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there was a beautiful amber castle in the depths of the Baltic sea. It belonged to Jurate – the mistress of the sea. Jurate cared for and ruled over every creature of the sea and every drop of the water. Even the tiniest worm or smallest fish could not be happier – everyone lived in peace and friendship. Once Jurate heard that a fisherman called Kastytis catches her fish and takes them away from the sea. The angry goddess rose to the sea surface to speak to the fisherman. The young fisherman could not believe his own eyes, when he discovered that among his catch there was the goddess of the sea. Furious words of the goddess soon ceased for she liked the young fisherman. Jurate invited Kastytis to see her amber castle. Kastytis spent many joyful days in the underwater castle and soon forgot about his ship, his mother and the sunny beach. All his eyes saw was the most beautiful goddess. The thunder god Perkunas one day saw from his heavenly throne that Jurate was spending happy days with a mortal man and a great rage shook him. Perkunas shot a fire arrow straight to the amber castle and broke it in crumbs of amber. The fisherman Kastytis who dared to fall in love with a goddess lost his life. The goddess herself was chained to a rock underwater where she still weeps for her beloved Kastytis. You can still find small amber tear drops on the sandy sea shore…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytedC1heY_8

Lost Generation

Unless we choose to reverse it…

This is Oliver’s work… a gorilla living in Gorilla Haven.

Did a quick search, and found this too.

3. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Age-related macular degeneration is an eye disease with its onset usually after age 60 that progressively destroys the macula, the central portion of the retina, impairing central vision. It rarely causes blindness because only the center of vision is affected. There are two types of AMD- wet and dry - neither of which causes pain. In wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula and leak blood and fluid causing loss of central vision which may occur quickly. Treatment includes laser surgery, photodynamic therapy, and injections into the eye. None of these will cure the disease and loss of vision may still progress. In dry AMD, the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down causing central vision to diminish over time. Early stages of dry AMD can be treated with high-dose formulations of antioxidants and zinc which may delay and possibly prevent AMD from progressing to a more advanced stage. Once in the advanced stage, no form of treatment can restore vision loss.

2. Cataracts

Cataract is a painless condition where the normally clear aspirin-sized lens of the eye starts to become cloudy. The result is much like smearing grease over the lens of a camera which impairs normal vision. Causes of cataracts include cortisone medication, trauma, diabetes, and aging. In fact, cataracts will affect most people if they live long enough. Diagnosis can be made when a doctor examines the eyes with a viewing instrument. Symptoms of early cataracts may be improved with new eyeglasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses. If these measures do not help, surgically removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens is the only effective treatment. Removal is only necessary when vision loss interferes with your everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV. You and your eye- care professional can discuss the surgery and once you understand the benefits and risks, you can make an informed decision about whether cataract surgery is right for you. In most cases, delaying cataract surgery will not cause long-term damage to your eye or make the surgery more difficult.

A recent survey of 1,000 adults shows that nearly half - 47% - worry more about losing their sight than about losing their memory and their ability to walk or hear. But almost 30% indicated that they don’t get their eyes checked. Many Americans are unaware of the warning signs of eye diseases and conditions that could cause damage and blindness if not detected and treated soon enough. Let’s take a look at some of the most common eye diseases and conditions.

Anatomy of the Eye
The eye is made up of numerous components. As you proceed through the slideshow, you may use this illustration to reference the main structure and anatomy of the eye.

Cornea: clear front window of the eye that transmits and focuses light into the eye.
Iris: colored part of the eye that helps regulate the amount of light that enters
Pupil: dark aperture in the iris that determines how much light is let into the eye
Lens: transparent structure inside the eye that focuses light rays onto the retina
Retina: nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light, and creates electrical impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain
Macula: small central area in the retina that contains special light-sensitive cells and allows us to see fine details clearly
Optic nerve: connects the eye to the brain and carries the electrical impulses formed by the retina to the visual cortex of the brain
Vitreous: clear, jelly-like substance that fills the middle of the eye

COMMON EYE DISORDERS

1. Glaucoma
Glaucoma (the sneak thief of sight) refers to certain eye diseases that affect the optic nerve and cause vision loss. It typically produces elevated pressure inside the eye, called intraocular pressure (IOP) and can usually be classified as either open-angle (chronic conditions of long duration) or closed-angle (angle closure), which occur suddenly. The elderly, African-Americans, and people with family histories of the disease are at greatest risk. There are no symptoms in the early stages and by the time the patient notices vision changes, visual loss due to glaucoma can only be halted, not reversed. Glaucoma is usually treated with eye drops, although lasers and surgery can also be used. Most cases can be controlled well with these treatments, thereby preventing further loss of vision. Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to preserving sight in people with glaucoma.

Beer, wine, or liquor - in any form, alcohol is dehydrating. But it dehydrates by increasing the amount of urine - which means more bathroom visits when you drink alcoholic beverages. Alcohol also interferes with brain signals to the bladder about when to release urine. So if you have urinary “urge incontinence,” also called overactive bladder (OAB), you may want to cut down on or eliminate alcohol.

Thanks to webmd.com for the pic and the info. ;-)

Too Much Fluid
Sure, you need to stay hydrated to keep your body healthy. But drinking too much water - or any other fluid - could mean more trips to the bathroom if you’ve got urinary urge incontinence, also called overactive bladder (OAB). Drink no more than 2 liters (about two quarts) of water or other fluids daily. And drink most of those fluids during the daytime; limit your fluid intake in the evening so you don’t have to get up at night to go to the bathroom.

Thanks to wedmd.com for the pic and the info. :-)

White blood cell chasing bacteria

_{Poor bacterium seems in huge distress…}