Early Detection and Treatment Leads to Healthy Eyesight

More than 20 million Americans over the age of 40 have cataracts and nearly three million patients have cataract surgery in the US annually.  Technological advances have made cataract surgery safer, more comfortable and more effective. A cataract is a gradual clouding of the clear lens in the eye, the part that focuses light and produces clear images.  As old cells die they become trapped.  As time passes, more cells die and accumulate causing the lens to cloud, making vision blurred and dim.  Cataracts form slowly and painlessly, but can eventually lead to blindness. Cataracts can be caused by metabolic diseases such as diabetes, an injury to the eye, medications, long-term exposure to the sun, eye surgery, congenital defects or aging. Please refer patients if they are experiencing any of the following: Blurry vision, with no pain Glare, or sensitivity to light Double vision in one eye The need to read with brighter light Poor night vision Dull or yellowed image

June is UV Safety Month , and we are reminding patients of the importance of protecting eyes from the sun’s harmful rays.  Sunglasses and a brimmed hat can help protect eyes from UVA and UVB rays.  Long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation can lead to long term damage and vision loss.  All patients are at risk, even children. A number of studies show that exposure to bright sunlight  may increase the risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration, and benign or malignant growths on or inside the eye.  Like skin, eyes never recover from UV exposure. Sunwear is available to help protect patients from UV exposure.  Polarized lenses, which block sun glare, non prescription and prescription sunglasses, and baby banz protection collection are all available in our optical shop.    We recommend sunglasses that block 100 percent of  UVA and UVB rays to be worn anytime you are outside.  Sunglasses should also wrap all the way around the temples, so the sun’s rays cannot ent

May is Healthy Vision Month , and we are reminding patients that eye care is for everyone. Preventative eye care can help ensure that everyone has good vision throughout life.   Eye conditions and diseases can strike at any time in life, destroying healthy vision.   Infants and toddlers should be screened for common childhood eye problems, such as strabismus and amblyopia, during their regular pediatric appointments.  Vision testing is recommended for all children starting at around 3 years of age.  Some warning signs in children include wandering or crossed eyes, family history of childhood vision problems, redness, discharge, a disinterest in reading,  viewing distant objects closing one eye when outside, or excessive blinking. Young adults and middle-aged patients can be affected by eye problems also.  Those at risk for disease include people with diabetes, those over age 60,  African-Americans over age 40,  patients who wear contact lenses and those with a family history of ey

S easonal allergies affect more than 35 million Americans each year  and can have a tremendously negative impact on an individual’s quality of life. Tree pollens in April and May, grass pollens in June and July and mold spores and weed pollens in July and August add up to a five-month barrage of eye-irritating allergens. Triggered by the same allergens that cause intermittent allergic rhinitis, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is the most commonly occurring ocular allergy. A part of a wide array of allergic conditions that involve inflammation of the conjunctiva, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is characterized by a combination of ocular itching, inflammation, watering and redness. If seasonal conjunctivitis is bothering you, here are some tips that can help: Study your geography . You can monitor tree, grass, weed and mold spore counts for your particular geographic area. That way you can determine when it might be best to stay indoors, thus minimizing exposure to irritating alle

April is Sports Eye Safety Month This April we are acknowledging sports eye safety. We are informing and urging athletes to wear protective eye wear when playing a sport. Sports provide good exercise for maintaining proper weight, improve strength and coordination, and helps build lifelong healthy habits and attitude. But, there are health risks in playing sports including eye injuries; the vast majority of which are preventable. About 42,000 sports eye injuries occur every year. The majority of the victims are children. Injuries include corneal abrasions, eyelid bruises, and internal eye injuries, such as retinal detachments and internal bleeding. many of these injuries lead to vision loss and permanent blindness. For young athletes, baseball and basketball account for the largest number of injuries. Little league pitchers may throw the ball up to 70 mph, which is fast enough to break bones and do serious damage to the eye. In basketball, you cannot prevent contact with fly

This March we are urging patients to know the risk factors involved with Age-Related Macular Degeneration, which is the most common eye disease. Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a progressive, painless disease that affects the macula and destroys central vision. Driving, reading, writing and recognizing faces will be difficult for those who have this disease, but peripheral vision stays intact. Thus, ARMD does not lead to total blindness. Although the exact cause of macular degeneration is unknown, several studies have shown the following patients are more at risk: Patients age 50 and older Patients with hypertension Patients who smoke Patients with a family history of ARMD If you experience changes in vision, such as straight lines appearing wavy, an inability to see details, dark or empty spots in the center of their vision, or decreased ability to distinguish colors then you should see an ophthalmologist promptly. An annual eye exam will ensure ARMD and other eye con

Happy New Year to All! M illions of people in the United States are at risk for blindness, and some do not know it.  During January’s Glaucoma Awareness Month, we are urging everyone who may be at risk for glaucoma to see an ophthalmologist for a complete eye exam.   We recommend that those at risk have an eye exam at least every year.  Those at highest risk for glaucoma may include: Anyone over age 60 African-American heritage Hispanic heritage Patients with other health conditions, such as diabetes Those that have experienced a serious eye injury Patients with family history of glaucoma Patients who have been on steroid medications, including inhalers and nasal sprays, treatment for asthma, kidney disease and arthritis. Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve is damaged by high pressure inside the eye and other factors such as poor blood flow.  The most common type of Glaucoma is Open-Angle Glaucoma in which pressure in the eye builds up slowly and gradually