EyeMark Newsletters

Arthritis is most commonly thought of as inflammation causing swelling and pain in the joints. But the condition can cause problems in other, more unexpected areas of the body, including the eyes. Arthritis is a chronic disease which can affect people of any age, race or gender. Women experience more arthritis-related eye problems than men do. TYPES OF ARTHRITIS There are about 100 different forms of arthritis and related diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia and gout. The most common types linked with eye problems are rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which attacks the connective tissue lining the joints. This connective tissue is made up mostly of collagen, which is the primary substance of the sclera and cornea of the eye. Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory condition which can affect connective tissue.   Juvenile or childhood arthritis, as the name suggests, is an umbrella term to describe the many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions that can occur in children aged 16 or younger. The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed to be related to genetics, certain infections and environmental factors. Although the various types of juvenile arthritis share common characteristics, each type is distinct and has its own special concerns and symptoms. Juvenile arthritis, also called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or childhood arthritis, can affect many parts of the body, including the eyes. The problems may be caused by the disease itself or by medications the child takes to manage the disease. Children with...

Not only are the eyes the windows to the soul, they also offer a glimpse into the mind and the internal state of the body. The pupils, the black circles in the centre of the eyes, respond to light entering the eyes. In low light they dilate or widen to collect more light, while in bright light they constrict or become smaller. Pupil size is also modulated for reasons other than light, for example thoughts, emotions or mental effort.   Certain prescription medications can cause the pupils to become dilated by interfering with the chemicals that transmit messages from the brain to the eyes, and recreational drugs, such as hallucinogens and stimulants have a similar effect. Neurological conditions of the nerves which go to the eye can interfere with constriction and dilation of the pupils and are often accompanied by other vision symptoms. Injury to the eye may damage the nerves controlling the pupils or the iris, disrupting normal pupillary response. Brain injury as a result of trauma, a stroke or a tumour can cause increased intracranial pressure which can affect the eyes and the reaction of the pupils. Whether it's caused by external or internal factors, pupil dilation is an involuntary nervous system response. In other words, we can't control it.   The visual cortex processes and interprets the images transmitted by the eyes to the brain. A different part of the nervous system, the autonomic nervous system, controls the involuntary functioning of the body, functions over which we have...

"When my son's eyes were examined the optometrist found that he had 20/20 vision, but he is still struggling in the classroom."   "My child was found to be shortsighted. Glasses helped her to see more clearly but her teacher reports that her reading is not what it should be   The majority of people are born with the potential for good eyesight, but the ability to interpret and understand what is seen is a learned skill which begins to develop from birth. Visual skills include being able to focus, fixate and use both eyes together in order to be able to process visual information. As well as this, there needs to be coordination between the eyes, the other senses and the brain. Problems in any of these areas may manifest as learning problems. Being able to read letters on an eye chart may not guarantee that a child has adequate skills for reading and learning. While glasses may be beneficial for a child with acuity problems, vision therapy may be necessary to address the issue of visual perceptual problems.   Vision therapy is an individualised supervised treatment programme designed to correct visual perceptual deficiencies. The goal of vision therapy is to train the child's brain to use the eyes to receive information effectively, comprehend it quickly and react appropriately. Vision therapy can play an important role in the overall treatment of a child's learning problem. As well as eyestrain, headaches and double vision, children with learning difficulties often experience feelings...

World Glaucoma Week, 8th to 14th March, is a joint initiative between the World Glaucoma Association and the World Glaucoma Patient Association to raise awareness of this silent robber of vision. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause progressive damage of the optic nerve at the point where it leaves the eye to carry visual information to the brain. If left untreated, most types of glaucoma progress without warning nor obvious symptoms towards gradually worsening visual damage and may eventually lead to blindness. Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide. Once incurred, visual damage is generally irreversible, which has led to glaucoma being described as the "silent blinding disease" or the "sneak thief of sight". TYPES OF GLAUCOMA There are several types of glaucoma, the two main kinds being open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma. Secondary glaucoma may occur as a complication of other visual disorders, such as cataracts or diabetes, but the vast majority is primary. Less common types of glaucoma include normal-tension glaucoma and pigmentary glaucoma. Some forms of glaucoma may occur in infancy or childhood, and although rare, it can be present at birth. In all types of glaucoma, the optic nerve is gradually damaged. CAUSES OF GLAUCOMA Aqueous humor is a clear fluid which circulates in the inner eye, keeping it firm and nourishing it. It usually flows out of the eye through a channel, but if for any reason drainage is blocked, pressure builds within the eye, gradually damaging the optic nerve....