EyeMark Newsletters

A list of all our EyeMark Newsletter Articles

ANNUS INCREDIBILIS


			
ANNUS INCREDIBILIS
The first day of 2022 was marked by the funeral mass of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. And what an emotional year it's been since. We continued to move into a post-COVID world, and we got ready for another FIFA World Cup (no less controversial than the last). But mostly, we watched the United Kingdom as drama after drama unfolded. There's no doubt the UK dominated world headlines in 2022. The influx (and outflux?) of Prime Ministers gave new meaning to the words "high staff turnover", with Liz Truss being the quickest in and out (so far). One wonders whether they had enough time to change the linen at 10 Downing Street. In addition to these antics, there was the emotional rollercoaster of the Queen celebrating her Platinum Jubilee - the first British monarch to do so - just months before her passing. The British coin people started making new money with King Charles's face on it, while the American coin people made Maya Angelou the first black woman to appear on US currency. And in the midst of all the changing of leadership (and linen), the UK was also hit with heatwaves unlike anything experienced before. And to add to its sorrows, the Royal Family had to contend with the latest season of a certain Netflix show… and critics were not amused. While we weren't watching the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II - the most watched television event of the century - we watched as CODA won Best Picture at the Oscars...
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MORE THAN A BUMP ON THE HEAD


			
MORE THAN A BUMP ON THE HEAD
Concussion is an injury to the brain as a result of a sudden bump or blow to the head which causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth within the skull. Sports-related injuries, falls and car accidents are among the common sources of concussion. A person does not have to become unconscious in order to suffer a concussion. The effects are usually temporary with the majority of people healing quickly without long term side effects. However, severe or repeated concussions can have a longer lasting impact on a number of areas, including visual functioning. VISUAL SYMPTOMS       It has been estimated that more than half of the people who have suffered a concussion, regardless of age, have some problems with their vision which range from mild to more severe. These are sometimes initially overlooked, or they may occur a while after the head trauma. The most common symptoms include blurred or double vision, sensitivity to light, partial vision loss, eye pain, abnormal eye movements and reading difficulties. Cognitive symptoms not directly associated with vision may include dizziness, poor balance, disorientation, headaches, difficulty concentrating, memory problems and frustration. Blurred or double vision  - Blurred or double vision may result from damage to the muscles and/or nerves around the eye, resulting in convergence insufficiency, the difficulty with the alignment of the eyes when trying to focus on close objects. Associated problems, such as reading difficulties, dizziness and eye strain may occur. Light sensitivity and photophobia  – This effect of concussion...
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IN THE MIND'S EYE


			
IN THE MIND'S EYE
Human beings have the ability to recreate events in the mind's eye. We recall what we have seen more often, and in more detail than what we have heard. When we are trying to remember something or think of the answer to a difficult question, some people close their eyes while others look sideways or upwards, often without realising they are doing it. What is the reason for this? What do the eyes have to do with thinking or remembering?       Research conducted as far back as 50 years ago as well as more recently, found that eye movement is vital to memory recall. It was reported that we move our eyes not only to receive visual input but also to bring to mind information stored in memory. Even when our eyes have long stopped seeing a particular image, they play an important role in memorising and remembering the image later on. When we create a detailed mental image of a past event, not only do our eyes move in the same way as when we first saw the image but our brains, too, are activated in the same way. When the image or experience is recalled, it is a condensed version of the original image or experience, as though it is being experienced in a much shorter time frame. We can only process information from a small part of our visual field at a time. We overcome this limitation by constantly shifting our focus of attention through eye...
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LEARNING THROUGH PLAY


			
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
The visual system is the most complex sensory system in the body, but it is the least mature system at birth. The child needs to move from the blurry world of light and dark to the sophisticated ability to handle a variety of visual tasks in numerous situations. Well-developed visual skills are essential for academic achievement and athletic performance, as well as having an impact on the child's self-confidence. Children learn about the world around them through their natural curiosity, tendency to explore and play. There are many things that parents and caretakers can do during the child's early years to enhance and improve how the visual system functions later in life. Providing appropriate activities and opportunities integrated with the fun of play facilitates the healthy development of critical skills. Some toys target the development of a specific skill, while others stimulate a range of abilities through one activity. Some toys are designed to grow with a child and be used in different ways at different stages of development. Toys need not be expensive in order to be effective at enhancing the learning process. Inexpensive toys at the age and interest level of the child can be as effective as costly toys. Knowing what to expect at different ages can help you enjoy your child's visual development. While being aware of milestones, remember that children develop at different rates. BUILDING TOYS       From as young as 6 months of age, children enjoy building and stacking toys. These range from...
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KERATOCONUS


			
KERATOCONUS
The cornea is the clear dome-shaped window in front of the eye which allows light into the eye. It needs to remain clear in order to allow light to pass from the front to the back of the eye. It also needs to remain spherical so that the light rays that land on the retina at the back of the eye form a focused, sharp image. As soon as there are any changes to either the smooth, spherical surface, or to the clarity of the cornea, light can no longer pass into the eye in a uniform manner and a distorted image is created on the retina. Keratoconus is a vision disorder that occurs when the cornea becomes thin and cone shaped. As the cornea thins, the shape becomes more irregular, the light is focused poorly onto the retina, and the quality of vision becomes progressively less sharp. CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS While it is not known exactly what causes keratoconus, a high proportion of sufferers have a genetic link, with 1 in 10 having a close family member who has it, too. Excessive eye rubbing is thought to have a role to play. It can occur in conjunction with other medical conditions, such as connective tissue disorders, eye allergies, asthma and eczema, or it may occur on its own. SYMPTOMS       Keratoconus typically starts in the late teens to early 20s, with the vision slowly getting worse over a period of about 10 to 20 years, after which...
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WHAT OUR GLASSES SAY ABOUT US


			
WHAT OUR GLASSES SAY ABOUT US
Glasses are one of the first things people notice about you. Although they are a necessity for those with vision problems, they can also be worn to create a particular look or make a certain statement. They often become an essential part of a person's persona. Many people are unaware of the impression they make and what they reveal about themselves without even speaking. Body language and fashion choices, including our choice of glasses, play a role in how we present ourselves to the world.       There are a number of studies that have found that people's perception of someone can be determined based on the glasses they wear. Glasses have even been incorporated in comics, cartoons and movies to portray certain attributes of the characters. Do we make particular judgements about people's qualities, interests or personality because of the frames they're wearing? People tend to perceive those wearing glasses as being more intelligent, successful and representative of a higher social class. In fact, there has been research to show that a person with glasses is more likely to get a job because "employers want to hire intelligent people". One researcher found that when a person wearing glasses appeared in court accused of a crime such as fraud, the jury found them guilty because such crimes required intelligence and cunning. However, overall glasses wearers were more likely to be seen as innocent of the crimes they were accused of. Is this because people with glasses are also perceived to...
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AGING EYES ARE A FACT OF LIFE!


			
AGING EYES ARE A FACT OF LIFE!
Two vultures were sitting in a tree. “I’m getting old,” commented one of them. “I can still spot a rabbit a kilometre away, but I can’t read the newspaper anymore.” Most people over the age of 50 can relate to this anecdote which reminds us that aging is inevitable and is not reserved for humans! Age has an effect on the eyes just like it does on other parts of the body. As we get older, our joints become less flexible and so does the lens of the eye. Presbyopia, or ‘old eye’, is a universal condition that is part of the natural aging process. In young people, the lens of the eye is soft and flexible. With the help of the circular ciliary muscle, it is able to change shape and switch focus easily and rapidly from near to far vision. As people age, the lens gradually loses its elasticity, becoming more rigid and losing its youthful ability to accommodate. This process occurs due to a decrease in the length and strength of the ciliary muscle. Signs and Symptoms       The age when people first notice changes in their vision varies depending on their lifestyle, activities, the presence of other eye conditions and certain chronic medications they may be taking. Typical signs of presbyopia include needing to hold reading material at arm’s length, difficulty reading labels with small print on cans or packets when shopping, blurred vision when reading numbers or words on the phone, decreased ability to...
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SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE


			
SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE
Many people say there’s nothing to celebrate right now. I’m not talking about the petrol price and power cuts and the general state of the world at the moment. I’m talking about the notion that there’s literally nothing to celebrate. Heritage Day/Braai Day has come and gone, and now it’s a long dry spell until the festive season with not a single public holiday in sight. Unless you want to go American and commemorate Halloween, it seems October holds no particular significance. Except that, if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find that there are in fact many things to commemorate. For example, October is National Sarcasm Awareness Month. Now there’s something that needs to be celebrated all over the world. Who wouldn’t want to stop what they’re doing and spend a whole month honouring the lowest form of wit? (Please feel free to use this entire paragraph as an example of how Sarcasm Month might be celebrated… if you want, or not, like who cares… whatever.) It seems fitting somehow that October is also Emotional Intelligence Month. Coincidence? Possibly. But one thing’s for sure… you’ll probably have to pick one or the other. Sarcasm and emotional intelligence haven’t historically gone hand-in-hand. There’s also World Post Day on 9 October. If you’ve actually used our postal service and actually expect your mail to be delivered, this just might be the day for you. Who knows? Maybe your letter will arrive in time for World Smile Day. And if it doesn’t, there’s...
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DIABETIC RETINOPATHY


			
DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
Almost a century ago, in October 1923, the Nobel Prize was awarded to Banting and Macleod for their discovery of insulin which has saved the lives of millions of people suffering from diabetes, one of the fastest growing chronic diseases worldwide. Insulin is a hormone that delivers glucose to the cells of the body. Diabetes is a disease in which the body either does not produce or use insulin effectively, resulting in damage to many parts of the body including the eyes. The eyes are particularly vulnerable to the impact that fluctuation in blood sugar levels has on blood vessels and nerves which causes a variety of diabetic eye diseases. DIABETIC RETINOPATHY       The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they are to develop diabetic retinopathy, but with control of blood sugar levels this risk reduces significantly. Diabetic retinopathy occurs as a result of damage to the small blood vessels of the retina. It is characterised by either the leaking of the blood vessels or the growth of abnormal new blood vessels on the surface of the retina. It usually progresses through four stages, from mild nonproliferative retinopathy to the severe proliferative stage. After a prolonged period of high blood sugar levels, the blood vessels weaken, bulge or leak into the retina, depriving it of oxygen and essential nutrients. As some of the damaged vessels become blocked or closed off, new blood vessels begin to grow. These fragile blood vessels can break, bleed or form clots. The...
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SUNSCREEN FOR YOUR EYES


			
SUNSCREEN FOR YOUR EYES
Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can be harmful to the eyes, increasing the risk for conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration, as well as corneal sunburn and eye irritation.       People with light-coloured eyes are often more sensitive to light than those with darker eyes and have a higher risk for developing eye diseases as more UV light can pass through the iris. Sunglasses are not simply a fashion accessory; they are essential for protection of the eyes against damaging UV light. Because damage from UVA and UVB radiation is cumulative over a person’s lifetime, the eyes should be protected from an early age in all light conditions. With so many options on the market, how do we choose sunglasses that offer optimal protection?       Lenses that provide UV protection are manufactured to absorb, block and reflect UVA and UVB rays, preventing them from penetrating through the lens and into the eye. Many lenses today have built-in UV protection rather than a top coating that can wear off over time. Anti-reflective coating reduces the reflections that bounce off the back of the lenses into the eyes. What does the label on sunglasses tell us? Most reputable brands of sunglasses list UV protection on the label, which should say: “100% protection against UVA and UVB” or “100% UV 400 protection”. Do darker lenses offer better protection? Darker lenses may reduce the need to squint in bright light, but unless it is specifically indicated, they do...
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