Eye Nodules in Covid-19 Patients

 

Images: www.rsna.org Radiological Society of North America

A small study in France, published February 16, 2021 in the medical journal Radiology, of the 129 patients who were studied with severe COVID-19, who were hospitalized and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans across 16 hospitals from March 4 to May 1.

Previous studies have shown ocular manifestations may present in COVID-19 active in 31% of patients. In some cases evidence has been presented with ophthalmic symptoms as the first complaint of patients. COVID-19 has already been linked to cases of conjunctivitis, but this is the first time researchers have noticed nodules on the back of patient’s eyes. Researchers say the viral infection may affect blood vessels which could lead to the nodules. The theory is that the nodules could be related to inflammation triggered by the virus and inadequate drainage of the veins around the eyes due to patients remaining in the prone position, to improve oxygenation, for a significant amount of time.

Of the 129 patients:

• 9 patients (7%) had abnormal MRI findings of the globe, or eyeball. The MRI scans showed one or more nodules in the back part, or posterior pole, of the eyeball.
• 7 of the 9 patients were in the prone position,
• 7 of 9 patients were intubated in the ICU.
• 8 patients had nodules in both eyes.
• 8 patients had spent time in the ICU for COVID-19
• Many of the nine had underlying conditions.

        o 2 had diabetes

        o 6 were obese

        o 2 had hypertension

With the first goal of getting CoVid patients able to breathe on their own and reduce the viral load. There may be many others with these nodules not just in the eye but also may have had nodules forming in other parts of the body, but doctors have not known to scan for them. The study had several limitations, like the lack of a control group and samples testing for Covid-19 in the eyes and conjunctiva, or the membrane covering the eye and eyelids.

As with other newly discovered potential side effects of COVID-19, the long-term risks are still being assessed. With such a small sample group having been studied more testing is needed to determine the long-term ocular damage and at what stage of the virus are these manifestations occurring.

#eyegotcha

#PittsburghEyeCare

#PittsburghOptometrist

Sources:

www.foxnews.com

www.healthline.com

www.livescience.com

www.ajmc.com

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Your Eyes

 

Image: www.medicalnewstoday.com

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an auto immune condition in which the immune system mistakenly targets the joints. RA is a systemic disease that can affect the whole body. While most people think of arthritis as inflammation of only the joints research shows that inflammation causes damage to other parts of the body including the eyes.

RA as it relates to the eye may lead to conditions such as dry eye, scleritis or uveitis. RA damages the connective tissue, made mostly of collagen that covers the end of the bone joints, but collagen is also the primary substance of the eye’s sclera and cornea.

About 25% of RA patients will develop an eye problem. There are several common vision complications associated with RA

• Dry eye
•  Damage to the cornea
• Infections like conjunctivitis
• Inflammation of the sclera
• Conjunctiva
• Patients with RA are at a higher risk for developing cataracts

Diagnosis of RA requires a rheumatologist who will work closely with your eye care physician to manage problems with your eyes.

Some medications used to treat the RA has dry eye as a side effects. So that will also be addressed. The treatment plan will include trying to balance treatment for RA related eye conditions and side effects of the medication

#eyegotcha

#PittsburghEyeCare
#PittsburghOptometrist
#ra 

Sources:

 https://www.nvisioncenters.com/conditions/arthritis-and-vision/

www.arthritis.org

www.bausch.com

www.ado.org

Why do Potatoes Have Eyes

Image: www.chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/

Each tuber or potato has several buds. These are the small sprouts we call potato “eyes”. It is from these buds that new potato plants can grow. When these buds are exposed to warmth and moisture, they begin to swell and soon sprout into entire stems with roots growing from their bases and leaves at the top. Some people ask is it safe to eat potatoes with eyes? When potato sprout the starch is converted into sugar, if the potato is firm it has most of the nutrients intact and can be eaten after the sprouts are removed.

Sometimes potatoes develop a greenish color - a potato exposed to light, sprouted or unsprouted, may have an increased concentration of glycoalkaloids. If this is the case, the toxic area will turn green, which can exert toxic effects on the nervous system by interfering with the body‘s ability to regulate acetylcholine, a chemical responsible for conducting nerve impulses.

So even though a potato’s eyes can’t help it to see underground, they can help it grow more potatoes.

#eyegotcha

#PittsburghEyeCare

#PittsburghOptometrist


Sources:

www.rachaelray.com

www.wonderopollis.org

www.diynetwork.com

 

Why do my eyes water when yawning?

Image: www.akc.org

Yawning is an involuntary process of opening the mouth and breathing in deeply, filling the lungs with air. Why we yawn has puzzled scientist throughout the ages. 

Your eyes water when you yawn, doctors have some theories as to why. As you know when you yawn your face becomes contorted and you close your eyes. This puts pressure on the lacrimal glands under your eyebrows. The lacrimal glands are paired exocrine glands found in most terrestrial vertebrates and some marine mammals that secrete the aqueous layer of the tear film that keeps the eye protected from irritants and infection causing pathogens. 

Tears normally drain out through tiny little ducts in the corner of the eye but by squeezing the muscles in your face during a yawn closes up the ducts and the tears have no way to drain so they overflow. When the yawn is over and you open your eyes this fluid can drain normally again through the ducts.

#eyegotcha

#PittsburghEyeCare

#PittsburghOptometrist

 

Sources:

www.self.com

www.healthline.com

www.webmd.com

 

Vision requirements for Pennsylvania drivers

Vision requirements for drivers vary state to state and from license type to license type. The requirements to drive a tractor trailer in Pennsylvania are more stringent than a passenger car.

Visual acuity is the clarity or sharpness of vision. Normal vision is 20/20, for example, someone with 20/40 vision means you need to be at a distance of 20 feet to see what someone with 20/20 vision can see at 40 feet.

In order to drive without correct of lenses you must have 20/70 or better vision during the day and after dark 20/40 or better vision. Individuals with visual acuity poorer than 20/40 with both eyes may drive with a daylight-only restriction. If you do need corrective lenses you must wear them at all times when driving.

In order to hold a driver’s license in PA you must also meet field of vision requirements. Your visual field in clinical terms, is the area of space that you can see at the same time, in other words field of vision is how far out peripherally you are able to see without moving your head or eyes side to side.

With a healthy and normal eye, you should be able to see approximately 95° temporarily towards your car and 60° towards your nose from the center and 60° above and 75° below from the center. In PA your horizontal visual field must be at least 120° wide with both eyes.

#eyegotcha

#PittsburghEyeCare

#PittsburghOptometrist

Sources:

www.preventblindness.org

www.AOA.org

www.penndot.gov

Image:

www.nbcphiladelphia.com