Baseball is the leading cause of eye injury in players 14 and under. Players are contending with a high-speed projectile (the ball) and swinging bats. Due to the velocity of the ball or bat, nothing can guarantee complete injury protection, but sports protective eyewear can greatly lessen the risk of serious injury.
The number of kids playing organized sports is on the rise and so is the number of sports-related injuries. What many players, parents and coaches do not realize is that the majority of injuries occur during practice and not during games, making it crucial that kids wear protective equipment for practices and games. More than 90% of all eye injuries can be prevented with the use of appropriate protective eyewear.
If your child plays a sport that requires a helmet or faceguard, don’t make the mistake of thinking he or she is protected from eye injuries. The eyes are still exposed to danger from sports equipment or an opponent’s fingers penetrating the openings of a facemask. Likewise, if your child wears glasses, everyday fashion eyewear is not held to the same protective standards as regulation eyewear products labeled as protective eyewear for sports use. The lens in you child’s regular eyeglasses could easily pop out and puncture or cut the eye. A frame mangled from impact could also injure the eyes and ocular region of the face.
Make the decision to add protective sport goggles to the equipment bag. Many eye injuries are caused by blunt trauma, such as from a ball, stick or elbow. A pair of sport goggles, equipped with polycarbonate lenses, can be sight savers since they help keep the eyes and the surrounding ocular region safe. At Westside Optometry we have all sizes and colors of sports goggles. We can also put prescription lenses into them.
I occasionally have patients ask if their cataract is “ripe.” There is some misunderstanding, cataracts don’t ripen. The crystalline lens does change and causes vision problems. To read more about what a cataract is click here.
Cataracts can be removed whenever the patient and surgeon agree that they should be removed. Generally, the best time to remove the cloudy crystalline lens (AKA cataract) is when the vision is compromising your quality of life. This includes the inability to drive at night due to excessive glare. Other causes of blurry vision must be explored before cataract surgery. Macular degeneration can reduce the quality of vision, especially for reading. Removing cataracts will not improve the clarity in this case.
Age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts commonly cause impaired vision and blindness in older adults. But lifestyle changes, including good nutrition, could help delay or prevent certain eye problems.
Besides adopting a healthy diet, you also can protect your eyes by avoiding intense ultraviolet (UV) light, quitting smoking and getting regular checkups that may help detect chronic diseases contributing to eye problems. Diabetes, for example, increases your risk for age-related eye diseases and may cause diabetic retinopathy.
Regular eye exams, too, are essential for maintaining eye health as you grow older. If eye problems and chronic diseases are detected early enough, appropriate treatment may prevent permanent vision loss.
“Pink Eye” is a common term referring to conjunctivitis. The conjunctiva is the outer white part of the eye and the inside lining of the eyelids. The conjunctiva is normally clear, but if it is inflamed it becomes pink or red. Conjunctivitis can be caused by allergies, bacteria, viruses or other irritants. The treatment depends on the cause.
Besides redness, other symptoms include tearing, itching, sensitivity to light, mucus and/or a gritty feeling.
It can be difficult to tell one type of conjunctivitis from another and often requires a thorough examination with the biomicrosope to make the diagnosis. There are some serious conditions that mimic conjunctivitis; if you or your child is suffering from a red eye, call the office.
How to Avoid Pink Eye
Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching or rubbing your eyes. Avoid sharing items that touch your eyes such as washcloths, contact lenses and make-up.
If your child has an eye infection, alert the school. Because viral conjunctivitis is very contagious, it’s a good idea to keep children with pink eye home until the condition resolves. The same is true for adults who work with others.
If you wear contact lenses and develop pink eye, remove your lenses and call the office immediately. Sometimes, more serious contact lens-related infections can mimic conjunctivitis, and appropriate treatment is required.
For more details on the different types of conjunctivitis click here.
January is glaucoma awareness month. Glaucoma is often called “the sneak thief of sight.”That’s because people usually do not notice any signs of the disease until they have already lost significant vision. Once lost, vision can’t be restored. More than 2.7 million Americans age 40 and older have open angle glaucoma, the most common form of glaucoma. At least half don’t even know they have it.
Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes loss of sight by damaging a part of the eye called the optic nerve. This nerve sends information from your eyes to your brain. When glaucoma damages your optic nerve, you begin to lose patches of vision, usually side vision (peripheral vision). Over time, glaucoma may also damage the central vision. You may not notice a loss of side vision until you have lost a great deal of your sight. When checking for glaucoma, I measure the intra-ocular pressure, dilate the pupil to look for damage to the optic nerve and test peripheral vision. To learn more about how I identify glaucoma and how it is treated, click here
Who is at risk for glaucoma?
Below are the risk factors for glaucoma:
Age – The older you are, the greater you are at risk (especially if you are over 60 years old). African Americans are at a greater risk at a younger age starting at age 40 and older.
Race – African Americans age 40 and over are 4-5 times more likely to have glaucoma than others. Hispanics are also at increased risk for glaucoma as they age. Those of Asian and Native American descent are at increased risk for angle closure glaucoma.
Family history – If you have a parent, brother or sister with glaucoma, you are more likely to get glaucoma. If you have glaucoma, inform your family members to get complete eye exams.
Medical history – You are at risk if you have a history of high pressure in your eyes, previous eye injury, long term steroid use, or nearsightedness.
There are no symptoms for glaucoma until irreversible vision loss occurs. Have your eyes check.
There are many advantages to wearing contact lenses. There are disadvantages too. If you are compliant with care and replacement of your contact lenses, the risks are reduced greatly.
Be aware that serious injury to the eye, scarring of the cornea and loss of vision may result from problems associated with wearing contact lenses and using lens care products. Eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop rapidly and lead to loss of vision. Immediately call or visit Westside Optometry for persistent symptoms of any eye discomfort, watering, vision change, or redness.
Extended Wear
Overnight wear of contact lenses has been shown to increase the risk of contact lens related complications. Do not wear your contact lenses for extended wear (24 hours a day including sleep) unless I’ve directed you to do so.
Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of serious problems with contact lens wear, especially when lenses are worn overnight. If you smoke, be sure to inform me.
Following Directions
Be sure to follow the exact instructions from my contact lens technician, myself and the contact lens manufacturer provide about how to use and care for your contact lenses and lens care products, including lens cases. Failure to do so may put you at risk of developing a serious eye infection.
Use Proper Lens Care Solutions
Soft Contact Lens Solutions
Do not use saliva, tap water, distilled water, or homemade saline solution for any purpose in caring for your lenses. The use of these solutions has been associated with serious eye infections including Acanthamoeba keratitis, a corneal infection that is resistant to treatment and cure.
Adverse Effects (Possible Problems)
It is possible that problems can occur and may be accompanied by one or more of the following conditions:
Moderate to severe eye pain not relieved by removing the lens
Feeling of something in the eye
Unusual eye secretions
Eye redness
Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
Eyes burn, sting or itch
Eyes water
Reduced sharpness of vision
Rainbows or halos around objects
Uncomfortable lens
Feeling of dryness
A serious condition such as corneal ulcer or eye infection may be present and may progress rapidly. Even less serious reactions such as a scratched cornea must be treated promptly to avoid serious complications.
What to do if a Problem Occurs
If you experience any of the above signs or symptoms, immediately remove your lens(es)
1. If the discomfort stops, then look closely at the lens(es):
If the lens is damaged in any way, DO NOT put the lens back on your eye. Discard the damaged lens.
If the lens(es) have dirt, an eyelash or other foreign body on them, and the lens(es) appear undamaged, thoroughly clean, rinse and disinfect the lens(es), then reinsert. After reinsertion, if the problem continues, remove the lens(es) immediately and contact Westside Optometry.
2. If discomfort continues after you have removed your lens(es):
Immediately contact Westside Optometry
Do not reinsert a new or spare lens onto an eye that is red, irritated or painful. A new lens may hide symptoms and delay treatment.
When Lenses Should Not Be Worn
Contact lenses should not be worn under certain general health and eye conditions. I take into consideration many factors to determine if continued contact lens wear is right for you. These include the following:
Inflammation or infection in or around the eye or eyelids
Excessive dryness of the eyes that makes contact lens wear uncomfortable
Any condition which reduces corneal sensitivity
Systemic diseases that may be affected by or impact lens wear
Allergic conditions, reactions or ocular irritation caused or exaggerated by lens wear or certain preservatives in lens care products
The use of any medication, including some eye medications, that shouldn’t be used with or interferes with contact lens wear
If eyes become red or irritated
General Guidelines for Safe Contact Lens Wear
While wearing your contact lenses, your eyes should look well, feel comfortable and your vision should be clear.
Your lenses are provided to you in a foil sealed plastic container. Never use a lens if the container seal is broken, as damage or contamination may have occurred.
Do not wear your lenses longer than prescribed, no matter how comfortable the lenses feel. Doing so increases the risk of adverse effects.
For a printable version of the above cautions for contact lens wear, click here.
2013 can be the year you have the best vision possible. Below are some suggestions to help you.
Improve Your Eye Health
Eat smart. Diet and nutritional supplements go a long way in promoting eye health. Studies show a diet rich in fruits, leafy vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids may reduce your risk of eye problems like macular degeneration and dry eye syndrome.
Get moving. Research has shown higher levels of physical exercise can reduce certain risk factors for glaucoma, as well as macular degeneration.
Quit smoking. Put simply, smoking harms your vision. Studies show smoking dramatically increases the likelihood of developing cataracts, macular degeneration,uveitis and diabetic retinopathy.
Protect your eyes from the sun (and make sure your kids do, too). Always wear sunglasses with UV protection when outdoors — no matter what time of year — to shield your eyes from UV rays. This may reduce your risk for cataracts and macular degeneration.
Schedule an eye exam for everyone in your family. Kids and seniors, especially, should have comprehensive annual eye exams to monitor vision changes. Also, have your family doctor screen you for diabetes and hypertension — if left untreated, these diseases can lead to serious eye problems.
Start using safety eyewear for lawn-mowing, home repairs and other chores. Experts say 90 percent of eye injuries requiring a visit to the emergency room can be prevented with proper safety eyewear.
Properly care for your contact lenses. Dirty contact lenses, even if they are not uncomfortable, can cause serious eye infections. Clean your contact lenses and contact lens case properly, and always replace your contacts as recommended.
Reduce computer eye strain. Rest your eyes from computer work every 20 minutes to relieve computer vision syndrome and avoid dry, red eyes. Also, ask your eye doctor about stress-relieving computer glasses.
If you’ve been putting up with contact lens discomfort, dry eyes, eye allergies or blurry vision, talk to me about changes you can make to improve or eliminate these problems.
Improve Your Vision
Blurriness? If your contacts or glasses are no longer doing their job, you may need a new prescription and/or a different lens design.
Upgrade your contact lenses. Contact lenses come in a wide variety of materials, replacement schedules and wearing times — not to mention the array of color contact lenses and special effect contacts available.
With the advancement in contact lens technology, there’s sure to be a type of contact lens that suits your individual requirements and lifestyle.
Try eyeglass lens coatings. Various lens coatings keep your field of view clear by reducing reflections, fogging and scratches. And eliminate glare during outdoor activities with polarized sunglasses.
Consider sports-specific eyewear. For athletes and sporting enthusiasts, there are performance-enhancing frames and lenses designed specifically for different sports and outdoor activities.
Make sure your sports eyewear includes lightweight, impact-resistant polycarbonate or Trivex lenses for comfort and safety.
Improve Your Appearance
Upgrade your eyewear. Get with the times and refresh your look, as well as take advantage of the latest in lens and frame technologies.
If you have a strong prescription, try high index eyeglass lenses. High index lenses provide the same optical power as regular ones, but are thinner and lighter.
Considering LASIK? If you’re tired of wearing glasses or contacts, ask your us if you are a good candidate for LASIK or other vision correction surgery.
Winter winds and moisture zapping heaters can cause dry, red and irritated eyes.
Tears are essential for good eye health and clear vision. They bathe the eye, washing out dust and debris, and keep the surface moist and clear. The natural tear film also contains enzymes that neutralize microorganisms, reducing the risk of eye infections.
The most common signs and symptoms of dry eyes are persistent dryness and irritation, scratchiness, a burning feeling in your eyes and red eyes. Oddly enough, dry eye syndrome also can make your eyes watery, as dryness can cause a protective overproduction of the watery component of your tears.
How to prevent dry eyes in winter
Cold winter wind outdoors and dry heat indoors can cause or worsen dry eyes. Follow these tips to keep dry eyes at bay.
Wear sunglasses or goggles. Wearing close-fitting sunglasses outdoors reduces exposure to sun and wind that can dry out your eyes. If it’s especially cold and windy, try foam-lined goggles that provide even greater protection from tear evaporation.
Supplement your diet. Fish oil and other nutritional supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids can help prevent or relieve dry eye symptoms.
Drink more water. Mild dehydration often makes dry eyes worse, especially during dry and windy weather.
Switch contact lenses. If your contact lenses feel dry and uncomfortable, ask me about trying different lenses that are replaced more frequently and/or are better for someone with dry eyes.
Dry eyes may not be completely curable in certain cases, but the unpleasant dryness, scratchiness and burning sensation can be managed. We are carrying a new artificial tear called Oasis that contains long-molecule hyaluronic acid which keeps the moisture on the eye longer. Click here to read more about dry eye syndrome.
This is a continuation of my last blog post about diabetic retinopathy. I want to stress that diabetic retinopathy is the number 1 cause of new cases of blindness for adults 20-70 years old. The increasing number of people with diabetes means the number of people who will develop diabetic retinopathy will also increase. This is significant because severe vision loss can be prevented 90% of the time.
It is my job as an optometrist to identify and detect diabetic retinopathy. When I see diabetic retinopathy, I have to decide when to refer for further evaluation and/or treatment.
PREVENTING VISION LOSS
The most important thing you can do to prevent vision loss from diabetes is have a dilated eye examination every year.
If you notice changes in your vision or it seems blurry, call your eye doctor immediately. To read more about preventing eye complications from diabetes click here.
TREATMENT
If I think treatment is indicated, I will refer you to a retinologist. A retinologist is an ophthalmologist, who treats conditions of the vitreous and retina, both effected by diabetic retinopathy. He or she will chose the best treatment option.
A laser may be used to stop blood vessels from leaking. It may also be used over a larger part of the retina to reduce the growth of abnormal blood vessels. Laser maintains sight, but the side effects can include, blind spots in the vision and reduced vision.
Corticosteroid injections into the eye provide a temporary treatment. To maintain control of the retinopathy, repeated injections are necessary every 6-8 weeks. The continued use of corticosteroids increases the risk of developing cataracts and glaucoma.
Another treatment is the injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) to prevent the blood vessels from leaking. This treatment also needs to be repeated every 6-8 weeks.
The retinologist will often use a combination of the above treatments to yield the best results.
Researchers continue to look for therapies with long-term results and minimal side effects.
Westside Optometry continues to recognize November as Diabetes Awareness Month, although diabetes is something that deserves attention all 365 days of the year. If you have diabetes, I will dilate your eyes at least once a year. Diabetes can affect many organs of the body, in the eyes it causes blindness.
Many problems develop in the retina due to diabetes. The possibilities include abnormal blood vessel growth, hemorrhages and lipid leakage. If these problems are allowed to continue without treatment they will cause scarring which leads to detachment of the retina. Another complication is the leakage of fluid under the macula which will severely reduce vision.
Not all these conditions will have symptoms. Only when the bleeding or fluids reach a certain size will you notice blur or dark spots. The earlier changes in the retina are detected, the better treatment results will be.
The picture above shows some of the changes diabetes causes in the retina. There is bleeding and some areas where blood isn’t flowing properly (ischemia). This patient did not notice any changes in his vision. If you have diabetes, don’t wait until you have vision changes, it may be too late.
Baseball is the leading cause of eye injury in players 14 and under. Players are contending with a high-speed projectile (the ball) and swinging bats. Due to the velocity of the ball or bat, nothing can guarantee complete injury protection, but sports protective eyewear can greatly lessen the risk of serious injury.
that the majority of injuries occur during practice and not during games, making it crucial that kids wear protective equipment for practices and games. More than 90% of all eye injuries can be prevented with the use of appropriate protective eyewear.
