First Aid For Your Eyes

"When eye injuries occur, knowing how to deal with them can mean the difference between minor eye damage and permanent injury, or even blindness. Here are some first aid suggestions for eye injuries. But, please remember, these suggestions are only first aid. It is important for you to contact your optometrist or doctor as soon as possible for any eye injuries.

If you have a foreign object in your eye, don't rub it. Lift your upper eyelid outward and gently pull in down over the lower lash. This causes tears to flow and often wash the object out of your eye. You may have to repeat this several times. If the object does not wash out, contact your optometrist or doctor. Do not try to remove a particle that is embedded. You can cause more damage. If you are wearing contact lenses, remove the lens and clean it thoroughly before putting it back in your eye. If discomfort persists, remove, clean again and reapply. If discomfort continues, remove the lens and call your optometrist.

For chemicals splashed in your eyes, immediately flush your eyes with cool water for at least 15 minutes. If possible, hold your head under a slowly running faucet, or pour water slowly from a glass or clear container. Seek professional attention immediately. If you are wearing contact lenses, remove them immediately. Then flush your eyes and seek professional help as described. A blow to your face resulting in a black eye can be treated with cold compresses for about 15 minutes every hour. Your eye should be checked by your optometrist for internal damage. If the blow breaks your contact lenses, try to remove pieces of the lens immediately. Rinsing with water will help. Then call your optometrist.

Do not try to treat a cut, laceration or penetrating eye injury. Do not flush the eye with water or put any medicine in the eye. If you are wearing a contact lens, don't try to remove it. Gently cover the eye with a bandage or gauze pad and go directly to your doctor or a nearby hospital.

Remember, the best way to treat eye injuries is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Don't forget to be aware of potential eye hazards and wear appropriate eye protection."

Bio-films make eye infection hard to treat

"Soft contact lens wearers need to be aware of how to fight the formation of a constellation of resistant organisms called bio-films, a U.S. study said.

Researchers at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland said bio-films -- microbial structures held together by a glue-like matrix -- make corneal infections hard to treat.

'Once they live in that type of state, the cells become resistant to lens solutions and immune to the body's own defense system,' study senior investigator Mahmoud Ghannoum said in a statement. 'This study should alert contact lens wearers to the importance of proper care for contact lenses to protect against potentially virulent eye infections.'

The study also found contact lens solutions need to be made effective on new micro-organism strains and in particular on bio-films. Ghannoum recommends soft contact lens wearers use :

• Fresh lens care solutions only and never add fresh solution to old solution.
• Solution that has not passed the expiration date on the package.
• Soap and water to wash hands and drying them before handling lenses.
• The rub and rinse method instead of the no-rub method
• Caution to ensure bottle caps and tips of multipurpose solutions are always clean."

12 lose eyesight

"Several persons, most of them senior citizens, who were operated upon on January 11 at a cataract surgery camp in Barabanki district here have lost their vision a few days after operation.

An FIR has been lodged by the health department of Barabanki district against Kanpur-based NGO Maa Vashnavi Charitable Chikitsa Sewa Sansthan, that had conducted the camp. The organisation has even been blacklisted.

Nearly two-dozen patients have been admitted at the Balrampur hospital here with swelling in the eyes and loss of vision. “The vision loss seems to have happened due to infection. A team of three eye surgeons has been deputed to look after these patients,” said Dr MK Saxena, chief medical superintendent of the hospital.

The NGO was reportedly only given permission for conducting screening of patients at the camp and the operations were to be performed at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Trivediganj.

However, the operations were conducted at the camp site, a college, without informing the Medical Officer (In Charge) of the Trivediganj PHC or the concerned health officials."

UV risk factors

"No one is immune to sunlight-related eye disorders. Every person, regardless of their background is susceptible to ocular damage from UV radiation that can lead to impaired vision.

Any factor that increases sunlight exposure of the eyes will increase the risk for ocular damage from UV radiation. Individuals whose work or recreation involves lengthy exposure to sunlight are at greatest risk.

Since UV radiation is reflected off surfaces such as snow, water and sand, the risk is particularly high on the beach, while boating, or in mountain areas. The risk is greatest during the mid-day hours, from 10 am to 3 pm, and during the summer months. Ultraviolet radiation levels increase nearer the equator, we are luckily far from away from it, remember holidays though, especially ones to Africa etc. UV levels are also greater at high altitudes.

Since the human lens absorbs UV radiation, individuals who have had cataract surgery are at increased risk of retinal injury from sunlight unless a UV absorbing intraocular lens was inserted at the time of surgery. Individuals with retinal dystrophies or other chronic retinal conditions may be at greater risk since their retinas may be less resilient to normal exposure levels.

Children are not immune to the risk of ocular damage from UV radiation. Children typically spend more time outdoors in the sunlight than adults.Solar radiation damage to the eye may be cumulative and may increase the risk of developing an ocular disorder later in life.

Iris colour can pose a potential risk as well. Light blue coloured irides can block less UV than dark brown irides, resulting in more UV exposure by the tissues of the eye."

UV related eye diseases

"Ultraviolet radiation can play a contributory role in the development of various ocular disorders including cataract, pterygium, cancer of the skin around the eye, photokeratitis and corneal degenerative changes, and may contribute to age-related macular degeneration.

Cataract is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness world-wide. Laboratory studies have implicated UV radiation as a causal factor for cataract. Furthermore, epidemiological studies have shown that certain types of cataract are associated with a history of higher exposure to UV, and especially UV-B radiation.

Age-related macular degeneration is the major cause of reduced vision in the U.K (most of the western populations) for people over the age of 55. Exposure to UV and intense violet/blue visible radiation is damaging to retinal tissue in laboratory experiments, thus scientists have speculated that chronic UV or violet/blue light exposure may contribute to ageing processes in the retina.

Pterygium is a growth of tissue on the white of the eye that may extend onto the clear cornea where it can block vision. It is seen most commonly in people who work outdoors in the sun and wind, and its prevalence is related to the amount of UV exposure. It can be removed surgically, but often recurs and can cause cosmetic concerns and visual loss if untreated. Excessive UV exposure is well known to predispose to skin cancer, which includes the eyelids and facial skin.

Photokeratitis is essentially a reversible sunburn of the cornea resulting from excessive UV-B exposure. It occurs when someone spends long hours on the beach or snow without eye protection. It can be extremely painful for 1 to 2 days and can result in temporary loss of vision. There is some indication that long term exposure to UV-B can result in corneal degenerative changes."

Effects Of UV on the eye

"Ultraviolet radiation in sunlight is commonly divided into two components: UV-A (320 to 400 nanometers) which causes tanning and is thought to contribute to ageing of the skin and skin cancer, and UV-B (280 to 320 nanometers) which can cause sunburn and skin cancer.

Clinical experience and evidence from accidents and experimental studies show that UV-B is more damaging, presumably because it has higher energy. Most of the UV-B is absorbed by the cornea and lens of the eye (FRONT PART OF THE EYE); therefore it can cause damage to these tissues but will not normally damage the retina (BACK OF THE EYE). However, the retina can be damaged if exposed to UV-B.

UV-A radiation has lower energy, but penetrates much deeper into the eye and may also cause injury. Sunlight contains much more UV-A than UV-B. Neither UV-A nor UV-B has been shown to be beneficial to the eye, and neither contributes to vision. Optimal sun protection should screen out both types of UV radiation."

Ultraviolet & the eye

"Ultraviolet (UV) radiation comprises invisible high energy rays from the sun that lie just beyond the blue end of the visible spectrum.

More than 99% of UV radiation is absorbed by the anterior structures of the eye, although some of it does reach the light-sensitive retina (back of the eye). The UV radiation present in sunlight is not useful for vision. There are good scientific reasons to be concerned that UV absorption by the eye may contribute to age-related changes in the eye and a number of serious eye diseases.

Protection can be achieved by simple, safe and inexpensive methods such as wearing a brimmed hat and using eyewear that absorbs UV radiation (sunglasses, including prescription sunglasses/reactolite lenses)."

Retinal Detachment

"A retinal detachment is a separation of the retina from its attachments to its underlying tissue within the eye. Most retinal detachments are a result of a retinal break, hole, or tear. These retinal breaks may occur when the vitreous gel pulls loose or separates from its attachment to the retina, usually in the peripheral parts of the retina. The vitreous is a clear gel that fills 2/3 of the inside of the eye and occupies the space in front of the retina. As the vitreous gel pulls loose, it will sometimes exert traction on the retina, and if the retina is weak, the retina will tear. Most retinal breaks are not a result of injury. Retinal tears are sometimes accompanied by bleeding if a retinal blood vessel is included in the tear.

Once the retina has torn, liquid from the vitreous gel can then pass through the tear and accumulate behind the retina. The build-up of fluid behind the retina is what separates (detaches) the retina from the back of the eye. As more of the liquid vitreous collects behind the retina, the extent of the retinal detachment can progress and involve the entire retina, leading to a total retinal detachment. A retinal detachment almost always affects only one eye. The second eye, however, must be checked thoroughly for any signs of predisposing factors that may lead to detachment in the future."

Corneal Infections and Contact Lenses

"Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare but very painful and potentially blinding infection of the cornea, the transparent covering at the front of the eye. The infection rate is approximately one in 30,000 contact lens wearers and in around 85% of cases the condition is associated with contact lens use.
The organism that causes the infection has been found in most environments including domestic tap water, chlorinated swimming pools, hot tubs and bottled water. It is also present in the nasal passages of healthy people.
Most research studies reporting this infection in contact lens wearers link it directly with poor patient hygiene, usually as a result of poor compliance with the practitioner’s instructions for lens care. Risk factors for infection in contact lens wearers are:

• Use of tap water during lens care (to rinse lenses or the storage case)
• Wearing lenses while swimming (without goggles), showering or in hot tubs
• Use of ineffective lens care solutions
• Failure to follow lens care instructions
  

Most cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis are preventable if contact lens wearers follow the instructions given to them by their contact lens practitioner. Contact lens wearers not complying with these instructions may be increasing their risk of infection with Acanthamoeba and other organisms. Switching solutions without the advice of your contact lens practitioner is not recommended.

Always seek professional advice if you are having problems with your contact lenses and have regular check-ups as specified by your practitioner. Symptoms of Acanthamoeba keratitis include the sensation of having something in the eye, watery eyes, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, swelling of the upper eyelid and extreme pain. However, if you experience these symptoms it does not necessarily mean you have Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Each time you wear your lenses you should check that your eyes look clear (no redness), feel comfortable and see well. If they do not, remove your lenses immediately and seek the advice of your contact lens practitioner. "

Think Before You Pop!!!

"Champagne corks are the most likely cause of seasonal eye injuries, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Chill champagne properly as the cork of a warm bottle is more likely to pop unexpectedly. And point bottle away from you - and others."

Mother blames school after boy is blinded by eclipse

"A boy of 10 was blinded in one eye as he watched the recent partial eclipse of the sun from his school playground.

The parents of Conor Howard expressed their concern yesterday about playground supervision after learning that the damage is permanent.

Conor, who wanted to be a pilot when he left school, is having specialist treatment. He had perfect 20/20 vision but now has severely restricted sight.
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Conor was at morning break in the playground of St Nicholas School in Cranleigh, Surrey, last month when a friend shouted for him to look at the eclipse.

Closing one eye, he looked directly at the sun with the other. 'I could see that there was a bit out of the bottom of the sun and thought it was cool,' said Conor. 'I looked at it for about a minute.'

After playing football, he looked at the eclipse again and later went blind in his right eye.

Conor's mother, Serena Howard, 32, said: 'It was the duty of the school to warn the children of the dangers. They could have changed the break time or kept them indoors.'

She said Conor went home complaining that his eyes were misty. Three days later he was struggling to see the largest letters on an optician's test card.

A hospital examination revealed that the eye had been burnt and the damage was permanent."