EyeMark Newsletters

Dry eye is a common condition, and yet it is often overlooked as a problem that can affect quality of life. “When my symptoms were at their worst, my productivity at work decreased significantly because I couldn’t stare at computer screens for too long before I had to stop because my eyes felt exhausted, and I got blurry vision and excessive tearing. I love reading but doing it for too long would cause a burning sensation in my eyes. When I travelled to cities where humidity levels were low, my symptoms worsened tremendously, so I was never able to fully enjoy my trips.” This description of symptoms by a woman who suffers from dry eye syndrome led her optometrist to comment that “dry eyes can be debilitating”. FUNCTION OF TEARS     Our eyes need tears to stay healthy and feel comfortable. The tear glands located above each eyeball continuously supply tear fluid that is spread across the surface of the eye each time we blink. Excess fluid drains through the tear ducts into the nose. Tears are made up of three layers, each of which serves a specific purpose. The oily layer keeps the surface of the eyes smooth and clear and prevents the tears from drying up too quickly. The aqueous or watery layer makes up what we see as tears. Its role is to provide moisture to the eyes and wash away particles. The mucus layer helps spread the watery layer over the surface of the eyes, keeping...

Simply a multicoloured arc made by light striking water droplets, the rainbow is an element of myths and superstitions in many different cultures. Rainbows have been portrayed as bridges between people and supernatural beings or as the bridges human ancestors used to descend to Earth. Because the shape of a rainbow resembles the bow of an archer, it is believed that it is used to shoot arrows of lightning. Generally seen as positive symbols of hope, in some cultures rainbows are viewed as negative omens. The most famous legend of the rainbow is the pot of gold at its end which is guarded by an elusive leprachaun.     A rainbow is an optical phenomenon (some have called it an optical illusion) that does not exist in a specific spot in the sky. It appears when sunlight and atmospheric conditions are just right, and the viewer is in just the right position to see it. It is the result of the refraction and reflection of light. Light entering a water droplet is refracted or bent and is then reflected or bounced back by the inside of the water droplet. As this reflected light leaves the droplet, it is refracted again at multiple angles and separates into its component wavelengths or colours, creating a rainbow. In order for a rainbow to be seen, the sun or other source of light must be behind the viewer and the water droplets in front. The water droplets are usually raindrops, but could also be spray...

The health of the eyes and vision goes hand in hand with general good health, and many chronic health conditions can impact the eyes. Autoimmune conditions, neurological disorders and even certain common illnesses can cause visual problems. Because they are made up of various types of tissue, the eyes are vulnerable to a variety of diseases while also providing insight into many systems of the body. Almost any part of the eye can give important clues to the health of other organs in the body. The eyes are the windows to the blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue in the body. An eye examination is sometimes the first sign of systemic disease. DIABETES Diabetes sufferers have a higher risk of developing cataracts and glaucoma. Chronic diabetes causes fluctuating blood sugar levels, which can damage the blood vessels in the eyes. Long-term uncontrolled diabetes can result in diabetic retinopathy, a condition in which the tiny blood vessels in the retina leak fluid and blood onto the retina, leading to vision loss and even blindness. Sometimes, diabetes appears in eye tissue even before a person has been diagnosed with the condition. Early detection can help people avoid vision loss and other serious complications. HYPERTENSION     Unusual bends, kinks or bleeding from blood vessels in the back of the eye can signal high blood pressure which can cause retinal damage and damage to the blood vessels in and around the eyes. Hypertension has been linked to a number of health issues, including eye...

Over the past years, the devastating impact of climate change on the world around us has become increasingly evident with the increase in violent storms, wildfires, rising temperatures, droughts and floods. It is well known that environmental factors play a role in eye health, but do changes in the environment pose a risk to eye health? Do the specific effects of climate change compound issues of eye health related to the environment? The connection between climate change and eye health is complex and multifaceted, covering a variety of interrelated direct and indirect factors. WHY ARE THE EYES SPECIALLY AT RISK? The eye is one of the most unique organs of the body. Because the surface of the eye is directly exposed to the elements every waking hour Even minor changes in weather, climate, UV radiation and air quality have an impact on eye health, making it susceptible to developing diseases or worsening eye conditions that already exist. WHICH ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS POSE A RISK TO THE EYES?     Climate change has been linked to air pollution, ozone depletion with its increase in UV exposure, higher temperatures causing the air to become drier, and changes in rainfall patterns affecting water quality, crops and food security. Added to its impact on health, it places a burden on health care systems affecting their stability and availability as extreme weather conditions make it more difficult for people to access health care. WHICH EYE CONDITIONS ARE OF PARTICULAR CONCERN? The World Health Organization has found a...

If you remember your Geography, you’ll remember learning that every fourth year has an extra day. Maybe you even remember why (though many of us don’t). Like most things in Geography, it has to do with the earth’s movement around the sun. Cosmic things happen somehow, and we get February the 29th. We could see it as nothing more than just another day. Another day to sit in traffic, go to work, and then go home and complain that there’s nothing to watch on any of our three hundred channels. Or we could see it as a gift. An amazing opportunity. A whole extra day to do so many things. Where do we even start? Well, how often do we all complain that there isn’t enough time to do stuff? Now’s our chance - February 29 could be the day we’ve been waiting for. So, clean out the garage already. Or sort through that pile of papers on the kitchen counter. Or put away the suitcases that have been lying in the passage since the December holidays. Or... how about a few things that would be way more fun? Follow the loadshedding schedule and hop from region to region, so you can experience 24 hours of perpetual darkness. Alphabetise all the books on your bookshelf. Or organise them according to colour. Or arrange them so all the first words of all the books come together to form a sentence. Sort through the pictures on your phone and actually print them. Then...

In recent years there has been a significant surge in the number of people across the globe wearing glasses or contact lenses, indicating the rise in visual problems and the growing need for visual correction. This may be due to a number of factors, including the higher prevalence of myopia in young children, increased screen time, lifestyle changes, improvement in diagnosis, aging populations worldwide, and the awareness of health conditions. SHORTSIGHTEDNESS BECOMING MORE COMMON Research has shown that just two decades ago optometrists were seeing far fewer children in their practices than they are today. As well as the number of young patients increasing, the age at which they are being seen is getting younger and younger, with more 4 to 12-year-olds than before needing glasses. Some estimates of children with myopia are as high as 40- 45%. Not only is myopia occurring more frequently, but it seems to be deteriorating faster and faster. Aside from the need to wear glasses or contact lenses to see clearly, myopia has additional risks later in life, including increased risk of retinal tear or detachment, premature cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Once a child reaches adulthood, progression of myopia naturally stops in most people. Addressing this issue of myopia while they are young and growing is important since this is the time when an intervention can be most successful. GENETIC VS. ENVIRONMENT       It has generally been believed that genetics plays a role in myopia, but with myopia rising so rapidly and...

Winking, the rapid closing and opening of one eye to convey a message, is a universal form of non-verbal communication which carries a rich history of historical and cultural significance. First mentioned in the bible, it has been found in literature and art in ancient Greece and Rome and in numerous cultures throughout the ages. During medieval times, some believed winking to have the sinister power of casting spells or engaging in witchcraft. From Shakespearean plays to classic novels, winking has been used to add subtle layers of meaning to the narratives. With the passage of time and societal norms, the meaning behind winking has changed. Today, virtual winking has found its place in pop culture and everyday communication on social media platforms with their emphasis on emojis and symbols.       Although seemingly a simple act, winking requires the coordinated contraction and relaxation of as many as 49 muscles. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone can wink. Some people can wink with one eye but not the other. When we wink, the eyebrow above the non-winking eye is always pulled higher on the face; it is physically difficult to keep the eyebrows level. When associated with certain medical conditions, winking can occur unintentionally. Some people wink almost subconsciously, especially under stress. This simple eye gesture has diverse meanings and conveys certain emotions or intentions, which are open to various interpretations. Navigating the subtle nuances of winking requires an awareness of cultural norms and social cues, because it can be...

There are many assumptions and misconceptions around vision loss, such as that closing our eyes gives us an understanding of what it must be like to be blind, or people with vision loss need help with all their daily tasks. Vision loss is diverse and varies depending on the individual as well as on the eye condition which makes each individual see things in a unique way. "Rather than making assumptions, engage with blind people like you would anybody else. Show curiosity about them. And if you want to know if there's something they need, ask them and don't assume", suggests the parent of a blind child. Is it OK to use the word: ”blind”? Or should we say: “visually impaired” or “low vision”? In any situation, terminology is a sensitive issue, and some people may be more sensitive than others to the words used to describe their condition. Most people with vision loss have some degree of remaining vision and may prefer to use terms that express that, but the amount of vision a person has is not what defines them. The word “blind” has been found to have more negative connotations in society at large than amongst people with vision impairments.       “You don't have to watch all your words carefully,” says one person with vision loss. He goes on to say that we don’t have to be embarrassed to ask if some-one watched the rugby match on TV. Even if someone has limited to no remaining...

Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease that can eventually cause permanent irreversible vision loss if left untreated. It doesn’t always cause noticeable symptoms in its early stages, so testing can help detect it before it progresses to a more advanced stage. It typically becomes more severe over time, which is why early diagnosis and management can significantly slow or even stop its progression. WHO IS AT RISK FOR GLAUCOMA? While anyone may develop glaucoma, some people are at a higher risk. Like with most medical conditions, understanding and identifying the risk factors, as well as timely treatment are key factors towards preserving health. Family history is an important factor for open-angle glaucoma, the most common type. Risk increases for those over the age of 50. Other risk factors include certain ethnic groups, a high degree of shortsightedness or farsightedness, previous eye trauma or injury, increased eye pressure, retinal detachment, health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, and long-term use of certain steroid medications. WHAT ARE THE FIRST SIGNS OF GLAUCOMA?     Glaucoma typically develops slowly with no early signs or symptoms, and most people do not notice vision changes until the condition has progressed and there is significant damage to the optic nerve. This is the reason it is usually first detected during an eye examination. There are several types of glaucoma, and not all of them are easy to identify in their earlier stages. The most common type of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma which is due to inadequate...

With the rapid rise in myopia throughout the world, particularly amongst children, it has become more common for children to be wearing glasses and parents are faced with the task of helping their children adjust to them. Getting new glasses can be both exciting and daunting for some children, and the process of accepting and adjusting to them can be challenging for both parents and children. OH NO! MY CHILD NEEDS GLASSES! Discovering that their child needs to wear glasses can be difficult for some parents, even if they themselves wear glasses. The first step towards helping the child adjust to them and feel confident wearing them is accepting that not wearing glasses if they are necessary could lead to numerous problems. FOCUS ON THE BENEFITS       “I didn’t realise I was supposed to be able to see each leaf on a tree” commented one child after receiving his first pair of glasses. Vision is subjective – a child does not know what he should be able to see, and a parent does not know that the child is unable to see clearly. It is important to have age-appropriate conversations with the child about how glasses will improve his ability to see and function better. Use positive language and provide honest answers to questions and concerns he may have. Encourage him to voice his concerns and discuss them with the optometrist. Your child may encounter curiosity or questions from friends about the new glasses. Prepare him with simple, confident...