A child reading braille with an adult

Every year on January 4th, we celebrate World Braille Day, marking the birth date of Louis Braille, the inventor of this revolutionary tactile writing system. At CHEC, we understand the importance of accessibility and clear communication for everyone, including those with visual impairments. This World Braille Day, we’re taking a moment to appreciate the profound impact of Braille on countless lives.

From Night Writing to Braille:

The story of Braille begins long before Louis was born. In the early 19th century, Charles Barbier, a French army captain, developed a system of “night writing” for soldiers to communicate silently in the dark. This system used raised dots to represent sounds, but it was complex and difficult to learn.

In 1821, Barbier demonstrated his night writing to students at the Royal Institute for Blind Youth in Paris, where a young Louis Braille was studying. Louis, who had lost his sight in a childhood accident, recognised the potential of this system but also saw its limitations.

Louis Braille’s Breakthrough:

Over the next several years, Louis tirelessly worked to simplify and refine Barbier’s system. By 1824, at the age of just 15, he had developed a six-dot cell system that could represent letters, numbers, and musical notation. This system was much easier to learn and use than night writing, and it quickly gained popularity among students at the institute.

The Impact of Braille:

Braille has had a transformative impact on the lives of blind and visually impaired people around the world. It has opened doors to literacy, education, employment, and independence. Braille allows individuals to:

A person reading a braille textbook
Read and write: Access literature, textbooks, and other written materials.
Learn and study: Pursue education and professional development.
Communicate effectively: Exchange letters, notes, and other written messages.
Enjoy leisure activities: Read books, magazines, and music scores.

CHEC and Accessibility:

At CHEC, we are committed to providing accessible information and services to all our patients. We understand that clear communication is essential for ensuring positive healthcare experiences. We know that in many cases, people visiting our website may have an eye condition or some form of vision loss, and we are mindful of the importance of accessibility with our website offering an increased text size option. We also support charities such as Galloways Sight Loss.

Celebrating World Braille Day:

World Braille Day is an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of Louis Braille and recognise the importance of this invaluable tool. It’s also a reminder of the ongoing need to promote accessibility and inclusion for people with visual impairments. This year let’s take a moment to appreciate the power of touch and the profound impact of Braille on the world.

Washing your hands is one of the most important ways to reduce the risk of getting or spreading eye infections amongst other things. Colds and infections are commonly transmitted due to poor hand hygiene. It’s important to wash your hands properly, with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after touching your eyes, nose or mouth. It’s also important to remember that bacteria may be present on work surfaces, door handles and other everyday items. 

It is advised that you carry hand sanitizer for times when soap and water are not available, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.  

Common eye conditions that can be caused by not washing your hands: 

  • Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): This highly contagious infection can be caused by bacteria or viruses. Poor hand hygiene can easily spread these germs to your eyes.    
  • Styes: These are painful, red bumps on the eyelid caused by a bacterial infection. Touching your eyes with dirty hands can introduce bacteria and lead to a stye.    
  • Corneal Ulcers: These are open sores on the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. They can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, often resulting from poor hand hygiene.    

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How Can I Prevent an Eye Infections? Chevron

    You may not be able to prevent every eye infection, but you can take steps to reduce your risk.

    These may include: 

    • Making sure you follow directions on how to use your contact lenses, how to clean them and how long to wear them, 
    • Wearing protective eye gear when you work or participate in sports, 
    • Avoiding allergens that bother your eyes and taking allergy medicine to prevent irritation, 
    • Avoiding people who may be ill, 
    • Practising good hand hygiene, 
    • Not sharing items, like towels or eye makeup, that touch your eye, 
    • Throwing out cosmetics if you develop an eye infection so you won’t get re-infected. 

  • Treatment for eye infections depends on what’s causing your eye infection. It might include anti-infective medication in various forms, such as eye drops, ointments or tablets. It usually takes 24 to 48 hours for antibacterial medications to work. 

    You may have to let viral or allergic infections clear on their own, but you may be able to make yourself more comfortable with the following home remedies: 

    • Using damp, warm or cool compresses to make your eyes feel better, 
    • Using lubricating eye drops (artificial tears), 
    • Using over-the-counter pain relievers, 
    • Avoiding allergens that caused the reaction in the first place. 

  • There are a number of common eye conditions, these can include:

    • Conjunctivitis – a common eye condition that causes inflammation of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane that covers the white part of your eye and the inside of your eyelids.
    • Blepharitis – a common eye condition that causes inflammation of the eyelids. This inflammation can lead to redness, itching, burning, and crusty eyelids. 
    • Cellulitis – a bacterial infection of your skin and the tissue beneath your skin. 
    • Dacryocystitis – an infection of your tear sac that can happen when your tear ducts become blocked and can’t drain properly.
    • Endophthalmitis – serious inflammation and infection of the fluids within your eye.
    • Stye – a painful red bump on the edge of your eyelid.
    • Uveitis – a condition where you have inflammation of the uvea, which includes the iris, ciliary body and choroid.

  • You can get eye infections from bacteria, fungi (plural of fungus), parasites and viruses. These small organisms can enter your eyes in many different ways, including eye injuries. 

    One of the most common ways to get an eye infection is to sleep in your contact lenses. It’s also common to get an eye infection if you don’t properly clean your lenses. 

  • Following an eye infection, it is important to throw away any makeup tools, contact lenses, and the contact lens solution and cases you used during the infection.  

  • Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs and illnesses. By washing your hands with soap and water, you can significantly reduce your risk of infection and protect yourself and others.

    • After using the toilet, or entering a bathroom 
    • Making contact with someone with a cold or infection 
    • Before and after touching your eyes 
    • Before and after touching contact lenses 
    • Before and after handling raw foods like meat and vegetables 
    • Before eating or handling food 
    • After blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing 
    • Before and after treating a cut or wound 
    • After touching animals, including pets, their food and after cleaning their cages 

If you have any concerns about your eyes, please see your optician for assessment and diagnosis. For more information and to find out the best way to wash your hands visit the NHS website.  

Winter can be a harsh season for our eyes, with cold, dry air and increased exposure to indoor heating. These factors can lead to a variety of eye problems, including dry eye, eye strain, and increased sensitivity to light. 

Here are some tips to keep your eyes healthy during the winter months:

  • Stay HydratedChevron

    Drink plenty of water: It is important to drink water all year round, but with he changes in environments, going from cold, dry conditions to a heated car or building, your body can experience dryness, and hydration is essential for overall health, including eye health. 

    Use a humidifier: As the days get colder, it is our instinct to pump the heating up or to get cosy by the fire. Unfortunately, this can affect both our skin and eyes due to the change in humidity. By adding a humidifier, you can help add moisture to the air, especially in heated indoor environments. 

  • Wear sunglasses: During the summer, we love to don our sunglasses and enjoy the heat of the sun’s rays. But it is important to remember that even on cloudy days, UV rays can cause damage our skin and eyes. To help protect our eyes, we should wear sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection, opting for polarised lenses when possible. 

    Protect your eyes from wind and cold: Wearing sunglasses isn’t just for the sun’s rays, they also help to block wind and cold air that can dry out your eyes, leading to irritation. Consider wearing protective eye wear, such as goggles or sunglasses, especially when engaging in outdoor activities. 

  • Dim lighting at home or work can strain our eyes. Sit near windows during the day for natural light and use task lighting, like a desk lamp, for activities like reading

  • Take regular breaks: We are spending more and more time looking at screens, whether it’s our smartphones, tablets, computers, and televisions. The blue light emitted from these screens can strain our eyes. It’s important that we take frequent breaks from screens and practice the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 

    Use blue light filtering glasses: These glasses are specially designed to block or filter out a portion of blue light, reducing its impact on your eyes. These glasses often have lenses with a yellowish or amber tint, which helps to filter out the blue light. 

    Benefits of Blue Light Filtering Glasses: 

    • Reduced Eye Strain: By filtering out harmful blue light, these glasses can help alleviate symptoms of digital eye strain. 
    • Improved Sleep Quality: Blue light can interfere with your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. By reducing blue light exposure, you can improve your sleep quality. 
    • Enhanced Vision Clarity: Blue light filtering glasses can help improve visual clarity and reduce eye fatigue. 
  • Encourage children to spend time outside; it may reduce the onset of myopia. Adults can benefit from fresh air and natural light too! 

  • Lubricate your eyes: To help avoid dry eyes, over-the-counter eye drops can help relieve dryness and irritation by adding moisture to our eyes. 

  • Resist the urge: When our eyes become dry, they can start to feel itchy, but we must resist the urge to rub them. Rubbing your eyes can further irritate them and potentially damage the delicate eye tissue. 

  • As well as using artificial eye drops, it is important that we remember to consciously blink. Blinking is important to keep our eyes lubricated. 

  • It is important to schedule regular eye exams to monitor your eye health and detect any early signs of damage. a general guideline is to have an eye exam every two years. 

    There are a number of groups that may require more frequent check-ups: 

    • People over the age of 60: Annual eye exams are often recommended to monitor for age-related eye conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. 
    • People with diabetes or high blood pressure: These conditions can affect eye health and require more frequent monitoring. 
    • Individuals with a family history of eye disease: Regular eye exams can help detect early signs of hereditary eye conditions. 
    • People who wear contact lenses: Regular eye exams are essential to monitor eye health and ensure proper contact lens fit. 
    • Those with jobs that involve prolonged screen time: Frequent eye exams can help identify and manage digital eye strain. 

    Ultimately, the best way to determine the appropriate frequency of eye exams is to consult with an eye care professional. They can assess your individual risk factors and provide personalised advice. 

  • If your symptoms persist or worsen, consult an eye doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. 

By following these simple tips, you can help protect your eyes from the harsh winter conditions and maintain optimal eye health. If you experience persistent eye discomfort or vision problems, consult with your Optician or GP.