Hawaii Vacation Rentals

Gebhart Properties has launched a new website offering premiere Maui vacation rental homes. Gebhart Properties owns and manages custom homes in some of the most exclusive resort locations in the Hawaiian Islands. You'll find luxurious and convenient features, spacious living areas, custom furnishings, and artwork not found in even the finest of hotels.

• Hale Nani Loa Maka, our Kolea Villa, is a 3BR/3BA penthouse located at the Waikoloa Beach Resort which sleeps 6 with 2,576 square feet of living space, a private elevator access, a gourmet kitchen, an extensive collection of Hawaiian art and outstanding views of Anaeho'omalu Bay and Kileaua.
• Hale Ke Kai, our luxurious 3BR/4BA two-level private home in Kailua-Kona will comfortably sleep up to 8 people. It features full-sized kitchens and expansive lanais on both levels, two master suites, a private wading pool, and a location so close to the ocean that you can frequently feel the spray from the ocean as waves break against the coastline.
• For a taste of Old Lahaina, book a stay at our incredible 2BR/2BA corner-unit condo located on the third floor of the Mahana at Kaanapali Resort in Maui. This resort, the only property in Kaanapali that runs parallel to the ocean, is located a mere thirty feet back from the beach.

Gebhart Properties has selected and furnished our Hawaii vacation rentals to meet your every expectation and give you the luxury, convenience and comfort. Browse our Hawaii residential real estate or call 1-800-545-5151 and book your stay with us today!

Fuch's Corneal Dystrophy

The cornea is the clear "window" in the front of the eye that allows light rays to enter the eye.

The cornea is composed of three layers – the outer epithelium (or "skin"), a middle area called stroma and a delicate, single celled inner lining called the endothelium. The corneal endothelium prevents water inside the eyeball from moving into and swelling the other layers of the cornea. The cells of the endothelium actively pump water from the cornea back into the eye. When the endothelium does not function normally, water will seep into the cornea and cause swelling. It is this swelling that causes clouding of the cornea and blurring vision. The more corneal swelling or "edema", the more severe the blurring. Eventually the epithelium also takes on water which results in pain and more severe vision impairment. Epithelial swelling changes the normal corneal curvature and causes a sight-limiting haze to develop. Epithelial swelling may also form small "blisters" on the corneal surface. When these "blisters" burst, it can be extremely painful.

We gradually lose endothelial cells as we age and these cells don't grow back. The remaining cells spread out to cover the empty spaces, trying to pump water from a larger area and become less efficient. Most people have enough endothelial cells throughout life to prevent corneal swelling.

Fuchs’ dystrophy (named after Dr. Fuchs) is an inherited disease that affects the endothelium and hinders its function and causes the cells to die faster than normal. It's a dominant gene and only one parent needs to be a carrier of the disease for an average of 50% of their children to inherit the disease.

Symptoms include:

• Hazy vision that is often most pronounced in the morning
• Fluctuating vision
• Glare when looking at lights
• Light sensitivity
• Sandy, gritty sensation
• Episodes of sharp, sometimes incapacitating pain

Fuch's usually doesn't cause problems until the person is 50-60 years old. There is no cure, but there are some medications that help. Once it gets bad enough a corneal transplant is performed.

This isn't a common condition, but it could become more common as it spreads through the population. Not everyone who carries the gene develops swelling and blurred vision.

Dale L. Edwards

Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy

Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy is a rare maternaly inheredited eye condition that affects men more than women at a rate of 90% to 10%.

LHON was first discovered by Theodore Leber in the 19th century, but we didn't really start to understand how it was inherited until the late 1980's. Leber's usually affects one eye first and central vision is lost in that eye over a period of a few weeks. A month or two later, the second eye is affected in the same way. After a few weeks the eyesight stops getting worse.

This is the most common pattern of development, but LHON can affect someone very suddenly, or can affect them more gradually over a period of years. Not everyone in a family affected by Leber's will lose their eyesight, and we can't tell yet know who will get symptoms and who won't. We do know that Leber's is inherited through a gene which is passed on only through the egg cell from the mother. Men can't pass on Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy to their children.

Scientists believe that the particdular gene changes linked to Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy lower the amount of energy available to the cells of the optic nerve and retina. These cells are damaged and can even die because of this lack of energy. The damage to the optic nerve and retina is what causes the symptoms of Leber's.

Doreid Berro has written an informative paper about LHON and it's published on the internet with documentation.

Genetics Home Reference also has quite a bit of information about Leber's on their site.

Carver Laboratory has information about Leber's and other hereditary eye conditions. They also have some interesting pictures on their website.

I never knew there were so many different causes of low vision.

Dale L. Edwards