Curiously enough, we have long known that before we can swim or dance, play tennis or golf, or master a musical instrument, our muscles must be relaxed. Acquiring that relaxation of the muscles has often been the hardest part of learning any of these things, but without it all the other lessons are useless. It is a similar case with the eyes.

It may be helpful here to summarize briefly the structure of the eye. The eyeball is embedded in fat and fibrous tissue and lodged in bony sockets called orbits. It is held in place and rotated by means of six extrinsic muscles, attached to the posterior bony wall of the socket; at the anterior pole, they are inserted into the eyeball.

The eyeball itself is made up of three distinct layers, or coats. The outer part, which we know as the white of the eye, but which is more properly called the sclera, is a tough, fibrous tissue, which begins where the cornea leaves off, and extends back to where it is pierced by the optic nerve. Four-fifths of the sclera is opaque; the remaining one-fifth is a translucent area directly at the front of the eye, called the cornea.

Inside the sclera is a second coat, or lining, known as the choroid, composed of blood vessels and pigment, and is essentially a nutrient organ, providing nutritive fluid to the retina. Within the choroid is a third coat, an extension of the optic nerve, a sensitive membrane called the retina. This is an exceedingly thin and highly complicated membrane, in which are the terminations of the nerve tendrils, which are of two kinds: rods and cones.

The cones are the most sensitive and are found toward the center of the retina where the keenest seeing is done. This center, about a sixteenth of an inch in diameter, is called the macula. Here form and color and sharp definition are registered. Beyond this spot, cones and rods mingle, but toward the periphery only rods are found. These are sensitive to dim light and therefore are used for night seeing.

About a tenth of an inch to the nasal side from the center is the optic disc, the point of entrance of the optic nerve, commonly called the blind spot. When light rays reach the surface of the retina, the radiant energy undergoes a process of chemical change, and this new form of energy is carried by the optic nerve into the visual centers of the brain.

It has long been known that the eye adjusts to various distances, a process called accommodation. In myopia, or near-sighted vision, the rays of light are thrown to a point in front of the retina. In hypermetropia, or long-sightedness, the rays of light focus in a point behind the retina. While in astigmatism, which causes distorted images, the light rays are spread in a diffused area on the retina, rather than in a point. In normal vision, the image is focused in a point directly upon the retina itself.

Such is the wonder and complexity of our eyes.

Would You To Improve Your Vision With Eye Exercises?

There Are Loads Of Tips And Expert Advice To Help Improve Your Vision Without Glasses.

Click Here For Free Ideas: http://www.eyeexercises.net/

Source: EzineArticles.com

Below, you will see some of the conditions that are benefitted by omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, as well as those that may be prevented by it. But first, let me try to explain why it works.

The Fish Oil and Vision Connection Explained

Fish oil benefits eyes because it contains an omega-3 fat that is not found in other dietary sources. That fat is Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA. DHA accounts for 60% of the fatty acids in the retina.

Think about it this way. If you were going to bake a cake, but you only had 40% of the ingredients, it wouldn’t turn out too well. Certain parts of the body, including cells, tissues, fibers and some organs, are regularly regenerated or replaced. If the body does not have the necessary “ingredients”, the replacement process runs amok. DHA is one of the ingredients necessary for regular replacement of the cells of the retina.

Normal Visual Development

Most vision problems that occur during infancy or childhood are due to nutritional deficiencies. Research concerning fish oil and vision in infancy has proven that the visual acuity of infants develops more quickly when their mother gets enough DHA during pregnancy. Human breast milk is rich in DHA, but until recently, infant formulas did not contain the fatty acid. Now, most of them do. Again, if the body does not have the necessary ingredients, it cannot construct a retina.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

AMD is one of the causes of vision problems in the elderly. It is the primary cause of blindness in the elderly.

In AMD, the macula, which is a small point in the back of the retina, responsible for central vision, becomes covered with hardened plaques. Research indicates that increasing your omega-3 intake may prevent it. Knowing the way that fish oil benefits eyes, it is not difficult to understand why deterioration of the macula could be prevented with omega-3s, but, what about that plaque?

As it turns out, the plaques are composed of oxidized triglycerides and one of the risk factors for AMD is high blood triglycerides. Omega-3 supplementation has been shown to reduce blood triglycerides, significantly, and helps prevent oxidation, throughout the body.

Other Vision Problems that May Benefit From Supplementation

Once you understand the way that fish oil benefits eyes, it is easy to assume that any vision problems would be benefitted by supplementation, particularly since omega-3s are lacking in most modern diets.

Studies concerning fish oil and vision have shown that the following conditions may be improved or prevented with supplementation:

• Cataracts
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Retinal detachment

The way that fish oil benefits eyes is not that unusual. It is beneficial to many other areas of the body, too. Now that you know a little more about fish oil and vision, you might want to learn about some of the other beneficial effects. You can never have too much information when it comes to your health.

And now please visit the XtendFishOil website listed below for updated information on benefits of fish oil and vision and preventing eye vision problems.

And now I would like to invite you to visit http://www.XtendFishOil.com for FREE Instant Access to a very helpful newsletter that will keep you updated on skin care, nutritional supplements and other health related issues. And I have more information on Omega3 Fish Oil and Eye Vision Benefits available at http://www.XtendFishOil.com

Source: EzineArticles.com