29 Apr 09 THE COLOUR OF THE IRIS AND THE IRIS-LAYERS
The colour of the iris determines the appearance of the eyes. We distinguish in general three natural basic colours: blue, grey, and brown.
Each of these colours has a physiological basis, and is conditional upon the degree of pigmentation of the iris.
The iris appears blue when its surface layers are colourless, and the deepest dark layer of the iris (retinal epithelial pigment) shows through. If the middle vascular layer of the iris—the
stroma—is coarse and compact, then the iris appears grey. However, the more dark coloured material is deposited in this stroma, the more the iris is darkened in its colouring, and the appearance tends towards brown. There are occasionally seen in a less pigmented iris, local accumulations of brown-to-black coloured substance which strikingly appear as dark-reddish flecks in the otherwise grey or blue iris. These are referred to scientifically as naevi irides
(iris-birthmark). We call them ‘toxin-flecks’.
In the case of albinos, the iris layers are completely transparent. There is a lack of all pigment. These eyes appear reddish, because of the visibility of the blood vessels in the deep layer of the iris—the retina.
In the new-born, the iris is at first dark-violet to blue-grey. Only in the course of development does there appear a lightening or darkening through alteration in the pigment content. With advancing age the stroma becomes more compact and coarser and thereby acquires a grey appearance.
The change of blue to brown iris is sometimes limited to an individual iris or even to a part, so that in the same person, one iris can be blue with the other brown, and also a smaller or larger brown sector may be seen in the blue iris. This is referred to as Heterochromia. Discolourations of the iris following organic diseases are of especial
significance in Iriscopy.
The structure of the iris is best viewed when the pupil is contracted, using a strong beam of light, either with natural vision, or better still with a loupe of 3 or 4 magnifications.
The iris is rich in changes, and is especially characterised by elevations and depressions of the anterior surface. This is referred to as the iris-relief.
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Tags: General Health
29 Apr 09 MENSTRUAL CYCLE-CREATURE COMFORTS: IN BED
At night, something as simple as an extra protective layer of bedding may help to make us feel more at ease. We differ from one another in our attitudes to all sorts of things and one of the most influential as far as period pain is concerned is our attitude to the blood we lose. Some, particularly women who were born in the West Indies, see the flow of blood as a sign of health, a mark that their bodies are functioning properly. Others accept it as a natural flow, but see blood as dirty, something that stains sheets and clothing, and must be cleaned away as soon as possible. Others consider that menstrual blood is not only dirty, but morally ‘unclean’, something that they should be ashamed of. What we feel about our own blood is a result of what the women we know and love have felt and probably still feel. Some of us change our minds and our attitudes because we come into contact with other people with different ideas. But whatever they are, our attitudes affect our behaviour.
If we feel that blood is dirty, we may unconsciously be trying not to stain clothes and sheets — especially sheets that don’t belong to us. When you have learnt how to relax, you may recognize that you are holding your pelvic floor in a very tense state when you have a period, particularly when you are in bed. It’s possible that you are ‘holding back’ your period because you don’t want to make a mess on the sheets. If you are, it could be very difficult for you to relax completely. If you think this might be your problem, one answer to it is to use a drawsheet — a piece of old sheeting or an ancient towel on top of the under sheet for a little extra protection. It’s a lot less bother to wash than a sheet too.
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Tags: Pain Relief
