Eye Care

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Why the size of your glasses matters

<p>It can be frustrating when you’ve picked up your news glasses only to find the frame presses against your head or the glasses keep slipping down your nose. Getting the right pair of glasses isn’t just about the right prescription, finding a comfortable frame is also key to enjoying relaxed and (almost) perfect vision. So if you’ve ever suffered buyer’s remorse after a glasses purchase, here are the tips to follow so you always get the perfect fit for your new glasses.</p> <p><strong>The lens</strong></p> <p>In general, the thinner and lighter the lens, the more comfortable the spectacles will be to wear. If possible, choose a thinner lens so your glasses won’t feel as heavy on the nose and ears.</p> <p><strong>The nose bridge</strong></p> <p>As one of the few points of contact with your face, it’s important to carefully consider the comfort of the glasses’ nose bridge. You want the nose pads to sit solidly on your nose, otherwise they can quickly lose their grip and keep sliding down.</p> <p><strong>The sides</strong></p> <p>The sides of your spectacles shouldn’t press into your temples. Some people mistakenly believe pressure means the glasses fit properly, but there should never be any heaviness felt on the temples. You might feel some pressure behind the ear, but that’s ok as this keeps the weight of the glasses from being borne wholly by your nose.</p> <p><strong>The frame</strong></p> <p>As a general rule, when you look through your glasses it should be at the middle of the lens. The top of the frame should sit below the eyebrows but above the fold of the eye and the frame should not be much wider than your face.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Eye Care

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Six ways to keep your eyes healthy

<p>Eye health is an integral part of your entire wellbeing. While your eyesight changes as you reach more birthdays, regular eye checks together with a few important lifestyle considerations can ensure your vision remains healthy for as long as possible.</p> <p>Whether it’s seeing some of the world’s most iconic attractions in your round-the-world trip in retirement or watching as your grandchildren grow into beautiful human beings, being able to see the world around you is an important part of anyone’s life.  </p> <p>It’s one of the five senses that most of us take for granted and therefore, debilitating, if it were to slowly disappear. However, while your eyesight does change as you get older, it doesn’t have to mean significant impaired vision. Here’s some tips to keep your eyesight in tiptop shape.</p> <p><strong>Shade your eyes.</strong> Protect your eyes, along with your skin, from the sun’s rays with good quality sunglasses with a built-in UV filter. Strong light from the sunshine can damage your eyes and may increase your risk of cataracts, which are cloudy areas inside the normally clear lens of the eye. They can develop in one or both eyes.</p> <p><strong>Eat your vegies.</strong> Not only is eating a healthy, well-balanced diet important for you to maintain weight, reduce your risk of disease and ultimately make you feel a lot better, it’s also important for your eyes. A diet high in fruits and vegetables will help protect against some eye conditions, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Some of the fruits, vegetables and other nutrient-rich food to consider include: leafy greens, salmon or tuna, nuts, dark pigment fruits, such as berries, citrus fruits and avocado.</p> <p><strong>Don’t read in the dark.</strong> If you’re reading in the deepening evening, protect your peepers by using good lighting. In your 60s, your eyes will need three times as much light as they did when you were 20. If reading at night, use direct light, such as a flexible table tamp or book light to illuminate the words you’re reading.</p> <p><strong>Give up smoking.</strong> While this is easier said than done for those who smoke, there really is good reason to try and give up cigarettes. One of these reasons is smoking is one of the major factors for the early development of age-related macular degeneration. It causes the acceleration of atherosclerotic plaques in the walls of arteries, which are collections of cholesterol and fat. This isn’t great for your heart, since these plaques gradually block arteries which limit blood flow, so how does this affect the eye? Well, this can disrupt blood flow to the macular area of the retina. When this blood vessel damage happens, it causes a gradual failure of vision.</p> <p><strong>Keep those scales in check.</strong> Maintaining a healthy weight will reduce your risk of diabetes, which can lead to sight loss. Plus, good circulation and oxygen intake are important for your eye health, both of which are stimulated by regular exercise. Get moving to maintain a healthy weight and promote blood flow!</p> <p><strong>A good night’s sleep.</strong> Give your eyes the rest they deserve by getting a good night’s sleep. Research has shown that a minimum of at least five hours of sleep is needed to properly replenish and rest your eyes. This is the time when your eyes are continuously lubricated and irritants, such as dust, that may have accumulated during the day are cleared away.</p>

Eye Care

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6 foods that boost your eye health

<p>Pardon the pun, but don’t be short-sighted – there is more to eating healthy than watching your figure. There are a number of foods that can boost your eye health and help protect against sight-threatening diseases. Here are the ones to add to your shopping basket now (and why)! </p> <p><strong>Legumes 
</strong></p> <p>Not only are they a healthy addition to anyone’s diet for their nutritional value, but kidney beans, black-eyed peas and lentils are good sources of bioflavonoids and zinc which can help protect the retina and lower the risk for developing macular degeneration and cataracts.</p> <p><strong>Fish</strong></p> <p>Cold-water fish – think salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel – are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and thus may help protect you against dry eyes, macular degeneration and even cataracts. If you don’t eat seafood, you can get a good supply of omega-3s by using fish oil supplements or taking vegetarian supplements that contain black current seed oil or flaxseed oil.</p> <p><strong>Greens</strong></p> <p>So, it turn out, Popeye was right all along – spinach is really good for you, even your eyes. Spinach along with kale, collard greens, broccoli, peas and avocadoes  – to name a few – are packed full of important plant pigments (lutein and zeaxanthin) which can help stet he development of macular degenetation and cataracts.</p> <p><strong>Eggs</strong></p> <p>This breakfast favourite contains vitamins and nutrients – think lutein and vitamin A – both of which promote good eye health and function. Eggs may even protect against night blindness and dry eyes.</p> <p><strong>Grains</strong></p> <p>Specifically whole grains contain a low glycemic index can help reduce your risk for age-related macular degeneration. So before you reach for the refined pasta come dinner time, why not opt for super healthy quinoa, brown rice instead. For breakfast, switch starchy bread for whole oats and whole-wheat breads.</p> <p><strong>Fruit</strong></p> <p>Oranges, grapefruit, berries and lemons are all high in vitamin C, which some experts suggest, might reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Eye Care

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3 foods to improve your eyesight

<p>Failing eyesight is often thought to be a natural part of ageing, but did you know it’s actually more impacted by a modern lifestyle? It’s true. Wind, dust, chlorine fumes, smoking, freezing temperatures and physical injury aren’t good friends to the health of your eyes, and let’s not get started on long hours spent in front of a computer screen or tablet.</p> <p>What is good for your eyes is a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly ones that give your body vitamin A. The great thing about this is what while we can’t turn back the clock (although sometimes we all wish we could!), you can change what you eat. To improve your eye health today, pop these foods on your shopping list.</p> <p><strong>Kale</strong></p> <p>This leafy green is a superfood for good reason. Kale has been linked to a reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration and reducing the risk of many cancers, as its cancer-protective compounds help block the growth of cancer cells. Other foods rich in carotenoids, such as spinach and collared greens, are also well worth putting on your shopping list.</p> <p>Some experts also suggest that green and yellow coloured foods are even more effective at reducing risk for macular degeneration and cataracts than orange ones, like carrots. Green, yellow, orange – why does colour matter?</p> <p>In this instance, green and yellow foods are packed with lutein and zeaxanthin, which are two nutrients that are thought to protect the retina against oxidative damage and reduce the risk of macular degeneration.</p> <p><strong>Apricots</strong></p> <p>Did you know that a pigment called beta-carotene gives fruits and vegetables, like apricots and carrots, their rich, bright hues? The other fun fact about this pigment is that in the body it changes into vitamin A, or retinol, which is important for good vision and eye health. While carrots have long been thought to be the best food for your eyes, apricots have actually been shown to have more beta-carotene contents.</p> <p>Whether fresh or dried, either is good for your health. This little fruit is also packed with potassium, calcium, iron and dietary fibre. With powerful antioxidants, vitamin A and vitamin C, working together, your eyesight is in good hands.</p> <p><strong>Blueberries</strong></p> <p>Blueberries are one of the healthiest foods you can eat. A rich source of vitamins and minerals, these delicious dark berries may help improve the health of many of the body’s tissues, including the eyes. Do you like to walk your dog in the evenings? Blueberries are also thought to improve night vision due to a compound in its make-up called anthocyanins.</p> <p>While this isn’t proven, they have plenty of other health benefits for your eyes. Blueberries are thought to help slow the progression of cataracts, one of the leading causes of vision loss around the world. The anthocyanins in blueberries are also thought to protect retinal cells from damage caused by ageing and light. </p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Eye Care

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Important health hints hidden in your eye colour

<p>Your eye colour is mostly determined by the luck of the genetic draw. Although there are things you can do to improve your eyesight and keep your eyes healthy, there’s not much you can do to change your eye colour.</p> <p>However, your iris colour might reveal more about your health than you think.</p> <p>Here’s what you need to know about dark and light eyes, and all the shades in between.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837672/01-brown-eyes-shutterstock_1438302062-770.jpg" alt="Dark eyes: May have a lower melanoma risk" data-udi="umb://media/57b271b070354877ba6815722bfd6bf1" /></p> <ol> <li><strong> Dark eyes: May have a lower melanoma risk</strong></li> </ol> <p>Dark-coloured irises might indicate you have a lower risk of the skin cancer melanoma.</p> <p>In a study published in <em>Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers &amp; Prevention</em>, researchers took DNA samples and gathered sun exposure data from nearly 500 white children, ages 6 to 10, for four years.</p> <p>Children with the blue eye gene were more likely to develop moles compared to children without the gene. (The number of moles people develop during childhood can predict the risk of melanoma in adulthood.)</p> <p>Other research has found that people with blue or green eyes are at greater risk of melanomas of the eye, most likely because they have less light-absorbing pigment to shield the eyes from sun damage.</p> <p>But no matter what your eye colour meaning may infer, it’s always a good idea to protect your eyes with sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of ultraviolet radiation or UV-absorbent contact lenses, says Christopher Quinn, OD.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837673/02-puffy-eyes-gettyimages-171580559-770.jpg" alt="Dark eyes: May be less likely to have macular degeneration" data-udi="umb://media/efba3ca1081347e99104da5cb9c300d3" /></p> <ol start="2"> <li><strong> Dark eyes: May be less likely to have macular degeneration</strong></li> </ol> <p>Your eye colour meaning can give insight into your overall eye health. “A dark iris blocks more ultraviolet light,” says Quinn.</p> <p>“UV light is a risk factor for macular degeneration.</p> <p>Extra light that gets into the eyes of people with light-coloured irises may cause them to have more retinal degeneration.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837674/03-yellow-spots-eyes-gettyimages-746122853-770.jpg" alt="Light eyes: May be less likely to have vitiligo" data-udi="umb://media/e929b3f8046946748e0f2cad54032c86" /></p> <ol start="3"> <li><strong> Light eyes: May be less likely to have vitiligo</strong></li> </ol> <p>In a University of Colorado School of Medicine study, researchers tracked nearly 3,000 people with vitiligo, an autoimmune disease in which a person’s immune system attacks healthy pigment cells and causes skin blotches.</p> <p>Researchers identified 13 genes linked to a predisposition to vitiligo. They found that people with the disease were less likely to have blue or grey eyes than those without it.</p> <p>People with vitiligo are at higher risk for other autoimmune diseases such as lupus, type 1 diabetes and thyroid disease.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837675/04-dark-eyes-shutterstock_299269262-770.jpg" alt="Dark eyes: May drink less alcohol" data-udi="umb://media/44f3eed8c39c42f4af327f65b25c8e65" /></p> <ol start="4"> <li><strong> Dark eyes: May drink less alcohol</strong></li> </ol> <p>In a Georgia State University analysis of 12,000 white men and women, researchers found that people with light eyes drank more alcohol and were more likely to abuse it than people with dark eyes.</p> <p>(They looked at data from one study in roughly 10,000 male prisoners and a second from a survey of about 1,800 women.)</p> <p>But, why the link? Researchers hypothesise that it could be due to melanin, the pigment that makes eyes darker.</p> <p>Melanin is involved in electrical connections between brain cells. If the amount of melanin in the eye (dark-eyed people have more) correlates with the amount of melanin in the brain, it could mean dark-eyed people are more sensitive to stimuli like alcohol, which means they may get tipsy off less alcohol than light-eyed people do (and therefore less likely to drink to excess).</p> <p>Still, more research is needed. “People with light irises drink more, that’s an undeniable conclusion of this study,” says Quinn.</p> <p>“What’s harder to say is whether it’s the iris colour that determines if people drink or don’t drink. It shows an association, not a causal relationship.”</p> <p><strong>Images:</strong> Shutterstock / Getty Images</p> <p><em>Written by Kelsey Kloss. This article first appeared on <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/conditions/eyes/4-things-your-eye-colour-might-reveal-about-your-health" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.co.nz/subscribe" target="_blank">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.</em></p>

Eye Care

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How many animals can you see in this picture?

<p>We’ve already shown you a couple of optical illusions this week, with the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/health/eye-care/2016/04/eyesight-test-red-circle-hidden-image/" target="_blank">red dot puzzle</a><a href="/health/eye-care/2016/04/eyesight-test-red-circle-hidden-image/" target="_blank"></a></strong></span> and the <a href="/news/news/2016/04/leopards-hidden-photo-south-africa-royal-kruger/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>hidden leopards</strong></span></a> in Royal Kruger National Park, but this one’s really going to put you to this test.</p> <p>This picture, known as The Puzzled Fox, first came out by printmakers Currier and Ives in 1872. The almost-150-year old brainteaser is once again confounding people.</p> <p>How many animals can you see in this woodland scene?</p> <p><img width="500" height="368" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/18142/woodland-scene-hero-_500x368.jpg" alt="Woodland Scene Hero -" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Did you see them all? There are some human faces, hidden in the woods as well.</p> <p>You should be able to find 16 animals and hidden faces all up!</p> <p>This brainteaser is quite difficult, so don’t feel bad if you missed a few. We’ve highlighted the answers below! </p> <p><img width="497" height="370" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/18143/woodland-scene-two_497x370.jpg" alt="Woodland Scene Two" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/01/can-you-find-the-6-words-hidden-in-this-picture/">Can you find the 6 words hidden in this picture?</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/12/spot-the-cat-hidden-in-this-picture/">Can you spot the cat hidden in this picture?</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/01/spot-chewbacca-in-this-image/">Can you find Chewbacca in this illustration?</a></strong></em></span></p>

Eye Care

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Can you see the image hidden in this circle?

<p>This picture is the latest brainteaser to take the internet by storm, and it’s actually also quite a good way to gauge the strength of your eyesight.</p> <p>Can you see the image that’s hidden in the red circle below?</p> <p>If not, scroll down for a quick hint! </p> <p><img width="500" height="449" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/17991/red-circle-_500x449.jpg" alt="Red Circle -" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>To help you out we’ve outlined some of the details below. </p> <p><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/17992/d71027af-8223-4d97-8af1-4b5a7cca78fb_500x375.jpg" alt="D 71027af -8223-4d 97-8af 1-4b 5a 7cca 78fb" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Getting easier? We thought it would.</p> <p>Scroll down to see the full image. It's actually more detailed than you'd think!</p> <p><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/17993/1dd3a372-6fa3-4b47-8389-7eb4bfc50368_500x375.jpg" alt="1dd 3a 372-6fa 3-4b 47-8389-7eb 4bfc 50368" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/01/can-you-find-the-6-words-hidden-in-this-picture/">Can you find the 6 words hidden in this picture?</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/12/spot-the-cat-hidden-in-this-picture/">Can you spot the cat hidden in this picture?</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/01/spot-chewbacca-in-this-image/">Can you find Chewbacca in this illustration?</a></strong></em></span></p>

Eye Care

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Glasses tricks everyone should know

<p>Wearing glasses can be a real pain sometimes. From struggling to find them in the dark, to having frames slide down your nose when you sweat, there are some issues only four-eyes can understand.</p> <p>Make your life that little bit easier with these genius glasses hacks from the team at Mashable.</p> <p><strong>Hack 1: Find glasses in the dark</strong></p> <p>Glow in the dark paint is translucent in day light but lights up once the lights go out, making it perfect to locate a pair of specs in the dark. Dab a spot of paint on the arms of your glasses and never misplace a pair again.</p> <p><strong>Hack 2: Distinguish between similar shower products</strong></p> <p>Do you struggle to make out what products you’re reaching for when you go sans spectacles in the shower? Help distinguish between a similar-looking shampoo and conditioner bottle by fixing a bright-coloured hair elastic around the neck of the bottle.</p> <p><strong>Hack 3: Find your specs if you’re nearsighted</strong></p> <p>Near-sighted people can use the camera on their phone to locate a misplaced pair of glasses. The camera will magnify your surrounds and present it closer to your face so you can scan around the room with ease.</p> <p><strong>Hack 4: Stop glasses sliding down your nose</strong></p> <p>Whether you sweat a lot or your frames have loosened, glasses that won’t stay put on your face can be really annoying. Put a pesky pair in place with this genius hack. Grab two hair elastics and wrap each around the end of your glasses arms, just where they meet your ears. Wrapping the elastics around the arms will thicken the frames, and give them more friction to grip onto your ears.</p> <p><strong>Hack 5: Keep lenses clean anywhere, any time</strong></p> <p>Few things are more annoying than smudged glasses lenses. Stock up on microfiber clothes and store them in places you frequent- from the car glovebox to your desk drawer- so you’ll never see the world through blurry lenses again.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/10/glasses-that-make-you-look-younger/">These glasses make you look younger</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/11/how-often-should-you-get-your-eyes-tested/">How often should you visit your optometrist</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/08/why-wear-computer-glasses/">Why you should consider wearing computer glasses</a></strong></em></span></p>

Eye Care

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5 at-home eye exercises for better vision

<p>As we age, it’s important to take special care of our eyes. Follow these five simple at-home eye exercises for improved focus, blood circulation and more.</p> <p><strong>To regulate circulation</strong></p> <p>This one’s simple. Close your eyes for three to five seconds, then open them. Do this several times. It will help increase blood circulation to your eyes and relax your muscles. </p> <p>Another simple exercise is to focus on one point in the room, and rotate your head in a circular motion. Start with left to right, then try up and down.</p> <p><strong>To maintain clear vision</strong></p> <p>Place your palms over closed eyes and relax for one minute. Darkness is said to help strengthen the photoreceptor cells in your eyes, which in turn help maintain clear vision.</p> <p><strong>To improve vision focus</strong></p> <p>Stand near a window so your face is close to the glass. Focus on the window pane first, then allow your gaze to rest on the distance. Repeat this ten times.</p> <p><strong>To strengthen eye muscles</strong></p> <p>Sit in a comfortable position and hold out your thumb in a hitchhiking pose. Focus on your outstretched thumb and slowly bring it closer to your face, until it’s five centimetres from your nose. Move it back and forth slowly so your eyes are forced to maintain focus.</p> <p><strong>To stimulate your eyes</strong></p> <p>Try this easy eye spa: apply a hot and cold compress by draping a hot towel over your eyes, followed by a cold one. The alternating temperatures is said to cause vasoconstriction and vasodilation which should stimulate your eyes and improve blood circulation.</p> <p><strong>To control eye movement</strong></p> <p>Focus on a point on the floor and imagine a figure eight. Using your eyes, trace around the figure eight slowly. Trace it one way, then the opposite direction.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/12/are-elderly-drivers-more-dangerous/">Does ageing make one more dangerous behind the wheel?</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/11/first-borns-near-sightedness/">First-born children are more likely to be nearsighted</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/11/how-often-should-you-get-your-eyes-tested/">How often should you visit your optometrist?</a></strong></span></em></p>

Eye Care

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Colour-blind man listens to colour

<p>Imagine a world without colour. Imagine a landscape in complete greyscale, where sunflowers are pale grey and grass, black. For Neil Harbisson, that is a reality.</p> <p>Harbisson suffers from a rare visual condition called achromatopsia, which is total colour blindness. He’s never seen colour.</p> <p>At age 21, Harbisson decided to take on his greatest challenge and find a way to interpret colour. What he created with computer scientist Adam Montandon is astounding.</p> <p>“In 2003, I started a project… for an electronic eye,” explains Harbisson, at a TEDGlobal conference. “It’s a colour sensor that detects the colour frequency in front of me and sends this frequency to a chip installed in the back of my head. [Then] I hear the colour in front of me.”</p> <p>No, it’s not a scene from a sci fi film. Harbisson has created a wearable device that allows him to listen to colour. It’s a non-visual way for his brain to interpret the world around him, which has now become second nature.</p> <p>It wasn’t always completely normal to ‘hear’ colour though. “At the start, I had to memorise the names you give for each colour. But after some time, all this information became a perception. I didn’t have to think. And after some time, this perception became a feeling. I started to have favourite colours and I started to dream in colours,” he says.</p> <p>According to Harbisson, each colour has its own unique sound. Pink is C major- “a happy chord”- while turquoise if B minor.</p> <p>Indeed, the device opens up a new world of beauty and appreciation. I can listen to Picasso. It’s like going to a concert hall!” he says. Supermarkets are also a new-found place of beauty, which he likens to a nightclub of noise. “Especially the aisle with cleaning products. It’s just fabulous,” he laughs.</p> <p>Take a look at Neil Harbisson’s TED Talk, where he showcases how he uses the ‘electronic eye,’ and how it might revolutionise life for the colour blind.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/health/mind/2015/12/positive-thinking-and-mental-health/">Can positive thinking improve your mental health?</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/health/hearing/2015/12/myths-about-hard-of-hearing-people/">7 myths about hard of hearing people that aren’t true</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/health/caring/2015/11/lonely-elderly-couple-calls-police/">Elderly couple calls police because they’re desperately lonely</a></strong></em></span></p>

Eye Care

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Eye drops could reverse cataracts

<p>Those who suffer from cataracts will know the frustration that comes from this degenerative eye disease. Cataracts affect more than 20 million people worldwide and are caused when the lenses of the eyes lost their transparency. In exciting eye care news, a team of American researchers believe to have made a breakthrough in the treatment of cataracts, using eye drops to reverse cataracts altogether. Impressive.</p> <p>Researchers from the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) have identified a new compound that is soluble enough to be administered via a simple eye dropper. What’s more, when tested on mice, results were seen in as little as two weeks.</p> <p>While cataracts are treatable, surgery can be uncomfortable and very expensive. Elderly people in developing nations are also affected by this disease, as many don’t have access to resources to treat it.</p> <p>Jason Gestwicki, associate professor at UCSF, says this finding has the potential to help millions of people, and potential lots of applications. "If you look at… the protein aggregates that cause cataracts, you'd be hard-pressed to tell them apart from those that cause Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or Huntington's diseases," he said. "By studying cataracts we've been able to… show by proof-of-concept that these technologies could also be used in nervous system diseases.”</p> <p>Imagine treating Alzheimer’s Disease or eye issues with a simple drop. Well, it might not belong in the realm of imagination anymore. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/health/hearing/2015/12/gene-therapy-breakthrough-hearing-loss/">Gene therapy breakthrough for treatment of hearing loss</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/11/how-often-should-you-get-your-eyes-tested/">How often should you visit your optometrist?</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/11/specsavers-spectacle-style-competition/">83-year-old crowned “Spectacle Wearer of the Year”</a></strong></span></em></p> <p> </p>

Eye Care

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Find the best glasses style to suit your face shape

<p>Whether you have a round, oval or heart-shaped face, find the best style of glasses to suit you with this simple guide.</p> <p><strong>Round face:</strong></p> <p>You have a round face if: you have full cheeks, a rounded chin and your face is equal length and width.</p> <p>Your perfect glasses match: Look out glasses that have strong details, such as a think frame or side pattern. Opt for wider rather than tall lenses, which will give your face shape definition, rather than broaden your features. Adjustable nose pads are a must as many people would a round face shape have higher cheeks.</p> <p><strong>Oval face:</strong></p> <p>You have an oval face if: you have high cheekbones and a narrower chin and jawline than forehead.</p> <p>Your perfect glasses match: Try on glasses that have bold shapes, such as a cat-eye frame. Your face shape is one of the most versatile, so have fun with it and give coloured or textured glasses a try. Experiment with the size of the frames and aim for glasses that maintain a symmetrical balance.</p> <p><strong>Heart face:</strong></p> <p>You have a heart-shaped face if: you have a broad forehead, pointed chin and high cheekbones.</p> <p>Your perfect glasses match: Opt for glasses frames that are wider than your forehead. As your face is naturally smaller towards your chin, look for glasses that have details on the lower half, such as a colour gradient. Light colours are ideal.</p> <p><strong>Square face:</strong></p> <p>You have a square face if: you have a prominent jawline, angular features and a wide forehead.</p> <p>Your perfect glasses match: Counteract angular features with round frames. Avoid glasses with harsh corners in dark colours as they’ll appear exaggerated. Instead, try on thinner frames in neutral colours like taupe or light tortoiseshell.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/10/glasses-that-make-you-look-younger/">These glasses make you look younger</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/12/are-elderly-drivers-more-dangerous/">Does ageing make one more dangerous behind the wheel?</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/08/why-wear-computer-glasses/">Why you should consider wearing computer glasses</a></em></strong></span></p>

Eye Care

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The most iconic glasses in film

<p>Hollywood stars are a regular go-to for style inspiration but every once in a while, they play a character that defines a trend. Think Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s or Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. And, once it’s worn by a stylish star, an accessory as simple as a pair of sunglasses lands on everyone’s must-have list.</p> <p>Channel these movie stars who put unique glasses frames on our sartorial radar. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/06/eye-colour-and-health/"></a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/12/are-elderly-drivers-more-dangerous/">Does ageing make one more dangerous behind the wheel?</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/06/eye-colour-and-health/"></a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/10/glasses-that-make-you-look-younger/">These glasses make you look younger</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/06/eye-colour-and-health/"></a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/08/why-wear-computer-glasses/">Why you should consider wearing computer glasses</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/06/eye-colour-and-health/"> </a></em></strong></span></p>

Eye Care

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New technology allows blind to see with sound

<p>Something as simple as assessing whether to cross the road or when to take a boiling pot off the stove can be a challenging task for the vision impaired. But new research from the California Institute of Technology may have a solution the will give blind people the ability to sense their surrounds… through sound.</p> <p>Researchers have discovered that intrinsic neural connections- also known as crossmodal mappings- can be used with a device to help blind people ‘see’ their environment with sound. The impacts could be dramatic, with blind people able to complete attention consuming tasks that once took minutes, in mere seconds.</p> <p>The study involved the use of a vOICe device, which allows images to be translated into sounds. It’s made up of a small computer connected to a camera, attached to darkened glasses. Each camera image is scanned, and a computer algorithm translates the pixels into a unique sound. For example bright pixels, perhaps from looking at clouds, would have a loud, high-frequency pitch.</p> <p>What’s more, participants in the study were able to use the device, even without being trained to identify the sound frequencies.</p> <p>Shinsuke Shimojo, Gertrude Baltimore Professor of Experimental Psychology, says the findings open up a discussion of more philosophical questions, like ‘what is seeing?’</p> <p>"It seems like such an obvious question, but it gets complicated," says Shimojo. "Is seeing what happens when you open your eyes? Our research has shown that the visual cortex can be activated by sound, indicating that we don't really need our eyes to see. It's very profound--we're trying to give blind people a visual experience through other senses."</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/12/are-elderly-drivers-more-dangerous/"><strong>Does ageing make one more dangerous behind the wheel?</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/10/glasses-that-make-you-look-younger/">These glasses make you look younger</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/08/why-wear-computer-glasses/">Why you should consider wearing computer glasses</a></em></strong></span></p>

Eye Care

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Does ageing make one more dangerous behind the wheel?

<p>The older we get, the more experience we gain, right? If that popular belief is correct, then older drivers should be some of the best on the roads. But, according to a new study about eye helath that’s not the case.</p> <p>Psychologists at Nottingham Trent University examined a group of over 65s, and their ability to quickly process visual information. They found the older group were able to process basic visuals just as fast as the younger participants, but when distracting objects were added, older people became significantly slower.</p> <p>In other words, older people have the same every day driving ability to their younger counterparts, but if a distraction presents- say, a dog runs onto the road or a kid chases a ball which rolls onto the street- they’re less equipped to respond.</p> <p>Think you’re a better driver than your teenage granddaughter? The Association of British insurers agrees. They claim that people over 70 are half as likely to be involved in an accident as 18-20 year olds.</p> <p>Tell us: do you think elderly drivers are more dangerous, or does experience make you a better driver?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/11/first-borns-near-sightedness/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>First-born children are more likely to be nearsighted</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/11/how-often-should-you-get-your-eyes-tested/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>How often should you visit your optometrist</em></span></a></strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/11/eye-colour-change-with-age/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Your eyes change colour as you age</strong></em></span></a></p>

Eye Care

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First-born children are more likely to be nearsighted

<p>According to a study published in<em> JAMA Opthamology</em>, first-born children are more likely to be nearsighted than their younger siblings, and education investment might have something to do with it.</p> <p>Research lead by Dr Jeremy A. Gugenhenheim of Cardiff University, UK sought to determine whether there is a correlation between this phenomenon and increased exposure to environments that have been known to pre-dispose children to near-sightedness, also known as myopia, such as time spent outdoors or reading and writing.</p> <p>They studied 89,000 UK participants aged 40 to 69 years, all of which had no history of eye disorders. From this examination, first-born individuals were found to be 10 per cent more likely to be myopic and 20 per cent more likely to have high myopia.</p> <p>"Our findings that statistical adjustment for indices of educational exposure partially attenuated the magnitude of the association between birth order and myopia, and completely removed the evidence for a dose-response relationship, therefore support the idea that reduced parental investment in children's education for offspring of later birth order contributed to the observed birth order vs. myopia association and produced the observed dose-response relationship,” researchers explained.</p> <p>In other words, the tendency for parents to invest more in their first children in areas such as education may be a cause of increased near-sightedness amongst first-borns.</p>

Eye Care

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Why you need transition lenses

<p>If you’re looking to update your glasses, you might want to consider the technology of transition lenses: lenses that adjust to the indoor and outdoor lighting for you so you don’t have to worry about sunglasses.</p> <p>We spoke to Specsavers’ Ophthalmic Lens Product Manager, Silvia Zutavern, to find out everything you need to know about transition lenses before you make your purchase.</p> <p>So, how do they work? “[Transition lenses] darken automatically when exposed to sunlight, then fade back when you return indoors. The lenses darken with the presence of UV light. They are designed to darken to just the right level depending on the available light,” Zutavern says.</p> <p>When it comes to transition lenses, the technology has both its pros and cons. On the positive side, “One pair of glasses can fill the function of both clear prescription glasses and prescription sunglasses and they provide eyes with full UV protection in any state,” says Zutavern. Transition glasses are also a great option for people of all ages, including the grandkids. “They offer convenience as you don't need to carry a pair of prescription sunglasses with you everywhere you go. They are also great and quite practical for children as they do not have to worry about a second pair that could be lost, and they will always have their eyes protected from UV rays.”</p> <p>However, transition lenses might not be the best option for those who seek to wear them while driving. “The lenses need UV light to activate, so the lenses tend not to react as quickly inside a car as they do in normal conditions. This is because the windscreen blocks the UV light needed to help the lens react. At night or in poor visibility, you must not wear tinted glasses when driving,” Zutavern explains.</p> <p>“If one of the intended use of the glasses is for driving, then a second pair in the form of sunglasses is recommended.”</p>

Eye Care

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6 surprising risks with laser eye surgery

<p>For most, corrective laser eye surgery brings great results, correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and more. But for some rarer cases, eye surgery can have painful and sometimes disastrous consequences. Here are some of the laser eye risks you should be aware of when considering undergoing the corrective surgery.</p> <p><strong>Infection –</strong> One of the worst outcomes post laser-surgery, infection can occur in one in every 5000 cases. In the rarest cases, patients can develop a corneal ulcer as a result. To avoid infection, it is recommended that patients avoid swimming and hot tubs in the first few weeks post-surgery.</p> <p><strong>Glare/haziness –</strong> For some shortsighted patients, they will experience more glare than they had before the surgery, though this generally goes away after a few months. For some, however it is occasionally permanent.</p> <p>For most patients post-surgery, they will experience hazy vision which is caused by the healing of their eye and which usually dissipates in the weeks to come. In some cases, further surgery may be necessary to fix hazy vision complications.</p> <p><strong>Under/over-correction –</strong> Because everyone’s eyes are unique, some patients can leave surgery with their vision over- or under-corrected. Significant under-correction can call for a re-surgery, while over-correction can be treated with eye drops, further surgery, and temporary contact lenses.</p> <p><strong>Regression –</strong> Some patients experience regression, or the return to some extent of their pre-surgery shortsightedness, but a slight regression is normal as the eye heals.</p> <p><strong>Dry eyes –</strong> Post-surgery, many patients experience the discomfort of dry eyes, though it generally improves as time passes. For some, the damage may be permanent, and the prolonged use of artificial tears may be necessary. For those who already suffer from dry eyes, laser surgery is not recommended.</p>

Eye Care