Spring 2007
2006 EYE HEALTH REPORT CARD
In an Ipsos-Reid poll of 1121 Canadians sponsored by the Canadian Association of Optometrists, 70% of respondents stated they would not give up their eyesight for anything; not even winning the lottery, being prime minister or having a lifetime of great sex. The importance of good eyesight in enjoying activities and relationships with friends and family was also recognized. Despite the emphasis placed on healthy vision by those polled, only 38% stated they visited their optometrist regularly (on an annual or semi-annual basis). “Canadians consider their eyesight to be of utmost importance”, says CAO representative Dr. Lillian Linton, “… they still need to make the connection that prevention is the only way to ensure healthy eyes and vision throughout their life… Optometrists are partners in eye health care and disease prevention”. Source: http://www.opto.ca.
In an Ipsos-Reid poll of 1121 Canadians sponsored by the Canadian Association of Optometrists, 70% of respondents stated they would not give up their eyesight for anything; not even winning the lottery, being prime minister or having a lifetime of great sex. The importance of good eyesight in enjoying activities and relationships with friends and family was also recognized. Despite the emphasis placed on healthy vision by those polled, only 38% stated they visited their optometrist regularly (on an annual or semi-annual basis). “Canadians consider their eyesight to be of utmost importance”, says CAO representative Dr. Lillian Linton, “… they still need to make the connection that prevention is the only way to ensure healthy eyes and vision throughout their life… Optometrists are partners in eye health care and disease prevention”. Source: http://www.opto.ca.
Myth: A child must be able to read and verbalize well before they can have an eye examination.
Fact: With many child-friendly techniques, optometrists can perform comprehensive eye examinations long before a child knows their alphabet or is able to talk well. The Canadian Association of Optometrists suggests children be examined at six months of age, three years of age, and annually after beginning school, or as recommended by their eye professional.
TROUBLED BY DRY EYES? SOMETHING SOUNDS FISHY!
Dry eye syndrome affects many people. Artificial tears are helpful but may offer only temporary relief. In order to determine if diet may help in alleviating dry eyes, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston examined whether essential fatty acids, namely the omega 3 fatty acids found in fish, and the omega 6 fatty acids found in meat, play a role.
To answer this question they examined data acquired from the nearly 40,000 female health professionals aged 45-84 who participated in the Women's Health Study. They found that women who ate the most omega 3 fatty acids had a lower risk of dry eye syndrome compared with those who ate the least. In particular, eating a diet rich in tuna, the main source of omega 3 fatty acids in the American diet, lowered the risk of dry eye depending on the number of servings consumed per week.
Dry eye syndrome affects many people. Artificial tears are helpful but may offer only temporary relief. In order to determine if diet may help in alleviating dry eyes, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston examined whether essential fatty acids, namely the omega 3 fatty acids found in fish, and the omega 6 fatty acids found in meat, play a role.
To answer this question they examined data acquired from the nearly 40,000 female health professionals aged 45-84 who participated in the Women's Health Study. They found that women who ate the most omega 3 fatty acids had a lower risk of dry eye syndrome compared with those who ate the least. In particular, eating a diet rich in tuna, the main source of omega 3 fatty acids in the American diet, lowered the risk of dry eye depending on the number of servings consumed per week.
You can also get omega 3 fatty acids from other fatty fish (such as salmon, mackerel, halibut, sardines and herring), flaxseed products, canola oil, soybeans, pumpkin seeds and walnuts. Omega 3 fatty acids have also been found to significantly reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease and stroke in other large studies.
Source: Miljanovic, B. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, October 2005; vol 82: pp 887-893
RETINAL DETACHMENT
The retina is a fine sheet of nerve tissue lining the inside of the eye. The eye and the brain together produce the images that we see. When detached, the retina cannot compose a clear image and vision becomes blurred and dim. Retinal detachments often develop in eyes with retinas weakened by a hole or tear. This allows fluid to seep underneath, weakening the attachment so that the retina becomes detached, rather like wallpaper peeling off a damp wall.
Retinal detachments are more frequent in middle aged, nearsighted people and are rare in young adults. Retinal detachments may result from eye injuries. Fortunately, retinal detachments are quite uncommon and affect only about one in ten thousand people.
Retinal detachments do not cause eye pain. Momentary flashes of light and/or showers of dark spots called floaters may be experienced. Sometimes flashes or floaters may be experienced in the absence of a retinal detachment; however when the symptoms are severe, worsening or accompanied by vision loss, the risk of a retinal detachment is higher. Another frequent symptom of retinal detachment is a dark shadow or curtain spreading across the vision of one eye. Sometimes retinal detachments occur without symptoms and are detected during routine eye examinations.
Small retinal detachments can often be repaired with a laser or a freezing treatment by an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon). Frequently, however, an operation will be needed to repair a hole or put the retina back in place. Vision recovery after surgery depends on how much the retina has detached and for how long. In most cases, useful vision can be restored if the detachment is recognized and treated promptly.
Optometrists have an important role in detecting retinal problems in people through regular eye examinations as well as counseling individuals who may be at higher risk for retinal detachment. Prompt evaluation of people with concerning signs or symptoms is essential and optometrists play a key role in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with retinal detachment.
Source: http://www.rnib.org.uk
