Pink Eye In Babies: Signs, Causes And Treatment
Bingley Star With Eye Condition Averages 58 In Craven League
BINGLEY Congs' overseas star this season, Johandre Barnard, is seemingly underwhelmed by his average of 58 this season.
What makes his disappointment even more extraordinary is that this talented South African opener has spent the last decade batting the wrong way round.
The 26-year-old developed Duane Syndrome as a teenager, a condition which affects the muscles and nerves around one eye, stopping it from working as it should.
This rare disorder meant that Barnard was forced to learn to bat left-handed, having played as a right-hander right through school and up to the age of 17.
Speaking to the T&A he said: "I'd been batting right handed my whole life. I was averaging about 80-odd in my school years, but then I got this Duane Syndrome.
"I was taught by a guy, Conrad de Swardt (a former first-class cricketer in South Africa), to bat left-handed from the age of 17.
"I was working on hand-eye co-ordination all the time, that was my focus.
"I had lots of training. I was training for about three hours, two or three times a week, working on positions and hand-eye co-ordination, as well as seeing an eye specialist.
"It just developed into me turning into a left-handed batsman in the end."
Barnard comes across as modest and self-depreciating throughout the interview, perhaps not fully realising his worth to Congs in the Craven League.
That they finished second in Division One behind Crossflatts was largely down Barnard's 985 runs at 57.94. He also hit 234 cup runs at 58.50.
Those averages are even more impressive when you consider that Barnard only finished an innings not out on one occasion.
He disagrees though, saying: "To be honest, it's been all right. I was disappointed not to get 1,000 league runs though. I'm a team player obviously, and all of this wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for them. I felt that I had to score runs for them."
It was that one aforementioned not out score that remains the standout moment for him.
He enthused: "My personal highlight was when I scored my first hundred against Long Lee in June (112no in an eight-wicket win).
"I'd been hit for quite a few runs in that game (0-49 off four overs) so that was when I got into that mental mindset that I needed to bounce back and show the guys that I was here to play cricket. That's where everything started."
Speaking about his time in England, Barnard said: "All of the guys in the team have been so great to me. It's my first year abroad and I can't thank them enough for what they've done for me this season.
"It's gone well. Culture-wise it's definitely different. I struggled with the accent at first but I got used to the banter and that's encouraged my journey over here."
Barnard, who has played alongside South African internationals like Quentin de Kock and Andile Phehlukwayo back home, said: "The competition has been good in the Craven League but as a cricketer, you can always play at a higher level.
"You just have to push yourself to that limit. You have to climb the ladder.
"I most definitely want to return to England next year. I haven't decided on a certain club yet but I'd love to come back to Congs.
"I've told everyone that I'll decide as soon as I get to South Africa but for now I just want to enjoy the moment and thank everyone for the opportunity I've been given (this year)."
Lupus And The Eyes
Lupus can affect many parts of your body, including the eyes. It can cause skin problems around the eye and dry eye — and side effects from lupus medicines can sometimes cause eye problems too. Although lupus doesn't usually cause serious vision loss, it can happen in rare cases. So make sure you get an eye exam every year to check for eye problems.
Skin problems around the eye Most people with lupus have some form of cutaneous lupus, which can cause rashes and even scarring along the edge of the eyelids. When these skin problems happen around your eye, it can feel like your eyes are burning or itching. If you have scarring, it may be permanent — though scars may fade away over time or with treatment for some people.
Learn more about lupus and the skin.
Dry eyeAbout 1 in 5 people with lupus have dry eye. This usually happens because of a condition called secondary Sjogren syndrome, which makes it so the eyes can't make enough tears. If you have dry eye, you may experience:
You can lessen dry eye symptoms by using a kind of eye drops called artificial tears. These can also help stop dry eye from damaging your eyes. You can usually get artificial tears over the counter at most pharmacies.
Side effects from lupus medicines Some lupus medicines can cause eye problems, so make sure to tell your care team or eye doctor about any new symptoms you experience. It's recommended that people with lupus get a comprehensive eye exam every year, especially if you take hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil®). Rarely, this medicine can harm the eyes. If you're taking hydroxychloroquine, your doctor can tell you how often you'll need to get your eyes checked.
Steroid medicines can also raise the pressure inside the eye, which can lead to glaucoma — an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness. These medicines can also cause cataracts, cloudy areas in your eye that can lead to vision loss over time.
Learn more about lupus medicines and their side effects.
Other eye problems Lupus often causes inflammation. Rarely, inflammation of the eyes can lead to vision loss. For example, lupus can cause:
Lupus may also damage the optic nerve, which sends messages back and forth between the eye and the brain. Nerve damage is rare in people with lupus, but it can lead to serious vision loss. And if lupus affects the part of the brain related to your eyes, you may experience double vision, trouble moving your eyes, or droopy eyelids.
How to take care of your eye health The most important thing you can do to take care of your eye health and protect your vision is to see an eye doctor every year. They can give you a comprehensive eye exam, which can catch eye problems early or before symptoms start — when most eye problems are easier to treat.
You may also need to see a special eye doctor called an ophthalmologist. Make sure you talk to your regular care team about your eye health — and let them know about any eye doctors you see for care. If you need help coordinating your care, reach out to your health care team— they may be able to connect you with a case manager or nurse who can assist.
Dry Eye Syndrome Affects Visual Functions
Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) has a significant impact on quality of life. It is prevalent in nearly 7.8% of women and 4.7% of men over 50, and affects over 4.8 million people in the United States. Although some risk factors have been identified, the cause of DES is still largely unknown. DES is characterized by a deficiency in the quantity and/or quality of tears, an unstable tear film, ocular surface damage and bothersome symptoms such as ocular irritation, dryness, fatigue, and fluctuating visual disturbances. It is one of the most frequent reasons patients seek eye care. With few published data on the impact of DES on quality of life, the researchers assessed the effect on several common activities such as reading, driving, computer work, professional work and watching television.Selecting subjects who were participating in two large studies, the Women's Health Study and the Physicians' Health Study, and who had answered three DES-related questions, supplementary questionnaires were filled out by almost 600 participants. One-third met the criteria for DES.
Writing in the article, Debra A. Schaumberg, ScD, OD, MPH, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Departments of Medicine and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, and fellow investigators state, 'DES is a common problem that may often be overlooked clinically as it tends not to be a common cause of permanent visual morbidity as traditionally measured. The interface between the tear film and the surrounding air represents the largest refractive index differential in the human optical system and is consequently of critical importance for clear vision.
DES patients with an unstable tear film can usually clear a blurred image temporarily by blinking frequently to redistribute the tear film over the ocular surface. However, this may not be sustainable during activities requiring prolonged gazing, and those with more severe symptoms may experience difficulty keeping their eyes open. Our findings of nearly 3 and 5-fold increased risks of having problems with activities such as reading, computer use and professional work among both women and men with DES who did and did not use artificial tears, respectively, support and extend those of prior studies by pointing to specific areas of functioning that are problematic among people with DES'.
'The present study suggests that DES can have a significant impact on visual function that can diminish a person's quality of everyday living,' continues Dr. Schaumberg. 'More specifically, the present study shows that crucial daily activities of modern living such as reading, computer use, professional work, driving and TV watching are all negatively impacted by DES.'
Source-EurekalertPRI/S
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