The human eye is not capable of blocking blue radiation and all visible blue radiation passes through the lens and the cornea, reaching the retina, so those who spend a lot of time studying and working with digital devices are more likely to suffer from eye strain and blurred vision.

In this context, the solution may involve customizing the lenses for the computer with a specialized blue blocking treatment. These treatments are applied to the lenses and include a blue filter that reduces blue radiation, improving visual comfort without sacrificing the beneficial effects.

It is essential that your children are evaluated by an accredited visual health professional so that together you can determine the best solution to minimize exposure to your children’s vision.

If you notice that your child is constantly beginning to suffer from symptoms of digital visual fatigue, in addition to adopting these strategies, you should take them to a specialist for an eye test or, if the child wears glasses, for reevaluate your glasses prescription, and together check the set of changes necessary to reestablish visual balance in your vision.

Prolonged use of these devices can result in digital visual fatigue as we place a unique strain on our eyes, unlike any other visual activity. Focusing on a screen for a long period of time, or switching between several nearby devices, puts the eyes under tension, making it more difficult to accommodate. This is why people who use digital devices the most often suffer from problems related to vision and posture.

The most common symptoms of digital eyestrain are eye strain, headaches and blurred vision, as well as pain in the neck and shoulders. These are some of the strategies that should be adopted to improve these symptoms:

• Ergonomic posture when sitting in front of a screen and the use of fitted glasses.
• The screen must have the highest possible refresh rate and image stability, adjust the monitor so that the image has high contrast and sharpness, and the font size. The top of the screen should be slightly below horizontal eye level and approximately 50 centimeters away.
• Take breaks and the “20-20-20” rule: every 20 minutes focus your gaze on a point at least 20 feet away (6 meters) for at least 20 seconds.
• Blinking frequently is also important for lubricating your eyes and improving symptoms associated with dry eyes.

If you notice that your child is constantly beginning to suffer from symptoms of digital visual fatigue, in addition to adopting these strategies, you should take them to a specialist for an eye test or, if the child wears glasses, for reevaluate your glasses prescription, and together check the set of changes necessary to reestablish visual balance in your vision.

A driver with reduced vision needs more than 3 seconds to identify, for example, a sign on the road. And, if these drivers had good vision, it could prevent some of the road accidents from happening in Angola. However, the habit of resorting to a specialized team in Optometry or Ophthalmology is not present in the reality of everyone, who, by being unaware of the main symptoms and warning signs of our vision, end up compromising their visual health and, in this case, placing themselves at risk on the roads.

As some of the warning signs that drivers should be aware of, we highlight the difficulty in seeing far or near, focusing on objects on the road such as traffic signs or obstacles, blurred vision or eye strain.

In the world, 285 million people suffer from moderate or severe visual impairment and, therefore, it is essential that the population monitors the condition of their eyes as many of the problems related to vision are avoidable and can be prevented or treated when detected early.

Consulting a visual health specialist and undergoing optometry or ophthalmologist exams is the only way to prevent and minimize possible refractive errors and improve drivers’ vision.

The perception of problems related to visual health may begin at school, so teachers must be alert to possible warning signs that the child shows to prevent them from having difficulties in the subject and from being unable to keep up with their classmates. At home, it is also necessary to pay extra attention, parents should try to identify some signs of vision problems and consult an ophthalmologist and/or optometrist in order to treat them as quickly as possible, and not compromise their vision.

When returning to school, it is necessary to raise awareness in the community about the importance of identifying symptoms such as:

• Constant need to get closer to the school board or the television;
• Headaches after reading or looking at digital screens;
• Sensitivity to light;
• Constantly rubbing your eyes;
• Difficulties in understanding texts and images in books;
• Watery eyes and inflamed vision.

Parents should regularly take their children to certified opticians such as Centrooptico to assess their visual acuity. The first ophthalmology consultation should be carried out before the age of 3 or 4, in order to detect defects that may go unnoticed. Subsequently, a routine consultation should be carried out every 2 years, if the child does not have major problems. Children with myopia or other visual problems should be seen every year.

Causes: Myopia can derive from different causes, almost always hereditary, the most common of which is caused by an elongated eyeball (axial myopia). The incident light does not fall on the retina, but before it, which causes vision to become blurred. In rarer cases, it can cause refractive myopia: the length of the eyeball is normal, but the cornea or lens is too curved and, therefore, the image appears before the retina, making it blurry.

Monitor your ocular symptoms and have a diagnosis carried out by an accredited optometrist so as not to compromise what could be an easy to overcome refractive result. Visual examinations are essential to detect possible refractive defects and, consequently, correct them by identifying their exact prescription and the type of lens suitable for each case. accredited in order not to compromise what could be a refractive result that is easy to overcome . Visual examinations are essential to detect any refractive defects and, consequently, correct them by identifying their exact prescription and the type of lenses suitable for each case.

In addition to being seen as an accessory, it is important to take into account that sunglasses are the only ones that protect our eyes against aggressive factors such as UV radiation.

Currently, it is possible to buy sunglasses practically everywhere, however, the factor that is usually overlooked when the purchase is made in street shops or in non-accredited stores is the quality of the lenses. It is important to note that, when we make this purchase on stores that are not specialized in the optics sector, we are only purchasing sunglasses with colored lenses, but which do not have any type of protective element.

Although the eyes have their own protection mechanisms against UV rays, this protection is not sufficient due to the intensity and time of exposure to which we are subjected. That’s why you should look for accredited specialists in visual health, who can advise you on which certified lenses are capable of blocking part of the light and ensuring less damage to the eyes, allowing you to obtain greater clarity and comfort, in addition to helping to prevent diseases such as cataracts, the incidence of which is quite high in the Angolan population, due to the great sun exposure to which they are subject.

UV radiation is always present!

All year round, all day, in winter or summer, on sunny days and even cloudy days.

We all know that UV rays can damage the skin, but exposure to UV radiation is also harmful to eye health. Despite being invisible, long-term exposure can cause serious harm.

A UV camera revealed what is invisible to the naked eye.

Don’t put your eye health at risk.

The skin, eyes and the area around you are very sensitive to UV radiation. Most of us know that UV radiation damages the skin, causing premature aging, wrinkles and, in extreme cases, skin cancer.

But prolonged exposure to UV radiation can also cause various eye diseases, such as cataracts, macular degeneration and aging of the skin around the eyes.

48% of blindness worldwide is caused by cataracts

UV rays between 380 and 400 nanometers (nm) are very intense and are responsible for most UV-related eye damage.

This is why the World Health Organization recommends protection up to 400nm. But despite this, 80% of all clear lenses on the market are not full UV protection.

ZEISS sets a new standard by adding, to all clear lenses, an index of protection at the level of the best sunglasses: total protection from UV rays up to 400nm.

Maximum protection on all clear lenses. All day long. Every day.

Protect your eyes and your skin!

Curiosity:

As plants cannot open themselves in the shade, they owe their own sunscreen, activating the receptors through UV-B rays.

Find out what the most common visual problems in children are:

Hyperopia

The child easily recognizes objects in the distance, however, it takes a great effort to see things up close. This quickly puts too much strain on the brain, which leads to headaches, reddened eyes, inability to concentrate, restlessness and rapid exhaustion when the child reads or writes. Important note: most babies suffer from farsightedness, and this condition improves during the first years of a child’s life.

Myopia

The retina pushes away light rays that penetrate the eye at a distance because the eye is too long or the refractive force of the eye lens is too high. Children affected by this condition are very focused on anything close to them. However, they have difficulties in seeing images on TV, watching a ball when they are playing any game or writing on the school board. These children tend to squint or blink a lot to try to compensate for their visual problems, or when trying to see a distant object more clearly.

Astigmatism

This visual problem is also called irregular corneal curvature. Irregularly shaped corneal rays cause vision to be blurred and distorted. Depending on the severity of the irregular curvature, the child will see objects with more or less deformed linear transmissions.

Strabismus

In common language, we call people who cannot focus both eyes on a single target at the same time as strabismus. Experts consider this condition as strabismus. Approximately 5% of all human beings suffer from this unique visual problem condition, which does not cause any pain. Usually only one eye is affected. The focus is misdirected inwards, outwards, up or down. In other words, it focuses on a fixed point that is not congruent with the clearest vision of the eye, but rather in a different place on the retina. The consequence: two images are generated in the brain – one sharp and one blurry. To make the job easier, the brain learns to suppress the image it finds unacceptable. Henceforth, the child favors the properly functioning eye so as to be able to see. The neglected eye is unable to fully develop its visual acuity – which is why it is called the “lazy eye”. Over time, the vision of this one gets worse. If severe strabismus is not treated, a healthy eye can develop vision problems. The resulting condition is called amblyopia – a lifelong dysfunction that also has other consequences. A child who relies on the use of one eye is unable to develop a visual spatial sense and will also fall behind in the development of motor skills. As an adult, a person suffering from this condition may face serious problems, such as driving a car. The good news: if the condition is detected before the 10th/12th month, amblyopia can be treated quickly and effectively. If the child is more than a year old, the restorative process takes longer.

Amblyopia or ‘lazy eye’

This often results from the child having very good vision in one eye and very poor vision in the other. It almost always affects kids with simple hyperopia or astigmatism – in a nearsighted person it is rare to find amblyopia with this cause because they see very well up close. But if the condition is detected at 2 years or earlier they are very well corrected and recover. What can be achieved by correcting the occlusion [covering] the eye that is good (which has less diopters), this should be done before they go to school.

ZEISS Triple Protection Lenses

ZEISS Triple Protection lenses are the result of a combination of three innovative factors:

• ZEISS DuraVision AntiVirus Platinum UV: anti-reflective treatment that eliminates 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, reducing the possibility of being transmitted to other locations.
• ZEISS BlueGuard: protection against harmful blue radiation, reducing annoying blue-violet reflections.
• ZEISS UVProtect: maximum protection from UV radiation, crucial to preserving your eye health.

Silver, present in lens care, has long-lasting antimicrobial properties. Eyeglass wearers can enjoy clear vision, protection from UV and blue radiation, and trouble-free cleaning. ZEISS Triple Protection lenses also have enhanced durability and deactivate 99.9% of viruses and bacteria on the lens surface.

In Angola you will only find ZEISS DuraVision AntiVirus Platinum UV lenses in one of Centrooptico’s stores.

More hygienic lenses: the fight against microbes

To help protect the health of those who wear glasses and value protection and safety, ZEISS, a leading international brand specializing in optics and optoelectronics, has created DuraVision AntiVirus Platinum UV, an anti-reflective coating with antibacterial and antiviral properties, using a technological innovation that incorporates antimicrobial silver nanoparticles that is already available in Angola, exclusively, at Centrooptico stores.

The global pandemic has affected us all, in one way or another, and awareness of viruses has become inevitable. Known for optical superiority and precision lenses designed to provide clear, comfortable vision and correct refractive errors, ZEISS has come up with an antimicrobial coating solution to address this growing concern.

Recent studies indicate that eyeglass lenses have a very diverse contamination[2].

It is believed that eyeglass lenses are contaminated with a set of potentially harmful micro-organisms, as they are exposed in the center of the human face, and because of their proximity to contact with the skin, nose and mouth[3]. Take the example of the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, which is able to survive for many hours – even days – on surfaces [4], including eyeglass lenses, and can remain active in plastics and other materials for up to 72 hours .

ZEISS has now developed a process to incorporate very small antimicrobial silver particles invisibly but effectively into the anti-reflective coating. The precious metal, which has been recognized for centuries to have antimicrobial properties and a preventive power against infections, effectively eliminates viruses and bacteria present in lenses.

External, independent and internationally accredited testing laboratories have carried out comprehensive antimicrobial efficacy tests in accordance with testing procedures established by the highest international standards, including ISO standards [5].

With this coating, the presence of microbial contamination on the surface of the ophthalmic lenses was reduced. As a result, this solution guarantees even more prevention in everyday life and is a new contribution to the hygiene of ophthalmic lenses.

With the introduction of ZEISS DuraVision AntiVirus Platinum UV, eyewear wearers can enjoy clearer vision, along with the convenience of easy cleaning, enhanced durability, and now the added confidence of an antiviral and antibacterial lens surface, which disables 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria [1].

Notes:

[1] Tested to ISO 21702:2019(E) for enveloped viruses and tested to ISO 22196:2011(E) for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Proven effectiveness after 24 hours as defined by ISO standards.

[2] Fritz B., März M., Weis S., Wahl S., Ziemssen F., Egert M. (2020). Specific molecular analysis of the bacteriote site in used eyeglasses. Scientific Reports, 10: 5577.

ZEISS has studied the microbial content of eyeglass lenses over several years in cooperation with Furtwangen University

[3] Fritz, B., Jenner, A., Wahl, S., Lappe, C., Zehender, A., Horn, C., Blessing, F., Kohl, M., Ziemssen, F., Egert, M. (2018). A vision to kill? – Environmental bacterial load of spectacle frames and lenses and evaluation of different cleaning methods. PLoS ONE 13 (11): e0207238.

[4] van Doremalen N., Bushmaker T., Morris D.H., Holbrook M.G., Gamble A., Williamson B.N., Tamin A., Harcourt J.L., Thornburg N.J., Gerber S.I., Lloyd-Smith J.O., of Wit E., Munster V.J. (2020). Aerosol and surface stability of SARS-CoV-2 compared to SARS-CoV-1. New England Journal of Medicine, 382: 16.

[5] Tested to ISO 21702: 2019 (E) for enveloped viruses and tested to ISO 22196: 2011 (E) for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Proven effectiveness after 24 hours as defined by ISO.

1. Hearing loss has no solution.

MYTH. In most cases, hearing loss can be treated with the use of hearing aids. Increasingly modern and comfortable, these devices amplify sounds, helping people to rehabilitate their hearing.

2. Deafness basically affects elderly people.

MYTH. With natural ageing, there is a decrease in the physiological decline of auditory cells. Usually, around the age of 60, the person begins to have difficulties in hearing and understanding speech, so it is common for complaints of “I hear, but I don’t understand”. If not diagnosed and treated correctly, presbycusis – the name of the loss caused by natural ageing – can cause a lot of damage to the elderly, such as isolation due to the inability to communicate and even depression.

3. There is no need to use cotton swabs to clean the ear.

TRUTH. The ear has its own mechanisms that push the excess wax out. Just remove this excess on the outside with a soft fabric, like the end of a towel. The use of cotton swabs inside the ear canal can push the wax towards the tympanic membrane, causing deafness or even damage to the eardrum. For this reason, avoid introducing both cotton swabs and other objects such as staples, pen caps or toothpicks.

4. Listening to loud music through headphones can cause deafness.

TRUTH. Hearing loss happens because loud sound causes damage to auditory sensory cells and they do not regenerate. The maximum recommended sound exposure limit is 85 decibels, with an exposure time not exceeding 8 hours. Check out some precautions to use headphones safely.

5. Noises like the hairdryer are not bad for your hearing.

MYTH. Prolonged exposure to noise above 85 decibels can damage hearing health. The use of hearing protectors would be an important point to avoid future hearing problems. As well as conducting frequent hearing tests to monitor your hearing.

6. Some medications can damage your hearing.

TRUTH. There are about 200 ototoxic drugs (antibiotics such as streptomycin used to treat tuberculosis, diuretics and even some substances based on acetylsalicylic acid) that can cause damage to the cochlear and vestibular system – structures that are very important for hearing. As it is often difficult for the patient to know this list, it is worth asking the doctor about the risks of the medication and doing frequent hearing tests to monitor possible hearing loss if you need to use ototoxic medication.

7. Smoking can cause tinnitus.

TRUTH. Several studies actually point out the relationship between smoking and hearing loss and, consequently, with the development of tinnitus. A study by the University of Manchester, UK, for example, found that smokers are 15% more likely to suffer from hearing loss. To reach this conclusion, the survey considered the data of more than 50 thousand volunteers, who have been observed since 2007.

8. Climbing mountains can cause deafness.

MYTH. The change in altitude can cause some discomfort such as the pressure we feel in the ear when descending a mountain range or when taking off from the plane. This is usually a temporary annoyance because the internal pressure of the ear is balanced with the ambient pressure. But in some cases – when there is a sudden change, for example – the so-called “barotrauma” can occur. It is characterized by severe ear pain, which can be so severe that it becomes disabling, severe hearing loss, very intense tinnitus, vertigo and rupture of the eardrum. To avoid the problem, the solution is simple: avoid sudden changes in altitude.

9. An ear infection can cause hearing loss.

TRUTH. Ear infections can cause hearing loss if they happen repeatedly. It is necessary to be especially attentive to children – they, for physiological reasons (the channel that connects the auditory tube to the nose is short and horizontal in children – who often suffer from them. To avoid them, the ideal is to keep ears without fluid build-up, treating colds and breathing problems that can also cause hearing problems.