IDRAC - Save the Dates: November 18-19, 2016

You are invited to the 2016 International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference (IDRAC), sponsored by Virtual Ability®,Inc. This international conference will be held in Second Life®.


The theme for 2016 is "We’re Part of the Community.”

Join colleagues, friends, and community members for a variety of presentations! Presenters from Canada, South Africa, and the U.S. will join us at The Sojourner Auditorium on Virtual Ability Island within Second Life.

Why don’t you join us, too?

Keep your eyes on this blog for more information!

International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference (IDRAC)
Friday November 18, 2016 - 8:00am- 3:00pm
Saturday, November 19, 2016 - 8:00am - 1:30pm
Soujourner Auditorium, Virtual Ability Island in Second Life®
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Ability/54/170/23

8 Important Eye Care Tips

Contributing Author: The Tortoise

For many of us, vision is our primary way of experiencing the world. Protecting our eyes and eyesight is one of the most important things we can do to help maintain our quality of life. As we get older, we will inevitably experience age-related vision loss, since our eyes age with the rest of our body. However, there are 8 life-style practices which can help keep our eyes as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

1. Get regular eye exams.
   This is essential. Eye problems such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and retinopathy tend to progress slowly, which means that vision loss can go unnoticed until the condition is advanced. Many eye conditions can be treated if spotted early enough -- so go for your eye tests! Optometrists recommend an eye test every two years, more often if you're over 40, from a family with a history of eye disease, or from specific ethnic groups. People from African-Caribbean communities are at higher risk of developing glaucoma and diabetes, and those from South Asian communities are at greater risk of developing diabetic retinopathy from diabetes.¹
   
2. Have regular physical exams to check for diabetes and high blood pressure.
   Both of these conditions can cause eye problems if left untreated, including vision loss from diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and eye strokes.²
   
3. Look out for changes in your vision.
   Changes in your vision can indicate trouble, so see your eye doctor immediately if they occur. Signs of potential problems include double vision, hazy vision, difficulty seeing in low light conditions, frequent flashes of light, floaters, red eyes, eye pain or swelling.³
   
4. Exercise regularly.
   Research shows that exercise benefits the eyes, by reducing risks for high blood pressure, diabetes, hardening or narrowing of the arteries, and age-related macular degeneration.^{4, 5}
   
5. Eat highly-coloured fruits and vegetables.
   A plant-based diet high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds is an eye-healthy diet. Blue, purple and ruby-coloured berries, such as bilberries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries etc. have high concentrations of both. Research has found that antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish can lower the risk of developing macular degeneration in people with high genetic risk.⁶
   
6. Don't smoke.
   People who smoke are much more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, uveitis and other eye problems, compared to non-smokers.^{7, 8}
   
7. Protect your eyes from UV light.
   Ultraviolet light damages the eyes and can increase the risk of developing cataracts, pinguecula and other eye problems.⁹ Light reflecting from snow, sand and water can magnify these risks. Wear good-quality sunglasses which block 99 - 100% of UV rays when out in bright light.
   
8. Drink moderately.
   Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of early age-related macular degeneration.¹⁰
   

References

¹ Look after your eyes, National Health Service, UK

² 8 ways to protect your eyesight, Gary Heiting, All About Vision

³ ibid.

⁴ ibid.

⁵ Look after your eyes, National Health Service, UK

⁶ Age-Related Eye Disease Study -- Results, National Eye Institute

⁷ 8 ways to protect your eyesight, Gary Heiting, All About Vision

⁸ Look after your eyes, National Health Service, UK

⁹ 8 ways to protect your eyesight, Gary Heiting, All About Vision

¹⁰ Look after your eyes, National Health Service, UK

Image from Pixabay

Humpday Hint: Women & Stroke: Worse Than You Think?

Contributing Author: The Tortoise

Do you know that:

• Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death for women.
• Stroke kills TWICE as many women as breast cancer each year.
• Stroke hits 55,000 more women than men each year (US).
• Stroke will have hit 1 in 5 women by age 75 (UK).
• Stroke will cause a disability in half of all stroke survivors.
• Women are more likely to suffer a major disability from stroke than men.
• Women are more likely to die from a stroke than men.

Common Stroke Symptoms (Men & Women):

• Sudden numbness/weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance/coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Women also have unique stroke symptoms:

• Loss of consciousness or fainting
• General weakness
• Difficulty of shortness of breath
• Confusion, unresponsiveness or disorientation
• Sudden behavioural change
• Agitation
• Hallucination
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain
• Seizures
• Hiccups

General Risk Factors (Men & Women):

• 
  Family history of stroke
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking single-handedly doubles your risk of death from stroke
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Illegal drug usage (eg. cocaine increases risk of stroke by 700% in the 24 hours following use)
• 
  Lack of exercise (physical inactivity increases risk of ischaemic stroke (blood clot) by 50%
• Being overweight (22% higher risk of ischaemic stroke) or obese (64% higher risk of ischaemic stroke)

Prevention & the good news:

• Up to 80% of all strokes can be prevented.
• Moderate exercise can reduce your risk of stroke by up to 27%.
• Get treatment for high blood pressure and diabetes.
• Keep a healthy weight.
• Stop smoking!
• Don't use illegal drugs.
• Moderate your alcohol consumption.
• Research has found a clear 'dose-related' association between fruit and vegetable consumption and stroke risk, which means that the more you eat of these food groups, the lower your risk!

SOURCES:

Women and Stroke, National Stroke Association, US

How do strokes affect women?, Diana Rodriguez, Everyday Health

State of the Nation Stroke Statistics January 2016, National Stroke Association, UK

Images from Pixabay

Humpday Hint: How to Avoid Computer Vision Syndrome

Contributing Author: The Tortoise

The unparalleled spread of technology in the last 50 years has produced a crop of medical conditions unique to it. Technology evolves far faster than human biology can adapt, and one result is the profusion of technology-based maladies which include everything from deep vein thrombosis to carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic back pain.

One such condition is Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) -- a form of eye strain and fatigue which creeps up on those who spend more than 3 hours a day at their computers.¹ But with 40% of the planet's population now hooked up to the Internet,² and the computerisation of most of the world's workplaces, it means billions of computer users are actually staring at their screens for much longer than 3 hours a day. Desk-bound jobs can mean people stay at their computers for the entire working day. As computerisation in the 21st century becomes more of a necessity than an option, professionals and others at potential risk include accountants, architects, bankers, engineers, flight controllers, graphic artists, journalists, academicians, secretaries and students, all of whom cannot work without the aid of computers.³ Then there are the gamers and virtual environment users: millions of children and adolescents play computer games for hours each day; similarly, users of virtual worlds such as Second Life and OpenSim are known for regularly spending half a day inworld; MMORPG and video gamers can be just as screen-bound.

Computer vision syndrome, as such, is a health problem which is increasingly common. Symptoms include dry eyes, red eyes, blurred vision, double vision, eye irritation or burning, chronic headaches, and neck or back pain.⁴ Statistics indicate that 70 to 90 percent of people who use computers extensively suffer from one or more symptoms of CVS.⁵ There is also concern that heavy computer use may put children at risk for early myopia:⁶ a 2009 study conducted by the National Eye Institute noted that the prevalence of nearsightedness among Americans had increased from 25 to 41.6 percent of the population in the 30 years since 1972 -- an increase of over 66 percent.⁷ While the study offered no conclusions for these statistics, it is interesting to note that the years 1974 -1977 saw the arrival of the first personal computers on the market -- among them the Scelbi & Mark-8 Altair, IBM 5100, RadioShack's TRS-80 and the Commodore PET⁸ -- events which kicked off a personal computing frenzy in history which continues to this day.

A key reason for CVS's overwhelming impact is that every sighted person who uses a computer screen is subject to its digitalised display aspects. Unlike words printed on paper which have sharply defined edges, the electronic characters generated by a computer monitor are made up of tiny pixels, creating blurred outlines. The blurred edges make it difficult for our eyes to maintain focus, and they "repeatedly attempt to rest by shifting their focus to an area behind the screen, and this constant switch between screen and relaxation point creates eyestrain and fatigue."⁹ There are additional factors contributing to CVS: the tendency to blink less while staring at screens (our blink rate drops from 17 or more blinks a minute to 12 - 15 blinks); a distance between eyes and screen which isn't optimal for comfortable focus (20 - 26 inches from the face); and screens which are placed too high (the centre of the monitor should be 4 - 8 inches lower than the eyes) which lead to too much exposure of the eye surface and neck discomfort.¹⁰

So what can we do? There are quite a few tricks we can utilise to lessen the risk of CVS.

• Ensure that there is sufficient contrast on the screen, such as black writing on a white background.
• Try to keep the screen brighter than the ambient light, so that your eyes do not strain to make out what is on the screen.
• Keep your monitor brighter rather than dimmer (but not TOO bright), as a brighter monitor encourages the pupils to constrict, thus allowing your eyes a greater range of focus.
• Avoid facing a sunlit window if you can, or use window shades to reduce glare.
• Anti-glare covers for flat screen monitors are also available, as are glare-reducing spectacles.
• Use a font size that is comfortable for your eyes - if you find yourself constantly squinting or leaning forward to read what is on the screen, the font size is too small.
• Keep the screen free of dust, and if you have to, get a monitor with a high-resolution display.¹¹

In addition, have your eyes examined regularly, and keep your prescription up to date. The American Academy of Ophthalmology also suggests the "20-20-20" rule for computer users: every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away, for at least 20 seconds. They also suggest using artificial tears to hydrate dry eyes, and using a humidifier.¹² If, despite all these precautions, your eyes remain problematic, see your ophthalmologist.

References

¹ Computer Vision Syndrome Affects Millions, Jane E. Brody

² Internet Live Stats

³ Impact of Computer Technology on Health: Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), T.R. Akinbinu & Y.J. Mashalla

⁴ Computer Vision Syndrome Affects Millions, Jane E. Brody

⁵ Impact of Computer Technology on Health: Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), T.R. Akinbinu & Y.J. Mashalla

⁶ Children and Computer Vision Syndrome, Gary Heiting & Larry K. Wan

⁷ Increased Prevalence of Myopia in the United States Between 1971-1972 and 1999-2004, Susan Vitale, et al, JAMA Ophthalmology

⁸ History of Computers: A Brief Timeline, Kim Ann Zimmermann, LiveScience

⁹ Computer Vision Syndrome Affects Millions, Jane E. Brody

¹⁰ ibid.

¹¹ ibid.

¹² Computers, Digital Devices and Eye Strain, American Academy of Ophthalmology