Posts Tagged ‘eyes’

Driving Through the Ages

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

We’re lucky to live in a time when we can all hope to enjoy a longer life span and we would all like as many healthy, productive years as possible. For most people driving is a vital tool in maintaining independence and contributes hugely to quality of life. But as we age there are several changes that can occur in formerly healthy eyes, which could have an impact on safe driving. So for you or an elderly person near to you, let’s just make sure we’re aware of what to look out for…..

Our standard of good vision can decrease with age, and if changes are gradual then it takes the patient a while to notice potential problems. Regular eye examinations are vital to ensure that all is well. The normal process of ageing can lead to drivers not seeing road signs clearly, not recognising hazards, or being able to judge speeds and distance.

How well we can see around us – our peripheral vision can also have a huge impact on our safety. Problems with mobility of the neck and shoulders and eye disease such as Glaucoma can lead to poor judgement when pulling out of junctions, less awareness of cyclists, and is generally considered to be one of the biggest potential problems for older drivers. Again, regular eye exams will spot the earliest signs of visual field loss.

Eye conditions such as cataract, and general health problems such as Parkinson’s disease can lead to problems with contrast sensitivity – this affects our colour perception and depth perception. During day and night driving sufferers may also be less able to see hazards, signage and pedestrians.

Eye health problems related to age such as cataract and macular degeneration can leave patients with clear vision in one eye only, leading to narrower peripheral vision and poor depth perception in some cases. This may not be a huge problem if patients are aware that they need to turn their heads more and their general health and mobility are good.

The key as always is vigilance to potential health problems, and regular assessment for signs that GPS or opticians may spot that the patient has not noticed yet. Then we can all enjoy safer roads and many years of happy motoring!

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Two are Better than One

Monday, October 25th, 2010

As with many other things we take for granted, we don’t think about the wonders of our two eyes working happily together until a problem arises with our sight. Accidents, illness, and general changes to health and vision can lead to problems where we lose sight in one eye or the eyes stop working together properly. Only then do we really appreciate the miracle of binocular vision.

We have two eyes that work together to form one image for many reasons. The two slightly differing images from each eye fuse to let us see clearly and to give us perception of depth. Two eyes also give us a wider field of vision, and allowed our ancestors to see predators creeping up along side us! Of course having two eyes also means you have a back up if one goes wrong!

Babies are born with the basic tools to acquire binocular vision – they have two eyes placed at the front of the head that each creates an image of similar size and quality. The visual pathways then run from the eye to the brain to allow us to interpret what we see. Babies don’t immediately have binocular vision however, this develops between three and five months as they take in their surroundings and are stimulated by what they see. It continues to develop up to age eight.

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If anything stops the visual stimulation – like a turn in one eye that stops you seeing clearly – then the pathways don’t develop. After age eight, there’s nothing that can be done to develop the necessary pathways, and sight will be affected in that eye. In later life, accident or illness such as stroke can cause loss of sight in one eye, or stop the eyes from working together. This can lead to you feeling disorientated, unsure of distances, and generally unsteady while walking about or driving.

If sight is permanently lost in one eye, adjustment will take time, but mostly people adapt, turning their head more to compensate for the loss of peripheral vision. Judging depth with one eye is a skill that you acquire. If there is sight in both eyes but they no longer work together properly, then we can build prisms into your spectacle lenses to help you fuse images together. This works well in the majority of cases, although it can’t be done with contact lenses.

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The Fear Factor

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

People can be very squeamish about eyes, and of course frightened of losing their sight. As we age, other health issues can escalate and visiting the Optician is yet another appointment to worry about. The most common eye conditions that affect the over 60’s can however be treated if caught early, so don’t delay, keep up to date with your check ups and take action on any problems.

Statistics suggest that up to a quarter of a million people living in Britain risk blindness from undiagnosed Glaucoma, a disease which can often be successfully treated with drops. Some patients need surgery, but treatment is straightforward and preferable to losing your sight. As there are no symptoms that the patient is aware of initially, it’s important to attend for regular eye tests.

Cataracts occur when the crystalline lens within the eye becomes opaque. It can result from trauma, UV exposure, or simply ageing. It’s easily treated by surgery, but 25% of people suffering from blindness over the age of 75 have Cataracts, and this could be corrected. Annually in the UK the NHS is responsible for over 300,00 Cataract surgeries.

ARMD – Age Related Macular Degeneration – is the commonest cause of blindness in the Western World. In the UK it affects the lives of over 600,000 people. Monitoring by your Optician can spot the earliest signs, when changes to diet and dietary supplements can help to control the condition. The very fast progress of the wet form of the disease needs immediate treatment, so early detection is essential.

Dry Eye Syndrome is the commonest form of eye irritation in the over 65s, leading to discomfort and problems with vision. There are various therapies which can deal the symptoms, no patient needs to suffer without trying different remedies and drug regimes.

If you have an elderly relative make sure they can visit the optician, or arrange a home visit. Even if eye conditions can’t be treated then solutions such as low vision aids might make a significant difference to the daily life, and everyone should take advantage of any treatments available.

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Muscle Power

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

When we really think about how the human body works, muscles are seen as the power stores that drive us. Think of muscles and we visualize hard bodied sport’s men and women with sculpted bodies, perfect specimens of fitness and health. There are however some tiny muscles that most of us take for granted, which we use every waking moment in our visual system. They work tirelessly throughout the day to make our eyes work together and give us the gift of sight.

The movement of each eye ball is controlled by six muscles, called extra ocular muscles, which hold the eye in place and enable it to move. This gives us the maximum vision all around us, and helps both eyes to work together. Shut each eye individually and you’ll realize that you see a slightly different image with each eye, but by controlling the movements of both eyes and the brain then fusing the two images together, most of us don’t suffer from double vision.

Problems arise if your muscles don’t work together, and the eyes don’t turn together. Injury or disease such as stroke can cause difficulties with this, stopping the two eyes from co-ordinating their movements. Some of us are born with abnormalities in the length of a muscle, which means one eye is out of alignment. This can be corrected by surgery.

Opticians correct double vision by using a prism built into your spectacle lenses. The prism bends the light so that you only see one image. This can be put into one or both lenses, and usually we divide the prism up so that the weight is even across both lenses. We also use prisms that stick onto lenses sometimes, this allows us and you to experiment with the amount of prism needed, or correct a temporary problem. When you’re tired the double vision can be worse, as your eye muscles suffer from fatigue just like aching legs or arms! To prevent eye strain and overworking those busy eye muscles, always wear glasses if they have been prescribed, take breaks from close work at regular intervals, and visit your optician at once if you suddenly suffer from double vision. All less tiring than a visit to the gym!

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Vital Statistics

Friday, July 9th, 2010

As professionals we take serious notice of all of our trade journals and the press to give us up to date information about every aspect of our working life. We need to know about new trends, advances in technology and health, and items that may appear in the National press and we’ll be asked about. Surveys are always of particular interest to us, because it’s fascinating to know what the General public are thinking!

A cause for concern was a survey which claimed that 90% of the public are not aware that UV rays are as dangerous to the eyes as they are to the skin. The raised incidence of skin cancers has led to a vast amount of publicity regarding the dangers of unprotected UV exposure, but the message does not seem to have filtered through that several eye diseases can be triggered by UV. 42% of people surveyed did not know there was anything they could do to protect their eyes – so if you’re one of them here’s some information – wear kite marked sunglasses whenever you’re out in the sun, making sure they offer 100% protection against all forms of UV. This can protect your eyes against developing Cataracts, Macular Degeneration and Pinguecula. If you’re ordering new specs you can add a UV filter, even to clear lenses, for maximum protection.

We were surprised to read that although 79% of people know that they should have an eye exam every two years, only 60% actually do have examinations that regularly. For many patients the test is free, and it’s an opportunity to check your eye health and many aspects of your general health as well as sight. When 90% of us fear losing our sight over any other sense, it makes sense to keep up to date with this quick and simple part of your wellbeing and good health routine.

The next worry was a survey saying 18% of people under age twenty do not wear their prescribed glasses. While this won’t cause damage long term, it will cause eye strain short term, and at a time when exams and studying will be causing stress even with perfect sight. So make sure your children choose fashionable frames that they will enjoy wearing! Only 3% of under 18s wear contact lenses, which should be a viable alternative to specs wear. In other age groups the uptake of contact lenses is 26%, so try not to let constraints of time and money prevent your teenager from trying contact lenses – a few appointments will sort their sight correction out, for less than that new pair of trainers that they think they can’t live without!

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Healthy Eyes Check List

Friday, June 25th, 2010

We all know that we need to take regular exercise and eat healthily to look after our bodies. There are screening programmes run by the NHS and lots of advice in the media about illness and wellness that help us to maintain good general health. More specifically, what can you do make sure our eyes are healthy? In your every day life, is there anything you can do? Here are our top five tips to ensure you have done all you can to safeguard your sight:

1.    Protect your eyes – wear safety shields or safety specs for dangerous jobs and follow health and safety guidelines at work. Speak to your HR department if you don’t think you have proper protective equipment. Wear UV protection outdoors, which can be a sunspec tint or clear UV coat, especially if you have light coloured eyes or a family history of Macular degeneration. Sunglasses should have the British Standards mark BS EN 1836 to prove they give full UV protection.

2.    Maintain Healthy Eyes – stop smoking! It’s a proven cause of cataract and Macular Degeneration. Eat a varied diet rich in green leafy vegetables and a mixture of different coloured fruits, salads, and veg. Ask your optician about retinal imagining, which will show up the earliest signs of disease. Nutritional supplements may help to prevent or halt symptoms.

3.    Be Aware – Ask around about your relative’s eye health history to make sure there are no hereditary diseases you should know about. If there is Glaucoma in your immediate family your eye tests will be free of charge when you’re over forty. If you suddenly develop any symptoms – flashing lights, blurred vision, floaters or eye pain you must be checked immediately. Although these often have simple explanations they can, in rare cases, be indicators of more serious problems.

4.    Visit Your Optician – Get into the routine of regular check ups, they’re equally important if you have glasses, contact lenses or no prescription at all. Your optician can keep a check on your sight and the health of your eye, as well as picking up some general health problems. They can refer you to the Hospital Eye Service or your GP for further treatment, and monitor results.

5.    Look After Your Eye Wear – Always wear your up to date prescription and follow instructions to the letter about contact lens care. Never over wear lenses or use solutions other than those suggested by your practitioner. Look after your specs to keep coatings, lenses and frames in tip-top condition. Scratches and blemishes on lenses may interfere with your sight and cause problems in conditions such as low light.

Prevention is always better than cure, and these simple steps will ensure you are doing all you can to maintain your precious gift of sight.

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Talking to Teens

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

If you’re living through the potential nightmare of raising a teenage child you’re probably experiencing the stress of adolescence. As kids go through growth spurts and the turbulence of young adulthood, you may also have to cope with changes in their vision and their optical needs.

As kid’s bodies grow so do their eyes, and during the teenage years sight will be changing until they stop growing. This can lead to the stress of suddenly needing glasses for the first time, or a desperate need for contact lenses as the demands of sport and the opposite sex make specs pretty undesirable! Take a deep breath, take a step back, and work with them to find the best eye wear solutions.

If your child has to wear glasses, remember to feel sympathetic towards their need to look good and feel confident amongst their peers. Let them make their choice, and note that in the long run, it won’t harm them if they choose not to wear their glasses. A few headaches might persuade them to put them on, but too much nagging will have the opposite affect! There are cool styles out there nowadays, and a little Designer fashion might go a long way in making specs a must have accessory. Keep an eye on the fitting as your child grows, and keep up to date with trends to ensure they feel good in their glasses.

Keen sports players might find that contact lenses make life easier, and much safer! If your child has a high prescription or feels very self-conscious in their specs then switching to lenses will boost their confidence at a time when they need all the help they can get! Children from as young as age seven can be fitted with them, and with the summer coming up it’s a great time to give them a try. Lenses have a short life span and a simple cleaning regime nowadays, so they can be updated to cope with fluctuating prescriptions.

Laser surgery isn’t an option until the prescription has stabilised, so at least you don’t have to contend with that idea until they’re over twenty!

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The Perfect Pupil!

Friday, May 7th, 2010

If the eyes are the windows to our souls, are our pupils are the very gateway to our inner most thoughts?  They allow others to see right inside us – good news if you’re an optician!  The pupil is just a space, but the various structures inside the eye absorb light, so we see it as a velvet black circle, that reacts to pain, emotion, and more practically, light.

The pupil allows us to have comfortable vision on the brightest of days, as it constricts down and allows only the essential amount of light in. This prevents harmful UV from reaching the delicate tissues within the eye. It’s dangerous to wear tinted glasses that don’t give UV protection, because the dark tint will fool the pupil into not constricting, and UV will flood in.

The coloured part of our eye, the Iris, is a ring of smooth muscle that surrounds the pupil, doing the work in dilating and constricting. The sensory path of each iris is linked, so normally if one pupil is stimulated then both will react. At it’s smallest the pupil goes down to about 3 millimetres, at it’s largest up to 9mm. Pupil size alters with age as well as the constant changes mentioned above.

Control of pupil size and our response to seeing the change in others is all involuntary. Research has shown that we find faces with larger pupils more attractive, because looking at us with their dilated pupils we get the message that we’re attractive to them. If we see a downcast expression with small pupils we perceive it as a sad face, and our pupils constrict down too. All this going on without us really being aware of it!

The pupil is a miracle of engineering, and can flag up a warning sign of potential health problems. Pupils that don’t react together, or don’t react normally to light can be a sign of illness or disease, so always get it checked out.

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Ultra-Violet Warning

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

As our skies are often grey, it’s easy to think that we don’t necessarily need to wear sunglasses in the UK. We might pop them on for a long drive, for skiing or other holidays abroad, but few of us think to wear them out and about in our country. You do however need to be aware that every single day, whatever the time of year or apparent conditions, you might be exposed to the dangers of UV.

As UV is part of the invisible light spectrum, we can’t tell if we’re in danger from it. UVA and UVB are the most damaging rays, and they can build up over our lifetime to cause progressive damage to the eyes. This can lead to Cataracts and Macular Degeneration. The latter cannot be treated at present, and leads to loss of central vision in old age.

So there are serous medical issues that can arise from not protecting the eyes, and there are cosmetic ones too. Premature skin ageing, the formation of uneven pigment and wrinkles can all be attributed to UV exposure. There is also the issue of skin cancer in the delicate tissues around the eye area.

Children are also at risk, and the fairer your skin and lighter your eyes the less natural protection you have. Get kids fitted with good quality sunglasses, looking for the label that states full blocking of UVA and UVB. You wouldn’t let the kids out without sunscreen – over 90% of parents report that they insist their children wear it – so don’t expose their eyes to equal harm. More than 50% of parents say that they send their children out without sunglasses, even on bright days.

If you’re outside for most of the day, wear tinted specs, or if you really prefer clear lenses, you can have a UV layer added. Photochromic lenses, which change with the light, usually have UV screening built in.

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You Give Me Fever!

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

For many people summer can bring misery with the onset of the Hayfever season. Correctly called seasonal allergic rhinitis, it’s an allergy that’s very common, affecting about 1 in 4 people in the UK. In most sufferers it starts in the teens and usually our immune systems allow us some relief from it by our forties, although this is not true for everyone. It’s more likely to hit you if you have a family history of allergy, including eczema and asthma.

Different types of pollen come into season through the Summer, so you may be affected at different times through the months. The common factor however is that the upper respiratory tract is affected, so your throat, nose, sinus and eyes react as if you have a cold. Obviously our main concern is what happens to your eyes, because specs or contact lens wear can be problematic.

If you have well fitted contact lenses, and you look after them carefully, you should not even know you’re wearing them. So if no irritation is present with your contacts, you’ll be able to keep wearing them through the hayfever season, and they may even give your eyes some protection. If however your eyes are irritated or inflamed, then lenses may trigger a reaction. Best to invest in a pair of specs to see you through to Autumn!

Glasses wearers may find their frames uncomfortable if their sinuses are bothering them, as the bridge of the frame may put pressure on tender areas. You may need to swap to a different type of bridge, and go for something as lightweight as possible.

A large and close fitting pair of sunglasses will stop the light from irritating your eyes more than is necessary, and will give some relief from extreme sensitivity. Take an anti-histamine – remember they take about 3 days to work so don’t give up if they don’t help immediately. Your pharmacist can also sell eye drops to you for more topical comfort.

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