Relax and see better – stress and our eyes

The eyes are the window to your soul, and when your soul is relaxed your eyes are too. Maintaining a healthy level of stress can be difficult during this day and age, with pressures of work and the constant presence of online and social media. These high stress levels may be taking a toll on your eyes, resulting in the following eye conditions:

Myokymia: Otherwise known as eye twitching. A condition that drives many of us nuts, comparable only to the hiccups or an itchy mosquito bite. Stress is a leading cause of involuntary eye twitches, often caused by lack of zzz’s or too much screen time. Twitching should disappear on its own, but only with a bit of repose.

Blurred Vision: When we’re in stress mode, our body may react as if we’re facing danger, causing our pupils to dilate. This dilation allows more light to enter the retina with the hopeful outcome that you’re able to better judge the situation. On the flip side, excess light may also cause blurry vision.

Dry Eyes: When experiencing high levels of stress, our body also goes into full protection mode. One of the results of this natural defense is the thickening of blood flow to shield us from potential injury. This makes our heart pump harder to get blood circulating to our extremities, thus lowering the amount being sent to our eyes. A decrease in blood flow to the eyes results in dry, irritated peepers.

Not only can stress have these effects on your eyes – they can also make you look physically unwell. Stress causes lack of sleep, which in essence causes fluid to pool below your lower eyelid area, resulting in the frustrating under eye bags that are difficult to hide. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep and reduce the amount of time spent on digital devices before bed, to reduce stress and to keep those eyes beaming.

For more information or to book an appointment, please visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com or call us at 604.553.3900.

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Risks Associated With Sun Exposure

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is an invisible component of sunlight that is most commonly known to cause sunburns and skin cancers. While some UV is filtered by the ozone layer, increasing amounts are reaching the earth as the ozone layer steadily diminishes. Because exposure to UV is cumulative, direct contact with sunlight for even short periods of time can cause several long-term eye health problems, many of which begin symptom-free.

To help reduce UV radiation damage to your eyes, consider the following tips:

• Beware of high sources of UV exposure in the workplace. The Canadian Center for Occupational Health & Safety indicates examples of workers at potential risk from exposure to UV radiation including outdoor workers, construction workers, paint and resin curers, plasma torch operators, welders, farmers, food and drink irradiators, hairdressers, laboratory workers, lighting technicians, lithographic and printing workers and police.
• Recognize sources of man-made ultraviolet radiation. Examples include various types of UV lamps, arc welding torches and mercury vapour lamps. In dental and medical practices, UV radiation can be used for killing bacteria, creating fluorescent effects, curing resins and phototherapy. Sun tanning booths also use UV radiation.
• Wear sunglasses, prescription or safety glasses with anti-UV coatings. Sunlight is by far the greatest source of UV radiation.

Exposure to its UVA and UVB rays, as well as man-made sources of UVC rays, can lead to long-term eye damage including:

• Age-related macular degeneration
• Cataracts
• Eyelid skin cancer
• Premature age spots around the eyes
• Tissue growths on the surface of the eye including pinguecula and pterygium, of which the latter can encroach on the corneal axis

If you wear corrective contact lenses, consider wearing UV-blocking contact lenses for an added layer of UV protection. Sunglasses are important, but aren’t always enough. Depending on the frame size, shape and position, as much as 45 per cent of UV rays can still reach the eyes of people wearing some sunglasses. Contact lenses with UV protection are an effective way to block light that gets in the sides and protects from harmful UV radiation reaching the cornea and into the eye. Not all contact lenses offer UV protection so check with your doctor of optometry to find out which ones are right for you.

Recognize symptoms of UV eye damage, including immediate pain, inflammation of the cornea and an aversion to light. UV burns are commonly known as welder’s flash, snow blindness, ground-glass eyeball, or flash burn, depending on the UV source. Should you experience these symptoms, see your doctor of optometry right away.

While the symptoms listed above indicate eye damage caused by UV exposure, many long-term problems caused by UV exposure are symptom-free. To learn about the UV damage your eyes may already have, visit one of our doctors of optometry for a thorough eye examination. Please visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com for more information. 

Munch on these seasonal snacks and protect not only your eyes - but your overall health!

Summer is upon us, and that means more fresh fruits and vegetables are in season. It’s a great time to head outside and enjoy a picnic, or host a backyard BBQ – and it’s easy to make sure your meals are chock-full of nutrients that are good for you!

When we think about eating healthy, we might not think about the benefit foods can have on our vision and eye health. Our eyes are vascular, so much like your heart they rely on arteries to transport oxygen and nutrients. A healthy diet low in trans and saturated fats (a Mediterranean diet if you will) helps maintain healthy blood vessels, which keeps your eyes happy and healthy.

Below, we have identified six foods that you can incorporate into your daily diet that will keep your eyes and whole body healthy:

• Greens – Leafy greens such as spinach and kale, contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that are stored in the macula (part of the retina that acts as a natural sunblock from damaging light). By blocking blue light, which can be harmful to the retina, and helping to detect contrast, this powerful combo can help improve vision and make it last long term.
• Tomatoes – They’re packed with carotenoids, which include lycopene (an effective cancer-protecting antioxidant) and Vitamin C, helping to give power to this vision protecting fruit. When these antioxidants are found in the ocular tissues, research shows it helps prevent light-induced damage to the retina and other areas of the eye.
• Eggs – One egg a day keeps the eye problems away! In addition to being loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin, eggs pack a natural punch of Vitamin D, which can reduce your risk of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). They’re also rich in cysteine and sulphur, two components of glutathione, a protein that acts as an antioxidant for the lens of the eye and have also been found to protect fromcataract
• Fish – The fatty kind! Salmon for example is full of good for you omega 3 fatty acids, a proven aid in the prevention of AMD and a tool to help you battle dry eyes. If you’re not a fan of salmon – tuna, cod, haddock and sardines also contain these fats which are important for cellular health.
• Nuts & Seeds – These are full of Vitamin E, a vitamin essential to the cells in our eyes. By consuming one handful or an ounce of almonds or sunflower seeds, you’re getting about half your daily dose. For kid friendly options, peanut butter and wheat germ work just as well.
• ‘Orange foods’ – Carrots, yams, sweet potatoes, apricots, etc. – all packed with beta-carotene, which is converted by the body to Vitamin A. This antioxidant resists stress damage to the lens of the eye, helping in the prevention of cataracts and AMD.

For an added bonus, prepare your meals using olive oil when you can. It’s free of trans-fats, low in saturated fat and helps prevent the development of AMD.

By taking care of your whole body – your eyes will directly benefit. Book an appointment with one of our Doctors of Optometry at www.visionsourcenw.com to learn more.

Comprehensive eye exams can test vision, help save lives

May is Vision Health Month, and local doctor of optometry, Dr. Stephanie Strawn of Stickle and Strawn Optometry, is urging Okanagan residents to make eye exams part of their preventative health-care routines.

“Comprehensive eye exams can serve as early detectors for a number of potentially serious health conditions, ranging from diabetes and high blood pressure to certain forms of cancer,” says Dr. Strawn.

Studies show that among Canadians who don’t have regular eye exams, more than half chose to skip a visit with their optometrist because they believed they had good vision. This is despite the fact that even with good vision, eye exams can help detect eye diseases and underlying conditions that may show signs in the eyes including brain tumours, aneurysms, autoimmune disorders, thyroid disease, sickle cell disease, liver disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological or brain disorders.

“A comprehensive eye exam does much more than test your vision, it is an important part of maintaining your overall health,” says Dr. Strawn.

Comprehensive eye exams provide optometrists a close-up look at your blood vessels, your optic nerves, and many other complex eye structures, all of which may contain clues to conditions that could pose a serious risk to your health.

“Brain tumours, for example, can cause loss of peripheral vision or can damage the nerves that control eye muscle function, resulting in symptoms such as abnormal eye movements or double vision,” says Dr. Strawn. “During an exam, your doctor of optometry would examine the optic nerves, and test peripheral vision and eye muscle function, which can often be the first sign of a brain tumour.”

The exams conducted by a doctor of optometry are much more than a sight test or screening test, which only measure how well you see. A comprehensive eye exam looks at the overall health of your visual system, and helps to identify underlying health conditions that can show early signs in the eyes.

“Think of it as a physical for your eyes,” says Dr. Strawn, “Through a series of tests and procedures, optometrists can help detect conditions before other physical effects are noticed, allowing them to work closely with other primary health care providers to improve patient outcomes.”

Given the potential of an eye exam to protect, not just your vision, but your overall health, routine exams are recommended for people of all ages. BC doctors of optometry recommend adults have an eye exam every two years, and annually for those over 65. Children should have their first exam between six and nine months, their second eye exam between the ages of two and five, and annually after starting school.

To book an appointment with one of our Doctors of Optometry, please visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com or call 604.553.3900.

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Surviving Allergy Season

Spring has officially arrived which means allergy season is here – or quickly approaching. If you’re amongst the 8 million Canadians (one-quarter of the country) that has seasonal allergies, you’ve probably experienced some form of itchy, red, dry, or watery eyes.

Seasonal allergies are caused by the high pollen released by trees, grass, outdoor moulds, and ragweed. They begin in the spring, peak in the summer, and can last as late as fall.

Most of us know when seasonal allergies strike because we start to experience mild to extreme discomfort in our eyes, but have you ever wondered what’s actually causing our eyes to react? Dr. Marino Discepola from McGill University’s Department of Ophthalmology explains:

“When an allergen affects us, it binds to receptor cells called mast cells… we have 50 million of them in a mucous membrane on the surface of our eyelids called the conjunctiva.

When mast cells in the conjunctiva come into contact with an allergen, they release a chemical called histamine, which stimulates the nerves in the eye, making it itchy and watery. The eye is trying to remove the allergen, not realizing that it is harmless.

The release of histamine also causes dilation of the blood vessels on the surface of the eye, which makes your eyes red.”

Most allergens are seasonal, which in most cases last between four to six weeks.

Here are the best -and safest- ways to manage your eyes this allergy season:

• Get in the habit of checking your local pollen forecast, which provides you with a daily outlook on the types and severity of pollen in the air.
• Pick up over-the-counter eye drops, or speak with your local eye doctor about prescription eye drops if discomfort persists.
• Place cold compresses on your eyes, this can help relieve the itching sensation.
• Despite temptation, DO NOT RUB YOUR EYES, as this will only make your eyes worse and can potentially cause long-term damage.

If you’re experiencing persistent eye discomfort as a result of seasonal allergies, be sure to book an appointment with one of our optometrists at Vision Source New Westminster to discuss your options.

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Retinoblastoma

What is retinoblastoma (RB)?

Retinoblastoma is a rare cancer of the eye that typically affects children between birth and five years of age. The incidence of RB is one in 15,000 live births, with about 23 children being affected in Canada each year. The retinoblastoma tumour(s) originates in the retina, the light sensitive layer of the eye that enables the eye to see.

What are the signs/symptoms of retinoblastoma?

Parents are often the first to notice the signs and symptoms of retinoblastoma. The most common indicator of RB is whiteness reflected in the pupil of a baby’s eye, particularly noticeable when the pupil is dilated. This is known as leukocoria. One or both of the child’s eyes may turn inward or outward as a result of poor vision in the affected eye. Parents often describe this as lazy eye, crossed eyes, or a wandering eye. The medical name for this is strabismus. More rarely, a child’s RB may be indicated by redness and/or swelling of the eye(s). None of these indicators is conclusive of RB, but if a parent notices these symptoms in their child, a visit to a doctor of optometry or a referral to an ophthalmologist should be sought immediately.

How is retinoblastoma treated?

What treatments are best for retinoblastoma depends on the size and location of the tumour, whether cancer has spread to areas other than the eye and the child’s overall health. Radiation can be used to kill the cancer cells. Internal radiation is achieved by placing a small radioactive disk that is stitched in place near the tumour and left there for several days. This localizes the treatment and avoids damage to other healthy parts of the eye. External radiation is much more invasive and is often reserved for tumours that are non-responsive to other treatments. Laser therapy, cold therapy (cryotherapy) and heat therapy (thermo therapy) can also be used. If the tumour is unresponsive to other treatments or is too large, surgical removal of the tumour, or in some cases the entire eye, may be the only option.

Have a question or want to book an appointment? Please give us a call at 604.553.3900 or visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com.

This Health Condition May Afflict Half The World By 2050

Soaring nearsightedness -- driven by staring at computer screens -- "is a true global health crisis."

If you don't already wear eyeglasses, there's a good chance you will by the middle of this century.

A new study predicts that by 2050, 4.8 billion people -- about half the global population -- will be afflicted with nearsightedness, or myopia, a common eye malady that causes distant objects to appear blurred while close objects can be seen clearly.

That would be a threefold increase from 2000. Additionally, one out of 10 peopleare predicted to be at risk of blindness.

A likely culprit in the surge in myopia, called shortsightedness in some parts of the world, is the amount of time people are spending inside, staring at computer and cellphone screens, according to the study, published online Feb. 11 in the journal Opthalmology.

Kovin Naidoo, a co-author of the study, told The Huffington Post Australia in an interview that the prediction should be taken seriously.

"This is a true global health crisis, and is rare in that whether you live in Africa or Australia, it will have a huge consequence," Naidoo said.

The study, led by Brien Holden of the Brien Holden Vision Institute in Sydney,crunched data from 145 studies that included 2.1 million participants. It estimated that by 2050, there will be about 4.8 billion people with myopia (49.8 percent of the world population) -- up from an estimated 1.4 billion (23 percent) in 2000.

The projected increase in nearsightedness, the authors wrote, is "widely considered to be driven by environmental factors (nurture), principally lifestyle changes resulting from a combination of decreased time outdoors and increased near work activities, among other factors." Family history also is a factor.

"Among environmental factors, so-called high-pressure educational systems, especially at very young ages in countries such as Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, and China, may be a causative lifestyle change, as may the excessive use of near electronic devices."

Naidoo said there's a simple way to prevent myopia: Go outside.

"Some argue it’s about looking at further distances, and there's some evidence that it’s because of a chemical release in the retina," Naidoo said. "More results are coming in around the globe all the time, but the reality is there is acceptance on the fact that spending two hours or more outside is protective."

Equally as important, Naidoo said in a statement, is that children receive regular eye examinations.

So, put down the phone, head outdoors and look to the horizon. Doctor's orders.

If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call at 604.553.3900 or visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com. 

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