RPM Campaigns Blog

Archive for September, 2009

Bausch & Lomb Contact lenses have long been one of the most recognised names in optical care. However, the market is becoming more difficult all the time. Countless firms now have entered the market. They offer all sorts of different products, but the main battle remains between the company’s long term rivals Acuvue and Ciba vision. As they struggle for control of innovative new technologies, which of these three giants is best placed to succeed?

Unlike most contact lens manufacturers it is only part of the larger brand. For the manufacturer Ciba Vision, for example, they are part of a larger pharmaceutical company, Novartis, but the brand Ciba Vision only refers to contact lens manufacturing and solutions.

Let’s look at the larger company first. It divides its business into five core areas, two of which are contact lenses and solutions. The other areas are pharmaceuticals for eye conditions such as conjunctivitis, cataract and vitreoretinal surgey instruments and refractive laser surgery tools.

The pharmaceutical division of the company manufactures a number of eye drop treatments such Besivance an anti bacterial used to treat conjunctivitis. The smallest part of the company, it’s refractive surgery division, manufactures equipment for corrective eye surgery such as the often advertised LASIK surgery. This surgery reshapes a person’s cornea to adjust for myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism. The last division of the company is its cataract and vitreoretinal surgery division. This part of the company manufactures tools for use in surgery for various eye related conditions.

Lens care is more developed than most contact lens manufacturers lens care divisions, Acuvue for example doesn’t manufacture contact lens solutions at all. The company however manufacture ReNu solutions which are popular multipurpose solutions that are currently trying to recover from a product recall in 2006. They also manufacture lens care for rigid lenses under the brand name Boston which puts Bausch & Lomb lenses against smaller manufacturers such as Lucid, as the soft lens manufacturers tend not to make rigid lenses.

Recently Bausch & Lomb contact lenses have been in competition both in the market and in the court room over the development of silicon hydrogel contact lenses branded by Bausch and Lomb as Purevision. Ciba Vision’s patent rights in the USA for a time prohibited Purevision contacts being sold there until agreement was reached. Acuvue’s Oasys and Cooper Vision’s Biofinity are in similar situations.

The company is now no longer a public company listed on the NYSE. It was taken over by the private equity firm Warburg Pincus. However core to success of Bausch & Lomb Contact lenses will be the question of whether its products can stand up to the competition.

As with any other procedure, it is important to have as much information as possible regarding laser eye surgery. You might have questions you want to ask your doctor to give you piece of mind as well as to help you make more informed decisions. Common questions might include what exactly it is, what goes on before, during and after surgery, how to tell if it is indeed an option for you, etc. The following are some of the most common questions.

First of all, what is laser eye surgery? This is the term that refers to the procedure that corrects visual disorders such as myopia or nearsightedness, hyperopia or farsightedness and astigmatism. Laser eye surgeries may permanently terminate the need for glasses or contact lenses, thus giving the patient a more acute sense of freedom and visual acuity.

How exactly does the laser correct the vision problems? Through a laser vision apparatus and control method, short beams of invisible lasers take out minute tissue samples from the cornea to properly align the curvature. The tissue is so miniscule that it’s actually less thick than a strand of human hair. By removing this tissue, the retina is able to focus on the images better and so the images become clearer.

What are the types? There are generally two types: PRK or photorefractive keratectomy and Lasik or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. Under these umbrella terms, several other procedures are categorized. PRK is a procedure that uses an excimer laser that removes the outer layer of the cornea, which is then reshaped to correct the eye disorder. Lasik is another refractive procedure that uses a surgical instrument to create a flap under the cornea. This flap is then lifted after which the laser reshapes the cornea.

Who are good candidates for laser eye surgery? People over 21 years of age are good candidates for laser eye surgery. They must not have severe eye disorders such as glaucoma. A visit to an eye specialist can help the patient determine if this is the best way to correct your myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism.

How safe is the procedure? People all over the world have had laser vision correction surgery successfully performed on them. Laser surgery is very safe, takes less than ten minutes on the whole and patients may expect full recovery in a matter of days.

How much is laser eye surgery? The usual cost for it is about $1,500 dollars per eye. This covers pre-operative and post-operative visits as well.

Bananas are a wonderful fruit for your health. They consist mainly of fructose, glucose and sucrose sugars and fibre, this makes them ideal for both immediate and prolonged sources of energy. They provide many health benefits that we can all enjoy.

Alleviate Depression

Bananas are rich in trytophan which is a type of protein aiding the production of serotonin in your body. This will calm and relax you and generally improve your mood making you overall a happier person. This has the knock on effect of improving your outlook and quality of life and even helps to stick to those goals you have.

Anemia

The high iron content assists the production of haemoglobin in our blood. This results in the blood being better able to carry oxygen and release oxygen.

Blood Pressure

Bananas have a very high level of potassium whilst still having a low level of sodium which makes them perfect for preventing high blood pressure. The fruit has been claimed by the US food and Drug Industry to reduce blood pressure and your risk of getting a stroke by as much as 40%

Heartburn

If you are a heartburn sufferer you can enjoy the natural antacid effect that will provide soothing relief.

Premenstrual Syndrome

Bananas are a great source of vitamin B6 which helps in controlling your mood. It also effects our mood by maintaining normal glucose levels in the blood.

Hangover

A milkshake containing bananas, honey and milk is a simple and effective way to cure a hangover. It will calm the stomach and the milk will help rehydrate us.

Ulcers

This fruit when eaten raw can reduce acidity and irritation to ulcers. The cells on the internal stomach wall will produce a thicker lining that protects against acid. They also contain protease inhibitors that prevent ulcers by eliminating the bacteria in the stomach that can cause them.

Insect Bites

Rubbing the inside of the peel has been reported by some people to reduce itching and swelling.

Stress Relief

Bananas are high in potassium which helps regulate the body’s balance of water and the heartbeat. When we are highly stressed the body needs more potassium and this natural fruit can boost those levels without the need for drugs. It also makes you more alert and more productive both physically and mentally.

Constipation

The high fiber content maintains healthy bowels and normal, regular bowel movement. This cleanses toxins from you body and assists weight loss also.

These are just some of the benefits, others include healthy bones and kidneys, prevention of macular degeneration (maintains healthy eyes), improved nervous system. A simple snack like this can greatly improve you health.

According to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 95% of all people who get Lasik surgery also known as PRK (photo-refractive keratectomy,) are completely satisfied with the outcome. However, the other 5% have either had complications of some sort or the surgery did not go as well as expected. Still, in my opinion 95% is pretty darn good when you think about it.

I have often considered Lasik surgery, as I was one of those kids that always had bad eye sight. I have been wearing glasses since I was about 5 years old and once I got older I started wearing contacts. Not being able to see, visually, is one of the most horrible things. Not only do you have to depend on some apparatus to help you see (contacts or glasses) but you also aren’t able to have that vision all the time unless you depend on “help” from your contacts or glasses. I always considered Lasik surgery to be a way out of this. Through the years Lasik surgery has gotten easier to perform by surgeons, and the price has gone down as well.

So what are some advantages and disadvantages of this surgery? How expensive is this really going to be? What sorts of things should you look out for?

One of the most important advantages is that you will actually be able to see all the time, and you won’t have to use glasses or contacts in doing so. In LASIK, the corneal epithelium remains intact. This results in a much faster recovery, a smoother corneal surface and better optical quality. The LASIK procedure also has a reduced risk of infection with less need for potentially hazardous prophylactic steroids. In addition, LASIK has a much greater range of vision correction.

Disadvantages come few and far between, lets just note that right now and consider the 95% it does work for and the 5% it doesn’t work for. Since most people heal differently and at their own speed, the healing process varies amongst patient to patient. So you might know someone that was completely healed in one week and it make take you 1 month to fully heal. This isn’t really direct disadvantage of the surgery, but more or less has to do with your body. In some cases Lasik has worsened a person’s vision, some aspects include night vision, glares, and halos. And lastly, in some very rare cases Lasik surgery may make your vision worsen, and you may not be able to fix it with glasses or contacts.

Lasik surgery prices (as with everything else) depend on whom you go to. Just like with your car, you could go to one auto-mechanic and it could cost $5,000 to put in a new engine, or you could go to someone else and it could cost $1,500. It’s a good idea to “shop” around before you get this surgery, and also make sure you get a surgeon who knows what he is doing. A report commissioned by AllAboutVision from a leading industry analyst in 2008 listed average LASIK costs as:

- $2,105 for all laser-based vision correction procedures

- $1,662 for non-customized LASIK using a bladed instrument (microkeratome) and excimer lasers that are not guided by wavefront analysis.

- $2,341 for wavefront-guided LASIK using IntraLase.

Lasik surgery is usually not covered by your vision insurance plan simply because it is considered “cosmetic” surgery. However, some employers might make arrangement with a default Lasik center for a special price. Also, you might qualify for a tax deduction so check with your accountant.

Did you know that Iron Deficiency Anemia affects about 20% of the world’s population? It is also the most common type of anemia caused by inadequate dietary intake or absorption of iron. But if you do suffer from iron deficiency anemia due to lack of iron in your body, don’t look again on those poisonous iron supplements. Just follow these three preventive ways and you’re on the way of better living.

1. Eat Foods that are Rich in Iron

The best food sources of iron are wholegrain cereals, pulses and legumes, and fish. The best plant sources are green leafy vegetables such as dry lotus stems, cauliflower greens, and turnip greens; fruits such as black currants, watermelons, raisins, and dried dates. However, irons from these foods are hard for the body to absorb. It is recommended that you eat animal products, which contain heme iron. If you mix some lean meat, fish, or poultry with beans or dark leafy greens at a meal, you can improve absorption of vegetable sources of iron up to three times. Foods rich in vitamin C also increase iron absorption.

2. Cook Using Cast-Iron Cookwares

Did you know that cooking in cast-iron cookwares can add significant amounts of iron to your food and into your body? Yes, it’s true and this was proven by researchers who tested 20 foods. Acidic foods that have higher moisture content, such as applesauce and spaghetti sauce, absorb the most iron. In fact, for 100 grams of each (about 3.5oz.), the applesauce increased in iron content from 0.35mg to 7.3mg, and the spaghetti sauce jumped from 0.6mg to 5.7mg of iron.

Food cooked for longer periods of time absorbed more iron than food that was heated more quickly. Foods prepared with a newer iron skillet absorbed more iron than those cooked in an older one. Foods that were cooked and stirred more frequently absorbed greater amount of iron because they came into contact with the iron more often. Foods such as hamburger, corn tortillas, cornbread, and liver with onions won’t absorb much iron due to the shorter cooking times.

This list was provided so you can have general idea of the difference in dietary iron content when cooking in a cast-iron pan:

Foods Tested (100g/3.5oz) = Iron content when raw = Iron content after cooking in iron skillet

- Applesauce, unsweetened = 0.35mg = 7.38mg

- Spaghetti sauce = 0.61 = 5.77

- Chili with meat and beans = 0.96 = 6.27

- Medium white sauce = 0.22 = 3.30

- Scrambled egg = 1.49 = 4.76

- Spaghetti sauce with meat = 0.71 = 3.58

- Beef vegetable stew = 0.66 = 3.4

- Fried egg = 1.92 = 3.48

- Spanish rice = 0.87 = 2.25

- Rice, white = 0.67 = 1.97

- Pan broiled bacon = 0.77 = 1.92

- Poached egg = 1.87 = 2.32

- Fried chicken = 0.88 = 1.89

- Pancakes = 0.63 = 1.31

- Pan fried green beans = 0.64 = 1.18

- Pan broiled hamburger = 1.49 = 2.29

- Fried potatoes = 0.42 = 0.8

- Fried corn tortillas = 0.86 = 1.23

- Pan-fried beef liver with onions = 3.1 = 3.87

- Baked cornbread = 0.67 = 0.86

3. Avoid Whole Cow’s Milk on the First 12 Months of Life

Whole cow’s milk contains as much iron per liter as breast milk, but only a very small proportion is actually absorbed into the body. However, the iron in breast milk is very well absorbed by babies. Therefore, breast milk is one of the best sources of iron for baby providing all the iron needed (with all other nutrients and benefits) for the first 6 months of life. Bottom line: breast-feeding is the best way to prevent iron deficiency anemia in babies. If breast-feeding is not an option, or is stopped before 9-12 months, then iron-fortified formulas, which contain added iron, should be given to baby instead of whole cow’s milk.

Things to Remember:

* Chronic blood loss, times of increased need such as pregnancy, and vigorous exercise can trigger iron deficiency.

* Don’t take iron supplements unless advised by your doctor.

* There are two types of iron: heme iron (found in animal foods) and nonheme iron (found in plant foods). Combining foods that are high in heme iron with nonheme iron foods boosts the absorption power.

* Keep iron supplements away from children – as little as one to three grams can kill a child under six years.

Dynamic capacity in the physical body is based on its dynamic capacity in all 3 planes of movement. The 3 normal planes of function in the body are frontal, sagital, and transverse. The body’s many movement potentials are a sum total of the combinations of movements produced in the 3 planes from each segment involved. Like wise the spines 3 primary functions are in these planes and are known as flexion/extension, side bend, and rotation.

Any inhibited or restricted tissue in any plane or any segment shifts the body’s house of cards. Rolfing provides the Certified Rolfer an opportunity to organize the body in gravity in all three planes. Budokon yoga is a dynamic practice with closed and open chain technology that integrates the body through movement in all three planes. Budokon yoga is a somatic science rich with resource and potential for structurally integrating our species.

Thanks to Dr. Ida Rolf Structural and Postural Integrators are able to view the body much like a mathematical equation with its respective (x,y,z) axis, points of inflection, and the ability to graph the asymmetrical body as an equation that provides predictable patterns of potential. Rolfing provides technology to manually manipulate the connective tissue matrix and the central nervous system to bring a being to the highest possible level of integrated structure and function.

The connective tissue of the body can be manipulated in three planes by lengthening (y), de-rotating (x) or fluffing (z) segments. When forming a hypothesis about how to approach the matrix of the body the Certified Rolfer assesses the structures movement capacity in the three planes and addresses the restriction in the tissue of each segment in all three planes. Each segments structural and functional potentials are married to each other, they are two sides of the same coin or like two mirrors facing each other. The reclamation of space is more fruitful with integrative movement to retrain the planes released that a new organization is possible.

Budokon yoga is the movement science of our time and is being called the most intelligent practice on the planet. The combination of yoga, martial arts, limbic integration, and meditation incorporate and encompass many of the tools necessary for integrating our species. The cornerstone of the yogic practice is called Rolling Wave, a dynamic expression of flexion/extension in closed chain. The movement is slow and specific to each segment involved and is a highly efficient way to integrate the core. Dancing Dog is a movement that expresses dynamic movement in all three planes and is similar to flight of the eagle in the book “How life moves” by Kevin Frank and Caryn McHose.

Movement in Budokon yoga is dynamic movement in all three planes, open and closed chain enabling tonic function potentials can be intended and realized. The martial arts consist of stand up and ground budo that is very explosive and efficient utilizing the acceleration-deceleration technology of Budokon. Limbic Integration is how the practice unearths latent potential in the reptilian brain to remind us of what it was like to move uninhibited from social and cultural stigmas. Zazen meditation is the way to witness breath and relationship to other as the body organizes and integrates the participation of the practice.

Rolfing and Budokon yoga are two parts of a whole that utilize an inquiry of a greater potential. Hydrating, differentiating, and integrating the connective tissue matrix of the body can reduce resistance in the body. Budokon provides technique designed to bring the whole being to a higher level of order through dynamic and integrative movement enabling a more authentic expression.

Budokon yoga and the Certified Rolfing Ten Series have the ability to reduce pain and release tension in the connective and myofascial tissue of the body associated with TMJ, CTS, RLS, Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, Fascitis, Bunions, Scoliosis, and Cerebral Palsy. Fascial asymmetries can cause foot, leg, knee, hip, back, shoulder, neck, arm, hand, and head pain; integration therapy is necessary. Orthopedic, Chiropractic, Physical, and Massage Therapist recognize Rolfing and Rolf Movement as premium pain management utilizing Structural, Functional, and Postural Integration. Before and after photo’s of some of my clients proven results available only on my website.