***************************************************************** BACKGROUNDI am a 32-year old chemistry Ph.D. student who this past fall was told that retinas in both eyes had detached.
I underwent surgery and got the "best possible" surgical result; however, this is not the same as what my vision had been before. At that point, I was told that since they didn't know why this (retinal detachment) happened that there was no guarantee that it wouldn't happen again.
I am extremely lucky that I stumbled upon Dr. Abel's book by accident in a local bookstore -- it has profoundly changed my life for the better. I am now at (...) to buy extra copies for friends and relatives.
ONE OF THE BEST HEALTH BOOKS EVER!
This is one of three of the most important health books I have run across in my life. (The other two are nutritionally-related -- "Entering the Zone" by Barry Sears,Ph.D., and "The Formula" by Gene & Joyce Daoust, and provide information on how to use diet to minimize illness and maximize longevity. These books well-complement this book and are of a similar holistic mindset.)
Dr. Abel, a U.S.-trained ophthalmologist (M.D.), has embraced the wisdom of non-Western medicine in his search to find ways to treat eye problems that Western medicine claims are "untreatable" and by so doing HAS FOUND SOLUTIONS TO MOST COMMON EYE PROBLEMS, WHICH HE HAS SHARED IN THIS BOOK.
Also typical of a non-Western approach, this book takes a holistic view -- showing that several other conditions can also accompany eye problems.
For example, before reading this book, I never recognized that arthritis and dry eyes commonly occur together (they are both collagen "diseases" which, in retrospect, makes a lot of sense) and that successfully treating one will also help lessen the severity of the other.
MOST EYE PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO INADEQUATE DIET & SO PREVENTABLE
The core message of this book is that most eye problems are the result of nutritional (specifically, vitamin/supplement) deficiencies.
ORGANIZATION OF THE BOOK
A general background on the eye if first given to provide a foundation to the layman, clearly explaining eye structure and basic function. (This background would probably be accessible to the average person who doesn't have a scientific background.)
Successive chapters build on this foundation as they each address one of the most common eye diseases, e.g. glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eyes, etc. At the end of each chapter is given a summary of what vitamins you can take to prevent/halt the progression of that particular eye problem.
The vitamins/supplements recommended are mostly available in your local grocery store's vitamin aisle -- you don't have to make a special trip to someplace exotic. (Also, a lot are common enough that there are generic versions available, which makes this easier for people on a limited budget.)
HOW THIS BOOK WAS USEFUL TO ME (& HOW IT COULD BE USEFUL TO YOU TOO)
Although the final step leading to my retinas detaching was the mechanical tearing of the retina, this book made me realize that the precursor was the weakening of the collagen in both my blood vessels and in the eye structure itself and that these were to vitamin deficiencies. (This book calls retinopathy "scurvy of the retina".)
Some of the solutions recommended in the book for this, e.g. bilberry and vitamin C, are vitamins/supplements known to strengthen collagen and other tissues.
I have taken multivitamins everyday and so would not have initially guessed that I have had a vitamin deficiency. But, after comparing the amounts in the multivitamin to the amounts recommended, I see that I did have one. (Remember you use up a lot of vitamins when you are under stress! :-) )
THIS BOOK IS EMPOWERING!
After reading this book, I realize that I have the power to prevent my eye condition from worsening just by taking a few more vitamins and supplements a day. This is a very easy way to significantly improve the quality of your life.
I am extremely grateful to Dr. Abel for writing this book and giving me the ability to take back my life again.
ONE SMALL CRITICISM: WHY NOT A LARGE-PRINT EDITION?
My only possible complaint is that a book on eye problems needs to be available in a large-print edition so that the bulk of people who need this book might actually be able to read it themselves.
