Blog | Rudrani Banik, MD

What is Integrative Ophthalmology?

When I introduce myself to patients as an Integrative Ophthalmologist specializing in Functional Medicine, I often get quizzical looks. The response is usually, “I’ve never heard of that before! What exactly do you do?”

Are These Weight Loss Strategies Making Your Migraines Worse?

Adapted from MigraineAgain.com. https://www.migraineagain.com/weight-loss-make-migraines-worse/ Studies suggest a link between body mass index (BMI) and frequency, prevalence, and severity of migraines. If you have migraine and are overweight, a weight loss plan can...

How Healthy Is Your Brain? Take This Brain Health Survey

Whether the practice of Rudrani Banik, MD is the first ophthalmology office you are visiting for eye treatment, or simply the last one, Dr. Banik will make sure she does everything in her power to find an effective treatment to help you see better.

Which Diet And Supplements Are Best For Brain Health?

Which types of diet and supplements are best for brain health? Here are some simple steps you can adopt in your lifestyle to help support your brain's optimal function. The first thing is to start eating a Mediterranean-style diet filled with whole, organic foods such...

Night Time Gadget Hacks To Help You Sleep Better At Night

Night time use of devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or other gadgets have detrimental effects on our sleep and our health, according to years of studies. Although this may be the case, if you’re like most people, before bedtime is typically the only time in the...

35 Surprising Facts About Migraine

Adapted from MigraineAgain.com. https://www.migraineagain.com/about-migraine/ Fact or Fiction. That is the big question when it comes to migraine. Migraine is so prevalent and misunderstood. It can be overwhelming to try to understand your symptoms and the...

Why The Whites Of Your Eyes May Be Discolored

The white part of the eye that serves as a protective layer is called the sclera, which covers over 80% of the eyeball’s surface. A healthy sclera should be white. If it becomes yellow or discolored, an underlying condition may be present. Here are some reasons why...

The Gut-Brain Connection And Migraine

Adapted from MigraineAgain.com. https://www.migraineagain.com/gut-brain-connection-migraine/ Have you ever heard of the Gut-Brain Connection? Migraine is well known to be associated with an array of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, such as nausea,...

Vaping And How It May Affect Your Vision

Vaping was introduced as a safe alternative to using tobacco. However over the years, numerous side effects have been reported associated with vaping. In 2019, vaping was been linked to more...

20/20 Vision – What Does It Mean?

20/20 vision means normal vision. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see what an average person sees on an eye chart at 20 feet away. An eye chart measures the sharpness of vision, which is also called visual acuity. The top number stands for the person’s distance...

Do You Have Perfect Vision? Tips To Keep It That Way

Do you have perfect vision? If so, that's wonderful! The truth is that many people take healthy vision for granted. But there are so many eye conditions that may creep up and steal away precious eyesight. That's why it's so important to be proactive about preserving...

10 Ways To Strengthen Your Immune System

In these unprecedented and fluid times of the COVID19 pandemic, it’s important to focus on how we can best protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities against this invisible enemy. To best support our immune system, it boils down to these 10 basics: 1....

Caffeine and the Migraineur- Friend or Foe?

Caffeine is the world’s most popular drug, found in coffee, tea, energy drinks, and even chocolate. Surprisingly, decaf beverages also contain small quantities of caffeine. And much of the world is addicted, with up to 90% of Americans consuming caffeine on a daily...

Cataract Prevention with Vision Superfoods

Cataracts are a natural part of aging. They develop when the lens inside our eye becomes cloudy. Though cataracts may occur at any age, even in children, the likelihood of developing cataracts is higher as we get older. In fact, most people have some degree of...

Can Omega-3s Help With Dry Eye?

Have you ever experienced a sandy or gritty sensation in your eyes? How about redness or intermittent blurred vision? It’s quite possible that you may have dry eye. Dry eye is perhaps the most common condition affecting vision. It can develop across all age groups...

Dry Eye- Find Out The Real Problem with LipiScan®

There are two forms of Dry Eye disease. Are you treating the right one? Dry Eye occurs when the eyes do not produce sufficient tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. Without proper treatment, inadequate tears can make daily activities frustrating, affecting your...

The Blind Side- Visual Loss After Stroke

First, imagine a vertical line coming down and splitting your vision exactly in half. Then imagine your vision on one side of that line being entirely missing, or black. You would be seeing only ½ of the world. This is what many patients who have had strokes...

Migraine- When Medications Don’t Work…

Did you know that 1 out of 10 people have a history of migraine? That's a staggering number, over 33 million people in the US alone! With those odds, you or someone you know, such as a family member, friend, or coworker, suffers from debilitating migraine. Why is this...

What to Eat, and Not to Eat- That’s the Question

A number of foods have been found to benefit the immune system in a range of ways. One group of foods is thought to reduce inflammation in the body, leading to less wear and tear on all your bodily systems, including your immune system. Adding anti-inflammatory foods...

How Probiotics Can Help Your Immune System

By now, almost everyone has heard of probiotics, the active cultures in a range of dairy products such as yogurt, some cheeses and kefir, and in fermented foods such as miso, kimchi and sauerkraut. Most of these are tasty additions to our diet that can also help...

New Link Found Between the Brain and Your Immune System

A new study has just revealed a startling hidden connection between the brain and the immune system. Researchers always assumed that there was no lymph system in the brain. Now they have discovered lymphatic pathways hidden deep inside the brain that can help explain...

Dr. Banik's Eye Health And Wellness Blog