A recent study published in Ethology finds that people with bloodshot eyes are considered sadder, unhealthier and less attractive than people whose eyes are white.

“Red, ‘bloodshot’ eyes are prominent in medical diagnoses and in folk culture”, said lead author Dr. Robert R. Provine from the University of Maryland.  ”We wanted to know if they influence the everyday behaviour and attitudes of those who view them, and if they trigger perceptions of attractiveness.”

Bloodshot eyes occur when the small blood vessels in the conjunctiva become enlarged and congested with blood, giving a red tint to the underlying sclera, the “white” of the eyes. Redness of the sclera is believed to be a general sign of a person’s emotional and biological state.

“If you met a friend with bloodshot eyes it may be unclear whether your friend has an infection, tired, or has allergies. you should offer sympathy or medical assistance because red eyes may be a result of lack of sleep, weeping allergies or an infectious disease,” says Dr Provine.

In the first empirical test to discover the perceptions and behavioural implications of red eyes,  208 volunteer students, with an average age of 20.6 years, were tested from the University of Maryland, Baltimore Maryland.

The volunteers were shown 200 images of eyes, half with clear white sclera and half with sclera tinted red by digital image processing. The volunteers were asked how sad, healthy or attractive these people were. The results revealed that people with red eyes appear to be sadder, less healthy, and less attractive compared to those with whiter eyes.

This is the first study to demonstrate that eye redness is perceived as a cue of emotion. Humans appear to be the only species which uses eye coloration as an indicator of either health or emotion. “Standards of beauty vary across cultures, however, youth and healthiness are always in fashion because they are associated with reproductive fitness,” said Provine. “Traits such as long, lustrous hair and smooth or scar-free skin are cues of youth and offer the beholder a partial record of health.

Dr Ashraf of the Atlanta Vision Institute adds that many conditions causing chronic redness can be helped through medical treatment.  He states the most common causes of chronic redness are due to dry eyes and allergic conjunctivitis.  These two conditions can easily be helped through frequent lubrication of the eyes or eye medications.  He also points out that he occasionally sees patients with chronic red eyes that have no specific etiology.  Surgery maybe an option for some of these patients and states this is quite popular in countries such as Korea.

A recent French study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (10/14/10) reveals that recreational drugs known as “poppers” may cause light sensitivity or even vision loss.  The authors report on 4 cases of visual symptoms and/or visual loss after the use of “poppers” for recreational use.  Symptoms included light sensitivity, seeing a bright light in the center of their vision, and loss of vision.  One these patients experienced symptoms after only one dose of “poppers.”

“Poppers” are recreational drugs that are often inhaled for a “head rush” or to increase sexual arousal.  These drugs have been popular in the gay community for many years and now have spread to the mainstream party crowd.  There base ingredient is nitric acid.  This ingredient may affect the metabolism of the retinal photoreceptors.  Dr Ashraf, medical director of The Atlanta Vision Institute, notes that these cells are critical to the functioning of the retina.  He goes on to state that any damage to these cells may lead to permanent vision damage.  Fortunately, in the present study, most of the patient’s vision had recovered to normal levels after they stopped taking the drugs.

Based on these findings, Dr Ashraf advises potential users of “poppers” to be aware of the potential risk for popper-related retinal toxicity.

Considering LASIK eye surgery? Visit Dr. Ashraf’s Atlanta LASIK website or LASIK Dubai site for more information.

A 15-year old boy lost eyesight due to improper use of a laser pointer.  In a case report published in the New England Journal of Medicine doctors in Switzerland describe this teenager who ordered a powerful laser pointer through the internet.  He pointed the laser pointer in the mirror to create a laser show.  His vision became increasingly blurry.  Upon visit to the ophthalmologist 2 weeks later his vision in the left eye was so bad he could not even see the big “E” on the eyechart.  On examination the patient sustained a retinal hemorrhage or bleeding of the retina and multiple scars in the maculae.  His vision did improve considerably in the next 4 months, however he continued to have permanent scars in the retina.
Dr Ashraf, LASIK surgeon at the Atlanta Vision Institute, comments that, “lasers pointers that are currently sold over the counter in the United States are relatively safe when used properly, however certain lasers obtained over the internet can be as powerful as 700mW.  These lasers have the potential to cause serious eye injuries.”

In a recent report published in Pediatrics, showed that the most frequently injured body part due to medical device complications was the eye.  The study showed the most frequent diagnosis were corneal abrasions, conjunctivitis, and hemorrhage.  Eye pain, bacterial infections, and corneal ulcers have also been implicated in misuse of contact lenses and some of these can lead to permanent vision loss or even blindness.  Most of the problems due to contact lens wear was due to improper use, poor hygiene, and misuse of the lenses.  “Contact lenses are great alternative to glasses in kids, however kids and their parents have to be reminded that serious eye injuries can occur if they are misused,” states M Farooq Ashraf MD, Atlanta LASIK surgeon of the Atlanta Vision Institute.  He advises to have a proper contact lens fitting, not to sleep with the contact lenses, have proper hygiene when handling the contacts, and never swim with the contacts in.

Greater than 40,000 eye injuries from sports occur each year requiring a visit to the local Emergency Room, according to the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission.  The good news is that most of these injuries can be treated acutely with no permanent damage to the eye.  Sports like basketball may lead to injuries in which the eye gets poked by fingers or elbows.  High velocity injuries can lead to permanent damage.  These include injuries in which the eye is struck by a fist, baseball, golf ball, or a hockey puck.  Repeat trauma to the eye may also lead to permanent damage.  An example of this would be Sugar Ray Leonard sustaining multiple retinal detachments over many years of sustained blows to the eyes.  Sustained head trauma from boxing, rugby, or football may lead to brain damage of which may result in dementia.  This leads to a situation in which the eye and visual acuity may be normal, however the patient may not be able to interrupt the images or words that he or she sees.  Dr Ashraf notes that it is very important to obtain an eye exam after any eye injury by an ophthalmologist since certain injuries may lead to eye damage many years after the injury.  For example, severe blunt trauma to the eye may lead to small tears in the retina or cause glaucoma.  These conditions may manifest many years after the initial injury and the patient usually is asymptomatic.  Unfortunately by the time the patient notices changes in his vision, it may be too late.  In a recent study it was noted that 66-76% of boxers have signs of ocular trauma.  The key finding in this study was these boxers were completely asymptomatic.  If left unchecked, some may develop glaucoma and potentially become blind.

Lady Gaga’s wider-than-life eyes in her “Bad Romance” video has fueled the latest craze for teenagers.  This look is re-created through the use of “circle” contact lenses.  These colored soft contact lenses are slightly larger than normal, they not only cover the cornea but extend out to the white part of the eye.  Many consumers have been getting these lenses illegally through the internet without a prescription.  This has prompted the American Academy of Ophthalmology to issue a statement about the dangers of these lenses.  They note that  buying any decorative lenses, including circle lenses, without a prescription is illegal.  Any type of contact lens is a medical device that requires a prescription, proper fitting by an eye care professional and a commitment to proper care by the consumer. Inflammation and pain can occur from improperly fitted, over-the-counter lenses and can lead to more serious problems including corneal abrasions and blinding infections.   Dr Ashraf, medical director of the Atlanta Vision Institute, notes that these lenses can be safe and effective when used properly.  This requires a contact lens fitting by your eye care professional and proper care by the individual.

Visual performance in normal eyes can be affected by macular pigments such as lutein and zeaxanthin.  In a study published in the Journal of Food Science in December 2009, the investigators reported that these carotenoids can help to stave off glare and quicken the time a person’s eyes recover after being exposed to blinding flashes, such as oncoming headlights.  According to the lead author Billy Hammond PhD, professor of neuroscience at the University of Georgia, these two carotenoids play a role in how fast the brain processes information.  He also noted that people vary dramatically in how much of these pigments they have.  Dr Hammond notes that carotenoids are going to play an important role in the maturation of the visual system in babies and may play a crucial role in cognitive function also.  “The retina is a neural tissue and reflects neural tissue in other parts of the body like the brain,” he said.  This may play a role in future research in diseases such as Alzheimer’s.  Dr Ashraf of the Atlanta Vision Institute adds, “that by supplementing your diet with these carotenoids may not only help with prevention of macular degeneration but may also improve cognitive function.”

Investigators in a Vancouver research institute noticed a 15% increased risk of cataract formation in patients taking Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI).  The researchers assessed data for nearly 19,000 people age 65 or older, all of whom also had cardiovascular disease. Their records were compared to about 190,000 controls.  The effect was strongest for three SSRIs: Luvox, Effexor, and Paxil.  The etiology maybe based on the fact that the crystalline lens has seratonin receptors and excess seratonin in the eye may the lens cloudy thereby leading to cataract formation.  Dr Ashraf, Medical Director of the Atlanta  Vision Institute, comments that patients currently or in the process of starting on oral SSRI antidepressant therapy may consider this minor risk of cataract formation.

A dangerous drinking game called “vodka eyeballing” is attracting public attention on YouTube. People need to be aware that anyone who pours vodka directly into his eye risks damaging the surface epithelial cells–often causing pain and infection.  The cornea is the clear outer part of the eye that focuses light and provides much of the optical power. Depending on the amount of alcohol and length of time it is in contact with the eye, epithelial cell loss could result in corneal ulcers or scarring, not to mention a great deal of pain. And if endothelial cells die off, vision recovery would be uncertain. “Eyeballers” do not even get a “quick high” as claimed, because the volume of vodka absorbed by the conjunctiva and cornea is too small to have that effect.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and Atlanta LASIK surgeon Dr Ashraf strongly advises the public not to engage in “vodka eyeballing.”

Click Here to view Dr. Ashraf’s recent news interview about Vodka Eyeballing.

Caffeine may be effective in protecting the lens against damage that could lead to the formation of cataracts according to a study presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD hypothesized that caffeine may inhibit the intraocular generation of reactive oxygen species in the lens and consequent damage to the tissue.

The team studied the oxyradical effects in vitro by incubating mice lenses in medium exposed UVA in the presence of kynurenine with and without caffeine. In vivo studies were conducted in rats by incorporating caffeine with galactose in their diet. In both cases, caffeine was found to be effective in protecting the lens against damage.

As reported in the abstract, “These effects of caffeine have not been reported before and are hence considered highly interesting in view of its relatively high content in widely consumed beverages.” Additional research to determine the pharmacological significance of this study is underway.