Author: admin

Firework Safety

admin

 

Fireworks For most of us, celebrating the Fourth of July means barbeques and fireworks. Unfortunately, the fun can be cut short when fireworks are used inappropriately and cause serious injuries. One of the most common causes of firework injury is when a device explodes before expected. This often results in cuts, burns and bruises in and around the eye. Sparklers are not exempt, in fact they are responsible for a significant percentage of  eye injury cases.

According to a study by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks were the culprit for an estimated 8,800 injuries treated in US emergencies departments during 2009. Of these, 54 present were children and teens under the age of 20 years.

Below are tips to help protect and preserve eyesight during the Fourth of July holiday.

  • Discuss firework safety with children and teens prior to the Fourth of July holiday.
  • Do not allow kids to handle fireworks and never leave them unsupervised near fireworks.
  • Wear protective eyewear when lighting and handling fireworks of any kind.
  • Store fireworks, matches and lighters in a secure place where children won’t find them.
  • Refrain from purchasing sparklers. Heating up to 1,800 degrees, sparklers are the number one cause of fireworks injuries requiring trips to the emergency room.
  • Be aware of your surroundings and only light fireworks when family, friends and children are at a safe distance.

Have a happy and safe holiday!

Helping Others with Vision Loss

admin

If you or a loved one is living with vision loss, make living easier. Here are a few tips from the Lighthouse for the Blind Foundation.

  1. Appliances  Mark frequently used settings on appliances with bright nail polish or Touch-Dots.
  2. Storage  Store similar foods together; differentiate like-shaped containers with tactile markings like rubber bands.
  3.  Label  Clearly label toxic substances and keep them away from food.
  4. Clothing Arrange clothing by outfits, color, or with large-print labels.
  5. Pills  Use large-print or color-coded labels, or buy pill organizers and talking pill bottles.
  6. Rugs  Remove throw rugs or use non-skid rubber backing or double-sided tape to eliminate sliding. Always use non-skid rubber mats in the bath.
  7. Talking Aids Purchase talking appliances like watches, weight scales, and alarm clocks.
  8. Lighting  Use flexible-arm lamps to focus light on the task, Install under-cabinet lighting in your kitchen, and use nightlights in hallways and bathrooms.

Ultraviolet Protection

admin

Sun and Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet light from the sun will burn you skin, it will also damage your eyes. A sunburn on the cornea, the surface of the eye is called, “photokeratitis”. The incidence of photokeratitis increases when in the snow or on the water because of increased reflections. Most of us know the pain of a sunburn on our skin, a sunburn on the eye hurts much worse and causes the vision to be blurry until it heals.

Other eye tissues are permanently damaged by ultraviolet(UV) light. The conjunctiva, the white of the eye can develop benign bumps called pinguecula. Pinguecula are not dangerous, but they can become inflamed and red. They typically have a yellowish appearance. Cataracts, (a clouding of the lens in the eye) worsens with UV light exposure. The retina is also susceptible to UV damage. Damaged retinal tissue, especially the macula can lead to severely reduced vision.

Sunscreen protects your skin from overexposure to the UV rays, sunglasses protect the structures of your eyes and the skin tissues around them. Read how to select quality sunglasses in an earlier blog.

Presbyopia

admin

 

 

Have you ever been in a restaurant trying to decide what to order? The lights are dim, you are practically burning up the menu manipulating it around the candle for more light… Or how about trying to hook up wires behind the TV or computer, can’t find the right hook-up? The above situations make presbyopia seem like an acute condition. Things that looked OK at the kitchen table by the window don’t seem as clear in the dark or when you are tired.

Presbyopia is the result of an aging process on the lens of the eye. The lens focuses light at all distances without much effort for the first forty plus years of our lives. Then kablamo…you can’t see to remove a sliver from your child’s finger.

Denial is the most common response. Eventually, presbyopia interferes with work. You find yourself switching numbers or getting  headaches at the computer. Your over-all efficiency is diminished and your frustration is elevated. Sometimes a pair of reading glasses will solve the problem. Depending on your prescription and how you use your eyes, multifocals offer clear vision at multiple distances. Contact lens wearers can try monovision (an adjustment in the correction of one lens) or bifocal contact lenses.

Just know that you are not in this alone, my presbyopic eyes and I are here ready to help you. Stop struggling and let’s find a solution.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration

admin

 

 I attended a seminar this weekend titled, “Can we do better in AMD?” AMD is age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness worldwide. The current number of individuals with visual impairment from AMD is 620,000. The forecast for 2050 is more than double, 1.6 million.

Who gets AMD?

         The Elderly (hence the “age-related”)

          Women more than men

           People with light colored eyes and hair

 These are the conditions we can’t control, but we can control the following:

      Smoking. This is a huge factor. In fact, smoking will double your risk of developing  AMD

       Exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Put on those sunglasses

       Diet – increase fat intake increases the risk for AMD

There are lots of studies about prevention of AMD and treatment. By the end of 2010 genetic testing will be available to determine a person’s risk for developing AMD. The test involves swabbing the inside of the cheek to collect tissue for analysis. This will be helpful in determining vitamin therapy, examination frequency and peace of mind for those determined to have a low risk. Stay tuned for details in the months to come.

At your next eye examination ask me about vitamins and supplements that are recommended for regeneration of retinal health.

Eye Allergies

admin

Spring is in the Air
And so is the pollen

75% of allergy symptoms involve the eye. These symptoms include itching, watering and redness. In moderate to severe cases, contact lenses can not be tolerated.

Oral allergy medications can help, but not as quickly or effectively as an allergy eye drop. There are several allergy drops available, some prescription and some over-the-counter. Some of the drops contain antihistamines, decongestants and/or mast cell stabilizers. Antihistamines provide immediate relieve of itching, the mast cell stabilizers provide long-lasting relief. Decongestants constrict the blood vessels to minimize redness, but offer no reduction in the allergic reaction. None of these drops can be used while wearing contact lenses. I will be happy to assist you in selecting the best pharmaceutical solution to your ocular allergies.

Below are some suggestions to minimize the symptoms of ocular allergies and related discomfort.

Recommendations to Reduce Allergic Reactions
 Avoid exposure to allergens
 Rinse eyes with sterile saline solution.
 Cold compresses – place a couple of ice cubes in a clean washcloth
 Maintain contact lens integrity by replacing and cleaning the lenses as prescribed
 Reduce irritation with proper eyelid and eyelash hygiene
 Control ocular dryness with artificial tear drops, proper hydration and supplements
 Begin allergy drops at the first signs of a reaction
 Wear wraparound sunglasses to shield the eyes

Save Your Vision Month

admin

March is Save your Vision Month

It is important to be proactive and protect your eyesight and vision for the future. 

For adults in their 20s and 30s, the eyes are generally healthy as are the other organs in the body. Start protecting your vision now.

 Eat right! Include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet
 Quit smoking
 Wear sunglasses to protect against harmful ultraviolet radiation.

For adults in their 40s and 50s, you are probably noticing some significant changes in vision, especially close-up. Menopause can increase dry eye symptoms for women.

 Ask family members about eye diseases. Many conditions run in the family
 Invest in accurate and quality reading glasses
 Your general health can have profound effects on your eyes. Be prepared to discuss medications and health conditions with your optometrist

After 60 it is crucial to maintain regular eye examinations. The incidence of many eye diseases increases. Many of these conditions like glaucoma, have no symptoms.

 Schedule annual exams or as recommended.
 Report all changes in general health to the eye doctor. Don’t accept declining vision as just a part of aging.

Reliability of Vision Screenings

admin

     The department of motor vehicles, the school nurse and the pediatrician use vision screening to identify vision problems. Screening usually involves standing a given distance from a lettered chart, covering one eye and reading down the chart to the smallest letter possible.
     According to a recent study in Australia, researchers found that results for detecting myopia in 12 -13 year olds was nearly 98%. Good news for the nearsighted, but not so good for the tweens with astigmatism or hyperopia. Only half of the hyperopic children were identified by the vision screening and 25% of the kids with astigmatism were missed.
Screenings are best designed to detect problems with distance vision, and that is important for children socially and physically, but myopia represents the least risk for reading and learning. A myopic child is more likely to notice that the board is blurry and move to the front of the classroom. Hyperopia on the other hand, makes it more difficult to see things close up and astigmatism effects vision at all distances. Children with uncorrected hyperopia and astigmatism will have more difficulty reading and writing and may not even be aware that the difficulty is due to his or her vision. These are the children that may complain of headaches, avoid reading and school related tasks.
     A vision screening test identifies some vision problems, but can miss disorders that have a profound effect on a child’s ability to succeed in school.

Spring Eyewear Event

admin

 

 

Dr. Karen Griffith and her staff cordially invite you to a special eyewear event featuring the Clearvision frame collections of:

IZOD, Ellen Tracy, BCBG, Cole Haan, OP and Fisher Price

 We are also pleased to present the entire Maui Jim Sunglass line

Saturday, March 5, 2011
10:00 – 2:00

There will be refreshments

Bring a Friend
Call ahead to make an appointment for an eye examination

Maui Jim Sunglasses

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage

admin

moderate blood on eye 

Many of us have had a blood red spot on the white of the eye at one time or another. Usually there was no injury or discomfort. Many people wake-up with the red spot and may not even be aware of it until a family member or co-worker asks about it. Subconjunctival hemorrhages look worse than they are and do not need treatment. 

The conjunctiva is a thin membrane that covers the surface of the inner eyelid and the white part of the eyeball. The conjunctiva contains many small, fragile blood vessels that are easily ruptured or broken. Subconjunctival hemorrhage occurs when a small blood vessel in the conjunctiva breaks and bleeds. It may occur spontaneously or from heavy lifting, coughing or vomiting. In some cases, it may develop following eye surgery or trauma. Subconjunctival hemorrhage tends to be more common among those with diabetes and hypertension. 

Certain medications can make the bleeding worse, including: Coumadin, Aspirin, Plavix, St. John’s Wort and Ginkgo. 

While it may look frightening, a subconjunctival hemorrhage is essentially harmless. The blood from the broken conjunctival vessel becomes trapped in the space underneath the clear conjunctival tissue. The blood naturally absorbs within one to three weeks and may turn greenish or yellow during this time. 

A subconjunctival hemorrhage does not affect vision or cause pain, and treatment is usually not required. Exceptions to that are when bleeding: is a result of trauma or injury; lasts more than 10 days; starts again. 

And of course, if you are unsure call our office.  

red eye
subconjunctival hemorrhage