Common Refractive Errors

These conditions affect how the eye is shaped. Emmetropia is a normal shaped eye with correct refraction. 

Symptoms of refractive errors can be:

• Squinting
• Eyestrain
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Blurry or fuzzy vision
• Headaches

Common refractive errors can be corrected by eyeglasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery.

Annual eye exams are recommended every year before age 18, and after age 65, every two years in between. Unless a medical or eye problem occurs that requires more frequent attention.

To avoid these common disorders and injury to the eye:

•  Regular Eye Exams
• Wear protective eyewear
• Take breaks during screen time
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Limit alcohol intake

To schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Dr. Wendel go online: Click here or call (412) 788-1288

Sources:

www.clevelandclinic.org

www.health.ny.gov

www.pearlevision.com

Photo source: www.eyedoctorophthalmologistnyc.com

 

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Hydration for the Eyes

 

Dehydration is a condition that is caused by the loss of 

fluid from the body. It occurs when you’re losing more fluids than you're taking in, and your body doesn't have enough fluid to function properly.

Dehydration can be mild to life-threatening. Get to the ER at once if you experience: 

• Confusion
• Fainting
• Lack of urination
• Rapid heartbeat
• Rapid breathing
• Shock

It is well known that dehydration can cause dry skin and lips and can also harm the kidneys and other organs. What most people don’t know is that not drinking enough water can make the moist surfaces in your body dry out. This includes the surface of your eyes.

Dehydration causes a condition called tear hyperosmolarity, which is high levels of salt in tears.

The body’s response to a lack of hydration can be:

• Dry eye, cataracts, reflective changes, and retinal vascular disease
• Burning eyes, sensitivity to light, and the feeling of a foreign body in the eye.
• Certain medications can also cause dehydration.
• Dehydration can cause dark circles and sunken eyes.
• Dry, red, and irritated eyes.
• Blurred and double vision
• Eyesight is critically dependent on healthy blood flow; dehydration restricts blood flow.
• The cornea can become cloudy from too little water

Conditions that may cause the body to need more hydration:

• Diabetes
• Thyroid problems
• Sjogren's disease
• Addison’s disease

Dehydration can cause these problems with the eyes:

• Dark circles and sunken eyes.
• Dry, red and irritated eyes.
• Blurred and double vision.
• Eyesight is critically dependent on healthy blood flow dehydration can restrict blood flow to the eyes.
• Dry eye
• The cornea can become cloudy from too little hydration.

The body‘s other physical responses to loss of fluid includes:

• Thirst
• Dry mouth
• Decreased urine output
• Muscle cramps
• Headache
• Lightheadedness
• Sleepiness
• Lack of tear production, which leads to dry eye and eye strain.

To prevent dehydration stay hydrated:

• Drink plenty of water
• Drink a sports type of drink to help replenish electrolytes
• Reduce the intake of caffeine: alcohol, high protein, foods, and excess salt.

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Eye Movement

Eye movement encompasses both voluntary and involuntary movements of the eyes.

There are four basic types of eye movement: 

• Saccades
• Smooth pursuit movements
• Vergence movements 
• Vestibulo-ocular movements

Saccades are rapid, jerky movements of the eyes that shift focus from one point to another, such as when reading or during the rapid eye movement stage of sleep. These movements can be performed voluntarily but mostly occur automatically to adjust for areas without vision receptors.

Smooth pursuit movement is the ability of the eyes to track a target that typically moves along smoothly. During these movements, the nervous system tries to maintain the velocity of the eye at the same level as the velocity of the target.

Vergence movements are slow, simultaneous movements of both eyes in opposite directions (toward or away from each other) to maintain focus on objects at different distances, helping with depth perception.

Vestibulo-ocular movements are automatic adjustments of the eyes that stabilize vision during head movements. Controlled by the inner ear, they help maintain clear vision and support coordination during activities that involve movement.

Sources:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

www.imotions.com

www.sciencedirect.com

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Iconic Eyewear in Movie History 4

 

1. Abigail Breslin as Olive in Little Miss Sunshine
2.  Robert Wagner as Number 2 in Austin Powers
3.  Jonathan Lipinicki in Stuart Little
4. Brendon Gleeson as Mad Eye Moody in Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire
5.  Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken in Escape from New York

 

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