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Chilling vision of missing family emerges

<p>A video filmed in New Zealand's west coast is the first "credible" sighting of a father and his kids who went missing three years ago. </p> <p>Tom Phillips along with his daughter Jayda, now 11, son Maverick, 9 and daughter Ember, 8, disappeared from the New Zealand town of Marokopa in December 2021. </p> <p>There have been hundreds of sightings of Phillips reported to police since then, with many of them unverified, and the children nowhere in sight.</p> <p>But now, new footage shot on the evening of October 3, showed all four of them marching through a grass field in Marokopa, in a single file with camouflage gear and heavy backpacks.</p> <p>The video, filmed by pig hunters, was handed to police and has since prompted a large-scale search of farmland in the area this week, which unfortunately failed to locate Phillips and his children. </p> <p>In the footage, the family seemed unaware they were being filmed from afar, with one of the witnesses describing them as "equipped for the bush". </p> <p>The children's mother, Catherine, has seen the video and instantly recognised her kids. </p> <p>“I’m so happy that they’re all there," she told the <em>New Zealand Herald</em>. </p> <p>"I’m so relieved to see all three of my babies. They’re all alive."</p> <p>The pig hunters who filmed the footage recalled their short encounter with the children. </p> <p>“The children asked: ‘Who else knows we’re here?’ And then they just kept on walking. They were all packed up, they had big packs on. I think the father sort of kept them moving,” Farmer John McOviney told the New Zealand Herald.</p> <p>In another interview with radio station <em>Newstalk ZB</em>, McOviney said that Phillips was carrying a large rifle. </p> <p>NZ Police Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders has also confirmed the sighting was being treated as "credible". </p> <p>"While nothing further of significance was located, investigators will now assess information gathered to determine any next steps," he said. </p> <p>"This is the first time all three of the children have been sighted, which is positive information, and we know it will be reassuring for the children's wider family."</p> <p>While police remain tight-lipped about what their next steps are, they said : "Our focus is very much on the safe return of Jayda, Maverick and Ember to their whānau [the Maori word for family] and we are doing all that we can to make that happen.”</p> <p>Phillips and his three children first went missing on September 11, 2021, and an arrest warrant was issued for Phillips shortly after their disappearance. </p> <p>He does not have legal custody over his children is alleged to have breached a custody order by taking them. The children are believed to have had no education or contact with others since their disappearance. </p> <p>Members of the public have been warned not to approach Phillips if they spotted him, as he may be armed. </p> <p><em>Images: TVNZ/ Waikato Police</em></p>

Legal

‘I keep away from people’ – combined vision and hearing loss is isolating more and more older Australians

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/moira-dunsmore-295190">Moira Dunsmore</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/annmaree-watharow-1540942">Annmaree Watharow</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emily-kecman-429210">Emily Kecman</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p>Our <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health">ageing population</a> brings a growing crisis: people over 65 are at greater risk of dual sensory impairment (also known as “deafblindness” or combined vision and hearing loss).</p> <p>Some 66% of people over 60 have hearing loss and 33% of older Australians have low vision. Estimates suggest more than a quarter of Australians over 80 are <a href="https://www.senseswa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/a-clear-view---senses-australia.pdf">living with dual sensory impairment</a>.</p> <p>Combined vision and hearing loss <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0264619613490519">describes</a> any degree of sight and hearing loss, so neither sense can compensate for the other. Dual sensory impairment can occur at any point in life but is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2012.02.004">increasingly common</a> as people get older.</p> <p>The experience can make older people feel isolated and unable to participate in important conversations, including about their health.</p> <h2>Causes and conditions</h2> <p>Conditions related to hearing and vision impairment often <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-we-lose-our-hearing-and-vision-as-we-age-67930">increase as we age</a> – but many of these changes are subtle.</p> <p>Hearing loss can start <a href="https://www.who.int/teams/noncommunicable-diseases/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation/highlighting-priorities-for-ear-and-hearing-care">as early as our 50s</a> and often accompany other age-related visual changes, such as <a href="https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/">age-related macular degeneration</a>.</p> <p>Other age-related conditions are frequently prioritised by patients, doctors or carers, such as <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-conditions-disability-deaths/chronic-disease/overview">diabetes or heart disease</a>. Vision and hearing changes can be easy to overlook or accept as a normal aspect of ageing. As an older person we interviewed for our <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29262">research</a> told us</p> <blockquote> <p>I don’t see too good or hear too well. It’s just part of old age.</p> </blockquote> <h2>An invisible disability</h2> <p>Dual sensory impairment has a significant and negative impact in all aspects of a person’s life. It reduces access to information, mobility and orientation, impacts <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/09638280210129162">social activities and communication</a>, making it difficult for older adults to manage.</p> <p>It is underdiagnosed, underrecognised and sometimes misattributed (for example, to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbz043">cognitive impairment or decline</a>). However, there is also growing evidence of links between <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12054">dementia and dual sensory loss</a>. If left untreated or without appropriate support, dual sensory impairment diminishes the capacity of older people to live independently, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12054">feel happy and be safe</a>.</p> <p>A dearth of specific resources to educate and support older Australians with their dual sensory impairment means when older people do raise the issue, their GP or health professional may not understand its significance or where to refer them. One older person told us:</p> <blockquote> <p>There’s another thing too about the GP, the sort of mentality ‘well what do you expect? You’re 95.’ Hearing and vision loss in old age is not seen as a disability, it’s seen as something else.</p> </blockquote> <h2>Isolated yet more dependent on others</h2> <p>Global trends show a worrying conundrum. Older people with dual sensory impairment become <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12054">more socially isolated</a>, which impacts their mental health and wellbeing. At the same time they can become increasingly dependent on other people to help them navigate and manage day-to-day activities with limited sight and hearing.</p> <p>One aspect of this is how effectively they can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.25522">comprehend and communicate in a health-care setting</a>. Recent research shows <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12080852">doctors and nurses in hospitals</a> aren’t making themselves understood to most of their patients with dual sensory impairment. Good communication in the health context is about more than just “knowing what is going on”, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/8/852">researchers note</a>. It facilitates:</p> <ul> <li>shorter hospital stays</li> <li>fewer re-admissions</li> <li>reduced emergency room visits</li> <li>better treatment adherence and medical follow up</li> <li>less unnecessary diagnostic testing</li> <li>improved health-care outcomes.</li> </ul> <h2>‘Too hard’</h2> <p>Globally, there is a better understanding of how important it is to <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240030749">maintain active social lives</a> as people age. But this is difficult for older adults with dual sensory loss. One person told us</p> <blockquote> <p>I don’t particularly want to mix with people. Too hard, because they can’t understand. I can no longer now walk into that room, see nothing, find my seat and not recognise [or hear] people.</p> </blockquote> <p>Again, these experiences increase reliance on family. But caring in this context is tough and largely <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2020.572201">hidden</a>. Family members describe being the “eyes and ears” for their loved one. It’s a 24/7 role which can bring <a href="https://doi.org/10.1159/000507856">frustration, social isolation and depression</a> for carers too. One spouse told us:</p> <blockquote> <p>He doesn’t talk anymore much, because he doesn’t know whether [people are] talking to him, unless they use his name, he’s unaware they’re speaking to him, so he might ignore people and so on. And in the end, I noticed people weren’t even bothering him to talk, so now I refuse to go. Because I don’t think it’s fair.</p> </blockquote> <p>So, what can we do?</p> <p>Dual sensory impairment is a growing problem with potentially devastating impacts.</p> <p>It should be considered a unique and distinct disability in all relevant protections and policies. This includes the right to dedicated diagnosis and support, accessibility provisions and specialised skill development for health and social professionals and carers.</p> <p>We need to develop resources to help people with dual sensory impairment and their families and carers understand the condition, what it means and how everyone can be supported. This could include communication adaptation, such as social haptics (communicating using touch) and specialised support for older adults to <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09649069.2019.1627088">navigate health care</a>.</p> <p>Increasing awareness and understanding of dual sensory impairment will also help those impacted with everyday engagement with the world around them – rather than the isolation many feel now.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/232142/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/moira-dunsmore-295190">Moira Dunsmore</a>, Senior Lecturer, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/annmaree-watharow-1540942">Annmaree Watharow</a>, Lived Experience Research Fellow, Centre for Disability Research and Policy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emily-kecman-429210">Emily Kecman</a>, Postdoctoral research fellow, Department of Linguistics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-keep-away-from-people-combined-vision-and-hearing-loss-is-isolating-more-and-more-older-australians-232142">original article</a>.</em></p>

Body

New studies suggest millions with mild cognitive impairment go undiagnosed, often until it’s too late

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/soeren-mattke-1484707">Soeren Mattke</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-california-1265">University of Southern California</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ying-liu-1221170">Ying Liu</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/usc-dornsife-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences-2669">USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences</a></em></p> <p>Mild cognitive impairment – an early stage of dementia – is widely underdiagnosed in people 65 and older. That is the key takeaway of two recent studies from our team.</p> <p>In the first study, we used Medicare data for about 40 million beneficiaries age 65 and older from 2015 to 2019 to estimate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in that population and to identify what proportion of them had actually been diagnosed.</p> <p>Our <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-023-01272-z">finding was sobering</a>: A mere 8% of the number of cases with mild cognitive impairment that we expected based on a statistical model had actually been diagnosed. Scaled up to the general population 65 and older, this means that approximately 7.4 million cases across the country remain undiagnosed.</p> <p>In the second study, we analyzed data for 226,756 primary care clinicians and found that <a href="https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2023.131">over 99% of them underdiagnosed mild cognitive impairment</a> in this population.</p> <h2>Why it matters</h2> <p>Mild cognitive impairment is an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.2000">about half of cases</a> and progresses to dementia <a href="https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/related_conditions/mild-cognitive-impairment">at a rate of 10% to 15% per year</a>. It includes symptoms such as losing the ability to remember recent events and appointments, make sound decisions and master complex tasks. Failure to detect it might deprive patients of an opportunity to get treated and to slow down disease progression.</p> <p>Mild cognitive impairment can sometimes be caused by easily addressable factors, such as medication side effects, thyroid dysfunction or <a href="https://theconversation.com/vitamin-b12-deficiency-is-a-common-health-problem-that-can-have-serious-consequences-but-doctors-often-overlook-it-192714">vitamin B12 deficiency</a>. Since mild cognitive impairment has <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjopharm.2008.06.004">the same risk factors as cardiovascular disease</a>, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, medication management of these risks combined with diet and exercise <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60461-5">can reduce the risk of progression</a>.</p> <p>In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-converts-novel-alzheimers-disease-treatment-traditional-approval">approved the drug lecanemab</a> as the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-the-fdas-accelerated-approval-of-a-new-alzheimers-drug-could-mean-for-those-with-the-disease-5-questions-answered-about-lecanemab-197460">first disease-modifying treatment</a> <a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-causes-and-risk-factors/what-happens-brain-alzheimers-disease">for Alzheimer’s disease</a>, the most common cause of mild cognitive impairment. In contrast to previous drugs, which can temporarily improve symptoms of the disease, such as memory loss and agitation, this new treatment addresses the underlying cause of the disease.</p> <p>Lecanemab, a monoclonal antibody, <a href="https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-are-Amyloid-Plaques.aspx">reduces amyloid plaques</a> in the brain, which are toxic protein clumps that are believed to contribute to the progression of the disease. In a large clinical trial, lecanemab was able to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2212948">reduce the progression</a> of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. A similar drug, donanemab, also <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.13239">succeeded in a clinical trial</a> and is expected to be <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/fda-delays-approval-of-alzheimers-drug-donanemab-what-experts-think">approved sometime in 2024</a>.</p> <p>However, these drugs must be used in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, ideally when a patient has only mild cognitive impairment, as there is <a href="https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/treatments/lecanemab-leqembi">no evidence that they are effective in advanced stages</a>.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w3IbAscNjsQ?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">An earlier diagnosis leads to early treatment and better outcomes.</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>What still isn’t known</h2> <p>Many factors contribute to the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13051">lack of timely detection</a>. But researchers don’t have a good understanding of the relative importance of those individual factors or how to reduce the high rate of underdiagnosis.</p> <p>While distinct, symptoms are subtle and their slow progression means that they can be overlooked or misinterpreted as normal aging. A neurologist in China told our research team that diagnosis rates spike in China after the New Year’s holiday, when children who haven’t seen their parents for a year notice changes that are harder to pick up when interacting with someone daily.</p> <p>Doctors also commonly discount memory concerns as normal aging and doubt that much can be done about it. While cognitive tests to distinguish mild cognitive impairment from pathologic decline do exist, they take about 15 minutes, which can be hard to come by during the limited time of a doctor’s visit and may require a follow-up appointment.</p> <h2>What’s next</h2> <p>People, particularly those in their 60s and beyond, as well as their families and friends need to be vigilant about cognitive decline, bring it up during doctor’s appointments and insist on a formal assessment.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/yearly-wellness-visits">Medicare yearly “wellness” visit</a> is an opportunity to explore such concerns, but only about half of beneficiaries <a href="https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01795">take advantage of it</a>.</p> <p>Just as physicians ask patients about unexplained weight loss and take those concerns seriously, we believe questions that explore a patient’s cognitive state need to become the norm.</p> <p><em>The <a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/research-brief-83231">Research Brief</a> is a short take on interesting academic work.</em><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/216892/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/soeren-mattke-1484707">Soeren Mattke</a>, Director of the USC Dornsife Brain Health Observatory, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-california-1265">University of Southern California</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ying-liu-1221170">Ying Liu</a>, Research Scientist, Center for Economic and Social Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/usc-dornsife-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences-2669">USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/new-studies-suggest-millions-with-mild-cognitive-impairment-go-undiagnosed-often-until-its-too-late-216892">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Mind

REVIEW: Super-intelligent, dog-detecting robot lawn mower

<p>I was recently invited to an onsite demonstration of a brand new line of lawn mowers that were pitched as being not just a lawn mower, but a furry-friend dodging, grass-grooming marvel of modern technology.</p> <p>According to the specs, the <a href="https://au.worx.com/vision-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WORX LANDROID® Vision</a> is the world’s first advanced AI, "unbox & mow" robot lawn mower. "No wire. No satellite. No beacons. No time between unboxing and mowing."</p> <p>Using a combination of HRD camera, the latest AI smarts and a deeply trained neural network to identify grass to mow and obstacles to avoid, it features the innovative "Cut-to-Edge" function, multi-zone management and adaptive auto-scheduling. Plus an<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> optional LED headlight safe night-mowing (apparently, unlike conventional robots, Vision sees nocturnal animals and stays away from them).</span></p> <p>But the real test for me was always going to be: how would something like the Vision get along with my dog, Rosie? I was offered the chance to try out one of the mowers for a few weeks, and so I jumped at it.</p> <p>But let's talk about Rosie for a moment. Now, this little ball of fur thinks she's the queen of the backyard. She zooms around like a tiny tornado, and honestly I think she believes the grass is her personal chew toy. So, when I introduced the LANDROID into the mix, I was half expecting chaos and half hoping for a miracle.</p> <p>Lo and behold, this mower is not just a lawn whisperer; it's a puppy ninja. The WORX LANDROID has some sort of superpower in its sensors, allowing it to detect my pup's presence and skilfully manoeuvre around her. It was like watching a graceful dance between technology and canine curiosity.</p> <p>For the duration of the test, Rosie basically appointed herself as the official supervisor of lawn maintenance, proudly watching from a safe distance (and sometimes not so safe) as the LANDROID worked its magic.</p> <p>But let's not forget about the real star of the show: the lawn itself. The LANDROID doesn't just dodge around obstacles; it trims with precision, leaving my yard looking like a freshly coiffed celebrity. It's like having a personal stylist for my grass – one that never sleeps. </p> <p>And the best part? I get to sit back, relax and sip my lemonade while the LANDROID does all the heavy lifting (or should I say, mowing). It's like having a reliable little garden gnome, except this one runs on electricity and has impeccable dodging skills.</p> <p>So if you want a lawn mower that's not only efficient but also entertaining, look no further than the <a href="https://au.worx.com/vision-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WORX LANDROID Vision</a>. It's the perfect blend of technology, pet sensitivity and grass-grooming prowess. Plus, it's the only mower I know that can outmanoeuvre a puppy – and that is definitely something to bark about.</p> <p><em>Images: Alex Cracknell</em></p>

Home & Garden

Embracing the art of beauty without compromise

<p dir="ltr">When it comes to trying out the latest makeup products, people with sensitivities are often left behind. </p> <p dir="ltr">Whether it’s sensitive skin or allergies, makeup users can often find products that work for them and their limitations. </p> <p dir="ltr">But when it comes to having sensitive eyes, there are very few options for those who still want to partake in applying makeup. </p> <p dir="ltr">In answer to this gap in the market, an Australian ophthalmologist has developed a game-changing product that can give everyone the long lashes they deserve, even if they suffer from eye sensitivities. </p> <p dir="ltr">Enter: OKKIYO. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0xoSFPvHhl/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0xoSFPvHhl/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Beauty + Makeup for Sensitive Eyes - OKKIYO™️ (@okkiyoeyes)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The OKKIYO Eye-Care collection was crafted with expertise by Dr. Jacqueline Beltz, with each product being the perfect blend of aesthetics and eye health. </p> <p dir="ltr">The range offers meticulously formulated products to beautify sensitive eyes, ensuring you don't just look good but also feel great.</p> <p dir="ltr">From the transformative PRIORITEYES Mascara to the gentle Sensiteyes Cleansing System, every item is a promise of quality, safety, and confidence.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvd68g8tBWE/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvd68g8tBWE/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Beauty + Makeup for Sensitive Eyes - OKKIYO™️ (@okkiyoeyes)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The <a href="https://www.okkiyo.com/products/protect-and-preserve-mascara">PRIORITEYES Mascara</a> is crafted with natural ingredients that will protect your eyes, while still doing all the things you want a mascara to do. </p> <p dir="ltr">The mascara is tailored for those with sensitive eyes, ensuring a comfortable, irritation-free experience, making it the perfect blend of medical-grade care and cosmetic elegance.</p> <p dir="ltr">Its clean formula boasts over 90% natural ingredients, including nourishing Australian Manuka honey and rejuvenating citrus extracts, while also promising no smudging, lasting through watery eyes and eye drops, all while being a breeze to remove.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another feature of the OKKIYO mascara is its accessible packaging, as the square tube prevents the product from rolling away and out of sight, with the tube also featuring braille, so those with low vision can identify the product. </p> <p dir="ltr">When it comes to removing eye makeup, cleansing the eyelid margins is one of the most important steps in looking after the delicate eye area, especially if you have sensitive eyes. </p> <p dir="ltr">Thankfully, <a href="https://www.okkiyo.com/products/okkiyo-cleansing-cloth">OKKIYO cleansing cloths</a> effectively remove all traces of eye make-up as well as any dried oil, bacteria and skin cells from the lashes and lids, all while being good for the environment. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C14D7OrvSYd/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C14D7OrvSYd/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Beauty + Makeup for Sensitive Eyes - OKKIYO™️ (@okkiyoeyes)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The reusable muslin cloths cleanse the lid margins allowing the oil glands to function properly, producing tears that naturally desensitise the eyes. </p> <p dir="ltr">OKKIYO is the first Australian beauty brand to cater to the over 2.2 billion people in the world with low vision, and now, after three years in the making, the OKKIYO range is available exclusively at <a href="http://www.okkiyo.com.au/">www.okkiyo.com.au</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">A proportion of profits from each OKKIYO sale will go to supporting Aboriginal Eye Health, improvements for people with low vision and general eye health research.</p> <p dir="ltr">Given the ophthalmologist-created and tested formula, those with eye sensitivities no longer have to choose between protecting their vision and looking fabulous thanks to the revolutionary OKKIYO system. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5dc0b4d6-7fff-4672-607b-3530170c75c6"></span></p>

Beauty & Style

Melissa Doyle “bursting with pride” in a heartwarming tribute to her daughter

<p dir="ltr">Former Channel 7 star and TV personality Melissa Doyle has shared a touching tribute to her daughter on social media, confessing her pride in the 19-year-old on their “extra special” visit to Kenya.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair were in the country with humanitarian aid organisation World Vision - Melissa had been an ambassador of World Vision Goodwill for nearly two decades. And while this was not the former <em>Sunrise</em> host’s first trip, it was her first alongside daughter Talia.</p> <p dir="ltr">Melissa shared a series of pictures of her, Talia, and the people they had met along the way to her Instagram account, writing “this is my beautiful baby girl, all grown up & visiting a school in Kenya. My heart is bursting with pride.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is such a privilege to see first hand the work @worldvisionaus is doing to give children access to health care & education. To take Talia with me made it extra special.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Just five days prior, Melissa had mentioned the “precious trip” in another post, sharing her gratitude to <em>Women’s Weekly</em> magazine for accompanying them, and how special it was for Talia to “finally [be] able to join me on a field trip and see for herself just how important and special the work is.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In that post, she went on to explain how they had travelled to Kenya to see “farming regeneration projects, a child protection group, a Women’s Savings for Transformation group and to meet our 4 yo [year old] sponsor child Bridget.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CraLRoWrm-U/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CraLRoWrm-U/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Melissa Doyle (@melissadoyleofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">And on her Talia tribute post, friends and fans shared their pride in both Doyle’s, with many agreeing that it must have been a special time indeed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Oh wow this is so special,” wrote producer Chezzi Denyer.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Wonderful trip to do together,” actress Danielle Spencer said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Extra special,” singer Tina Arena agreed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Soo good for children who come from fortunate backgrounds to see the world is not all like their experiences,” one fan confessed. “I hope to show my kids how we need to give back to those less fortunate.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“What a special time for you both,” said another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Daughter like mother! Proud kind Mama! So happy for you both,” one other supporter declared. “Making our fractured world a better place.”</p> <p dir="ltr">It isn’t the first time that Melissa had spoken out about her pride in her daughter, and in the things she’s on the path to achieve in life.</p> <p dir="ltr">In 2021, she told <em>Women’s Weekly</em> that she believes Talia would do “great things”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m very proud of my young woman of the future,” she said, “and what she will do next. I’m excited for her and for all of us.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I hope that she has just seen that there is now every opportunity available and she makes the most of it, never wastes a moment and will just be the kind, gorgeous woman that she is.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Tips for choosing an optometrist

<p>If your vision is starting to get a tad blurry, or you’re in the market for a new pair of glasses, these are the points to consider before choosing an optometrist. Remember that if the optometrist you initially choose doesn’t meet expectations, don’t be afraid to try someone else. Eye health is important, especially as you age, so make the effort to find an optometrist you get along with and trust.</p> <p><strong>1. Experience</strong></p> <p>An optometrist with a long history may be better at diagnosing problems simply because they’ve seen more patients, and consequently more eye conditions. This is not always the case but often it’s best to err on the side of experience.</p> <p><strong>2. Credentials</strong></p> <p>Don’t hesitate to check your optometrist credentials. These days you can find details online like on the optometrist’s website or you can ask the optometrist in question.</p> <p><strong>3. Specialty</strong></p> <p>If you have a particular condition such as glaucoma or macular degeneration, make sure your optometrist has experience treating the eye condition. It’s worth asking if your optometrist specialises with specific diseases or treating age-related conditions.</p> <p><strong>4. Knowledge</strong></p> <p>In your consultation, the optometrist should be offering you detailed information about all aspects of your vision, eye conditions and spectacles. You should leave the exam feeling like you thoroughly understand your eyesight.</p> <p><strong>5. Rapport</strong></p> <p>When you go for your first appointment think carefully about the exam experience. Did you feel comfortable? Did your optometrist take the time to listen to your questions and respond to them in a thorough and clear fashion? All these factors are important as if you don’t like your optometrist you’ll be less likely to go for check-ups.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Body

This new illusion tricks your mind and your eyes

<p dir="ltr">A new “expanding hole” illusion is strong enough that we’re both physically and mentally fooled, according to new research.</p> <p dir="ltr">The illusion depicts a black hole in the centre of a white background covered in smaller black circles and, if you’re one of the 86 percent of people tricked by it, the black hole will look like it’s expanding.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-35844208-7fff-7feb-1e6f-58b7e7c328f5"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">According to the researchers who studied this illusion, which is completely new to science, those who were fooled by the illusion had a physical reaction, with participants’ pupils dilating as if they were actually moving into a dark area.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/fnhum-16-877249-g001.jpg" alt="" width="1950" height="1221" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Does it look like the black hole is growing? You’re not alone in thinking that, according to this new study. Image: Supplied</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Bruno Laeng, a psychology professor at the University of Oslo and the study’s first author, said the illusion showed that our pupils react to light we perceive, “even if this ‘light’ is imaginary”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The ‘expanding hole’ is a highly dynamic illusion: the circular smear or shadow gradient of the central black hole evokes a marked impression of optic flow, as if the observer were heading forward into a hole or tunnel,” he <a href="https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/can-you-see-the-expanding-hole-most-peoples-brains-are-fooled-by-this-new-optical-illusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Here we show based on the new ‘expanding hole’ illusion that the pupil reacts to how we perceive light - even if this ‘light’ is imaginary like in the illusion - and not just the amount of light energy that actually enters the eye.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The illusion of the expanding hole prompts a corresponding dilation of the pupil, as it would happen if darkness really increased.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After having tested the illusion using holes of varying colours - including blue, cyan, green, magenta, red, yellow and white - the team found the illusion was most effective when it was black.</p> <p dir="ltr">They also discovered that a black hole would cause the pupil to dilate, while coloured holes would result in the eye constricting.</p> <p dir="ltr">The study, published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2022.877249" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frontiers in Human Neuroscience</a></em>, shows that these kinds of illusions are more than just gimmicks, with researchers in the field of psychosociology studying them to better understand how the complex system that allows us to see and make sense of the world around us works.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5dc1df7e-7fff-afc7-25e8-cbff597458d3"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Supplied</em></p>

Mind

Uber driver slammed for refusing guide dog

<p>An Uber driver in South Australia is being slammed for refusing to let a vision impaired woman bring her guide dog in the car.</p> <p>Born with low vision, Ellen Fraser-Barbour relies on her guide dog Inca for safety and sight.</p> <p>But on Wednesday when she was trying to catch an Uber home, Ms Fraser-Barbour says she was told Inca was an unwelcome passenger.</p> <p>She was able to capture footage of the exchange between herself and the Uber driver.</p> <p>"This is an assistance dog, a guide dog," Ms Fraser-Barbour can be heard telling the driver.</p> <p>"No. No. No. I can't do it. Sorry," he replied.</p> <p>"It's an assistance dog, you can't refuse by law," Ms Fraser-Barbour added.</p> <p>But the driver still refused, claiming he was not obliged to accept the ride, leaving Ms Fraser-Barbour on the curb.</p> <p>She says the experience is one that is common for people with a disability.</p> <p>"I have a lot of blind friends and they all tell me about distressing experiences that they've had of being left on the curb. It's a really rampant issue," Ms Fraser-Barbour said.</p> <p>Since the incident she has made a report to Uber and received an apology. Ms Fraser-Barbour says it should never have happened in the first place and is now calling for stricter penalties.</p> <p>"For example being able to fine drivers if they refuse," Ms Fraser-Barbour said.</p> <p>In a statement Uber said a first offence will see a driver's account temporarily deactivated while they receive further education.</p> <p>A second strike could see them permanently banned from the platform.</p> <p>"Taking someone off the platform temporarily doesn't say zero tolerance approach. That says we'll give you another chance," Ms Fraser-Barbour said.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p>

Family & Pets

How much colour do we really see?

<div> <div class="copy"> <p>Colour awareness has long been a puzzle for researchers in neuroscience and psychology, who debate how much colour observers really perceive.</p> <p>A new US study probably raises more questions than it answers.</p> <p>In a series of trials, researchers from Amherst College, MIT and Dartmouth College found that observers routinely failed to notice when colour vanished from the majority of their view. They had surprisingly limited colour perception in their peripheral vision.</p> <p>Counter-intuitive as it may sound, the study used virtual reality to ensure the participants had a 360-degree, real-world view of the world.</p> <p>Each wore a head-mounted display fitted with eye-trackers, allowing them to tour historic sites and watch a street dance performance or a symphony orchestra rehearsal simply by turning their heads.</p> <p>The researchers knew exactly where an observer was looking at all times and could make changes so that only the areas where the person was looking were in colour. Other areas were desaturated, right down to black and white.</p> <p>But most people didn’t notice. In the most extreme case, almost a third didn’t realise that less than 5% percent of the entire visual field was presented in colour.</p> <p>While a human’s visual field extends about 210 degrees, which is similar to if your arms are stretched out on your left and right, the study’s results showed that most people’s colour awareness is limited to a small area around the dead centre of their visual field.</p> <p>In a separate study participants were asked to identify when colour was desaturated in the periphery – and the results were similar. Many people failed to notice when the peripheral colour had been removed.</p> <p>“We were amazed by how oblivious participants were when colour was removed from up to 95% of their visual world,” says Dartmouth’s Caroline Robertson, senior author of a <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/06/02/1922294117" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a> in the journal <em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em>.</p> <p>The obvious question is how this can be. The researchers say they cannot offer a definitive answer but do suggest possibilities worth exploring.</p> <p>“One possibility is that as observers spend time in an environment, their brains are able to eventually ‘fill-in’ the colour of many items in the periphery,” they write.</p> <p>“Of course, providing direct evidence for this explanation is challenging since it is extremely difficult to differentiate between scenarios where a subject knows the colour of an object (i.e., ‘I know the tree behind me is green even though I currently cannot see the color green’) from instances where the subject is experiencing the colour of that object online (i.e., ‘I can see the colour green at this very moment’).</p> <p>“Alternatively, some would argue that there is no need for a filling-in mechanism at all and the intuition of a rich perceptual experience is simply misguided.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em> <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=101757&title=How+much+colour+do+we+really+see%3F" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /> </em></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/how-much-colour-do-we-really-see/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a>.</em></p> </div> </div>

Art

Vitamin C deficiency linked to cognitive impairment

<p dir="ltr">A new study has found a link between poor brain function and how much Vitamin C older people have, and that a deficiency could have some serious effects on the brain.</p> <p dir="ltr">Cognitive impairment is common among older, hospitalised patients, and can result in poor memory and concentration, as well as finding decision-making difficult.</p> <p dir="ltr">The team from Flinders University in Adelaide tested the cognitive function and vitamin C level of 160 people over the age of 75 who were admitted to the university’s medical centre.</p> <p dir="ltr">From this, 91 patients were found to have cognitive impairment, and 42 of this group were found to have such low levels of vitamin C - below 11 micromoles per litre - they were at risk of developing scurvy.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our findings showed that cognitive function scores were significantly lower among patients who were vitamin C deficient, with further analysis suggesting vitamin C deficiency was almost three times more likely to be associated with cognitive impairment after adjustment for other factors,” Associate Professor Yogesh Sharma, the study’s lead author, <a href="https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/low-vitamin-c-linked-to-cognitive-impairment-in-older-australians" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The researchers stressed that the two were associated, not that vitamin C deficiency causes cognitive impairment.</p> <p dir="ltr">They also noted that many of the symptoms of low vitamin C levels - including skin issues, bruising and bleeding - are common in this age group because of a number of conditions.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It may, therefore, be difficult to diagnose vitamin C deficiency solely on looking for these particular symptoms in older hospitalised patients,” Associate Professor Sharma said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Given we know vitamin C deficiency is common among older hospitalised patients, medical professionals need to remain vigilant for this condition and confirm a patient’s vitamin C status in suspected cases.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With this link, the researchers said they will need to conduct more studies to confirm the link and determine whether replacing a patient’s vitamin C levels could help prevent or reverse cognitive impairment.</p> <p dir="ltr">The study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11030463" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antibiotics</a></em>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2ab5757b-7fff-e419-e985-eb63d06eb2d3"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Body

Air pollution may impair cognitive function

<div> <div class="copy"> <p>A joint China-US research team has found that exposure to even short-term air pollution may impair cognitive function.</p> <p>Air pollution is a growing cause of sickness and death globally, with a <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/climate/air-pollution-pandemic-warning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent study</a> estimating that it caused an extra 8.8 million premature deaths in 2015, surpassing the 7.2 million caused by tobacco smoking. It has well-established effects on the lungs and the heart – it has been linked with spikes in <a href="http://jaha.ahajournals.org/content/5/5/e002742" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heart attacks, strokes</a> and <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0180522" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">asthma</a>, and is a carcinogen known to cause lung cancer.</p> <p>Increasingly, research is also associating air pollution with other health impacts including <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/kidney-disease-linked-to-air-pollution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kidney disease</a>, <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/climate/could-air-pollution-contribute-to-psychiatric-illness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">psychiatric illness</a> and <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/air-pollution-link-to-alzheimer-s-mooted/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer’s</a>.</p> <p><strong>What causes air pollution?</strong></p> <ul> <li>Air pollution is the release of pollutants into the air that have detrimental effects on human or planetary health.</li> <li>It can have natural sources, such as desert dust or bushfire smoke, but is increasingly created by humans, primarily from burning fossil fuels.</li> <li>There are two main types: smog occurs when emissions from burning fossil fuels react with sunlight, while soot is made up of tiny particles made up of smoke, soil, dust, allergens or chemicals. Anything that combusts fossil fuels can cause this, including vehicle exhaust, power plants, incinerators and more.</li> </ul> <p>Now, in a new study <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-021-00060-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in the journal <em>Nature Ageing</em>, researchers have linked poor air quality with decreased brain health.</p> <p>The team studied a sample of 954 Caucasian males (with an average age of 70) from the Boston area in the US, who were participants in the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. Their cognitive function was measured by a series of assessments to test their attention, learning and memory, as well as an screening to help detect early signs of dementia.</p> <p>This was compared to the average levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5, smaller than 2.5 micrometres in size) in the area, both on the day of each test and in the 28 days prior. The team found the participants tended to score lower when levels of PM2.5 were higher in the month before the tests – even when levels were still below what is considered as “hazardous”.</p> <p>“The findings were quite startling,” write cognitive health researchers Joanne Ryan and Alice J. Owen, in an <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43587-021-00062-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">accompanying article</a>. “Even relatively small increases in the levels of PM2.5 in the 3–4 weeks prior to testing were associated with consistently worse cognitive performance.”</p> <p>Ryan and Owen, both from Monash University in Australia and both not involved in the study, point out that Boston “has by no means the worst air quality in the USA or the world, and yet significant detrimental effects of air pollution on cognitive function were observed”.</p> <p>While a decline in brain function in older adults is common, it can be exacerbated – and accelerated – by environmental factors. Evidence is <a href="https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-180631" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mounting</a> that air pollution could be a risk factor for dementia and could, over the long term, be <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.neuro.2016.06.004" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">associated</a> with cognitive declines.</p> <p>“The results of the current study are especially important because they provide some of the first evidence that even relatively low-level, short-term increases in PM2.5 are detrimental for thinking and memory, as well as global cognition in older adults,” Ryan and Owen write.</p> <p>The results may point to a general trend in the larger population, given that air pollution <a href="https://www.unicef.org/environment/files/Danger_in_the_Air.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">affects brain development</a> in kids, and women seem to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.0900994" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more strongly affected</a> than men.</p> <p>Interestingly, the researchers also found that the participants who were prescribed NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin) were less adversely affected. This may be because the health impacts of air pollution tend to involve activating the body’s inflammatory response. But caution is warranted; there may be many other differences between participants who do and don’t use NSAIDs.</p> <p>This study also had a relatively small sample size and focused on a certain geographical area, so further research is needed to solidify the link between air pollution and cognitive function.</p> <p>However, Ryan and Owen emphasise the importance of the results.</p> <p>“The implications for public health, and consequent health, societal and economic costs of air pollution, are immense,” they write. “This should be a further wake-up call about the urgent need for action.</p> <p>“It has been estimated that 90% of the world’s population breathe polluted air. Breathing clean air is fundamental to our health but represents a global challenge and one of substantial inequity, disproportionally affecting the most vulnerable.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em> <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=149918&title=Air+pollution+may+impair+cognitive+function" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /> </em></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/air-pollution-may-impair-cognitive-function/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Lauren Fuge. </em></p> </div> </div>

Mind

Why we lose our hearing and vision as we age

<p>As the baby boomer generation begins to age, the prevalence of both eye and ear disease will rise exponentially, as there is a strong correlation between vision loss, hearing loss and ageing.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en/">World Health Organisation estimates</a> that 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired, with 82% of people with blindness aged 50 and above. Australia alone will have 800,000 people aged 40 or over with low vision or hearing loss by 2020.</p> <p>As people age, they often experience a number of changes in their physical, mental and social health. Among these are eye and ear changes, and diseases that usually result in vision and hearing loss. Changes to our eyes and ears occur as a result of disease, genetic factors, “wear and tear” and environmental factors.</p> <p><strong>What happens in our eyes as we age?</strong></p> <p>There are a range of changes in our eyes that occur as a result of age. For example, over time the whites of the eyes, or “sclera”, undergo changes due to exposure to ultraviolet light.</p> <p>These changes include a yellowing or browning of the white of the eye due to fatty or cholesterol deposits in the conjunctiva – the mucous membrane that covers the eye – also related to ageing and exposure to ultraviolet light.</p> <p>Over time, changes also occur in the conjunctiva, such as a thinning of the membrane. This often results in dry eye, a condition caused mainly by reduced production of tears and reduced mucous from the conjunctiva.</p> <p>As we age, we often experience a decrease in the strength of our muscles. This is no different in the eye, and the muscles in our eyelids can become weaker over time. Reduced tone in the muscle that gives shape to our lens, as well as stiffening of the natural lens with age, causes presbyopia (inability to see near objects), necessitating the use of reading glasses.</p> <p>Eye disorders that commonly occur in older adults include:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>macular degeneration</strong>. This terms describes <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-age-related-macular-degeneration-59889">damage to the pigmented oval</a> in the centre of the retina resulting in decreased central vision and seeing fine detail. This happens as we age because of deposits of fine grains that build up in the retina.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Cataracts</strong>. This is a <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-are-cataracts-63699">clouding of the lens</a> that covers the eye. These are thought to be caused by breakdown and degradation of lens proteins, and are considered a part of the normal ageing of the lens.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Diabetic retinopathy</strong>. This is damage to the retina resulting from diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is age related and the duration and control of blood glucose levels often determine whether or not diabetic retinopathy does or does not develop.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Glaucoma</strong>. When <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-glaucoma-the-sneak-thief-of-sight-64807">glaucoma</a> occurs, the optic nerve is progressively damaged resulting in loss of the peripheral visual field.</p> </li> </ul> <p>Among older Australians, cataract is the most common eye disease and cause of visual impairment (over <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/D1A5409787D800F2CA257C73007F12F3/%24File/eyehlth.pdf">70% of people in Australia</a> aged 80 years and over have cataracts), followed by age-related macular degeneration (occurring in <a href="http://www.aihw.gov.au/media-release-detail/?id=6442464587">3.1% of older people</a>).</p> <p><strong>What happens in our ears as we age?</strong></p> <p>As we get older, we experience changes all over our body, including the ears. Commonly, people’s ears (outer ears, that is) become bigger, earwax accumulates more easily and there is more cartilage in the external ear canal.</p> <p>There is also often a stiffening of the eardrum and <a href="https://www.nursingtimes.net/roles/older-people-nurses/exploring-the-anatomy-and-physiology-of-ageing-part-6-the-eye-and-ear/1840889.article">changes to the neural</a> (nerve) system.</p> <p>These changes contribute to older people suffering from hearing loss and central <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-your-child-having-trouble-learning-they-may-have-auditory-processing-disorder-62491">auditory processing disorders</a>, in which the ear cannot properly process sounds.</p> <p><strong>How these changes affect daily life</strong></p> <p>As a result of these numerous eye and ear changes and diseases, older people typically have vision and hearing problems that include sensitivity to light and difficulty visualising distant objects or reading print.</p> <p>Hearing problems include difficulty with perceiving and discriminating sounds (including speech), understanding speech (particularly in poor listening situations such as when there is high background noise or echo), and processing auditory information.</p> <p>These difficulties interfere with older adults’ everyday functioning and participation in activities. People with sensory loss may have difficulty performing independent activities of daily living such as bathing and shopping. This means they’re more at risk of problems with <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1448344/">mental health and social interaction</a>.</p> <p>One of the most disabling effects of vision and hearing loss is decreased ability to communicate with others. People with severe vision loss (low vision or legal blindness) have difficulty lip reading or perceiving non-verbal cues (such as facial expression or gestures).</p> <p>Those with hearing loss have communication difficulties including difficulty perceiving sounds or following a conversation. For people with loss of both senses, communication difficulties are much worse. They can’t adequately receive a verbal message and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4030176/">frequently misunderstand conversation</a>.</p> <p><strong>Management of sensory loss</strong></p> <p>Management of sensory loss requires assessment by professionals (such as optometrists and audiologists) who will recommend the appropriate management plan that may include the use of a visual or hearing device.</p> <p>Speech pathologists also play a role, with programs including speech perception training or communication programs for clients and carers.</p> <p>Early identification and intervention can help those with vision and hearing loss so the effects of these sensory losses can be minimised, improving their quality of life.</p> <p><em>Acknowledgement: Dr Julian Sack (Ophthalmologist) for his input. </em></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chyrisse-heine-313009">Chyrisse Heine</a>, Speech Pathologist/Audiologist Senior Lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-we-lose-our-hearing-and-vision-as-we-age-67930">original article</a>.</em></p>

Body

Vision in red! Princess Mary is all class and grace at special celebration

<p>One of Australia’s favourite royal members, the Crown Princess of Denmark, was a vision in red as she attended a special celebration on Saturday, which honoured 800 years of the Danish flag.</p> <p>The proceedings were attended by many of the Danish royal members who all looked resplendent and graceful, however Princess Mary stole the show with her classy look.</p> <p>For the event, the 47-year-old went with a splash of colour, wearing a deep burgundy dress with a pair of matching stiletto heels.</p> <p>Red seemed to be the colour of the day, with Queen Margrethe looking beautiful and elegant in a bold red jacket and matching hat.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Byvt3mLn_xo/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Byvt3mLn_xo/" target="_blank">A post shared by World Royal News (@worldroyalnews)</a> on Jun 15, 2019 at 2:31pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Princess Mary added a beige floral hat to sit atop a chic side bun and an extra touch of glamour with diamond earrings and a matching beige clutch.</p> <p>The Tasmanian-born royal member attended the celebration alongside her husband Prince Frederik in Vordingborg, Denmark. However, multiple locations paid tribute to the special moment, including Copenhagen and Estonia. </p> <p>The myth says Denmark’s flag fell from the sky during the battle between Danish king Valdemar and the local chieftains in Estonia in the year 1219.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see Princess Mary’s gorgeous celebration outfit.</p> <p> </p>

Beauty & Style

Why background music “significantly impairs” your creativity

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Psychologists from the University of Central Lancashire, University of Gävle in Sweden and Lancaster University have asked people to complete verbal problems that are believed to stimulate creativity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is to test whether or not background music stifles creativity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Participants were presented with three words and were asked to find a single word that when combined, make a common word or phrase. For example, if you chose the word “sun”, the combined word could be “sundress”, “sunflower” and “sundial”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Participants then performed the task while listening to music with unfamiliar lyrics, music with familiar lyrics or instrumental lyrics. The researchers also tested the effect of silence and quiet background noise from a library.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr Neil McLatchie from Lancaster University explained that music stifles creativity. He told the</span><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/classic/read-and-watch/news/music-impairs-creativity/10912466"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> ABC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that the team “found strong evidence of impaired performance when playing background music in comparison to quiet background conditions."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This means that even though you’re listening to your favourite song, it’s still impairing your creativity.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even music that participants liked or made them feel good still stifled their creative juices.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The research results suggest that music disrupts verbal working memory.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, there was no difference found between quiet background noise and silence.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">McLatchie believes that this was because of the steady state of background noise that doesn’t disrupt verbal processes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For those of you who want to listen to music whilst you’re working away, classical music that makes listeners feel happy has been found to stimulate creative thinking.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do you listen to music whilst working? Let us know in the comments.</span></p>

Music

The new innovation that allows visually impaired people to "see"

<p>For a local Sydney woman, she loves reading anything she can get her hands on. At first, she might sound like a bookworm. However, she loves reading simply because she was born completely blind and had no idea what it was like to read junk mail and trawl through the adverts looking for a decent bargain.</p> <p>This changed last September, when she received a small device that clips onto a pair of glasses. The device uses artificial intelligence to recognise faces and read text for her.</p> <p>The device, OrCam MyEye 2.0, has completely changed her life.</p> <p>Lisa Hayes explained to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/gadgets/wearables/the-breakthrough-of-the-21st-century-how-this-product-changed-a-blind-womans-life/news-story/74f9881ed0f6f87a8797842bd982d1da">news.com.au</a>:</p> <p>“It has got be the breakthrough of the 21st century as far as I’m concerned.”</p> <p>“It’s one of the best things I’ve ever had.”</p> <p>The tech is designed by an Israeli company called OrCam and the device is designed for the blind and visually impaired.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7824337/picture1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ca47348ee3fc4a22aecf5e25c10ac6fb" /></p> <p><em>What the device looks like. Photo credit: OrCam</em></p> <p>On the front of the device, there’s a small camera with real time visual recognition technology. On the back of the device is a small speaker that relays the information into the ear of the user. It’s available in 23 languages.</p> <p>Miss Hayes is overjoyed with the device.</p> <p>“Being totally blind since birth, I’ve never been able to read a print book,” she said. “I can now actually read. I can read medication boxes, I can pick up junk mail.</p> <p>“I feel like I’m part of the real world.”</p> <p>The device has gotten attention around the globe, with Prince William being shown the technology on a historic visit to Israel.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkkFGF3n-9v/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkkFGF3n-9v/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">#princewilliam made a historic visit to Israel, meeting with 4 top technology companies. He met with OrCam Technologies and used OrCam MyEye 2, the most advanced assistive wearable technology, that reads text, recognizes faces, and identifies products for the blind, visually impaired, and people with reading difficulties. #assistivetechnology #blindness #lowvision #OrCam #assistivetech #visuallyimpaired #partiallysighted #blind #lifechanging #visualimpairment #wearabletech</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/orcam_technologies/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> OrCam</a> (@orcam_technologies) on Jun 28, 2018 at 2:43am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The royal was thrilled with the technology, <a href="https://www.orcam.com/gb/article/prince-william-experiences-life-changing-device-for-blind-people/">saying</a>:</p> <p>“Wow. That is absolutely incredible.</p> <p>“That will help many people I am sure. What brilliant tech.”</p> <p>Would you use this device? Let us know in the comments.</p>

Technology

7 optical illusions that will make you second guess your vision

<p>If you thought you could trust what you see – think again.</p> <p>These seven optical illusions, created by <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.lenstore.co.uk/vc/in-perspective/" target="_blank">Lenstore</a></strong></span>, will have you questioning whether you should believe your eyes or not.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to test yourself with these 7 optical illusions. The next slide will provide the solution.</p> <p><em>Image credits: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.lenstore.co.uk/vc/in-perspective/" target="_blank">Lenstore</a></strong></span></em></p>

Mind

5 age-related vision problems older drivers need to be aware of

<p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/115326292314291480106" target="_blank">Aaron Barriga</a></span> is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center, an <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.insightvisioncenter.com/" target="_blank">Ophthalmology Center in California</a></span>. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns.</strong></em></p> <p>Are you concerned about your safety when behind the wheel?</p> <p>What is the most important sense that you need to drive? Well, you guessed it right, the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.driversalert.com/your-vision-and-its-impact-on-driving-safety/" target="_blank">impact of vision on driving</a></strong></span> is second to none. But unfortunately, your vision can deteriorate as you get older which makes it more difficult for you to see movements, people and oncoming traffic.</p> <p>Ageing affects your driving skills and your body’s reaction time so don’t put yourself as well as others at risk if you feel this way. Have a word about your eligibility to drive with your ophthalmologist.</p> <p>Here are some age-related eye and vision problems that you may face:</p> <p><strong>1. Age-related macular degeneration</strong></p> <p>This is an eye disease that harms the macula which is the center of the light sensitive retina in your eye and leads to loss of central vision. Your macula is the part of our eye that allows us to see in color and in detail. Everyday tasks like driving require the use of good central vision which is provided by the macula. Macular degeneration can reduce your central vision but doesn’t affect your side or peripheral vision.</p> <p><strong> 2. Diabetic retinopathy</strong></p> <p>This condition usually occurs with people who suffer from diabetes. This is a result of the progressive damage to the small blood vessels that sustain your retina. These damaged blood vessels then seep blood and other fluids that make the retinal tissue swell and cloud your vision. The longer the person has had diabetes, the higher the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy which can lead to blindness according to its severity.</p> <p><strong>3. Dry eye</strong></p> <p>This is a physical condition that prevents a person from releasing too little or bad quality tears. Tears help in maintaining the health of the front surface of your eyes and provides clear vision. Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem which usually occurs in older adults.</p> <p><strong>4. Cataracts</strong></p> <p>Cataracts are cloudy and opaque areas that occur in the usually clear lens of your eyes and cause blurry vision. This can be very inconvenient as it leads to decreased contrast sensitivity, increased sensitivity to glares which can make reading road signs a bit difficult. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.insightvisioncenter.com/service/cataract/" target="_blank">Cataract eye surgery</a></strong></span> is the only way to get rid of cataracts.</p> <p><strong> 5. Glaucoma</strong></p> <p>This is a group of eye diseases which are usually defined by the damage to the optic nerve which leads to a loss of vision. People who have a family history of glaucoma, older adults and African Americans stand a higher chance of developing Glaucoma. Glaucoma is usually painless but you can lose your peripheral side vision over time.</p> <p>Here are some safety tips to consider:</p> <p><strong>1. Have an annual eye test</strong></p> <p>The American Optometric Association recommends getting an annual eye test if you are above 60. By having regular eye tests done, your ophthalmologist can ensure that your eyes don’t suffer from any serious eye-related changes like macular degeneration.</p> <p><strong>2. Get rid of the reflections in your eyeglasses lens</strong></p> <p>Reflections in your eyeglass lenses can cause glares and hamper your vision, especially when driving at night. You can opt to avoid the hassles of wearing glasses altogether by investing in eye surgery but make sure to speak to your ophthalmologist before you do so.</p> <p><strong>3. Drive defensively</strong></p> <p>A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, about 40% of the fatal collisions of people that are 70 and above tend to happen at intersections which involve other vehicles. The common reason for these accidents was the failure to give way, particularly when taking a left turn.</p> <p><strong> 4. Avoid driving on unfamiliar routes</strong></p> <p>Research by the National Safety Council discovered that the traffic death rates are a lot higher at night as compared to daytime. A lot of ageing Baby Boomers are still driving, exposing them to the danger of getting into accidents which only increases as they age. Avoid driving in areas that you are unfamiliar with, especially if they have poor lighting, irregular twists and lack of signs.</p> <p>Are you worried about not being able to get around like you used to? You as responsible drivers and citizens need to work proactively towards ensuring your own safety as well as that of others by recognizing a drop in your ability to drive safely and seek the advice of your ophthalmologist.</p>

Body

Cruise horror: teenager loses sight in one eye

<p>When 15-year-old Riley Adams boarded a cruise to New Zealand with his family and a group of friends on January 12, it was supposed to be a fun holiday before school started back.</p> <p>However, the trip turned to horror when, on the first night of the 10-day cruise, the young Queenslander was stuck with a headache. The next morning, his life had changed forever.</p> <p>“What was just a headache when he went to bed that night and then awoke Saturday morning to a golf ball size bulge from his left eye, was confronting to us all,” Riley’s parents, Jason and Jodi Adams, wrote on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/riley-adams-loss-of-sight-in-1-eye" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">GoFundMe page</span></strong></a> to raise money towards their son’s medical costs, which has so far raised over $17,000.</p> <p><img width="600" height="400" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7267316/27024144_15161629070299_funddescription.jpg" alt="27024144_1516162907.0299_funddescription" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>“After being seen by the on-ship doctors and still being out at sea for another 24 hours, panic did start to creep in.</p> <p>“Once arriving at Dunedin Hospital and having a CT scan done our nightmare began.”</p> <p>A specialist told the family Riley would need immediate surgery to reduce the swelling around his eye. They were told he had contracted sinusitis, which had blocked the drainage holes, leading to a massive inflammation in the eye known as orbital cellulitis. As a result, he lost his sight in that eye.</p> <p>“Devastatingly the outcome we all had to face was that Riley’s optical nerve has been damaged in the time the infection took hold, and now our beautiful, charismatic, outgoing 15-year-old son has lost his sight in his left eye. It's a lot for a family in a foreign country to take in.”</p> <p>Even after the operation, Riley’s eye was still infected, and he was given strong doses of antibiotics and steroids to prevent him contracting meningitis.</p> <p>“Our lives feel like they are just spinning around as we try to take it all in ... As parents we are just so sad for our beautiful boy at 15 to have lost his sight in one of his eyes – this tragedy is devastating at any age but at 15 it breaks our hearts.”</p> <p>In an update published eight hours ago, however, the family finally received some good news – Riley can finally go home after nine days of horror.</p> <p>“As happy as we all are about this, I think we are all a bit apprehensive about leaving our safety net in this Hospital, where we have received the best care imaginable,” Jason and Jodi wrote. “But the three of us embrace it with open arms and realise what is waiting at home for Riley.</p> <p>“From the bottom of our hearts thank you for every donation made and every comment posted. Positivity is definitely the best medicine one can have.”</p>

Travel Trouble

Caring for someone who is vision impaired

<p><em><strong>Marissa Sandler is the CEO and co-founder of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.careseekers.com.au/" target="_blank">Careseekers</a></span>. Previously a social justice lawyer and researcher for over 15 years, Marissa is passionate about helping people live with dignity and finding innovative solutions to problems.</strong></em></p> <p>There are over 575,000 people who are blind or vision impaired currently living in Australia, with more than 70 per cent over the age of 65 and over 66,000 people who are blind.</p> <p>With stats like this it is highly possible that you may find yourself caring for a loved one whose vision starts to decrease and may unfortunately become legally blind. Here is some information that you will help you care for a person with vision loss from the beginning stages of their diagnosis.</p> <p><strong>Look for the symptoms of deteriorating eyesight</strong></p> <p>It is quite common that a person will hide their poor eyesight from loved ones, they may be embarrassed, in denial or are scared of losing their independence.</p> <p>Look out for physical symptoms including:</p> <ul> <li>Constant red eyes</li> <li>Pain in the eyes</li> <li>Blurring vision</li> <li>Sudden temporary loss of vision</li> <li>Floaters</li> </ul> <p><strong>Other symptoms could be a sign of vision problems including</strong></p> <ul> <li>Depression and anxiety</li> <li>Not wanting to go out, especially at night</li> <li>Nervous behavior in public or crowded places</li> </ul> <p><strong>Start with a conversation about sight</strong></p> <p>As soon as you think a loved one is having problems seeing it is very important that you start to talk about it. You need to have conversations about their sight often as it will be constantly changing. Make sure you are aware of what they can and cannot see. Check in with them every few months to see what has changed.</p> <p><strong>Make the living environment as safe as possible</strong></p> <p>Use the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://careseekers.respond.ontraport.net/safetychecklist" target="_blank">Careseekers Home Safety Checklist</a></strong></span> and do an audit on each room in the house. Specific things you should do in a home for someone with poor eyesight include:</p> <ul> <li>Making sure the home is free of clutter and unnecessary items, especially in thoroughfares.</li> <li>Make sure lighting is good throughout the house, especially on staircases.</li> <li>Light switches are at the top and bottom of the staircases.</li> <li>There are night lights, as well as easy to reach bedside lights in bedrooms.</li> <li>Arrangement of furniture and large items is consistent throughout the home, so that the layout is always familiar. The same for regularly used items in every room in the home.</li> </ul> <p><strong>A few more helpful tips</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.visionaustralia.org/" target="_blank">Vision Australia</a></strong></span> is the go to organization for information for anyone suffering vision loss. Here are some general tips from them for day to day interactions with people with vision loss.</p> <ul> <li>Address people who are blind or have low vision by their names so they know you are speaking to them. </li> <li>When entering a room let the person who is blind or have low vision know that you have arrived. </li> <li>Do not walk away from a person who is blind or have low vision without indicating that you are doing so - it is embarrassing and frustrating to talk to thin air. </li> <li>In dangerous situations say "STOP" rather than "LOOK OUT"</li> <li>Do not fill glasses or cups to the brim. </li> <li>When directing people use ordinary language and when describing be specific. Do not point, or say "over there". Direct people who are blind or have low vision to their left and right, not yours. </li> <li>When talking, don’t be embarrassed to use the words "look" and "see"; they are part of everyone's vocabulary.</li> <li>Describe the surroundings and obstacles in a person's pathway (remember to look up as well as down). Warn of the presence of over-hangs, such as kitchen cupboards, jutting side mirrors of cars, or trees. </li> <li>When seating people who are blind or have low vision, put their hands on the back of the chair and they will then be able to seat themselves.</li> </ul>

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