In all the years I have spent in treating eye related ailments, I have seen a heart-breaking number of cases like Sneha’s, where retinoblastoma cost children their eyesight, when it could have been avoided. Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the eye that starts in the retina, the lining inside the eye that is sensitive to light. Today, retinoblastoma affects over 300 children annually in the US, but it’s India that sees the most incidences of this disease, with nearly 1500 cases emerging every year in the country. Sadly, many of these cases end up costing children their eyesight, something that can be avoided with parental awareness, especially since the disease has a hereditary component to it. Below are some of the key aspects about retinoblastoma that I strongly believe everyone should be aware of:

WHO DOES IT AFFECT?
Age: Typically, retinoblastoma presents itself in young children – infants and toddlers – under 5 years. However, it can also occur in adults, although, this is rare.

Occurrence: Generally, retinoblastoma is a rare type of eye cancer but it is the most common type in children that can be seen in either one or both eyes.

Heredity: If even one parent has had a case of retinoblastoma, the child could be at risk for the disease.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
Heredity plays a role in the occurrence of this disease. With genetics being a key influencing factor, parents should be aware that if one parent has the disease, their child/children could have it. And if one child has retinoblastoma, it can occur in their siblings too. In the case of children who have inherited the disease, it is likely that retinoblastoma will express itself at an early age.

When a child has retinoblastoma, it means that the retinal nerve cells have undergone genetic mutations that can lead to the uncontrolled growth of cells, where they are supposed to die after a while. If undiagnosed, retinoblastoma cells can grow and invade other areas of the eye. It can even go on to spread into parts nearby, like the brain.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS PARENTS & GRANDPARENTS SHOULD BE AWARE OF?
White pupils when light is shone (which is what happens when photographs are taken, as we saw in the case of Sneha). Squint – eyes that don’t look in the same direction.
Redness in the eyes.
Swelling in the eyes.
Reduced vision.
WHAT CAN BE DONE ?

By Parents & Grandparents:
If you do notice one or more of the above symptoms in your child, get in touch with an eye specialist.

Get a general eye check done with the paediatrician during regular visits.

If one or more parent or their sibling has been diagnosed as having retinoblastoma at any point in their life, children should be screened as early as possible.

By the Paediatrician (child specialist):
Eye check up in neonates, infants and children during regular paediatric visits to ensure the ‘red reflex’ in the eye. Red reflex test is done in a dimly lit room with an ophthalmoscope about 1 to 1.5 feet from the patient. Abnormal red reflex will need immediate referral.

By the Eye Specialist:
Once you meet an eye specialist, a thorough eye exam will be conducted in a stepwise manner. This may be conducted after using anaesthetics to ensure your child is not uncomfortable.

If the eye specialist suspects retinoblastoma, he/she will conduct additional imaging tests and scans to assess the extent to which the cancer has spread, to suggest a course of treatment.

New born screening in case of family history of retinoblastoma, be it in parent and/ or siblings.

Read more about Retinoblastoma here.

If you would like to know more about retinoblastoma or would like to book an appointment for a consultation to discuss your concerns about the disease, get in touch with Dr. Fairooz P. Manjandavida at dr.fairooz@yahoo.com.

*Names have been changed to protect identities.

The post Understanding Retinoblastoma in Children first appeared on Horus Eyecare.

The airlines industry, much like every other industry, is quite demanding in its own way. And one of the pressures that people working in it face is to always look fresh and lively, no matter what time it is. This is especially so, for those who are in customer-facing roles, just like Susan, a 49 year-old flight attendant. She was quite frustrated with relying on make-up to help her look fresh, even at odd hours of the day. So, she decided to go in for blepharoplasty, a surgery that has helped her get rid of a perpetual tired look and appear refreshed.

Understanding Blepharoplasty – Reviving the Freshness in Your Eyes

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that many have come to rely on, to repair signs of fatigue that set in our eyes. Some of these signs include drooping or sagging upper eyelids and baggy lower eyelids – all of which can be caused by the addition of skin and fat, over the years. In a few advanced cases, it can even decrease peripheral vision or even prevent the eyes from opening up entirely, if there is an excess of sagging skin. With blepharoplasty, you can get rid of all these issues and make your eyes appear more fresh and alert.

Myth-Busting – Goodbye Misinformation, Hello Knowledge

While blepharoplasty is a rather simple surgical procedure that has more advantages than disadvantages, it is surprising how many myths surround it. I have come across several over the course of time. And here I have compiled a few of the more frequent ones that I have heard:

Myth: Crow’s feet will disappear with blepharoplasty.
Fact: Crow’s feet will continue to appear, as it is caused by eye movements that cannot be restricted by any surgery.

Myth: Blepharoplasty is a one-time procedure.
Fact: Every person is unique, and so is their body’s ability to resist ongoing stimuli that causes tiredness. Some people retain the effects of blepharoplasty longer than others, who may need repeat procedures.

Myth: Dark circles vanish with blepharoplasty.
Fact: Blepharoplasty does not have a direct impact on dark circles. However, it can give the eyes an overall fresher appearance.

Pre-procedure: Getting Ready for Blepharoplasty

Information Gathering and Sharing

Prior to the surgery, you will have a consultation with your surgeon (a specialist in eye plastic surgery) to firstly find out what you expect to gain out of blepharoplasty and secondly to give him/her an understanding of your medical history, which will include information about your overall eye health and other medical conditions like diabetes. Be prepared to discuss your complete medical history with your surgeon.

Pre-surgery Procedures

Post discussions, typically, the surgeon will take you through a series of small processes that are critical steps before the surgery is performed. This will comprise of a complete examination of your eyes – so that the surgeon has an idea about your current eye health. The next will be a vision test, which will give insights into your vision.

Lastly, the surgeon will also take images of your eyes from various angles to better plan your surgery based on your external eye conditions like sagging skin. Depending on your surgeon’s assessments, he/she may ask you to make changes to your diet, medications or other factors in the days or weeks leading to the surgery.

Procedure: At the Blepharoplasty Appointment

Generally, blepharoplasty is conducted as an outpatient procedure, which means you walk in for the surgery and walk out the same day, without getting admitted. However, this may vary from patient to patient – your surgeon will advise you on what is best for you.

•  A numbing medicine/anesthetic is given locally, on the eyelids.
•  In case a patient goes for both blepharoplasty on both upper and lower eyelids, the surgeon will begin with the upper.
•  This will include making an incision on the eyelid and removal of excess fat, skin or muscle, as the case may be.
•  The incision is closed off, to be removed a week later.

This is typically what constitutes a blepharoplasty procedure.

Post-procedure:

*What to expect: Once the surgery is over, there are a few things you may experience – stay alert for any of these signs and speak to your surgeon about it if anything cause concern to you:

•  Blurry vision
•  Watering in eyes
•  Sensitivity to light
•  Double vision
•  Irritation or dryness of eyes
•  Strain when trying to close eyes
•  Swelling, puffiness and bruising are common (but will subside within a week)
•  Pain around eyes

In case you face any other health issues too post-procedure, ensure you get in touch with your surgeon for a consultation.

*How to care for yourself: After the surgery, it is essential that you care for your eyes the way your surgeon recommends you do. This will typically include:

1.  Using ice packs intermittently
2.  Avoiding smoking
3.  Avoiding strenuous activities
4.  Avoiding contact lenses
5.  Cleaning eyelids gently
6.  Elevating head while sleeping
7.  Protecting eyes against sunlight

Blepharoplasty is fast becoming a popular cosmetic surgery, with about 100,000 procedures being performed every year in the US. If you too would like to experience the difference blepharoplasty can make to your eye, please get in touch with me to get a consultation.

The post Blepharoplasty – Making the Transition from Tired to Refreshed Eyes first appeared on Horus Eyecare.

Do you know one in four children have an undetected vision problem that affects their ability to learn? This in turn hampers the academic performance. Sight and vision help connect us to our surroundings. Vision is extremely important in the learning process of children. Up to 80% of everything a child learns, understands and remembers is acquired through the visual system.

But as parents does a simple vision test come up in the list of things to do for our babies in their initial few developing years? Unfortunately most of us have our first eye examination in adulthood.

When to have your child’s eye examined?

•   Even if no eye or vision problems are apparent the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) recommends the first comprehensive eye exam for babies as infants of 6 months of age.
•   Children then should have additional eye exam at age 3, and just before they enter first grade – at about 5 years of age.
•   For school aged children, the AOA recommends an eye exam every two years if no vision correction is required. Those who need eyeglasses or contact lenses should be examined annually or as recommended by the ophthalmologist as per the requirement.

Red flag signs- signs that your child may have a vision problem

Children often have no idea that they have a vision problem, so parents need to be vigilant about signs of potential trouble.

•   Crossed eyes or squinting
•   Needs to have books very close while reading
•   Rubs eyes too often even when not sleepy
•   Complaints of recurrent headache
•   Overly sensitive to light
•   Has redness in the eye that doesn’t go away after a few days and is accompanied by pain or sensitivity to light
•   Complaints of double vision
•   Is overly clumsy
•   Has a persistent spot in the eyes in photos taken with a flash (a white spot, instead of the common red eyes)
•   Has a droopy eyelid that never fully opens
•   Bulging eye
•   Has one eye that appears larger than the other
•   Is not able to distinguish colors (red from green, for example)

Other conditions, which warrant a visit to an ophthalmologist, but are not vision threatening are

•  Blocked tear ducts – excessive tearing /watering of eyes
•  Pink eye
•  Any injury to eye

Is a visit to an eye doctor required even when my child does not have refractive error and need of spectacles?

Yes.

There are many eye conditions that warrant an immediate and detailed eye check up in addition to checking for a need of spectacles. Here is a list of some common eye conditions that can affect children-

• Refractive errors- needs spectacles
  1. Hyperopia – farsightedness
  2. Myopia – near sightedness
  3. Astigmatism
•  Amblyopia- lazy eyes
•  Nystagmus- involuantry oscillation of the eyes
•  Strabismus- misalignment of the eyes.
•  Ptosis –drooping of the upper eyelid
•  Pediatric Glaucoma – A disease resulting in damage to the optic nerve. Elevated eye pressure is the most common risk factor.
•  Pediatric Cataract – any opacity or clouding of normally clear lens
•  Blocked tear duct – causing excessive watering from the eye
•  Retinopathy of prematurity- eye disease that occurs in premature infants.
•  Blocked tear duct – causing excessive watering from the eye
•  Retinopathy of prematurity- eye disease that occurs in premature infants.
•  Retinoblastoma – most common childhood eye cancer.
•  Developmental abnormalities- like coloboma, microphthalmia, anophthalmia.

My Child passed the school vision screening. Do I still need to see an eye doctor?

Yes. Standard vision screenings at schools miss a large number of vision disorders. A vision screening is a relatively short examination that can indicate the presence of a vision problem or a potential vision problem.  A child should have a thorough vision test by an optometrist and a comprehensive eye examination by a trained ophthalmologist.

Know your health care providers

While vision screening by your child’s pediatrician or screening at school is important, they are NOT a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam by a licensed eye doctor who is called an ophthalmologist. When you visit a hospital/clinic you will come across service providers specializing in various branches of eye care.

•  Ophthalmologist – are medical doctors who specializes in eye and vision care. They are trained to handle eye problems medically or surgically.
•  Pediatric ophthalmologist- are ophthalmologist who have additional special training to treat children’s eye problems.
•  Optometrist – primary healthcare professionals who provide primary vision care ranging from sight testing and prescribing and dispensing corrective lenses.
•  Orthoptist- is allied health care professional that specializes in disorders of eye movements and diagnostic procedures related to eye and visual system.
•  Optician – Opticians are technicians trained to design, verify and fit eyeglass lenses and frames, contact lenses, and other devices to correct eyesight. They use prescriptions supplied by ophthalmologists or optometrists, but do not test vision or write prescriptions for visual correction. Opticians are not permitted to diagnose or treat eye diseases

Why is regular vision screening so important?

The vision system is not fully formed in babies and young children, and equal input from both eyes is necessary for the brain’s vision centers to develop normally. If a young child’s eyes cannot send clear images to the brain, his or her vision may become limited in ways that cannot be corrected later in life. But if problems are detected early, it is usually possible to treat them effectively.

How can we help?

Our team of dedicated optometrist and ophthalmologists at HORUS specialty eye care is committed to providing advanced vision care for children in a professional yet comfortable environment.

The post The world through the eyes of a child… first appeared on Horus Eyecare.

Here are a few Enlivening Eye-Nutrition Tips for the busy world out there!

EYE NEEDS YOUR CARE
Nutrition plays a salient role in your eye health. Vitamin A, C, E, zinc and selenium are the five nutrients that can help you reduce the risks of common eye problem by up to 35%. The right amount of antioxidants through a healthy diet can save your eye. The nutrients with its benefits and their best sources are stated below.

EAT FOR YOUR EYE!

Here are foods that can reward you a healthy eyes. It’s
trouble-free to have healthy eyes just that you need to
take in the required amount of nutrition:

1. Vitamin A:

Carrots contain lots of beta carotene and vitamin A, which can contribute to your eyes’ health and plays the role of a wonderful source of eye vitamins for macular degeneration and cataracts.
(Point to note: If you eat too many, there are chances your skin becomes slightly orangey.)

2.Vitamin C:

Citric fruits and many vegetables are matchless sources of bioflavonoids.

• Like carrot is the perfect example for vitamin A. Bilberries and blueberries contain high amounts of anthocyanins- flavonoid pigments that are effective antioxidants. These help maintain the health of the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye. It lies directly in front of the iris and pupil, and it allows light to enter the eye) and blood vessels in various parts of the eye. Also reduce the risks of cataract and macular degeneration.
  -Citrus fruits like orange, lemon, and grape can fight age-related eye damage.

3.Vitamin E:
Vitamin E can be effortlessly consumed, as they happen to be present in nuts and seeds. Who doesn’t like chomping nuts? Studies have found that vitamin E plays a crucial role in preventing cataracts. And all age related eye health issues can be reduced.
(Point to note: Vitamin E is fat-soluble vitamin, it can accumulate in the body and cause unwanted side effects if crammed in huge quantities.)

MINERALS CAN HELP!

• Zinc helps your body absorb vitamin A and also helps antioxidant enzymes in your body reduce the number of free radicals. Zinc gloriously saves your eyes from macular degeneration and night blindness.

Zinc Sources: Oysters and other seafood, beef, eggs, black-eyed peas and wheat germ.

• Selenium helps your body absorb vitamin E.

Selenium Sources: Brazil Nuts, oysters and other seafood.
(Point to note: Selenium has super benefits. Along with the above said, it protects human body against cancer and heart disease and, promotes thyroid health.)

BEST AND EASIEST WAY TO BUY HEALTHY EYES!

1. Fish
   Fish oil can reverse dry eye, especially ones that happens when more time is spent on a computer.
   -Salmon -Sardines
   -Anchovies -Herring
   -Trout -Mackerel

Fishes are great since they don’t just help our eyes, but our pockets too most of the time.

2. Leafy Green Vegetables
   Leafy vegetables are rich in both lutien and zeaxanthin, which filter harmful highenergy blue wavelengths of light and help protect and maintain healthy cells in the eye. These are good source of vitamin C too. Although Lutien and zeaxanthin are antioxidants that are located in the eye, the human body doesn’t naturally make these. Thus eating green vegetables become important.

Spinach becomes a star under this category as it is easy to grow spinach in our gardens, helping us have the most organic spinach! Easy to plant, easy to cook, tasty to have!
Collards and kale are other well-known leafy vegetables.

3. Sweet Potatoes
   These are rich in beta carotene, also a good source of the antioxidant Vitamin E. And one that is easily available in the market.
4. Beef
   The eye already contains high level of zinc, particularly in the retina and the vascular tissue surrounding the retina. Zinc protects our little organ of sight against macular degeneration and night blindness.
   Meats like chicken breast and pork loin contains zinc but at very low levels when compared to beef.
5. Eggs
   Egg can reduce the risk of age related sight-loss. All in one! Eggs are a good source of vitamin C and E, and zinc, also an excellent source of lutein and zexanthin.

EYE EXERCISES FOR HEALTHY EYES

-Eye exercises aren’t something new, but somewhere in between the quotidian run of life, we miss it. Exercise for eyes can help those to be more flexible. These can help with improved eye blood-circulation and help you maintain optimal vision. Your eyes never get strained again, also it intensifies your power of concentration.

-You can try rolling your eyes in both clockwise and anticlockwise direction for a few seconds each.

-Blink in between to give your eyes some rest. You can also try fluttering. Blink your eyes quickly for 20 to 30 seconds repeatedly. Practice this twice everyday.

NATURAL HELP!

Following are a few natural tips that had existed since we were on this planet. Natural tips can always be the best as there are no possibilities of side-effects.

• Drinking a lot of water can prevent dehydration, and hence reduce the symptoms of dry eyes. Water is the best medicine naturally available for most of the diseases, and the same is the case for eye diseases. Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily.
• Try to rest and get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Isn’t this easy?
• Exercise regularly to improve circulation. This way your eyes will get enough oxygen. And that can just be walking up and down the stairs, never mind the elevator, they are discouraging!
• Avoid rubbing your eyes!
• Use clean cotton balls and a cleanser to clean your eyes
• Protect your eyes from sunrays by using sunglasses especially during the peak hour. You look so glamorous with that goggles on!
• Apply slices of cucumber and potatoes on your eyes. Wrinkle and dark circle rescuers they are!

Find time for your eyes, because they dedicate for you all the time! No more dark circles, fine lines, and puffiness! Get older, but help your eyes stay young. What could be a better gift for the little precious organ of sight!

The post OUR EYES ARE PRECIOUS, KEEP IT HEALTHY first appeared on Horus Eyecare.