House OKs eye test for senior drivers
The state House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would ban texting while driving, prohibit 16- and 17-year-olds from using cell phones or other devices, and force drivers 75 and older to renew their licenses in person every five years and take an eye exam.
The House voted 146-9 to approve the bill.
Rep. Joseph F. Wagner, D-Chicopee, the co-chairman of the Transportation Committee, told House members that the bill sends a message that “texting while driving will not be tolerated by motor vehicle operators in Massachusetts. It’s a strong message. It’s a message that should be sent.”
The House, mirroring a vote it took two years ago, also voted 91-66 to amend the bill to bar all drivers from holding cell phones while driving. Only hands-free technology would be allowed for all drivers under the amendment.
“It is impossible to be dialing the phone and watching the road at the same time,” said Rep. Jay R. Kaufman, D-Lexington, who sponsored the amendment.
That measure is likely to be killed in the Senate.
Wagner said that he doesn’t expect the ban on holding cell phones to be approved in the Senate, which has been opposed to such a move and blocked it two years ago. Wagner supported the ban on cell phones, saying it would make it easier for police to enforce the ban on texting.
The House bill now moves to the Senate, which is expected to approve its own version. Wagner said he believes a compromise will be approved and then shipped to the governor’s desk.
Under the bill, the elderly would need to get a vision exam every five years when they show up at a Registry to renew a license. That rule is far less onerous than proposals for regular road tests for certain elderly people.
Right now, all drivers must appear in person every 10 years to renew a license.
Eye exam could give early diabetes warning
What’s the earliest way to test for Type 2 diabetes? It could be with an eye exam.
Here’s why. High resolution images like this one give ophthalmologist Dr. Alan Lacoste a unique look inside the entire body.
“By looking into the eyes we can see the blood vessels, so there’s really nowhere else on our body where you can just visibly look at the blood vessels,” said Lacoste.
Lacoste says that by examining the retina at the back of the eye, he can often times detect undiagnosed diabetes.
“One of the first things that you see are areas of bleeding right outside the blood vessels,” said Lacoste.
This condition is called “diabetic retinopathy.” Lacoste says it needs to be taken seriously.
“Even with all our technologies and abilities to treat it, more people go blind from diabetes than any other condition,” said Lacoste.
Laser surgery can help prevent further vision loss, but it’s not a cure, so early detection is key, especially for those at high risk.
“With the increased diagnosis of diabetes in our population, it’s critically important that everyone have a complete eye exam once they’re past 45 years of age every year,” said Lacoste.
And this exam should come earlier if you have a family history of the disease.
Lacoste says if current trends continue, the number of diabetic retinopathy cases will double by 2050.
What is it Relay for Life?
With one of the most important events in Cancer research fundraising coming up in approximately 3 weeks, many have never been given an answer to the following question: “What is Relay for Life?”
For the next three issues, The Eagle Eye will be highlighting Relay and answering the following three questions: “What is it?” “How can I join a team?” and “What can I expect at the LHU Relay for Life?”
Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life is a community event that gives people a chance to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer and survived, remember those who have lost their lives, and just fight back against the disease.
At the event, clubs/organizations take turns walking around the track or path. Each participating group always has a representative on the track. The event is always a full 24-hour long, because cancer never sleeps.
Relay for Life began in 1985, when Dr. Gordy Klatt went against the norm of fundraising and ran around a track for a full 24-hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Because of one man’s passion and desire to bring awareness to this disease, the Relay has marked the anniversary every year and become a national event.
It is estimated that 3.5 million people participate nation-wide annually, in more than 5,000 communities. In addition to the USA, 200 countries participate internationally.
Even with the widespread participation, each Relay event is held in relatively the same way, with certain traditions that are non-negotiable.
The event always begins with a Survivors Lap. At this time, the survivors are invited to run the first lap together and celebrate what they have achieved. At this time, caregivers of these survivors are also recognized.
At twilight, the Luminaria Ceremony occurs. At this time, it is more solemn, and vigil-like. Candles are lit in bags of sand, bearing the name of a person who lost their life. Participants walk in silence and take the time to remember those who are lost, all while walking alongside others who are battling. This is a time for grieving together and finding solace in each other. It is a time that truly displays importance of defeating the disease.
Lastly, there is a Fight Back Ceremony. This is a time when people make personal commitments to fighting the disease throughout the year.
But why do people Relay? What fun is it to walk around a track for hours on end?
According to the American Cancer Society, we relay so “that the hope that those lost due to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.”
It’s also a community event where everyone has a chance to come together, celebrate, remember, and fight back. Everyone knows someone who has been affected by the disease, which makes cancer a common entity among us all. When people who share a commonality come together, it is often a life-changing time.
Next week, more information will be given on how you can start a team on campus or join a team already made.
Until then, carefully consider being a part in this amazing event. Also, ponder this statement from the American Cancer Society: “No matter why you take part in Relay, one thing is clear: with every step you take, you are helping the American Cancer Society save lives. With your help, we aren’t just fighting one type of cancer – we’re fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. Each person who shares the Relay experience can take pride in knowing that they are working to create a world where this disease will no longer threaten the lives of our loved ones or claim another year of anyone’s life.”
ISRO lends help for eye care
“It is essential for science and technology to enrich medical diagnosis and intervention,” said Dr K Radhakrishnan, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at the inauguration of the first international conference on ‘Gene therapy in ophthalmology in India’ at Narayana Nethralaya on Thursday.
It was necessary to connect medicine and technology so that specialised healthcare could reach people in remote areas, he said. “Patients in need of eye care in the north-eastern region of the country will now get detection and treatment facilities from city doctors with the help of tele-ophthalmology being set up by Narayana Nethralaya in collaboration with ISRO,” Radhakrishnan said.
“We will first start this project in the north-east and then gradually extend it to other regions,” he said.
Initially, the facility would be provided in six districts of northern Karnataka under the National Rural Health Mission.
“Two technicians will be trained in this to help detect retinal problems early,” said Dr Anand Vinekar, paediatric retinal surgeon, Narayana Nethralaya.
He said the government was considering including Retinopathy of Prematurity under the Yashaswini scheme.
Non-medical Methods for Vision Improvement
According to some theories, it is possible for people to improve their vision without wearing glasses or even receiving eye surgeries. Dr. William Horatio Bates holds that eye vision can be improved just by relaxation and doing eye exercises. The method that he has proposed is called Bates Method, which advocates some eye exercises improving vision.
The essence of Bates Method is to relax. This method holds that one just needs to relief the stains on his eyes and eye muscles. Judging from the stances of sciences, this method brings no effectiveness, and it can not help people improve their vision. The fact, however, has that many people love to use this natural method and some of them have got very ideal results.
The best explanation of this method can be found in psychology. The psychologists hold that people tend to do what has been hinted psychologically. According to Dr. Bates’ statements, many of his patients have got very nice results. Then, after that he has compiled a book, called Perfect Sight without Glasses.
In order to achieve the aimed results, the patients are suggested to do their best to relax themselves both psychologically and physically. The results depend on the degree to which you relax yourself. For example, palming can help you to relax yourself with eyes closed. Whiling doing this exercise, you are suggested to palm your eyes with hands.
Dr. Bates also suggests that people looking at some imaged things that are pleasant for them. For such pleasantness can help them to relax themselves. And in some senses, relaxations are decisive for visual clarity. With eyes closed, the degree of imagination can also reflect the relaxing extent. For example, if one sees the black in his eyes changing smaller, it means he is got more relaxed.
In addition to Bates Methods, there are still many other eye exercises that can help to improve people’s eye sight naturally. Such as, eye focus exercises, eye rotating, and so forth. They are very typical and practical ways. All these ways reflect one point—relaxing eyes and eye muscles.
Methods to Relax Eye Strains
Nowadays, eye strain is one of the commonest problems among people. Eye strains are can be divided into eye sore, dryness, itch, headaches, blurriness, etc. Eye stains are results of staring at something too long. Long time of reading, driving, etc can lead to eye strains.
Luckily, some methods can also be employed to release our eye strains.
The first method is to coordinate the light of our working conditions. The facts have it that the lighting system in working place can influence our visions. Generally, if the light is too bright, our eyes will be tired for having received too much light. On the contrary, if the light is too dim, our eyes will also get tired. So just balance the light in our working places. Make sure the light can coordinate with our work. For example, we should balance the contrast of computer screens and TV. On other occasions when we work under bright light, we should wear glasses for protection.
The next method is to relax our eyes. As for any of us who has to work in front of computers, relaxation is very essential. Do something else when we have worked for a long time. Or we can do some eye exercises, as palming; to relax our eyes. Take some deep breaths when we relax. This can greatly reduce our eye strain.
The next method is to visit our eye doctors for some suggestions and help. Some eye examinations can help us to know whether there are any potential eye problems on us. If necessary, we can prescribe some glasses or buy some care products for our eyes.
Usually, eye strain is caused by bad habits. If we have nurtured some bad habits in using eyes, our eyes will get strained easily. But, eye strains are sometimes signals of potential eye problems. It is necessary to visit an eye doctor if you have found some eye strains for unknown reasons.
If we feel some sort of discomfort in our eyes, we should pay regular visits to our eye doctors. Generally, our eye doctors can help us to release our eye strains and find some ways of curing potential eye problems. This can assure the security of our eyes. All the methods above mentioned can help us to reduce the symptoms of eye strains.
more info
·A variety of means to ease computer eye strain
What is Custom Wavefront mapping system?
Wavefront mapping system was first used in the field of astronomy. Every mirror made on earth has aberrations due to the gravitation. In order to get a clearer picture of the outer space of the solar system, the mirror of the telescopes should be compensated. Thus, wavefront mapping technology was first developed by astronomers, and it is used to adjust the optics of the telescopes.
With the same principal, custom wavefront mapping system is developed as an advanced guiding system that is widely used in eye laser surgery, such as Lasik. This mapping system is used to exam the type of your eye, for example nearsightedness or farsightedness, and so on. Then it is used to exam every little area of the eye to find low order aberrations and high order aberrations, then make sure which part of the eye should be cut and how much should be cut by laser, and finally the shape of your current eye shape and the shape it should be after eye surgery was drown by the system after a really complex mathematical calculations. With all this information done before the eye surgery, laser eye surgery can be done mostly under the guidance of computer.
There are three big manufacturers of custom wavefront mapping system in America. Their trade names are CustomCornea, CustomVue, and Zyopix, respectively. And their products are the Alcon LADARVision laser, the Visx S4 laser, and the Bausch & Lomb Technolas 217z laser, respectively. You can get more information about these products through internet.
As the eye is an extremely important part of human beings and it is very fragile, you should avoid any risk that may happen during the eye surgery. So, before you make decision, you should know every aspect of the eye surgery.
more info
·Advantages of wavefront LASIK
·Advanced Lasik with Wavefront system
Zeaxanthin and lutein for eye health
As a well-known carotenoid, zeaxanthin can be found in the macula, usually accompanied by lutein. In fact, lutein is believed to be less effective without zeaxanthin. Some daily foods contain plentiful of these two nutrients.
Zeaxanthin and lutein can fight off the free radicals caused by harmful rays and medications. The common eye disease age-related macular degeneration is exactly caused by these harmful radicals.
The two nutrients always appear together because they are cooperative. Zeaxanthin can repair and protect the cones in the macula and lutein ensures the well being of the rods which constitute the periphery of the retina. In addition, rods and cones work together and ensure good eyesight. In this case, eyesight may deteriorate if one of the two nutrients goes bad.
Zeaxanthin can be easily found in corn, pepper, saffron as well as other plants. And saffron maintains its characteristic taste and aroma through zeaxanthin. In addition, green leafy vegetables also contain plentiful of zeaxanthin and lutein, so that ordinary people are highly encouraged to eat a diet rich in green vegetables.
Studies show that natural sources of zeaxanthin are always better than those supplement pills. But zeaxanthin and lutein from these natural sources need a long period to build up vital reserves. In an emergency situation, supplements containing zeaxanthin and lutein can offer immediate help. What’s more, some people do not eat healthy foods. For those individuals, supplement pills are especially needed.
Most nutrient experts set the dosage of each zeaxanthin and lutein at about 24 mg each day. With proper dosage, central vision and color perception can be improved.
There are still other nutrients that are indicated to improve eye health, such as vitamin B12 and B2, I-carnosine, anthocyanins, beta-carotene and glucosamine.
more info
·A Balanced Diet is Essential for Good Eyesight
·Lutein and zeaxanthin for healthy eyes
Some Good Places to Buy 10 Dollar Frames
It is a great surprise for glass wearers to find 10 dollar frames in the market. The emergence of those frames has helped solved many problems that have bothered most wearers. In the past, if one wants to replace his glass frames, he has to pay over one hundred dollars for each pair on average. Contrarily, 10 dollar frames are some of the latest products in the industry and are sold only 10 dollars for each pair. It is no denying that 10 dollar frames have now gained wide popularity among many people who would like to replace different frames for the same pair of lenses. And there are a lot of places to get those eyeglasses, including real optical stores, glass shops, online shops, supermarket, etc. Here is an introduction about buying 10 dollar frames at those places.
Some wearers tend to buy 10 dollar frames at real optical stores. Optical stores can really provide some special service. People can get some personal advice from the opticians of the stores. If one has any particular demand on the frames, he can tell it to those opticians. And the opticians will do some particular adjustment on the frames, so as to meet different needs. Many other things can also be finished at the optical stores, and those frames are really personalized. Even if one has found any misshapes on the frames, he can visit stores and ask for adjustment. But buying 10 dollar frames here is relatively time-consuming than at other places.
Some other wearers tend to get 10 dollar frames from glasses shops. Particularly, one can try on any frames that he loves here. There is one principle in choosing 10 dollar frames- the nose pad will sit tightly on the nose; the frames will never fall off easily; and it will not move right and left while one sways his head. Anyway, one should know the best 10 dollar frames are comfortable to wear. With so many alternatives in the shop, everyone can get the frames that fit him most.
More and more people begin to buy 10 dollar frames from online shops. Buying 10 dollar frames online has now become one of the best ways that have gained rapid development. Those online shops provide 10 dollar eyeglasses of almost all styles that people want. Furthermore, buying online is most time-saving. Wearers can transfer from one shop to another within several seconds. Visiting tens of online shops will only cost one several minutes. However, if one wants to buy 10 dollar eyeglasses from online eyeglass stores, he should make clear several points. One is the shops are registered in the related bureau; another is the paying method is safe and convenient; the other is the return and refund policy are possible.
As for those who love shopping, supermarket is an ideal place to buy 10 dollar frames. One can save a lot time if he can get those frames while shopping. Supermarket can also provide a lot of alternatives in styles and designs. And if any problems occurred after the sale, one can also revisit the retailers for refund within particular period.
Anyway, 10 dollar frames are becoming popular all the more. If any one wants to get them, he can visit any one of the above-mentioned places. From any one of which, one can always obtain his personalized 10 dollar frames.
What to Ask And to Be Asked About Dry eyes?
Some people feel puzzled about what to ask when they approach to clinics or hospitals. It does little good to their illness and learn to ask questions concerning your illness is of importance. Therefore, this article aims at introducing some questions that you should to ask about certain disease, dry eyes as the example, as well as some questions you are supposed to be asked.
Questions you should ask:
What are dry eyes?
How is it caused?
Are my dry eyes severe or not?
What way you will use to gauge my dry eyes is severe or not?
Is there any way that I can avoid suffering from dry eyes?
How long will I take if I am prescribed a course of treatment? Is there any steps that I should take after the treatment?
Dose the treatment have any side effect to my tear film or eyes?
Is there any other ways to supplement of this treatment?
If this treatment does not work, what will you do?
Questions you will be asked:
What is your exact symptom?
When do your eyes start feel discomfort?
What is the possible cause do you think about the dry eyes?
Are you wearing or Have you ever worn contact lenses? Have you ever had any other surgeries on eyes?
What is your job? What is your work and home environment like?
Do you have to face computer or some screens, like TV everyday?
Have you gone for other treatments before you come here?
Do they work?
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