I am interested in all things about the anatomy and physiology of the entire human body, not just the eyes. My undergraduate degree is in Exercise Physiology, and having been involved with many sports throughout my life, I continue to have an interest in exercise and nutrition as they relate to health and fitness. I do not need to preach to you about the benefits of exercise, not smoking, a proper diet, etc., and their importance towards overall health. We have all heard that before. However, I find that many of my patients do not realize that what is good for overall health is also good for the optimum eye health, including the prevention of cataracts and even worse, macular degeneration.
Having said that, this month I would like to share an article I came across in the Australian newspaper The Age that is related to neither of the above! Rather, it is just a tidbit of information about the human body that you can use to impress your children and friends.
I bet you never thought about why our fingers and toes get all wrinkled after soaking in a tub or being in a pool for a long time. Well, it turns out that it is an evolutionary advantage because it helps us better grip things under water. Scientists in England demonstrated that people who soaked their hands in warm water for 30 minutes were able to get a better grip and pick up wet marbles and place them in a container faster than those who had un-creased fingers. The researchers conclude that this probably allowed our prehistoric ancestors who walked on all fours to move around better on wet surfaces (which is why it occurs on both the hands and the feet) and may have been useful in gathering food from wet plants or streams. The study also found that “pruney” fingers had no impact on handling dry objects, which raises the question why we do not have permanent creases in our hands and feet.
Random, Useless Fact…
Did you know that you can not hum if your nose is pinched closed? I can see all of you trying it now. 🙂
New at Normandy Optical…
… Is the TrueFit digital dispensing system. The sonar digital camera and computer software gives us the technology to obtain amazingly accurate measurements such as the distance between your eyes and the placement of your bifocal for your new glasses. The TrueFit system allows you to compare several frames at once, is great for people with high prescriptions who can’t see what a frame looks like without wearing glasses, and can show you what your new glasses will look like from both the front and side views. It also allows us to match up the exact type of progressive (no-line bifocal) lens to fit your frame.
The bottom line is that 1 or 2 millimeters can be the difference between seeing good and seeing great. TrueFit will allow us to make your glasses with the precision that others can not.
Leave a Reply