EyeMark Newsletters

February has always been The Month of Love, whether or not you've ever bought into that one. Some have traditionally celebrated with wine and candles in a romantic restaurant - which isn't so easy nowadays, what with an alcohol ban and a national curfew. Some prefer movie dates - also not advisable, and not always possible. And others prefer to do date night at home - as long as your delivery guy can get to you on time (again... we're living in a time of curfew). Hmm, so maybe 2021 isn't the time to celebrate The Month of Love. Maybe February needs to be the month of something else. Maybe it'll be the month where we reach our fitness goals in the living room that's become a makeshift home gym. Maybe we'll master that dish we've been trying to cook since lockdown began. Or that new hobby we've been promising to start. Maybe this is Bucket List time, provided the items on the list comply with extended Level 3. Or maybe none of these things will happen. And maybe that's okay. Not to get too serious or anything, but there's a new buzzword doing the rounds on social media called "toxic positivity". I'm not usually one for buzzwords, but even I have to admit there might be something in it. Basically, it's about the pressure of "needing" to be grateful and optimistic all the time and finding the silver lining in every curfew and alcohol ban. Or, in optometric terms, it...

Maintaining balance is a complex process that is controlled by three different systems in the body. These are the vestibular system which is located in the inner ear, proprioception which receives information through joints and muscles in the legs and feet, and the visual system which provides input through the eyes to the brain. Vision plays a significant role in our ability to balance, orient ourselves in space and process the movement of things in our environment. Any disruption in the eye-brain connection or the visual system can result in dizziness or balance problems. Symptoms of a Balance Disorder      People suffering from a balance disorder can be in a still position but feel as if they are moving. They may find it difficult to walk straight, especially after standing up suddenly from a sitting or reclining position. Other common symptoms include dizziness or vertigo, falling or feeling as if you are going to fall, lightheadedness, fainting, a floating sensation, blurred vision, confusion or disorientation, nausea and vomiting, and changes in blood pressure and heart rate. Anxiety or panic may be associated with balance problems. Causes of a Vision-related Balance Disorder There are a variety of visual dysfunctions that can cause dizziness and balance problems. Sometimes these are purely visual problems, and sometimes they are associated with disorders such as concussion, stroke, head injury or vestibular dysfunction. Sometimes an error in the glasses or contact lens prescription can cause eyestrain and dizziness.      In many cases, dizziness is caused...

What do all athletes have in common? They all rely on their visual systems for their performance. Sport is all about the visual. The eye sees, the brain interprets and leads, and the body follows. The more accurately the visual system can take in and process visual information, the more accurately it can direct appropriate motor movement and the better the sports performance will be. Sports vision is more than 20/20 vision, more than being able to see clearly at various distances. It requires a specific set of visual skills which are involved in the performance of sport, different skills being required for different sports.    The sports vision optometrist essentially has two functions. These are to identify the required visual skills and formulate a training programme to develop, improve or enhance these visual skills, and to recommend appropriate protective eyewear for use while playing the sport.   For peak performance sportsmen or sportswomen need their responses to be dynamic, precise and fully aligned every time all the time. The visual skills needed for peak performance in sport include: Dynamic visual acuity - the ability to see moving objects clearly,   Eye tracking - the ability to follow objects with the eyes without excessive head movement, "to keep the eye on the ball",   Accommodation - the ability to change focus quickly and accurately from one object or distance to another,   Peripheral Vision - the ability to see out of the corner of the eye, to be aware of people...

When is the right age for children to start wearing contact lenses? Optometrists are often asked this question, to which there is no "right" answer. While most children start wearing contact lenses in their early teens, age is not the main consideration. Physically, a child's eyes can tolerate contact lenses at a very young age, and they can be worn successfully with no higher risk for complications than in adolescents or adults. Factors other than age include the child's level of maturity and responsibility and the reason they would like to wear contact lenses. The decision should be a joint one between the optometrist, who has the professional knowledge and experience, and the parents, who can best judge the maturity and motivation of their child.      What are the reasons a child may have for wanting to wear contact lenses? The child may simply find that glasses interfere with playing sport and contact lenses are less cumbersome. In spite of fashionable and attractive frames for children, some feel self-conscious wearing glasses and may be teased at school. Contact lenses would boost their confidence and self-esteem. Sometimes, even school performance and participation in social activities improves after the switch to contact lenses. Why would an optometrist prescribe contact lenses for a child? Contact lenses can provide clearer vision and better peripheral vision. They offer several advantages over glasses during sport by not fogging up or becoming streaked with perspiration. There is less risk of injury due to glasses slipping or being...

Get Quality Sleep    Getting plenty of rest is beneficial to our general health, but the benefit to our eyes tops the charts. Throughout the day our eyes take stress from so many sources, among others, the sun, digital screens, allergies and dry air. They are constantly changing focus as they take in information from the world around us. Allowing them good quality rest for significant amounts of time helps to rehydrate and relax them, relieving some of the stress and preparing them for the day ahead.   Eat Healthy    Foods rich in Vitamins A, E and C, Zinc and Omega-3 fatty acids can help ward off age-related vision problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration. A healthy diet decreases the risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes which have an impact on eye health.   Wear Your Sunglasses    Wearing sunglasses, even in cloudy weather and in winter, will help protect your eyes from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun, which have a cumulative effect on eye health. Make sure you choose sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.   Hydrate    Drink plenty of water to keep your body and eyes hydrated, reducing the symptoms of dry eyes.   Update Your Eye Makeup    Bacteria can easily find their way onto cosmetic and eye makeup products. Protect your eyes by updating your makeup every few months and keeping your products clean. Avoid sharing makeup with others.   Be a Quitter    If you are a smoker,...

"I hadn't noticed any problems with my vision, so I wasn't worried when my optometrist suspected glaucoma. I was shocked when glaucoma was diagnosed!" It is a common misconception that no symptoms of a vision problem means there is no problem. In developed countries over half of people with glaucoma don't know that they have it, and this number is probably considerably higher in underdeveloped countries. There is no cure for glaucoma and vision lost cannot be restored, but if detected and treated early the progression can be slowed and sometimes even stopped. Regular eye examinations are the key!      Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause progressive damage of the optic nerve at the point where it leaves the eye to carry visual information to the brain. If left untreated, most types of glaucoma progress without warning nor obvious symptoms towards gradually worsening visual damage and may lead to blindness. This is the reason that glaucoma is described as the "sneak thief of sight". Vision loss usually affects peripheral vision first. Later, it will affect central vision, which is necessary for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks like reading and driving. The eyes constantly produce aqueous humor, a clear fluid which circulates in the front part of the eyes. As new aqueous flows into the eyes, the same amount should drain out through an area called the drainage angle. This process keeps intraocular pressure (IOP) in the eyes stable. But if the drainage angle is...