Early Detection and Treatment Leads to Healthy Eyesight

Some people do not produce enough tears to keep the eye comfortable. This is known as   dry eye .  Tears are produced by two different methods. One method produces tears at a slow, steady rate and is responsible for normal eye lubrication. The other method produces large quantities of tears in response to eye irritation or emotions. Tears that lubricate are constantly produced by a healthy eye. Excessive tears occur when the eye is irritated by a foreign body or when a person cries. What are the symptoms of dry eye? Stinging or burning eyes; Scratchiness; Stringy mucus in or around the eyes; Eye irritation from smoke or wind; Excess tearing; Difficulty wearing contact lenses. A film of tears, spread over the eye by a blink, makes the surface of the eye smooth and clear. Without our tear film, good vision would not be possible. The tear film consists of three layers: An oily layer - produced by the meibomian glands, forms the outermost surface of the tear film. Its main purp

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among older Americans, but new treatments and protective steps can help people with AMD avoid vision loss. Every day I talk to patients about AMD, its risk factors and treatment options.  Here are the six things I think everyone should know about the condition: 1. There may be no early symptoms. In its early stages, AMD may not have noticeable symptoms, but early diagnosis allows for timely treatment and careful monitoring of the progression of the disease. Although symptoms may be present in some cases, the best line of defense is to get a comprehensive eye exam, even if you don't need glasses or contacts. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends adults with no symptoms have an eye exam at least by age 40, and every one-to-two years after age 65. However, adults should not wait for an exam until age 40 if they notice any problems or discomfort with their vision. 2. Treatments are now better t

Seniors are at heightened risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness among older Americans. The disease damages central vision, limiting a person’s ability to read and recognize faces. Approximately 2.1 million Americans had AMD as of 2010. This number is expected to double to more than 5.4 million by 2050. Meanwhile, fewer people are aware of the disease compared to other eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma.  To help raise awareness of AMD as Valentine’s Day approaches next month, Friedberg Eye Associates and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are reminding seniors that their eyes need love, too. There are steps they can take to take better care of their eyes and protect themselves from AMD-related blindness. Here are five eye-loving tips: • Get regular comprehensive medical eye exams.  AMD often has no early warning signs, so getting regular comprehensive eye exams from an ophthalmologist is critical to diagnosing and treating AM