The Windows to Our Health

Our eyes can tell so much about the way we are feeling, emotionally and physically. Our red, itchy eyes are what give us away when we have allergies, or if we’ve been crying because we received bad news. The sparkle in our eye gives us away when we’re happy or when we find something funny. And now a white spot on our eye can also tell us when we have a serious eye disease. 

When Noah Shaw was just 3 months old, his mother Elizabeth noticed that there was a white reflection in Noah’s eye when she took a picture with her digital camera. She knew this wasn’t the typical “red eye” that many of us suffer from in our pictures. Elizabeth had learned from parenting magazines that this could be a sign of retinoblastoma, a rare type of cancer that usually develops in early childhood. 

Elizabeth took Noah to the pediatrician who then referred her to an ophthalmologist, who confirmed the worst—Noah had tumors in both eyes. After months of chemotherapy, radiation, and finally a surgery to remove Noah’s right eye, Noah’s father, Bryan wondered if they could have caught the tumors in Noah’s eyes earlier. After looking at pictures, he realized that the white spot in Noah’s eyes started appearing at only 12 days old, but only when the photo was taken at a certain angle, and as the tumors grew, the white reflection occurred more frequently.

Retinoblastoma is a very rare disease, affecting only 12 out of every million children between the ages of 0 and 4 years old, but early detection is key in saving a child’s vision and even their life. Today Noah is in good health and in good spirits. He likes to draw and sing and he has received a prosthesis for his right eye, which allows him to look like any kid his age.

References:
NPR Blog

Play It Safe on Halloween!

Halloween can be one of the most fun and one of the most dangerous holidays, especially for kids. Between the extravagant costumes and the bucket loads of candy, it’s a child’s dream and a parent’s worst nightmare.

Here are a few tips to make this Halloween, a little safer so that you can spend more time trick-or-treating and less time in the emergency room:

 1. Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough so that kids won’t trip and fall.

2. Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treating bags for greater visibility at night.

3. Exchange masks for non-toxic make up and decorative hats. Masks can severely limit or block eyesight which can be extremely dangerous while on the road at night.

 4. Purchase costumes, wigs and accessories that are clearly labeled flame resistant.

 5. If a sword, cane or stick is part of your child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long, as they can become seriously injured if they trip and fall.

6. Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye exam and a prescription from an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Wearing contact lenses without a prescription can cause pain, inflammation of the eye, and serious eye disorders and infections which may lead to permanent vision loss.

7. Always carry a flashlight!

Make sure your family play it safe this Halloween and check out other safety tips from Halloween decorations to costumes to trick-or-treating.

Be Prepared in Case of an Emergency

An eye injury can happen in an instant and knowing how to respond quickly could mean the difference between saving your sight and losing it permanently.

90% of eye injuries are preventable but the other 10% of the time it’s important to be prepared! Here are 3 easy steps to stay prepared:

1. Wear eye protection for all hazardous activities and sports—at school, at home and on the job.
2. Stock a first aid kit with a rigid eye shield and commercial eyewash before an eye injury happens.
3. DO NOT assume that any eye injury is harmless. When in doubt, see a doctor immediately!

If you get something in your eye, like a wood chip while working at home or a piece of grass while mowing the lawn, follow these steps to make sure you keep your eyes safe:

1. DO NOT rub the eye!
2. Try to let tears wash the speck out or use eyewash.
3. Try lifting the upper eyelid outward and down over the lower lid.
4. If the speck does not wash out, keep the eye closed, bandage it lightly, and see a doctor.

For more information on what to do if you get chemicals in your eyes or if your eye or eyelid is cut or punctured, visit http://texas.preventblindness.org/first-aid-eye-emergencies.

The best way to make sure you don’t put your vision at risk is to play it safe and always remember to wear the right safety eyewear while playing contact sports and working with power tools. You could lose your vision in an instant, so keep it from harm’s way!  

Eye Stroll for Vision 2013

Despite the heavy rain, over 420 people showed up at the Houston Zoo in their ponchos and rain boots to stroll through the rain! Three of the biggest groups at the stroll included Royal Sonesta Houston, and students from Pearland Memorial High School and Klein Forest High School.

Our biggest volunteer groups included 30 University of Houston POPS students, 11 UH Delta Gammas, and 10 Delta Gamma alumnae. Thank you to all of the volunteers for your hard work and support! The event could not have been as successful without your help!

Thank you to University of Houston’s Dean of the College of Optometry and Prevent Blindness Texas board member, Dr. Earl Smith, III for being this year's Eye Stroll for Vision honoree!

Eye Stroll for Vision honoree Dr. Earl Smith, III kicking off the walk with the cutting of the ribbon

PBT would also like to thank its many sponsors for their support and generous contributions. The following sponsors truly helped make this event possible: Halliburton, Iron Mountain, My Fit Foods, Geico, The Methodist Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, Harris County Optometric Society, HOT 95.7 FM, 100.3 The Bull, KHOU 11 and VSP.

The top fundraisers were:

• Josh Espinedo ($1550)
• Dr. Earl Smith ($1015)
• Christina Ibrahim ($500)
• Dr. Amy Coburn ($415)

Thank you to everyone who raised money for this event and strolled through the rain with us! We hope you enjoyed your morning with the animals and we hope you will join us at next year’s Eye Stroll for Vision!

If you missed this year’s Eye Stroll for Vision, it’s not too late to join us at the Light the Night for Sight walks in Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio!

Dallas/Fort Worth's Light the Night for Sight 5K Family Fun Walk
When: Friday, October 18, 2013 at 6 p.m.
Where: Levitt Pavilion Arlington 100 W. Abram St., Arlington, Texas 76010
For more information, please visit their website

San Antonio's Light the Night for Sight Holiday 5K
When: Friday, December 6, 2013 from 6 to 10 p.m.
Where: SeaWorld San Antonio 10500 SeaWorld Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78251
For more information, please visit their website

You Are What You Eat

We’ve all heard of a heart healthy diet, but what about an eye healthy diet? Your eyes are essential to your day-to-day life so it’s important to make sure you’re putting healthy food in your body in order to lower your risk of eye disease.

Mom always said eat your carrots—thanks to our mothers, carrots are most commonly known as the eye healthy veggie. Carrots are rich in Vitamin A which is important to healthy vision. And yes, though carrots are important for your sight, the real eye healthy veggies are dark, leafy greens like broccoli, zucchini, peas, kale and Brussels sprouts. These veggies benefit your vision by reducing the effects of glare and exposure to bright lights by absorbing some of that light.  

In addition to veggies, seafood lovers will be happy to know that the omega-3 fatty acids in canned tuna or dark fish meat, such as mackerel, salmon, sardines or bluefish can help decrease the risk of common eye diseases. These eye diseases include glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy. 

It’s so easy to incorporate  any or all of these foods in your daily diet and it’s a great way to keep you and your family healthy so that they can live a long life with healthy vision. 

Resources:

http://www.islandpacket.com/2013/09/10/2676919/recipes-that-will-keep-your-eyes.html

Look for the Signs

As August comes to a close, another school year is just beginning for thousands of Texas children. This year teachers and parents should keep a close eye on their child’s behavior as it could be a good indicator of a vision problem.

Did you know that a whopping 80% of children diagnosed with learning disabilities or poor learning performance actually have vision problems like myopia (nearsightedness), strabismus (crossed eye) or amblyopia (lazy eye)!

And did you know that 80% of learning in a child’s first 12 years of life comes through the eyes! With numbers like these so high, it’s important for those who spend the most time with kids, like parents and teachers, to pay close attention to the warning signs.

Here are 3 questions you should ask yourself:

1. What do my child’s eyes look like?

If your child’s eyes don’t line up or if one appears crossed or looks out, then your child may have an eye disorder like strabismus or amblyopia. If your child’s eyelids are red-rimmed, crusted, swollen or if their eyes are watery or red, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with an eye doctor as soon as possible.

2. How does your child act?

 Signs of a possible vision problem can also be seen in your child’s body language. If your child is rubbing their eyes a lot, closing or covering an eye, tilting their head forward, blinking more than usual, or squinting or frowning, they could be indicating they are having trouble seeing.

3. What does your child say?

 If your kids are saying “everything looks blurry” or “I see double” these are obvious warning signs that something is not right with their vision. However, kids can also say “my eyes are itchy,” “my eyes are burning” or “my eyes are feeling scratchy,” all of which are also signs of a vision problem. The most unexpected things a child could say though are “I feel dizzy,” “I have a headache” or “I feel sick/nauseous.” Though these can often be attributed to your child not feeling well, if these symptoms persist, it could definitely be a sign of a vision problem.

It’s important to remember (though easy to forget sometimes) that children often think that they are supposed to see the world blurry or out of focus. Kids often don’t realize that they aren’t able to see and they think that’s just how everyone else sees. It’s important to talk to your kids periodically about their vision and to notice the warning signs early on so that your child can get the help they need.

From Homeless to Working Because of Glasses

Colby is a 19-year-old growing up in Dallas where certain decisions changed his life. Thanks to a loving, generous aunt, and a pair of glasses Colby received through the Healthy Eyes Eyeglass program, Colby has been able to overcome life's challenges in order to make a better life for himself.

“Thank you so much for making it possible for me to get glasses," Colby said. "I have been homeless for a year. I quit high school and was living on the streets. My aunt helped me get back on my feet. To do anything with my life, [I had] to start with being able to see. My aunt paid for an eye exam. You covered my glasses. Now I’m working on my GED, getting my license, and I got a job this week! Thank you! God bless you!” 

PBT is very happy for Colby and proud of his recent accomplishments! We are so touched to know that we were able to help him reach his ambitious goals. We wish him all the best for the future!