Researchers may have found a drug to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) protect them from potential vision loss.

Multiple sclerosis is a condition in which the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged, ultimately affecting nervous system. Some problems associated with MS are muscle spasms and difficulty moving, vision loss, problems with speaking, chronic pain and tiredness, vertigo, anxiety, depression amongst many other problems. The problems can depend on the location of the problems within the brain of the patient with MS.

But now, a drug, phenytoin, commonly used to prevent seizures within the epileptic community is thought to be able to help patients with MS control potential vision loss. Though these scientists are hoping to do larger-scale research, the results seem, so far, very promising.

Half of people with MS at some point in time suffer from something called ‘acute optic neuritis.’ Basically, it’s an inflammation of the optic nerve. Though often times temporary within MS patients, acute optic neuritis can cause sudden partial or total blindness, foggy or even darkened vision as well as pain. When a patient suffers any attacks with MS, they are treated with steroids in order to speed up recovery. And it’s effective but doesn’t reduce the long-term damage and risk to the eyes.

During the study, approximately 30 per cent of patients who received the drug (not the placebo) had less damage to the retinal nerve fiber. If these results persist with larger studies with more participants, then it will suggest that phenytoin might be able to help prevent nerve damage and blindness for people with MS.

It’s important to understand that vision loss can happen to anyone at any time, and it doesn’t discriminate against age, religion, or anything else. And there are certain diseases that do make us more prone to vision loss, either partial or total. Diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and as discussed, multiple sclerosis. It’s imperative that you see an eye doctor about any and all conditions you know about as well as any and all conditions in your family’s history in order to give him or her a complete medical picture.

Most Canadians have seen an eye doctor at least a few times in our lives, and if you’re on top of your vision health, you’ve seen one regularly since you were a child. But if you have never seen an eye doctor, or haven’t been to one in a long time, here’s a run down of what you can expect when you see him or her.

Questions and more questions. To start, a full medical history is important. Knowing your family’s vision health history is also important in determining if you are at risk for any issues down the road. If you have diabetes or cardiovascular problems, this may also affect your vision. Talk to your doctor and make sure he knows as much about your overall health as your family doctor.

Your vision will be tested to see how well your eyes move, your ability to see objects near and far (using an eye chart), as well as your colour vision (if you are colour blind).

If your doctor thinks you might be nearsighted, farsighted, have astigmatism or presbyopia, they will do a refraction test. This is when the doctor puts a few different lenses in front of each eye to determine which lens helps you see clearer.

Examining the surface and inside of your eyes come next. She or he will use something called a slit lamp microscope which allows them access to this complex part of your body. If any disease is present, this will allow them to determine what it is.

Eye pressure determines whether you have, or are at risk of developing, glaucoma. In order to test for elevated pressure, the doctor must first numb your eye with a drop of anesthetic (which might sting a little). Then they will put a drop of dye on your eye which will light up when the doctor looks through the slit lamp and will allow him or her to measure the pressure within your eye.

A visual field test determines how much you can see directly in front of you as well as your peripheral vision. If you have any reduced vision, this is also an indication that something might be wrong.

To get a full scope of your vision health, your eye doctor will dilate your pupil so he or she can see what’s going on at the back of your eyes. This will make it uncomfortable for you to see properly in the office, but it’s the best way for the doctor to see what’s actually going on inside your eye. Since this effect lasts a couple of hours at most, bring a pair of sunglasses and plan on having someone drive you home after your appointment.

Photos help your doctor not only get an idea of what’s going on, but also keep a record on file of your vision health throughout the years. Photos can be taken of your retina, optic nerve and other parts of your eyes. These images also help to see if there is any damage to these individual parts as a result of disease or glaucoma or any other factors.

Last, but certainly not least, if you’re unsure about anything that’s going on, be sure to ask your doctor questions along the way. They will gladly walk you through the different instruments and machines they use and explain what it all means to ensure you’re knowledgeable about your own vision health. Of course, your last question should always be about when to book your next exam.

Understanding the difference between those who are farsighted and those who are nearsighted can be a little tricky. Does farsighted mean you can see objects that are far away or does it mean you cannot see from far away? Does nearsightedness mean you can only see things close up, or do you have trouble focusing on items that are too close? Here are some simplified explanations of the two conditions so you can have a better grasp of what is going on.

The Eye

Before we go into the differences, it’s important to understand how eyes work “normally.” The retina is the part of your eye that is sensitive to light and essentially translates what you see into discernible objects; think of it like your eye is a camera and the retina is the film. It is a layer of tissue that lines the inner surface of the eye. When the retina catches light, it sends chemical and electrical impulses that are sent, via the optic nerve, to the visual centre of the the brain. A person with normal eyesight can see objects that are close and far away clearly. This is because light is focused directly on the retina, and not in front of it or behind it.

Farsightedness or Hyperopia

As mentioned before, you might think that being farsighted means you cannot see far away, but it actually means something a little different. It means that you have difficulty seeing things that are close. The difference might seem like semantics, but it’s actually a very important distinction. Here’s why.

To someone who is farsighted an object that is up close will appear to be blurry. They can see objects in the distance perfectly fine, but ready a book or a map, reading instructions or recipes can be difficult.

Light falls behind the retina instead of directly on it, and this problem is typically caused by an imperfect eye, so likely genetics though sinus infections, injuries and other problems can potentially cause farsightedness. You can treat this problem by getting a prescription from your eye doctor.

Nearsightedness or Myopia

Seeing objects from far away is difficult for someone with myopia, meaning reading books and maps are easy, but when it comes to seeing signs from far away, you need some help.

Light falls in front of your retina, instead of directly on it, causes individuals to be nearsighted. Medications, age, cataracts and of course genetics can all play a role in nearsightedness. Your eye doctor can easily prescribe corrected glasses or contact lenses to help you see things better. Depending on the cause of your nearsightedness, LASIK surgery might also be able to help fix the problem permanently for you.

You know how when you are walking outside and you see a beautiful red rose in a garden or on a sunny day, the grass seems greener then normal? Well, not everyone can see those bright and vivid colours the same way. Some people are colour blind.

What Is Colour Blindness?

In a nutshell, colour blindness is when someone is unable to see colours properly under normal conditions and it affects as little as 8% of men and 0.5% of women.

Being colour blind doesn’t necessarily mean you cannot see anything. What it means is that you have are unable to see colours fully the same way as others. There are different types of colour blindness.

What Causes Colour Blindness?

There are different causes, but for the most part colour blindness is caused by genetics which are passed down by your parents.

Research has shown the reason men are more likely to be colour blind then women is because it is a sex-linked trait meaning it is carried on the X chromosome. This explains why colour blindness is more common in men, because they only have one X chromosome, and if that chromosome does not have the proper code they will be colour blind. Whereas a female receives two X chromosomes, so even if one of them is deficient, as long as the other one has the proper coding, the female will be able to see colours without problem.

Colour blindness can also be caused by physical or chemical damage to the eyes, the optic nerves or part of the brain. Other diseases such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis can also cause colour blindness.

Types of Colour Blindness

1. Total colour blindness is very rare, but can occur in some patients. This results in someone not being able to see any colour at all. It’s like living in a black and white movie; you can see different shades of black, white and grey, but no colour.

2. Red/Green colour blindness is by far the most common and affects the way they see colours that contain red and green components. For example, some who is red/green colour blind will mix up a blue and a purple colour because they cannot differentiate the red element of the purple. So in a box of 24 colouring pencils, someone with red/green colour blindness can only identify five of the 24 colours.

3. Blue/Yellow colour blindness means the person has a reduced sensitivity to blue light and therefore blue-yellow colours, and is rather rare. This means the person has trouble telling the difference between blue and yellow, violet and red, as well as blue and green colours. Generally speaking, everything they see seems to be red, pink, black, white, grey and turquoise.

You can also visit these websites that provide you with an online test for colour blindness.

http://colorvisiontesting.com/ishihara.htm

http://www.color-blindness.com/ishihara-38-plates-cvd-test/

To learn more about colour blindness, its causes and the different types, or to get tested professionally, speak with your eye care specialist.

They say the eyes are the gateway to your soul. They’re also the gateway to your overall physical health. Be sure to keep your eyes happy and healthy with these easy tips. Really, these are things to do regardless, but they are equally important to your vision as they are to your overall wellbeing.

1. The Importance Of Complete Eye Exams

Visiting your optometrist on a regular basis is probably one of the most important parts of maintaining healthy vision. Complete eye exams are extremely important, regardless of your age or physical health. Your doctor will not only assess your prescription, but will also be able to determine if your vision health for things like eye disease.

2. Don’t Smoke. Period.

First and foremost, smoking is bad. Right? Right! Well, not only is it bad for your lungs and other aspects of your general well-being, but it also affects your eyesight. Tobacco can cause things like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and will put you at an increased risk of developing cataracts, according to CNIB.

3. Protect Your Eyes – Indoors and Out

Though wearing sunglasses is always a good thing, protect your eyes even further by wearing UV-filtered sunglasses. The same UV rays that can cause sunburns and of course, skin cancer, can also adversely affect your sight. Things like retinal damage, cataracts, and of course, skin cancer around the eyes.

Protecting your eyes also includes when you’re indoors, from safety hazards and from possible airborne materials. It’s important to wear safety glasses or protective goggles to prevent any damage while at work or at home. Sports can also cause unwanted harm – getting a puck in the eye, or a blade to the face is quite dangerous so it’s important to wear protective eyewear when playing sports.

4. Food For Sight

Food isn’t just for the stomach. And healthy food isn’t just for weight control. Eating healthy will help you maintain healthy vision for years to come. Be sure to include vitamins, minerals, fats and other essential nutrients in your diet. Eye-healthy foods include “greens” such as spinach, kale and collards; non-meat proteins like eggs, nuts, beans; citrus fruits and juices like oranges; and of course oily fishes such as tuna and salmon.

5. Exercise

Sure exercise is important for maintaining a healthy weight as well as decreasing health risks and diseases. But exercise also positively affects your sight. By leading an active lifestyle, you are less likely to develop health issues such as type 2 diabetes, which is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults.

6. Take A Break From Technology

Working long-term on computers, smartphones and/or tablets can also cause unwanted harm to your eyes. Staring at screens for lengthy periods of time can cause blurry vision, headaches, eyestrain, trouble focusing, as well as other physical problems like head, neck and back pain. Be sure to look away from the screen on a regular basis, or even get up and walk around. Give your eyes, and body, a little break.