Early Detection and Treatment Leads to Healthy Eyesight

Forget your sunglasses – no big deal, right?  Think again.  Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a known culprit for painful sunburns and melanoma, yet few adults associate it with serious vision problems. But unprotected exposure to UV rays can have very serious eye consequences – especially over the lifetime. A study by The Vision Council found that 40 percent of U.S. adults do not wear sunglasses outside, increasing unfiltered exposure to the sun. This statistic is troubling but the good news is that wearing UV-protective sunglasses can prevent damage and reduce the onset of vision diseases. Here’s a look at the benefits of wearing sunglasses every day:  The Good:   Sunglasses Reduces UV-related eye damage:   UV-protective sunglasses block dangerous UV rays from reaching the eye.  A host of vision problems can occur from UV exposure,  so limiting eyes’ vulnerability to the sun can mean healthy eyes and vision well into adulthood. Protects eyes an...

Fireworks sales will be blazing across the country from now through the Fourth of July. As retailers begin their promotions, Friedberg Eye Associates joins the American Academy of Ophthalmology in shining a light on this explosive fact: the number of eye injuries caused by fireworks has more than doubled in recent years. Fireworks injuries cause approximately 10,000 visits to the emergency each year, according to data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.i Injuries largely occurred in the weeks before and after the Fourth of July. The CPSC’s most recent fireworks report showed that about 1,300 eye injuries related to fireworks were treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2014, up from 600 reported in 2011. This is why some ophthalmologists – physicians that specialize in medical and surgical eye care – have to keep operating rooms on call to treat these injuries each year. To help prevent these injuries, the Academy is debunking four myths about consumer fireworks risks: 1. ...

CATARACT M ore than 20 million Americans over the age of 40 have cataracts.   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. If you experience any of the following schedule an exam: 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 Family history of cataracts Medical problems, such as diabetes High salt intake Long-term, unprotected exposure to sunlight Eye Injuri...