Tag Archives: echolocation

Watching Out for Vision Problems

A parent, grandparent, or other family member may be the first to notice that a child is having vision problems. Or, it may be a teacher or other educator who notices the problem. Sometimes, a vision problem goes undetected until an annual eye exam. A child who is having vision problems may not come out and say something like, “I can’t see the blackboard,” or “It’s hard to see things that are far away.” They may not say anything at all! But there are some signs you can watch out for. When your child is reading or doing other close … Continue reading →

Where Do Eye Boogers Come From?

Sleepies. Crusties. Eye boogers. They’re a common (if minor) part of just about everybody’s day. So where do they come from? My parents always told me that the Sandman came around and helped people fall asleep… and the stuff attached to your eyelashes the next morning was extra sand. Thank goodness I never tried to save Sandman sand up for sleepless nights! One official name for eye boogers is rheum. Rheum is the natural discharge of the eye, formed from a combination of mucus, tears, dust, and even skin cells from the eyelids. The eye produces rheum all day… so … Continue reading →

Blind Man Sees Again

I heard this story on the radio this morning, and had to check the local news to be sure: a local legally blind man experienced a miraculous return of his vision! Ninety year old Tualatin, Oregon resident Marty Alvey has been legally blind for years, thanks to macular degeneration — a loss of vision in the center of the eye that is a major cause of blindness in older adults. He could only see things that were a foot or less away. All that changed over the weekend. On Saturday night, Alvey felt ill and called 911, fearing a stroke. … Continue reading →

Wear Your Glasses!

I was eight years old when I got my first pair of glasses — and I’ve been wearing them every day since then. At first, I hated them. They itched my nose. They felt weird on my ears. I took them off every chance I got — for example I wouldn’t wear them out onto the playground for recess. But one day I was playing outside and noticed how clear everything looked. I had forgotten to take my glasses off! That’s when I realized how helpful they are. If your child is fighting against the idea of glasses, here are … Continue reading →

Losing Sight of Your Vision

Perhaps you have been at this home business endeavor for a while–you started out with great focus and idealism and now you are just holding it together and wrestling with all the details on a daily basis. Have you lost sight of your vision? Have you forgotten what you wanted to accomplish when you started your home business? Are you having a hard time staying motivated since you’ve lost the “zest” or spark that makes you want to get up and get to work in the morning? First of all, there is no reason to get down on yourself–it happens … Continue reading →

Scripture Study: 1 Nephi 13:30-35

Nephi is having a vision which details the fate of his seed and that of his brethren. He has seen the coming of the Bible and of Christopher Columbus to the Americas, and now he is seeing the rising up of America and the growth of the nation. 30. Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands, which is the land that the Lord God hath covenanted with … Continue reading →

Shopping For “Healthy” Sunglasses

A while back I wrote about my struggle to find the perfect sunglasses. Back then any pair of shades that didn’t make me look like a bug would make it to the check out counter. Then I went to the ophthalmologist and got a major wake up call. If you base your choice in outdoor eyewear on comfort or fashion you may be putting your eyes at risk. Many of us look at sunglasses as an accessory or simply a way to avoid squinting on a sunny day. Rarely do we consider how they protect our eyes and the skin … Continue reading →

Eye Opening Information About Eye Exams

I had to take my contacts to get professionally cleaned today and while I was sitting in the waiting area I got into a conversation with a woman who provided me with some eye opening news. Long story short, a few months ago she scheduled an eye exam because she was having a problem with her left eye jerking uncontrollably. Our ophthalmologist examined her eye and referred her to another doctor who suggested she have an MRI done. The MRI (a magnetic scan) revealed that she had a tumor on her pituitary gland. She underwent surgery and she’s fine now, … Continue reading →

Living With Color Blindness

Think for a moment about how many things in life rely on color. From getting dressed in the morning (making sure your clothes match) to driving to work (and reading traffic signals), color is all around us! Compensating for an inability to see colors can be easy in some ways and not so easy in others. As far as traffic lights go, a person can learn the order of the three lights — red at the top, yellow in the middle, and green at the bottom — and watch for which one is lit. Even if you can’t see the … Continue reading →

Color Blindness

Most people with color blindness can see some color. People who can see no color at all are actually pretty rare! In a normal eye, there are color-sensitive cells in the retina — the layer of nerves at the back of the eye that convert light into signals sent to the brain. These color-sensitive cells are called cones, and they come in three types: sensitive to red, blue, or green light. In a normal eye, you see color when the cone cells sense any or all of these types of light; cone cells work best in bright light and not … Continue reading →