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People who are nearsighted have several options to correct their vision, including eyeglasses, contact lenses, or, if they are eligible, surgical techniques such as LASIK. Now there's a new type of device recently approved by the FDA that could offer yet another choice for nearsighted consumers who would like to improve their ability to see distant objects.
The devices are called phakic lenses. Made of plastic or silicone, they are implanted permanently into the eye without removal of the eye's natural lens as in cataract surgery. The phakic lens is inserted through a small incision and placed just in front of or just behind the iris.
Want to know more? The FDA has created a Web site containing the facts you need to make an informed choice about whether phakic lenses might be right for you. The site offers a helpful animated movie that shows how phakic lenses fit into the eye structure.
Once you've pictured how the lenses work, you can move on to individual pages that give detailed answers to questions you may have about the risks; what you can expect before, during, and after surgery; and what brands have been approved.
Though the site has loads of useful information, the FDA stresses that it is not meant to replace a discussion with your doctor. Also, phakic lenses are intended to be permanent, and though they can be surgically removed, a return to one's previous level of vision is not guaranteed.
Visit www.fda.gov/cdrh/phakic/ to find out more.
You can hardly see or hear a news report these days that doesn't contain an item about identity theft. This disturbing problem is rampant across the United States, possibly affecting more than 19,000 people a day, according to two 2003 studies reported by the Identity Theft Resource Center.
Though it may be tempting to say, "It couldn't happen to me," the fact is, it could. Identity theft is a serious crime that can leave its victims in ruin. It can take months or years, and the spending of much personal money, to clean up the mess identity thieves can make of your good name and credit record.
To help you learn more about identity theft, and to give you tips about how to prevent it, the Federal Trade Commission, which investigates identity theft, has created a Web site called ID Theft. The site describes how thieves can--without your permission--use your name, Social Security number, credit card number, or other identifying information to commit fraud or other crimes. It explains that victims may lose job opportunities; may be refused loans, education, housing, or cars; or may even be arrested for crimes they didn't commit.
The site tells you what to do if you suspect an identity thief has victimized you. It describes four important steps and urges you to take them immediately.
But how do you keep the crime from happening in the first place? The site offers a useful overview of preventive measures including how to protect sensitive information stored on your computer and when it is appropriate to give out your Social Security number.
The site also has a section called "Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft," containing detailed information about how to recover from the crime.
See www.consumer.gov/idtheft/index.html to get facts on ID theft.
High blood pressure affects about 50 million--or about 1 in 4--adult Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. It is especially common in blacks and older Americans. Uncontrolled, it can lead to heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.
Elevated blood pressure can be controlled with drugs and other therapies. One of these is the subject of an online brochure created by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. It describes the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, a program that has been clinically proven to reduce blood pressure significantly through changes in diet and lifestyle.
The brochure gives details on creating a diet that reduces sodium intake; is low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol; and is rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. It also has a form to track food habits before starting the plan and a chart to help with meal planning and food shopping.
Go to www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/ to view "Facts About the DASH Eating Plan."