Studies over the past decade suggest that a physical exercise routine can improve and strengthen both sight and vision. It has also been shown to lower the likelihood of getting vision’s Big Three threats, glaucoma, cataract, and age-related macular degeneration, and reduce or manage the progression of these eye diseases in those who already have…
Eyes are considered the primary sense because they gather 80% of the information necessary for enabling people to see the world around them. But the other senses, hearing, touch, taste and smell, are not just hangers on that add some colour to a dull picture. They are valuable parts of the team that add perception…
Behavioural optometry looks at the bigger picture when it comes to vision. Rather than purely checking the clarity of sight it revolves around how effective that sight is in terms of its functionality, usefulness, relevance, and accuracy. Australian behavioural optometrist, Jacqueline Gattegno, says all of these are revealed in the way people (and children in particular)…
Smartphones can be wonderful, both for children and their parents as it keeps them connected at all times, entertains and teaches them, and gives them a picture of what’s going on in the world around them. But, if overused, a smartphone can have severe and long-lasting effects on children’s perceptual vision, eye health, and social…
It’s called Orthokeratology, and it involves using contact lenses. But instead of someone wearing contacts by day, says Sydney behavioural optometrist and fellow of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control (FIAOMC), Gary Rodney, they will be wearing them while they sleep. Orthokeratology, or Ortho-K, is designed to guide the eyeball into its optimal…
When kids struggle at school, parents and teachers try to identify the cause of the problem. They wonder whether the student can see or hear properly, or whether he or she has learning problems such as dyslexia. An ordinary eye test might show that a child can see perfectly well, but it may not tell…
A recent growth in the focus on awareness and management of Myopia (shortsightedness) and a new emphasis and direction in terms of treatments evidenced in new studies and developments, seems to have resulted in a new approach to the ever-growing threat to the world provided by this multi-levelled refractive error. And to myopia expert and…
For at least four centuries, people have been looking for a way to explain the prevalence of myopia (shortsightedness), what causes it, and how to cure this eye disorder that currently affects millions of people’s vision, and in some instances results in vision loss and blindness. According to Australian behavioural optometrist and fellow of the International…
The myopia (shortsightedness) epidemic, predicted to affect half of the world’s population by 2050, is racing even faster towards this target with the numbers boosted by the Covid-19 pandemic’s enforced indoor and screen-watching lifestyles. However, a study is now suggesting that perceptual learning may, literally, shine at least some light at the end of this…
Sleep, and plenty of it, is usually recommended as one of the top ways to help the body and our eyes recover from illnesses and other setbacks. But it’s not necessarily the right answer for glaucoma, an eye condition which moves from affecting peripheral vision only, to ultimately destroying the ability to see, says Gary…
Along with the changes in lifestyles and technology in the past couple of decades, came similar changes in classrooms, teaching, the way in which information is provided and received, and the environment in which it is delivered. Technology and screens have become a big part of teaching, providing fast and easy access to information, and…
With homeschooling becoming increasingly popular even before Covid-19 lockdowns made it a must, more families, armed with lockdown experience and easy access to digital material, are likely to choose this way to educate their children. But eye vision experts like Australian behavioural optometrist and fellow of the International Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control (FIAOMC),…
A good deal of mystery still revolves around the link between vision misalignment and anxiety problems, but what is clear is that there is one, and it’s not a healthy relationship for either of them, according to Australian behavioural optometrist Jacqueline Gattegno. She says while these problems are very different, they are similar in how…
Nothing functions properly if those operating it don’t know how to apply and use it. That applies to technology, equipment or appliances, which can easily be seen, but require active input in order to work. But it also applies to functional vision which is the ability to physically and mentally react to what’s seen, according…
It’s not just the eyes people see in the mirror that determine how people see and understand what they look at. Two other “Eye” systems, the powerful and analytic Brain’s Eye and the imaginative Mind’s Eye also play large roles in the extremely complex visual system. Each deals with sight and vision differently and all…
The Covid-19 pandemic and its lockdowns haven’t only impacted on the health, economic and business sectors. Studies and surveys show they have also taken a heavy toll on eye health. And the rise in the prevalence and severity of vision disorders, errors and diseases, is especially evident in the increase in digital eye strain and myopia (nearsightedness) among young…
Since 2000 global stress levels have soared to a point where in some countries it affects close to 60% of the population. The WHO labeled it as the epidemic of the 21st century, way before the COVID-19 pandemic sent it spiraling even higher, and studies show stress could be responsible for 95% of visits to…
It’s often said that people eat with their eyes, but no matter how tempting attractively presented meals are, they are not necessarily good for the eyes’ health. Eye scientists, researchers and doctors are increasingly calling for them to eat for the eyes rather than with them, says Gary Rodney, fellow of the International Academy of…
When vision suddenly becomes blurred in one eye, or in both, it’s important to find out why as soon as possible. And in some cases, seeing an eye doctor should be immediate to avoid serious eye problems, according to Australian behavioural optometrist Jacqueline Gattegno of Smart Vision Optometry. She says that although there are a…
Putting the right shoe on the right foot, standing up straight, keeping within the lines when writing, and recognizing the shapes of objects and how far apart they are, may all seem to be natural and automatic responses for those with good perceptual vision and well developed visual-spatial skills. But for those without either of…
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