EyeMark Newsletters

When astronauts blast off into space, they leave behind fresh air, blue skies and gravity, but they also experience a range of physical effects including back ache, bone loss, balance problems, headaches and changes to their vision. Symptoms such as blurry vision, difficulty focusing and changes to the prescriptions of their glasses are collectively known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS) and are primarily due to the effects of microgravity.       On Earth, gravity pulls fluids, like blood and cerebrospinal fluid, downwards into the lower body. In space, however, those fluids are redistributed, floating upwards toward the head, causing increased fluid pressure inside the skull. It is thought that the constancy of pressure on the back of the eye changes the structure and functioning of the eye, leading to the vision problems astronauts experience over time. These problems include flattening of the back of the eye, swelling of the optic disc (the point where the optic nerve enters the eye) and changes in the retina. Many astronauts experience changes in their visual acuity, becoming farsighted or requiring stronger reading glasses. Because some astronauts seem more susceptible to visual problems than others, it has been suggested that genetics, body fluid regulation and cardiovascular health may all play a role. These issues were thought to be minor and usually reversible, but the longer astronauts spend in space, the greater the risks for long-term effects may be.       Impaired vision is considered both a health and safety concern. Vision problems...

Every November, World Diabetes Day reminds us of the simple truth that our eyes can reveal more about our health than we might imagine. For people living with diabetes, or at risk for diabetes, the eyes can reveal the signs of diabetes and diabetes-related eye disease before noticeable symptoms appear. The eyes are the only place in the body where blood vessels can be examined directly during a dilated eye examination. Changes in the tiny blood vessels of the retina signal problems with blood sugar control before the disease has been diagnosed or progressed and irreversible damage has occurred.       Diabetes is a condition that affects the body’s ability to produce or use insulin effectively to control blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels remain high over a prolonged period of time damage can occur in many parts of the body, including the delicate blood vessels in the retina. Good vision relies on the overall health of the heart, nerves, and circulation, all of which can be affected by diabetes. The eyes are particularly vulnerable to the impact that fluctuation in blood sugar levels has on blood vessels and nerves. The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they are to develop diabetic eye disease, a group of eye conditions that can result from high blood sugar levels. These include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, swelling of the lens and retinal detachment. Diabetes also increases the risk of other eye conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma. Most diabetes-related...

Happy August, or should we say… Happy Sandwich Month (because it is). Check any calendar. It truly is. Hmm, Sandwich Month. So much to dig our teeth into. Where do we start? How about we start with John Montagu, the infamous Right Honourable 4th Earl of Sandwich? History is unclear as to what the other three Earls of Sandwich accomplished in their lifetimes, but this one was an icon. Probably not for his military career, which was less than remarkable. In fact, the history books have called him incompetent and a bunch of other words that nobody wants to be called in the history books. He also had a colourful relationship history, and a lineage of children from various women. So, while his military career reads as a list of (literally) epic fails, his conquests are readworthy in their own way. But what does that matter? Why is any of that important when the man is considered to be the inventor of the sandwich? He sank some ships and lost some wars, but where would we be without a good old cheese and tomato? Life just wouldn’t be the same, would it? The legend of this gastronomic invention pulls us back into scandal and intrigue. Because history has it that this particular Earl was quite the compulsive gambler. And - if you believe the legend - he only invented a sandwich so he could eat with one hand and continue gambling with the other. His passion for efficiency was revered by...

Bags under the eyes, a mild swelling or puffiness, are a common complaint among people of all ages. They are usually a cosmetic concern and are generally not serious. Symptoms include swelling, sagging or loose skin, and dark circles. While it may not be possible to get rid of eye bags completely, it is possible to reduce their appearance with certain simple home remedies and lifestyle changes. Surgical procedures and dermatological options are available for longer term solutions. One of the main causes of puffy eyes is aging. The skin under the eyes is very thin, which augments any changes that may occur in the body as we age. Over time, the tissues around the eyes and the muscles supporting the eyelids weaken. Fat that helps support the eyes can then move into the lower eyelids, causing them to appear puffy. Added to that, fluid may accumulate due to fluid retention in the thin skin around the eyes. This may be more noticeable on waking in the morning. Other causes of eye bags include genetics, allergies, insufficient sleep, unhealthy diet, sun exposure, eczema and pigmentation.       Swollen or puffy eyes after crying sometimes occurs. The eyes produce three types of tears: basal tears to lubricate, nourish, and protect the front of the eye, reflex tears to wash away irritants such as smoke or foreign bodies, and emotional tears which are triggered in response to emotion. Usually, once they have done their job, the tears flow into the back of...

Contrary to popular belief, not all babies are born with blue eyes, but many are. This is due to the fact that most newborns have little to no pigment in their irises at birth, making their eyes appear blue. Over time, as their bodies produce more melanin, a natural pigment, their eye colour can change. Eye colour is a fascinating subject that combines genetics, biology and a hint of mystery. Eye colour and genetics are closely linked, but the inheritance of eye colour is not as simple as was previously believed. HOW IS EYE COLOUR INHERITED? Eye colour is passed down to children from their parents. Early theories suggested eye colour was controlled by a simple inheritance pattern, with one parent’s eye colour being dominant while the other is recessive. For example, if one parent had brown eyes and the other had blue, the child would likely have brown eyes. However, it’s not that simple, and modern genetics has revealed a more complex picture of multiple genes working together, each with their own unique role in determining eye colour. In general, brown eyes are dominant over green and blue eyes, but there are many exceptions to this rule, and eye colour can be highly variable even within families, with shades ranging from brown to blue, green, hazel and even rare variations like grey or violet. In some cases, a child might inherit eye colour from grandparents. HOW DOES EYE COLOUR DEVELOP? Babies are born with low levels of melanin and as...

The eye is a delicate and sensitive organ which can be easily damaged. Foreign bodies in the eye are a common occurrence and can range from minor irritants to more serious objects. They may be small specks of dirt or eyelashes or larger objects such as glass, wood chips or metal shavings. Common places to find a foreign body are under the eyelid or on the surface of the eye. The eyelashes prevent most particles or objects from entering the eye, and tears are usually able to rinse out particles that do get into the eye. Occasionally, a solid object or projectile can adhere to the eye or embed itself below the surface of the eye. TYPES OF FOREIGN BODIES Foreign bodies in the eye can range from a mild nuisance to a serious hazard. They can vary widely in size, material, and severity. Non-penetrating debris, which is often found on the surface of the eye, includes dust, dirt, sand or small insects. Penetrating objects, as the name suggests, can embed themselves in the eye and may cause serious injury. These may include sharp objects like metal splinters, glass or wood chips. Exposure to liquid chemicals or aerosols, although not strictly a foreign body, can irritate or damage the eye. INJURIES       Most injuries from a foreign body in the eye are minor and usually heal without further problems. Possible complications include infection and scarring if the foreign body is not removed. For example, metal objects react with the...

Glasses draw attention to the top half of the face, making the eyes a focal point. But wearing glasses does not mean one has to compromise on eye makeup. In fact, by taking certain factors into account, glasses and eye makeup can work in harmony to create a look that enhances the appearance of the eyes and represents a person’s style and personality. A fundamental factor to consider is how the eyes appear through the lenses. If a person is short-sighted, the lenses will make the eyes appear smaller. The opposite is true for a person who is far-sighted in which case the eyes are magnified and appear bigger, and the makeup will be emphasised.       Glasses frame the eyes, so pairing them with the right makeup can make the eyes stand out. Ideally, the eye makeup should suit the overall style and colour of the glasses and be in proportion with them, while complementing the colour of the eyes. Generally, classic black and tortoiseshell frames are very versatile and work with almost every type of eye makeup. Thin lightweight frames offer the flexibility to add definition to the eyes. Chunkier frames suit a minimal makeup look. Brightly coloured frames pair best with neutral tones with a touch of eye liner for definition. Use foundation sparingly, especially underneath the frames and on the bridge of the nose where the glasses rest and the foundation may smudge, wear off or cause the glasses to slip. In certain light, the frames...

September 28th is World Retina Day. As one of the most important parts within the eye, the retina has been called the “Superhero of the Eyes” and has earned its dedicated day due to its power in helping us experience our visual world.       The retina is the nerve layer at the back of the eye which captures light entering the eye and converts it into nerve signals which are sent via the optic nerve to the brain. The brain receives the signals, decodes them and uses them to build a visual image. The retina is a critical part of vision, turning visible light into something the brain can process and work with. The “Superpowers” of the retina include the “Night Vision Ninja” which adjusts to low light allowing us to see stars in the night sky, the “Colour Connoisseur” which allows us to enjoy the full spectrum of vibrant colours, and the “Fast-Action Hero” which enables us to process images in milliseconds, helping us to react quickly to visual stimuli, such as catching a ball or dodging a falling object.       The photoreceptor cells are the specialised cells within the retina that respond to light. The two types of photoreceptors are rods and cones, which need to work together to give a clear and accurate visual picture. Rods are sensitive to low light levels, crucial for night vision and peripheral vision, while cones function in brighter light and are responsible for colour vision and sharp visual...

June is known for many things. Like Youth Day and mid-year exams and World Milk Day. (Yes, there really is one.) And in cosmic terms, June is famous in the Southern Hemisphere for being the month with the least daylight hours. In other words… so much to do, so little time. Literally. In the interest of making things easier and maximising your time, here are some tips to make the best use of those precious daylight hours. Go to bed in your next-day clothes like you did when you were six. That way you won’t waste time in the morning. (At what age does that become socially unacceptable, anyway?) Don’t let kids get dressed in the car to save some leaving-the-house time. You’ll just be adding time to the drop-off, because you’ll open the car door and discover they haven’t even started. If your kids sleep in their next-day clothes (as per Point 1), then ignore Point 2. Since everyone’s discovered your shortcut through the back roads, it’s not much of a shortcut anymore because the traffic is worse now than anywhere else. So stick to the main roads and don’t be tempted to try a new route to “save time”. On that note, do not listen to your GPS. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about - you know in your heart that your way is faster. Also, it’s fun to listen to her trying not to sound frustrated. Don’t waste time typing words. Use only emojis, and if they...

Around the age of 40 plus, we begin to notice changes in our vision which are impacting our daily lives in subtle ways. When watching TV, reading or doing other close activities our vision seems blurred or a little less sharp and clear. Driving at night is becoming more challenging as we have difficulty seeing in low light and our eyes are more sensitive to the bright lights of oncoming cars which sometimes appear to have halos around them. Even the glare of the sun is more bothersome. Deciding what to wear each day we have the sense that the colours of our clothes appear to be faded and less vibrant. Some objects seem to have a yellow or brownish tinge. One of the reasons for these changes could be the development of cataracts, a common condition that affects most people as we age. CATARACT DEVELOPMENT As light enters the eye it passes through the lens and reaches the retina which transmits visual signals to the brain via the optic nerve. As we get older and cataracts begin to develop, proteins in the lens break down and the lens gradually becomes less transparent, reducing the amount of light entering the eye and preventing clear images from being sent to the brain. Cataracts develop slowly and evolve through four distinct stages of progression, from early cataracts, through immature and mature cataracts, to advanced cataracts. Regular eye health checks are important to monitor the progression of symptoms and determine the appropriate time for...