Author: Karen Griffith

Dr. Griffith is the owner and operator of Westside Optometry since 1989.

Start the New Year by Eating for your Eyes

Karen Griffith

 

For generations, children are told to eat their carrots to see better. Don’t stop eating carrots but grab some leafy green vegetables as well. Spinach is actually the best food to improve eye health because it is packed with lutein and zeaxanthin. Diets rich in these two types of carotenoids can help block the amount of blue light from reaching the underlying structures in the retina, which reduces the risk or slows the progression of macular degeneration.

For more comprehensive information check out EYEFOODS an easy to read book about all foods that can benefit our eye health.

Vision Tips for Driving

Karen Griffith
  1. Even if your distance glasses prescription isn’t very strong, put them on at the start of any long trip. You’ll tire less quickly and feel better at the end of the drive if you are not straining to see.
  2. Keep your windshield clean inside and out. Filming on either side of the windshield can cause a veiling glare when bright light hits it, and every bit of road spatter on the windshield becomes two bits of annoying spatter (one for each eye) when you are looking at a far distance.
  3. Your rear view mirrors should be adjusted properly, and that should be done after you have the seat positioned, and never use the vinyl cleaning and brightening agents on your dashboard because they make the veiling glare effect of reflected light from the dashboard worse.
  4. Be sure you are not tilting your head into a chin-up position as you drive. This can cause you to have eyestrain and even distance blur from your prescription lenses. Adjusting the seat upward and tilting the steering wheel downward may help you keep a good head position.
  5. Wait until the sun is fully up before putting on sun lenses for driving, and take your sun lenses off before dusk sets in. Dusk and dawn drive times are known to be times at which you need all the light you can get for safe driving.
  6. Your eyes will tend to get tired if you simply stare straight ahead on long road trips, so keep your eyes moving as you check your mirrors and potential hazards from either side.
  7. Make a point of “triple blinking” (i.e., three fast, full blinks in quick succession) every few minutes especially if your eyes feel dry and have a burning sensation.
  8. Don’t stare at bright incoming headlights. A prolonged look at bright lights will mean a prolonged glare recovery period after you look away from them.
  9. Blinking lights such as another driver’s turn signal or the lights of an emergency vehicle can hold your visual attention long after those lights are no longer relevant to your safety.
  10. Take frequent stretch breaks and stop before you start feeling tired on long road trips. While on break, turn your eyes up, down, right, left and toward all directions in between as far as you can. This can refresh the muscles that aim your eyes, and it will tend to ward off eye fatigue.
The above suggestions are “reprinted by permission of 20/20 magazine and the Jobson Optical Group”

Do I have Cataracts?

Karen Griffith

Cataracts are typically caused by age. Sometimes, ultraviolet exposure, smoking and medications can speed their development. If you live long enough, cataracts will develop.

Cataracts are located inside your eye. The lens becomes yellow and cloudy. Symptoms tend to occur gradually with night time glare, blur and color changes.

Cataracts can also cause changes in your glasses prescription. Usually the eyes become more nearsighted. If vision can be improved with glasses a new prescription is written. At some point even new glasses can’t correct the vision and surgery is the best alternative. Cataract surgery is the most successful and commonly performed surgical procedure in the United States.

New technologies have improved implant options. The intra-ocular lens (IOL) replaces the cloudy crystalline lens (cataract) that is causing vision impairment in your eye. “Premium” IOLs include options to correct astigmatism and presbyopia. this can reduce the need for glasses after cataract surgery.

Nearly 20% of Americans over 40 years old have cataracts in one or both eyes. Schedule an eye examination so an accurate diagnosis can be made.

Contact Lens Packaging

Karen Griffith

Bausch + Lomb’s ONE by ONE Recycling Program, the first contact lens recycling program of its kind, has recycled nearly 2.5 million used contact lenses, blister packs and top foils since the program launched in November 2016, diverting more than 14,000 pounds of waste from landfills —about the weight of a small aircraft. The program is made possible through a collaboration with TerraCycle®, a world leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste.

In addition, for every qualifying shipment of two pounds or more, a $1-per-pound donation will be made to Optometry Giving Sight, the only global fundraising initiative that specifically targets the prevention of blindness and impaired vision by providing eye exams and glasses to those in need. To date, the program has raised more than $14,000.

If you don’t want to set up an account, you can bring your used contacts, blister packs and top foils to the Westside Optometry office. We have a receptacle (photo) you can toss your empty blister packs into.

Sjogren’s Syndrome

Karen Griffith

 Sjogren’s is an autoimmune disease that affects the entire body. Along with symptoms of extensive dryness, including dry eyes and corneal infections, other serious complications include profound fatigue, chronic pain, major organ involvement, neuropathies and lymphomas.

Most people with Sjogren’s syndrome are women. It can occur at any age and in any race, but most often shows up after age 40.

The immune system is supposed to fight disease by killing off harmful viruses and bacteria. But with autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks parts of the body by mistake. In Sjogren’s, the immune system attacks the glands that make tears and saliva. The damage keeps these glands from working properly and causes dry eyes and dry mouth.

Sjogren’s Syndrome is diagnosed with medical history, physical exam, specific eye and mouth tests and blood tests.

Treatment differs by what parts of the body are affected.

Treatment for the eyes includes artificial tears and ointments to protect the surface of the eye. Prescription eye drops such as Restasis and Xiidra suppress ocular inflammation . Punctal occlusion, temporary or permanent, prevent tears from draining from the eye.

Avoiding medications which cause dryness is helpful, this includes cold and allergy medicines, diuretics, some blood pressure pills, some antipsychotic drugs and antidepressants.

It’s natural to worry when you learn you’ve got a chronic condition that requires regular care. Most people with Sjogren’s stay healthy and don’t have serious problems.

For more information, Sjogrens.org

 

It’s Spring!

Karen Griffith

[heading centered=”yes” margin_bottom=”no”]Stop Itching Your Eyes[/heading]
Plant pollen, house dust and animal dander can trigger ocular allergies. This causes tearing, itching and eye swelling. Cold compresses and sterile saline eye rinses are soothing. For more severe and persistent symptoms, a prescription eye drop can provide the relief you need. These drops can both relieve the itch and discomfort and prevent them from continuing.
[heading centered=”yes” margin_bottom=”no”]Don’t Let Gardening Bug your Eyes[/heading]
Don’t forget to protect your eyes when gardening. Put on those safety goggles before mowing the the lawn, trimming the bushes or using garden chemicals. Scratches and objects in the eye caused by flying debris are very painful, but can be prevented. Chemical burns and other eye irritations caused by fertilizers and weed killers can be avoided too.
[heading centered=”yes” margin_bottom=”no”]Play Ball![/heading]
Protective sports goggles are a good investment for any child who plays sports. The glasses your child wears for school are not designed to be protective in the event of a sports trauma. The lens in your child’s fashion frame could easily pop out and puncture or cut the eye. A frame mangled from impact could also injure young eyes. Ask about sports goggles.

 

Make-up Safety circa 1984

Karen Griffith

I was cleaning out some files and found a consumer safety booklet titled EYE PRODUCTS. The copyright belongs to Merle Norman Cosmetics and it was dated 6-84.
The brochure contents promote Merle Norman cosmetics but very subtly. The emphasis is on safe use of eye products and cosmetics. I’d like to share the Twelve Tips for Safety as they are still relevant and timely.

TWELVE TIPS FOR SAFETY

  1. If any eye product causes irritation, stop using it immediately. You should contact your eye doctor.
  2. Do not allow cosmetics to become covered with dust or contaminated with dirt or soil. Wipe off the container with a damp cloth if visible dust or dirt is present, and do not use the container until it is dry.
  3. Do not use old containers of eye cosmetics. If you haven’t used a product for several months, it is safer to discard it and purchase a new one.
  4. Do not spit or introduce any foreign substance (even water) into any cosmetic. The bacteria in your mouth or in tap water may grow in the cosmetic and subsequent application to the eye may cause infection.
  5. Do not share your cosmetics. Another person’s bacteria in your cosmetic could be hazardous to you.
  6. Do not store cosmetics at high temperatures. Cosmetics held for long periods in hot cars, for example, are more susceptible to deterioration.
  7. Avoid using eye cosmetics if you have an infection of the eye or skin around the eye, or if the skin is inflamed.
  8. Recognize that your hands contain millions of bacteria which, if placed in your eye, could cause infections. Wash your hands carefully before applying cosmetics to your eyes.
  9. Make sure that any instrument you place in the area of your eye is clean, and extremely careful not to scratch the eyeball or any other area.
  10. When applying or removing eye cosmetics, be extremely careful not to scratch the eyeball or any other sensitive area.
  11. Use the side of the brush or applicator in a motion parallel to the lash line. Never point applicators directly into the eye area.
  12. Take particular care in using eye cosmetics if you have a history of allergies to cosmetic products. If in doubt, consult your eye doctor before using any such cosmetic products.

The take home message is don’t use old products, don’t share make-up, wash your hands before touching the area around your eye and don’t hesitate to call for help.

Back to School

Karen Griffith

School age children can experience unexpected and sudden changes in vision that may lead to behavioral and attention issues in the classroom. Make a comprehensive eye examination a priority for your child this year.

Some important health and safety tips for your child’s eyes:

  • Look for indicators of vision issues.    Common signals that your child may be experiencing a vision problem include covering one eye, holding reading materials close to the face, a short attention span and complaining of headaches or other discomfort.

 

  • Prevent eye strain by monitoring use of digital devices. Increased exposure to electronic devices in and out of the classroom can cause digital eyestrain, including burning or itchy eyes, headaches, blurred vision and exhaustion. The American Optometric Association recommends following the 20-20-20 rule (taking a 20-second break, every 20 minutes and looking at something at least 20 feet away), blinking frequently and adjusting your child’s computer screen to prevent glare can prevent discomfort.

 

  • Wear appropriate eye protection for sports and outdoor activities.  Well-fitting, protective eye wear and quality sunglasses that offer UV protection are also critical to maintaining key visual skills for sports and preventing injuries.

 

One in four children has an undiagnosed vision problem because changes in their eyesight go unrecognized by both the child and their parents. Include an eye exam on your back to school list. It may be the single most important investment you can make in your child’s education and overall health.

 

What does a Baby See?

Karen Griffith

An infant’s vision improves significantly during his first 6 months. Basic visual function develops rapidly during the first year.

Newborns focus on objects that are 8-10 inches away and will wince and blink in response to bright light, but only for a brief amount of time. At birth approximate visual acuity is 20/800. Infants will stare intently at high contrast images such as the edges of faces. Newborn eyes may cross or wander for the first 4 months.
By two to three months, babies have an approximate visual acuity of 20/400. At this age, they will track movement as well as smile at objects that are about a foot away. Reaching for objects around 3 months is expected.
At 6 months the vision has improved to at least 20/100. A 6 month old infant will open his mouth to a spoon and will recognize his own face in the mirror. Both eyes should focus equally. Depth perception is developing.
A twelve month old child will have visual acuities of 20/60 and can judge distances fairly well, throw things with precision and pick up small objects with the fingers and thumb.

A comprehensive visual assessment between 9-12 months is recommended, earlier if the infant is at risk for eye or vision disorders. Early intervention is critical to successful vision and treatment.

Acuity Testing Infants
Preferential Looking Test