What is that ring around your cornea?

This condition, called corneal arcus sometimes referred to as Arcus Senilis, are lipid (fatty) deposits that appear first as arcs then as rings on the outer region of the cornea. The cornea is the clear dome shaped window in the front of the eye. These rings are usually gray, white or blueish giving the illusion of two different eye colors and are usually opaque. Corneal arcus consists of cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides.

The cloudy ring may seem like it would make it harder for you to see, however, it doesn’t affect your vision, it is not dangerous, but it won’t go away either. It is just a benign sign of aging. Arcus is common in older adults. 

When it does occur in patients before the age of 40 there is more of a concern. Blood tests are definitely recommended to rule out lipid and cholesterol abnormalities. There is a chance of what is known as familial hyperlipidemia, a disorder that is passed down through families. It causes very high levels of “bad” cholesterol and is linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Corneal arcus in only one eye could be a sign of decreased blood flow to the eye without the arcus due to carotid artery disease or ocular hypotony. You always want to consult a medical professional to confirm there are no underlying conditions. Many times we see not just sight threatening conditions, but sometimes life-threatening that can be seen in the smaller parts of the eye before they are found in other parts of the body.

Sources: 

www.webmd.com. 

www.clevelandclinic.org 

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Gr8 Eye Movement

 

Gr8 Eye Movement is a campaign that aims to raise awareness of retinal diseases that cause significant vision loss. The GR8 Eye Movement establishes a time to prioritize eye health by designating the eighth of every month as a day to check eye health.

Award-winning actress, dancer, choreographer, singer-songwriter, director and producer, Debbie Allen has joined with Prevent Blindness, and Regeneron for the Gr8 eye movement to encourage those who are at risk of or affected by retinal diseases like:

• Wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Wet age-related macular degeneration is when new abnormal blood vessels grow into the macular. These vessels leak blood or fluid. Scarring of the macula occurs and rapid loss of central vision.
• Diabetic, macular edema (DME). Diabetic macular edema is a complication of diabetes. Retinopathy is an accumulation of leaked fluid.
• Diabetic retinopathy (DR). Diabetic retinopathy is a disease that damages the blood vessels in the retina, leading to bulges, leaking, and reduced blood flow.

95% of adults are at risk for retinal diseases and don’t even know it. "Diabetes has ravaged my family: my father, my grandfather, my aunts and uncles," says Allen.

The main goal of this campaign is to make more people aware of retinal diseases. Educate those who are at distinct risk of developing these diseases. It is critical for people who are from communities of color, those over the age of 60, those living with diabetes, or those at risk of developing diabetes. 

You can join the movement, by visiting www.gr8eyemovement.com. Where you can:

• Access, resources, and information to make eye health a top priority.
• Find useful tips, including how to use an Amsler grid to detect any vision changes. The Amsler grid is a diagnostic tool that aids in the detection of visual disturbances. The grid is made up of horizontal and vertical lines used to check a person's central visual field. The grid was developed by a Swiss Ophthalmologist, Mark Amsler. 
• Understand when to make an appointment for eye care. 
• Sign up to receive emails with helpful reminders.

This campaign is named Gr8 Eye Movement to use the 8th day of the month as a reminder day, but if it is the 8th, the 18th or any other day and you suspect you are having difficulty with your vision make that appointment today. Don’t wait!

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Sources: 

www.preventblindness.org

www.regeneron.com

www.ophthalmologytimes.com. 

www.looktoyourfuture.com

www.macularsociety.org

The Effect of Stress on the Eyes

 

It is common knowledge that stress has serious effects on the body. Some people may experience sleep issues, headaches, digestive issues, and cardiovascular issues, but eye health and vision can also be affected. Issues that are due to the adrenaline hormones and cortisol (the stress hormone) are released during times of stress or anxiety, the eyes remain dilated during stressful situations, placing added pressure on the eyes.

While stress is a cause of vision loss, vision loss generates more stress. Stress affects the visual capabilities in different ways, including: 

• Dry eye

• Double vision

• Eyestrain

• Blurred vision

• Eye twitching

• Dark Circles

Scientific links between stress and vision:

• The stress hormone (cortisol)

• Flight or fight

• Oxygen levels

• Inflammation

When the brain perceives an increase in stress levels, it releases cortisol, the hormone that is responsible for initiating your flight-or-fight response. Causing the heart rate and blood pressure to increase. Stress also forces you to breathe faster, shallow breaths lower oxygen levels. Lack of oxygen to the eyes may result in hazy vision, redness, and eye discomfort early. Extreme long-term cases can lead to corneal ulcerations. Diseases of the visual system like optic neuropathy, and glaucoma are side effects that an increase in cortisol can have.

Most stress-related vision problems are temporary if recognized early before severe damage is done, and symptoms will disappear as soon as you begin to relax. The best way to avoid these stress-related vision issues is to learn how to de-stress, some ideas to help combat your stress:

• Exercise

• Meditate

• Deep breathing

• Eat a balanced diet.

• Write in a journal.

• Get adequate sleep.

Taking steps to control the stress you feel now will help avoid problems in the future. Not just to eye health, but overall health.

Just Chill!

Sources:

www.cnet.com

www.stress.org

www.optometrists.org

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Castor oil for your eyes

 

Castor oil is a thick, odorless oil made from the seeds of the castor plant. Its uses date back to ancient Egypt, where it was first used as lamp oil and later for medicinal and beauty treatments. Cleopatra reportedly believed the oil would brighten the whites of her eyes. 

Castor oil has been touted as a cure-all for generations. Though it is only approved by the FDA as a laxative, not as an eye remedy. Modern research has found that castor oil does have high levels of fatty acid.

There are also stories of castor oil being used as a form of torture. It has side effects, which can be potentially debilitating:

• abdominal cramps

• Vomiting

• bloating

• Dizziness

Many people who are making these videos on TikTok are claiming that applying castor oil in and around the eyes will treat dry eye and other vision problems. As we all know, much of what we see people do on social media makes me wonder where their brains are. 

Eyecare professionals warn people not to use castor oil in or around their eyes. If you are having issues with your eyes, seek help from a medical professional before doing more harm than good. Castor oil on store shelves is not meant to be used on the eyes and could have dyes, preservatives, fragrances, or other ingredients that can cause irritation or infection. It also may not be sterilized. Many do not realize castor oil is also a main ingredient in cleaning products. These TikTokers make videos based on folk tales when science-based treatments have been evaluated in long-term studies and are approved for use. There is no scientific evidence to support claims made by TikTokers about castor oil's benefits for vision, including, treatment of cataracts, glaucoma, floaters, presbyopia, or other eye problems.

Sources:

www.nbcnews.com

www.ophthalmologytimes.com

www.forbes.com

www.webmd.com

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How Corrective Lenses Work

 

Corrective lenses work by refraction: they bend light rays as they pass through them, so they change direction. That means the rays seem to come from a point closer or further away from where they originate—and that's what makes objects seen through a lens seem either bigger or smaller than they really are. Light focuses on the correct part of the retina, bringing an image into clarity. 

There are primarily two types of corrective lenses today: eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Like eyeglasses, contact lenses correct refractive errors. They do this by adding or subtracting focusing power to the cornea and lens.

A lens is an optical tool or device that tends to both converge and diverge a beam of light. 

A simple lens usually consists of only a single piece of transparent material. 

Categories of simple lenses:

1. Convex lenses (sometimes called positive lenses). This lens type is thicker at the center and thinner at the edges. It bends light inward to correct farsightedness. 

2. Concave lenses are shaped round inwards at the center and bulge outwards through the edges (lenses that cave inward). They are used to treat myopia as they make faraway objects look smaller than they are.

A compound lens is a lens made of simple lenses mounted on a common axis usually in placing two elements close together or side by side and often cemented together.

Sources:

www.framesdirect.com

www.urmc.rochester.edu

www.interestingengineering.com

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What is that brown spot on your eye?

For the most part brown spots on the eye are harmless. Brown spots on the eye are caused by a clumping of pigment cells, similar to how freckles or moles form on the skin, some people are born with these spots.

A brown spot on the eye's white part is often called a Nevus (or nevi, plural). The Nevus is made up of Melanocytes, which are the cells that produce melanin, the pigment colors are hair, eyes, and skin.

In sporadic cases, the brown spot could be a type of cancer known as ocular melanoma. It can occur in the middle layer of the eye.

The exact cause of ocular melanoma is unknown. Ocular melanoma starts as melanocytes. It is thought to have multiple factors, including:

• DNA

• Exposure to UV light

• The environment

Just because ocular melanoma is found in rare cases. If you see a brown spot appear on your eye, it is best to have it evaluated with a thorough clinical examination, eye examinations, including slit lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy ultrasonography, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Sources:

www.healthline.com

www.nvisioncenters.com

www.news-medical.net

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Fun Eye Q Test