Archive for August, 2007
Summer babies ‘are more likely to be short-sighted’
Babies born in the summer are more likely to become short-sighted in later life, a study has shown.
As many as a quarter of all cases of short-sightedness are caused by too great an exposure to sunlight in the first weeks of life, say eye experts.
They are advising all parents to put sunglasses on their babies during the first weeks.
Scientists had already established that over-exposure to sunlight caused short-sightedness in animals.
Researchers who compared the months in which babies were born with whether they needed glasses later on say the principle also applies to humans.
A study of almost 300,000 young adults - the largest of its kind - showed that those born in June and July had a 25 per cent greater chance of becoming severely short-sighted than those born in December or January.
Research leader Professor Michael Belkin, of Tel Aviv University, said it was because prolonged illumination causes the eyeball to lengthen - causing short-sightedness.
Hence the more light a newborn is exposed to, the more the eyeball lengthens and the worse the short-sightedness will be.
The mechanism which lengthens the eyeball is associated with levels of melatonin, a pigment which protects the skin against harmful rays of the sun.
In young babies not enough melatonin is released as protection, meaning they are more vulnerable to sunburn and changes to eyeball shape.
Myopia - the condition of short-sightedness which causes distant objects to appear blurred - is common worldwide.
In Britain, around 20million people - a third of the population - are myopic.
The first indication that the season of birth could have an impact on myopia came when one of Professor Belkin’s students carried out a study of chickens.
It was found that the degree of short-sightedness in the chickens could be controlled by changing the amount of light they experienced in their first weeks.
Professor Belkin then studied data on almost 300,000 Israeli soldiers aged between 16 and 23.
The results, published in the journal Ophthalmology, showed that a child born in winter or autumn will have better long-range sight and less chance of requiring glasses than one born in summer.
Israel averages more than four hours of sunlight a day in the summer months, but Professor Belkin said the research was applicable worldwide - even to Britain, where summers are less sunny.
“The eye in childhood is much clearer than when we are older so it’s vital that children start to wear sunglasses from birth onwards,” he said.
Sight expert Professor Daniel O’Leary, of Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, agreed.
“At the moment we don’t know the precise cause of why light exposure affects sight, but the evidence seems to prove that it is one of the reasons for people becoming shortsighted,” he said.
“It would make sense to put sunglasses on babies born in the summer, or better still keep them out of strong sunlight for the first few weeks of their life.”
Technorati : babies, short-sightedness, sunglasses
Kate Moss “Couldn’t Afford” To Buy Her Daughter Sunglasses
Kate Moss “couldn’t afford” to buy her daughter a £4 pair of novelty glasses.
The 33-year-old supermodel took her four-year-old daughter Lila Grace - whose father is magazine publisher Jefferson Hack - to Cornwall’s Paulos Americano Circus, in Newquay, with a group of friends, but didn’t have enough money to pay for souvenirs.
Circus performer Natasha Darnell-Smith told Britain’s Daily Express newspaper: “Kate came to buy the fluorescent glasses we sell to the kids. “I did not realise who it was until she took her hat off. “She had five to six kids with her and said she could not afford to buy the glasses. They are £4 each.”
Kate is one of the world’s most successful models, with an estimated annual income of £30 million.
Despite fears her career would struggle following her cocaine scandal in 2005, she went on to sign a £3 million deal to produce her own line of clothes for high street chain Topshop, as well as landing lucrative contracts for several top brands including Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Calvin Klein and Christian Dior.
Technorati : Kate Moss, Sunglasses
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Technorati : Eyewear, Sunglasses, Unisex Sunglasses
Great Looks For Labor Day Weekend!
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Technorati : Labor Day, summer 2007 styles, sunglasses
Bright Ideas WSLS NewsChannel 10
How do people choose their sunglasses?
“I have a bunch of different pairs but these just look good on me today.”
“I’ve actually never had a pair of white sunglasses, so I thought they were cute.”
“Definitely because of the shape, the design and it’s stylish too.”
Style’s important, but the good housekeeping research institute says sun protection is essential.
UV damage to the eyes which can result in cataracts later in life of other things like macular degeneration. We tested 15 pairs of sunglasses for UV absorption to see how well they would stand up their claims. When we went shopping for sunglasses we went to mass merchandisers, discount stores, department stores and specialty stores.”
The good news is that all the sunglasses blocked at least 99 percent of the UVA and UVB rays.
“What we found was that these $5 Foster Grants performed just as well at these $255 Fendi’s. So, you don’t have to pay a lot to get the UV protection you need for your eyes.”
But Good Housekeeping says to be safe, look for sunglasses that say 99 to 100 percent UV protection. And try to find frames that fit tightly on your face, so sunlight can’t sneak in.
“I lifeguarded for three years and I used to wear, like the skinny ones and then I just realized that these provided more sun protection.”
“It is very important because I’m a dog walker so I’m out in the sun all day.”
“Now I know that the wrapping around the eyes does protect more from the sun. Does make sense, yeah.”
Technorati : UV protection, UVA rays, UVB rays, sun protection, sunglasses
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are popular for comfort and fashion, but now there is medical evidence supporting the use of sunglasses to protect the long-term health of the eyes.
More than a dozen studies have shown that spending hours in the sun without proper eye protection can increase the chances of developing age-related eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration. Ophthalmologists now recommend wearing UV-absorbent sunglasses and brimmed hats when in the sun long enough to get a suntan or sunburn.
People mistakenly confuse the ability of sunglasses to block UV light with the color and darkness of the lenses. In truth, UV protection comes from a chemical coating applied to the surface of the lens. Shop for sunglasses that absorb 99 or 100% of all ultraviolet (UV) light. Some lens manufacturers’ labels say “UV absorption up to 400 nm.” This is the same thing as 100% UV absorption.
In addition to UV light, sunlight also has low levels of infrared rays. Infrared wavelengths are invisible and produce heat. The eye seems to tolerate infrared well. Research has not shown a connection between eye disease and infrared light ray exposure.
Polarized lenses cut reflected glare, like sunlight bouncing off water, pavement, or snow. Sunglasses with polarized lenses are popular and useful for fishing, driving, and skiing. Polarization has nothing to do with UV light absorption, but many polarized lenses are now made with a UV-blocking substance.
Wraparound glasses are shaped to keep light from shining around the frames and into the eyes. Studies have shown that enough UV rays enter around ordinary eyeglass frames to reduce the benefits of protective lenses. Large-framed, close-fitting wraparound sunglasses protect the eyes from all angles. Wraparound sunglasses should be considered by commercial fishermen, mountain climbers, skiers, or anyone who spends time at high altitudes or on the water.
Source: Indiana University Dept of Opthamology
Technorati : eyeglass frames, polarization, polarized lenses, sunglasses, wraparound glasses
Blues Brothers are shadeless from vandals
By Jonathan Turner, jturner@qconline.com
ROCK ISLAND — What are the Blues Brothers without sunglasses?
Until a few days ago, they were the life-size statues at 18th Street and 2nd Avenue, in the heart of The District of Rock Island.
The 2-year-old seated statues of Jake and Elwood Blues were moved to their current location Aug. 6, and within one week, their black sunglasses — welded to their heads — were broken off. Ironically, the characters were moved from a previous spot in Arts Alley (next to Quad City Arts) because of problems with vandalism.
“People had defaced them, written on their face,” as well as stolen earlier sunglasses, said Marsha Walker, business development director for Renaissance Rock Island.
In October 2005, the statues were presented to Dan Carmody, former president of Renaissance Rock Island, in honor of his contributions to Rock Island. In the 1980 “Blues Brothers” movie, the boys are introduced as being from Rock Island, Ill.
The statues were put in storage from last October until this month, Ms. Walker said. The new location would allow potential vandals to be spotted on the police department’s security cameras.
“Maybe it will cause people to think about it,” community marketing director Jennifer Fowler said of the shade-stealing. The District no longer will pay to weld new glasses on, but just replace them with a cheap pair as needed, she said. That was done recently.
“It’s a nuisance to have to keep sunglasses on them,” Ms. Walker said. “It would be nice if people would respect other people’s property. It costs us money each time to have them welded on, and we don’t have that kind of budget. We did this as a benefit to the community.
“I know people think it’s a harmless prank, but the bottom line is it costs the community money and hurts everybody in the community when somebody does that,” she said.
The Blues Brothers are a Rock Island claim to fame and the city is proud to feature their likeness, Ms. Walker said. Many visitors have their picture taken with the statues, she said.
“There was a group of eight ladies on a bus trip from Wisconsin, and they come every year to Jumer’s to gamble. A lady stopped me and asked me to take their picture with these guys,” Ms. Walker said. “The number of out-of-towners that have their pictures taken with them is phenomenal.
“Ultimately, tourists are spending dollars down here,” she said. “If things aren’t up to the level they should be, it gives us a black eye. It sends the message, `Don’t they care?’
“This takes away money we could be spending on serving businesses,” Ms. Walker said.
Soon, a new plaque will be placed next to the statues that says, “Smile. You’re on camera” to deter potential vandals.
Ever with a marketing mind, Ms. Walker said, “We have toyed with idea of getting a gross of (sunglasses) and having them imprinted, `Stolen from The District of Rock Island.’”
Technorati : Blues Brothers, Elwood Blues, Jake Blues, Sunglasses, black sunglasses, movie
Sunglasses Are More Than A Fashion Statement
Many people think of sunglasses as a fashion statement, but they also protect your eyes and the skin around them.
But experts saying getting the right pair can be confusing.
“Right now the federal government does not regulate the protective value of a sunglass,” Pamela Lowe, a member of the American Optometric Association, said.
It’s up to consumers to know what to look for.
Lowe says good eye protection doesn’t have to cost a lot but it does have to cover the eye from “A” to “B.”
“If you have a lens that you’re looking at and it says that it protects 100 percent UVA and UVB that usually means it’s going to be a nicer lens or a lens that’s going to be great at protecting the eyes,” she said.
The AOA says you can protect yourself by taking several steps:
Wear sunglasses that screen out at least 75 to 90 percent of visible light.
Wear glasses even on cloudy days.
Choose gray-tinted lenses when possible because they reduce light and intensity and give you the most natural vision.
Check that the lenses have no distortions.
“Look at it about an arm’s length away through the lenses at a straight line like the edge of a door, and they can just move the lenses and if they see that straight line curve then you know the lenses may be warped and have distortions,” Lowe said.
It’s important to wear sunglasses all year round, but the intensity of ultra-violet rays triples in the summer. And experts say it’s especially harmful to children.
The AOA also suggests wearing wrap-around shades when possible - especially if you’re out playing a summer sport. They cover more and cut down on more of the rays that can reach the eyes.
Technorati : eye protection, glasses, lenses, sunglasses
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