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Refractive Surgery Blog

Information on Refractive Eye Surgery

Archive for October, 2008

Crocodile Tears

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008


According to multiple sources including “National Wildlife” and “Science Daily” and Wikipedia, crocodile tears are for real. For centuries, the phrase “crying crocodile tears” has been used to denote insincere grief. According to “National Wildlife” the myth was started in the 15th century when a traveler reported observing a crocodile crying for its prey while consuming it.

Literature through the ages has made references to crying crocodiles including both “The Voyage and Travel of Sir John Mandeville” (published and widely read in 1400) and in Shakespear’s “Otello.”

University of Florida Zoologist, Kent Vliet, observed and videotaped seven crocodilians while they ate. Five of the seven teared up as they devoured their food. While most mammals produce tears in response to severe pain, crying has been attributed to humans in respnse to both pain and emotional upset. Elephants, gorillas and camels have also been reported to cry according to some studies.

Physiologically, a crocodile’s tears are believed to result when they blow air (and tears) through their sinuses while eating. Crocodiles have lacrimal or tear glands that secrete tears but are devoid of tear drainage ducts. The result is that when they eat, the proteinaceous tears bubble up in their eyes. Crocodiles do not cry with remorse.

In humans, “Crocodile Tear Syndrome” is an uncommon consequence of Bell’s Palsy. In this condition, the facial or seventh cranial nerve becomes misdirected during regeneration and causes the patient to tear while eating.

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Contact Lens Dangers

Sunday, October 19th, 2008


Dr. Lewis was again interviewed on Oct. 15 by Shaul Turner on Good Day Colorado. The subject was on the dangers associated with contact lens wear. Specifically, a profile of a typical patient that got into vision-threatening trouble by being lazy in the care of his lenses. The take-home messages that Dr. Lewis gave were:

1. Wash your hands prior to handling your contact lenses.
2. Make sure you rub your contact lenses during cleaning
(despite the “no-rub” advertisement on the bottle.
3. Never “top-off” the lens well with new solution. Empty the
old solution out first.
4. Clean your case out with hot, soapy water regularly and replace
your case monthly.

The vast majority of eye infections related to contact lens wear are caused by poor lens hygiene.

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4999 E. Kentucky Ave
Denver, CO 80246
(303) 691-2228
Uncompromised Excellence in Eye Care


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