Pink Eye: What to Look Out For

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Aly

Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is an inflammation of the thin membrane lining the inner eyelid or white part of the eye. When inflamed, the eye turns pink or red, hence its name. Treatment of conjunctivitis depends on its root of cause. Possible causes include infections from viruses, bacteria, allergens, pollutants and underlying diseases of the body. Common symptoms of conjunctivitis include:

Redness
Swelling of the eyelids
Watery eyes
White, green or yellow mucous discharge
Crusting and stickiness around eyelids especially upon awakening
Itching or burning sensation
Swollen and tender areas in front of the ears

Conjunctivitis of viral and bacterial origin can be highly contagious. Tips for prevention of spreading the infection include frequent hand washing, avoidance of touching eyes and avoidance of sharing common objects such as towels, linens and make-up.

If you suspect you have conjunctivitis, it is important to have your eyes checked for medical treatment. Be careful not to use eye drops prescribed from previous infections or those prescribed for someone else as they can be inappropriate and can exacerbate your current infection.

Styes and Lid Lesions

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Aly

The most common lesions on the lids are styes. Styes are caused from blocked oil glands on or around the edge of the eyelid that results in bumps that are red, tender to touch and painful. They can be triggered by many factors that include overproduction of oil, bacterial infections or lack of proper hygiene. Bacterial involvement can often lead to increased inflammation, pain and pus. Never pop a stye as its contents can spread infection. Without proper treatment and drainage, persistent styes can turn into chalazions. In contrast to styes, chalazions are often painless bumps that can persist for more than several weeks and become cosmetically unappealing. Larger chalazions can cause discomfort and pressure to the cornea, leading to blurry vision.

Many other types of eyelid lesions include papilloma, xanthelasma, nevus, cysts, verruca, seborrheic keratosis and many more. Although most lid lesions are benign, some are malignant and cancerous such as basal cell carcinoma. Eyelid lesions are detected and diagnosed during comprehensive eye exams.

If you have a lesion or stye, make an appointment with your eye doctor to have it diagnosed and a remedy prescribed.

Happy First Day of Spring: Relief for Eye Allergy Misery

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Aly

Itchy, watery, or swollen eyes? Light sensitive? You may have allergic conjunctivitis — inflammation of tissue lining the eyelids. Exposure to allergens releases histamines and the conjunctiva (clear membrane covering the “white” of the eye) swell. Pollen, pet dander, and perfumes can all trigger allergies.

Wrap-around sunglasses can prevent allergens from entering the eyes. Artificial tears temporarily wash allergens out. Antihistamine drops alleviate itchy eyes. Oral antihistamines can reduce itchiness, but can dry out eyes. Decongestant drops, labeled as “red eye relief,” will initially decrease redness, but dry out eyes and increase redness long-term. If none of these works, ask your optometrist about mast cell stabilizer drops, or for chronic and severe cases, corticosteroids.

The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends all eye allergy sufferers visit their eye doctor. Eye allergies don’t usually harm your eyesight, but there are some rare conditions such as eczema that can. Since there are so many options to treat eye allergies, it is best to have your eye doctor diagnose the problem and discuss the right treatment for you.

What Do You Know About Glaucoma?

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Aly

Glaucoma is called “The Silent Thief of Sight” because in its early stages, there are no symptoms or pain. According to the National Eye Institute, 2.7 million people in the U.S. have glaucoma but only half of them know it.

In honor of World Glaucoma Week, here are some facts about glaucoma from the Optos website:

Glaucoma tends to run in families
A person can have glaucoma and not know it
Vision lost from glaucoma can NOT be restored
A complete glaucoma exam consists of more than only measuring eye pressure
Glaucoma is not necessarily caused by an increase in eye pressure

Here’s a fun rap video to promote awareness about The Silent Thief of Sight.

Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) In Children

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Aly

3% of children in the U.S. have reduced vision due to amblyopia. Amblyopia is a developmental disorder where one eye sees worse than the other even with glasses.

In order to develop good vision both eyes must see clearly and point straight ahead. If a child has a high prescription or an eye that points either in or out there is a risk that the eye will not develop properly.

Risk factors for amblyopia can be easily detected during a comprehensive eye exam. It is important for children to have early exams because the fine tuned connections between your brain and eye develop the most before the age of 6. Amblyopia can cause permanently reduced vision but can be treated with early intervention.

Macular Degeneration: Dry and Wet

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Aly

Image courtesy of http://adameducation.com/

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD or ARMD) is a disease of the macula that causes loss of central vision, leaving side vision relatively unchanged. The macula, an area of the retina that lines the inside back wall of your eye, is responsible for sharp, central vision necessary for many activities such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces. AMD usually occurs in people who are age 50 and older.

There are two forms of AMD – dry and wet. The more common, early form of dry AMD accounts for 85-90% of all AMD patients. In dry AMD, yellow deposits known as drusen begin to accumulate at the macula. Vision loss is generally slow and gradual. At any time, dry AMD can progress to the more severe, wet AMD where there is swelling under the macula caused by leaky new abnormal blood vessels or choroidal neovascularization (CNV) leading to a sudden loss of vision.

Although the exact cause is unknown, AMD risk factors include: age, smoking (2-3 times higher risk in smokers), a family history of AMD, being Caucasian or female, obesity (body mass index (BMI) >30 has 2.5 times greater risk), hypertension, high cholesterol, and prolonged UV exposure.

No cure or treatments exist for dry AMD, although nutritional supplements such as zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E may help prevent or slow its progression. FDA-approved drugs directed at the abnormal blood vessels in wet AMD include Visudyne with Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), Avastin, Macugen, Lucentis, Eylea, and anti-VEGF injection therapy.

Early signs of macular degeneration can be detected in a comprehensive dilated retinal exam. Have your eyes examined yearly by your optometrist. If you are age 50 or older and are concerned of the symptoms you’re experiencing, have an exam sooner as early detection and appropriate follow-up care are keys to preserving your vision.

Is One Pair of Eyeglasses Adequate for Your Lifestyle?

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Aly

Hiking, running, tennis, work: We have specific shoes for each activity, why should our eyes be any different? Using the computer, working, driving and playing sports each call for their own eyeglasses. For instance, distance glasses are needed for driving, but when intense focus is required in activities like reading or needlepoint, reading glasses may be essential.

Computer glasses reduce eyestrain by focusing at the intermediate range (shorter than driving distance, but farther than reading distance). Occupational lenses are specially designed for work-related tasks, placing the reading segment higher in bifocals and trifocals. For driving, polarized lenses or an anti-reflective coating are essential to reduce glare. Sports and protective eyewear should have polycarbonate lenses for safety. Sports contact lenses are another option which give better peripheral vision, an unobstructed field of view and better compatibility with goggles or head gear.

Give your eyes the care they deserve; eyeglasses made to fit your lifestyle and specific visual needs are important in maintaining healthy eyes.

Blepharitis

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Sheila

Blepharitis is a chronic inflammation of the eyelids, usually around the area where the eyelashes grow. Overgrowth of bacteria or blockage of oil glands around the eyelids can cause blepharitis. It leads to red, swollen, itchy eyelids with crusting and flaking of skin around the eyelash base. Thorough cleaning of the eyelids with warm washcloth can help control the signs and symptoms. If left untreated, other complications may arise including eyelid scarring, stye formation, eyelash problems and even corneal infections. If you suspect you have blepharitis, see your optometrist for proper medical treatment. Prescription antibiotics may be necessary to control its symptoms.

Lens Coatings and Their Benefits

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Sheila

The number of lens coatings available for your eye glasses can be daunting. Here is a quick primer describing the different coatings, with an explanation of their importance:
Anti-reflective (or anti-glare) coating (AR) – Significantly reduces glare caused by light reflecting off the front and back surfaces of lenses. AR coatings allow more light to pass through the lenses for greater clarity during night driving and provide more comfortable vision for computer users. It also gives an improved cosmetic appearance of the lenses and your eyes.
Scratch-resistant coating – Creates a harder lens surface that is more resistant to scratches. Every lens material, including glass, can scratch but having this additional protective layer helps shield the lens from daily wear and tear.
Anti-fog – Eliminates the condensation of moisture on lenses that causes fogging. This is a newer innovation for eyeglass lenses and comes in handy in places where fog is an issue.
Ultraviolet (UV) protection – An invisible coating that blocks out the harmful UV rays that cause cataracts and other eye problems. Polycarbonate and hi-index lenses include complete UV protection and therefore, this additional coating would be unnecessary.
Mirror coatings – Cosmetic coatings that have no effect on vision.
Color Tinted Lens – Improve cosmetic appearance of the wearer and can slightly enhance vision for those who are light sensitive. Lenses can be coated with a solid tint of varying intensities and colors or in a gradient design whereby the darkest tint color is at the top of the lens and gradually fades downward.
At your annual eye exam, discuss with your optometrist any questions you may have to help you determine which coating(s) may be right for you.

Tips to improving your eye health

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Sheila

Look forward to a brighter, clearer future by following the eye care checklist below:

http://www.allaboutvision.com/resources/checklist.htm#checklist