Cataract Surgeons in Fort Lauderdale Say Aging Eyes May Impact Body's Internal Clock

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL--(Marketwire - May 24, 2012) - Several recent studies in ophthalmology and biological rhythms may have linked aging eyes with a number of health concerns ranging from memory loss, insomnia, and depression to high cholesterol, obesity, inactive lifestyle, and even heart disease. Fort Lauderdale cataract surgeons Drs. Marc Bosem and Barry Concool at the CorrectVision Laser Institute say the gradual yellowing of the eye's lens and the narrowing of the pupil over time have been found to disturb circadian rhythm, which can ultimately lead to a range of medical complications due to its effect on the body's regulatory and hormonal function. At their center for LASIK and cataract surgery in Fort Lauderdale, Drs. Bosem and Concool say they have been recommending patients undergo eye exams if they experience certain symptoms such as sleep loss to detect the possibility of cataracts.

Dr. Bosem says the body's internal clock, helping it to start up in the morning and wind down at night, is regulated by blue light through photoreceptive cells that absorb sunlight and transmit messages to a part of the brain that governs circadian rhythm and releases the hormones melatonin and cortisol for proper function. However, as eyes age, he says their ability to receive blue light is diminished and the brain receives less of the messages it needs to control the internal clock. Dr. Bosem says cataract surgery works to replace the natural lens in the eye so that blue light reception is facilitated and can encourage the brain to react quicker and even improve one's overall mood. Thanks to a study published in the Journal of Biological Rhythms, researchers have found that exposure to blue light increased alertness and decreased sleepiness in young subjects whereas the subjection had no effect on older subjects.

For a long time, Dr. Bosem says people have known that low light levels can cause some depression in the winter, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. Another similar study conducted in Sweden for the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics suggests that patients who underwent cataract surgery experienced reduced incidence of insomnia and daytime sleepiness, while a study from the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh shows an improved reaction time of the brain following cataract surgery. Drs. Bosem and Concool say the results are both encouraging and inspiring for eye surgeons as they hope to help patients not only improve their vision, but also their overall health as well. They say the future of cataract surgery and studies like those conducted on blue light and circadian rhythm will hopefully reveal a connection between cataract procedures and higher levels of melatonin, which could eventually reduce the likelihood of health complications such as cancer and heart disease. "At CorrectVision Laser Institute, we employ many types of implants for our cataract and natural lens replacement procedures, including the reading-glasses eliminating, multifocal and astigmatism reducing, toric intraocular lenses. These studies are helping us match the best lens to each patient," says Dr. Concool.

At their Fort Lauderdale LASIK and cataract surgery practice, Drs. Bosem and Concool say they encourage their patients to seek exposure to bright sunlight or bright indoor lighting daily so as to help counteract the natural aging of the eyes. Dr. Bosem says his patients are privileged to be able to take advantage of the South Florida weather to promote better vision and an overall healthier life. For patients suffering from blurred vision due to cataracts or other age-related conditions, he strongly recommends consulting with a board-certified ophthalmologist and laser surgeon before undergoing any procedure.

About Marc Emory Bosem, MD

A graduate of the University of Miami Medical School, Dr. Marc Bosem completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Texas Health Science Center, after which he performed a fellowship in research at the University of California, San Diego on the effects of excimer laser systems and the treatment of glaucoma. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and also as a LASIK surgeon from Moria and Bausch & Lomb. Dr. Bosem is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Miami Ophthalmologic Society, and the International Society of Refractive Surgery.

About Barry Concool, MD

Dr. Barry Concool earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and his medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he also served a three-year residency in ophthalmology and achieved the rank of Chief Resident. He is a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and has been named one of the Top 5 Surgeons in the U.S. by LaserVision. Dr. Concool is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the International Society of Refractive Surgery, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

The CorrectVision Laser Institute has two locations at One SW 129th Avenue, Suite 209 in Pembroke Pines, FL, reachable at (954) 501-0822, and 2300 N Commerce Pkwy, Suite 201 in Weston, FL, reachable at (954) 633-5488. It can also be contacted online via the website correctvision.com or the CorrectVision Laser Institute Facebook page.