Early Detection and Treatment Leads to Healthy Eyesight

It's contact lens health week and we are promoting healthy habits!  You only have one pair of eyes so it is so important to take care of them.  Did you know that you put yourself at risk of an eye infection or worse everyday if you do not properly take care of your contact lenses?  Not many patients are aware of the risks involved so we are going to review the simple steps you can follow to protect those precious eyes. 1.   ALWAYS , I REPEAT, ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS before you touch your eyes or your contacts. Do not use hand sanitizer , use soap and water.  Contact lenses will pick up anything left behind on your fingertips including lotions, dirt and grime, bacteria, etc. So make sure your hands are always clean.  It is best to use a lint free towel to dry your hands. 2.  We recommend that you limit your wear time as much as possible.  Dr. Friedberg suggests wearing your glasses and taking a break from your contact lenses ...

A ugust is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, The American Academy of Ophthalmology and Dr. Prieto recommend screening infants for common eye problems at their regular pediatric appointments, as well as vision screenings for all children starting at approximately three years of age.  Some vision problems can be corrected and the effects reversed if detected and treated early.  If visual symptoms or other risk factors are found during a vision screening, the child should then be referred to a Pediatric Ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye exam. Did you know that one-quarter of school-aged children have vision problems?  Eye conditions that may affect children include:  Amblyopia Strabismus Ptosis Refractive Errors  Congenital (or inherited) eye disorders Amblyopia can be prevented or reversed if it is detected early.  The treatment of amblyopia first requires attention to the underlying cause.  Glasses or contact lenses are prescrib...

I f you suffer from dry eye, we will offer you treatment options.  Many treatments for dry eyes are available without a prescription.   We are an Accredited Dry Eye Center so we will use the TearLab® Osmolarity Test to evaluate the effect of your treatment and if necessary make changes to ensure the best outcomes for you. Treatments for dry eyes may include: Artificial Tears There are many artificial tears available over the counter. If your eyes dry out while you sleep, you can use a thicker lubricant, such as an ointment, at night.  We will recommend specific drops you may use. Plugs (temporary and permanent punctual occlusion) Sometimes it is necessary to close the ducts that drain tears out of the eye. Temporary or permanent plugs can be inserted to hold tears around the eyes longer. Many patients find that plugs improve comfort and reduce the need for artificial tears. Restasis® For the treatment of chronic dry eye, Restasis is currently the only...

We are officially an Accredited Dry Eye Center of Excellence!   Are you one of the millions that suffer from Dry Eye Disease?   Dry eye disease cases go undiagnosed because sufferers misunderstand the symptoms. See the list below, if you have two or more symptoms you may have dry eye disease. Dry Eye Checklist Redness Burning Itching Fluctuation of vision Feeling of sand or grit in eye Contact lens discomfort Light sensitivity Watery eyes Tired eyes It is essential for your tears to get analyzed if you have these symptoms.  We have breakthrough technology from TearLab, patients can be tested in our office and get results immediately.   How is the test administered? Our technicians will take a sample of tears from each eye and use TearLab to measure osmolarity.  Osmolarity is the accepted standard for diagnosing Dry Eye Disease.  The sample required is very small thanks to TearLab's advanced technology....

What Is Dry Eye? 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. Tear production normally decreases as we age.  Although dry eye can occur in both men and women at any age, women are most often affected.  This is especially true after menopause. Dry eye can also be associated with arthritis and accompanied by a dry mouth.  People with dry eyes, dry mouth and arthritis are said to have Sjogren's syndrome. Symptoms of Dry Eye Include: Stinging or burning eyes Scratchiness Stringy mucus in or around the e...

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 ...

There is an easier way to pay for your vision care including Cataract Surgery. We're pleased to accept the CareCredit credit card, North America's leading patient healthcare financing program. CareCredit lets you begin your procedure immediately — then pay for it over time with monthly payments that fit easily into your monthly budget. Whether you're considering LASIK, need cataract surgery, or it's simply time for new glasses or contacts, CareCredit can help you see clearer, sooner. Your healthcare credit card CareCredit is the credit card exclusively designed for healthcare services. CareCredit offers special financing on purchase of $200 or more* for healthcare procedures not commonly covered by insurance, including LASIK and Premium-IOLs. Why put off improving your vision tomorrow, when you can see clearer today? Learn more by visiting www.carecredit.com or contacting our office. Ready to apply? Apply Online for your CareCredit card today. You’ll be seeing c...