Eye Can Name That Tune

 

Can you match the song title to the artist?

1. Blue eyes.

2. I only have eyes for you.

3. The night has 1000 eyes.

4. Bright Eyes.

5. Eyes without a face.

6. Green-eyed Lady.

A. The flamingos.

B. Art Garfunkel.

C. Sugar Loaf

D. Billy Idol.

E. Bobby Vee

Answers

1D

2A

3F

4B

5E

6C

 

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Kidney Health Through Eye Scans

 

Optometrists can greatly contribute to not only ocular but overall wellness of patients.

In some of my past blogs, I discussed that retinal vascular findings may reflect cardiovascular problems through the smaller veins in the eyes. The kidney and the eye are structurally and functionally similar. The diseases of these organs may present similarly and by way of common pathways. Research suggests 3D eye scans can reveal vital clues about kidney health that could help track the progression of kidney disease which could revolutionize the monitoring of kidney disease, which often progresses without symptoms in early stages. The technology has the potential to support diagnosis as current testing cannot detect the condition until kidney function is down to half.

Researchers have found highly magnified images used to detect retinal changes were a non-invasive way to track disease progression. These researchers at Edinburgh University, in the UK reported a link between the findings in the eye on Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans and renal pathology.

The research team continues to investigate the potential of using OCT imaging to reliably track kidney injury, and monitor treatment responses, As I've mentioned in some of my past blogs, optometrists can play a significant role in the overall well-being of their patients, not just the ocular health. The veins in the eyes can reflect cardiovascular problems, and research suggests that 3D eye scans can reveal vital clues about kidney health that could help monitor the progression of kidney disease, which often presents without symptoms in the early stages.

The kidney and the eye share structural and functional similarities, and diseases of these organs may present similarly and through common pathways. Current testing can't detect kidney disease until half of the kidney function is lost, but highly magnified images used to detect retinal changes can non-invasively track disease progression. Researchers at Edinburgh University in the UK discovered a link between the findings in the eye on OCT scans and renal pathology. The team looked at OCT images from 204 patients at different stages of kidney disease, including transplant patients, alongside 86 healthy volunteers. They found that patients with chronic kidney disease had thinner retinas compared with healthy volunteers.

The research team is continuing to investigate the potential of using OCT imaging to reliably track kidney injury, monitor treatment responses, and predict outcomes in future studies of patients with chronic kidney disease who do not yet require dialysis.

Sources:

www.reviewofoptometry.com

www.sciencedaily.com

www.ophthamalogytimes.com

www.ed.ac.uk

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Menopause and the Eyes

 

Many of us know the symptoms, whether it is from personal experience or knowing someone experiencing menopause. Menopause happens because your hormone levels drop, and you stop ovulating and having periods.

Hot flashes, night sweats, palpitations, reduced sex drive, joint stiffness, Poor sleep, headaches, anxiety, mood, changes, memory, and problems with concentration, but most people don't know that menopause can affect the eyes.

Various eye changes may occur during times of fluctuating hormone levels. Around the time of menopause, eyesight may be slightly altered. Eye shape may change at this time.

Other problems of the eyes commonly seen during this life stage:

• Dry eye syndrome
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Blurry vision
• Corneas can begin to stiffen when estrogen levels are reduced.

The good news is that some eye issues may be resolved once hormone levels balance out.

Not every person will experience these symptoms and conditions during this stage of life. Stay on top of vision and eye health as you would any other system in the body. Regular eye checkups are vital in finding eye diseases early.

Sources:

www.clearblue.com

www.menopause.org

www.gennev.com

www.goodRX.com

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Can Anemia Impact the Eyes

Anemia is a condition in which the blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells. This leads to reduced oxygen to the body's organs including the eyes.

Anemia can affect the eyes, especially the retina or the inside of the eye which captures images and sends those to the brain. Sometimes anemia can cause bleeding in the eyes and loss of vision.

Certain types of anemia can cause specific changes in the eye.

• Swelling of the retina
• Damage to the optic nerve
• Blockage of the artery and veins that serve the retina

Different types of Anemia will cause specific changes in the eye

• Sickle cell anemia- Blood cells that change shape, or "sickle," can get trapped in blood vessels, blocking the blood flow. When this blockage occurs in the small blood vessels in the inner lining of the eyes, it can cause vision problems resulting in abnormal blood vessel growth and thinning of the retina.
• Iron deficiency Anemia-In moderate or severe cases of iron deficiency anemia, the inside layer of the lower eyelid is very pale pink or yellow instead of red.
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency-It mostly results in progressive, bilateral, painless loss of vision associated with abnormal color vision and central scotomas.
• Thalassemia-Ocular changes and complications could vary significantly among patients with β-thalassemia. There are various symptoms described; ocular manifestations range from completely asymptomatic to decreased visual acuity, visual field defects, color vision anomalies, cataracts, nyctalopia, retinopathy, and optic neuropathy.
• Hemolytic Anemia-It can cause complications in the retina and yellowing of the whites of the eye. Hemolytic anemia – This blood disorder causes red blood cells to be destroyed faster than they are made.

Sources:

www.allaboutvision.com

www.northernillinoiseyeclinic.com

www.mayoclinic.org

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#DrClaudiaWendel

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