World Sight Day 2023: Eyesight And Vision Are Different Entities

October 12, 2023, Is World Sight Day 

On October 12, 2023, the world will celebrate World Sight Day – a global event that highlights the issues related to blindness and vision impairment. Our eyesight is crucial for our everyday activities. It helps us connect with our surroundings and the people around us. It allows us to see the beauty of the world with its myriad of colors, shapes, images, sizes, and patterns. Our vision helps us recognize movement, and determines motion. Our eyes can process 36,000 pieces of information in an hour, and over a lifetime, we will see approximately 24 million different images. The three primary colors that make up these images are red, blue, and green, with the other colors being a combination of the three. Our eyes are our most important sense organs, responsible for perceiving about 80 percent of all impressions. Thus, our eyes protect us from danger when other senses such as taste or smell fail.

Eye Facts And What They Mean

Eye health is essential. Our vision is one of the most delicate systems, if not the most, in the human body, so any unusual symptoms or sensations should be brought to the attention of an eye care professional immediately to ensure proper treatment and continued function. The following are common eye symptoms that may require a visit to and examination by your eye care professional. Our sight and vision are crucial.

  • There are four types of vision; nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, or near-perfect eyesight.
  • The most important organ of sense is our eyes, our vision. We perceive approximately 80% of all impressions using our sight. It is our eyes that best protect us from danger
  • Keep us safe
  • They allow us to connect with our surroundings
  • Help maintain the sharpness of our minds
  • Sight and vision are different entities.
    • Sight is physical – it is a sensory experience in which light reflects off of shapes and objects and the eyes then
  • Sight absorbs the visual elements of this world. Vision unveils a world that can exist. Sight reveals boundaries in our path. Vision sees beyond limits (Lexgillette).
  • Your eyesight takes place in the eyes and vision takes place in the brain.
  • Your eyes pick up a clear image (eyesight) and the brain (vision) can process, understand, and analyze that image.
  • Vision is how the brain filters the information delivered by the eyes.

The Cornea Or Conjunctiva (Eye Rheum) And A Mucus Discharge From 

Eye Rheum, also known as ‘sleep” in the eye matter, eye gunk, eye boogers, or eye discharge, A little sleep in the eyes upon waking is a normal function of the eye. It is your body’s mechanism for clearing the eyes of any bacteria or debris such as allergens or cosmetics. A change in your eye’s normal discharge (consistency, frequency, or amount) may indicate an eye infection that requires prompt treatment. Conjunctivitis (bacterial, viral, or allergic) is the condition most commonly associated with abnormal eye discharge.

Bright Light (Photophobia) And Eye Discomfort

Photophobia, sensitivity to light, is the sensitivity or intolerance to bright light. In mild cases, one might need to squint in bright light, but in serious cases of photophobia, the bright light causes severe eye pain. Corneal abrasion, dry eyes, scleritis, conjunctivitis, encephalitis, meningitis, and subarachnoid hemorrhage all cause photophobia. Some causes of photophobia are not considered serious medical problems, but sometimes these symptoms accompany conditions that are medical emergencies. Any instance of light sensitivity should be brought to the attention of an eye care professional.

This is a short list of some of our favorite photophobia home remedies (Source: theraspecs.com)
  • Gradually increase light exposure
  • Get rid of fluorescent light bulbs, and be wary of LEDs too
  • Fully open your window blinds (or close them altogether)
  • Double-check your medications
  • Wear sunglasses with polarization when outside
Floaters (Myodesopsias or Muscae Volitantes_in Latin it is flying flies)

Small spots, squiggly lines, strands, or ring-like objects that appear in the field of vision are called floaters. Especially apparent in bright environments, floaters are most often a benign annoyance. They are ocular trouble consisting of the emergence in the visual field of black or white-colored dots, spots, threads, or cobwebs of different shapes, that move with eye movements. However, they may appear in conjunction with more serious underlying conditions such as eye tumors, retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, or a retinal tear.

Anyone experiencing floaters should seek treatment with an eye care professional. (All see Retinal Detachment is Section entitled “Diseases and Conditions of the Eye”). They are ocular trouble consisting of the emergence in the visual field of black or white-colored dots, spots, threads, or cobwebs of different shapes, that move with eye movements.

It is always important to visit your eye doctor yearly, or when you believe there are issues, to ensure you protect this important sense.  Contact us immediately if you are experiencing any of the issues listed above.

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Dr. Lori Landrio Optometrist
2469 Merrick Road
Bellmore, NY 11710

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