Sight Medical Blog

Smart Contact Lenses

2017-06-15T06:14:00.001+01:00

Sony is developing a smart contact lens which can record videos and play them back. Each contact lens can be controlled by the user’s deliberate blinks and it features autofocus, exposure adjustment and zooming capacities.

It also features piezoelectric sensors which convert the movement of the eye into energy to power the lens.
The image capture and storage technology are embedded in the lens around the iris. Inbuilt storage allows the user to access these recordings and images easily within the lens. The design of the smart lens was revealed in Sony's patent.

Google and Samsung are also developing their version of the smart contact lenses which could also feature night vision and thermal imaging.

What is MCT Oil

2017-04-03T18:53:00.000+01:00

If you like following health journals or you read a lot of articles on how to improve your health then you may have already encountered MCT oil. But do you really know what it is?

What is MCT oil?

MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides, which consist of medium-chain fatty acids. This basically means that in terms of chemical structure, its fats that make up the strings of carbon and hydrogen are only “medium” in length. Short-chain fats have less than six carbons in its strings, while long-chain fats have 13 to 21 – medium-chain fatty acids are right smack in the middle with 6 to 12 carbons in its strings.

There are three separate fatty acids that are identified as MCT. You have C6:0 or Caproic Acid, C8:0 or Caprylic Acid, and C10:0 or Capric Acid – all of these you can find in coconut oil.

Caproic Acid; while there’s not enough of it in coconut oil, is known for quickly converting into ketones (the result of the body burning fat for energy) and not turning into stored fat. C6 tastes bad and usually causes an upset stomach.

Caprylic Acid, a.k.a. Brain Octane is known for having powerful anti-microbial properties that can help the body maintain a healthy gut (which is a must in boosting the immune system), and support mood and mental health. Studies have also proven that Brain Octane is exceptionally effective in curbing cravings and this is why a lot of weight management products on the market these days feature C8 in their list of “super” ingredients.

As for Capric Acid, it’s not as high performing as Caprylic Acid – it’s definitely slower in terms of converting into energy, but it’s more affordable than C8.

Benefits of MCTs

They are used therapeutically for people with malabsorption problems, like Crohn’s Disease or a missing bladder.
They may be helpful in treating diabetes and hypertension because they support proper metabolic functioning.
They will allow you to increase the amount of carbohydrates you can eat while remaining in “ketosis.”

Other Sources of MCTs

Palm kernel oil
Full milk (from grass-fed cows)
Butter
Cheddar cheese
Full-fat yogurt

How to Incorporate MCTs into Your Diet

Use MCT oil, an egg yolk, extra virgin olive oil, lime extract, and salt for your homemade mayo to use for sandwiches and salads.
Use MCT oil for salad dressings.
Add some to smoothies and other healthy drinks.
Use MCT oil as replacement for any recipe that asks for coconut oil.

MCT oil can do wonders for your overall wellness. If you wish to manage your weight, have more energy, concentrate better, and lower your risk of developing infectious diseases, MCT oil should definitely figure in your health regimen.

Author Bio: Chelsea Sawyer is a certified health coach. She has been helping many people in changing their behaviors to keep them focused on achieving their health and fitness goals. With great passion for writing, her hobbies include writing and sharing helpful techniques on various health topics. She visits sites like Bulletproof

Breastfeeding Diet – Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby

2017-03-15T11:54:00.002+01:00

Eating well while breastfeeding is important for both mother and baby. While there are no clear-cut rules, guidelines or even a strict definition for what is considered a good breastfeeding diet, it still helps to be mindful of what you eat to ensure you and your child are getting sufficient nutrition during these critical years.

Nursing mothers often face the following eating dilemmas:

- It’s easy to miss meals – or more exactly, forget about self-care altogether – when you are caring for a baby.

- It’s hard to sit down for regular, proper meals when you have a baby attached to you most of the time.

- You feel thirsty and hungry all the time. No surprise, because it is estimated that you use 330 calories a day when you are breastfeeding (more than what you can burn if you run or mow the lawn for an hour).

This combination of exhaustion, hunger and time and logistical constraints is dangerous. It can lead to poor food choices and hard-to-break habits that can affect your health and your baby. The following are steps that can help you avoid this scenario:

Develop a meal plan. When you’re stressed, sleepless, having cravings and have limited mobility, reaching out for the nearest chips or glugging down a can of soda can become the easiest “solution.” Get away from this cycle by taking the time to plan your meals and make advanced preparation to enjoy easy but healthy choices and no-fuss, nutritious meals.

Great choices include combinations of the following:

- Fresh, whole fruits and vegetables (lots of the green leafy kind).

- Foods rich in calcium, such as milk, fortified tofu, almonds.

- Protein sources for energy, such as meat and eggs.

- Omega-3 sources, such as salmon and sardines, preferably wild-caught.

- Fiber-rich foods, such as whole wheat bread and rice.

Make “good” the easy choice. Make sure that in times of emergency (such as a late meal or a midday craving), you’ll have access only to good food. Keep water, natural fruit juices, coconut water, lemon water and other thirst-quenchers in the fridge and by your bedside so you stay hydrated all day and night. Make sure you have healthy and nutrient-rich snacks on hand, such as yoghurt, cut fruit, nuts and granola to graze on.

Know what you need to stay away from. For coffee, see if you can switch to decaf or at least limit yourself to two cups a day. For alcohol, a glass of red wine once in a while is often fine. If you are breastfeeding exclusively, be on alert for signs of allergy in your baby that may be due to your diet. If your baby frequently suffers from rashes, runny nose, watery stools and round-the-clock fussiness, take her to a pediatrician immediately.

Author Bio: Chelsea Sawyer is a certified health coach. She has been helping many people in changing their behaviors to keep them focused on achieving their health and fitness goals. With great passion for writing, her hobbies include writing and sharing helpful techniques on various health topics. She visits sites like Similac3Arabia

New Technologies For People With Visual Impairment And Blindness

2017-02-18T09:02:00.000+01:00

During Low Vision Awareness Month, the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, is highlighting new technologies and tools in the works to help the 4.1 million Americans living with low vision or blindness. The innovations aim to help people with vision loss more easily accomplish daily tasks, from navigating office buildings to crossing a street. Many of the innovations take advantage of computer vision, a technology that enables computers to recognize and interpret the complex assortment of images, objects and behaviors in the surrounding environment.

Here’s a look at a few NEI-funded technologies under development that aim to lessen the impact of low vision and blindness.

Co-robotic cane

Navigating indoors can be especially challenging for people with low vision or blindness. While existing GPS-based assistive devices can guide someone to a general location such as a building, GPS isn’t much help in finding specific rooms, said Cang Ye, Ph.D., of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Ye has developed a co-robotic cane that provides feedback on a user’s surrounding environment.

The co-robotic cane includes a motorized roller tip that guides the user.

Ye’s prototype cane has a computerized 3-D camera to “see” on behalf of the user. It also has a motorized roller tip that can propel the cane toward a desired location, allowing the user to follow the cane’s direction. Along the way, the user can speak into a microphone and a speech recognition system interprets verbal commands and guides the user via a wireless earpiece. The cane’s credit card-sized computer stores pre-loaded floor plans. However, Ye envisions being able to download floor plans via Wi-Fi upon entering a building. The computer analyzes 3-D information in real time and alerts the user of hallways and stairs.

The cane gauges a person’s location in the building by measuring the camera’s movement using a computer vision method. That method extracts details from a current image captured by the camera and matches them with those from the previous image, thus determining the user’s location by comparing the progressively changing views, all relative to a starting point. In addition to receiving NEI support, Ye recently was awarded a grant from the NIH’s Coulter College Commercializing Innovation Program to explore commercialization of the robotic cane.

Robotic glove finds door handles, small objects

In the process of developing the co-robotic cane, Ye realized that closed doorways pose yet another challenge for people with low vision and blindness. “Finding the door knob or handle and getting the door open slows you way down,” he said. To help someone with low vision locate and grasp small objects more quickly, he designed a fingerless glove device.

Ye’s fingerless glove uses a camera to detect small objects such as door handles.

On the back surface is a camera and a speech recognition system, enabling the user to give the glove voice commands such as “door handle,” “mug,” “bowl,” or “bottle of water.” The glove guides the user’s hand via tactile prompts to the desired object. “Guiding the person’s hand left or right is easy,” Ye said. “An actuator on the thumb’s surface takes care of that in a very intuitive and natural way.” Prompting a user to move his or her hand forward and backward, and getting a feel for how to grasp an object, is more challenging.

Ye’s colleague Yantao Shen, Ph.D., University of Nevada, Reno, developed a novel hybrid tactile system that comprises an array of cylindrical pins that send either a mechanical or electrical stimulus. The electric stimulus provides an electrotactile sensation, meaning that it excites the nerves on the skin of the hand to simulate a sense of touch. Picture four cylindrical pins in alignment down the length of your index finger. One by one, starting with the pin closest to your finger tip, the pins pulse in a pattern indicating that the hand should move backward.

An array of small, cylindrical pins prompts users to position their hand to grasp a desired object.

The reverse pattern indicates the need for forward motion. Meanwhile, a larger electrotactile system on the palm uses a series of cylindrical pins to create a 3-D representation of the object’s shape. For example, if your hand is approaching the handle of a mug, you would sense the handle’s shape in your palm so that you could adjust the position of your hand accordingly. As your hand moves toward the mug handle, any slight shifts in angle are noted by the camera and the tactile sensation on your palm reflects such changes.

Smartphone crosswalk app

Street crossings can be especially dangerous for people with low vision. James Coughlan, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute have developed a smartphone app that gives auditory prompts to help users identify the safest crossing location and stay within the crosswalk.

The app harnesses three technologies and triangulates them. A global positioning system (GPS) is used to pinpoint the intersection where a user is standing. Computer vision is then used to scan the area for crosswalks and walk lights. That information is integrated with a geographic information system (GIS) database containing a crowdsourced, detailed inventory about an intersection’s quirks, such as the presence of road construction or uneven pavement.

The three technologies compensate for each other’s weaknesses. For example, while computer vision may lack the depth perception needed to detect a median in the center of the road, such local knowledge would be included in the GIS template. And while GPS can adequately localize the user to an intersection, it cannot identify on which corner a user is standing. Computer vision determines the corner, as well as where the user is in relation to the crosswalk, the status of the walk lights and traffic lights, and the presence of vehicles.

CamIO system helps explore objects in a natural way

Imagine a system that enables visually impaired biology students to explore a 3-D anatomical model of a heart by touching an area and hearing “aortic arch” in response. The same system could also be used to get an auditory readout of the display on a device such as a glucose monitor. The prototype system, designed with a low-cost camera connected to a laptop computer, can make physical objects – from 2-D maps to digital displays on microwaves – fully accessible to users with low vision or blindness.

The CamIO system consists of a laptop computer and a camera and enables users to explore any 3-D or 2-D object. By holding a finger on an object, users prompt the system to provide audio feedback.

The CamIO (short for camera input-output) , also under development by Coughlan, provides real-time audio feedback as the user explores an object in a natural way, turning it around and touching it. Holding a finger stationary on 3-D or 2-D objects, signals the system to provide an audible label of the location in question or an enhanced image on a laptop screen. CamIO was conceived by Joshua Miele, Ph.D, a blind scientist at Smith-Kettlewell who develops and evaluates novel sound/touch interfaces to help people with vision loss. Coughlan plans to develop a smartphone app version of CamIO. In the meantime, software for the laptop version will be available for free download. To watch a demonstration of the CamIO system.

High-powered prisms, periscopes for severe tunnel vision

People with retinitis pigmentosa and glaucoma can lose most of their peripheral vision, making it challenging to walk in crowded places like airports or malls. People with severe peripheral field vision loss can have a residual central island of vision that’s as little as 1 to 2 percent of their full visual field. Eli Peli, O.D., of Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, has developed lenses constructed of many adjacent one-millimeter wide prisms that expand the visual field while preserving central vision. Peli designed a high-powered prism, called a multiplexing prism that expands one’s field of view by about 30 degrees. “That’s an improvement, but it’s not good enough,” explained Peli.

In a study, he and his colleagues mathematically modeled people walking in crowded places and found that the risk of collision is highest when other pedestrians are approaching from a 45-degree angle. To reach that degree of peripheral vision, he and his colleagues are employing a periscope-like concept. Periscopes, such as those used to see the ocean surface from a submarine, rely on a pair of parallel mirrors that shift an image, providing a view that would otherwise be out of sight.

Applying a similar concept, but with non-parallel mirrors, Peli and colleagues have developed a prototype that achieves a 45-degree visual field. Their next step is to work with optical labs to manufacture a cosmetically acceptable prototype that can be mounted into a pair of glasses. “It would be ideal if we could design magnetic clip-ons spectacles that could be easily mounted and removed,” he said.

Source: National Eye Institute (NEI)

The 7 Anti-inflammatory Herbs You Should Be Taking

2017-02-13T08:16:00.001+01:00

Many chronic diseases can be attributed to inflammation at the cellular level in one or more systems in the body. As such, reduction of inflammation is often viewed as key to the optimal functioning of the body as well as other benefits like mental clarity, energy boost, enhanced immunity and more.

There are several strategies that can be utilized to reduce inflammation. One of these is through diet. Grass-fed meats, cruciferous vegetables, egg yolks, and omega-3 rich fish are some of the foods that are known to reduce inflammation.

Apart from these, there are anti-inflammatory herbs that you may want to add to your diet. The beauty of these herbs is that you only need a small amount of these due to their potency. As an added benefit, you can make your meals more delicious.

Turmeric

Turmeric has been used extensively in both Indian and Chinese medicine for a diverse variety of ailments ranging from arthritis to liver disease.

Scientific studies reveal that this herb has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal and anticancer properties.

Some experts are touting that turmeric has properties that can help ward off or even cure chronic diseases.

Cayenne pepper

The compound known as capsaicin gives peppers, including cayenne pepper, their spicy taste and medicinal properties. Generally speaking, the spicier the pepper is, the higher its level of capsaicin is.

Cayenne pepper is used extensively in creams and ointments for pain relief. The spice has figured prominently in Indian, Chinese and Native American medicine.

Cayenne pepper, in particular, contains flavonoids and carotenoids which help protect against cellular damage, which in turn can lead to inflammation and diseases. It can also aid in weight loss.

Ginger

Ginger is another spice that has been used to treat a diverse number of conditions.

The spice contains ginerols, shogaols, and paradols which can reduce inflammation. These compounds have been used in the production of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The compound 6-ginerol, in particular, can inhibit the production of the free radical known as peroxynitrite which can cause both pain and inflammation.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is known to lower blood sugar in diabetics. But apart from that, the spice also has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which aid in minimizing cellular damage as well as lowering the risks for some chronic diseases.

The spice can also inhibit proteins that are associated with immune, growth and cell death problems. Furthermore, it helps prevent blood platelets from clumping. It can also help in stopping abnormal cell growth.

Clove

Clove contains a compound that is similar yet more potent to a compound contained in cinnamon that also helps protects against inflammation.

The compound known as eugenol can block the enzyme which causes inflammation. The spice is also rich in antioxidants.

Sage

Sage contains carnosic acid and carnosol which are associated with several health benefits including anti-inflammatory properties.

In some studies, it was revealed that sage can help in protecting against neurological conditions like Alzheimer's. It can also help lessen anxiety while improving both memory and concentration. It also has anti-oxidant, anticancer, antifungal and antibacterial properties.

Rosemary

Rosemary contains rosmarinic acid which gives the herb anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Like sage, rosemary can help remove the free radical known as superoxide which can cause chronic inflammation.

The herb is also rich in flavonoids, including apigenin, which can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the pancreas, and diosmin, which helps prevent hemorrhoids.

Author Bio: Chelsea Sawyer is a certified health coach. She has been helping many people in changing their behaviors to keep them focused on achieving their health and fitness goals. With great passion for writing, her hobbies include writing and sharing helpful techniques on various health topics. She visits sites like BulletProof

The Rising Trend of Glaucoma in Southeast May Lead to Increased Cases of Blindness in The Region

2017-02-09T13:35:00.001+01:00

A new wave of worry has enveloped the southeast with the discovery that half of its active population may go blind if nothing was done to check the rising trend of glaucoma and other eyes related diseases ravaging the zone.

It was gathered that about ten years ago, a group of ophthalmologists embarked on a study in Nigeria for the eyes and came up with the startling revelation that the southeast has the highest prevalence of severe visual impairment and glaucoma when compared with other zones in the country.

The study indicated severe visual impairment of two per cent in young people between the ages of 40 and 42 years and glaucoma blindness of 1.2 per cent among Igbos; stressing that it was the highest when compared with other zones of the country.

Since the study was conducted, experts said that measures taken to check it had not yielded the desired results, stressing that rather than reducing, further recent studies conducted indicated that the trend is on the increase, raising fears that the zone’s active population may be visually depressed.

Perturbed by the growing trend, ophthalmologists in the southeast, who gathered in Enugu last week in what was described as “Southeast Ophthalmologists Forum” to brain storm on the development said that time had come for stakeholders, governments among others to take a holistic approach that would save the active population of the zone from going blind.

Speaking at the forum organized in conjunction with Pfizer Nigeria, President, Ophthalmologist Society of Nigeria (OSN), Prof. Sebastine Nwosu, stated that the gathering followed the discovery that several efforts by groups and individuals have not yielded the required dividend, stressing that the figures obtained showed that southeast was still endangered.

He said: “As eye people, when we got this result, we were very uncomfortable and we felt that we really need to do sometime about it, otherwise our training will be in vain. So we felt we could come together to look at this and ask the question on why it is so and not just to ask the question but what are we going to do about it and as doctors if we fail to do anything we will have failed. So the essence of the meeting is to think about all the result we have and how we can solve the problem.”

Given the statistics about the disease, he said that “severe visual impairment of persons of over 40 years is two percent and the highest in the southeast, the Glaucoma blindness in the southeast is 1.2 percent compared to other zones where they have zero percent,” adding that Glaucoma blindness is commonest in all parts of southeast.

“It is like one out of every 100 people here have Glaucoma and in other places it may be one out of 500 people. You can see how bad it is for us. The disease that affects the back of the eye is the commonest in the southeast and this one is about one percent. When we say among the Igbos; there are some Igbos in the Delta, Rivers and Kogi and it is about eight percent. Many people that move about in Enugu are blind and for all these there are many causes, but the one caused by glaucoma is commonest here than any other part of Nigeria and the bad thing about the blindness caused by the glaucoma is that if you don’t catch it early enough, the person becomes permanently blind. It is unlike blindness caused by cataract, which could also be treated. This blindness doesn’t come with symptoms; it doesn’t cause pain. It is a dangerous disease,” he said.

On why the prevalence, Chairperson, Southeast Ophthalmologists Forum and former Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC), Prof Rich Umeh, stated that the thinking of the forum was that the disease is genetic.
“It is difficult to know, but we think it is genetic. It is not out of what we eat or lifestyle but may have a genetic basis. We will do more research to find out why we are worst hit. But the simple approach is to go for regular eye check up at least once in a year, otherwise we may have more blind people in this part of the country,” she said.

“We have continued to do studies in the southeast segmentally and it was discovered that the figures kept recurring. We may have more blind people. Studies have been done, the data was analyzed and we moved into action, like going to the radio to educate people, moving into rural areas to treat people, we thought that with these interventions, the prevalence would have come down but the issue is on the rise. We discovered that most in the young and old people. That is why we called our colleagues together to brainstorm on whether we can change strategy. The intervention has been very little. We want to do a kind of organized outreach, organized sensitization so that it will be synchronized. We will not prevent people from getting Glaucoma but if we catch them early, we will prevent them from getting blind because there is treatment for it. There is surgery, there is… we need to partner with our policy makers, to create awareness among others. If people have their eyes checked early enough it will be taken care of,” she added.

Director Corporate Affairs, Pfizer Nigeria and East Africa region, Margaret Olele, said the forum was part of the contribution of the company to reduce the burden of Glaucoma and other eyes related diseases, especially in the southeast zone.
She said: “Pfizer is committed to contributing positively to patient care in our communities whilst exploring more opportunities with relevant stakeholders to reduce the burden of Glaucoma. The Glaucoma Symposium is designed to update health care professionals on the latest advances in medical and surgical management of Glaucoma. It highlights insights in Glaucoma management, medications, surgical techniques and the burden of Glaucoma in Sub- Saharan Africa and Nigeria.”

Source: TheGuardian

There Will Be Global Epidemic of Blindness If We Continue To Spend Hours Staring At A Screen

2017-02-05T17:53:00.000+01:00

Warn hours spent staring at screens ‘will rob millions of their sight decades early’

Experts warn we face a global epidemic of blindness if we continue to spend hours staring at a screen. The high-energy light emitted from digital screens is causing irreversible damage to our eyes by deteriorating the retinas.

Damage to the retinas – the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye – is the biggest cause of central blindness. And a new report warns: “It is now clearer than ever that we are facing a global epidemic of sight loss – particularly for the millions of children who are exposed to digital screens earlier than ever.”

Lead researcher Dr. Celia Sanchez-Ramos said: “It is paramount for adults and parents to act now and protect themselves from further damage.” Currently, there are approximately 900 million devices and children use them without eye protection such as a protective screen or glasses.

The study, conducted at University Complutense of Madrid in Spain, analyzed and compared the results of two previous studies. The first exposed the retinas of rats to tablet screens emitting white LED light, one group with filters and the other group without filters.

After three months of exposure to white LED light, the rats exposed to tablets without filters experienced approximately a 23 percent increase in retinal cell death, which can lead to a loss of vision. The rats that were exposed to tablets filtered with Reticare, the only eye protector based on scientific data, experienced no retina cell death. Additionally, the study showed exposure to LED light from tablet screens favors the expression of genes that promote cell death and the enzymes involved in causing cell death. These effects are largely reversed by using the appropriate filter on tablet screens.

LED screens found in most electronic devices can irreversibly damage the retina and may even lead to partial blindness. In extreme cases, it could even lead to macular degeneration, which causes dark patches to appear in the center of the field of vision.

Source: DailyMailUK Online

Eye tribe for Oculus eye-tracking software acquired by Facebook

2016-12-29T12:38:00.001+01:00

Facebook Inc.’s Oculus has acquired The Eye Tribe, a company that tracks eye movement in virtual reality to improve the experience.
Oculus confirmed the acquisition of the Copenhagen-based startup, without stating a price. The acquisition was reported earlier Wednesday by TechCrunch.

Eye Tribe is the latest in a series of tech acquisitions this year for Oculus. Facebook is especially interested in eye tracking because the company wants to take the lead in social interactions in VR. The ability to follow eye movement makes it easier to understand people’s expressions and let them communicate effectively with each other in a virtual world.

For example, Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg is interested in helping people watch basketball games together, have board meetings, travel to foreign countries and take selfies in virtual reality.
Facebook isn’t alone in focusing on the importance of eye tracking to VR. Alphabet Inc.’s Google acquired Eyefluence, another startup working on eye-tracking technology, in October. The search giant is investing in virtual reality as it aims to integrate its media services, like YouTube and its app store, into the nascent technology.

Source: TheGuardian

Popular Examples Of Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs)

2016-12-16T00:00:00.000+01:00

Fitness goals do not just stop at achieving their ideal weight for both men and women. Though these are excellent objective to attain, most especially since such milestones can guarantee a person that their physical appearance is improved, there are various ways to go further beyond these. Aside from losing weight, you can be toned all over.

When it comes to performance enhancement or muscle development, steroids often come to mind. These are somewhat controversial due to the fact that most known athletes have met criticisms about the use of these drugs so they can gain an advantage over their competitor. Most importantly, steroid usage is being frowned upon by the medical community and the society.

Health professionals do not advocate the use of steroid because most of these drugs have alarming and harmful side effects. It targets your hormones. It may lead to liver damage and shrinkage of your reproductive organs.

During the past years, a new class of performance-enhancing drugs have emerged. And this is called SARMs or selective androgen receptor modulators. Though research on this drug is limited, the existing findings point to a comparable level of muscle-building and fat-burning capacity to traditional steroids, without the dangerous side effects.

Be reminded though that SARMs aren’t recommended for professional athletes. In fact, these drugs are included in the list of banned substances for athletic competition in the World Doping Agency. But if you want to discover the impact of these drugs on your physical performance, consider consuming some of the popular forms.

Some Examples Of SARMs

MK-2866 or Ostarine – This is one of the most studied SARMs. This is a powerful muscle-building drug. Studies showed that it can lead to one pound of muscle gained every month if it is paired with a solid workout routine. For moderate use, no side effects were reported.

LGD-4033 or Lignadrol or Anabolicum – This was used in plenty of human trials. Studies revealed that it can stimulate fat loss so you can become leaner. Mild natural testosterone production suppression has been observed as its side effect, but only for a short period of time.

GW501516 or Cardarine – This has only been tested on rodents. It delivers promising results in mice. It decreases fat while preserving muscles. It can also increase mitochondrial growth in muscle if combined with exercise. If it is used with 4-week running regimen, overall muscular endurance, running distance, and running time are increased. Be aware that a high dosage of this drug can cause cancer in rats.

Author Bio: Chelsea Sawyer is a certified health coach. She has been helping many people in changing their behaviors to keep them focused on achieving their health and

fitness goals. With great passion for writing, her hobbies include writing and sharing helpful techniques on various health topics. She visits sites like Bulletproof.

Cautionary Tale: How to Prepare for a Medical Emergency

2016-12-09T00:00:00.000+01:00

In a medical emergency, a second’s action can make the difference between life and death.

Sometimes, you simply cannot expect the situation to go awry, or anticipate accidents the way you would in sports or reckless driving.

Perhaps you go out of your way to ensure that you and your loved ones never fall prey to such calamities — steering clear of activities that pose the slightest danger.

Despite your countless attempts to remain cautious, however, it’s worth remembering that everyone is prone to accidents.

You could be standing in your kitchen, innocently chopping vegetables for a healthy salad, suddenly looking down upon a sliced index finger.

Your son could be adhering to your instructions and wearing his helmet while riding his bicycle to school. But in case he falls down, he’s still likely to bruise his elbow and knee.

The fact of the matter is that you simply cannot accident-proof your life or the lives of your family. There’s no point worrying about hypothetical scenarios that may or may not occur, turning your concerns into neurotic fear-mongering episodes. At the same time, however, that certainly does not mean you should turn a blind eye to the possibility of an accident.

Exercising Caution

The best way to deal with an emergency is to be prepared! Unfortunately, you’re not blessed with the gift of foresight and can’t predict an accident. What you can do, is take small steps that enable you to attend to a range of medical emergencies. Here are a few to begin with:

Stay Calm! Remaining calm during a medical emergency can actually aid the process of recovery, according to education expert Dr. Gail Gross. When your body is under stress, it experiences a fight-or-flight mode — and relaxing the injured can reduce stress levels, making the body less reactive and ending the overproduction of stress hormone, cortisol.

Prepare a first-aid kit; Adhesive bandages, cotton-tipped swabs, ice-packs, clean towels and antiseptic ointment — these are just a few of the items that can help in any event that calls for urgent care.

Keep an emergency contact list; Doctor, spouse, legal guardian, close friends and members of your family — depending on the context of the emergency, you should have a few numbers on stand-by just to save time.

If you wish to go the extra mile to ensure you’re always prepared for unpredictable medical emergencies, act decisively and choose an urgent care Dallas TXfacility that won’t keep you waiting.

Frontline ER is a Texas-based 24 hr urgent care clinic, fully equipped to tend to any and all emergencies.

Call us at (214) 499-9555 for services in Dallas, and keep medical aid on your finger-tips throughout the day!

All You Need To Know About Respiratory Problems

2016-12-04T16:59:00.002+01:00

Respiratory ailments are increasing at an alarming rate among urban dwellers. Especially in developing countries, almost one-fifth to one-fourth of the human population suffers from one or the other kind of respiratory ailment. There has been a lot of research to find out the factors behind the sudden rise of respiratory ailments in the last few years. Most researches hint at the rising levels of pollution in the air. Several reports have indicated that the quality of air in countries like China, India, Brazil and Indonesia has worsened a lot with the proportion of harmful precipitate in the air reaching dangerous levels. Needless to say, these are the nations which are home to a large number of people, in fact, one-third of the global population. All these nations are rapidly growing economies which heavily depend on industries as well as vehicular fossil fuels. This is exactly the reason why any measure to curb air pollution is not being as effective as it should be.

The worst thing in these nations is that there is very little awareness among the people regarding respiratory ailments. If you do a survey, you will be startled to find out that just a meager proportion of the population actually knows what COPD is, even though they might be actually suffering from it. COPD or chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a lung disorder which results in acute breathlessness. The most remarkable characteristic of COPD is that it worsens with age. Many people do not take this disease seriously as they believe that it is a normal occurrence due to ageing. However, with healthy living and initiation of treatment with early discovery of COPD, it can be managed effectively.

Another significant factor behind the abundance of instances of respiratory problems among the populations of developing countries is the bad habit of smoking. Tobacco is extensively consumed in developing countries. Although the governments are trying to curb chewing tobacco usage in the society, smoking in the form of beady rolls and cigarettes is not showing any sign of decreasing. Smoking increases the vulnerability to respiratory ailments manifold. If you want to avoid such diseases, you must refrain from smoking at any cost.

However, there are certain respiratory ailments which are hereditary in nature. Even though you refrain from smoke and exposure to pollution, you might acquire those problems. Asthma is one such respiratory issue. Now, the question which bothers most people is how to cure asthma. One thing which is quite unfortunate is that asthma is not completely curable. But, you can definitely manage the intensity of asthma attacks to a great extent with certain therapies.

Author’s Bio: Dr. Avni Deshmukh is an expert medical consultant in Mumbai (India) and a writer for various blogs about symptoms, cure of Asthma, Cough and respiratory problems etc. for adults and children.

Twitter ID: @AvniDeshmukh

Inactivity Of The Retinas Create New Treatment For Amblyopia: Research

2016-11-24T07:20:00.001+01:00

Amblyopia or "lazy eye," has been described as the most common form of visual disability in children. At birth, human vision is poor but improves steadily during infancy and childhood due to maturity of the eye and brain connections.
Sometimes maturation can be affected when inputs from both eyes are out of balance; as a result of cataract in one eye, for example or a misalignment of the two eyes. In this situation, the connections from one eye fail to develop properly and vision through that eye is subsequently impaired (amblyopia).

Even if surgery is performed to correct the underlying cause of this impairment, the impact it has already on the brain's visual system cannot be reversed.
To correct this disorder, optometrists and ophthalmologists apply a patch or an eye drop (atropine) to the normal stronger eye in order to subdue it and enable the child to use the weaker amblyopic eye. The effectiveness of this treatment procedure is limited by variable outcomes and poor compliance. And if treatment is initiated after age 10, in severe amblyopia, it will be ineffective.

Now, a new research carried out by researchers in the Bear Lab at the Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT and Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University in Canada have described how visual acuity in animals with amblyopia can be restored by temporarily inactivating their retinas using anesthetic.

According to the research, the visual system can be "rebooted," offering hope for restoring the sight of the amblyopic patients. This approach is similar to restoring smooth and proper function of a computer by turning it off and allowing it to "reboot." The results from this study shows that temporarily turning off input from the retinas allow the brain to reboot and enable the amblyopic eye to come back "online."

Once the anesthetic had worn off, the visual acuity of the lazy eye was restored without any penalty to the normal stronger eye and according to the researchers; this recovery was permanent because the animals were monitored into adulthood.
The researchers are now planning to investigate if this study is effective in older subjects than conventional eye patches. This will enable them determine whether the treatment is suitable for clinical use in humans. They also plan to investigate how long the retinas have to be under inactivity to promote recovery.

Source: HealthCanal

Benin City in Edo State to Host 2017 NOA Conference

2016-10-30T19:22:00.000+01:00

This is to officially announce that Benin, the Edo state capital, has received final hosting rights for the 2017 Annual National Conference and General Meeting of the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA). The event which will be its 41st edition, dating back to 1976, has been slated for between Wednesday, 5th and Saturday, 8th July, 2017.

Prior to receiving final approval, an inspection tour of proposed facilities in Benin, the Edo state capital, was undertaken between 23rd and 25th of September, 2016 by the Executive Council of the NOA. The team led by the president, Dr Damian Echendu, had Drs Felix Olafisoye adnd Norris Ovilli, Vice-presidents for NOA north and western zones. Others include Drs Agbontaen Adesuwa, Ike Oforbuike, Emmanuel Nwaji and Raymond Aguboshim, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Financial secretary and Publicity secretary of the association respectively.

Several facilities were examined in details, to ensure compliance with approved specifications. The Host Organising Committee (HOC) was also inaugurated during the visit.
Constituents include:
DR ORINAME ODIGIE Chairman, HOC
DR HAMZAT AIMIEBENOMO Secretary, HOC
DR MICHEAL NWOKO Ex-Officio/ NOA Edo chapter Chairman
DR ADEDAYO DAVID
DR CONSTANCE NOBLE
DR JOE OWIE
DR IBHIADE OZOH
DR ILIADE AIGBOVO
DR CHARLES EGUAVOEN
DR ISONAH UWAMARIN
DR GODWIN OVENSERI
DR SANI IYERE
PROF FRANKLIN KIO
PROF RALPH AKPALABA
Join me in wishing Benin, THE CRADLE OF OPTOMETRIC EDUCATION IN NIGERIA, a qualitative, innovative and memorable event.

Dr Chinonso Raymond AGUBOSHIM
National Publicity Secretary/Public Relations Officer, NOA

NOA Kano State Chapter: World Sight Day Pictures

2016-10-15T09:54:00.001+01:00

This year’s world sight day in Kano state was a blast, in case you missed it, here are some of the pictures taken during the event. Enjoy!!!!

NOA Kano chapter

Dr. Philip with FRSC personnel

Dr. Vitus Okafor

Dr. Evea, Dr. Philip, FRSC personnel and Dr. Chioma

Dr. Eme Okpo with the FRSC commander Kano state

Dr. Ohioma and Dr. Philip

Dr. Obinna Nelson

NOA Vice President Kano State Chapter, Dr. Eme Okpo addressing the audience

NOA VP sharing fliers to motorists

Dr. R. U. Echeta sharing fliers to motorists

Dr. Chioma on duty

Dr. Ugonna and Dr. Obinna on duty

Dr. N.I. Obinna

Dr. R.U. Echeta

Dr. Echeta, Dr. Alex, Dr. Lucky and Dr. Obinna

FRSC commander with one of the Emirate's council member

Dr. Iyke, Dr. Philip and Dr. Vitus

Join us next year!!!!!

World Sight Day 2016: NOA Collaborates With Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)

2016-10-09T08:29:00.000+01:00

The Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) in collaboration with Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) presents WORLD SIGHT DAY 2016 with the theme: Universal Eye Health Call To Action: Stronger Together to create awareness on vision standards for safe driving. The event will take place on Thursday 13th of October 2016 in all the 36 states in Nigeria including the federal capital territory Abuja.

World Sight Day is a global event observed annually on the second Thursday of October with the common purpose of drawing attention on blindness and vision impairment. Originally, World Sight Day was initiated in the year 2000 by the SightFirstCampaign of Lions Club International Foundation. It has since been integrated into VISION 2020 and is coordinated by IAPB in cooperation with the World Health Organization.

The Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) in this year's World Sight Day will focus on drivers' vision; to create awareness on vision standards for safe driving and the key messages include the following:

The prevalence of visual impairment in Nigeria is nearly 5 percent, and four out of five blind people are needlessly impaired.
An estimated 23 percent of drivers worldwide have uncorrected vision and need spectacle correction to improve visual capacity while driving.
An estimated 59 percent of accidents could be linked to causes associated with poor sight such as failure to use corrective lenses or glare related reasons.
Risk of car crashes increases by 9 percent in visual impairment.
Over 90 percent of decisions made behind the wheel depend on good vision.
Good eyesight and visual perception are fundamental for safe driving.
Many drivers are unaware that visual difficulties increase as light conditions change, due to lack of information about the role of sight in road safety.
Any visual impairment will affect the ability of the driver to see road signs clearly at distant and near and will subsequently affect his ability to interact with other road users.
Even though people with visual impairment try to compensate for their difficulties usually by avoiding crowded routes and slower driving, it is not enough to make up for a reduced ability to recognize road signs, hazards and pedestrians.
When you drive with less than the set minimum requirement for safety driving, you endanger your live and that of the others. It is an offense!
All drivers with blur distance vision due to refractive error should get their prescribed glasses and make sure they wear the glasses when driving.
We need drivers with good vision to increase safety and reduce road traffic accidents on our roads.

Speed thrills but kills faster with blurred vision.

It's better to lose a minute in life than to lose life in a minute. Please drive safely. All drivers, both commercial and private, should have their eyes tested annually.

Yes we can do it because we are stronger Together.

For More Enquiries, Call:

08076308041, 08023232668, 08033470065, 08033475138.

How a Leading Surgery Clinic Can Bring You Relief From Hemorrhoids

2016-10-01T06:00:00.000+01:00

Hemorrhoids which are commonly known as piles are swollen blood veins located around the lowest part of the rectum and anus. It can be either internal or external depending on their locations on the anus or rectum. The swollen veins in internal hemorrhoids develop within the anus or rectum but in external hemorrhoids, they develop outside the anus.

Hemorrhoids can sometimes be treated with the help of a few lifestyle changes. But if the condition has become too serious that it can’t be managed anymore with simple home remedies, laser surgery can give you the relief you need.

Managing hemorrhoids at home

Following a fiber-rich diet, drinking lots of water every day, exercising regularly and practicing healthy bowel movement can all help in reducing the pain, swelling, itching, bleeding and other symptoms that come with having hemorrhoids.

But there are also cases wherein the hemorrhoids have already grown too big and severe that the recommended lifestyle changes won’t be effective or manageable anymore. When this happens, you can go to a leading surgery clinic and they will most likely recommend that you undergo surgery to remove the swollen veins in the anal area.

The common method of hemorrhoid surgery, however, is considered high-risk and entails a painful and slow recovery process. Due to the location of the surgery area, the patient will be made to lie on his or her stomach throughout the entire process while under anesthesia. This makes breathing through a tube (necessary when under full anesthesia) laborious, especially if the patient is elderly. The use of surgical scissors and the need for stitches cause further pain, bleeding and damage to surrounding tissue. Urinary retention and constipation are common post-surgery issues, making recovery even more difficult and inconvenient.

Hemorrhoid surgery via laser technology

Laser surgery as hemorrhoids treatment is the preferred method due to the following reasons:

Laser technology offers precision, allowing the doctor to cut more hemorrhoidal tissue while avoiding harming healthy tissue.
Laser is used to seal the blood vessels after the affected tissues have been removed. This technique of sealing the surgery area leads to minimal bleeding and eliminates the need for stitches.
The surrounding tissues are not damaged because the laser can zoom in only on the affected areas.
The patient feels minimal pain or discomfort during and after surgery.
The surgery can be done in-office – no hospitalization required in most cases, and you can go home within the same day.
Since the process is minimally invasive, the risk of experiencing medical complications is low.
Wound healing and recovery time are fast and the patient can return to his or her normal activities in a short time.

Choosing your surgeon

Laser surgery is one of the safest and most effective methods of managing severe hemorrhoids, but the outcome of your treatment still depends largely on the competence of your surgeon. Make sure to work only with a doctor that has extensive training and experience in the use of laser surgery for hemorrhoid removal, and follow aftercare instructions for a safe and fast recovery.

About the author: Chelsea Sawyer is a certified health coach. She has been helping many people in changing their behaviors to keep them focused on achieving their health and fitness goals. With great passion for writing, her hobbies include writing and sharing helpful techniques on various health topics. She visits sites like Medical Village.

Why You Need Eye-Protectors

2016-09-17T17:30:00.000+01:00

Potential ocular hazards, such as flying particles and chemical splashes, should be eliminated or controlled at source. However, if this is not possible, the appropriate type of eye-protection must be provided and worn.
Screens or fixed shields can be used alone or in addition to eye-protectors to guard against potential hazards. People are now becoming more aware of the need to protect their eyes and eye-protectors should not only be provided to fulfill legal obligations at work but also for the many other leisure activities, such as DIY, ski-ing, squash, and ice hockey.

Ideally, an eye-protector must be:

Constructed to provide the necessary protection against the hazard for which it is designed, e.g. flying particles or radiation;
Comfortable during wear and not liable to steam up;
Light-weight and not interfere with movement;
Compatible with other protective devices, such as ear and respiratory protective equipment;
Constructed so that it does not impair visual function;
Durable, non-flammable and non-irritant to the skin;
Readily replaced at reasonable cost;
Easily cleansed;
Of suitable optical quality;
Cosmetically acceptable.

Eye-protectors may be in the form of spectacles, goggles (cup or box), screens or visor supported by a headband, or in the form of a helmet.

The main advantage of spectacle eye-protectors is that they can be made to fit well, as there is a range of sizes available. Spectacles are not suitable impact protection such as dusts, molten metal or liquid droplets or splashes.

Afocal one piece eye-protector is usually molded in one piece from polycarbonate. This type of protector has the advantage that the lenses cannot be dislodged, as may occur with a spectacle frame. They are suitable for emmetropes, but are usually manufactured in only one size. As the fit required is different for each person, they do not always fit well.

If not fitted correctly, eye-protectors will not provide the necessary protection and eye injury may still occur. Prescription eye-protectors are normally fitted by optometric practitioner or dispensing optician and should be adjusted carefully on collection. It is most unfortunate that afocal eye-protectors are often handed out by safety officers, who do not have the necessary training or the facilities to fit them.

Afocal eye-protectors are often disliked by employees who do not normally wear spectacles and are therefore worn very reluctantly. The employees' complaints can be listed as follows:

Restricted field of view, due to the frame.
Magnification effect. Afocal lenses can give a small magnification, caused by the shape of the lenses (base curve).
Reflections from i.e. the lens surfaces give rise to unwanted ghost images.

Peripheral displacement effects of afocal lenses increase with centre thickness, base curve and angle of ocular rotation. The vertical displacement effect induced on ocular rotation is only a problem if the lenses of a pair have different base curves.

Goggles (cup type) may be used to provide protection against molten metal, flying particles, dust, etc. A good tight fit to the face is required.

Face shields are usually headband-supported visors that cover the face and neck. They are used to provide protection from flying particles, molten metal and chemical splashes and can easily be worn over prescription spectacles or other types of eye-protection, if required. They provide an excellent field of view. The face shield is generally made from either polycarbonate or cellulose acetate. They can also be made so that they can be hand-held, e.g. the arc welding screens, which have a filter as the ocular (i.e. a tinted window). Face shields are also to provide protection in occupations such as motor cycling, cricket and the security industry.

Helmets on the other hand are commonly worn during welding. They provide protection of the face and neck from intense radiation and spatter. There is an ocular containing a filter to prevent harmful radiation from reaching the eyes. The filter may be designed so that it can be flipped up to expose a clear, impact resistant lens, which can be used for grinding and chipping operations. There are some superior variations of this appliance where the window is fitted with a polarizing cell, which darkens to welding density as soon as the arc is struck. These appliances usually have their own air supply, as the gases from welding rods are toxic.

Various types of eye-protectors can offer protection against different types of ocular hazards and it is essential that the hazards are correctly identified so that the appropriate eye-protector can be supplied.

How To Maximize Your Vision Using Lighting

2016-09-10T16:30:00.000+01:00

Studies have shown that the quality and type of lighting can have a significant impact on our health and comfort.
Poor lighting can accentuate existing vision problems and reading difficulties, it can cause depression and disrupt sleep cycles, by automatically adapting the lighting in a room to what people are doing, many of these psychological and physiological problems can be reduced.

Lighting takes on added importance for everyone as they grow older. Even normal healthy eyes generally require twice as much illumination at age 50 as they did at age 25. And for people with limited vision, lighting becomes an even more critical factor. It is important to control the intensity of light and the glare, as well as to provide contrast.
Below are some tips on how to use lighting to maximize vision:

Provide light throughout the room along with additional task lighting near the activity you are performing. While the area of activity should be bright, the entire room must also be well illuminated to eliminate shadows. One should not work in a pool of light surrounded by darkness.
Move lamps close to your work. To help avoid glare, use an adjustable lamp and position the lamp to the side, rather than directly in front of you. Many people find it helpful to have lamps on both the right and left sides; that will eliminate shadow.
When writing, to prevent shadows, place the lamps on the opposite side of the hand being used. Locate the bottom edge of the lampshade just below eye level.
To reduce glare, cover bare light bulbs of all types with shades soften bright light from windows with coverings like blinds or sheer curtains. Also, position the chair and table so you don't have to look directly at the light coming from the window.
To further reduce glare, cover or remove shiny surfaces such as floors and table tops. Shiny paper can increase glare, so try to use matte paper when reading or writing.
In hallways and stairways, provide generous amounts of light and position it so that it shines on the walls, floor, steps and railways.
Keep all room evenly lit. It is difficult for your eyes to adjust from bright light to low light, so if you keep all rooms well lit, it will be more comfortable to walk from room to room. Try not to walk from a brightly lit room immediately to a dark one.
If one eye is better and used for reading, position the lamp on that side of the body, slightly to the side. What you don't want is the light reflecting from the page into your eyes. To check this, turn the light off, place a mirror on the page being read, and see if the lamp appears in the mirror. If it does, re-position it. It should still be close to the page and to the side of your face, but now perhaps at a slight greatly angle.
Choose color-corrected fluorescent bulbs, such as natural white, which are safer than halogen bulbs due to fire risk. Fluorescent bulbs are cost-effective and energy efficient.
Watch television in a lighted room. It is easier on the eyes. Be sure, however, that the light isn't placed where it will cause glare or reflection off of the screen. This can be easily checked with the television screen dark.

NOA Pays a Courtesy Visit To The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development

2016-09-06T09:36:00.000+01:00

Senator (Barr) Aisha Jummai Alhassan; Minister of Women affairs and Social Development

As continuation of our strategic advocacy efforts, the Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA), on September 1, paid a strategic advocacy visit to the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Distinguished Senator (Barr) Aisha Jummai Alhassan.

The event, which took place at the conference hall of the Ministry,saw the Damian Echendu-led NOA delegation hold a very interactive session with the minister, intimating her of prospective avenues of collaboration between the two parties.

In recognition of her exceptional commitment to pro-eye health issues, as exemplified by the development of Braille Press Centers across the country and the Nigerian Farm Craft Center for the blind in Lagos, the NOA joined a select group of organizations who have honored "Mama Taraba" by investing her as the "Eye Care Ambassador in Nigeria".

The minister, who was visibly elated at the visit, promised to explore every viable avenue for partnership with the NOA in bringing succor to the venerable population in Nigeria, especially women and children. She expressed dismay over the number of women and children affected by visual impairment globally, including Nigeria.

Source: Public Relations and Publicity Centre, NigerianOptometric Association,NOA

Elderly People Require Three Times As Much Light As Young People For Visual Clarity

2016-09-03T16:30:00.000+01:00

As the visual system ages, the range of distances over which focus can be achieved is diminished, the amount of light reaching the retina is reduced, more of the light entering the eye is scattered, and the color of the light is altered by preferential absorption of short wavelengths.

Lighting can make a critical difference to elderly people with deteriorating vision. Engineers, architects and designers trying to design spaces that can be fully utilized by both old and young must consider how to meet the visual needs of the increasingly large elderly population. The challenge is to create a visual environment to compensate for the most typical kinds of vision loss by enhancing remaining vision with lighting and clever use of contrast.

Less light reaches the retina in an aging eye than it does in a younger eye. First, pupil size reduces with age so less light enters the eye. Second, the lens, which is normally clear in a young person, yellows and thickens with age, also impeding the transmission of light. The result is that a 60-year-old receives only about 40% of the same amount of available light as a 20-year-old. An older person, therefore, may see poorly under dim conditions, and lose both acuity and contrast sensitivity.

It is also difficult for an aging visual system to adapt quickly to dramatic changes in brightness. Even within a single space, it may be hard to see darker areas if other surfaces are much brighter. A general, or "ambient," light should therefore assure that there are no dark areas in a space. The space should also be bright enough to allow for good visibility so people can move around.

Everyone who lives long enough will experience these changes, but with increasing age there is also an increased probability of pathological change in the eye. These pathological changes can lead to partial sight and, ultimately, blindness. The consequences of all these changes in the visual system with age are reduced visual acuity, reduced contrast sensitivity, reduced color discrimination, increased time taken to adapt to light and sudden changes in luminance and increased sensitivity to glare.

Lighting can be used to compensate for these changes, to some extent, and hence can be used to support the independence and quality of life of the elderly. In addition, light needs to be available for tasks requiring the ability to see and distinguish detail. The finer the detail of the task, such as counting money at a cashier's counter, cooking on the stove or reading, the more light is needed.

Glare Reduction Is Important

Typically, older people experience glare because their lenses thicken and develop cloudy patches, so light is absorbed and scattered across the retina, making the image less clear. Glare is felt most acutely when a bright object is seen against a dark background, such as headlights at night. A bright light source, such as a bulb or lamp that is well shielded from view, may provide good lighting in a room and minimize the chances for glare. Examples include indirect lighting located in architectural features such as soffit and lighting fixtures or coves; and fixtures, or "luminaires," which have shielding features such as baffles or louvers. Highly reflectant surfaces such as white walls and ceilings maximize and balance the light in space, washing out severe shadows.

Enhance the Contrast

Because contrast sensitivity often declines with age, enhancing the contrast on relevant objects allows a person to recognize and distinguish edges. A stair tread with a contrasting-color stripe, for instance, may provide a measure of safety for someone who may not see the edge of the stair. Bold signs with a contrasting color background are easier to read.

Improve Color Sensitivity

Since many elderly lose some color sensitivity, good color-rendering lamps may enhance the color discrimination that remains. Incandescent lamps, including halogen, render colors very well. Many types of fluorescent lamps render colors nearly as well as incandescent lamps, and have much longer lives. Environments where seeing is easy and comfortable will help to promote an elderly person's sense of competence and independence, and add to quality of life. Furthermore, when improving lighting to meet the visual needs of the elderly, everyone's visual environment is likely to improve.

Glaucoma Treatment Surfaced as Damaged Optic Nerve Fibers Regrow

2016-08-30T16:00:00.000+01:00

regenerating mouse retinal ganglion cells

A new study carried out in mice which was founded by National Institute of Health (NIH) has shown for the first time that damaged optic nerve fibers (retinal ganglion cell axons) can actually regrow by high-contrast visual stimulation of retinal neurons. The axons even grow further when the previous stimulation is combined with chemically induced neural stimulation and the treated mice latter regained their vision partially.

The optic nerve is a paired nerve that connects the eye to the brain. It carries visual information from the retina to the brain for proper interpretation which enables us to see. So for us to see there must be a connection between our eyes and the brain. Thus, when part of these connections is interrupted by any means, we experience partial or tunnel vision. This is what happens in glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a group of disease that damages the eyes optic nerve resulting in gradual loss of vision or blindness. It is caused by high intraocular pressure (high eye pressure). When this eye pressure is high, it creates a force inside the eye globe which severely acts on the optic nerve and damages it resulting in a subsequent vision loss. Although the patient will not notice the loss in vision because it is gradual but if this pressure is left high, a time will reach when he/she will experience tunnel vision or loss of peripheral vision.

Glaucoma causes loss of vision when they damage the optic nerves and in adults, these nerves (retinal ganglion cell axons) fail to regrow on their own, which is why vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible.

"Reconnecting neurons in the visual system is one of the biggest challenges to developing regenerative therapies for binding eye diseases like glaucoma. This research shows that mammals have a greater capacity for central nervous system regeneration than previously known." NEI Director Paul A. Sieving, MD., PhD.

If this new study is effective in human eyes, then vision loss and blindness caused by optic neuropathies including glaucoma will no longer be a serious issue.

Source: National Eye Institute (NEI)

Causes Of Perforating Eye Injury

2016-08-27T21:57:00.000+01:00

Photo Credit: medicalexhibits.com

Perforating ocular injury simply means double laceration (a cut of a tissue or the act of tearing a tissue) of the eye wall due to entrance and exist wound caused by a sharp objects.

Note that perforating eye injury is quite different from penetrating eye injury because in penetrating eye injury, there is only a single laceration as compared to double laceration in perforating eye injury. There are three main causes of perforating ocular injury: foreign bodies, laceration and eye infections.

Foreign bodies

This is the most common type of ocular trauma, accounting for about half of all types of injuries. It generally results from a person not realizing the hazard of the task, for instance when using a hammer and chisel, cutting wire or grinding wheel. The eye's natural defence mechanisms may be penetrated and foreign bodies (FBs) may become embedded in the globe or they may pass through the cornea or sclera to become lodged within the globe. The symptoms can vary from little or no discomfort to severe pain. Common sites of foreign bodies in the eye include: subtarsal, superficial, intra-ocular and retained intra-ocular foreign bodies.

Photo Credit: oculist.net

Lacerations

In cases where lacerations involve the cornea and sclera, there may be a prolapse of the iris, ciliary body, lens and vitreous, resulting in complete disorganization of the globe. Posterior rupture of the globe is rare and should be suspected when extreme conjunctival oedema and hemorrhage with marked hypotony occur. Unfortunately, useful vision is not often restored, even after prompt surgery. Lacerations may also occur after blunt trauma; for example, two cases of lacerations caused by jets of water from an agricultural sprinkler have been reported.

Infections of the eye

The danger of intra-ocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) is that they may carry infections into the eye, resulting in uveitis; inflammation of the entire uveal tract. Infections may be caused by brucellosis or toxoplasmosis. This is not as serious as a purulent infection, which usually results in the loss of the eye due to panophthalmitis or endopthalmitis.

A very rare and serious complication of perforating lacerations from an IOFB is sympathetic ophthalmitis, a type of uveitis affecting the non-injured eye, and which can lead to blindness.

The second eye usually becomes involved two weeks to two months after injury. According to an old review the only effective therapy is preventive enucleation of the injured eye despite the use of immunosuppressive agents. An individual who has received a perforating injury should be sent for immediate medical attention. The eye should never be padded, as this may cause the ocular contents to prolapse. A cardboard cone can be placed over the eye to protect it from dust, dirt, etc. X-rays should be taken if the presence of an IOFB is suspected, to determine if it is metallic.

National Eye Health Months

2016-08-23T09:00:00.000+01:00

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) is a global community and the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons founded with the primary aim to protect sight and empower lives by serving as an advocate for patients and the public, setting standards for ophthalmic education and advancing the profession of ophthalmology.

Every month, the AAO recognizes one or more observances which they dedicate to raising awareness about important eye health topics. The observances include the following:

January - National Glaucoma Awareness Month
During this period, the academy educates the public about the best defense against developing glaucoma and related blindness and encourage them to go for comprehensive eye examination.

February - Age-related Macular Degeneration/Low Vision Awareness Month
The Academy during AMD Awareness reminds AMD and low vision patients that their vision can be saved with recent treatment advances but early detection is very important.

March - Save Your Vision/Workplace Eye Wellness Month
The month for reminding employers and employees the importance of wearing eye protections that are certified and approved.

April - Sports Eye Safety/Women's Eye Health and Safety Month
The Academy uses this month to remind athletes all over the world that majority of sport-related ocular injuries can be protected by wearing proper eye protection.

May - Healthy Vision Month
Initiated by the National Eye Institute (NEI) in May 2003, the academy uses this month to encourage the public to make their eye health a necessary priority by following certain simple tips.

June - Fireworks Eye Safety & Cataract Awareness Month
During this month, the academy educates the public about devastating eye injuries that can be caused by fireworks. It also uses the month to remind the public that early detection and treatment of cataracts is paramount to preserve vision.

July - UV Safety Month
The academy reminds the public of the. Importance of protecting their eyes from the sun's harmful radiations with 100% UV-blocking sunglasses and broad-brimmed hats.

August - Children's Eye Health/Safety Month
The AAO provides useful information to educate the public on how to protect and preserve a child's eye health for life.

September - Healthy Aging Month
To bring attention to taking care of our eyes as we age, the AAO uses this month to create awareness of the signs and symptoms of vision loss and suggest methods to help elderly people preserve their sight.

October - Eye Injury Prevention/Home Eye Safety Month
The AAO educates the public on various ways to avoid eye injuries at home, workplace, during sports activities, etc. They also warn them against wearing costume contact lenses that are purchased without prescription from eye care professionals. This costume lenses can cause serious eye problems capable of morphing a fun Halloween night into a nightmare.

November - Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month
The academy uses this month to encourage patients with diabetes to take proactive measures in order to protect their eyes from damage associated with diabetes.

December - Safe Toys and Gifts Month
The AAO advises parents to be more cautious when buying holiday gifts for their children and recommend toys that. Doesn't launch projectiles, such as BB guns and crossbows. They also offer safety tips on how to open champagne to keep New Year's celebration from turning tragic.

Source: www.aao.org

How To Locate And Remove Ocular Foreign Bodies

2016-08-20T21:57:00.000+01:00

Photo Credit: firsteyecareirving.com

In the eyes, there are four common sites where foreign bodies can easily lodge and they include the following: subtarsal site, superficial site, intra-ocular site and retained intra-ocular site.

Subtarsal foreign bodies

Many small FBs will be washed out of the eye by the tears. Sometimes, however, the FB will become embedded in the subtarsal conjunctiva of the upper lid, which will cause pain on blinking and a vertical corneal abrasion. The area of abraded cornea, where the epithelium has been removed, will be seen as a disturbance of the corneal reflection. This can be viewed by installing fluorescein and viewing the eye under ultraviolet light. The upper lid must be everted if there FBs are to be located and removed. The healing of the epithelium may sometimes be incomplete, resulting in recurrent corneal erosions.

Superficial foreign bodies

An eye with a corneal FB usually shows marked vascular injection closest to its position. Ocular pain will be experienced but it will be difficult to localize. If the corneal FB has been present for a couple of days a grey ring of infiltration may occur around it and, on removal, a small, pitted ulcer will remain. It may leave a permanent scar, although this will generally only affect vision if it is over the centre of the cornea. FB embedded in the conjunctiva or sclera is often surrounded by hemorrhages.

Many foreign bodies are metallic, iron particles being the most common, followed by copper and aluminum. The softer metals (e.g. magnesium) are a less frequent cause of FBs left embedded in the eye will rapidly oxidize under the influence of the enzymes of the cornea and tears. This may set up a severe inflammation of the cornea or iris. The oxidation of steel is much faster than that of aluminum or magnesium and a rust ring may be apparent within a couple of hours. A rust deposit left in the cornea will partially dissolve and an iron stain will diffuse into stromal or sub-epithelial layers.

Intra-ocular foreign bodies

The possible presence of an intra-ocular foreign body (IOFB) should always be investigated, especially when the symptoms are a gush of fluid from the eye with blurring of vision. Small, hot FBs hitting the eye at great speed may penetrate the globe and actually seal their route of entry. As only a slight pain is experienced, it is essential not to miss an IOFB, as it may lead to loss of vision. Whenever the eye is perforated an X-ray should be taken to exclude the presence of a metallic IOFB. The classic signs of a perforating injury are a shallow anterior chamber, eccentricity of the pupil and prolapse of the iris. However, care must be taken in the following two cases:

A small conjunctival hemorrhage, while being the only clue may obscure deeper scleral laceration.
The eye appears normal but there is a history suggestive of an IOFB.

Recommended: Causes Of Perforating Eye Injury

The IOFB may have been stopped by the iris and then fallen down into the anterior chamber angle to be hidden from view. If an IOFB has penetrated through the vitreous, fibrous tissue will form along its path. The fibrous tissue may impair vision if it crosses over the visual axis and a vitrectomy may then be required to restore vision and/or to prevent tractional retinal detachment.

There are various methods of localizing IOFBs: X-rays techniques, ultrasonography, binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy and the use of a localizer, which employs electric induction currents. Ultrasonography can locate the position of non-metallic fragments, whereas X-ray show metallic FB positions. Ultrasonography traces the rebound of high frequency pulsations and by resulting patterns, the inside of the eye can be exposed. Once the IOFB has been located it can be removed.

Retained intra-ocular foreign bodies

Vegetable FBs may cause infections so severe that a purelent panophthalmitis may occur in only a few hours. Other FBs may be retained without noticeable reaction, e.g. gold, silver, platinium, glass and many plastics. Less well tolerated by the eye are lead, zinc, nickel and aluminium particles. These are often coated in an inert salt and later encapsulated by fibrous tissue coating, rendering them less toxic. The most dangerous IOFBs are iron and copper which cause siderosis and chalcosis respectively.

In siderosis the iron oxidizes and causes a slow, insidious intra-ocular reaction as it permeates most of the ocular tissues; this can lead to complete blindness. It is a late-occuring syndrome and the ferrous pigmentation causes a rusty coloration of the cornea, iris or lens. In addition, a series of chronic degenerative changes occur, which lead to pupil dilation because of atrophy of the sphincter pupillae, cataract and then retinal detachment and open angle glaucoma. These complications usually occur between two months and two years after injury and surgery is needed immediately after injury to remove the foreign body.

Pure copper will cause a rapid inflammation of the eye (chalcosis) and the eye may be lost if endopthalmitis occurs. Copper alloys (bronze and brass) may induce chronic degenerative processes by slow diffusion of the copper, which tends to be taken up by the limiting membranes of the eye. A green ring may develop in the peripheral cornea in descemet's membrane and a sunflower cataract in the anterior capsule of the lens is formed. It is not usually as essential to remove copper as iron IOFBs, as retained particles may not cause a significant loss of vision for many years.

New Eye Exam for Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease

2016-08-18T11:14:00.000+01:00

Researchers at the university of Minnesota Center for Drug Design have published a study in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science in which a new technique was used to identify Alzeimer's disease in mice by simply taking pictures of their retinae with topical endoscope fundus modified with vision camera and tunable wavelength systems.

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological disorder in which there is degeneration and death of brain cells resulting in memory loss and cognitive decline. It affects the memory, thinking and vision, as well as body movements and behaviors. The disease occurs when amyloid plaques and tangles buildup in the brain nerve cells. The worst part of this disease is the inability of medical practitioners to see these plaques in the living brain, hence the only diagnosis available for now is through symptoms and by the time these symptoms become obvious, the patient will already have lost some brain function.

Actually, there is no treatment to prevent amyloid plaques and tangles buildup that causes Alzheimer’s but treatment for some of the symptoms are available. Treatments that can slow down the progression of the disease are also available.
The retina is made up of tissues that are similar and connected to the tissues of the brain. Part of these retinal tissues can be seen directly by looking into the eyes with special eye instruments.

Normal optic disc and blood vessels as seen in a standard retina image.

Alzheimer’s changes the way light is reflected off of the retina and the study showed that in mice this abnormal changes in light reflection starts long before any behavioral or memory changes that accompanies Alzheimer's disease are noticeable. If this new eye exam works in human as it did in mice, then patients with Alzheimer's disease could begin treatment as early as possible in order to slow down the progression of the disease before any symptoms are observed.

The researchers believe that if proven to be effective in human, this technique will be used during an annual eye exam for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and could also serve as the key to developing much-needed drugs for this disease. Their next step is to progress their research to human trials.

Source: www.aao.org