Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

A Variety of Conditions Can Affect Your Hearing

May 30, 2019 · UHN Staff · Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

Most of us are familiar with the type of hearing loss that can be improved with hearing aids, but there is another type of hearing loss—the type that can be caused by a buildup of earwax, among other things. The former type is called sensorineural hearing loss, while the latter … Read More

Lutein for the Eyes (and the Brain)

May 29, 2019 · UHN Staff · Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

Lutein is just one of the more than 600 phytochemicals in the carotenoid family. These compounds are pigments that give plants their orange, yellow, and red hues, but they are more than just good looking: carotenoids, including lutein, have antioxidant and other health-promoting properties. “What makes lutein unique among the … Read More

Laser Treatment Blasts Eye Floaters

Apr 29, 2019 · UHN Staff · Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

Eye floaters, the spots and strings that drift across the visual field, can range from an annoyance to a downright problem if they interfere with the ability to drive or read. Traditionally, doctors have been hesitant to treat them, as the only option was an invasive and risky procedure called … Read More

Ask the Doctor: Seasonal Allergies & Brain Fog; Tension Headaches; Anxiety Disorder

Mar 25, 2019 · UHN Staff · Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

Q: Can seasonal allergies cause thinking problems? I always seem to have a little fuzzy thinking when my allergies are acting up. A: The “brain fog” you’re dealing with is a common side effect of seasonal allergies. But the problems with concentration and focus may have more to do with the … Read More

Enjoy a Clearer More Colorful Day

Mar 25, 2019 · UHN Staff · Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

In a normal eye, light passes through a clear lens to the retina, where it is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. The eye’s lens is made mostly of water and protein. Some of that protein may clump together and form what’s called a cataract, which … Read More

The Benefits of Cataract Surgery Go Beyond Your Sight

Mar 25, 2019 · UHN Staff · Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

Previous research has suggested links between visual impairment and cognitive decline and/or Alzheimer’s disease in older adults. A common reason for vision impairment in this age group is cataracts: a condition that causes the lens of the eye to become opaque, and blurs the image you see when you focus … Read More

From the Editor: Considering Cataract Surgery?

Mar 25, 2019 · UHN Staff · Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

Cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss in older adults, but a relatively simple surgical procedure can restore your sight if you develop them. The procedure has a low risk of complications, and research points to numerous benefits. In this month’s issue we’re looking at a recent study suggesting … Read More

Newsbriefs: Hearing Loss; Exercise for Fall Protection; Mindfulness for Menopause

Mar 25, 2019 · UHN Staff · Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

Hearing Loss Linked to Depression Researchers writing in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Dec. 6, 2018, suggest that people with age-related hearing loss may be more likely to suffer from depression. In the study, which included 5,239 participants age 50 and older, people with mild hearing loss were almost twice … Read More

Hearing Loss May Accelerate Brain Shrinkage

Feb 1, 2019 · JoAnn Milivojevic · Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

The stigma of wearing hearing aids has been around for decades, certainly since the 40-plus years that UCLA audiologist Alison Grimes has been in the field. But, not using them can affect far more than your ego. “We know everyone loses their hearing as they age, just like everyone loses … Read More

MGH Study: Noise Pollution Linked to Higher Stroke, Heart Disease Risks

Feb 1, 2019 · Jay Roland · Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

Living or working next to a busy highway or airport may affect the brain in a way that raises your risk of cardiovascular events, such as stroke or heart attack. In a study published recently in Environment International, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital found that high levels of environmental noise … Read More