Part 6 of Robert Epstein’s “Seeing Without Glasses Seminar” sponsored by Mercy Health System. For more on this topic as well as many others, please visit www.mercyhealthsystem.org.
“Seeing Without Glasses” by Robert Epstein MD
Posted in Uncategorized by admin - Sep 09 2010
Vision Care Alert for Ultraviolet Radiation
Posted in Uncategorized by admin - Jul 21 2010
The sun is a large body which emits harmful short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation. This, in turn, is absorbed by the ozone layer in the stratosphere. Unfortunately, the protection afforded by the ozone layer is being reduced by the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which break down the ozone molecules.
In the human body, harmful free radicals are formed as a by-product of the process that converts food into energy. They are mopped up by antioxidants (principally Vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene) which help counter the cell damage to the eyes associated with free radical activity.
Ultraviolet radiation could be described as solar “free radicals”. As it is wise to limit free radical damage to the eyes by eating an antioxidant-rich diet, so it is sensible to take precautionary measures to guard against solar “free radicals” or ultraviolet radiation.
How hazardous is this solar radiation to our vision? Most of us are familiar by now with its associated risks of skin cancer, but it also contributes to various types of damage to the eyes (e.g. snow blindness or photokeratitis, and various opacities on and within the eyes, including fat deposits and cataract).
Although there is little evidence that ultraviolet levels have increased substantially in non-polar regions of the world, the breakdown of the ozone molecules by man-made chemicals does continue apace. It is wise, therefore, to put yourself on vision care alert on sunny days.
Amounts of potentially damaging ultraviolet radiation have always been at their highest around noon local-time at the height of summer. These harmful rays also increase the nearer you move to the equator and the higher the altitude reached.
Sand and snow reflect large amounts of ultraviolet radiation. Skiing or other activities on snow (especially during summer) certainly requires you to wear adequate protection for your eyes. Similarly, bathing on beaches near the equator increases the risk of damage to your vision and cells for category 2 (20% transmittance) sunglasses.
Besides sunglasses, a broad-brimmed hat reduces considerably the amount of light striking the eyes when walking or standing. Although, as we have seen, good quality sunglasses provide the best protection against ultraviolet radiation, ordinary clear plastic or high-index glass lenses also provide considerable protection as well.
It is important to remember that ultraviolet rays do not just come from above. Ambient ultraviolet radiation can also come from the side or be reflected from below. So, protection against ambient ultraviolet is desirable, and care should be taken when buying the currently fashionable small-sized frames to check that these also give adequate protection from above.
Everyone can benefit from improved ocular comfort in bright, sunny conditions, but are they really necessary when skies are cloudy? You might be surprised to learn that many types of cloud have only a small effect on the levels of ultraviolet reaching the ground. It is, then, only sensible to continue to protect the eyes in high-risk environments even when it is cloudy.
As exposure of the skin to too much short wavelength ultraviolet radiation can lead to skin cancer, so exposure of the eyes to excessive ultraviolet radiation can lead long-term to
serious eye disease.
A few hours after excessive exposure your eyes will become very red and watery. They might feel “gritty” and even natural light, not strong sunlight, can be painful to the eyes. A period spent in a darkened room may feel more comfortable.
Fortunately, this short-term photokeratitis will begin to subside within 24 hours or so and usually disappears completely after 48 hours. However, as with red, burnt skin so with red “burnt” eyes: the redness indicates potential long-term damage and it is always preferable to avoid the damage in the first place.
It makes sense, then given the ongoing depletion of the ozone layer, to take seriously the damage caused by these solar “free radicals”. Be wise: maintain a high vision care alert!
For Safe Sport Practice Sound Vision Care
Posted in Uncategorized by admin - Jul 17 2010
Everyone who takes part in sport should be aware of the potential danger to their eyes. Much care is usually taken over selecting the correct kit or equipment for their particular sport, but vision care, perhaps, doesn’t always get the priority it deserves.
Your eyes are among the most delicate and vulnerable organs of the body. Yet, the current fashion for rimless or narrow-rimmed glasses with smaller lenses might lead you to believe that this type of eyewear offers adequate protection for your eyes when playing sport. Or, perhaps, if wearing glasses is impractical, you might adopt a cavalier attitude to protective eyewear and leave your eyes unprotected.
You could easily regret exposing your eyes to potential risk, however. It is not necessary to have a severe laceration or penetrating eye injury to suffer internal damage to the eyes. Relatively minor injuries sustained when playing sport can create long-term visual problems which can lead eventually to vision loss.
Vision care, then, is not an optional extra but a vital prerequisite for everybody participating in sport and, as a first step, it is advisable to have an eye check-up. This presents you with the ideal opportunity to discuss your particular visual requirements, thereby ensuring your safety and comfort.
Making the right choice doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone who plays the same sport opts for the same eyewear. Let’s take golf, for example. Many golfers prefer wider-framed, tinted prescription sunglasses to give them protection from the glare of the sun. Others prefer contact lenses.
However, as one leading golfer recently found to his cost, contact lenses provide the wearer with very little eye protection. Trapped in a very deep bunker with sheer sides, he successfully dislodged the ball from the slope but, at the same time, managed to lodge several grains of sand in his eye. The incident broke his concentration and rhythm, and his subsequent performance was distanctly under-par!
Instead of rubbing the eye vigorously, as a contact lens wearer he should have immediately removed the lens and cleaned it thoroughly before replacing it. Obviously, in this instance, it would be neither feasible nor appropriate to wear contact lenses in conjunction with protective goggles.
The TV commentator at the golf tournament remarked that a solution increasingly adopted by many top-ranking golfers is corrective eye surgery. Again, though, this is not suitable for everybody who plays this sport. The most important consideration is to be aware of the potential risks and protect your eyes accordingly.
Increasingly, snooker players are choosing specially designed glasses with an enlarged upper area of the lens. It almost looks as if they are wearing their glasses upside down! This enlarged lens design particularly suits those players who are short-sighted. They need to look down the cue to the cue ball as well as raise their eyes to the pocket and surrounding balls on the table without lifting their head. An applied anti-reflective coating offers extra protection for their eyes from the glare of overhead fluorescent lighting.
When choosing frames safety is paramount closely followed by comfort. They need to be strong enough to resist a hard impact but lightweight enough to make for comfortable wearing. An elasticated sports band, along with a padded bridge on metal frames, provides both safety and comfort.
Lenses should be equally strong enough to resist a hard impact. Polycarbonate, a very tough material, is used to make protective goggles for squash players, but is suitable for many other sports. They are far preferable to easily-shattered glass lenses, and even to toughened lenses.
Enjoy playing your sport, but don’t play about with your eyes: they are very precious assets. Find a practitioner who will help you keep them safe.
Some Little Known Acne Skin Care Secrets
Posted in Uncategorized by admin - Jul 15 2010
Along with beauty treatments from professionals, there needs to some efforts on the bride’s part as well, to make sure that it looks soft, smooth and glowing. There are a number of skin care tips that a bride needs to keep in mind, before the wedding as well as on the D-day. Some of them have been mentioned in the lines below.Sun of the beach! If you love sun tanning or just want the sight of that sophisticated sunburnt look – forget it. This is an acne skin care no-no. The sun’s harmful ultra violet rays redden the skin, making the skin drier. It can make one’s blemishes visible, speed up aging and bring serious damage to the human skin. Also, excessive exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer. You don’t want to ruin that great acne skin care you’ve been starting on with.Buttered Face. An African beauty secret reveals the power of shea butter which originated from the Karite Nut Tree (or Mangifolia tree). Hmmm… juicy acne skin care tip! Karite Nut Tree was discovered in the semi-arid savannahs of West Africa and Central Africa. People in Africa, women in particular – rely in shea butter as a vital tool for acne skin care treatment for over centuries now.
Cleanse your skin regularly (1-2 times everyday). This is a very effective skin care tip that helps in getting rid of the dirt and other harsh elements from your skin. Cleansing is especially important when you have been out of your house (and hence exposed to pollutants, dust etc). This skin care tip also advocates the use of lukewarm water for cleansing (hot and cold water, both, cause damage to your skin).A bit of exercise and good sleep are essential too, not just for skin care but for your health as a whole. Lack of sleep can lead to formation of wrinkles below your eyes and lack of exercise can cause your skin to slack. Moreover, exercise and sleep also help in beating stress.
Never venture out in the sun without applying sunscreen. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen that offers protection against the UVA as well as the UVB rays of the sun. Apply sunscreen at least 15-20 minutes before you go out and keep reapplying after every 3-4 hours, especially if you engage yourself in activities that make you sweat.If your skin care regimen in your twenties consisted of cleansers, toners and moisturizers, it’s time you upgrade to anti-aging skin care products in your thirties. Anti-aging formulations can include wrinkle creams, eye creams and others that help improve the skin quality.Because of the depleting levels of collagen and elastin fibers, the skin begins to lose its elasticity and becomes increasingly dry in the 30’s. Therefore, you should seek to hydrate your skin well and maintain its moisture levels. Use a hydrating moisturizing serum that penetrates deep into the skin and provides the necessary hydration to your dull skin and makes it more radiant.
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Vision Care and Safe Driving
Posted in Uncategorized by admin - Jul 12 2010
As a minimum legal requirement to ensure safe driving, drivers should display visual acuity of 20/40 with or without corrective lenses. Restrictions generally apply to those with acuity between 20/41 and 20/70, limiting them to driving in daylight hours only.
A 120 degree wide field of view is the minimum legal requirement for peripheral vision in order to qualify for a license without restrictions (in some states the threshold is higher at 140 degrees). This is with or without corrective lenses.
If you are a wearer of telescopic lenses, a useful driving aid for sufferers of diminished visual acuity whose peripheral vision remains virtually intact, you will be subject to special requirements and additional testing.
Telescopic lens wearers must include the ability to locate stationary and moving objects within the telescopic field, and the ability to adjust successfully to changes in light levels, especially during inclement weather. Excessive contrast and glare sensitivity also compromises safe driving.
As a responsible driver, then, you should be aware of breaking the law if you fail to meet these visual standards every time you switch on your engine. In particular, if you do need to wear corrective lenses to meet the driving visual standard, it is vital you wear them at all times. It is a good idea to keep a spare pair of glasses in the auto so that you are never tempted to drive illegally without them.
Let’s now look more closely at drivers’ eyewaer as this aspect of vision care contributes significantly to safe driving. Here are some important guidelines:
* The current fashion is for narrower, thin-rimmed or rimless glasses. These are ideal for driving as they allow maximum peripheral vision (They are not so good, however, for cutting out the glare of reflected ultraviolet rays from snow and sand).
* At a reasonable cost, anti-reflective coatings can be applied to any lenses helping to reduce glare and enhance nighttime vision.
* Glasses with plastic lenses are safer and lighter. A plastic bridge helps cushion the nose if wearing metal frames.
* Keep a lens cloth in your auto along with your spare pair of glasses. Glasses and contact lenses should be kept scrupulously clean to ensure a clear field of vision.
* Wearers of contact lenses, and sufferers from hay fever, should also keep a spare pair of glasses in the auto. Switching to a pair of glasses when travelling long distances offers some respite for tired, watery eyes.
* If you need to wear prescription glasses to drive, never replace them with non-prescription sunglasses. It is illegal and does not make for safe driving. Instead, buy a pair of prescription sunglasses, or use clip-on lenses over your prescription lenses. A cautionary note: You should make sure that your clip-on lenses are suitable for plastic lenses.
* In adverse weather conditions where visability is poor, such as heavy rain or snow, never wear tinted glasses. This rule is equally applicable to tinted motorbike helmets.
Safe driving also means “vision care” or essential checks for your auto. Don’t restrict your view by putting non-essential stickers on the windows of your vehicle, or hanging objects such as dolls or dice where they might prove a distraction.
Keep your windscreen clean and free from scratches, and your lights adjusted to provide good illumination without causing glare. Protect your eyes from the glare of other vehicles by looking slightly to the left of oncoming traffic at night. Temporary blindness caused by glare can be particularly dangerous.
Safe driving means showing continuing responsibility. As we have seen, restrictions can apply to drivers where vision is impaired from cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes or any other relevant medical conditions which constitute a notifiable disability.
There are two key points to note here. First, if you are involved in an accident and are subsequently found to have an undeclared visual impairment, your insurance cover could be at risk.
Secondly, and more reassuringly, having a notifiable visual impairment does not automatically preclude your being allowed to drive. Limited-period licenses, issued to keep a regular check on your condition, and licenses restricting driving to daytime only, should be viewed as the ultimate safeguard of both vision care and safe driving.