California’s San Gabriel Valley Tribune (9/18, Jansen) reports that the eyelid “is one of the most common sites for skin cancer, accounting for as much as 10 percent of all skin cancers. Left untreated,” cancers there “could lead to significant injury and even blindness.”
Category Archives: Eye Health
Foods containing omega 3 fatty acids, fish oils may help prevent AMD
The UK’s Daily Mail (7/24, Hope) reports that, according to a study “to appear in the American Journal of Pathology next month,” foods “containing omega 3 and fish oils may help prevent” age-related macular degeneration (AMD), “the most common cause of blindness in old age.”
Why Get an Eye Exam – I don’t need glasses ???
There is much talk today about nationalizing medical insurance, wellness care and of course maximizing the health care dollar. Eyecare plays a major role in preventive health care. Diagnosing systemic diseases as diabetes and hypertension, serious eye diseases that can cause blindness like glaucoma, and even enhanced school performance are all important reasons why eyecare needs to be a part of any major healthcare initiatives.
New studies and estimates on the clear connection between eye exams and disease detection, workplace productivity and healthy lifestyles . Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of School of Public Health, the International Centre for Eyecare Education, the University of New South Wales and the African Vision Research Institute reported that corrected vision impairment could prevent billions of dollars in lost productivity annually.
The study is published in the June 2009 issue of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
Dangerous Weight Loss Supplements
Late in April, the FDA issued a warning to consumers to stop taking the Hydoxycut line of weight loss products, which have been associated with a number of serious adverse effects including liver and kidney failure.
The FDA has expanded to 72 the number of weight loss dietary supplements that are tainted with a number of undeclared active pharmaceutical agents. You can find the full list of these products by going to the FDA Web site.
Note to frequent flyers
I you fly frequently consider just how critical humidity is relative to your ocular comfort. The humidity in a pressured airplane cabin is likely as low as 10% and studies have shown that this level of humidity sustained for as little as 1 to 3 hours can be associated with significant mucosal irritation (eyes, skin, and upper airways). The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires liquid solution bottles that are “carried on” to be less than 3 ounces (~88.7 mL). It is important we remember this in the care of our “frequent flyer” patients – whether it be ocular lubricants, therapeutics, or contact lens care solutions.
Signs of Possible Eye Problems in Children
If one or more of these signs appear, take your child to an eye doctor right away.
What do your child’s eyes look like?
* eyes don’t line up, one eye appears crossed or looks out!
* eyelids are red-rimmed, crusted or swollen
* eyes are watery or red (inflamed)
How does your child act?
* rubs eyes a lot
* closes or covers one eye
* tilts head or thrusts head forward
* has trouble reading or doing other close-up work, or holds objects close to eyes to see
* blinks more than usual or seems cranky when doing close-up work
* things are blurry or hard to see
* squints eyes or frowns
What does your child say?
* “My eyes are itchy,” “my eyes are burning” or “my eyes feel scratchy.””I can’t see very well.”
* After doing close-up work, your child says “I feel dizzy,” “I have a headache” or “I feel sick/nauseous.”
* “Everything looks blurry,” or “I see double.”
Remember, your child may still have an eye problem even if he or she does not complain or has not shown any unusual signs.
AOA recommends comprehensive eye exams for children entering preschool and kindergarten
During an eye exam, an optometrist can detect “common vision problems, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, as well as more serious conditions such as amblyopia.”
Getting Back to School and the importance of Eye Exams
Studies show that 80% of all learning during a child’s early school years is obtained through vision. Yet too many school-aged children and teenagers have vision deficiencies. Many go undetected because only a small number receive regular eye exams. That’s just one reason why annual comprehensive eye exams are so important.
AOA recommends comprehensive eye exams for children entering preschool and kindergarten
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends comprehensive eye exams especially for children entering preschool and kindergarten. In particular, children entering preschool or kindergarten benefit the most from comprehensive eye exams,” although they rarely receive them early enough. During an eye exam, an optometrist can detect “common vision problems, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, as well as more serious conditions such as amblyopia.”
Dilation during eye examination may help detect glaucoma early
According to the American Optometric Association, “there are two types of glaucoma,” a “common kind” that “develops painlessly and gradually, typically without symptoms,” and another kind that comes on “rapidly,” with symptoms including “blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, colored rings around lights, and pain or redness in the eyes.”