Patient care

Can red light therapy recharge aging eyes? Red light therapy is used to calm acne, heal wounds, and treat arthritis, new research suggests that it may also help protect eyes as people age. A recent study found that brief exposure to deep red light – three minutes a day for two weeks – improved older adults’ color contrast sensitivity, the ability to discern letters against a similarly colored background. Earlier studies have also found that red light partially reversed the effects of aging in the retinas of old mice, enhancing retinal performance by 25%. Although red light therapy may hold promise for treating conditions like Macular Degeneration, don’t attempt red light therapy at home. Further testing in clinical trials is necessary to determine whether it can be used to treat ocular disease or aging eyes, and the most effective wavelength, dose, duration of treatment, and delivery method. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3jq92Ug

Recent technological advances in vision care are amazing, whether you may need support with reading, navigating to a destination, or enjoying other activities, there is a huge selection of apps, devices, and resources for people with low vision. From Screen Readers and Object Identifiers to Virtual Maps and technology that uses vibrations to allow passengers to “feel” the view through a car window, here’s a list of helpful tech solutions from the American Academy of Ophthalmology that can make life easier for people with vision impairments https://bit.ly/2G8M2L5

Have you experienced trouble falling asleep after staring at your phone or tablet before bed? Blue light – whether from the sun or your digital screen – wakes us up and stimulates us. This also means that too much blue light exposure late at night can disrupt our our ability to fall asleep. Many devices now have a “dark” or “night mode” setting to decrease screen brightness, but does it help with eyestrain, or to decrease blue light exposure? Learn more at http://bit.ly/2JZck21

Retinoschisis is a rare inherited or acquired condition where the Retina separates into two layers resulting in progressive vision loss. When the Retina splits, tiny cysts form between the layers and can damage nerves, and preventing light signals from reaching your brain, which can make vision blurry. There are two forms of this condition, Juvenile X-Linked (XJR), and Degenerative or Senile Retinoschisis. XJR is a genetic condition caused by a problem with the X chromosome and mainly affects boys and men. The exact cause of Degenerative Retinoschisis isn’t know, but it seems to be related to the natural aging process and typically affects both men and women between the ages of 50 and 80. Although Retinoschisis isn’t a serious condition and can often be treated with glasses, it can increase the risk of Retinal Detachment. Be sure to see your High Country Macula Retinologist for regularly scheduled exams.

Happy Labor Day! Grilling this weekend? Consider adding some colorful veggies to your Labor Day cookout to help boost eye health. EyeCare America has teamed up with celebrity chefs from across the country to create healthy recipes that include foods rich in eye-healthy vitamins and antioxidants. The Feast Your Eyes on This! Summer Cookbook features recipes that everyone will love, and that are also good for your eyes. Download it here, an share it with all your friends! https://bit.ly/32aufeT

With many kids returning to school in distance learning environments, concerns about increased screen time and its effect on children’s vision have parents apprehensive. Headaches, blurry vision, and dry, tired eyes are often symptoms of not blinking enough while using digital devices, and focusing at the same distance for long periods of time causes vision to blur temporarily. The good news is most symptoms can be avoided by taking a few simple steps. To help parents and their kids, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has prepared a Back-to-Online School checklist to help prevent digital eyestrain. Learn more at https://bit.ly/31Ersuh, and be sure to share with your friends with school-age kids and grandkids.

Could eye protection be as effective as face coverings in helping to prevent the spread of the coronavirus? Although it’s not clear whether someone can become ill from exposure to the coronavirus in their eyes, recent studies have shown that Covid-19 can be present on the surface of the eye, and because the eye has direct communication to the nasal passages via the nasolacrimal, or tear duct, the virus has access to the respiratory system. These new findings add to a body of evidence that the eye can be a source of both transmission and infection in both symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers. As studies undergo further review, experts advise that eye protection that shields against droplets may be prudent. Read the scientific abstract of this study at https://bit.ly/2OZKrsc.

Can Alzheimer’s Disease be detected through the eyes? We don’t have eye exams to help diagnose dementia yet, but there is a clear relationship between brain tissue and eye tissue because the Retina and optic nerve are actually brain tissue that extends outside the brain case. Promising research has shown changes in the Retina in people with Alzheimer’s, and there is hope in the future that eye exams may be able to identify early stage brain disease. Learn more at http://bit.ly/2Nu10P9

Sheltering in place during Covid-19 has led to adults and children more time than ever on computers, smartphones, and tablets. During Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, parents and grandparents are reminded to the thoughtful about how much screen time children are allowed. Extended screen use per day has been associated with digital eye strain, poor sleep quality and obesity, and research from Canada found that preschoolers who spent more than 2 hours of screen time per day had a nearly 8-fold increase of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Learn more at https://bit.ly/32UIWU7, and share with your friends with children and grandchildren.