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 ...

T his 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 ...

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 ...

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) is the swelling or inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin and filmy membrane that covers the inside of your eyelids and the white part of your eye. Signs and symptoms may occur in one or both eyes. The most common causes of conjunctivitis are infections (viral or bacterial), allergies or irritation from something in the environment. Signs and Symptoms include: Mild eyelid swelling Redness in the white of the eye or inner lid Increased tearing, mucous or discharge Eye irritation Foreign body sensation Itchiness of the eye Mild blurred vision Crusting of eyelashes in the morning There are three types of conjunctivitis: Bacterial Conjunctivitis - caused by bacterial infections and is a highly contagious form of pink eye. Viral Conjunctivitis - caused by the same virus that causes the common cold and is also highly contagious. Allergic Conjunctivitis - caused by the body's reaction to an allergen or irritant and is not contagious. Prac...

Each year millions of Americans lose vision due to disease, accidents and injuries.  Are you at risk for losing your eyesight?   We have some advice to help protect you from becoming a statistic. You should have your eyes checked regularly by either an ophthalmologist or optometrist.  Early detection is the key to reducing or preventing vision loss from diseases such as glaucoma , age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and diabetic retinopathy .  Some eye diseases require regular visits to an ophthalmologist for monitoring. Glaucoma  is a group of diseases typically associated with elevated pressure inside the eye that can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss.  Usually there are no warning signs.  The earlier glaucoma is diagnosed and treated, the more likely you can retain your vision.  It can affect anyone, but patients who are  African-Americans, Latin-Americans and smokers are mostly at risk.  If you fall ...

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 o...

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 an...