Unpack Those Bags Under Your Eyes

1. Salt-Consuming excessive salt can lead the body to retain water, which often accumulates in areas low in sodium, such as around the eyes.

2. Manage Allergies-There are several strategies to reduce eye puffiness caused by allergies. Consider the following:

• Limit exposure to allergens.

• Wash allergens off your skin.

• Keep windows closed during high pollen periods.

• Use allergy relief eye drops.

• Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling.

• Take an antihistamine.

• Consider immunotherapy (allergy shots).

3. Use a Neti Pot-A Neti pot can help clear out the sinuses, alleviating allergy issues and decreasing puffiness under the eyes.

4. Switch Sleep Positions-Gravity can cause fluids to pool, so your sleep position may contribute to puffiness. Sleeping on your back with your head slightly elevated can help prevent fluid buildup in and around the eyes and face.

5. Remove Makeup Before Bed-Leaving makeup on overnight can irritate the delicate skin around the eyes, clog pores, and lead to inflammation.

6. Avoid Alcohol-Alcohol can contribute to puffy eyes by causing dehydration, which leads to fluid retention and swelling under the thinner skin of the eyes. It also disrupts sleep, further exacerbating the issue.

7. Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays- Long-term exposure to UV rays can damage the skin around the eyes.

8. Don't Smoke-Toxins present in cigarette smoke that can damage, collagen and elastin, leading to sagging and puffiness. Smoking also can impact lymphatic drainage, increasing fluid buildup under the eyes.

9. Give Your Eyes a Cool Down-A quick way to reduce puffiness is to apply cold compresses for 10 to 15 minutes. Cucumber slices can be effective; the cold helps constrict blood vessels and reduce inflammation.

10. Consider an Eye Cream-Eye creams containing ingredients like retinol, hyaluronic acid, and peptides can help reduce puffiness over time.

Additionally, some vitamins may help diminish puffiness. Ultimately, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can greatly impact the appearance of eye bags. Managing stress, prioritizing sleep, maintaining a balanced diet, and staying hydrated can prevent the need to "unpack" those bags once they appear.

Sources:

www.everydayhealth.com

www.hopkinsmedicine.org

www.webmd.com

www.mayoclinic.org

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World Sjögren's Syndrome Awareness Day

 

Every year, July 23rd is recognized as World Sjögren's Syndrome Awareness Day. This date marks the birthday of Dr. Henrik Sjögren, the first person to describe this autoimmune disease. The day aims to raise awareness and gather funds for research, education, and advocacy related to Sjögren's syndrome. Dr. Henrik Samuel Conrad Sjögren was a Swedish ophthalmologist best known for identifying the condition now known as Sjögren's syndrome.

In 1929, Dr. Sjögren saw a patient who reported classic symptoms: dry eyes, dry mouth, and joint pain. This was his first encounter with the syndrome, as the patient was a 49-year-old woman suffering from arthritis accompanied by severe dryness in her mouth and eyes. While each of these symptoms had already been documented individually, it was the combination of them that prompted Dr. Sjögren to investigate further.

In 1933, he presented 19 similar cases in his doctoral thesis, which laid the foundation for identifying Sjögren's syndrome. Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the glands responsible for producing and regulating moisture in the body, including tears and saliva. 

Dryness can result in a range of eye issues, including discomfort, changes in vision, and a higher risk of infection. Common eye problems often encountered by patients with Sjögren's Syndrome include:

• Dry Eyes
• Conjunctivitis
• Corneal Damage
• Blurry Vision
• Light Sensitivity

Many individuals diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome also have co-existing autoimmune diseases, particularly those that impact connective tissue. Commonly associated conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma. Less often, individuals may experience autoimmune thyroid disease, mixed connective tissue disease, myositis, biliary cirrhosis, and chronic autoimmune hepatitis.

Sources:

www.my.clevelandclinic.org

www.mayoclinic.org

www.sjogrens.org

Photo Source:

https://sjogrens.org/

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Reversal of Vision Metamorphopsia (RVM)

Reversal of Vision Metamorphopsia: This condition causes everything you see to be flipped upside down. It is also known as "upside down vision" or the "room tilt illusion," resulting from a rare visual disturbance.

If vision is working correctly all the different parts of the eye work together to help you see.

1. The cornea is the entry point for the light, this is the clear front layer of the eye. The light is bent by the cornea to help the eye focus.

2. A part of this light that passes through an opening called the pupil. The pupil is the opening in the iris, the colored part of the eye that controls the amount light is let in.

3. Light enters the eye and hits the lens, which is the transparent part responsible for focusing the light rays onto the retina. The lens adapts to ensure that objects at different distances are focused properly. This adjustment process is known as accommodation. The light passes through the vitreous humor, a gel-like substance that helps to maintain the shape of the eye.

4. Finally, light reaches the retina, the light-sensitive nerve layer at the back of the eye, where the image is inverted. Finally, light reaches the retina, the light-sensitive nerve layer at the back of the eye, where the image is inverted.

5. The images are transmitted through the optic nerve, which carries signals to the brain's visual cortex. The visual cortex processes these signals to create vision.

It is the brain's responsibility to invert images by 180° through the firing of various neurons. This firing pattern encodes information about the object of focus.

RVM, or recurrent visual motion, is typically a temporary visual illusion that resolves on its own without causing long-term vision impairment. However, it is essential to seek medical attention to rule out other potential causes, such as:

- Stroke

- Dysfunction of the vestibular system

- Tumors

- Trauma to the spinal cord or brain

- Multiple sclerosis

Treatment depends on the underlying causes of your condition. Your eye care specialist, neurologist, and other providers can collaborate to determine the best course of action.

Sources:

www.sciencealert.com

www.nei.nih.gov

www.stanfordchildrens.org

www.neurology.org

www.clevelandclinic.org

Photo sources:

www.stanfordchildrens.org

www.thephilosophyforum.com

www.smartclass4kids.com

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Retinal Changes in Lupus Patients

Retinal problems are common in patients with lupus. These issues can include:

• Retinal vasculitis can occur as an isolated condition or as a complication of a local or systemic inflammatory disorder. It is characterized by inflammation of the vascular branches of the retinal artery.
• Cotton wool spots are light-colored, fluffy spots on the retina, found at the back of the eye. They may result from reduced blood flow, immune and inflammatory responses, or infections. Other possible causes include cancer, blood disorders, intracranial hypertension, medications, and injury
• Retinal hemorrhages refer to bleeding that occurs in the retina.
• Retinal vaso-occlusive disease occurs when small veins in the back of the eye become blocked, preventing blood flow.
• Optic neuritis This condition involves swelling that damages the optic nerve, leading to pain and vision loss. It has strong associations with autoimmune diseases and multiple sclerosis.
• Choroidopathy This term broadly describes any disease or disorder that affects the choroid, which is the vascular layer of the eye, between the retina and the sclera

The severity of retinal involvement in lupus can vary, ranging from mild to severe vision loss. If you have lupus and are experiencing any vision problems, it is essential to consult both your rheumatologist and eye care specialists for proper diagnosis and treatment. Timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent permanent damage to your vision.

Regular eye exams are recommended for individuals with lupus, especially for those taking medications like hydroxychloroquine, which can also have eye-related side effects.

Sources:

www.medicalnewstoday.com

www.mayoclinic.org

www.healthline.gov

www.clevelandclinic.org

www.hss.edu

Photo sources:

www.clevelandclinic.org

www.ophthalmologybreakingnews.com/

www.eyedoctorpmb.co.za

www.eyewiki.org

#PearleVisionRobinson

#DrClaudiaWendel

#PittsburghOptometrist

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4th of July Fact or Myth

1. George Washington had wooden teeth. Myth. He did have dental issues, but never had wooden teeth

2. Paul Revere's ride is a solo. Myth. Paul Revere was part of a low-tech network warning system to warn Samuel Adams when the British were on the move to Lexington

3. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the same day. Fact. Both died on July 4, 1826. President James Monroe also died five years later, on July 4, 1831

4. The Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1779. Fact. The declaration was merely read aloud outside Independence Hall on the fourth. The last delegate to sign the declaration was Thomas McKean of Delaware, who signed it in January 1777.

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