EyeMark Newsletters

February 2022. Written another way, it's 022022. I'm no numerologist, but maybe there's something in all those twos and zeros. There's a joke doing the rounds on social media about how this year is really called "twenty-twenty too". In other words, it's another 2020 - which wasn't the greatest year ever. Those cynics might have found some humour in that comment, but a lot of us would rather not joke about such things. Instead, let's turn to Chinese culture, where two is considered to be a lucky number. It has associations with the idea of harmony, and the blessing of "double happiness". If one two means double happiness, we can interpret this to mean that four twos on our calendar equate to even more happiness (using some sort of mathematical logic). Speaking of mathematics and such, two is considered a magic number in nuclear physics. A magic number is the number of nucleons arranged into complete shells within the atomic nucleus, whereby atomic nuclei with the magic number are more stable than those without it. Which means absolutely nothing to most of us, but we can choose to go along with the magic part, even if the rest sounds like a foreign language. Furthermore, mathematics tells us that two is "the oddest prime" because it's the only even prime number. Many would say there's nothing wrong with being odd, so that could be understood as another compliment for the number two. Four twos, then, would mean that we'll have eight helpings...

  Interesting facts about our eyes. Our eyes are one of the most fascinating and complex parts of the body. We rely on them every day, often without thinking much about them and how they work. The "eyeball"     The word "eyeball" was first used by William Shakespeare in his play "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Only 1/6th of the eyeball is exposed to the outside world. The eyeball of a human weighs approximately 28 grams, or one ounce. We have two eyeballs in order to give us depth perception – comparing two images allows us to determine how far away an object is from us. The cornea is the only tissue in the human body which doesn't contain blood vessels. The eyes contain about 107 million light sensitive cells. The eyes have small blind spots where the optic nerve passes through the retina, and our brains use the information from the other eye to fill this gap. While a fingerprint has 40 unique characteristics, an iris has 256. This is why retina scans are increasingly being used for security purposes. The Eye-Brain Connection     The only organ in the body more complex than the eye is the brain. Vision takes up more than 50% of the brain's functionality. You see with your brain, not your eyes. Our eyes function like a camera, capturing light and sending data back to the brain via over a million nerve fibres. You see things upside down - it is your brain which turns...

At some time or another we have all experienced sensitivity to light walking from indoors out to a bright sunny day or in a brightly lit room, but this passes quickly as our eyes adjust. However, some people experience extreme discomfort and even pain in bright light. Photophobia is increased sensitivity or aversion to light. It is typically a symptom associated with several conditions ranging from minor irritations to more serious problems, from problems related to the eye itself to general health conditions. EYE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE PHOTOPHOBIA Dry Eye  – Sensitivity to light is a classic dry eye symptom. The tears which are vital for the health and lubrication of the eyes are insufficient or of poor quality, leading to redness, burning, watering, the sensation of something in the eye and sometimes pain.     Artificial tears usually offer symptomatic relief, but in more severe cases your optometrist may suggest corticosteroid eye drops or plugs to block the tear ducts and prevent moisture from draining too quickly. Allergies  – Allergic conjunctivitis is an overreaction of the body to allergens such as dust, pollen or animal dander. Symptoms include sensitivity to light, itchiness, redness, burning and excessive tearing. Antihistamine medication may be prescribed if necessary. Keratitis  – Keratitis is a corneal inflammation with a variety of causes including bacteria, virus, fungus or problems with contact lenses. Corneal inflammation can distort light entering the eye, causing sensitivity and other symptoms such as pain, redness, blurred vision, excessive tearing and discharge. Treatment depends...

Glaucoma is a chronic disease of the eyes which slowly, silently, progressively and irreversibly damages the optic nerve which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. If left untreated, most types of glaucoma progress towards gradually worsening sight, usually with no obvious symptoms until there has been vision loss. Early detection is the key to early treatment, which can help avoid further vision loss or slow its progress. "I cannot undo the damage already done," said one optometrist. "But I can stop the damage from getting worse or at least slow it down." Understanding glaucoma and having regular eye examinations are important steps towards early detection and a positive outcome. What is the incidence of glaucoma? More than 64 million people worldwide are affected by glaucoma which is one of the most common causes of blindness in the world. Because there are no symptoms early in the condition, it is estimated that over half of the people who have it are unaware that they do. Who is at risk for glaucoma?     Glaucoma can affect everyone but there are factors that increase the risk. People over the age of 40, certain ethnic groups, diabetics, long term users of some medications and people with extreme shortsightedness are at greater risk of glaucoma. There is a genetic link, and many celebrities have spoken about this openly to create awareness and stress the importance of early detection. Award-winning actress Emma Thompson is encouraged by her mother, Phyllida Law, also an actress,...

The health of the eyes is directly connected to the health of the heart and blood vessels. The eyes rely on tiny arteries for oxygen and nutrients, just as the heart relies on much larger blood vessels. What we eat and drink can have a lasting impact on both cardiovascular and visual health. Certain specific nutrients are vital for the eyes. While some are important for overall eye health, others have been found to reduce the risk of certain eye conditions. Some foods are particularly rich in one nutrient, but most foods contain a combination of elements that contribute to the nutrition of the eyes and body. Lutein and Zeaxanthin     These two antioxidants can be found in the eyes, particularly in the lens, the retina and the macula, the central area of the retina which contains light-sensitive cells. They play a key role in healthy vision and help protect the eyes from the ultraviolet rays of the sun as well as harmful blue light. A high intake of lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of eye diseases, such as macular degeneration and cataracts, and may slow the progress of macular degeneration. Lutein and zeaxanthin usually occur together in foods. Some of the best sources are green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli and kale. Due to their high fat content, egg yolks, avocado and healthy oils aid the absorption of these foods by the body. Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids     The retina needs two types of...

Light enters the eye through the cornea, travels through the lens and is bent, or refracted, by other surfaces in the eye before reaching the retina at the back of the eye. If anything prevents the light from being focused correctly on the retina, a refractive error occurs and the image that we see will be affected. Refractive errors are the most common vision problems. They are usually the result of an eyeball that is too short or too long, a cornea that is irregularly shaped, an aging lens, or a lens that is curved too much or too little. The main types are myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia. MYOPIA (SHORTSIGHTEDNESS)     Myopia occurs when the eyeball is too long, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina, rather than directly on its surface. Another possible cause may be that the cornea and/or lens is too curved for the length of the eyeball. In some cases, myopia is due to a combination of these factors. It typically starts developing in childhood and can progress slowly or more rapidly. Myopia makes distant objects appear blurry, while near vision is clear. Other symptoms may include squinting, excessive blinking, frequent rubbing of the eyes, eyestrain, headaches and difficulty seeing clearly while driving or watching TV. It can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery. Depending on the degree of myopia, glasses or contact lenses may need to be worn all the time or only when clear distance vision is...