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This new illusion tricks your mind and your eyes

A new “expanding hole” illusion is strong enough that we’re both physically and mentally fooled, according to new research. The illusion depicts a black hole in the centre of a white background covered in smaller black circles and, if you’re one of the 86 percent of people tricked by it, the black hole will look like it’s expanding. According to the researchers who studied this illusion, which is completely new to science, those who were fooled by the illusion had a physical reaction, with participants’ pupils dilating as if they were actually moving into a dark area. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/fnhum-16-877249-g001.jpg" alt="" width="1950" height="1221" /> Does it look like the black hole is growing? You’re not alone in thinking that, according to this new study. Image: Supplied Dr Bruno Laeng, a psychology professor at the University of Oslo and the study’s first author, said the illusion showed that our pupils react to light we perceive, “even if this ‘light’ is imaginary”. “The ‘expanding hole’ is a highly dynamic illusion: the circular smear or shadow gradient of the central black hole evokes a marked impression of optic flow, as if the observer were heading forward into a hole or tunnel,” he <a href="https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/can-you-see-the-expanding-hole-most-peoples-brains-are-fooled-by-this-new-optical-illusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained</a>. “Here we show based on the new ‘expanding hole’ illusion that the pupil reacts to how we perceive light - even if this ‘light’ is imaginary like in the illusion - and not just the amount of light energy that actually enters the eye. “The illusion of the expanding hole prompts a corresponding dilation of the pupil, as it would happen if darkness really increased.” After having tested the illusion using holes of varying colours - including blue, cyan, green, magenta, red, yellow and white - the team found the illusion was most effective when it was black. They also discovered that a black hole would cause the pupil to dilate, while coloured holes would result in the eye constricting. The study, published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2022.877249" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frontiers in Human Neuroscience</a>, shows that these kinds of illusions are more than just gimmicks, with researchers in the field of psychosociology studying them to better understand how the complex system that allows us to see and make sense of the world around us works. Image: Supplied

Mind

Uber driver slammed for refusing guide dog

An Uber driver in South Australia is being slammed for refusing to let a vision impaired woman bring her guide dog in the car. Born with low vision, Ellen Fraser-Barbour relies on her guide dog Inca for safety and sight. But on Wednesday when she was trying to catch an Uber home, Ms Fraser-Barbour says she was told Inca was an unwelcome passenger. She was able to capture footage of the exchange between herself and the Uber driver. "This is an assistance dog, a guide dog," Ms Fraser-Barbour can be heard telling the driver. "No. No. No. I can't do it. Sorry," he replied. "It's an assistance dog, you can't refuse by law," Ms Fraser-Barbour added. But the driver still refused, claiming he was not obliged to accept the ride, leaving Ms Fraser-Barbour on the curb. She says the experience is one that is common for people with a disability. "I have a lot of blind friends and they all tell me about distressing experiences that they've had of being left on the curb. It's a really rampant issue," Ms Fraser-Barbour said. Since the incident she has made a report to Uber and received an apology. Ms Fraser-Barbour says it should never have happened in the first place and is now calling for stricter penalties. "For example being able to fine drivers if they refuse," Ms Fraser-Barbour said. In a statement Uber said a first offence will see a driver's account temporarily deactivated while they receive further education. A second strike could see them permanently banned from the platform. "Taking someone off the platform temporarily doesn't say zero tolerance approach. That says we'll give you another chance," Ms Fraser-Barbour said. Image: Nine News

Family & Pets

How much colour do we really see?

<div class="copy"> Colour awareness has long been a puzzle for researchers in neuroscience and psychology, who debate how much colour observers really perceive. A new US study probably raises more questions than it answers. In a series of trials, researchers from Amherst College, MIT and Dartmouth College found that observers routinely failed to notice when colour vanished from the majority of their view. They had surprisingly limited colour perception in their peripheral vision. Counter-intuitive as it may sound, the study used virtual reality to ensure the participants had a 360-degree, real-world view of the world. Each wore a head-mounted display fitted with eye-trackers, allowing them to tour historic sites and watch a street dance performance or a symphony orchestra rehearsal simply by turning their heads. The researchers knew exactly where an observer was looking at all times and could make changes so that only the areas where the person was looking were in colour. Other areas were desaturated, right down to black and white. But most people didn’t notice. In the most extreme case, almost a third didn’t realise that less than 5% percent of the entire visual field was presented in colour. While a human’s visual field extends about 210 degrees, which is similar to if your arms are stretched out on your left and right, the study’s results showed that most people’s colour awareness is limited to a small area around the dead centre of their visual field. In a separate study participants were asked to identify when colour was desaturated in the periphery – and the results were similar. Many people failed to notice when the peripheral colour had been removed. “We were amazed by how oblivious participants were when colour was removed from up to 95% of their visual world,” says Dartmouth’s Caroline Robertson, senior author of a <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/06/02/1922294117" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a> in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The obvious question is how this can be. The researchers say they cannot offer a definitive answer but do suggest possibilities worth exploring. “One possibility is that as observers spend time in an environment, their brains are able to eventually ‘fill-in’ the colour of many items in the periphery,” they write. “Of course, providing direct evidence for this explanation is challenging since it is extremely difficult to differentiate between scenarios where a subject knows the colour of an object (i.e., ‘I know the tree behind me is green even though I currently cannot see the color green’) from instances where the subject is experiencing the colour of that object online (i.e., ‘I can see the colour green at this very moment’). “Alternatively, some would argue that there is no need for a filling-in mechanism at all and the intuition of a rich perceptual experience is simply misguided.” Image credits: Getty Images <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=101757&title=How+much+colour+do+we+really+see%3F" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /></div> <div id="contributors"> This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/how-much-colour-do-we-really-see/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a>. </div>

Art

Vitamin C deficiency linked to cognitive impairment

A new study has found a link between poor brain function and how much Vitamin C older people have, and that a deficiency could have some serious effects on the brain. Cognitive impairment is common among older, hospitalised patients, and can result in poor memory and concentration, as well as finding decision-making difficult. The team from Flinders University in Adelaide tested the cognitive function and vitamin C level of 160 people over the age of 75 who were admitted to the university’s medical centre. From this, 91 patients were found to have cognitive impairment, and 42 of this group were found to have such low levels of vitamin C - below 11 micromoles per litre - they were at risk of developing scurvy. “Our findings showed that cognitive function scores were significantly lower among patients who were vitamin C deficient, with further analysis suggesting vitamin C deficiency was almost three times more likely to be associated with cognitive impairment after adjustment for other factors,” Associate Professor Yogesh Sharma, the study’s lead author, <a href="https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/low-vitamin-c-linked-to-cognitive-impairment-in-older-australians" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. The researchers stressed that the two were associated, not that vitamin C deficiency causes cognitive impairment. They also noted that many of the symptoms of low vitamin C levels - including skin issues, bruising and bleeding - are common in this age group because of a number of conditions. “It may, therefore, be difficult to diagnose vitamin C deficiency solely on looking for these particular symptoms in older hospitalised patients,” Associate Professor Sharma said. “Given we know vitamin C deficiency is common among older hospitalised patients, medical professionals need to remain vigilant for this condition and confirm a patient’s vitamin C status in suspected cases.” With this link, the researchers said they will need to conduct more studies to confirm the link and determine whether replacing a patient’s vitamin C levels could help prevent or reverse cognitive impairment. The study was published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11030463" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antibiotics</a>. Image: Getty Images

Body

Air pollution may impair cognitive function

<div class="copy"> A joint China-US research team has found that exposure to even short-term air pollution may impair cognitive function. Air pollution is a growing cause of sickness and death globally, with a <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/climate/air-pollution-pandemic-warning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent study</a> estimating that it caused an extra 8.8 million premature deaths in 2015, surpassing the 7.2 million caused by tobacco smoking. It has well-established effects on the lungs and the heart – it has been linked with spikes in <a href="http://jaha.ahajournals.org/content/5/5/e002742" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart attacks, strokes</a> and <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0180522" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">asthma</a>, and is a carcinogen known to cause lung cancer. Increasingly, research is also associating air pollution with other health impacts including <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/kidney-disease-linked-to-air-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kidney disease</a>, <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/climate/could-air-pollution-contribute-to-psychiatric-illness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">psychiatric illness</a> and <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/air-pollution-link-to-alzheimer-s-mooted/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer’s</a>. What causes air pollution? <ul> <li>Air pollution is the release of pollutants into the air that have detrimental effects on human or planetary health.</li> <li>It can have natural sources, such as desert dust or bushfire smoke, but is increasingly created by humans, primarily from burning fossil fuels.</li> <li>There are two main types: smog occurs when emissions from burning fossil fuels react with sunlight, while soot is made up of tiny particles made up of smoke, soil, dust, allergens or chemicals. Anything that combusts fossil fuels can cause this, including vehicle exhaust, power plants, incinerators and more.</li> </ul> Now, in a new study <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-021-00060-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in the journal Nature Ageing, researchers have linked poor air quality with decreased brain health. The team studied a sample of 954 Caucasian males (with an average age of 70) from the Boston area in the US, who were participants in the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. Their cognitive function was measured by a series of assessments to test their attention, learning and memory, as well as an screening to help detect early signs of dementia. This was compared to the average levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5, smaller than 2.5 micrometres in size) in the area, both on the day of each test and in the 28 days prior. The team found the participants tended to score lower when levels of PM2.5 were higher in the month before the tests – even when levels were still below what is considered as “hazardous”. “The findings were quite startling,” write cognitive health researchers Joanne Ryan and Alice J. Owen, in an <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43587-021-00062-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">accompanying article</a>. “Even relatively small increases in the levels of PM2.5 in the 3–4 weeks prior to testing were associated with consistently worse cognitive performance.” Ryan and Owen, both from Monash University in Australia and both not involved in the study, point out that Boston “has by no means the worst air quality in the USA or the world, and yet significant detrimental effects of air pollution on cognitive function were observed”. While a decline in brain function in older adults is common, it can be exacerbated – and accelerated – by environmental factors. Evidence is <a href="https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-180631" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mounting</a> that air pollution could be a risk factor for dementia and could, over the long term, be <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.neuro.2016.06.004" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">associated</a> with cognitive declines. “The results of the current study are especially important because they provide some of the first evidence that even relatively low-level, short-term increases in PM2.5 are detrimental for thinking and memory, as well as global cognition in older adults,” Ryan and Owen write. The results may point to a general trend in the larger population, given that air pollution <a href="https://www.unicef.org/environment/files/Danger_in_the_Air.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">affects brain development</a> in kids, and women seem to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.0900994" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more strongly affected</a> than men. Interestingly, the researchers also found that the participants who were prescribed NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin) were less adversely affected. This may be because the health impacts of air pollution tend to involve activating the body’s inflammatory response. But caution is warranted; there may be many other differences between participants who do and don’t use NSAIDs. This study also had a relatively small sample size and focused on a certain geographical area, so further research is needed to solidify the link between air pollution and cognitive function. However, Ryan and Owen emphasise the importance of the results. “The implications for public health, and consequent health, societal and economic costs of air pollution, are immense,” they write. “This should be a further wake-up call about the urgent need for action. “It has been estimated that 90% of the world’s population breathe polluted air. Breathing clean air is fundamental to our health but represents a global challenge and one of substantial inequity, disproportionally affecting the most vulnerable.” Image credits: Getty Images <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=149918&title=Air+pollution+may+impair+cognitive+function" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /></div> <div id="contributors"> This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/air-pollution-may-impair-cognitive-function/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Lauren Fuge. </div>

Mind

Vision in red! Princess Mary is all class and grace at special celebration

One of Australia’s favourite royal members, the Crown Princess of Denmark, was a vision in red as she attended a special celebration on Saturday, which honoured 800 years of the Danish flag. The proceedings were attended by many of the Danish royal members who all looked resplendent and graceful, however Princess Mary stole the show with her classy look. For the event, the 47-year-old went with a splash of colour, wearing a deep burgundy dress with a pair of matching stiletto heels. Red seemed to be the colour of the day, with Queen Margrethe looking beautiful and elegant in a bold red jacket and matching hat. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Byvt3mLn_xo/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Byvt3mLn_xo/" target="_blank">A post shared by World Royal News (@worldroyalnews)</a> on Jun 15, 2019 at 2:31pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Princess Mary added a beige floral hat to sit atop a chic side bun and an extra touch of glamour with diamond earrings and a matching beige clutch. The Tasmanian-born royal member attended the celebration alongside her husband Prince Frederik in Vordingborg, Denmark. However, multiple locations paid tribute to the special moment, including Copenhagen and Estonia. The myth says Denmark’s flag fell from the sky during the battle between Danish king Valdemar and the local chieftains in Estonia in the year 1219. Scroll through the gallery above to see Princess Mary’s gorgeous celebration outfit.

Beauty & Style

Why background music “significantly impairs” your creativity

Psychologists from the University of Central Lancashire, University of Gävle in Sweden and Lancaster University have asked people to complete verbal problems that are believed to stimulate creativity. This is to test whether or not background music stifles creativity. Participants were presented with three words and were asked to find a single word that when combined, make a common word or phrase. For example, if you chose the word “sun”, the combined word could be “sundress”, “sunflower” and “sundial”. Participants then performed the task while listening to music with unfamiliar lyrics, music with familiar lyrics or instrumental lyrics. The researchers also tested the effect of silence and quiet background noise from a library. Dr Neil McLatchie from Lancaster University explained that music stifles creativity. He told the<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/classic/read-and-watch/news/music-impairs-creativity/10912466"> ABC</a> that the team “found strong evidence of impaired performance when playing background music in comparison to quiet background conditions." This means that even though you’re listening to your favourite song, it’s still impairing your creativity. Even music that participants liked or made them feel good still stifled their creative juices. The research results suggest that music disrupts verbal working memory. However, there was no difference found between quiet background noise and silence. McLatchie believes that this was because of the steady state of background noise that doesn’t disrupt verbal processes. For those of you who want to listen to music whilst you’re working away, classical music that makes listeners feel happy has been found to stimulate creative thinking. Do you listen to music whilst working? Let us know in the comments.

Music

The new innovation that allows visually impaired people to "see"

For a local Sydney woman, she loves reading anything she can get her hands on. At first, she might sound like a bookworm. However, she loves reading simply because she was born completely blind and had no idea what it was like to read junk mail and trawl through the adverts looking for a decent bargain. This changed last September, when she received a small device that clips onto a pair of glasses. The device uses artificial intelligence to recognise faces and read text for her. The device, OrCam MyEye 2.0, has completely changed her life. Lisa Hayes explained to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/gadgets/wearables/the-breakthrough-of-the-21st-century-how-this-product-changed-a-blind-womans-life/news-story/74f9881ed0f6f87a8797842bd982d1da">news.com.au</a>: “It has got be the breakthrough of the 21st century as far as I’m concerned.” “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever had.” The tech is designed by an Israeli company called OrCam and the device is designed for the blind and visually impaired. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7824337/picture1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ca47348ee3fc4a22aecf5e25c10ac6fb" /> What the device looks like. Photo credit: OrCam On the front of the device, there’s a small camera with real time visual recognition technology. On the back of the device is a small speaker that relays the information into the ear of the user. It’s available in 23 languages. Miss Hayes is overjoyed with the device. “Being totally blind since birth, I’ve never been able to read a print book,” she said. “I can now actually read. I can read medication boxes, I can pick up junk mail. “I feel like I’m part of the real world.” The device has gotten attention around the globe, with Prince William being shown the technology on a historic visit to Israel. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkkFGF3n-9v/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkkFGF3n-9v/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">#princewilliam made a historic visit to Israel, meeting with 4 top technology companies. He met with OrCam Technologies and used OrCam MyEye 2, the most advanced assistive wearable technology, that reads text, recognizes faces, and identifies products for the blind, visually impaired, and people with reading difficulties. #assistivetechnology #blindness #lowvision #OrCam #assistivetech #visuallyimpaired #partiallysighted #blind #lifechanging #visualimpairment #wearabletech</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/orcam_technologies/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> OrCam</a> (@orcam_technologies) on Jun 28, 2018 at 2:43am PDT </div> </blockquote> The royal was thrilled with the technology, <a href="https://www.orcam.com/gb/article/prince-william-experiences-life-changing-device-for-blind-people/">saying</a>: “Wow. That is absolutely incredible. “That will help many people I am sure. What brilliant tech.” Would you use this device? Let us know in the comments.

Technology

7 optical illusions that will make you second guess your vision

If you thought you could trust what you see – think again. These seven optical illusions, created by <a href="https://www.lenstore.co.uk/vc/in-perspective/" target="_blank">Lenstore</a>, will have you questioning whether you should believe your eyes or not. Scroll through the gallery above to test yourself with these 7 optical illusions. The next slide will provide the solution. Image credits: <a href="https://www.lenstore.co.uk/vc/in-perspective/" target="_blank">Lenstore</a>

Mind

5 age-related vision problems older drivers need to be aware of

<a href="https://plus.google.com/115326292314291480106" target="_blank">Aaron Barriga</a> is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center, an <a href="http://www.insightvisioncenter.com/" target="_blank">Ophthalmology Center in California</a>. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. Are you concerned about your safety when behind the wheel? What is the most important sense that you need to drive? Well, you guessed it right, the <a href="https://www.driversalert.com/your-vision-and-its-impact-on-driving-safety/" target="_blank">impact of vision on driving</a> is second to none. But unfortunately, your vision can deteriorate as you get older which makes it more difficult for you to see movements, people and oncoming traffic. Ageing affects your driving skills and your body’s reaction time so don’t put yourself as well as others at risk if you feel this way. Have a word about your eligibility to drive with your ophthalmologist. Here are some age-related eye and vision problems that you may face: 1. Age-related macular degeneration This is an eye disease that harms the macula which is the center of the light sensitive retina in your eye and leads to loss of central vision. Your macula is the part of our eye that allows us to see in color and in detail. Everyday tasks like driving require the use of good central vision which is provided by the macula. Macular degeneration can reduce your central vision but doesn’t affect your side or peripheral vision. 2. Diabetic retinopathy This condition usually occurs with people who suffer from diabetes. This is a result of the progressive damage to the small blood vessels that sustain your retina. These damaged blood vessels then seep blood and other fluids that make the retinal tissue swell and cloud your vision. The longer the person has had diabetes, the higher the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy which can lead to blindness according to its severity. 3. Dry eye This is a physical condition that prevents a person from releasing too little or bad quality tears. Tears help in maintaining the health of the front surface of your eyes and provides clear vision. Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem which usually occurs in older adults. 4. Cataracts Cataracts are cloudy and opaque areas that occur in the usually clear lens of your eyes and cause blurry vision. This can be very inconvenient as it leads to decreased contrast sensitivity, increased sensitivity to glares which can make reading road signs a bit difficult. <a href="http://www.insightvisioncenter.com/service/cataract/" target="_blank">Cataract eye surgery</a> is the only way to get rid of cataracts. 5. Glaucoma This is a group of eye diseases which are usually defined by the damage to the optic nerve which leads to a loss of vision. People who have a family history of glaucoma, older adults and African Americans stand a higher chance of developing Glaucoma. Glaucoma is usually painless but you can lose your peripheral side vision over time. Here are some safety tips to consider: 1. Have an annual eye test The American Optometric Association recommends getting an annual eye test if you are above 60. By having regular eye tests done, your ophthalmologist can ensure that your eyes don’t suffer from any serious eye-related changes like macular degeneration. 2. Get rid of the reflections in your eyeglasses lens Reflections in your eyeglass lenses can cause glares and hamper your vision, especially when driving at night. You can opt to avoid the hassles of wearing glasses altogether by investing in eye surgery but make sure to speak to your ophthalmologist before you do so. 3. Drive defensively A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, about 40% of the fatal collisions of people that are 70 and above tend to happen at intersections which involve other vehicles. The common reason for these accidents was the failure to give way, particularly when taking a left turn. 4. Avoid driving on unfamiliar routes Research by the National Safety Council discovered that the traffic death rates are a lot higher at night as compared to daytime. A lot of ageing Baby Boomers are still driving, exposing them to the danger of getting into accidents which only increases as they age. Avoid driving in areas that you are unfamiliar with, especially if they have poor lighting, irregular twists and lack of signs. Are you worried about not being able to get around like you used to? You as responsible drivers and citizens need to work proactively towards ensuring your own safety as well as that of others by recognizing a drop in your ability to drive safely and seek the advice of your ophthalmologist.

Body

Cruise horror: teenager loses sight in one eye

When 15-year-old Riley Adams boarded a cruise to New Zealand with his family and a group of friends on January 12, it was supposed to be a fun holiday before school started back. However, the trip turned to horror when, on the first night of the 10-day cruise, the young Queenslander was stuck with a headache. The next morning, his life had changed forever. “What was just a headache when he went to bed that night and then awoke Saturday morning to a golf ball size bulge from his left eye, was confronting to us all,” Riley’s parents, Jason and Jodi Adams, wrote on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/riley-adams-loss-of-sight-in-1-eye" target="_blank">GoFundMe page</a> to raise money towards their son’s medical costs, which has so far raised over $17,000. <img width="600" height="400" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7267316/27024144_15161629070299_funddescription.jpg" alt="27024144_1516162907.0299_funddescription" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> “After being seen by the on-ship doctors and still being out at sea for another 24 hours, panic did start to creep in. “Once arriving at Dunedin Hospital and having a CT scan done our nightmare began.” A specialist told the family Riley would need immediate surgery to reduce the swelling around his eye. They were told he had contracted sinusitis, which had blocked the drainage holes, leading to a massive inflammation in the eye known as orbital cellulitis. As a result, he lost his sight in that eye. “Devastatingly the outcome we all had to face was that Riley’s optical nerve has been damaged in the time the infection took hold, and now our beautiful, charismatic, outgoing 15-year-old son has lost his sight in his left eye. It's a lot for a family in a foreign country to take in.” Even after the operation, Riley’s eye was still infected, and he was given strong doses of antibiotics and steroids to prevent him contracting meningitis. “Our lives feel like they are just spinning around as we try to take it all in ... As parents we are just so sad for our beautiful boy at 15 to have lost his sight in one of his eyes – this tragedy is devastating at any age but at 15 it breaks our hearts.” In an update published eight hours ago, however, the family finally received some good news – Riley can finally go home after nine days of horror. “As happy as we all are about this, I think we are all a bit apprehensive about leaving our safety net in this Hospital, where we have received the best care imaginable,” Jason and Jodi wrote. “But the three of us embrace it with open arms and realise what is waiting at home for Riley. “From the bottom of our hearts thank you for every donation made and every comment posted. Positivity is definitely the best medicine one can have.”

Travel Trouble

The beautiful moment a blind man sees his wife for first time

A radical eye surgery that has never been performed in the southern hemisphere has successfully restored the sight of a blind man. The beautiful moment the NSW man saw his wife for the first time in years was captured on camera. NSW man John Ings was left virtually blind by a childhood eye injury and a series of illnesses. He was entirely blind in his right eye and the vision in his left eye was “frosted”. He was only able to see blurry outlines. Gold Coast oral and maxillofacial surgeon Shannon Webber and Sydney ophthalmologist Greg Moloney performed the osteo-odonto keratoprosthesis procedure at the Sydney Eye Hospital. The operation has never been done in Australia and the risk meant John could have completely lost all his sight in his left eye. Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes caught the moment when John finally saw his wife again for the first time. "Getting good eyesight back was worth the risk of losing the little bit I had," John said. "You take your sight for granted. "You've got to lose it to really appreciate it." Dr Moloney and Dr Webber admitted they also got caught up in the emotional moment. "It's probably the first time I've shed a tear in my medical career," Dr Webber said. "The moment John saw his wife was very satisfying, very gratifying. "We were very relieved." Video credit: 60 Minutes Australia Twitter

Body

How to manage poor vision while on holidays

Poor vision can have a huge impact on our day to day lives, but it doesn’t mean your next holiday should remain a pipedream. With planning, preparation and patience, it’s still possible to enjoy travel. Here are four tips for managing poor vision on holidays. 1. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance Whether you’re talking about hotel staff or airline crew, travel employees at various points of your trip will be able to provide assistance and help make life easier for you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – it really is part of their job and they’ll be more than accommodating. Many activity companies also have measures in place to accommodate the visually impaired. 2. Make sure you’re packed and prepared Write a list before you go of everything you need to manage your vision problems (such as contact lenses, cleaning solutions and medication) and make sure you pack two of every item. It’s generally a good idea to keep these in separate bags in case one goes missing. 3. Leave plenty of time to make your connections Rushing through a crowded train station can be testing at the best of time, let alone when you’re managing vision problems. If possible, try to make your movements outside peak transit hours and make sure you’ve left plenty of time to make all your connections. 4. Don’t be afraid to be ambitious While many people would think that vision problems could seriously impact the amount of activities you could take, don’t be afraid to be ambitious in your trip planning. Many travel companies offer ways the visually impaired can enjoy their popular attractions. Related links: <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/the-thing-you-must-check-when-using-a-hotel-safe/" target="_blank">The one thing you must check when using a hotel safe</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/surprising-thing-to-kick-you-off-a-flight/">The surprising thing that could get you kicked off a flight</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/healthy-snacks-you-can-actually-take-on-a-plane/">6 healthy snacks you can actually take on a plane</a>

Travel Tips

Grandmother sees grandchildren for the first time in 10 years

After being nearly blind for ten years, 72-year-old Solidea Hurst from Wales has finally regained her sight thanks to a breakthrough eye operation. Hurst began losing her sight at the age of 60, when she suddenly developed age-related macular degeneration. It was so bad, she couldn’t even make out the faces of her four grandchildren. “My left eye had completely gone, I had no sight,” she told <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/eye-operation-allows-woman-see-11663027" target="_blank">Wales Online</a>. “It had been good enough to drive with, but I was worried about having an accident, so sent my licence back […] I’d never forgive myself if I killed someone.” The grandmother had tried laser eye surgery to no avail and suffered severe headaches, finally being told there was nothing that could be done to save her vision. That is, until a breakthrough, world-first operation became available in London, which could implant an EyeMax Mono lens, which acts by sending a “widescreen” image behind the eye, compensating for the loss in sight. “Ten years ago I couldn’t see my grandchildren’s faces, now I can,” the thrilled grandmother says. “They’ve grown into beautiful children and it’s so nice to see that happen. I’m very excited by it all.” These days, Hurst is almost fully recovered and hopes to regain her drivers’ license – and her independence. “My granddaughter used to take me shopping and was always telling me to ‘watch my step’, worried I’d fall,” she explains. “Now we can go shopping together and enjoy some retail therapy.” What a wonderful story. Have you had vision-saving eye surgery before? Tell us about how it changed your life in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/health/hearing/2016/07/successful-people-living-with-hearing-loss/">7 successful people living with hearing loss</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/06/5-year-old-girl-walks-blind-father-to-work-every-day/">5-year-old girl walks blind father to work every day</a> <a href="/entertainment/technology/2016/06/facebook-will-help-describe-photos-for-the-blind/">Facebook will help describe photos for the blind</a>

News

Why squinting helps you see better

If you ever had trouble with your eyesight you might have found yourself squinting in order to see something more clearly. Why do we do this though? And why does squinting work? The short answer: squinting changes the shape of your eye, allowing light to be focused better, and thus helping things appear more clearly. The long answer? We’ll let the expert Craig Benzine from Mental Floss explain the details of how the eyes changes shape above. It really is quite incredible when you think about it! Interestingly, Benzine debunks the popular belief that squinting damages vision. “It might give you a headache, but that’s because of the muscle contraction in your face,” he explains. Do you find squinting helps you see better? Share your experience with us in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/health/caring/2016/06/only-half-of-heart-attack-survivors-can-return-to-normal-life/">Only half of heart attack survivors can return to a normal life</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/06/what-happens-when-you-ditch-carbs/">What really happens to your body when you give up bread</a> <a href="/health/body/2016/05/foods-to-eat-to-beat-bloating/">10 foods to eat to beat bloating</a>

Body

Safety tips for the hearing impaired

If you or a family member suffers from hearing loss, one issue you may not have thought to address is that of safety. For instance, for those people who generally wear hearing aids and remove them before bed, one of the biggest issues is that they may not wake up in the night if a fire alarm sounds. You may think an alarm would be loud enough to hear without the hearing aid, but in fact most use a sound with a frequency between 3,000 to 4,000 Hertz, which is often not heard by those with hearing loss. You can buy some safety products that are made for the hearing impaired, such as a special smoke detector. This will send out a low frequency (520 Hz) square wave tone, which can be heard by most people with hearing problems. There are also alarms that include flashing lights or vibrations that can be felt in your mattress, which are ideal for people who are completely deaf or can’t hear at all without a hearing aid. But what about other sounds, like someone breaking in or a person knocking on your door in the night? Some people overcome this by installing induction loops in their house. This helps improve the performance of hearing aids by raising the volume of sound heard. Even modern telephones tend to be compatible with hearing aids and cochlear implants. Other phones offer a speakerphone with very loud volumes for the hearing impaired, voice activation, and accessories such as vibrating wristbands to inform you of an incoming call. Have you ever found yourself in a vulnerable situation due to hearing loss? We would love to hear your story in the comments. Related links: <a href="/health/hearing/2016/06/tips-for-going-to-movies-with-hearing-loss/">How to enjoy going to the movies with hearing loss</a> <a href="/health/hearing/2016/06/understanding-long-term-hearing-damage/">Understanding long-term hearing damage</a> <a href="/health/hearing/2016/06/the-dangers-of-single-sided-deafness/">The dangers of single sided deafness</a>

Hearing

Facebook will help describe photos for the blind

Facebook is training its computers to become seeing-eye guides for the blind and visually impaired. The feature, rolling out this week on Facebook's iPhone app, interprets what's in a picture using a form of artificial intelligence that recognises faces and objects. The iPhone's built-in screen reader, VoiceOver, must be turned on for Facebook's photo descriptions to be read. For now, the feature will only be available in English. The descriptions initially will be confined to a vocabulary of 100 words in a restriction that will prevent the computer from providing a lot of details. For instance, the automated voice may only tell a user that a photo features three people smiling outdoors without adding that the trio also has drinks in their hands. Or it may say the photo is of pizza without adding that there's pepperoni and olives on top of it. Facebook is being careful with the technology, called "automatic alternative text", in an attempt to avoid making a mistake that offends its audience. Google learned the risks of technology last year when an image recognition feature in its Photos app labelled a black couple as gorillas, prompting the company to issue an apology. Eventually, though, Facebook hopes to refine the technology so it provides more precise descriptions and even answers questions that a user might pose about a picture. Facebook also plans to turn on the technology for its Android app and make it available through web browsers visiting its site. The Menlo Park, California, company is trying to ensure the world's nearly 300 million blind and visually impaired people remain interested in its social network as a steadily increasing number of photos appear on its service. On an average day, Facebook says more than 2 billion photos are posted on its social network and other apps that it owns, a list that includes Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp. Until now, people relying on screen readers on Facebook would only hear that a person had shared a photo without any elaboration. The vocabulary of Facebook's photo-recognition program includes "car", "sky", "dessert", "baby", "shoes", and, of course, "selfie". Tell us: What other changes do you think Facebook should implement to help make it easier for people with disabilities? Written by Michael Liedtke. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Related links: <a href="/entertainment/technology/2016/05/tips-to-prolong-your-smartphones-battery-life/">Tips to prolong your smartphone's battery life</a> <a href="/entertainment/technology/2016/05/how-to-avoid-facebook-scams/">How to avoid Facebook scams</a> <a href="/entertainment/technology/2016/03/how-to-make-your-wifi-faster/">4 ways to make your wifi faster</a>

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This new illusion tricks your mind and your eyes