A recent post on Microsoft's blog indicates that the newest version of Windows 8 will feature applications to help those with vision impairments.
"Windows 8 is a product we design for an incredibly broad spectrum of people around the world," wrote Microsoft Windows head Steven Sinofsky. "One of the areas where we have worked to deliver an even greater level of innovation is in ensuring that Windows 8, particularly the new Metro style experience, is accessible to everyone regardless of their physical abilities."
One of the two big features included in the upgrade is an updated version of the Magnifier, which allows people to see more clearly if they have vision problems. In addition, it will also include an enhanced version of Narrator, which reads back the actions occurring on screen, the media outlet reports.
Those who have vision problems may want to ask their doctor about laser eye surgery, which can improve or correct a person's eyesight. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, not everyone is candidate for the procedure, but the number of those eligible continues to increase.
The new screening system for children, PediaVision, has been receiving good reviews from kids and their parents alike.
The screening system, which can quickly and easily detect if a child has any eye problems or conditions, has been used in Florida. Thus far, the feedback has been encouraging, and the system is expected to be featured in schools across the country.
"The children have been very receptive to the screening," said Liz Moore, the practice manager at Middleton Pediatrics. "Typically, a manual screening takes several minutes to check a child's vision, however Spot allows us to capture an accurate result in just a few seconds. It is a short process designed to get their attention with lights and sounds, making it easy for our team to use."
Those who have been dealing with vision problems since their childhood may want to look into LASIK eye surgery, which can improve or correct a person's eyesight. The procedure consists of the surgeon reshaping the cornea and changing the focusing power of eye, Medline Plus reports.
Two eye care centers in Albany, Georgia, are joining forces to offer more help, so those who are having problems with their eyes will easily be able to get an appointment and talk to a doctor, according to FOX31 News in Georgia.
The two centers will also have more to offer in terms of specialists. This way, a patient will be able to get everything they need in one place, according to the media outlet.
"We'll be offering glaucoma sub-specialty care right now sub-specialty care cataract surgery as well so patients will have a shorter wait time to see a sub-specialist," Dr. Kirk Sterridge, a glaucoma specialist, told the news source.
Those who regularly visit their eye doctor may want to ask about LASIK eye surgery, which can improve or correct a person's vision. According to Medline Plus, the procedure consists of the surgeon reshaping the cornea and changing the focusing power of the eye. Patients should talk to their doctor about every aspect of the surgery, including the benefits and risks.
A great number of people need contacts or glasses in order to see each day. A recent op-ed piece by Lisa Earle McLeod of The Huffington Post looked at certain issues with contact lenses, specifically lens cases.
McLeod went to the doctor to get her eyes checked and forgot to bring her contact case. The optometrist provided one for her, and when she got home she realized that the case the doctor gave her was much smaller than the one that comes with the solution, as she was trying to transfer the contacts.
"I opened it and was about to transfer the lens into my normal case, when it struck me, one case was much deeper than the other," McLeod wrote."The free case from the solution company - the one I normally used - took three times as much solution to fill it."
When it comes to the misuse of these helpful lenses, many do not know the best ways to keep their eyes and their contacts strong and healthy.
According to WDIV-TV, a recent study found the vast majority of contact lens wearers do not partake in the best practices for the lens. For example, many sleep in their contacts when they are not supposed to, while others do not change the solution each day. Any of these mishaps could result in the eye being damaged.
"When you sleep in your contact lenses, the contact lens itself causes damage to the cornea or the surface of the eye," Dr. Shahzad Mian, a cornea specialist at the University of Michigan. "The contact lens overnight gets stuck onto the surface of the cornea, and there's no good interaction between the tear film and the surface of the eye."
Individuals who are fed up with their contacts may want to look into LASIK eye surgery, which can improve or correct a person's vision. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, not everyone is a candidate for the procedure. However, the number of those who are eligble has been steadily increasing over the years due to research advancements. Those who were once denied, may now be candidates for the surgery.
A new study conducted by doctors at the Children's Hospital Boston has found an easier procedure to help those with complex strabismus, which is the misalignment and limited movement of one or more eyes that causes them to appear crossed.
The technique only adjusts a single muscle known as the superior rectus, which can rotates the eye into place instead of moving a series of muscles.
"Superior rectus transposition is a significant simplification of a procedure for patients with a difficult problem that seems to be just as effective as the more complex procedure, and with a lower complication rate," said lead researcher Dr. David Hunter. "Almost every patient goes home with their eyes where we want them to be."
There are a number of procedures nowadays that can improve a person's sight along with their eyes. Those who are interested in vision correction surgery may want to look into LASIK. Not everyone is a candidate for the procedure, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, the number of those who are eligible continues to increase over the years.
In recent years, the importance of eye exams has been continually reported, but some individuals can simply not afford them. A free health screening was set up in Biloxi, Mississippi, this past Monday, and more than 200 people took advantage of the event, according to WLOX-TV.
"We have had a huge response here this morning," Kim Rankin with VSP Vision Care told the news channel. "Folks who don't have access to vision care can come out, have a diabetic risk assessment, and then a free comprehensive eye exam and a free pair of glasses."
The eye doctors checked not only for vision, but for a series of health problems including glaucoma, cataracts and diabetes, which can easily be identified during a screening. This is especially pertinent to Mississippians, who have the second highest rate of diabetes in the country, according to the media outlet. In addition, more than 100,000 individuals in the state do not know they have diabetes.
The optometrists are able to detect diabetes by looking at the blood vessel in the eye, which is the most noninvasive way to see if a person has the disease.
People from various parts of the state came to the event, as it was targeting those who do not have insurance or are from low income households.
"I heard about the free exam on channel 13 this morning and I immediately got ready and came over to get a free eye exam, not knowing that I was also going to get a free pair of glasses. So I think this is a very good service," resident Sandra Magee, who does not have insurance, told the news outlet.
Due to the event and the big response it received, Mayor A.J. Holloway declared February 13 "Eye on Diabetes Day in Biloxi."
Those who do regularly get their eyes checked and have eye problems may be tired of their daily routine with glasses or contacts. Individuals who are looking for ways to enhance their vision may want to look into LASIK eye surgery, which can improve or correct a person's eyesight. According to the Medline Plus, the quick procedure consists of the surgeon reshaping the cornea and changing the focusing power of the eye.
The Roper St. Francis Physicians Endowment recently gave a $24,000 grant to the Association for the Blind, which will go toward it's ReFocus on Children program, according to The Post and Courier.
The program offers children eye care education along with digital eye exams. If the child has vision problems, they are given glasses. More than 1,000 5-year-old kids are provided with glasses through the program, which can be beneficial for not only their academics, but for their behavior at school, according to the news source.
The funds will allow the association to develop an outreach approach and they will be able to use state-of-the-art equipment to quickly identify if a child has any eye problems, the media outlet reports.
Those who have had vision problems since childhood may want to look into laser eye surgery, which can improve or correct a person's eyesight. Not everyone is a candidate for the procedure. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the number of those who are eligible has increased due to advancements in research and technology.
There are a number of questions people ask if they are considering LASIK eye surgery, which can improve or correct a person's eyesight. The surgery itself consists of the surgeon reshaping the cornea and changing the focusing power of the eye, Medline Plus reports, and the result could be 20/20 vision.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, one of the most common questions asked is how much the procedure costs. Even though the FDA does not control the marketing of the procedure, it is no secret the price has dropped in recent years and has become more affordable for a number of people.
Additionally, the FDA reports many ask about the various lasers that are available for vision correction surgery. The site has a list of lasers which are approved, but they are unable to comment on those that they have not approved yet.
Finally, many inquire about what laser is the best for specific refractive errors such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. The FDA reports that the various lasers are beneficial for these conditions, and a consultation with a doctor can help the individual determine which is best for their situation.
There are more than 24 million people in the U.S. who wear contacts, and most practice good hygiene when it comes to taking care of them. However, more than 58 percent admit that they do not follow the life-span guidelines for their contacts and some people sleep in their contacts as well, according to the Fox News affiliate in Cincinnati, Ohio.
"Wearing contacts is so common that people often mistake the convenience of wearing them with ease of use," Dr. Lewis Grodent told the news source. "Over time, poor care can lead to some fairly serious infections and complications, especially if patients are not dedicated to great lens hygiene. I tell patients that if they don’t want the risk of infection and discomfort that comes with poor lens care, LASIK can help."
Those who are tired of wearing contacts each day may want to see if they are candidates for laser eye surgery. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, not everyone qualifies for the procedure, which can improve or correct a person's vision. However, the number of individuals who are eligible for the procedure continues to rise.
Those who are thinking about undergoing laser eye surgery may be interested in the fact the the recovery for LASIK is fairly quick. In some cases, people can wake up the day after their surgery and have 20/20 vision, and they won't need to reach for their glasses or contacts.
"This has a very quick healing time and the vast majority of patients the next day have a standard of uncorrected vision that is better than prior to the procedure and in excess of the minimum standard for driving," said expert Stephen Hannan.
He added that it depends on the severity of the prescription. If someone has extremely bad vision, it may take a little longer before they can truly see the lastly effects.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, those who are interested in vision correction surgery may want to ask their doctor about the procedure, as not everyone is a candidate for it. However, the number of those who are eligible for the surgery has increased over the years. An individual who was once denied may be able to undergo the procedure now.
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