Archive for the ‘Eye Health’ Category
Mother Alert - Sun damage not only to skin, but eyes, experts warn.
09.01.2010
While the majority of people are aware of skin damage that can result from unprotected exposure to the sun, very few know about the harmful effects that ultraviolet light can have on the eye. Yet experts agree it is critical to protect the eyes from harmful ultraviolet radiation using hats and sunglasses.
In the short term, UV light can lead to inflammation of the cornea and/or the conjunctiva. While this inflammation usually subsides, long-term UV exposure can lead to cumulative eye damage that is reflected in a number of conditions.
For example, abnormal growth of the conjunctiva, known as pterygium, may develop causing partial blockage of vision by obstructing the cornea. It is also believed that cataract formation is correlated with UV exposure. More severe eye diseases may develop as well, such as cancer and retina damage in the form of macular degeneration. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to wear sunglasses that effectively protect the eyes from ultraviolet rays.
Consumers are advised to purchase glasses that absorb 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation. Moreover, ultraviolet radiation is not limited to direct sunlight, as reflections from metal, snow, or other surfaces can also inflict eye damage. Sunglasses should be worn at all times in the presence of bright light. *
Brian Krawitz
Staff Writer
If you wear contact lenses, you MUST do this if your eye is red or painful!
08.17.2010Researchers found that contact lens wearers may be 9 times more likely to develop ulcers of the cornea than those who do not wear contacts. The cornea is the clear front layer of the eye. Viral or bacterial infections can cause the open sores which are known as corneal ulcers. The result of such ulcers can be severe pain and redness, and potentially permanent vision loss.
Over a million patients were studied and information was collected on the presence of corneal ulcers along with contact lens use, eye trauma or disease and HIV status. Contact lens wearers only accounted for 12 percent of the patients in the study but more than half were diagnosed with corneal ulcers.
The increase in corneal ulcers is being attributed to the increased availability of disposable and overnight contact lenses. All contact lenses reduce oxygen transmission to the cornea. Since a normal cornea has no blood vessels to bring oxygen, it depends on getting oxygen directly from the surrounding air.
If you wear contact lenses, they need to be properly fitted by an eye care professional. And regular follow-up care is very important. In most states, it is illegal for a contact lens retailer to mail you new contact lenses without a prescription that it updated on a yearly basis. Although widely ignored by Internet contact lens companies, the law exists to ensure people are getting annual eye exams.*
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
Read about the artificial “eye” for those who are blind.
08.03.2010Certain eye conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration may soon be treated by eye implants. The revolutionary eye implant has actually been in development since the late 1980s and human clinical trials are expected to begin within the next three years.
The implant is airtight and made of titanium. It contains a 200-channel chip that sits in the eye socket and has a wire coil which encircles the iris of they eye. A wireless computer-based controller which is outside the body takes care of the data transfer.
Glasses fitted with a camera will be worn by patients and patients will carry a small battery powered computer which will read and analyze images and transmit data to the implant. The implant will then use electrodes to transmit electrical impulses to retinal nerve cells. Patients will see hundreds of pixels of data instead of millions of pixels associated with healthy vision. In addition, patients will need therapy to teach their brains how to interpret the patterns of dots and color.*
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
Infants with eyelid tumors benefit from new test.
07.27.2010Amblyopia is failure of vision to develop fully in infants despite normal eyes. It can occur from various causes, including strabismus (crossed eyes), undiagnosed need for strong eyeglasses, and most severely when the vision is blocked due to a drooping eyelid.
One of the benign tumors of the eyelid, known as hemangiomas, can cause amblyopia so severe that it is called “Ambyopia Ex Anopsia.”
Researchers have developed a simple vision test to detect early signs of amblyopia in infants with hemangiomas of the eyelid. Hemangiomas are vascular birthmarks on either the upper or lower eyelids. While the birthmarks usually resolve over time on their own, they can lead to permanent reduction in vision (amblyopia). Amblyopia is seen in 43-60% of patients with eyelid hemangiomas.
Although this capillary hemangioma of an infant's eyelid looks severe and debilitating, it responds and disappears in response to minor treatments, including steroid injections.
The new test works by measuring brain responses to changes in the alignment of two lines. Eyes affected by the hemangiomas have brainwave responses that are markedly reduced.
This new test is significant because many times there is no clinical evidence of amblyopia. Early detection will then allow these children to receive the necessary treatment. This test may also prove effective in detecting visual problems associated with other eyelid problems.
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
New Study Proves Vision screenings unreliable in kids.
07.14.2010Linear charts are the current method used in vision screenings for adolescent children. This method of screening may be unreliable in diagnosing farsightedness and astigmatism in school-aged children.
Researchers published the results of their findings in the July 2010 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology . Over 2,000 children were assessed in the study. A comprehensive eye exam was given which included using a logMAR chart to measure uncorrected visual acuity. In addition, those in the study were given special drops to assess the lenses of their eyes and the curve of the corneas were measured as well.
The visual acuity score accurately identified children with nearsightedness but there was no reliable cutoff score for farsightedness or astigmatism. These findings meant that children who actually had significant farsightedness and astigmatism would not have been directed to seek treatment.
Authors of the study concluded that more accurate screening methods need to be developed that will reliably detect these visual problems in children and adolescents.*
Andrea Schumann
Staff Writer
