Early Detection and Treatment Leads to Healthy Eyesight

C omplete eye health includes having healthy eyelids.  Common eyelid problems include droopy eyelids ( ptosis ), eyelids that turn inward ( entropion ) or outward ( ectropion ), excessive skin or laxity of the skin and lesions or cancerous tumors of the lids.  These problems may cause: Eye discomfort Dry eyes Red and tearful eyes Foreign  body sensation Limited vision Sensitive to wind and light It can also affect your appearance Ptosis  (pronounced "toe-sis") can either be apparent at birth ( congenital ) or develop with age ( involutional ).  Ptosis is a condition in which the upper eyelid droops.   A child with congenital ptosis may tilt their head backward in order to see, so the condition does not always lead to poor vision.  Children with this condition should be examined by an ophthalmologist (eye MD) because they may have other associated eye problems. Involutional ptosis develops with aging.  It may worsen after other types of eye surgery or

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.