen and enjoy the season's guilty pleasures—like sweatpants, hoodies and delicious holiday food. These guilty pleasures may be fabulous but they often leave many sluggish. This is especially true when it comes to hitting the slopes. It's important to maintain good health year round but it's even better during the cooler climates to avoid injury from a day skiing or snowboarding. AZFoothills.com spoke with Direct of Athletic Performance at Zone Athletic Performance in Scottsdale, Garrett Shinoskie, to learn how to prepare oneself for winter sports.

If there’s a basic truth about life, it’s that breathing is a good thing. Yet Victor Kunisada, now in his 70s, cannot remember a time when breathing was not a problem.

“I had asthma all my life,” he said. “Then, when I was in my 40s, I was diagnosed with COPD.”

COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is an umbrella diagnosis that includes a boatload of respiratory and lung problems. “Of course, it didn’t help that I smoked for about 30 years,” Kunisada said.

Respiratory patient Victor Kunisada shows his winning Poker strategy while playing with friend Jeanne McShane. Being diagnosed correctly and getting his myasthenia gravis effectively treated has made retirement recreation a lot easier and much more fun.

“Smoking was a problem,” acknowledged John C. Lincoln neurologist Islam Abujubara, MD. “It was even more of a problem that Mr. Kunisada was misdiagnosed for much of his life. He was treated for COPD, but that was not his only disease.”

As a result, Dr. Abujubara said, the medications and medical procedures that Kunisada received over a 20-plus year span, never solved all his breathing problems. “He was treated with bronchodilators like Theophylline and Albuterol, both of which helped him breathe. But because his true disease was undiagnosed, his breathing problems eventually just got worse.”