Eye Love Serendipity

I'm sure most of us would agree that some of the best things in life happen by accident. Indeed, some of the greatest scientific discoveries were the fruits of good fortune. Penicillin, vulcanized rubber, and even gravity were all accidental findings.

But these discoveries all pale in comparison to pharma company, Allergan's newest serendipitous breakthrough! (yes, I'm being mildly sarcastic)

In 2001, Allergan produced an eye drop named Lumigan (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03%). It's primary function was to decrease the pressure inside the eye in patients who had, or were at risk for, Glaucoma. Lumigan was very successful, but it had some interesting side effects.

Doctors noticed that patients were returning to clinics with very specific complaints. Their eyelashes were, all of a sudden, growing at exponential rates. So significant was the growth of these cilia, in fact, that eye doctors were actually having to trim some patients' lashes!

It didn't take long for someone at Allergan (I'm sure it was a woman) to realize how huge this could be. A few years of "research" later, plus a lovely new spokeswoman (Brooke Shields) and voila! In 2008, we have a product named Latisse, which just happens to be bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03%. (How did that take 7 years??)

Anyway, Latisse promises (and, for the most part, delivers) longer, thicker eyelashes. You simply dab a little bit along the upper eyelash margin once a day for 16 weeks (that's 112 days to be exact) and before you know it you'll be a modern day Elizabeth Taylor (more on her later).

Check out the Latisse website (www.latisse.com) for their FAQ section which has answers to questions including side effects, application, and where to find this miracle drug.

Here is one of the more important question and answers from the website:
Question: Does Claire Danes really use LATISSE^®?
Answer: Yes. Claire Danes is using LATISSE^® and is happy with her results.

Well I'll be damned!! Sign me up then! 

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Sunburn in Your Eyes?

Many people, especially those of us who are pigmenatally-challenged (not to be mistaken with people who are pigmentally-confused... urbandictionary.com), have suffered from the occasional sunburn. You get it on your shoulders, your back, even your face. But what about on or inside your eye? Yes, it can happen.

Photokeratitis, aka Solar keratitis, is basically sunburn of the cornea (the clear dome at the front of the eye). It happens when the eye is exposed to high amounts of UV light even if only for a short period of time. This can occur from natural sources (ie. the sun) or, more commonly, from artificial light (welder's arc).

The consequences are similar to those of corneal abrasions. Pain, redness, blurred vision, and potential scarring of the cornea which can lead to permanently decreased vision. Just like regular sunburns, you don't notice the pain until a few hours after the excessive exposure.

Solar maculopathy is the same problem but in the back of the eye, on the retina. The macula is the small central point on the retina where all of the light that enters the eye is focused. Maculopathy usually occurs when a person looks directly at a very bright light or UV source for an extended period of time.

The problem most commonly occurs when people stare at the sun. There are quite a few people (more than you might expect) who believe that sungazing provides spiritual and wellness benefits. There is no scientific evidence to support this.

The consequences of solar maculopathy can be severe. In the worst cases, there can be permanent loss of central vision. In other cases, the loss of vision is temporary and is recovered over time.

All of the enery and heat from the sun is focused by the eye to one tiny point on the retina. Its the same idea as using a magnifying glass to kill ants.

A few years ago, there was a story in the news about people in India who were looking for an image of the Virgin Mary during a solar eclipse. Not surprisingly, a lot of them developed serious problems with their vision! Read this story here.

Take home message: Wear your sunglasses, wear your welding mask, and DON'T STARE AT THE SUN!!

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Another Hockey Eye Injury... Vincent Lecavalier

Somebody out there really wants us to take note of how easy it is for hockey players to sustain serious injuries in and around the eye.

Two weeks ago...
I wrote about Manny Malhotra's injured left eye and the many potential complications that can arise from taking a puck to the eye. The blog managed to gain a bit of attention and I was very fortunate last week to have the opportunity to speak on both the CTV evening news and RJ1200 morning show about Manny's injury and the importance of protective eye wear.

Here's the link for CTV evening news report on Manny:
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110329/bc_malhotra_eye_surgery_110329/20110329?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

Manny was seen by a world renowned eye specialist in New York and underwent surgery last week. All reports say the surgery went well. Now we just have to wait and see how well his body can repair itself. If all goes well, I would expect to see #27 back winning faceoffs for the Canucks next season.

This week...
Another big name player gets a scare. Vincent Lecavalier of the Tampa Bay Lightning was hit in the face by a high stick in yesterday's game against Chicago. Vinnie left the game and didn't return because he "couldn't see out of his right eye". Early reports say Lecavalier suffered a scratched cornea (corneal abrasion) and also needed some stitches around his eye.

Corneal abrasions can vary significantly in severity. Small abrasions can be caused by simply rubbing your eyes. These are usually mild and do not affect vision. Larger abrasions (such as those sustained from getting hit by a puck or a stick) can cause blurry vision for weeks and potentially leave scars which can permanently affect vision. The cornea is one the most sensitive areas on the body so abrasions tend to be quite painful.

To best view a corneal abrasion, a yellow dye is usually instilled on the eye to help highlight the affected area.

A few days earlier...

Shawn Thornton of the Boston Bruins needed 40 (yes, FORTY) stitches to close a gash just over his right eye after he literally fell into the skate of another player. Coincidentally, this was against the Blackhawks as well. Although Thornton did not sustain any eye injuries, you can see from the picture just how close it was.

So here's the big question: What is the connection between these two injuries?
Answer: Neither Lecavalier nor Thornton were wearing a visor!

Someone please tell me again why players think its not important...
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