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Photo: KidsHealth.org

October has been named Home Eye Safety Awareness Month by the group Prevent Blindness America. Most eye injuries occur at home. Here are some guidelines for at-home eye safety, provided by Optometry Times:

Chemical Burns

• Immediately flush the eye with water. Hold the eye under a faucet or shower, or pour water into the eye using a clean container. Keep the eye open and as wide as possible while flushing. Continue flushing for at least 15 minutes.
• DO NOT use an eyecup. DO NOT bandage the eye.
• If a contact lens is in the eye, begin flushing over the lens immediately. This may wash away the lens.
• Seek immediate medical treatment after flushing.

Specks in the Eye

• DO NOT rub the eye.
• Allow tears wash the speck out or use an eyewash.
• Try lifting the upper eyelid outward and down over the lower lid.
• If the speck does not wash out, keep the eye closed, bandage it lightly, and see a doctor.

Blows to the Eye

• Apply a cold compress without putting pressure on the eye. Crushed ice in a plastic bag can be taped to the forehead to rest gently on the injured eye.
• In cases of pain, reduced vision, or discoloration (black eye), seek emergency medical care. Any of these symptoms could mean internal eye damage.

Cuts and Punctures

• DO NOT wash out the eye with water or any other liquid.
• DO NOT try to remove an object that is stuck in the eye.
• Cover the eye with a rigid shield without applying pressure. The bottom half of a paper cup can be used.
• See a doctor at once.

Photo: BT.com

These days, it seems there’s truly an app for everything. Got a smartphone? There are apps out now for testing your visual acuity, astigmatism and more. While we at Newton Eye Care Center know there’s no replacement for an optometrist’s care, it might be fun to check these out. Learn more about the apps here. And if you find you don’t do as well on the tests as you hoped, contact us at (989) 667-9393 for an appointment!

We know protein helps build our muscles. Calcium helps our bones. But what about our eyes? There are actually superhero nutrients that work for the benefit of your eyesight! Among them:

• Omega 3: A national Eye Institute study in 2009 found that people who ate oily fish at least once a week, which is an excellent source of Omega 3, reduced the risk of developing macular degeneration by as much as 50% compared to participants who did not consume a regular intake of Omega 3.
• Lutein and Zeaxanthin: As well as being present in many leafy plants, fruits and vegetables, there are also high concentrations of Lutein and Zeaxanthin found in the macula of the human eye. Their function is the same for humans as it is for the fruit and vegetables, to provide protection from harmful light reaching the underlying structures in the retina.

Want to know more? Check out this Living Green Magazine article. Need to schedule an appointment? Contact Newton Eye Care Center at (989) 667-9393.

Photo: Thinkstock/Getty

It can happen in a blink: Something in your eye. Our first inclination is to rub it, but that can cause further damage. So, what do you do? Here are some first-aid tips:

• Wash with lots of water. Use only water, as over-the-counter eye drops could further aggravate the eye.

• Do not rub the eye.

• If the pain persists, put on a patch and call Newton Eye Care Center at (989) 667-9393.

School is back in full swing: And so are germs. One of the most common eye conditions for our precious kids to spread around is conjunctivitis, or pink eye. Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the membrane covering the inner eyelid and most of the eyeball. This inflammation causes the normally clear membrane to turn red, usually with some type of discharge. There are two types: Infectious and noninfectious. Treatment depends on making an accurate diagnosis: bacterial pink eye is best treated with antibiotic drops, while viral conjunctivitis goes away without treatment. Want to know more? Check out this article. Think you or your child have pink eye? We can help. Contact Newton Eye Care Center at (989) 667-9393.

Photo: Shutterstock, via LiveScience.com

We all have dry eyes at some points throughout life, but if you’re over 50 or you’re a woman after menopause, chances are dry eyes are more of a problem than they used to be. There are many causes of dry eyes at any age, however. Contacts causing dry eyes? Taking medication that causes it? Contact Newton Eye Care Center at (989) 667-9393, and we will assess your factors and help you. Dry eyes don’t have to be a part of life!

Illustration: Dailymail.co.uk

A new “cool” laser is being hailed as something that could save the sight of millions of diabetics. The new eye treatment uses a low-heat laser that leaves healthy parts of the eyes unharmed! Want to know more about this new laser? Click here. Are you a diabetic who needs eye care? We can help. Contact Newton Eye Care Center at (989) 667-9393.

Photo: ORBIS.org

ORBIS, a nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide, prevents and treats blindness through hands-on training, public health education, improved access to quality eye care, and partnerships with local health care organizations, has announced that its Flying Eye Hospital program is visiting Kolkata, India, for the fourth time to conduct an intensive and comprehensive training and skills exchange program aimed at strengthening ophthalmic services in Eastern and Northeast India. The ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital is the result of a unique and lasting alliance forged between the medical and aviation industries. The FEH’s specially designed and converted DC-10 aircraft — the world’s only airborne ophthalmic training facility — makes it possible for ORBIS to bring ophthalmic training to communities throughout the world.

Learn more about the India mission in this article.

Learn more about the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital here.

Murray Rowland and Dianne Ashworth both received bionic eyes, restoring some sight. Photo: Wayne Taylor via Sydney Morning Herald

Now here’s some exciting news: The three patients in a trial using an early prototype bionic eye have been able to locate shapes on a screen after the device’s camera was connected with a stimulator to produce an image using 20 electrodes. The milestone means patients in the trial have a working system that can convert real-world images into bionic vision, giving hope to millions of blind and vision-impaired people. Want to know more? Check out this Sydney Morning Herald article.