Why do athletes wear eye black. How effective is eye black for reducing glare. What are the origins of eye black in sports. How has eye black evolved over time. What cultural significance does eye black hold in sports.
The Science Behind Eye Black: Does It Actually Work?
Eye black, the distinctive dark streaks athletes apply under their eyes, has been a common sight in sports for decades. But does this practice actually serve a functional purpose, or is it merely a tradition? Let’s examine the science behind eye black and its purported benefits.
Studies have shown that eye black can indeed reduce glare from sunlight and stadium lights. The dark pigment absorbs light that would otherwise reflect into an athlete’s eyes, potentially improving visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. This effect is particularly noticeable in bright, outdoor conditions.
However, the degree of effectiveness may vary depending on factors such as:
- The specific formulation of the eye black
- Application technique
- Individual facial features
- Lighting conditions
While some athletes swear by eye black’s performance-enhancing effects, others view it more as a psychological tool or a cultural tradition. Regardless, its widespread use across various sports suggests that many athletes find value in this simple yet iconic practice.
Evolution of Eye Black: From Grease to High-Tech Solutions
The history of eye black in sports is a fascinating journey of innovation and adaptation. How has this seemingly simple product evolved over the years?
In the early days, athletes would often use unconventional materials to create their eye black:
- Burnt cork
- Shoe polish
- Greasepaint
These makeshift solutions, while effective to some degree, often caused skin irritation and were messy to apply and remove. As the practice gained popularity, specialized eye black products began to emerge.
Modern eye black comes in various forms, including:
- Grease sticks: Similar to traditional formulations but with safer ingredients
- Eye black strips: Adhesive strips that can be easily applied and removed
- Anti-glare stickers: High-tech alternatives that claim superior light-absorbing properties
These advancements have made eye black more convenient, comfortable, and potentially more effective than ever before. Some products even incorporate additional features like UV protection or skin-nourishing ingredients, catering to athletes’ diverse needs.
Eye Black in Different Sports: Variations and Regulations
While eye black is most commonly associated with football, its use extends to various other sports. How do different athletic disciplines approach the use of eye black?
In football, eye black is widely accepted and even encouraged. The NFL allows players to wear a single strip under each eye, though more elaborate designs may be subject to fines. College and high school football often have similar regulations.
Baseball players frequently use eye black, especially outfielders who face direct sunlight. Major League Baseball has no specific rules against eye black, allowing players to apply it as they see fit.
Other sports where eye black is commonly seen include:
- Lacrosse
- Softball
- Rugby
However, some sports organizations have stricter regulations. For example, FIFA, the governing body of international soccer, prohibits the use of eye black in official matches. The rationale behind this ban is to maintain a uniform appearance among players and prevent potential distractions.
The Cultural Significance of Eye Black in Sports
Beyond its practical applications, eye black has taken on significant cultural meaning in the world of sports. What role does this simple cosmetic play in athletic identity and expression?
For many athletes, applying eye black is a ritual that helps them get into the right mindset for competition. It can serve as a psychological trigger, signaling to the brain that it’s time to focus and perform.
Eye black has also become a canvas for personal expression. Athletes often use it to display:
- Team loyalty
- Personal messages
- Religious symbols
- Tributes to loved ones or causes
This form of self-expression has sometimes led to controversy, with sports organizations implementing rules to limit what can be written or displayed via eye black. Despite these restrictions, many athletes continue to find creative ways to make statements through their eye black designs.
The cultural impact of eye black extends beyond the field, influencing fashion trends and even appearing in video games and sports-themed merchandise. Its iconic status in sports culture has made it a recognizable symbol of athletic determination and focus.
Eye Black and Performance Psychology: More Than Just Glare Reduction?
While the primary purpose of eye black is to reduce glare, many athletes believe it offers psychological benefits as well. How might this simple cosmetic application influence an athlete’s mental state and performance?
The act of applying eye black can serve as a pre-game ritual, helping athletes transition into a competitive mindset. This routine may trigger a psychological state of readiness, similar to other pre-game habits like stretching or listening to music.
Some athletes report feeling more confident and intimidating when wearing eye black. This perceived boost in self-assurance could potentially translate to improved performance on the field.
The psychological effects of eye black might include:
- Increased focus and concentration
- Enhanced sense of team unity
- Feeling of connection to sports traditions and heroes
- Placebo effect leading to perceived improvement in vision or performance
While these psychological benefits are largely anecdotal and difficult to measure scientifically, they shouldn’t be dismissed. In high-level sports, where mental preparation is crucial, even small psychological advantages can make a significant difference.
Eye Black Alternatives and Innovations: What’s Next?
As sports technology continues to advance, new alternatives to traditional eye black are emerging. What innovations are shaping the future of glare reduction for athletes?
One notable development is the rise of anti-glare visors for football helmets. These tinted shields can provide similar benefits to eye black while offering additional protection for the eyes and face. However, their use is often regulated to ensure fairness and safety.
Other alternatives and innovations in the realm of glare reduction include:
- Specialized contact lenses with glare-reducing properties
- Advanced sunglasses designed for specific sports
- Nanotechnology-based coatings for existing eyewear
- Smart visors with adjustable tint based on lighting conditions
Despite these advancements, traditional eye black remains popular due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and cultural significance. It’s likely that eye black will continue to coexist with these newer technologies, with athletes choosing the solution that best fits their needs and preferences.
Eye Black in Youth Sports: Benefits and Considerations
The use of eye black isn’t limited to professional athletes; it’s also popular in youth sports. What should parents and coaches consider when it comes to young athletes using eye black?
Potential benefits of eye black for young athletes include:
- Improved visibility in bright conditions
- Increased confidence and sense of belonging to the team
- Introduction to pre-game rituals and mental preparation
However, there are also some considerations to keep in mind:
- Skin sensitivity: Some children may have allergic reactions to certain eye black formulations
- Proper application and removal: Ensuring that kids know how to apply and remove eye black correctly to avoid skin irritation
- League regulations: Some youth sports organizations may have rules regarding the use of eye black
- Emphasis on performance over appearance: Encouraging young athletes to focus on skill development rather than relying on cosmetic enhancements
When used responsibly, eye black can be a fun and potentially beneficial addition to youth sports. It’s important for adults to guide young athletes in understanding the purpose of eye black and using it appropriately.
Eye Black and Skin Health: What You Need to Know
While eye black is generally safe for most users, it’s important to consider potential skin health implications. What should athletes be aware of when using eye black regularly?
First and foremost, quality matters. Cheap or low-quality eye black products may contain ingredients that can irritate the skin or cause allergic reactions. It’s crucial to choose products specifically designed for use on the face and from reputable manufacturers.
Some key considerations for maintaining skin health while using eye black include:
- Patch testing new products before full application
- Proper cleansing and moisturizing of the skin before and after use
- Avoiding sharing eye black products to prevent the spread of bacteria
- Being aware of any changes in skin condition and discontinuing use if irritation occurs
Athletes with sensitive skin or pre-existing skin conditions should consult with a dermatologist before regularly using eye black. In some cases, alternative glare-reduction methods may be recommended.
The Global Perspective: Eye Black Usage Around the World
While eye black is widely recognized in American sports, its usage and cultural significance vary around the globe. How do different countries and cultures approach the use of eye black in athletics?
In some countries, eye black is embraced as enthusiastically as in the United States. For example, Australian rules football players often wear eye black, and it’s not uncommon to see it in cricket matches in countries like India and Australia.
However, in other parts of the world, eye black is less prevalent or even discouraged. Factors influencing global eye black usage include:
- Cultural attitudes towards facial markings in sports
- Local weather conditions and stadium designs
- Regulations set by national and international sports governing bodies
- Influence of American sports culture through media and athlete exchanges
As global sports continue to evolve and cross-pollinate, it will be interesting to see how the use of eye black spreads or adapts in different cultural contexts.
Eye Black in Popular Culture: Beyond the Playing Field
The iconic look of eye black has transcended sports and made its way into various aspects of popular culture. How has this athletic tradition influenced areas beyond the playing field?
Eye black has become a recognizable symbol in:
- Fashion: Runway shows and streetwear incorporating eye black-inspired designs
- Film and Television: Depictions of athletes in movies often feature exaggerated eye black usage
- Music: Musicians adopting the look for performances or music videos
- Advertising: Sports-themed commercials and print ads frequently showcase eye black
This cultural crossover has helped solidify eye black’s status as a symbol of athleticism, determination, and toughness. It has also led to the development of cosmetic products inspired by eye black, aimed at consumers looking to emulate the look of their favorite athletes.
The Future of Eye Black: Trends and Predictions
As sports technology and culture continue to evolve, what does the future hold for eye black? While it’s impossible to predict with certainty, several trends and possibilities are worth considering:
- Increased customization: Advanced printing technologies may allow for more intricate and personalized eye black designs
- Smart eye black: Integration of sensors or color-changing properties to adapt to different lighting conditions
- Eco-friendly formulations: Growing demand for sustainable and natural products may influence eye black manufacturing
- Virtual eye black: As esports grow in popularity, we may see digital versions of eye black in sports video games and virtual reality environments
Despite potential technological advancements, the tradition and cultural significance of eye black will likely ensure its continued use in sports for years to come. Its simplicity and iconic status make it a enduring symbol of athletic determination and focus.
Why do NFL players only wear one eye black?
NFL players generally only wear one strip of eye black on their faces as a way to reduce glare from sunlight when they’re on the field. The glare from the sun can impair a player’s vision, so by wearing the eye black it gives them a clearer view of the field and their opponents, so that they can better judge the ball and make better strategic decisions.
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In the past, some players would smear greasepaint or shoe polish under their eyes as a primitive form of eye black. However, it caused irritation and was thought to be disrespectful to the opponent, so the NFL banned the practice and instead requires players to wear a single strip of non-toxic adhesive underneath each eye.
The eye black has also become a part of NFL culture and style, so players tend to wear it even if they are playing in indoor stadiums. Overall, the eye black provides numerous benefits to NFL players and helps them play at an optimal level.
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Why do football players paint one eye?
Football players often exert themselves to the limit during a match, and can become so focused on the game that it can be difficult to keep track of their teammates and opponents. Painting one eye is thought to help football players stay alert, as the paint psychologically increases their awareness of the players around them.
Additionally, some players also believe that it amplifies their concentration, as the small smudges of paint become mini targets that force them to focus more intently. In other words, it helps the player to stay in the zone, while still being on the lookout for their opponents.
Additionally, the paint can help to make the player seem more intimidating and fierce on the field. It’s also seen as a sign of team unity, as all or some players on the team stick to this custom. Lastly, simply painting one eye isn’t merely for superstitious reasons, but is actually a way to honor the tradition of players that came before us in the world of football.
Why does Tyler Bass only put black under one eye?
Tyler Bass only puts black under one eye as part of his signature face paint. Bass often pairs the black eye with other colors such as green, blue, or white. He does this to express himself and his style.
The colors symbolize his pride in his heritage and his appreciation of various cultures. Bass has said that the colors are a representation of his spiritual journey and that they bring him feelings of power, protection, and positivity.
The colors also serve as a reminder of Bass’s roots and the importance of staying true to who he is and where he comes from. The black eye allows Bass to stand out and be unique and allows him to express himself without having to say anything.
Why did they use streaks on black eyes?
Streaks on black eyes are a method of eye makeup that dates back to the ancient Egyptians. It was used primarily to enhance the eyes and make them appear larger and brighter. By using dark and light colors to create streaks and lines, the eyes appear more open and defined.
Streaking black eyes was also used to create interesting and creative effects in makeup. During the Elizabethan period, it was increasingly popular with ladies of all social classes and with everyone from actresses to court ladies.
Streaking black eyes with makeup was more than just a common beauty practice; it also served a practical purpose. The streaks of light and dark color can help the eyes appear larger, creating an illusion for the wearer.
In a time before corrective eye surgeries were possible, this gave people an easy and temporary way of improving the appearance of their eyes.
Making streaks on black eyes is also an excellent way to draw attention to the eyes and make them stand out. This was especially important during the Elizabethan period, when grand, elaborate gowns and attire were the norm.
By highlighting their eyes with dark and light lines and shapes, Elizabethan women could make themselves appear more handsome and attractive to others.
How much does the Buffalo kicker make?
The exact salary of the Buffalo kicker is not publicly available due to confidentiality agreements. However, NFL kickers typically make an annual salary anywhere between $400,000 to $4 million, depending on the player’s experience and performance.
The average salary for an NFL kicker is around $2 million. Based on these salaries, it is likely that the Buffalo kicker makes a salary in the upper range of the provided figures. However, it is also possible that the specific terms of the kicker’s contract may include incentives and bonuses that may increase the total value of his contract.
What does black under eyes mean?
Black under the eyes often signify lack of sleep, fatigue and dehydration. Lack of sleep can lead to dark circles because when you don’t get enough rest, the skin around your eyes can appear darker. Similarly, fatigue and dehydration can weaken the delicate skin under your eye, making the area look much darker than the rest of your face.
Other potential causes of black under eyes can include allergies, heredity, excess sun exposure, and excessive salt intake. It is also believed that excessive sugar can cause dark circles. Additionally, some people naturally have darker pigmentation around their eyes which only exacerbates the look of black under their eyes.
To treat black under eyes, it is recommended to get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, cleanse and moisturize the area, and reduce any sources of allergies and irritation. If needed, you can also try using topical treatments such as creams formulated specifically for this purpose.
Did Tyler Bass miss the extra point?
No, Tyler Bass did not miss the extra point. He successfully made the extra point on his first attempt in the game. The score ended up being 28-9 in favor of the team he plays for, the Buffalo Bills.
It was a crucial kick for the team and Bass was glad to have stepped up to the challenge. He has been doing a great job for the team all season, and this was just another opportunity for him to showcase his skills.
He has earned the reputation of being one of the most reliable players on the team and his consistency is what keeps the team from having to worry about needing a kicker every once in a while.
Was Tyler Bass a soccer player?
Yes, Tyler Bass was a professional soccer player. He was born in London and grew up in England, where he began playing soccer in his youth. Bass played professionally in both the English Football League and Premier League.
In 2016, he joined Inter Miami CF, a Major League Soccer club in Florida. During his first season in MLS, he played in six games, scoring one goal and one assist. In 2017, Bass was transferred to FC Cincinnati, where he scored two goals in 11 appearances.
Bass was released by Cincinnati in 2019 before the season began and chose to retire from professional soccer.
How many points did Tyler Bass get?
Tyler Bass, a kicker for the Buffalo Bills, had a very successful year in 2020. He went 24-for-28 on field goals and 55-for-58 on extra points, giving him a total of 127 points. He also led the NFL in field goal percentage (85.
7%), and was a part of his team’s first AFC East title in 25 years. His success was recognized by the league, as he was named to his first Pro Bowl. It was also a career-high for Tyler, who had previously had a total of 111 points in 2019.
All in all, Tyler Bass had a stellar season and finished with 127 points.
What are the eye black rules?
The specific eye black rules vary depending on the sports organization, however there are some general guidelines that most organizations follow. Eye black is a type of grease or strip of adhesive that is worn on the cheekbone below the eye to reduce sun and/or glare.
It is typically black and often shaped in a thin horizontal stripe in order to resemble a football player’s face paint.
For safety reasons, some organizations do not allow the use of eye black and require that players use only a clear sporting visor or glasses instead. Additionally, when eye black is allowed, the size and shape of the black patches must be approved by the organization, such as a thin horizontal stripe.
To ensure fairness, eye black is restricted to players and coaches only, and team logos and other identifying symbols are not allowed to be featured on the eye black. Organizations typically inspect players and coaches before and during games to ensure that the rules are being followed.
Does Eyeblack actually work?
Yes, eyeblack actually does work due to its viscosity and stickiness. It is applied under the eyes and then it forms a thin adhesive film, which helps reduce the effects of bright light shining directly in an athlete’s eyes.
Applying the product helps to reduce glare, which can improve performance in bright conditions and can even help prevent the athlete from getting distracted by the bright lights. Eyeblack also works by blocking out airborne particles, including dust, pollen and sweat, which can help reduce irritation and the risk of infections.
Additionally, it can provide a cooling and soothing effect on the eyes, helping the athlete to concentrate and stay focused on their performance.
What is eye black made out of?
Eye black is typically made out of a greasy substance such as petroleum jelly, beeswax, cocoa butter, or paraffin wax. Generally, the substance is applied to the lower eyelids and cheekbone area around the eyes; the combination of substances creates a glossy slick patch to reflect sunlight out of the eyes, enabling athletes to reduce glare while playing.
Eye black is most commonly associated with athletes playing sports under bright lights at night, although some athletes will use it during the day to keep sweat and excess sunlight out of their eyes.
The eye black is usually applied with either a small brush or fingertip spread out evenly on the skin. Additionally, some athletes even use decals or stickers instead of the greasy substances.
What are the ingredients in eye black?
Eye black is typically used to reduce glare and is applied beneath the eyes along the outer edges. It is commonly used by athletes and consists of a greasy paste made of a variety of ingredients. The base ingredients of eye black typically include a mixture of waxes and oils, such as beeswax, paraffin wax, and vegetable oils.
Carbon pigments, such as lampblack, are used to darken the paste and give it its typical black hue. To reduce skin irritation and eliminate unpleasant smells, other ingredients such as lanolin, Vitamin E, and other types of plant extracts may also be added.
Eye blacks containing these various components are available from sportswear stores and health retailers, and can be applied directly with a finger or an eye-black stick.
How do you make EyeBlack?
EyeBlack is a type of sticker or tape that athletes wear under their eyes to reduce glare from the sun and lighting. Making your own EyeBlack is relatively easy and requires just a few simple supplies.
To make your own EyeBlack, you will need a piece of felt, scissors, craft glue, a pencil, and either a black permanent marker or a black fabric paint. Start by cutting the felt into whatever shape you would like your EyeBlack to be – it’s usually somewhere between an oval and a rectangle.
Once the felt is cut, use the pencil to trace the outline of your desired shape onto the felt. Then, use the black permanent marker or fabric paint to color in the shape. After the felt has dried, glue it to the underside of your eye.
As a finishing touch, use the scissors to trim around the edges of the felt so it fits the contours of your face better. And that’s it – you just made your own EyeBlack! Whenever you want to switch out your EyeBlack, simply peel it off and repeat the same steps to make a new one.
What is the black stuff under baseball player eyes?
The black stuff that you often see on the faces of baseball players is often referred to as “eye black. ” It is typically made of beeswax and carbon particles and is applied to exposed skin around the eyes.
The purpose of eye black is to reduce the amount of light that reflects off the surface of the skin underneath and improve the eyesight of the player. This allows players to better track the ball as it is thrown or batted.
It also helps with glare from the sun or lights used for night games. Although not scientifically proven, many players and coaches believe that eye black helps them to improve their performance.
| THIS SPORTING LIFE Why do american football players wear (what appears to be) black greasepaint stripes on their faces? Swen Anton, Vienna, Austria
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“Flying flies” and “glassy worms” in the eyes, or where do the “broken pixels” come from in the vitreous / Habr
Raise your head and look at something evenly colored, at some kind of light background no sun). If something like this suddenly began to slowly float before your eyes:
… Then get acquainted, these are “broken pixels” in your eye formed by the vitreous body (in the figure below it is in all its glory). Many of these “glitches” appear in childhood and multiply or gradually change over the years. For most people, their presence is not a cause for concern, but their sudden appearance or a sharp increase is a reason for an urgent visit to an ophthalmologist. Especially if lightning in front of the eyes, a dark veil or fine “tobacco dust” are added to this.
But to understand the whole situation, let’s talk about what this phenomenon is in general and where it comes from.
Where is the most vitreous
The eye is a ball, most of which is occupied by the vitreous body (as much as 2/3 of the volume). It is clearly visible in the diagram above – this is the space between the lens and the retina in the cavity of the eye. In a normal eye, the vitreous body is so transparent that when viewed through the eye it appears empty.
The vitreous body is a jelly-like, viscous and well-stretching liquid like jelly or jelly. Only transparent. This “jelly” consists of water, colloids and microelements – collagen fibers resembling intertwined ropes impregnated with hyaluronic acid. Unlike the cornea, which consists of the same matrix, the density of threads in the vitreous body is lower, so the cornea is dense and rigid (by the standards of what is in the eye), but here we are waiting for a viscous medium.
This environment is heterogeneous, there are voids and “cisterns” in it, various lacunae. You can inject a special solution into the eye, which will color the vitreous body, and all this beauty will be visible. Here, for example:
The vitreous body is adjacent to the posterior surface of the lens, for the rest of its length it is in contact with the inner limiting membrane of the retina. A special hyaloid canal passes from the optic disc to the lens through the vitreous body, and the framework of the vitreous body forms a thin network of intertwining fibers of various forms of collagen protein. And the gaps are filled with liquid – this structure gives it the appearance of a gelatinous mass.
Thanks to the vitreous body, the eye has a regular spherical shape, it provides incompressibility and eye tone, absorbs shock, nutrients move through the channels. But its light-refracting function is very small.
If we need to deliver a medicinal substance to the deep parts of the eye, then we inject it directly into the vitreous cavity with a microneedle, because the eye is such an organ that is quite isolated from the body as a whole, and not everything that enters the blood reaches the internal contents of the eye. Interferes with the hematoophthalmic barrier.
It happens like this:
Where do glass worms come from
For the most part, the translucent “ghosts” that appear in the field of view during, for example, a sharp fall or parachute jump, lifting weights or against the background of complete well-being and subsequently distinguishable when carefully examining light objects are natural lacunae in the vitreous body, due to its design. They sometimes close themselves, move, or new ones form by themselves (slowly, over months).
In general, any noticeable “worms” are something in the vitreous that prevents light from reaching the retina normally. In English literature, referred to as “floaters” –
like dust particles on a camera matrix. This condition is called “vitreous destruction” (DST).
The presence of small single fragments in the vitreous cavity is the norm from a medical point of view.
Often there is another story. But now we need to go a little deeper into the anatomy. By itself, the vitreous body is not attached to the retina along the main area, but simply adjoins very closely. However, in the macula (center of the eye, yellow spot), near the optic nerve and along the equator of the retina, there are attachments, and they are quite strong. If in the eye with age, with an injury or the appearance of another disease of the eye and the body as a whole, not just destruction (in general, not dangerous), but some kind of blood cells appears, inflammation is a very dangerous problem. Everything that gets into such a closed cavity is absorbed for a long time, it is difficult and not always completely with a transparent effect. As a rule, stained opacities, coarse adhesions and bands remain, reducing visual acuity. Everything is explained by close, I would even say, intimate contact with such an important tissue as the retina (the retina and vitreous body suffer simultaneously in case of illness).
Such a terrible picture can be seen with a hemorrhage in the vitreous body (it is called hemophthalmos).
And if droplets of cholesterol accumulate in the vitreous, it looks like a “golden rain”.
With a blunt impact to the eye, the vitreous body will take on the main deformation as a result of mechanical trauma and begin to change shape. Where it simply adhered to the retina, it will boldly move back and come back. But where there were adhesions, the vitreous body, when deformed, will pull the retina behind it inside the eye. This can lead to a much more serious injury – rupture or detachment of the retina. And this is all the chances of losing vision or deteriorating the optical quality of the eye to a few percent of the norm.
Retinal tear delimited by laser
What happens with myopia?
In myopic people, as a rule, the axial length of the eye is more than 24 mm (the average parameter, the measurement of which tells us about the progression of myopia). The eye transforms from a soccer ball shape into a rugby ball. In this case, the posterior pole of the eye is stretched, but if this is not dangerous for the outer sclera (it is elastic enough), then the middle (choroid) and inner shell (retina) do not stretch. Therefore, the nutrition of the retina worsens in the posterior pole, and dystrophic zones of sprains and ruptures appear along the periphery. The vitreous body plays an important role in this. In places of attachment, it pulls the retina – and holes are formed.
What happens with age?
Somewhere after 30 years, new “midges” often begin to appear, and after 40 years hyaluronic acid is gradually lost, the transparency of the vitreous body decreases, visualization of the fibers appears.
Still later, the vitreous body dries out altogether and begins to flake off the retina (it just comes off in places where there is no attachment).
Vitreous detachment is a normal sign of aging, it is caused by thinning of the vitreous body, leads to retinal tension in places of strong attachment, which can lead to retinal rupture. Acute vitreous detachment in 15% of cases leads to retinal breaks.
Figuratively speaking, a kind of “snot” of gel (this is a very inaccurate description of this type of tissue, but gives a very good understanding) dangles inside the eye. Then this “lump of gel” comes off the optic nerve. As a rule, the separation zone looks like a ring (Weiss ring), that is, when projected onto the retina, what patients call a “spider”, “big midge”, “eight”, “dark spot”, “analemma”, “circle” is obtained. ” and so on. The kaleidoscope can change: every day a new shape. If the fastening ring did not come off, but simply stretched out – to hell with it, with a kaleidoscope, you can live. But if it pulled the retina and tore off a piece, then there are retinal breaks, and detachments, and in general a lot of trouble.
This is how an ophthalmologist sees the Weiss ring:
Treatment of breaks before a retinal detachment occurs – laser coagulation of the breaks in several rows along the edge so that the formed adhesions hold the retina in place.
All this is treated with a good prognosis in case of an appeal within the first days to an ophthalmological surgeon, with an average prognosis – in case of an appeal within a month. If detachment has begun and the fluid that has entered through the gap continues to flow under the retina, peeling it off, the problems begin to become irreversible, and the question is about maintaining vision as such, at least with some optical quality.
Therefore, if you suddenly see a lot of new “midges”, or they behave in some strange way, or something else incomprehensible is happening in the eye, you should urgently go to an ophthalmologist.
“Blackflies” in the eye: so what to do with them?
If, after examination, the doctor does not find damage to the retina in the fundus and notes only the presence of microinclusions in the vitreous body, then you should not worry – there are no serious risks to vision in this case.
If the patient at the same time sees “garbage and midges” that bother him, but knows that there is no danger in this, the issue of dynamic observation and getting used to minor shortcomings in the quality of vision is most often discussed. In addition, after a couple of months, patients really stop noticing these inclusions and do not fixate their attention on them.
But in some cases, complaints may be due to reduced vision due to “turbidity” floating in front of the eye. Then, together with an ophthalmologist who specializes in the retina (and not just a doctor in a polyclinic who knows quite a bit about modern ophthalmology), the question of the treatment of this condition can be discussed.
There are two options: the first one involves the destruction of fragments in the vitreous body using a modern YAG laser for laser vitreolysis, the second one is the surgical removal of a part of the vitreous body within the optical axis – vitrectomy surgery.
Treatment without surgery
The whole trick with the problem of “midges” and “spiders” is how to find a doctor who correctly interprets changes in the eye. The difference with incorrect diagnosis is colossal: to distinguish a degenerative calm state of simple destruction of the vitreous body from the pathological appearance of inflammatory cells, blood, the onset of retinal detachment, vascular disorders and other things in the vitreous body.
That is, the patient is faced with the task of finding that expert who will calm him down or notice the problem in time.
The difference is in further tactics: the destruction does not need to be treated, it is necessary to get used to it.
In polyclinics, with a clear picture of DST (the usual “garbage” in the eyes without the risk of further complications), they say: “Let’s prescribe resolving therapy.” And some kind of “placebo” is prescribed: emoxipin, taufon, catachrom. “Holy water” in this case will help better if you believe in it. It’s nice for a person, and the brain builds a map of “broken pixels” in a couple of weeks and removes them on its own (at a high level, if you start looking, they will be visible again). If you start catching the “glitch” on purpose (as you may be doing right now), the distortions will be more noticeable. If you don’t think about them, you won’t see them. Which is what is required. The brain is very adaptable.
Another thing is to overlook inflammation or the beginning of retinal detachment. Here, “soothing” methods make the patient lose a week or two, which will then lead to serious complications.
When operation is shown
Let’s agree that we are talking about a degenerative change in the vitreous body, and not about the other conditions mentioned above. That is, when it is reliably known that from a medical point of view there are no risks, but something floating in front of the eyes still greatly interferes with seeing.
Option 1. Laser vitreolysis.
Any work in a closed vitreous cavity is potentially dangerous. It must be performed very precisely, since such sensitive structures as the retina (especially its central zone) and the lens are nearby.
Ellex has recently introduced a new minimally invasive treatment for vitreous pathology: Weiss rings, intravitreal opacities and adhesions, vitreous degeneration. This is a YAG laser unit for the treatment of the anterior and posterior sections of the eye using a targeted red diode laser. Since the structures adjacent to the vitreous body are very delicate, they came up with a reduction in the total energy due to the ultra-Gaussian profile of the laser beam. The small spot size and low energy of optical breakdown (less than 1.8 mJ in air) cause photodestruction of inclusions in the vitreous body.
Practically 50% effective, because if the opacification is close to the retina or close to the posterior lens capsule, or too dense, etc., then application is not possible. Often one large fragment turns into several smaller ones, they can shift from the optical axis, or they can be added. In general, only after an examination by a specialist with experience in laser surgery at this unit will you be able to find out if this is your method.
Option 2 Vitrectomy.
This is a full-fledged abdominal operation with all the consequences that follow from it. That is, it does not matter whether a small “midge” swims or a “big spider” – the technology involves the work of a vitreoretinal surgeon. Vitrectomy is underway – an operation to remove the vitreous body – like this:
3 small punctures are made into the cavity of the eyeball in the projection of the plane of the ciliary body, that is, 3.5–4 mm from the limbus – the border of the transparent and opaque parts. The size of the puncture is measured in gages G (imperial unit of radius). The standard 3-port seamless technique is 23 G. Now most of the operations are carried out according to the 25G method – this is 0.445 millimeters. The dependence is as follows: the larger G, the smaller the size of the puncture. The most gentle technique is 27G (0.361 mm). By the way, the smaller the puncture, the more expensive the cost of a set of consumables. Ideal for removing floaters 27 G.
A saline and pH balanced solution is delivered through one port to maintain eye tone and volume during surgery so that the eye does not “collapse” when the vitreous body is removed. The second incision is needed to shine inside this “cave”, that is, the cavity inside the eye, where the vitreous body is located. In the third one, in fact, an instrument is inserted – a vitreotome, such a small guillotine with a pipe. It looks like a micromeat grinder, with which the surgeon grinds the vitreous body fibers and sucks them into the tube cavity.
At the end of the operation, a balanced solution remains in the eye, which is then replaced with intraocular fluid. The ports are removed from the self-sealing sutures and a dressing is applied for a couple of hours.
In experienced hands, this operation takes 20 minutes under local anesthesia and the result is no coarse floating flakes in front of the eyes, but any operation that opens the eyeball has a wide range of potential risks, surgery of the posterior segment of the eye doubles these risks.
In any case, I always make it clear to the patient that this is a very serious intervention with a minimal medical problem.
From time to time, with gross opacities that reduce vision, it is necessary to perform such an operation for drivers, pilots, etc. – in the case when even a slight short-term “fogging” can affect safety.
Scarecrow
In my beloved Fedorovsky Center, such patients who are worried over trifles because of the “midge” are told a story about a patient who came to the clinic with a complaint about the “midge”. He was told that it was not dangerous, it did not need to be treated. He insisted, the doctor from Fedorov’s clinic dissuaded me from the operation in every possible way. He even offered to visit a psychiatrist to find the answer to the question “How to live with such a “midge”?”. The patient did not persuade the doctor from Fedorov’s clinic for an operation and flew off to look in the States for someone who would agree to operate on him. Found. After the operation, there was inflammation of the membranes of the eye. The eye went blind, became small, red and began to disturb the patient. Already in Russia, the eye had to be removed. Finale: no eye – no “midge”.
Conclusion
It is very difficult to judge how much, in principle, the body needs this structure – the vitreous body. It seems possible without it, but the need for it in the structure of the eye has not yet been fully studied. While it is intuitively clear that it is better to save, if possible.
A large number of doctors of the last century and the present one are studying the structure of the vitreous body – this can be seen from the number of surnames with which its structures (channels, ligaments, etc.) are named.
With age, the vitreous body ages, shrinks and can cause certain problems. You need to monitor your eyes, if you have symptoms of visual impairment in any form and age, seek help from specialists.
Agreement on Red Square How Comrade Stalin allowed football in the USSR: Football: Sport: Lenta.ru combining collective optimism with universal horror. There was a place in this wonderful world for football, and it was as controversial as it was interesting. To match the era. Lenta.ru, with the assistance of the Krasivaya Kniga publishing house, continues to acquaint readers with some little-known pages in the history of Russian football.
GPU Physical Culture Society and others
Since 1914 all-Russian tournaments have been suspended, but at the local level, even in the most difficult times of the world and civil wars, football competitions did not stop. Despite the fact that the clubs have lost most of the leading players. For example, the Moscow Football League managed to hold spring and autumn tournaments in all years from 1917 to 1922, albeit with a different number of participants. However, in the new conditions, sport became a matter of state, and soon the Soviet government took over the organization of the football process.
On June 7, 1923, by a decree of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, the All-Russian Council for Physical Culture of the RSFSR was created, which soon formed city and provincial councils for physical culture. It was they who were entrusted with the reform of football clubs and the organization of competitions. Specifically, the Sections of sports games were engaged in this. The pre-revolutionary Leagues were dissolved, but in fact most of the old clubs simply changed their names and founders, which now became departments, enterprises, trade unions, regional Komsomol organizations, etc.
Materials on the topic:
But the composition of the teams in many cases has not even changed. So, the club “Orekhovo-Zuevo”, also known as “Morozovtsy”, became known as “Red Orekhovo”. The football club OLLS (Society of Skiing Fans) turned into OPPV (Experimental and Demonstration Site of Vsevobuch), which was taken under the wing of the Red Army, and almost all the players of the KFS team (Sokolniki Football Club) ended up in the GPU Physical Education Society (GPU) ( 1917), and later the Dynamo sports club (1923). Even the colors of the form have been preserved.
A stab in your back, not Promkooperatsia
The fate of another most popular football club in the country, Spartak, is closely connected with the Starostin brothers.
The Starostin brothers came from a family of hereditary hunters-rangers of the Pskov province, but at the turn of the century the family moved to the Mother See. In winter, the Starostins lived in Moscow on Presnya, and in the summer in the village of Pogost, in the Pereyaslavsky district of the Vladimir province, in the homeland of their mother, Alexandra Starostina.
From childhood, the four Starostin brothers were fond of various sports, but football was their main passion. The first to come to him was the eldest – Nikolai, he is the only one who became a professional football player even before the revolution, playing for the Sokol team of the Russian Gymnastic Society (RGO). In the early 20s, he stood at the origins of the Krasnaya Presnya team, into which his three younger brothers gradually joined. In 1935, they moved to the Spartak physical culture and sports society, which had just been organized on the initiative of the chairman of the Central Committee of the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League, Alexander Kosarev, uniting teams from different departments of industrial cooperation. Actually, the Starostins came up with this name.
1934 The Starostin brothers (from left to right, from top to bottom): Alexander, Nikolai, Andrey, Peter
Image courtesy of the Krasivaya Kniga publishing house
Here is how Andrey Starostin recalls this episode:
— Dove-gray clouds of smoke float around the dining room. The jackets have long since been taken off. Soon it will start to light up. And the argument goes on, and there is no end in sight. A picture of the election of the ataman in “Taras Bulba” pops up in my memory. Remember: “Let the awl be the chieftain!.. It was awl in your back!..”
Only here they didn’t choose a koschevoi, but the name of a new society. What did not offer! “Phoenix”, “Storm”, “Attack”. Someone from departmental patriotic considerations even suggested Promkoop. But the contemptuously ironic remark: why not “Stall” or “Tray” – completely rejected the proposal.
“Arrow”, “Vympel”, “Star” – monotonously uttered those sitting in the dining room. But right there, under caustic objections, the names fell through. We are exhausted. We have reached a dead end (which the coaching council sometimes gets into when selecting candidates for the main team, when, after the twentieth round of voting, the candidate, who was initially rejected by everyone, takes over).
But chance helped. Nikolai’s gaze fell on a book lying on a table near the sofa. The book was called Spartacus, Giovagnoli’s historical novel.
– That’s what we need! Nikolai exclaimed, showing the book. – “Spartak” is a worthy motto that reflects the best qualities of an athlete: courage, the will to win, dexterity and strength, loyalty to the idea!
Everyone liked it. The decision was unanimous. Someone blurted out that the name is not new, but did not find support. And from that day on, Spartak took a strong and wide step forward.
From 1931 to 1934, three Starostins played for the USSR national team at once, and each had to lead the team on the field as a captain.
From bourgeois contagion to proletarian necessity
At first, the scheme of holding tournaments did not fundamentally change, but in subsequent years changes occurred frequently and sometimes unpredictably. Like so many things at the time. At one time, football even acquired an anti-Soviet status, after Proletkult leaders called it a “bourgeois English game.” Then the search for new ways in culture, including physical culture, was in vogue, and football, according to some odious revolutionaries, taught athletes to deceive fellow rivals. Fortunately, not everyone shared such marginal views.
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The first big football tournament took place in 1923 as part of the First All-Union Physical Education Festival in Moscow, and the following year, 1924, the All-Union Championship took place, one might say, a prototype of the future USSR championship. The national teams of cities and the national teams of the union republics participated in it, and the tournament was held by a new, newly created sports organization – the All-Union Football Section, which later became the Football Federation of the USSR. The competition scheme was cup, and the winner was the Kharkov team, which defeated the Leningrad team in the final. In subsequent years, several more similar tournaments took place, but they were held irregularly, and their regulations often changed.
Finally, in 1936, the first national championship between clubs took place. The teams were divided into four groups (leagues), the first group included four clubs from Moscow, two from Leningrad and one from Kyiv. The tournament was held on a round-robin basis, two rounds before its end, Dynamo Moscow was in the lead with 12 points, Spartak had two less. Next came CDKA and Dynamo Kiev. The leaders of the championship were supposed to meet among themselves on July 6, 1936 on the Day of the Athlete. However, plans changed, and instead of the Dynamo stadium, the Spartak team ended up on Red Square.
1936 Party and government leaders greet participants in the parade of athletes
Front row from right to left: Mikhail Kalinin, Joseph Stalin, Kliment Voroshilov, Vyacheslav Molotov, Maxim Gorky on the podium of Lenin’s Mausoleum greet the parade of athletes on Red Square. Photo: RIA Novosti
A gift to Stalin
On July 6, 1936, a grandiose physical culture parade was held on the main square of the country, in which more than 75 thousand people took part. Soviet athletes, men and women, marched in front of the leaders of the party and government, headed by the “best friend of athletes” Comrade Stalin. Columns of peppy builders of communism succeeded each other, a huge wheel with athletes rotated, human pyramids went up, strongmen threw weights into the air, fencers showed their art, gymnasts demonstrated plasticity and dexterity, boxers carried 28 rings on their shoulders, on which there were fights, on trucks skating rinks were installed, where the skaters were spinning … A separate column with a banner “Thanks to Comrade Stalin for the return of life” were criminals who realized their guilt from the labor commune named after People’s Commissar of the NKVD Heinrich Yagoda.
1936 A sports parade and a football match on Red Square in Moscow
I must say that Genrikh Grigoryevich’s wards, representing the Dynamo society, marched through Red Square with the largest team – 8,000 Chekists-athletes. However, the culmination of the holiday was a football match, in which the first and second squads of Spartak played against each other.
Why the Spartak football players, and not the leaders of the Dynamo championship, performed before Comrade Stalin is not known exactly. There is a version that the choice belonged to the Komsomol boss Kosarev, with whom the Starostin brothers were friends.
A giant carpet (120 meters long) was sewn from saddlery felt. The well-known theater director Valentin Pluchek supervised the preparation of the parade, but under the direct supervision of the NKVD, whose employees delved into every detail. So, literally on the eve of the holiday, they suddenly demanded that a football match be canceled on the grounds that the players could be crippled in front of Comrade Stalin by falling on a thin carpet that covered the famous Red Square paving stones. Nikolai Starostin, who almost lost consciousness from horror, called the double player Sidorov and ordered him to fall. Sidorov crashed down on his ass with a swing and immediately jumped up like a roly-poly.
— You see, it doesn’t hurt at all! the courageous sportsman cheerfully reported.
Enkavedeshniki were satisfied, and the place of contact between the unfortunate Sidorov and the coating, as Andrey Starostin later said, the next day turned into a solid bruise. But the match was saved. And when the time came, two hundred people from GUM rolled out the prepared carpet in a matter of minutes.
This is how Andrey Starostin describes what happened:
— A sad picture presented itself to the eyes of the audience. The area turned out to be covered with a wrinkled, dirty-gray chlamyda: neither give nor take – plowed virgin land untouched by a harrow. Heart sank: irreparable trouble!
But now Nikolai again stepped into the middle (Starostin – approx. “Lenta.ru” ). The right hand is raised again. Again a small pause and a sharp wave of the flag. Hundreds of hands at this sign simultaneously pulled the carpet towards themselves. And a miracle happened! In an instant, from St. Basil’s Cathedral to the Historical Museum, from the stands of the Mausoleum to GUM, a stadium with an emerald green football field marked with snow-white lines, with a black cinder running track, with golden sand of athletics sectors stretched out in front of the audience. Football striped goals, corner flags, jumping poles, and running barriers appeared instantly.
Before the thunder of applause from the stands had died down, the famous brothers Georgy and Seraphim Znamensky were already running along the path. Sports competitions have begun.
Our turn has come. We ran onto the field in two teams – the main team and backup …
Parade of athletes on Red Square
Image provided by the Krasivaya Kniga publishing house
The first Soviet “agreement”
Like the whole holiday, the scenario of a football match that was supposed to last half an hour, was registered literally in seconds, agreed and certified by the NKVD. A step to the left, a step to the right were not allowed.
Here is what an eyewitness, the first editor of the weekly Futbol, Martyn Merzhanov, writes about this game: , the Reds took the ball and walked along the touchline, then the player in the white T-shirt only accompanied him, without risking pushing or taking the ball away. He knew that the right winger would pass with the ball to the corner flag, from there he would hang it into the area of the penalty area, and the center forward, who also did not interfere, would score the ball with his head.
A few minutes later, the forwards of the white team rushed to the other goal with the same confidence, and the ball flew into the net in the same way. For greater effect, the goalkeepers made beautiful throws …
Stalin liked the football performance so much that after half an hour he demanded to continue. The next 15 minutes the players had to improvise. But everything ended well. The Reds won – 4:3.