Did you know – Veterans Day Edition

1. Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day until 1954 when it was renamed Veterans Day.
2. Veterans Day coincides with Holidays in several countries including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day
3. Veterans Day occurs on the Anniversary of the end of WWI
4. Major hostilities of WWI were formally ended on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918.
5. There are distinct holidays commemorating the service of all US Veterans

• Memorial Day in May
• Veterans Day in November
• Armed Forces Day also in May
•  Women’s Veterans Day in June 

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Pickleball Is It Dangerous?

How many of you play pickleball, it’s a burg thing right? With nearly 20 million people playing pickleball has quickly become big in the United States. Pickleball-related eye injuries are on the rise in the US. Although the increase in ocular injuries may simply reflect the increasing number of players. It is possible that casual players are more susceptible to injury due to limited experience and unfamiliarity with the game.

A study found that pickleball-related eye injuries have increased at an alarming rate over the past 4 years as the sport continues to grow in popularity. It is not that the game is getting more dangerous.

Common kinds of ocular injuries from pickleball have been reported by ophthalmologists and Emergency rooms including:

• Lacerations around the eye
• Corneal abrasions
• Inflamed irises
• Retinal detachment or tear
• Orbital fractures
• Globe trauma
• Berlin's edema is damage to the retina's outer layers, which can cause temporary decrease in vision.
• Hyphemia is bleeding in the front chamber of the eye

To prevent these injuries, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and other experts recommend wearing shatterproof polycarbonate safety goggles that meet ASTM F3164 standards. These standards ensure that eyewear is rigorously evaluated for impact resistance and safety during play, providing reliable protection against the types of injuries commonly seen in pickleball.

Eye protection is not currently mandated to take part in amateur or professional pickleball play. However, there is a push to establish standardized guidelines that is strongly recommended, as evidence from other sports   a significant reduction in ocular injuries when protective eyewear is required. For example, studies in racquetball and hockey have shown a 90% decrease in common eye injuries after mandating protective eyewear. This underscores the potential benefit of implementing similar safety measures in pickleball.

Sources:

www.livescience.com

www.jamanetwork.com

www.aao.org

Photo sources:

www.potthoffeyecare.com

https://www.foxnews.com

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Another Good Reason to Eat Chocolate

Much to the delight of chocoholics everywhere, dark chocolate specifically. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants from the cocoa beans called cocoa flavanols or CFs.

In a recent study, the authors hypothesize that cocoa flavanols may improve blood flow by relaxing blood vessels, thereby enhancing the availability of oxygen and nutrients to the blood vessels of the eye and brain. This process is believed to potentially improve both visual and cognitive function.

The retina in particular, they point out, is very highly vascularized, meaning it is rich in blood vessels and may be the area of interest in these study findings. It is worth noting that this study was not supported by any cocoa or chocolate companies.

The study examined how consuming milk chocolate vs. dark chocolate affects visual acuity, as well as large and small letter contrast sensitivity. 

Milk chocolate can have as little as 10% of Coco flavanols but has more fat, were as dark chocolate contains 50 to 90% of Coco flavanols.

It was found to show improvements within two hours of ingesting a 47 g chocolate bar. 

The primary outcomes of the study were changes in retinal perfusion, using Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is a noninvasive image modality that provides depth-resolved imaging of the retinal and choroidal vasculature. 

High flavonol, dark chocolate, help to activate stem cells and repairs, blood vessels.

Sources:

www.scientificamerican.com

www.health.harvard.edu

www.nature.com

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Zeaxanthin for Vision

In a recent blog post I discussed lutein, a carotenoid. Another carotenoid is zeaxanthin, which can be found in foods you eat daily. It also comes with a host of benefits, like promoting eye health. Zeaxanthin is the companion of Lutein and often appears side-by-side in foods. Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants. They give fruits and vegetables their vibrant hue.

Zeaxanthin and lutein are present in significant concentrations within the macula, where they are referred to as macular pigments. These antioxidants are present in various vegetables and also naturally occur in the lens, retina, and macula of your eyes.  That’s why doctors believe they play a key role in healthy vision. Zeaxanthin helps safeguard your eye tissues by filtering harmful sunlight and preventing oxidative damage caused by free radicals.

The macula is the most sensitive part of the retina and the part with the highest concentration of photoreceptors. These are special cells that convert light into signals that can be interpreted by your brain. As such, the macula is the place where your sharpest vision is produced. It is also responsible for your ability to perceive colors.

Five servings of fruits and vegetables daily provide enough zeaxanthin and lutein for your body. Make sure you choose each color of the rainbow, to help you continue to see rainbows.

Food Sources of Zeaxanthin:

If you are looking to boost your zeaxanthin intake, look for green, leafy vegetables since they have the highest amount of the carotenoid. The chlorophyll in dark green vegetables actually masks the lutein and zeaxanthin (yellow-orange) pigments, giving the vegetables their recognizable green color.

You shouldn't limit yourself to just a few veggies. In addition to greens, eggs and brightly colored fruits and vegetables are also good sources of both zeaxanthin and lutein. Eggs may be your best source. Although vegetables often contain more zeaxanthin, it isn't naturally combined with the fat-soluble enhancers needed for absorption, which lowers their bioavailability. Your body absorbs it more efficiently from eggs due to their fat content.

After ingestion, zeaxanthin is preferentially transported to the ocular tissues. It is incorporated into the lens, the transparent, curved structure located at the front of the eye. This yellow pigment functions as a protective barrier.

 

Sources:

www.webmd.com⁠

www.health.clevelandclinic.org⁠

www.verywellhealth.com⁠

 

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Lutein is an organic pigment that belongs to the carotenoid family, closely related to beta-carotene and vitamin A. Commonly called the "eye vitamin," lutein is made by plants. It's present in large amounts in the macula area of the eye, which plays a crucial role in vision.

These essential nutrients can improve eye health and reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Research shows that this antioxidant plays a key role in maintaining vision and supporting eye health. Lutein also has anti-inflammatory properties. 

Lutein is known to support the improvement or prevention of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, which are leading causes of blindness and vision impairment. 

Lutein can help protect the retina from phototoxic light damage.

Food sources rich in Lutein include:

• Berries
• Broccoli 
• Papaya 
• Peaches
• Mangoes
• Egg yolks
• Kales
• Spinach
• Peas
• Corn
• Bell peppers
• Pistachios

Sources:

www.aarp.org

www.healthcentral.com

www.webmd.com

www.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Common Refractive Errors

These conditions affect how the eye is shaped. Emmetropia is a normal shaped eye with correct refraction. 

Symptoms of refractive errors can be:

• Squinting
• Eyestrain
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Blurry or fuzzy vision
• Headaches

Common refractive errors can be corrected by eyeglasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery.

Annual eye exams are recommended every year before age 18, and after age 65, every two years in between. Unless a medical or eye problem occurs that requires more frequent attention.

To avoid these common disorders and injury to the eye:

•  Regular Eye Exams
• Wear protective eyewear
• Take breaks during screen time
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Limit alcohol intake

To schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Dr. Wendel go online: Click here or call (412) 788-1288

Sources:

www.clevelandclinic.org

www.health.ny.gov

www.pearlevision.com

Photo source: www.eyedoctorophthalmologistnyc.com

 

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Halloween Eye Safety Tips

With costumes appearing earlier this year, it's important to stay informed about Halloween eye safety before shopping.

• Take precautions with Halloween makeup around the eyes. Check the ingredients, as some products may irritate the skin or eyes. Avoid applying products inside the lash line or using glitter near the eyes—craft glitter, especially, may have harmful particles. Glitter can cause eye injuries, lead to infections, or trigger allergic reactions.

• Costume accessories such as wands or swords can be hazardous. Choose short, soft, flexible accessories made of foam to reduce risk.

• Halloween masks. These are always fun but be sure they are well-fitting, so they don’t block vision. Masks can become a hazard because they can cause blocked visual fields or loss of depth perception. trick-or-treaters. In addition to being able to see your best, it’s just as important to stay seen if you go out after dark, especially in costume. Bring a flashlight or glowsticks along to help you see where you are going and stay visible to cars. If possible, wear bright or reflective clothing. 

• Contact lenses are medical devices that require a prescription from an eye doctor; in fact, it is illegal for retailers to sell them. Even for cosmetic use. If you do happen to get these contacts illegally. The damage that can be done is sometimes severe and irreversible. They are dangerous; everyone’s eye has a unique shape, and a professional ensures the lenses are the correct size and curvature for your eye.

• Bacterial contamination. Hygiene should be practiced with costume contact lenses, as you would with regular contact lenses. As germs can infect the cornea, the clear front part of the eye, it is often caused by poor contact lens hygiene, leading to serious eye infections. 

• Lack of oxygen- A lack of oxygen to the eye from contact lens wear, known as corneal hypoxia, is a common complication that can lead to corneal swelling, blurry vision, and potentially more serious issues like corneal ulcers.

• Inferior materials, plastic, and pigments have lead that can leach into the eyes.

Many of these possible consequences are a scary price to pay just for the best costume.

Sources:

www.thenewyorkeyedoctor.com

www.hopkinsmedicine.org

www.aao.org

Photo Sources:

www.riverdaleeyecare.com

www.amazon.com

www.creatingcreatives.com

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