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First Aid for Eye Emergencies

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Below I have included information from the National Society to Prevent Blindness for first aid treatment for eye emergencies. I have added some information to help you decide when to seek professional help. If in doubt, call Westside Optometry or go to the nearest emergency department.

Chemical Burns
Eye damage from chemical burns may be extremely serious, as from alkalis or caustic acids; or less severe, as from chemical “irritants.”
DO flush the eye with water immediately, continuously and gently, for at least 15 minutes. Hold head under faucet or pour water into the eye using any clean container. Keep eye open as widely as possible during flushing.
DO see a doctor or go to the emergency room.
DO NOT use an eye cup, the water must run off your eye and use lots of it.

If a contact lens is in the eye, begin flushing over the lens immediately. This may wash away the lens.
DO NOT bandage the eye.

Spray cans are a common source of chemical eye injury, compounded by the force of contact. Whether containing caustics or “irritants,” they must be carefully used and kept away from children.

Specks in the Eye
DO lift upper eyelid outward and down over the lower lid.
DO let tears wash out speck or particle
If the speck doesn’t wash out – keep eye closed, bandage lightly and see a doctor.
DO NOT rub the eye.
DO NOT try to remove with a finger or any other object.

If you suspect the particle is metal, call the office immediately, do not wait until the next day.  Metallic foreign bodies can rust overnight creating a larger area of damage.

Blows to the Eye
DO apply cold compresses immediately without putting pressure on the eye for 15 minutes; again each hour as needed to reduce pain and swelling.
DO  see a doctor if there is discoloration or a “black eye”
DO  seek emergency care if there is pain, blurred or double vision

Cuts and Punctures of Eye or Eyelid
DO bandage lightly and see a doctor at once. The bottom half of a paper cup can be used.
DO NOT wash out the eye with water.
DO NOT try to remove an object stuck in the eye.

 Prevention

Of course, preventing eye injuries is the wisest action.

Wear eye protection for all hazardous activities and sports -at school, home and on the job.

Stock a first aid kit with a rigid eye shield and commercial eyewash before an eye injury happens.

DO NOT assume that any eye injury is harmless. When in doubt, give us a call or go to the emergency department.

60 Minutes Exposé

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Last Sunday, the  investigative news program 60 minutes did an exposé on the largest eyeglass manufacturer in the world, Luxottica. The Italian company  completed a hostile takeover of U.S. Shoe Corporation in 1995 to acquire Lenscrafters. They have since bought Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, and Target Optical. Additionally, they have purchased the designer eyewear lines such as Coach, Prada, Tiffany and the popular sunglasses like Ray Ban and Oakley. Westside Optometry does not carry any of the Luxottica frame lines as a small stance against the huge corporate gorilla. Additionally, we do not accept the Eyemed vision plan which is also owned by Luxottica.

As an independent local eyecare provider we can’t compete directly with Luxottica, but we can continue to provide our patients with the most personalized vision care possible.

Here is a clip from the 60 minutes program:

Long-Lasting Lubricating Eye Drop

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Not all eye drops are the same. Oasis TEARS is a new type of eye drop with a unique formula, optimized to provide long-lasting comfort. Some of the benefits of Oasis TEARS Lubricant Eye Drops:

  • Oasis TEARS offers instant relief of dry eye symptoms
  • It is natural and contains no damaging chemicals
  • Provides prolonged comfort with fewer applications
  • Provides moistening and lubrication to the surface of the eye
  • Eliminates the source of toxic irritation with preservative-free options

Oasis TEARS Lubricant Eye Drops coat, lubricate, and moisten delicate eye tissue. With each blink of your eye, a special substance in Oasis TEARS combines with the active ingredient, glycerin, to keep tears on the eye surface for a long time. This unique combination coats and recoats the surface of the eye for continued relief of dry and, irritated eyes. Use Oasis TEARS to relieve all dry eye symptoms any time of day. They work well for tired eye and discomfort related to computer vision syndrome.

Westside Optometry is pleased to offer Oasis TEARS for dry eye relief. To learn more about Oasis TEARS click here

What are Cataracts?

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A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. To understand how a cataract can affect your vision, it helps to understand a little about the structure of your eye. The lens is clear and lies between the iris and the pupil. It works much like a camera lens, focusing light, or an image, onto the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Once the light or image reaches the retina, it is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. Besides focusing light on the retina the lens also adjusts the eye’s focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. The lens is made of mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that allows light to pass through it without distortion. But as we age, proteins in the lens clump together and darken, causing a cataract. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurred and colors may appear faded.

How is the cataract removed?

A small incision is made on the side of the cornea, the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye. The surgeon inserts a tiny probe into the eye. This device emits ultrasound waves that soften and break up the lens so that it can be removed by suction. Most cataract surgery today is done by phacoemulsification, also called “small incision cataract surgery.”

After the natural lens has been removed, it often is replaced by an artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL). An IOL is a clear, plastic lens that requires no care and becomes a permanent part of your eye. Light is focused clearly by the IOL into the retina, improving your vision. You will not feel or see the new lens. Depending on your vision and needs, you may be a candidate for a special type of IOL that either corrects astigmatism or acts like a bifocal.

Cataract removal is one of the most common operations performed in the United States. It is also one of the safest and most effective types of surgery. In about 90 percent of case, people who have cataract surgery have better vision afterward.

Twitching Eyelid

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An eyelid twitch or tic is an involuntary spasm of the eyelid muscles. I’ve noticed twitches tend to occur in the same location. The most common causes are fatigue, stress, caffeine and eyestrain. So the best treatments include prevention of the causes: relax, get more sleep and consume less caffeine.

There are more serious twitches that involve the face and cause the eye to close with each spasm. Neurological causes must be ruled out. Temporary treatment is an injection with botulinum toxin (Botox). This relieves the spasm and allows the muscles to relax.

Most eyelid twitches are more annoying than serious.

Eyewear Show Tomorrow

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Westside Optometry

Spectacular Eyewear Event

Saturday, September 15, 2012

320 Petaluma Blvd South

Featuring Maui Jim Sunglasses
and
Kate Spade Designer Glasses

Raffle for Kate Spade earrings and cosmetic bag
Bring a friend, stop by for refreshments and try on the new styles

Protecting Children’s Eyes from Sun Damage

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Parents generally take precautions to protect their children’s skin from the sun; it is equally important to make every effort to protect children’s eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and glare. Just as we may not see the damage to our skin for years, we also may not see the damage to our eyes for some time. But each part of the eye can be damaged by chronic or high-dose exposure to UV radiation. Even the glare of an overcast day can add to the cumulative affect. Possible effects of long-term sun exposure to the eyes include:

  • The development of skin cancer on the eyelids
  • Changes to the surface of the eye, such as non-cancerous growths on the white of the eye
  •  Over time, the lens becomes more opaque and decreases vision forming cataracts
  • Damage to the retina, which can lead to age related macula degeneration, the leading cause of legal blindness in the US in people over 65 years.

In fact studies conducted over the last 30 years have proven that many of the serious eye diseases associated with aging are at least partially a result of years of sun exposure. Protecting children’s eyes are especially important due to two significant factors:

  1. Children spend more time outdoors. The average child receives 80% of his lifetime UV exposure before the age of 20.
  2. More damaging rays are transmitted through the young child’s crystalline lens to the retina. The eyes of children 10 years and younger transmit 75% of these rays; people 25 years or older only transmit 10%.

The simplest and most efficient way to prevent or delay the onset of   progression of various eye diseases is by using sunglasses or photochromic protective lenses designed to protect all damaging sun rays from reaching the eyes, ideally starting in early childhood. For a child who already wears corrective lenses, this can be achieved with polycarbonate photochromic lenses, which change color according to UV exposure. For a child who does not wear corrective glasses, a high quality pair of sunglasses is recommended.

 

What is a Trunk Show?

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A “Trunk Show” is a special sale in which vendors present merchandise directly to store buyers or select customers. They are referred to as “trunk shows” because a designer or sales rep will literally show up with a trunk of merchandise to show off.


In the case of eyewear, all the colors, all the sizes, in all the styles are available. At Westside Optometry, we typically inventory the most popular styles and colors due to limited space, at a trunk show you can try on everything.

On Saturday, September 15th, we are hosting collections from Maui Jim and Kate Spade. The Maui Jim line is comprised of sunglasses. Some can be made with a prescription, others are designed for particular activities, to be worn over contact lenses or with no prescription. All the lens colors will be available to try. We are setting up displays in our parking lot to better appreciate the clarity of the Maui Jim lens.
Inside the office, the Kate Spade designer line will be presented. Kate Spade’s newest designs include the graphic prints of Australian artist Florence Broadhurst. The sales representative will also have Denim, an economical men’s line.

The Maui Jim Sunglass featured above is called Lani and is pictured in the amethyst fade, it is also available in tortoise and black. The Kate Spade frame below is named Stephie and is  pictured in the black/pool, she is also available in cafe latte, mahogany/pink and tortoise/kiwi. Stop by on Saturday to try on all the amazing colors and styles.

The Trunk Show starts at 10:00 and ends at 2:00. There will be refreshments and a  raffle for a pair of Kate Spade earrings.

 

 

High Blood Pressure and the Eyes

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High Blood Pressure (HBP) is a serious condition that can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and vision loss. “Blood Pressure” is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can damage the body in many ways.

About 1 in 3 adults in the United States has HBP. The condition itself usually has no signs or symptoms. You can have it for years without knowing it. During this time, the HBP can damage your heart, blood vessels, kidneys and eyes.

Blood Pressure tends to rise with age. Sometimes medication can control it. Following a healthy lifestyle helps people delay, prevent or control the BP.

Hypertension can cause damage to the blood vessels in the retina. This picture of the retina shows an eye with hypertensive retinopathy. The arrows point to arteries and veins crossing each other. In a healthy eye the vessels run parallel. The crossings are dangerous because one of the vessels can be occluded. If an artery is blocked, blood will not flow to the retina beyond the occlusion and the retina will die. This causes a permanent blind spot. If a vein is occluded there will be bleeding which may cause a chain of negative events including loss of vision, abnormal vessel growth and glaucoma.

Hypertensive retinopathy typically won’t have any symptoms. It is found during a dilated eye exam. The earlier it is detected the sooner the blood pressure can be controlled preventing vision loss, stroke and death.

The best way to prevent hypertensive retinopathy is by keeping blood pressure controlled by diet, exercise and taking medications as prescribed.

Polorized vs Gradient Sunglasses

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What’s the difference between polarized sunglasses and gradient sunglasses?

Let’s describe each type of sunlens first:
Polarized lenses are typically solid and dark in color. An additional layer is added to the lens to block out glare from horizontal surfaces such as the hood of a car, the water, and the snow. We recommend adding an anti-reflection coating to the back surface to eliminate all reflections providing the most comfortable vision outdoors. The frame featured to the left is a Calvin Klein sunglass, it can be purchased with plano (no prescription) polarized lenses or with a prescription.

A gradient lens is darker on the top and lighter on the bottom. This design is ideal for reading outdoors, and/or leaving the sunglasses on for days that are not as bright. The density of the darkest part of the lens and the color can be varied to accommodate for each individual’s preference. The Gucci frame featured here can be made with a solid polarized lens also.

This year, a lens combining the attributes of the polarization and the gradient tint became available. The color of the lens and lens materials are limited, but we are very excited to expand your sunlens choices. Lani with gradient polorized lenses The Lani by Maui Jim is an example.

Westside Optometry will be featuring all the Maui Jim Sunglasses at our Fall Eyewear Event, Saturday September 15th.

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