Safety For Father's Day

 

So, you have finally decided on the perfect Father's Day gift for Dad. You walk into the hardware store and see the display of beautiful, shiny new tools, and the best accessories to go with your gift choice, but is the best accessory there? Probably not, most people forget safety, glasses, or goggles. These could be the most important gift of all.

2.5 million Americans suffer an eye injury, and more than half of those occur at home. 

10,000 injuries occur each year that require medical attention, related to power tools. Most injuries occur when eye protection is worn, but not properly fitted or not worn at all.

Shavings from wood or metal flying into the eye is the most common type of injury associated with power tools. Dirt, dust, pollen, and wood can irritate your eyes and cause long-lasting damage.to your sight. It is highly recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, that every household have at least one pair of ANSI-approved protective eyewear. 

If you use a lawnmower, leaf blower, drill, or similar power tools, you need protective eyewear. These glasses should have a snug, wrap-style frame, to decrease the likelihood of small, airborne particles getting behind the lenses. 

If you wear corrective lenses, you can buy goggles that fit over your glasses. But a better and more comfortable choice is to buy a pair of customized safety eyewear with polycarbonate lenses from an optical shop. 

Sources:

www.preventblindness.org

www.centracare.com

www.safevision.com

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Side Effects of Under-Eye Filler

 

Under-eye filler, also known as dermal filler, is a cosmetic procedure that uses hyaluronic acid to treat dark circles and bags under the eye. Treatment consists of injections and is widely considered a safe procedure.

The under-eye area may have a hollowed look due to:

• Genetics
• Volume loss due to aging
• Environmental and health factors such as excessive sun exposure.
• Habits such as cigarette smoking can affect the skin internally and externally.

Any medical procedure involves risks, but the risk can be minimized by having a highly trained and experienced doctor do the procedure.

 

After the procedure, some bruising is expected, since the under-eye area is thinner with lots of blood vessels. Swelling is also common. Infection, allergic reaction, and the development of nodules and bumps under the eye are a possibility. There are more serious, but rare side effects including blindness.

Some of the signs of serious side effects include:

• Pain or itching
• Headache
• Tenderness
• Numbness
• Although it is rare, filler can be injected into a blood vessel or artery causing blindness (Ophthalmic Artery Occlusion).
• Tyndall Effect (describes the way light scatters under certain conditions. In the case of under-eye fillers, the filler is injected too close to the skin's surface can cause the area to have a light bluish hue as well as swelling under the eyes).

HGTV star Christina Hall revealed she had experienced an inflammatory reaction to under-eye filler last year. "Some of my issues include Inflammation, autoimmune issues, unexplained skin rashes, joint and muscle pain, dry eyes, GI issues, SIBO [small intestinal bacterial overgrowth], acid reflux, brain fog, hormone imbalances, swollen lymph nodes, and adrenal fatigue. I had all my under-eye filler dissolved as it was causing an inflammatory reaction."

Sources:

www.oppenheimermd.com

www.goodhousekeeping.com

www.myvision.org

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No Tobacco Day

The World Health Organization's World "No Tobacco Day" occurs on May 31st every year. It was created to bring awareness to more people about the dangers and health risks of smoking tobacco.

We have heard for many years about the damage smoking can do to the heart and lungs. Smoking can damage other organs of the body, including the eyes.

Studies have shown smoking increases the risk of damage from eye diseases such as:

• AMD
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Dry Eye Syndrome

Smoking causes retinal blood vessels to constrict veins and then cannot drain blood from the retina. This leads to hemorrhages (bleeding) and leakage of fluid from the blocked blood vessels. This is called retinal vein occlusion. Retinal vein occlusion happens when a blood clot blocks the vein. 

Secondhand smoke has been shown to be just as harmful as actual smoking when it comes to eye health and vision.

Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth, which can lead to the baby having a serious eye problem called retinopathy of prematurity causing severe vision loss or blindness.

The American Cancer Society has resources to help a person quit smoking. If not for yourself quit for the loved ones in your life.

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/tobacco/guide-quitting-smoking.html

Sources:

www.who.int

www.cdc.gov

www.health.ny.gov

www.clevelandclinic.org

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Careers in Vision Care-Pediatric Ophthalmologist

 

As of March 2022, there was only 1056 pediatric ophthalmologist in the US according to JAMA Ophthalmology.

The AAO researchers found 90% of US counties and four states had no pediatric ophthalmologist. Most of the pediatric ophthalmology practices are in metropolitan areas and around academic institutions. rural populations, disproportionately, lack access to this type of care, which can impact the diagnosis, treatment, and management of serious eye conditions in children.

One reason for the disparity is the environment independent healthcare providers must operate in today, they face these are some of the factors that deter specialists from locating in certain areas:

• Higher education costs

• The cost of start-up and the cost of “doing business.”

• The minimal amount of payment independent providers receive from insurance companies and government medical assistance.

Children are not just small adults; pediatric ophthalmologists are specially trained to diagnose children in a way that helps them feel comfortable and cooperative. 

They use vision tests specifically designed for the children's developmental stage and special equipment that is appropriately sized for children.

Pediatric ophthalmologists treat children whose eyes are not developing correctly, with serious eye, injuries, or infections. Other conditions they diagnose and treat:

• Juvenile arthritis

• Type one diabetes

• Pediatric cataracts

• Babies born prematurely.

• Down syndrome

• Strabismus (crossed or wandering eyes)

• Amblyopia (lazy)

• Blocked tear ducts

• Any number of other illnesses that affect the eyes and vision associated with genetic diseases, metabolic conditions, nervous system, and immune system.

Often a pediatric patient is referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist by a PCP, pediatrician, or optometrist if one is even available to a patient.

Treatments do exist for some childhood eye diseases. The danger lies in whether there is early detection and quick treatment. It is often a lack of eye care, specialists that delay the start of treatment.

Sources:

www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com

www.webmd.com

www.geisinger.org

www.healthychildren.org

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Why do we Blink?

 

"It happened in the blink of an eye" is a common expression that comes from the automatic action of rapidly opening and closing the eyelids. On average humans blink 15 to 20 times per minute. Blinking cannot be controlled; it is an involuntary movement.

1/6 of the human eye is exposed to elements outside of the body. The eye needs a smooth, clean surface for light to properly focus. 

The main function of blinking is to cleanse and moisten the eye. Each time the eyelids close, a salty secretion from the tear glands runs over the surface of the eye, flushing away debris, and lubricating the exposed part of the eyeball. 

If you don’t blink, the lack of oxygen can lead to corneal swelling, your eyes won’t get the nutrients they need to stay healthy, and your eyes can dry out because the tear film is not being replenished.

Some types of eye irritants will cause someone to blink more often. Some of these irritants include:

• Smoke
• Pollution
• Pollen
• Chemical vapors
• Foreign objects
• Dry eye
• Corneal, abrasion, or other eye injuries
• Eyestrain
• Neurological conditions

Studies have shown that when a person's brain is overloaded, it will cause blinking to be more frequent. This overload occurs when the brain struggles to interpret, prioritize or otherwise process inputs. It then communicates to the body that it is time to escape these inputs. Then manifests itself as excessive blinking.

Sources:

www.nbcnews.com

www.myvision.org

www.healthline.com

www.livescience.com

www.medicalnewstoday.com

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Iconic Eyewear in Movie History 2

 

1. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi wore wayfarers as Elwood and Jake in The Blues Brothers

2. Nick Fury‘s eyepatch in the Marvel cinematic universe. Goose the "cat"— who is actually of an alien species called the Flerken. Goose is the reason Nick Fury got his eyepatch.

3. Marilyn Monroe eyeglasses Pola is the ‘blind as a bat’ character played by Monroe in How to Marry a Millionaire

4. Clark Kent black, thick framed glasses, in Superman Movies and TV shows.

5. Thomas J. Sennett played by Macaulay Culkin in My Girl

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What is Eye Miosis

Eye Miosis is the excessive constriction of the pupil that doesn't return to normal size. Also called pinpoint pupil. 

The black circle at the center of your eye is your pupil. It changes size thousands of times a day. When you're in dim light, it gets bigger to let in more light. When the light is bright the pupil will shrink to protect your eye and keep light out.

Many things can cause eye Miosis:

• An eye injury
• Uveitis
• Medication side effects
• Genetics
• Age
• Opioid use
• Chronic diseases/conditions
• A stroke
• Horner’s syndrome
• Brain injury
• Lyme disease
• Emotions can lead to changes in pupil size
• Severe lack of vitamin D

Miosis is commonly a symptom of something else not a disease in itself. Miosis can occur in one or both eyes. Miosis can be treated by treating the underlying condition. Whatever the underlying cause may be. 

If you find your pupils are not adjusting when they are supposed to. You should contact your vision care provider to find the cause, as there are some causes that may be serious. Your eye doctor will take a close look at your eyes in a dark room. The doctor will ask you to look at a faraway object. Then they'll check:

• The size and shape of your pupils
• The size of your eyelid opening
• Whether your pupils are equal in size
• The position of your pupils
• How your pupils react to bright light

To find out if you have abnormal miosis, your eye care provider will consult with your PCP to come up with a plan to find the cause of your eye Miosis if it is found not to be a visual cause, but something systemic. Then move forward with a specialist if needed.

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Sources:

www.sciencedirect.com

www.vbems.com

www.healthline.com

www.clevelandclinic.org

www.webmd.com