THE ANATOMY OF THE EYE

The anatomy of the eye is truly incredible.

who would take the time to stop to think how the eye works, to give us a visual image of our world.  Simply from the light rays that enters in through the open transparent space at the front of the eye called the pupil, and if the surrounding light is very low the pupil size is very small.  As the light gets brighter the pupil size gets larger, and letting more light in through the pupil.

The anatomy of the eye lens can refract or bend light rays.

Behind the pupil is the lens of the eye, it is located between the Anterior and Posterior chambers, the lens refracts or bends light rays.  The light rays are focused on the nerve cells of the Retina.  Aqueous humor, and the Vitreous humor is a clear liquid that fills the empty space inside the eye ball.

The rods and cones synapse with the bi-polar cells.

The Retina hold the rods and cones and the bi-polar cells.  Rods are sensitive to light but do not sense color.  Cones do sense color. Fovea centralis has the highest concentration of cones on the surface of the retina.  The rods and cones synapse with the bi-polar cells which synapse with the ganglia cells which synapse with the Optic nerve. The Optic nerve then sends the signals to the Occipital lobe of the brain for the interpretation of the outside world.

EYE HEALTH AND ERGONOMICS

Optometrist describing eye health:Vision and computers. Dr. Adatia from Calgary is a member of OSI, Canada’s Largest Network of Optometrists. Helpful tips on how to prevent the pains from poor ergonomics with prolonged computer use.

Eye health vision and computers by Dr. Adatia.  The work positioning at the office computer desk is really important,  the position of the chair, the computer monitor, the keyboard and paper work all has to be in position that does not cause unnecessary stress on the computer user.

How to set up a work station for Eye health and ergonomics.

The monitor should be situated about arm length, and the center of the monitor about 30 cm below the horizontal eye level.  Back straight no slouching allowed ( it only gets worse gradually), foot rest can be used for extra support for the legs and the lower back.  With the laptop computers it is very difficult to have at arms length, and to be able to type on the keyboard, that’s where the remote extra keyboard is useful.  It can be plugged in using the USB port, and then you can have the monitor at arms length and able to type on the keyboard at much closer position.  This is what the ergonomics is suggesting.  Office computer that have the monitor and the keyboard as separate units is much more adaptable for user friendly and better ergonomics.

As part of Eye health and ergonomics there should be regular refocus off monitor screen.

Regular stops every 20 minutes at least,  to briefly focus on an object at further distance, this exercises the eye lens muscles.

Eye exercises as part of Eye health and ergonomics.

Also holding the palms of the hands over the eyes (in complete darkness, open the eyes) for 30 secs can help to relax the eyes.  The other exercises that can be done is rotating the eyes in a figure 8 fashion, e.g. on a wall that is about 10 feet away, from the far right top corner to the far left corner, then across down to the bottom right hand corner and accross to the left bottom side corner, then repeat by going to the far top right hand corner and continue in a smooth figure 8 figure.  This exercises the eye movement, do this exercise a few times then reverse the direction of the rotation.  Only need to do maybe 6 each times way, and over time the eye muscles will become more flexible and the number of exercise can be increased gradually.

Always see a optometrist at least once a year, or when a change in the eye vision is noticed.

How to improve the eye vision

Healthy life style with healthy nutrition and active physical exercise goes a long way.

Our visual perception of light is very much dependent on the healthy visual system of the human body, mind and the brain. The many systems of the human body work together as a unit, so that they all succeed do their tasks and work as many sub-systems for the one living human body.

How to improve the eye vision should start with looking at the body as one unit.

The health of the cardiovascular system affect the health of the eyes.  The health of the respiratory system affects the health of the eyes.  The health of the nervous system affects the health of the eyes, on an on it goes, the health of the digestive system affects the health of the eyes, so it is obvious that the overall health is vitally important for all of the 11 systems of the body.


Regular physical exercise, active outdoors activities with healthy balanced food diet is a good start to How to improve the eye vision.

All of the above advice will improve the general moods and feelings, physical outdoors activity can easily balance feelings and set a happy mood from engaging in the natural outdoors environment.  Being physically engaging is a natural part of being human, also the same applies for most animals, if you observe the healthy birds of the air and the healthy animals on the land, they have one thing in common, they are physically active, some more so at night than day time.

To lose a physically active life style, which should be minimum 30-60 minutes of active walking, cycling, jogging, running, skating, skiing, sailing, boating, rowing, canoeing, gardening, raking, moving, pruning, etc.  The human body with the eleven systems rely that the body engages in physical activity, that is just the way it is.  There is a struggle going on it is the struggle with the forces of gravity, that is a large part what shapes humans and animals into their muscle structure and the physical ability that we have, it is with aging  that the duration of activities get shorter for some, but not for everybody.

What are some of the most common eye disorders?

When you take into consideration the immense number of toxins that we’re exposed to on a daily basis, it should come as no surprise that the number of eye and vision related disorders is growing at an alarming rate.  In addition, the normal aging process can also lead to wear and tear capable of compromising the integrity of our eyes.

The following is a list and brief explanation on some of the most common threats to eye health and good vision.

Allergies

Wind, dust, pollen, mold and a long list of other factors can trigger allergies that result in itchiness, redness, swelling and irritation. 

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a type of blurred vision that results from a cornea that is either too steep in one place, or too flat in another. Astigmatic corneas focus light in two different places in the eye, making both near and distance vision a problem.

Blepharitis

This inflammation of the eyelids is typically accompanied with redness, swelling, and itching.

Cataracts

The clouding of part (or the entire) lens inside the eye, can cause blurred vision, visual distortion and in some cases, a loss of vision.

CMV (Retinitis)

CMV is caused by an inflammation of the retina. Symptoms may include blurred vision, metamorphopsia, floaters and vision loss.

Color blindness

This common eye health disorder affects approximately 1 out of every 12 men, though some women suffer from it as well.  It is typically mild in most cases, affecting only minor infractions in the perception of colors, especially yellows and greens. 

Conjcuntivitis (Pink eye)

Inflammation of the conjunctiva, conjunctivitis (or pink eye) is often caused by bacteria, virus, allergens or chemicals.

Diabetic Retinopathy

A complication of diabetes that damages the tiny blood vessels that supply blood to the back part of the eye (retina), and is caused by high and unhealthy blood sugar levels. The vessels swell and leak liquid into the retina, resulting in blurred vision and sometimes blindness.

Dry eye

A condition where one or both eyes do not produce a normal amount or type of tears.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye conditions in which the optic nerve is damaged at the point where it leaves the eye. The main cause of this damage is raised pressure inside the eye.

Macular degeneration

Macular degeneration is an age-related deterioration of the central retina (macula). Macular degeneration can occur in either a dry form or wet form, and typically affects individuals over the age of 60.

Night blindness

The inability of the eye to adapt to reduced illumination, therefore leading to a complaint of not being able to see in the dark.  

Ocular Hypertension

Ocular hypertension is a condition in which the pressure of the eye is elevated above normal.  Optic nerve damage and vision impairment is rare, but has been known to occur in OH.

Photophobia (light sensitivity)

This is a common eye health condition that is generally caused by sensitivity to bright or long-term exposure to light.

Styes

These red, painful, swollen, cyst-like bumps of the eyelid are often caused by a inflammation within various eye tissues.

Uveitis 

Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, or the middle layer of tissue behind the white of the eye.  With regard to eye health, it can be sight threatening and results in about 10 percent of the blindness that occurs here in the United States.

Your Guide To Good Eye Health

Your eyes are described by some as, “the windows of your soul,” telling people what type of person you really are. As you probably know, your eyes – like windows – need to be cared for or irreparable damage may occur. Let’s look at some ways you can improve your eye health.

1. Diet. “You are what you eat.” How true this is when it comes to foods which impact your eyes. Certain foods rich in Vitamin A, such a sweet potatoes and carrots, should be a regular part of your daily intake. Indeed, even small servings of these two foods can help you meet your recommended daily requirements. Furthermore, cod liver oil – wow, doesn’t that taste great – can go along way toward providing an adequate amount of Vitamin A for you. Vitamin A helps to prevent cataracts and reduces the chance of macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness. Vitamins C, E, folic acid, zinc, and selenium can also be beneficial toward helping you maintain good eye health.

2. Regular Check Ups. Don’t wait to see an eye doctor until problems arise. Not all health problems connected with the eye are apparent and only a trained professional can find out if you are having problems. Generally, it is recommended that you have a comprehensive exam every two years, especially if you have a family history of eye disease, are black [glaucoma rates are very high in this group], are diabetic, have an auto immune disease, or are age 60 or over.

3. Wear Sunglasses. The amount of damage you may receive from exposure to the sun can be tremendous. Select a pair of glasses that block out at least 98% of UV radiation which can be very damaging to your eyes. Your sunglasses should fit properly and be worn on cloudy days as well as on sunny days and in the summer as well as on a winter’s day. Dark glasses do a better job of protecting your eyes from bright sunlight, but light sunglasses can be helpful too. Read the labels carefully to learn exactly what protection is offered.

4. Push Away From the Computer. Yes, we’re a generation of computer users, television watchers, game players, etc. As convenient as these products may be, they can have a negative effect on your vision. What to do? Adjust your monitor’s tint, take eye drops, walk away from the screen from time to time, and make sure you drink plenty of water.

Advances in medical technology have made correcting eye health problems an easier task than it was just a generation ago. However, you can keep your eyes in good health by following these simple steps and enjoy good vision for many years to come.