The Optical Vision Site

Effects of Oil Spills On Health- Resources For Health Professionals

US Army in Protective Clothing- Cleaning Oil Spills

Since we just had another oil platform explosion, in the Gulf and Chevron has illegally dumped billions of gallons of toxic waste into the Amazon I though I would do a post on oil spills and other toxic wastes and where to call.

The BP Oil Spill is not the first oil spill and in fact currently there are several other oil spills going on in the world. It just happens to be the worst and a result of someone stepping over a dime to pick up a penny. (i.e. not paying for a $500,000 safety device, now costing billions to both BP and taxpayers and employees)

Over the years the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has been studying 7 oil spills and have reported an increase in respiratory symptoms, headaches, throat and eye irritation, rashes and numerous skin problems among clean up workers and residents. DNA damage has also been found after a beach clean up in Spain. Reports of mental health damage have also been noted. There has already been 1 suicide from a worker in Louisiana.

Information for Health Professionals Health Surveillance

The recent Gulf Coast Oil Spill more likely presents ecological impacts than human health effects. However, depending on the exposure pathways, there may be a risk for human health effects. CDC, along with the affected Gulf Coast states, has developed a surveillance plan to track the potential short-term health effects related to the oil spill in the affected communities.

Areas Closed

CDC (Center of Disease Control) recommends using existing mechanisms for surveillance of acute health conditions. However, if existing mechanisms do not exist within an affected gulf coast state, targeted drop-in health care surveillance is recommended. CDC has developed a surveillance tool to be used for drop-in surveillance to monitor health complaints. Complaints captured by the tool include upper respiratory conditions; cardiovascular conditions; eye conditions; and stomach complaints such as nausea.

If people who are experiencing these symptoms have also been exposed to the oil spill, further study may be necessary.

Poison Center Surveillance CDC requested that the nation’s 60 Poison Centers, including those in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi, assign a temporary code to any calls related to the oil spill. These would include both information calls and calls about potential exposures. This coding will allow CDC to track the number of Poison Center calls and potential health effects.

For more information regarding your local Poison Center: http://www.aapcc.org/dnn/About/FindLocalPoisonCen

Sources

• Grist- Recap of Health Issues from 7 Oil Spills
• National Library of Medicine
• Center For Disease Control www.epa.gov/bpspill/.
• DailyFinance: http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/health-effects-of-oil-spills-on-humans-more-questions-than-an/19530364/?icid=sphere_copyright
• LIst of Oil Spills

Marijuana Controversy And EyeCare Professionals

Medical Marijuana

The Amcon Gazette did this article on Marijuana Rx, which I thought was interesting in light of the fact legalizing marijuana is a hot political topic right now: I asked a few OD’s, if optometrists could prescribe marijuana or if that would be a possibility in the future. He said no but one could recommend someone!  According to the latest research Marijuana Requests have jumped. What do our readers think- Should marijuana be legalized? Have you ever recommended marijuana for eye health?

Eye Bogglers

• According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2007, 14.4 million Americans aged 12 or older used marijuana at least once in the month prior to being surveyed, which is similar to the 2006 rate. About 6,000 people a day in 2007 used marijuana for the first time—2.1 million Americans. Of these, 62.2 percent were under age 18.
• Researchers found that 42% of people surveyed in the U.S. had tried marijuana at least once, and 16% had tried cocaine. About 20% of residents surveyed in the Netherlands, by contrast, reported Full story at Time Magazine (July 2008)

Amcon Article

Traveling with my ophthalmologist father-in-law, Dr. Tom, this week, I was surprised to learn that he is occasionally asked for a marijuana prescription from his glaucoma patients. Since medical marijuana is illegal in the state of Virginia, (where he practices), and he believes there is little benefit, he has never actually written a prescription for pot.

But why in the world would a patient suffering from glaucoma be asking for marijuana? A quick search on the Internet revealed why. Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes increased fluid pressure inside the eyes.  Some studies have demonstrated that smoking (some forms) of marijuana reduce ocular pressure. However none of these studies have shown that it is more effective than current treatments on the market.

The other issue, is that glaucoma is a chronic condition. So to have the desired effect of sufficiently lowering ocular pressure, glaucoma patients would  have to be ingest marijuana every 3-4 hours. So, as my father-in-law so eloquently put it… “you would be pretty gorked up.”  What else am I going to learn on this trip??

Amcon offers several traditional glaucoma related drugs for optical professionals to administer to their patients.  Please visit the Amcon website for a complete listing of our pharmaceuticals.

Resources

Sources: http://www.eyecareamerica.org/eyecare/treatment/alternative-therapies/marijuana-glaucoma.cfm, http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4673720_marijuana-glaucoma.html

www.healthexpertadvice.org/forum/Other-Health/Does-smoking-marijuana-affect-your-eyesight-if-so-what-can-I-do-to-get-my-eyesigt-back-to-normal-174587.htm

http://www.kgbanswers.com/does-smoking-enough-weed-improve-your-eye-sight/4699796

http://www.chacha.com/question/does-smoking-pot-make-your-eye-sight-bad

Medical Coding Certification Did a Article on the 30 Best Blogs To Learn About Medical Marijuana

Here are a few about the Health and Medical from His Site

Health and Medical

These blogs focus more on the health and medical benefits and programs for patients using marijuana.

1. Medical Marijuana Blog: Learn about dispensaries, cooking with marijuana, state laws and the benefits of marijuana for different diseases and disorders. Recommended posts: “How to Find the Best Medical Marijuana Doctors” and “Top Five Reasons to Get a Medical Marijuana Card.”
2. The Cancer and Marijuana Blog: If you want to learn more about how and why marijuana is used in helping cancer patients, read this blog. Recommended posts: “Does Cannabis Truly Help AIDS Patients” and “Marijuana as Medicine is nothing new!“
3. Medical Cannabis of Southern California: Topics covered on this medical marijuana blog include medical ethics, medical marijuana laws, and the different conditions that can benefit from medical marijuana. Recommended posts: “Medical Marijuana and Withdrawal Symptoms” and “Medical marijuana patients show up on time: a friendly reminder.”
4. Medical Marijuana Blog: Posts on this blog go into scientific detail about how marijuana is used for medicinal purposes. Recommended posts: “Is Medical Marijuana Coming to New York?” and “Medical Marijuana and Alzheimer’s.”
5. Marijuana Reviews: Learn about different strains of marijuana and how they help. This blog also includes forums and free medical marijuana instructional videos. Recommended posts: “Grape Punch” and “Black Cherry.”
6. Faded Fools 2.0: Find out what these faded fools are smoking to ease the pain. Detailed photographs accompany reviews, so it may be NSFW. Recommended posts: “Venom OG Kush” and “Exclusive Master Kush (Indica).”
7. Medical Marijuana Blog: Get news stories but also learn how to find medical marijuana in certain states. Recommended posts: “Five Little Known Facts About Medical Marijuana” and “California Medical Marijuana Laws and Prop 19.”
8. Medical Marijuana USA: Read up on dispensaries: how to open one and how to find them. Also find links to other resources for learning about medical marijuana. Recommended posts: “How to get a medical marijuana card in Colorado” and “How to Open a Medical Marijuana Dispensary.”
9. Cannabination: Find scientific research reports and other studies on medical marijuana here. Recommended posts: “Cannabinoid Receptors: A Link Between Genetic Variations and Depression” and “ Scientists Find New Sources of Plant Cannabinoids.”
10. The Marijuana Blog: Blog categories here range from growing marijuana to sharing news updates to highlighting videos from YouTube explaining the medical benefits. Recommended posts: “Going to Pot: Would Legal Marijuana Take Bite Out of Crime?” and “US CO: Delay Sought in Medical Pot Issue.”
11. Marijuana Policy Project Blog: Visit the MPP blog for information on voting issues, licenses, collectives and health benefits. Recommended posts: “Bringing Out the Marijuana Vote” and “Mike Meno Marijuana Use Rarely Leads to Emergency Room, Study Shows.”
12. Medical Marijuana Tracker: Get practical answers to questions you may have about how medical marijuana is used, and what all the jargon means. Recommended posts: “The Future of Marijuana in America” and “What are marijuana cannabinoids?.”

Top 25 Ways To Reduce Stress-Natural Stress Relievers

Photo:www.flickr.com/photos/ tzofia/270800047/

Hiding from the world under your pillows? Finding yourself having small panic attacks or just
need to relax? Forget binge-drinking and saving up for Club Med, we have 25 surefire ways to
soothe your inner stress monster!

1. Take 30 minutes a day to organize yourself.
Making time to organize will make sure you are organized. Being organized will
help you manage your time and make an endless task-list seem less intimidating.
2. Eat healthier!
Taking the time to eat properly will likely cut your stress in half; you’ll feel better
and have more energy. Taking care of yourself is basically the antithesis of stress
because you’re focusing on bettering yourself rather than spreading yourself thin. Try
some of these delicious vegetarian recipes.

3. Consider a detox diet.
Try a revitalizing detox to free your body of harsh chemicals and feel lighter, better
and like-new.

4. Do something nice for someone else
Do-gooding is the selfless secret to decreasing your stress status. Not only will
you gain karma, you will temporarily free yourself of your circumstances and have
gathered a refreshing new perspective.

5. Free Association: Busy your hands & free your mind.
Perfect for anytime you need to relax or when you find yourself obsessing or
distracted. Grab a pen (or your keyboard) and write yourself tired. Just write without
thinking for twenty minutes, you will exhaust your stressful thoughts and generally
feel better. Therapists recommend doing this on a daily basis, but it is also great
when you find yourself mulling over isolated stressful incidents or are nervous about
an upcoming event.

6. Sleep! But don’t oversleep!
You can’t sleep away your stress or hide in bed. Similarly, you can’t stay up all night
and get everything done (or at least, not well). Get your rest, even take a 20 minute
nap if necessary but don’t go to extremes!

7. Exercise
Exercise is the ultimate stress reliever because you simultaneously release
endorphins, increase your energy and build confidence. You’ll instantly feel better
and be better-suited to handle any upcoming problems or projects.
8. Take a bubble bath
Bring the spa to you and soak away your worries. Plus it cuts down on your water
and energy intake compared with taking a shower.

9. Take a walk.
The quick break and fresh air will re-energize you and clear your mind.

10. Get up earlier.
The extra half hour won’t make a significant difference on your sleep but it will make a
difference on your attitude for the day. You will be more relaxed and better prepared;
people who wake up earlier tend to accomplish more because you’ll have an “Up and
at ’em” approach to the day.

11. Do something creative. Paint, garden, cook, feng shui, write haikus… No matter what you choose, doing
something fun and hands on will make you feel self-satisfied and have a positive
perspective for dealing with other things.

12. Music;
Music can easily lift your spirits and pose a stress lubricant for any situation (traffic,
work, cleaning, jogging, cooking…) Listening to cheesy music and/or singing along
is an instant stress destroyer. It’s impossible to take anything seriously when you’re
listening to Richard Cheese or Wham!

13. Limit your internet and cell phone use.
Technology makes it incredibly easy to keep in touch with people. It is also an
incredibly easy way to drive us crazy! If you find the sound of your phone making
you cringe there are two easy ways to handle it: Turn it off for a few hours or
change the ringtone to something that always makes you smile. Limiting your
internet use is the best way to cut down on mindless procrastination and free your
time for better things.

14. Laugh!
Laughter is underrated, particularly when dealing with everyday stress. Laughter
lets us take life less seriously and gain an instant happier perspective, so make
sure laughter is part of your schedule. Listen to stand up comedy at work, have a
marathon of a funny show or rewatch your favourite funny movies. Or just practice
your fake laugh until you laugh for real!

15. Call a friend.
Even if you are addicted to text messaging, taking a break to call a friend will help
get your mind off things and remind you that you don’t have to face the world alone!
Plus it’s always great to catch up and shake off some stress.

16. Cut down on caffeine.
It may seem necessary to tackle your to-do list, but caffeine will only raise your
anxiety and too much will make you feel cracked out and more stressed. Opt for
herbal teas, cancel that extra shot of espresso or stick to decaf.

17. Start your day positive. 
Make a habit of doing something you love first thing in the morning, can you think of
a better way to start your day? Instead of rushing to work, watch an episode of your
favourite show, read, do yoga or anything that will put you in good spirits for the rest
of your day.

18. Meditate; If done wrong, you’ve wasted time and are more aware of your problems. If done
right (and regular) you will feel in touch with yourself, relaxed and confident. Take
ten minutes to just breathe, relate to yourself and clear your mind.

19. Concentrate on what you want to happen and not what you don’t. 
Take mind over matter and create a can-do mindset rather than a ‘I hope this
doesn’t happen’ attitude. You’ll feel much more productive and less hopeless
when you focus on what you can do and what you want rather than the worse
case scenarios. Or take the Boy Scout method- rather than worry about the worst
scenario, prepare for it!

20. Make time for what makes you happy. 
Dealing with a heavy workload when you’re happy and when you’re miserable are
unthinkably different things. Make your happiness a priority and will benefit other
areas of your life by pure consequence (unless what makes you happy leads to an
unhappy excess).

21. Welcome Routine;
Despite fear of falling into a rut, routine is the most basic way to fight stress. You’ll
feel organized, healthy and more capable of handling anything thrown your way. A
lack of routine can make everything feel messier than it needs to be.

22. Make time for friends and family. It will help you feel connected and not get lost in the everyday stresses of work and
city-life. Make stress wait, not your loved ones; there is always opportunity to be
busy, worried or anxious, so don’t worry about letting it take the backseat to the
people you want to see.

23. Stretch!
Whether through yoga or just stretching out your limbs first thing in the morning or
during break, loosening up will help your body (and mind) both energize and relax.

24. Don’t make things bigger than they are. Put things into perspective, it may seem like a huge problem, project or decision
now, but how important will it be in a few months when you have new problems,
projects and decisions? Don’t turn to Nihilism, but understand Kierkegaard’s
greatest wisdom of life “Nil Admirari’ (Marvel at nothing) everything is the same
even when it’s different!

25. Hugs!
Possibly the most effective way to instantly decrease stress, don’t be shy with hugs!
It sounds silly but try it and watch your troubles disappear!

Submitted By guest blogger Melanie Kozlan of Four Green Steps

Social Media Eyes-Chronic Disease And Social Media By Crystal

Photo; Flickr-Ewen Roberts

A report released this March on Chronic Disease and the Internet by the Pew Internet and American Life Project and the California HealthCare Foundation showed that people fighting chronic illnesses are using social media to connect with other patients and gather more information.

The report begins by stating that those suffering from chronic illness are less likely than healthy adults to have access to the internet, but “Once online, having a chronic disease increases the probability that someone will take advantage of social media to share what they know and learn from their peers.” It goes on to report “having a chronic disease significantly increases an internet user’s likelihood to say they work on a blog or contribute to an online discussion”.

It is easy to find the evidence of this all over the internet. Blogs and support groups for people with similar diseases have popped up all over the web, especially on Facebook. These groups allow patients to connect with others who are sharing their experiences. It also allows for an exchange of health information, and many times, doctor referrals.

One Eyed Girls- My Life with Strabismus is one of my favorite examples of one of these blogs. Blog author Heather takes readers through her lifelong journey with Strabismus and subsequent surgeries. She eloquently describes her vision troubles and the treatments used to help her. She talks about her vision therapy and what works for her and for other people she has met. It is an excellent example of someone using social media to connect with others.

Finding out if patients keep a blog of their vision troubles can help eye doctors connect with the patients and better understand their health needs and concerns. Ophthalmologists can also help a newly diagnosed patient find comfort by recommending a few online support groups or reputable blogs and health sites.

Just remember to advise patients that not everything they read online is true and that they should always defer to their doctor.

Article submitted by Crystal Blaker, founder of CB Consultations- CB Consultations specializes in helping eye care professionals ease into social media. Contact Crystal at (314)749-1939 or  CrystalBlaker@gmail.com or visit her website here: www.cbconsultations.com

Eyecare for Animals

Eyecare for Animals Brochure

My husband Ron came across this company Eyecare for Animals,brought me home the literature  and told me I must blog about it, he was fascinated that such eyecare services exist for animals. We have posted before on this subject including contact lenses for animals for example.

I find it interesting as the literature provided is such high quality and again reinforces that people will spend a lot on their pets eye health yet will not want to spend money on their own eyecare and eyewear. (I am all for people taking care of their animals eye health just want them to be as concerned about their own eyecare)

The Eye Care for Animals group  provides veterinary ophthalmology services and treats more than 25,000 patients a year. The group also provides consultation services at local Zoos and various wildlife rehabilitation organizations. Practices are located in Arizona, California, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. Facilities include multiple exam rooms, diagnostic areas and surgical suites.

BioSyntrx Working To Educate Consumers On Eye Health

Chicago Tribune + Vision Care +BioSyntrx= Consumer Education. First I want to thank the following eyecare vendors for getting together with The Chicago Tribune to send out 540,000 copies of a special report to consumers to educate them on eye health. This is good for the eyecare professional and please send them a thank you.

Last week The Chicago Tribune with BioSyntrx, Alcon, En-Vision America, Prevention Blindness America and University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology for partnering, along with Biosyntrx, on a MediaPlanet supplemental special report called Vision Care & Eye Health.

The Companies:

Alcon Labs – Built on its 65 year legacy, Alcon is dedicated to discovering, developing and producing high-quality eye care products that enhance, preserve and restore sight globally. With products available in over 180 countries, Alcon is committed to serving the world’s eye care needs with a broad portfolio of market-leading surgical, pharmaceutical and consumer vision care products that treat diseases and conditions of the eye.

Biosyntrx – Biosyntrx, in concert with ophthalmologists, optometrists, PhD biochemists, molecular biologists and nutrition educators, develops evidence-based nutraceutical formulations that support optimal health — specifically the exquisitely engineered functions of the eyes, which reveal some of the earliest signs of degeneration affecting the entire body. Biosyntrx formulations are designed to address the micronutrient needs of the dry eye, cataract, macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy patient.

En-Vision America – En-Vision America, Inc. is a company providing high-tech products aimed at solving problems for those with visual impairments. En-Vision America has successfully introduced several voice-enabled products like i.d. mate OMNI, the talking bar code reader, and ScripTalk, the talking pharmaceutical reader. They are dedicated to creating unequaled value in the lives of their customers, and do this by applying new and creative technology to everyday problems of the visually impaired.

Lions Clubs International – Lions Clubs have gained worldwide recognition for their work to improve sight. They recycle glasses at 17 centers worldwide, support Lions Eye Banks, screen the vision of hundreds of thousands of people every year, provide cataract surgeries and other eye care services to those at risk of losing their sight and raise donations through programs like SightFirst and Campaign SightFirst II.

Prevent Blindness America – Since 1908, Prevent Blindness America has been the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization with the sole mission of preventing blindness and preserving sight. They improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands through their community programs and support the work of scientists who will find tomorrow’s cures for the eye diseases that threaten Americans with vision loss and blindness. Every year more than 120 million people read, hear or see their messages about early detection of eye disease and prevention of accidents that can cause permanent loss of sight.

University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences – The University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences has a long history of providing the best care for their patients, conducting essential research and educating today’s and tomorrow’s ophthalmologists and visual science researchers. The mission of the University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is to provide the highest quality, accessible and cost-effective patient care while contributing to the global effort to alleviate all diseases of the eye through teaching and research.

Here is the live [link] to the Chicago Tribune Supplement

What Sports Need Eye Protection?

Yikes I just read that tennis is the leading source of sports related eye injury in female adults! Tennis is my sport and I did not know that. I just read it in Liberty Sport’s informational material called “Why and How to Protect your Patients who Play Sports”. I went on to read more about racket sports and eye protection as follows:

• In a Canadian study, racket sports accounted for 24.5% of all reported eye injuries and 8.8% of all eyes blinded by sports
• In a US study, racket sports were responsible for 40.3% of sports eye injuries seen in a private practice, and 23% of all admissions for Hyphema (blood in front chamber of the eye) to the Massachusetts Ear and Eye Infirmary.

After reading this I went on the Liberty Sports website and found a great visual tool for discussing “What Sports Need Eye Protection” with optical patients. Shown below is a snapshot of it:

Here are some Fast Facts from Liberty Sports Extra Points Newsletter that would be useful to share with optical patients that play sports:

• Every 13 minutes a person with a sports related eye injury visits an emergency room
• More than 100, 000 eye injuries related to sports and recreation occur each year
• More than 90% of all eye injuries can be prevented with the use of appropriate protective eyewear

Personally, I will be wearing protective eyewear, not just polarized sunglasses, every time I play tennis from now on. I thought that by being careful about the eyewear itself was enough but it isn’t!

Drinking Vodka Through Eyes- How Stupid Can You Get

Photo:www.militaryphotos.net

Vodka Eyeballing is the latest craze students in the UK are into:

Even as drunken student antics go, it was, by any stretch of the imagination, a disturbing scene. Surrounded by cheering rugby players, applauded by fellow members of the university netball team, 19-year-old Melissa Fontaine tipped back her head and giggled as fellow drinkers in the Students’ Union bar pulled apart her eyelids and allowed them to pour a shot of vodka into her left eye.

‘Vodka eyeballing‘, as it is known in student circles, is the latest drinking craze to sweep through Britain’s universities.

Those who do it claim that it induces feelings of drunkenness at break-neck speeds, providing an instant high. Read the full story at Dailymail.co.uk

YouTube Videos of Vodka Eyeballing