Discovery of a new protein has been linked to vision loss

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Glaucoma – Don’t turn a blind eye to the disease!

Glaucoma is categorised as a disorder that affects the function of the eye. The characteristics of Glaucoma produce specific signs and symptoms, and ultimately share a single common feature, progressive optic neuropathy (Damage to the optic nerve).  All manifestations of Glaucoma can result in progressive loss of vision if untreated, or undetected, eventually this can be potentially blinding.

Incorporating the Glaucoma’s as a group of diseases, they are now the leading source of visual morbidity, affecting more than 60 million people throughout the world.  What’s more, around 8.4...

Children’s Vision Neglected

Many parents will be familiar with the importance of immunisations, routine screenings such as hearing tests, weight, and growth charts for their new born not to mention dental health when the time arises, but what about their vision?

The Eye Care Trust has warned that one in five children before the age of 12 has an undiagnosed visual problem, which could interfere with their ability to learn.

It is recommended for children eight years or younger to have an annual eye examination. Children aged nine and upwards, generally would...

New approach for assessing drivers vision

Being a motorist myself, it makes me feel uneasy knowing, that one in ten motorists who require glasses in order to drive have admitted being lax about wearing them at all (Survey of 5.3 million motorists conducted by LV insurance). Driving without your glasses or contact lenses is a criminal offense, you are not only endangering yourself but other road users and pedestrians by doing so.

Currently all drivers are required to read a number plate at a distance of 20.5 meters in order to pass their...

Eye Test may detect Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms develop.

Research currently underway by scientists from the University College London believe Alzheimer’s and other diseases could be detected by a simple and inexpensive eye test that could be available from high street practices within the next five years.

The non-invasive method uses fluorescent markers, which enable early indication of brain cell death by attaching to dying cells on the retina. The dying cells absorb the fluorescent dye which show up as green dots. (Image Below)

These experiments are currently being tested on mice, but the first human trials could...

Eye Health Awareness Week 2010 – Day 7: Stress & Eye Strain

Eye strain is now a hazard of daily life with our ever-increasing use of screens. Strain occurs simply from focusing on one distance for too long and can be easily mitigated by taking regular screen breaks. Other contributing factors to eye strain are poor lighting, having your computer at the wrong height, a stuffy atmosphere and – of course – stress.

Just because we all use computers these days it doesn’t mean that our eyes are no longer susceptible to strain so just as much care needs to be taken...

Eye Health Awareness Week 2010 – Day 6: Ultraviolet Radiation

How exposed are you to Ultraviolet radiation?

We all enjoy a good measure of sunlight to make us feel good, perhaps it’s a trip to the beach or the local pack with the kids to ensure our vitamin D levels are topped up thanks to exposure from natural sunlight.  All the same, we are more familiar, now more than ever of the damaging effects the sun has to our skin as a result of excessive UV radiation with 85% of the British public knowing about the risk of skin...