Eye Didn't Know!

Sunglasses For The Masses

Did you know? Various excellent charities exist for collecting used prescription eyeglasses and donating them to the poor in other countries, who otherwise might not be able to afford them.

Sara Schairer, however, had the brilliant idea of collecting and donating used sunglasses. She visited the Flying Samaritans eye clinic in Tecate, Mexico, and was impressed that the diseases we treat surgically, cataracts and pterygia, were caused, at least in part, by sun exposure. She noticed that none of our patients were wearing sunglasses! 

The clinic distributes dozens of prescription eyeglasses each month, but no one had thought of distributing sunglasses.

Sara singlehanded started an organization, Sunglasses For The Masses, to coordinate collection and distribution of "gently used" sunglasses.

Last weekend Sara came to Tecate and distributed 40 pairs of sunglasses. What a great start!

Did you also know? Visit Sara's website, Sunglasses For The Masses, to learn how you can donate your old sunglasses, and how you can help spread this wonderful idea. And if you ever think that one person cannot make a difference, think again!

 

Testing Your Color Vision

Did you know? There is an online resource which enables you to test your color vision.  The X-Rite company, which manufactures devices which insure color standardization between computer monitors, provides a color test on their website. The test is called the 100-hue test, and involves arranging tiles in order of their hue. It's rather challenging, are you up to it? (the test requires registration). Find the test here.

Did you also know? Except when suspecting optic nerve disease, ophthalmologists rarely test color vision, and rarely so extensively as with the 100 hue test.

The Eye Digest

Did you know? There are many resources about ophthalmology on the internet. It's difficult, though, to sift through them all, and know which ones to trust. I have found a website (actually they found me!) which provides comprehensive information about the eye and its diseases. It is The Eye Digest, produced by the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, an excellent ophthalmology training center in Chicago. I think you will be pleased by the quality of this resource.

Did you also know? Their website also has videos, and you can write in with questions, as well.