Disturbance in visual function can result from the hypoxia of altitude and the effects of cold.

High altitude eye problems: Disturbance in visual function can result from the hypoxia of altitude and the effects of cold. Hypoxia and a drying effect on the cornea from the increased evaporation of the tears,especially in windy conditions, can cause corneal swelling (edema). In normal eyes, this usually causes no visual disturbance though after corneal refractory surgery, refractory changes can occur. High altitude and hypoxia also affect the retina. Retinal hemorrhage is common but usually asymptomatic. However, if the macula is involved severe visual difficulties can occur.

UV Light could ruin your trip at high altitudes. Always wear protective gears.

UV‬ ‪light‬ problems: ‪‎Ultraviolet‬ light is a non-ionizing ‪‎radiation‬ and is divided into UV-A (315 to 400 nm), UV-B (280 to 314 nm), and UV-C (180 to 280 nm). The Earth’s atmosphere absorbs all UV-C radiation and more than 99% of UV-B radiation. It is known that the quantity of UV light increases with increasing altitude at a rate of 4% for each 300 m ascent), low latitude, and in highly ‪reflective‬ ‪environments‬. The reflection of ultraviolet increases two times from the surface of ‪water‬ and eight times from ‪snow‬ when compared to the reflection from a ‪‎field‬ ‪‎of‬ ‪grass‬ and it could damage to almost all ‪eye‬ ‪‎tissues‬ (eye ‪lids‬, ‪‎cornea‬, ‪‎conjunctiva‬ and ‪lens‬)

Heading to explore the mountains? Take utmost your eyes.

In the mountain or wilderness ‪environment‬, even minor ‪‎injuries‬ or ‪‎visual‬ ‪disturbance‬ could immobilize a person or make them dependent on others. This could precipitate other problems, such as a slow descent and unplanned bivouacs, thus putting the person and their party at risk. Although the eye surface area is less than 0.1 % of the total body surface, and therefore infrequently injured, eye injuries related to outdoor and ‪sport‬ activities in the mountains and wilderness areas are common. Most are minor eye injuries. However, unrecognized, or poorly treated, injuries can lead to a permanent and severe visual ‎impairment‬. In addition, many noxious factors in the environment are magnified in the mountains, and expose ‪‎mountaineers‬ and local inhabitants to an increased risk of eye problems.

High‬ ‪blood‬ ‪sugar‬ ‪levels should be regularly monitored during pregnancy.

‎High‬ ‪blood‬ ‪sugar‬ ‪levels‬ associated with ‪diabetes‬ can damage the small blood vessels that supply the ‪retina‬ of the ‪eye‬. The risk of damage goes up during pregnancy. A temporary form of diabetes that sometimes occurs during pregnancy, called ‪gestational‬ diabetes, can also cause blurred vision.

‪What‬ ‪to‬ ‪do‬: If you have diabetes, your condition should be closely monitored during pregnancy. If you develop gestational diabetes, your condition should be monitored to keep your blood sugar levels from climbing too high. Your ‪doctor‬ will help advise you.

Vision‬ ‪changes during pregnancy‬ can be a sign of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia‬ and Vision Problems
‪‎Vision‬ ‪changes‬ can be a sign of preeclampsia, a potentially serious problem that occurs in 5% to 8% of pregnancies. Preeclampsia is marked by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ. Vision changes typically include temporary ‪‎loss‬ of vision, ‪light‬ ‪sensitivity‬, ‪blurry‬ vision, ‪‎auras‬, and the appearance of ‪flashing‬ ‪‎lights‬.
 ‪‎What‬ ‪to‬ ‪‎do‬: If you experience any of these vision symptoms, call your ‪‎doctor‬ immediately or go to the emergency room. Preeclampsia can progress rapidly and cause bleeding problems and other serious complications.

Blurry ‪‎Vision During Pregnancy, is a side effect of pregnancy

Blurry ‪‎Vision During Pregnancy?

Fluid retention, a common side effect of pregnancy, can change the thickness and shape of the cornea. Minor changes in its shape may result in blurry or distorted vision. Fortunately, these changes usually go away after pregnancy or after you stop breast feeding.
What to do: You may not need to do anything if the changes don't bother you. If your vision alters significantly, however, talk to your doctor. You may need to change your prescription if you wear glasses. Most ‎eye ‪experts advise against getting ‪‎lasik ‪surgery or being fitted for new ‪‎contacts during pregnancy. The reason: the shape of your cornea will revert to normal after your pregnancy is over.

Dry eyes during Pregnancy

During pregnancy, women may notice that their eyes are drier than usual. ‪‎Dry‬ ‪eyes‬ can make wearing contacts irritating and uncomfortable.

‪What‬ ‪‎to‬ ‪‎do‬: Use artificial tears to lubricate the eyes and ease dryness. If the expecting mother wear contacts, then be sure to check the label to make sure the lubricant can be used with contacts. Ordinary artificial tears have preservatives that can harm soft contact lenses. Also, check with the doctor first to make sure the active ingredients are safe for pregnant women.

Eye care during pregnancy for all the expecting mothers

This week we will be discussing over eye care during pregnancy for all the expecting mothers. Most expecting mothers know that they may have morning sickness or lower back pain. But many pregnant women are surprised when their vision changes. The fact is hormonal and physical changes that accompany pregnancy can affect eyesight. Fortunately, vision problems are usually minor and temporary. Eyesight typically returns to normal after your baby is born.

Take the best ‪care‬ of your ‪child‬'s ‎eyes

Carrying on with yesterday's post, here are some more helpful tips to take the best ‪care‬ of your ‪child‬'s ‎eyes‬;

1. Give your child ‪‎toys‬ that encourage visual development.
2. Watch your baby for signs that the eyes are crossed or turned out.
3. Look at your baby for any ‪‎haziness‬ or clouding in the pupil.
4. Provide ‪sun‬ ‪protection‬ when outdoors by means of shelter or UV coated lenses, especially if your child's eyes are light in color.
5. Be an example to your child by wearing the proper ‪protective‬ athletic gear when ‪playing‬ ‪‎sports‬.
6. Have your child's eyes examined regularly, particularly during infancy and childhood.

Give your new born baby a gift of beautiful and healthy eyes

New‬ ‪‎born‬ ‪‎babies‬ have an under-developing immune system, thus they are more prone to infections and various diseases.

And hence, the eyes of a new born requires undivided attention. Follow the following tips to gift your child healthy eye, and see the world at its best:
1. Eat right both during pregnancy and after. Your baby will be healthier and you will set a good example.
2. Provide nutritious meals with fruits, vegetables, nuts, and up to 12 ounces a week of fish.

3. Provide your child with age-appropriate toys that are free from sharp edges.

Monsoon Eye Care

‎Monsoon‬ brings smile of joy and a sense of refreshment, but with it also comes various not so friendly ‪bacteria‬ which can cause serious ‪‎harm‬ to our ‪‎eyes‬. Read an article of mine, published today in ‪The‬ ‪‎Hindu‬ and take care of the eyes this monsoon.

Protect your eyes while playing.

‎Outdoor‬ ‪‎games‬ and ‪sports‬ are an enjoyable and important part of most children's lives. Whether playing catch in the back yard or participating in team sports at ‪‎school‬, ‪‎vision‬ plays an important role in how well a ‪‎child‬ performs.

‪‎Eye‬ ‪protection‬ should also be a major concern to all ‪‎student‬ ‪‎athletes‬, especially in certain high-risk sports. Thousands of children suffer sports-related eye injuries each year and nearly all can be prevented by using the proper ‪‎protective‬ ‪‎eyewear‬. That is why it is essential that all children wear appropriate, protective eyewear whenever playing sports

Simple obeservations can help children fight vision problems

A ‪child‬ may not tell you that he or she has a ‎vision‬ ‪‎problem‬ because they may think the way they ‪‎see‬ is the way everyone sees.

Signs that may indicate a child has vision problem include:
1. ‪‎Frequent‬ eye rubbing or blinking
2. ‪‎Short‬ attention span
3. ‪‎Avoiding‬ reading and other close activities
4. Frequent headaches
5. ‪‎Covering‬ one eye
6. ‪‎Tilting‬ the head to one side
7. ‪Holding‬ reading materials close to the face
8. ‪‎An‬ eye turning in or out
9. ‪‎Seeing‬ double
10. ‪Losing‬ place when reading
11. ‪Difficulty‬ remembering what he or she read

Essential visual skills for school going children for better learning

Every ‪child‬ needs to have the following ‪vision‬ ‎skills‬ for effective ‪‎reading‬ and learning‬:

1. ‪‎Visual‬ ‪acuity‬ — the ability to see clearly in the distance for viewing the chalkboard, at an intermediate distance for the computer, and up close for reading a book.
2. ‪‎Eye‬ ‪Focusing‬ — the ability to quickly and accurately maintain clear vision as the distance from objects change, such as when looking from the chalkboard to a paper on the desk and back. Eye focusing allows the child to easily maintain clear vision over time like when reading a book or writing a report.
3. Eye ‪‎tracking‬ — the ability to keep the eyes on target when looking from one object to another, moving the eyes along a printed page, or following a moving object like a thrown ball.
4. Eye ‪teaming‬ — the ability to coordinate and use both eyes together when moving the eyes along a printed page, and to be able to judge distances and see depth for class work and sports.
5. Eye-‪‎hand‬ ‪‎coordination‬ — the ability to use visual information to monitor and direct the hands when drawing a picture or trying to hit a ball.
6. Visual ‪‎perception‬ — the ability to organize images on a printed page into letters, words and ideas and to understand and remember what is read.
If any of these visual skills are lacking or not functioning properly, a child will have to work harder. This can lead to headaches, fatigue and other ‪‎eyestrain‬ ‪problems‬. ‪‎Parents‬ and ‪teachers‬ need to be alert for symptoms that may indicate a child has a vision ‪problem‬s.

Don't let poor vision hurdle your child's learning abilities

A ‪‎child‬ needs many abilities to succeed in ‪school‬. ‪‎Good‬ ‪vision‬ is a key. It has been estimated that as much as 80% of the learning a child does occurs through his or her eyes. Reading, writing, chalkboard work, and using computers are among the visual tasks students perform daily. A child's eyes are constantly in use in the classroom and at play.

When his or her vision is not functioning properly, ‪‎education‬ and ‪‎participation‬ in ‪sports‬ can suffer.

Monsoon Eye Care Tips

Eyes‬ need extra care during ‪Monsoons‬ as the moist and humid conditions make it the most favorable time for bacteria to breed.
As always, ‪Prevention‬ ‪‎Is‬ ‪Better‬ ‪Than‬ ‪‎Cure‬.
1. ‪‎Firstly‬, if drenched in the rains, once back home one should wash the eyes with clean water and dry the sides of the eyes with a dry towel.

2. Don't ‪rub‬ the eyes with dirty hands. Keep kids away from stagnated water.
3. If one wears ‪contact‬ ‪‎lenses‬, one should clean them thoroughly.
4. But if one develops ‪‎itchiness‬, just wash the eyes initially with cold water. If the itchiness does not subside, then go and see a specialist.
5. If one still notice any symptom of an ‎eye‬ ‪‎infection‬, splash some cold water on your eyes and visit a ‪doctor‬ as soon as possible.
6. Wear ‪sunglasses‬ when ‪outdoors‬.

Steps to ease the discomfort during the attack of ‪Ocular Migraine

Follow the following steps to ease the discomfort during the attack of ‪Ocular Migraine
1. ‪Close‬ the eyes until the visual disturbances fade. If possible, lie down in a dark room or cover the eyes with a towel to block out all light.
2. ‪Use‬ over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, if experiencing discomfort.
3. ‪Drink‬ plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

4. ‪Try‬ biofeedback, yoga or meditation to promote relaxation.
5. ‪Avoid‬ taking medications prescribed for other types of migraines.
6. ‪Contact‬ the health care provider if the frequency of the attacks increases.

Preventing Ocular Migraines

The first step to preventing ‪‎Ocular Migraine‬ is to avoid triggers. The triggering factors include ‪Stress‬, ‪‎Smoking‬, High blood pressure, Hormonal birth control pills, High altitude, ‪Dehydration‬, Low blood sugar, ‪‎Excessive Heat‬.

One Should consider having a comprehensive eye exam with an ‪‎Optometrist‬ or ‪Ophthalmologist‬ whenever he/she experience unusual vision symptoms to rule out sight-threatening conditions, which requires immediate attention.

Consult an Eye Specialist to reduce the frequency of Ocular Migraine attacks

Because the ‪Ocular Migraine‬ is generally harmless and typically resolve on its own within a half hour, thus usually require no treatment. If you are driving or performing other tasks that require good vision when an ocular migraine occurs, stop what you are doing and relax until your ‪Vision‬ returns to normal.

One Should consider having a comprehensive eye exam with an ‪Optometrist‬ or ‪Ophthalmologist‬ whenever he/she experience unusual vision symptoms to rule out sight-threatening conditions such as a detached retina, which requires immediate attention.

Symptoms of ‪Ocular Migraine‬

Symptoms of ‪Ocular Migraine‬ can be observed as, ‪Vision‬ problems that affect one eye, such as flashing lights, blind spots in the field of vision, or blindness lasting up to a few minutes or 30 minutes.

The visual loss may occur with no headache and at other times throbbing headache on the same side of the head as the visual loss may occur, accompanied by severe light sensitivity and/or nausea. It may be difficult to read and dangerous to drive a vehicle at times.