Laser eye ops could ruin sight

 

Sunday November 26, 2006 By Miles Erwin Concern has been raised about the long-term effects of laser eye surgery after a new study has shown that tens of thousands of Kiwis are likely to suffer defective vision from the surgery in their later years. Studies from Otago and Oxford Universities have shown that laser surgery for short-sightedness could cause haze, glare and blurred vision as people reach their 60s and 70s. Given that around 25,000 New Zealanders have had the surgery, Otago University head of ophthalmology Anthony Molteno said there could be significant legal class actions in the future, an issue that is causing major concern among eye surgeons. “When we presented this work at the local conference, there was a stunned silence and some anxious questions,” said Molteno. In the procedure the central cornea is flattened. That provides better eyesight, but research shows that it seriously affects the movement of corneal cells, which affect sight. In a normal eye, the cells start at each end of the eye and migrate towards the centre. The top cells move quicker and meet the lower cells below the pupil. Where they meet, called the Hudson-Stahli Line, they create pigment, scattering light and causing glare, haze and blur. As people age, that area increases and moderately affects eyesight but isn’t a real problem, as the line is below the pupil. “But after the surgery, the top cells move slowly down the flattened cornea, meeting the lower cells in front of the pupil. That causes haziness immediately, and most people who have the surgery see as though they’re “looking through hazy spectacles”, according to Molteno. The new findings show the new location of the Hudson-Stahli Line will cause haze and glare in front of the pupil as people age. “The question is, is this permanent, and is it going to increase in the normal manner with age? If so, a lot are going to have a hazy, soft, fuzzy view of society as they get older. This is a long-term effect, and we are following these people. If this turns out to be a major effect, I presume it will one day see a major class action suit.” Molteno said the problems could be serious, with people unlikely to be able to drive. “Anybody who’s had their cornea planed would be eaten by a lion at the water hole… If there was serious break-down of law and order, they would probably get shot before the others because they couldn’t see so well.” At present, the process cannot be fixed. “The issue is really this: if you pay the private sector to do this, they do it at a profit and pay taxes. The question is how much of those taxes come to the public sector, and how much is it going to cost to clean up the mess? We don’t know.” Molteno said the surgery was still full of unknowns, and it should be given serious consideration. There have been 11 claims lodged with ACC over complications since 2000. “It’s not risk-free, make no mistake about that. I wouldn’t have them done myself or let my family. But it depends on what it’s worth to you.” The research was first raised by a caller to Kerre Woodham on her talkback show for NewstalkZB. But Malcolm McKellar, an eye surgeon in Canterbury, said that while the technique had risks, these outweighed bad eyesight. “Overall, the risk is very low, but it’s not zero. However you do it, it’s a surgical procedure. The technology in New Zealand is all cutting edge. Across the board every single centre has got a very new laser. It’s one of the most precise surgeries on the planet.” Even though the technology was still evolving and new problems are uncovered, McKellar said, the technique was safe. “There’s been animal research and evolving technologies, and we’ve now got 15 years of the surgery. Given that everything so far has been very good, we’re prepared to take the small risk in order to trade poor vision now for good vision.” Worth the risk? Laser eye surgery may have its risks but for most people it brings huge relief. Katie Stow, a public relations consultant, had laser surgery eight months ago and she’s delighted with the results. From being nearly blind, she now has almost perfect eyesight. “It was really good and my eyesight is pretty much perfect.” The only problem she has had is to do with night vision. “My night vision looking at lights, there’s a bit of a halo around it. But it’s definitely deal-with-able.” Stow said her surgeons were helpful and she had confidence in them. “They went though all the risks involved. They were pretty cautious about the whole thing. I was thinking, ‘just do it’.” And when she was told of the new research saying she may have problems in the future she wasn’t unduly worried. “Anything is better than what I had before. I might be concerned about that if my eyesight was bad. “But having the next 30 years of proper eyesight is fine for me.”

USEFUL ARABIC – ENGLISH TRANSLATION FOR OPTOMETRIST

WORDS YOU CAN USE

FADAL – means COME INSIDE, WELCOME, GO AHEAD or PLEASE

EHSTERRE or EDGELIS– means SITDOWN

HUT – means PUT

DIGGIN – means CHIN

HENNA – means HERE

SHOUF – means SEE or LOOK

ALATOL – means STRAIGHT

KOLLO – means ALL

EYEON – means EYES

IFTA – means OPEN

LAT – means DON’T

HARAK – means MOVE

KHALAS – means FINISH

NADARA – means EYE GLASSES

KAM? – means HOW? or HOW MANY?

OMBRAK – means (old) AGE (MALE)

OMBRIK – means (old) AGE (FEMALE)

INTA – means YOU

FI – means HAVE

MAGAS – means POWER or PRESCRIPTION or SIZE

GADIM – means OLD

NADARA TOBIA – means PRESCRIPTION EYE GLASSES

NADARA SHYAMSIA – means SUNGLASSES

AIWA – means YES

LA or MO – means NO

KAM SANAH? – means HOW MANY YEARS?

ANA – means I

JADID – means NEW

MAFI – means DON’T or DON’T HAVE

MALLUNG / FAHAM – means UNDERSTAND or KNOW

MORTAH – means COMFORTABLE (MALE)

MORTAHAH – means COMFORTABLE (FEMALE)

ARABIC SENTENCES YOU CAN USE FOR EYE REFRACTION

INTA FI SHOUF? – means CAN YOU SEE?

AIY WAHAD AWDAH/AHSSAN? – means WHICH ONE IS CLEARER/GOOD?

HADI WELLA HADI? – means THIS ONE OR THIS ONE?

SHOUF SATEER AWOL – means LOOK AT THE FIRST LINE

SHOUF SATEER THANI – means LOOK AT THE SECOND LINE

SHOUF SATEER THALITH – means LOOK AT THE THIRD LINE

SHOUF SATEER RABA – means LOOK AT THE FORTH LINE

KALAM FIN FATHA? – means WHERE’S THE DIRECTION (OF THE E)

ALHIN NAFSU WELLA ASGHER? – means NOW IS IT THE SAME OR SMALLER?

SHOUF HADI BASS – means LOOK AT THIS ONLY

AIY WAHAD AWDAH YAMIN WELLA YASAR? – means WHICH ONE IS CLEARER THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT?

MONKEN EMSHI – means PLEASE WALK

SHOUF ARDT – means LOOK AT THE FLOOR

MAFI MOSHKILLA? – means NO PROBLEM?

HADAH MORTAH? – means IS THIS COMFORTABLE?

HADAH MIYA FIL MIYA? – means IS THAT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT?

ALHIN INTA MAGAS FI YATADGE – means NOW YOUR PRESCRIPTION INCREASED.

INTA ELBIS NADARA, EL AWOL MONKEN FI SUDAH/MOSHKILLA, BAADEN…TALATA YUM, ARBAA YUM. INTA FI SHOUF TAMAM. – means THE FIRST TIME YOU WEAR, POSSIBLY YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. AFTER THREE TO FOUR DAYS, YOU WILL SEE/FEEL GOOD.

INTA LASM ELBIS NADARA – means YOU MUST WEAR EYEGLASSES

MONKEN SUAL MR….(THE SALESMAN NAME) – means PLEASE ASK MR….

AWOL MARRA – means FIRST TIME

AHSSAN – means GOOD

DI or HADI – means THIS

HADAH – means THAT

WELLA – means OR

SWAY – means A LITTLE

SWAYSWAY – means LITTLE BY LITTLE

SWAYYAH – means FOR A WHILE

NAFSHASHAY or NAFSU – means THE SAME

BAID/MASAFAH – means FAR

GARRIB/KARA A – means NEAR

JADID – means NEW

GADIM – means OLD

FOUK – means UP

THAHAD – means DOWN

YAMIN – means RIGHT

YASAR – means LEFT

ASGHER – means SMALL

SAWWI – means DO

KIDDAH – means THIS ONE or LIKE THIS

ADUA – means READ

ALHIN – means NOW

MIYA FIL MIYA – means 100 PERCENT

WAHDAH – means CLEAR

AWDAH – means CLEARER

AL AWDAH – means CLEAREST

KATHEER – means MANNY or VERY MUCH

SAGEAR – means SMALL

KHABIR – means BIG

AKBHAR – means BIGGER

AL AKBHAR – means BIGGEST

SATEER – means LINE

AWOL – means FIRST

THANI – means SECOND

THALITH – means THIRD

RHABA – means FORTH

ZA ED – means PLUS (+)

NOH ES – means MINUS (-)

ONOUS – means 0.50 (half)

RUBA – means 0.25 (quarter)

SUAL – means ASK (?)

QUAIZ – means GOOD or FINE

SUDAH or ZACKALALA – means HEADACHED

FIN – means WHERE

MAZZA – means WHAT

LESH – means WHY

MAN – means WHO

KAIF or ZAIYAK – means HOW

MATAH – means WHEN

AIY – means WHICH

WAH – means AND

MA A – means WITH

BUSS – means ONLY

MAZBOOT – means VERY WELL

CALLAM – means TALK

ILLIOM – means TODAY

KOL YUM – means EVERYDAY

KOL LAILA – means EVERY NIGHT

KOL OSBU – means EVERY WEEK

KOL SHAHR – means EVERY MONTH

KOL SANA – means EVERY YEAR

BUKRA – means TOMORROW

LASM – means MUST

MONKEN – means MAYBE, POSSIBLE or PLEASE

EMSHI – means WALK

ARDT – means FLOOR

MOYA ABYAT – means CATARACT

INHIRAF – means ASTIGMATISM

HAWAL – means CROSS EYE

KASLAN – means LAZY

MOYA ASHRAQ – means GLAUCOMA

QUESTIONS YOU MAY NEED TO ASK:

INTA FI SUKAR? – means DO YOU HAVE DIABETIS?

INTA FI DART? – means DO YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

WORDS YOU CAN USE AND HEAR ABOUT CONTACT LENSES

SHILL – means REMOVE

FOKKHEH – means LOOK UP

ELBIS – means WEAR

MAHALOL – means CONTACT LENS SOLUTION

ELBA – means CONTACT LENS CASE

DACLE – means INSIDE

TANDIF – means CLEAN

MISSLE HAZZAH – means LIKE THIS

GATRA – means LUBRICANT

MOAKAT – means DISPOASBLE

ADASAT – means LENS

ADASAT LASKA – means CONTACT LENS

DAIMA or ALATOL – means CONVETIONAL CONTACT LENS

SHAHARIYA – means MONTHLY

ISHBUYA – means WEEKLY

YOMIYYA – means DAILLY

SALBA – means HARD LENS

YAD – means HANDS

MAYA – means WATER

HABBA – means PIECE

IFTA – means OPEN

SAKKER – means CLOSE

NUM – means SLEEP

DIAHMOND – means ALWAYS

SHOOKOL – means WORK

ABLA – means BEFORE

BAAD – means AFTER

ILTIHAB – means INFECTION

ASSACIA – means ALLERGY

FIDAH – means USE /MEANING

YANNI – means MAYBE

TAABEN – means TIRED or SICK

ASHAN – means BECAUSE

SENENCES YOU MAY USE

MAFI FIDAH – means NO USE or MEANING

KIEF YANNI? – means WHAT (HOW IS THAT?) DO YOU MEAN?

GATRA MOS LASM, ASHAN MA INDIK ILTIHAB – means YOU DON’T HAVE TO USE AN EYE DROP, BECAUSE YOU DON’T HAVE AN EYE INFECTION.

WORDS YOU CAN USE AND HEAR WHEN SELLING

ACHERSHEY – means THAT’S IT (LAST PRICE)

KAFIFFHA – means LIGHT

SAMEEK – means THICK

RAFIAH – means THIN

FAHAS – means CHECK

DAGIL – means HEAVY

KHATCH – means SCRATCH

KUDUZZ – means SCRATCHES

AFWAN – means EXCUSE

MA ALISH – means SORRY

AFDHAL – means BETTER

ABADAN – means NEVER

MAHAL – means SHOP

MODER – means MANAGER

ESHTAN-NI – means WAIT (FEMALE)

ESHTAN-NA – means WAIT (MALE)

HALTA – means CAN

TAZBIT – means ADJUST

WAZSA – means LOOSE

MOSHKILLA – means PROBLEM

FALTURRA – means INVOICE

MOMOJUD – means NOT HERE or DON’T HAVE

YABBI – means WANT or NEED

ZIV – means GIVE

AOUS – means YOU NEED (EGYPT)

HAGA – means SOMETHING

EJI – means COME

TA AL – means COME (present)

HELWA – means NICE or BEAUTIFUL

CASUALLET – means CASUAL

TIKANA – means MORE ELLEGANT

SMALLIK – means THE HEAD CLOTH SAUDI USE

AHKHID – means SURE

ANDA – means SHOUT

FICKRA – means IDEA

ZAID – means HAPPY

SAAH – means RIGHT

ZA ALINA – means ANGRY

ALEFEKRA? – means WHAT ABOUT?

AH LIF – means YOU KNOW

BUSTLE – means SEE (same as SHOUF)

AMELI? – means WHAT CAN I DO?/MAY I HELP YOU?

YA SALLAM – means NICE, VERY GOOD

BUKRA SUPHA – means TOMORROW MORNING

BUKRA BILLIL – means TOMORROW NIGHT

MOZ ZIBBA – means IT’S A BIG PROBLEM

HORMA – means LADY

RAGUL – means MAN

MAKTAB – means OFFICE

MOSTASFA – means HOSPITAL

COLORS – ALWAN

COLOR – LAUN

BONNI – BROWN

AZLE – HAZEL

AZRAK – BLUE

ROMADI – GRAY

AKDHAR – GREEN

TERQUAZI – AQUA

AZRAQ – BLUE

AHMAR – RED

ASWAD – BLACK

ABYAT – WHITE

NUMBERS WE MUST KNOW

0) SIFR. 1) WAHID. 2) ETHNIN. 3) THALATHA. 4) ARBA-A. 5) KHAMSAH. 6) SITTAH. 7) SABAA. 8.) THAMANIA. 9) TISAA. 10) ASHRAH. 11) HADASH. 12) ITNASH.13) TALATASH. 14) ARBATASH. 15) KHAMSATASH. 16) SITASH. 17) SAB- ATASH. 18) TOMANTASH. 19) TIS ASH. 20) ISHRIN. 21) WAHID O ISHRIN. 23) ITHNIN O ISHRIN. 23) TALAT O ISHRIN. 24) ARBA AT O ISHRIN25) KHAMSAT O ISHRIN. 26) SITTAT O ISHRIN. 27) SAB AT O ISHRIN.28) TOMANIA O ISHRIN. 29) TISAT O ISHRIN. 30) TALATIN. 31) WAHID O TALATIN. 32) ITHNIN O TALATIN. 33) TALAT O TALATIN. 34) ARBA AT O TALATIN. 35) KHAMSAT O TALATIN. 36) SITTAT O TALATIN. 37) SAB AT O TALATIN. 38) TOMANIA O TALATIN. 39) TISAT O TALATIN. 40) ARBA IN.41) WAHID O ARBAIN. 42) ITHNIN O ARBAIN. 43) TALAT O ARBAIN.44) ARBA AT O ARBAIN. 45) KHAMSAT O ARBAIN. 46) SITTAT O ARBAIN.47) SAB AT O ARBAIN. 48) TOMANIA O ARBAIN. 49) TISAT O ARBAIN. 50) KHAMSIN. 51) WAHID O KHAMSIN. 52) ITHNIN O KHAMSIN. 53) TALAT O KHAMSIN. 54) ARBA AT O KHAMSIN. 55) KHAMSAT O KHAMSIN. 56) SITTAT O KHAMSIN. 57) SAB AT O KHAMSIN. 58) TOMANIA O KHAMSIN. 59) TISAT O KHAMSIN. 60) SITT IN. 70) SAB IN. 80) TOMAN IN.90) TIS IN. 100) MIYYA. 101) MIYYA O WAHID. 102) MIYYA O ITHNIN.110) MIYYA O ASHARA. 111) MIYYA O HADASH. 112) MIYYA O ITHNASH.113) MIYYA O TALATASH. 114) MIYYA O ARBATASH. 115) MIYYA O KHASATASH. 116) MIYYA O SITTASH. 117) MIYYA O SAB ATTASH.118) MIYYA O TOMANTASH. 119) MIYYA O TISASH. 120)MIYYA O ISHRIN.130) MIYYA O TALATIN. 140) MIYYA O ARBA IN. 141) MIYYA WAHID O ARBAIN. 150) MIYYA O KHAMS IN. 160) MIYYA O SITT IN. 170) MIYYA O SAB IN. 180) MIYYA O TOMANIN. 190) MIYYA O TIS IN. 200) MITAIN. 300) TALAT- MIYYA. 400) ARBA-MIYYA. 500) KHAMS-MIYYA. 600) SITT-MIYYA. 700) SAB A-MIYYA. 800) TOMAN-MIYYA. 900) TIS A-MIYYA. 1,000) ALF. 1,100) ALF O MIYYA. 2,000) ALF-AIN . 3,000) TALAT-ALAF. 4,000) ARBAT-ALAF. 5,000) KHAMSAT-ALAF. 10,000) ASHRAT-ALAF. 100,000) MIYYAT-ALF. 1,000,000) MILYON. 2,000,000) MILYON-AIN. 3,000,000) TALAT-MALAYIN.

 

Saudi touch down

Life in Saudi……A Filipino perspective

You probably agree that it is a bit scary if it is your first time to arrive in Saudi Arabia. As a Filipino contract worker, I am about to discover an environment of a foreign country that I never been. Well, just to name a few, this was Osama Bin Laddin home and according to the local newspaper, more than twenty-six incidences of terror related including bombings occurred. Despite of that, I discover and I started to understand the local sentiments just for a short period of time. I know for sure how the west reacted to that scary and barbaric terrorist attacks. Know as 911 and most Islamic country would surely show sympathy and support to the west to hunt and arrest those who are responsible to that terrorist act and that including Saudi Arabia. But always the main issue is the Middle East peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelites. Well, this is what you read in the newspaper and you can see how people would react. This is not my business and it is not good for me to get involve or talk about it, for the reason that I am here to work and to earn a living. But this is the reality, how can I avoid writing about it? In the Philippines we face so many issues that really worries you from poverty, crimes, and other calamities.  We all have our own problems to deal with, and since I’m here in Saudi this is what I see. The ancient conflict that still affects the mind and hearts for all of us who long to have peace. “Assala malaikom” means “peace be with you”, is really something that you hear more than a thousand or may be a million times and this is something what we human naturally want. Saudi is so bless with rich oil and other minerals and is so grateful to let it share the blessing and by letting others like me being allowed to work and earn a better earning without tax. Saudi is a religious Kingdom and to be honest, in terms of the restrictions like the Islamic moral standard? This is something that helps me to protect my moral integrity no matter what religion I am. I tell you, I know few Filipinos stay here in Saudi for more than fifteen years and that shows that they survive and shows how they love Saudi Arabia. Some would get Saudi homesickness when the go back to the Philippines. For a Kingdom that employs more than a million Filipino workers and in returns help more than million family members in the Philippines is undeniably a big help in Philippine economy. Despite of the abuse of some employers and being away from your family and your country, we all endure and enjoy in some ways. This is life in Saudi. Have a nice day and Assala malaikom.