Medical experts yesterday warned those who are short-sighted -- with a power of -6 or stronger -- to be careful when playing golf or going on roller-coasters, for fear of retinal detachment.
Retinal detachment is a serious and sight-threatening condition, occurring when the retina becomes separated from its underlying supportive tissue.
According to ORBIS, a charity dedicated to saving sight, it usually follows a tear in the retina which allows fluid from the eyes to flow in. Symptoms include flashing lights, cobwebs, or a black curtain in your line of vision, which, if not promptly treated, can result in blindness.
According to results of a recent survey commissioned by ORBIS, retinal detachment is among the most frequently occurring retinal disorders in Taiwan.
Survey results collected from patient databases of the National Health Insurance Bureau and major hospitals across Taiwan, showed that those who were severely short-sighted were 130 times more likely to suffer retinal detachment compared with the average person.
Retinal detachment is of particular concern in view of the number of short-sighted children in Taiwan. According to Deputy Minister of the Department of Health (DOH) Chen Shih-jhong (
Head of the Opthamology department at the Tri-Service General Hospital, Lu Da-wen (呂大文) said, "Those whose retinas are already in a deteriorated state should be careful of performing actions which have a strong centrifugal force as this may pull on the retina, causing it to break away."
He said that this included swinging a golf club, going on a roller-coaster and anything involving a swinging motion of the head.
"Those who already have floaters in their eyes are especially at risk," he said.
According to a report in the Liberty Times, Lu said that an elderly woman had experienced symptoms of retinal detachment after hitting herself across the head with a steel broom, which is part of a traditional Chinese treatment to improve blood circulation.
Lu said that the elderly, whose retinas are already in a more fragile state than the norm should be especially careful.
Lu also said that risks were not lower for those who had already had their short-sightedness corrected through laser surgery and that eye check-ups should be performed every six months for those who were severely short-sighted.
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
The Taipei District Court sentenced babysitters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Jou-lin (劉若琳) to life and 18 years in prison respectively today for causing the death of a one-year-old boy in December 2023. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Liu Tsai-hsuan was entrusted with the care of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), in August 2023 by the Child Welfare League Foundation. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 23 that year, she and her sister Liu Jou-lin allegedly committed acts of abuse against the boy, who was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries on Dec. 24, 2023, but did not
LIKE-MINDED COUNTRIES: Despite the threats from outside, Taiwan and Lithuania thrived and developed their economies, former president Tsai Ing-wen said Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Saturday thanked Lithuania for its support of Taiwan, saying that both countries are united as partners in defending democracy. Speaking at a reception organized by the Lithuania-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group welcoming her on her first visit to the Baltic state, Tsai said that while she was president from 2016 to last year, many Lithuanian “friends” visited Taiwan. “And I told myself I have to be here. I am very happy that I am here, a wonderful country and wonderful people,” Tsai said. Taiwan and Lithuania are in similar situations as both are neighbors to authoritarian countries, she
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
RSS