November newsletter 277
Using your phone in bed can cause 'eye strokes'
“Medics have revealed staring at your electronic device in the dark can cause an eye clot which can result in severe vision loss if not treated immediately.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10212888/phone-bed-eye-strokes-man-temporarily-blinded/
Manchester Opera House gives visually impaired and their guide dogs a night at the theatre
“Registered blind individuals were given the opportunity to experience the new musical & Juliet wearing new smart glasses that allowed them to see the entire performance”.
A third of people living with sight loss experience mental health issues
“An online poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of Fight for Sight, also shows that 84% of UK residents fear losing their sight more than any other sense, with 40% saying that not being fully independent would worry them the most about this. According to Fight for Sight, there are currently 2 million people living with sight loss in the UK, and by 2050 this is set to double to 4 million. Included in the link is an example of how macular degeneration has massively impacted on a person’s life.
https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/sight-loss-mental-health-issues/76747/
Treatment for a common vision disorder does not improve children’s reading skills
“Results from a clinical trial funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI) show that while vision therapy can successfully treat convergence insufficiency (CI) in children, it fails to improve their reading test scores”. CI is a common childhood vision disorder.
Culture Minister tells MP – libraries have the answer: Ian Murray, Labout MP
Ian Murray, Labout MP wanted to know what assessment the Minister had made of the potential benefits to (a) partially sighted and (b) blind people of (i) e-readers and (ii) other digital reading materials; and what steps her Department is taking to increase access to those materials.
Formal reply: “The UK Government recognises that, although we live in an increasingly online world, a significant part of the population remains digitally excluded, and as a Government we are actively committed to tackling digital exclusion. In the Digital Strategy, we committed to enabling people in every part of society – irrespective of age, gender, physical ability, ethnicity, health conditions, or In addition, most public libraries offer the loan of e-books and e-audio books, with some also making available the loan of e-book readers and other technology to enlarge the print. A number of local authorities use their website to communicate the services available to visually impaired people from their libraries. socio-economic status – to access the opportunities of the internet”.
https://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2019/10/culture-minister-tells-mp-libraries-have-the-answer/
The 6 most common vision problems for the over 60s
Presbyopia, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, dry eyes and diabetic eye disease are cited as the most common vision problems.
https://startsat60.com/health/health-issues/vision/common-vision-problems-over-60s
How should you look after your eyes
Get regular eye tests, don’t smoke, wear UV lenses and eat healthily if you want to protect your sight
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/oct/20/are-you-doing-it-right-protect-eyesight
Too much reading makes children shortsighted
An epidemic of short-sightedness is linked to youngsters staring at screens, reading books and doing homework, say scientists — who recommend removing their gadgets and sending them outsidefor at least two hours a day.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/too-much-reading-makes-kids-shortsighted-9xtknzw8h