What is Keratitis and How can you Avoid its Painful Effects?

May 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Your beautiful eyes are a vulnerable part of your body. They can easily become infected, damaged, or stricken by illness or injury. Doctors of optometry see patients with a condition known as Keratitis quite frequently. What is Keratitis and how can you avoid its painful effects?

Background
The cornea of your eye is the clear surface that protects all of your eye’s internal structures. Imagine the cornea as a window through which you see. This window can be scratched easily by debris, poor eyecare practices, or sports related accidents. Your cornea can also become irritated and inflamed, as in the case of Keratitis. Dry eye syndrome, introduction of bacteria, viruses, or infection, contact lens wear, and even sunburn to your eye may all result in Keratitis.

Symptoms
For an optometry patient with Keratitis, it is fairly obvious that something is wrong. The condition can be extremely painful and cause you great difficulty even trying to open your eye. The eye may water excessively and become very blurry. Very advanced cases may show white or grey patches on the cornea. It is very important to see an eye doctor immediately any time you suspect you may have an eye issue, since problems can quickly escalate and endanger your vision.

Diagnosis
At your optometry appointment, your doctor may insert drops into your eyes to both numb the pain and also allow him or her to effectively identify the cause of the trouble. The drops contain a dye that helps scratches or damage appear more noticeable with the use of a special lamp. The doctor may also take a culture from your eye fluid to discover any infections. After these tests, you may be diagnosed with Keratitis.

Treatment
Curing Keratitis typically depends upon the cause. Contact lens wearers will be advised to stop wearing their lenses until your eye heals. Infections would be treated with antibiotic or antiviral medications, dry eye syndrome may be treated with wetting drops, and injuries would be repaired or allowed time to heal. If your condition relates to an allergy or poor contact lens maintenance, your doctor of optometry will advise you on how to prevent future issues.

Keratitis is a very painful eye problem that can rapidly decline. Be sure to contact your eye specialist immediately if you have any eye discomfort or changes in your vision, before a bad situation grows worse.

Filed Under: Eye Conditions, Eye Health

Why do my Eyes Twitch?

May 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment

A random eye twitch can last for seconds or for days, and can quite nearly make you crazy if it persists. Eye twitches can happen for many reasons, most of which eye doctors say are are normal.

Stress

We all become stressed and eye twitching is just one manifestation of how stress affects your body. Use deep breathing, exercise, or meditation to try to reduce your stress levels.

Eye Strain

Working on a computer all day and burning the midnight oil is very hard on your eyes. Eye doctors often treat patients complaining of eye twitches, redness, burning, and tearing that is related to eye strain. To improve this situation, employ the 20/20/20 rule. For every 20 minutes you’ve focused on a computer screen or your smartphone, look 20 yards away for at least 20 seconds. This allows your eyes to rest and change lens size, improving your eye health and productivity.

Fatigue

Your body needs adequate sleep to perform at its optimum level. Aim for 8 hours per night of uninterrupted sleep, and not only will your eye twitching improve, but you will be more productive and healthier in general. Turn off electronics an hour before bed, and make sure any lighted clocks in your bedroom are turned away from your bed so you can fully enter deep sleep.

Caffeine and Alcohol 

If recently you’ve been imbibing in more caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, this could be the cause of your increased eye twitch. Both substances can cause involuntary muscle movements. For best results, drink lots of water and avoid caffeine and alcohol.

Dry Eyes and Allergies

Many patients with eye twitches also have dry eye syndrome which can result from allergies, eye strain, the natural process of aging, and contact lens wear. To make matters worse, many allergy medications contain substances that dry eyes out even more.

Nutritional Imbalances

Eye doctors have identified a possible link between twitches and deficiencies in certain nutritional elements like magnesium. Though more research is needed on this topic, it is never a bad idea to treat your body well by eating a diet of lean proteins, antioxidants and vitamins.

Eye twitches can be extremely bothersome, but are not generally anything to fret about. Treating the underlying cause rather than focusing on the symptomatic twitch is very effective. Consult your Phoenix optometrist any time you have a concern about your vision or eye care.

Filed Under: Eye Conditions

3 Questions You Should Ask Your Optometrist

May 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

There are many reasons you may wish to wear contacts. Convenience, better sight, cosmetic preference, or an active lifestyle are all great motivations to skip the glasses in favor of contact lenses. Before you delve into the world of contacts, you should ask your Phoenix optometrist these three questions.

How Do I Properly Care for My Lenses?

One of the most important pieces of information you need to have if you are going to ditch your glasses is how to clean, store, and inspect your lenses. You will want to know what the appropriate replacement schedule is and what types of products you should use for cleaning, rinsing, rehydrating, and soaking. All solutions are not created equally and some have been shown to have adverse effects on optometric patients, so be sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations.

How Can I Wear my Lenses Safely?

Be sure to ask your eye doctor about how to wear your contacts. Critical information you will need to have is the maximum length of time you should wear the lenses per day. During what activities (swimming for example) would you NOT want to wear your lenses? At what point, if any, should you opt to wear your glasses instead? Are you able to sleep in your lenses? This last question is difficult because many newer lenses do not present a safety issue if you sleep in them, but eye doctors still encourage you to remove them nightly anytime possible. Removing your lenses at night allows your eye to receive oxygen, which can be somewhat limited by wearing contacts.

Are They Safe?

Many patients who have only had experience with glasses worry that the lens will make its way behind your eye or get stuck in your eye socket somewhere. You may also need to know if your eye will be damaged if one of your lenses tears, or if your vision will get worse if you wear them instead of glasses. Another common question is if a foreign object or debris entering your eye can blind you. There are many myths about wearing contacts, but there are also many cautions around their use.

Eye doctors meet new contact lens patients every day and understand your concern about wearing them. Do not hesitate to ask your optometrist about the ins and outs of your new lenses and how you can be a responsible contact wearer.

Filed Under: Contacts, Eye Exams, Eye Health

Eye Anatomy – A Look Inside Your Eyes

May 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The eye is a wondrous part of the body. Often referred to as the windows of the soul, your eyes are responsible for the way you interpret color and light to see the world. Understanding how they work can help you make better eyecare choices.

Cornea
The cornea is the clear coating that protects the internal components of the eye and allows light to pass into the eye for image reception. It is also responsible for the first level of focus. Corneal scratches and abrasions are frequently treated by eyecare professionals, and the cornea is the part that contact lenses and laser surgeries must alter to correct vision problems.

Iris
Whether you’ve got beautiful baby blues, are a brown-eyed girl, or have mischievous green sparklers, the colorful part of your eye, or iris, helps control how much light enters your eye. Did you know that each person’s irises are as unique as his or her fingerprints? The shades, colors, and patterns are never exactly the same between individuals.

Pupil
The black circle in the center of your eye is your pupil. It constricts and expands to allow light passage. In a dark room, the pupil opens wide to let you see well with low light. In bright sun, it shelters the eye’s components by becoming as small as it can.

Lens
Directly behind the pupil, your lens helps to further focus your eye and allow you to see things as they approach you.

Retina
Imagine an inside lining to the back of your eyeball, and that is the retina. This structure translates the light and color from the images around you into electronic signals. A serious condition that can cause you permanent vision loss or blindness is called Retinal Detachment, an eyecare emergency where this lining separates from the eye and must be surgically reattached.

Optic Nerve
Last but not least, your magical optic nerve takes the electronic signals from your retina and transmits them to your brain. Your brain then “sees” the image. The optic nerve is very vulnerable to harm from maladies such as glaucoma, which can be common for diabetic patients.

Amazing things happen within your eyes. In minuscule fractions of a second, light is transformed into beautiful images in your brain. Protecting your eyes should be a top priority in all that you do. Consult your Phoenix eye care professional for more interesting facts about your eyes!

Filed Under: Eye Health

Is Lasik Surgery Right for You?

May 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment

All of the maintenance and hassle of wearing glasses or contacts over the years may have finally gotten on your nerves and left you looking for a better solution. One type of procedure your optometrist may have informed you of is called LASIK. How do you know if LASIK is the right answer for you?

Vision Issues

LASIK works best on eye care patients who are nearsighted or have blurry vision due to an astigmatism, which is an irregular curvature of your eye’s cornea. During the LASIK procedure a small slit is made in the flap that covers the eye, then the cornea is reshaped and the flap repositioned. Nearsighted people see immense improvement because of the way their cornea is shaped due to the nearsightedness. Farsighted patients will experience some improvement but usually not to such an exceptional degree.

Health Status

LASIK is recommended for people who are in average to good health. If you have an existing eye disease, or know that you have a history of poor wound healing or problems with Diabetes, LASIK may not be a fitting solution for you.

Continuous Vision Changes

For most patients, the yearly optometrist exam results in less prescription changes as they get older. When you’ve gone for a few visits without a significant change, that may be the right time for LASIK. If you are still experiencing rapid fluctuations in your vision, you should wait. An optometrist typically will not perform LASIK on someone under 18 as they are still experiencing significant changes.

Expense

Though contacts and glasses are a routine expense that you expect if you have vision issues, they are expenses that occur on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis rather than all at once. LASIK can be costly but is not the type of procedure that you’d want done at a bargain basement doctor. Many reputable LASIK doctors will offer financing options, and that is the direction you should investigate rather than deals that seem “cheap.”

Specific Occupations

For a handful of careers, refractive procedures are restricted. For those in a field such as aviation or the military, be very sure that you would be permitted to continue working after a LASIK procedure.

LASIK makes it possible for many patients to wake up with crystal clear vision, without contacts or glasses. If you think LASIK may be a solution for you, talk to your Phoenix optometrist today.

Filed Under: LASIK

Ultraviolet Awareness Month

May 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

We all yearn for the sweet spring and summer days, but it is important to think of how these wonderful sunny days can harm your eyes. May is Ultraviolet Awareness Month and a great reminder of year-round eye safety measures.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are from the radiation emitted by the sun. UV rays can also be produced by tanning beds, lasers, and specialized equipment such as welders. Ultraviolet radiation is dangerous and commonly associated with skin cancer, but is also the culprit for various eye diseases.

Photokeratitis

Imagine the worst sunburn possible, then imagine that on the surface of your eye. Photokeratitis is exactly that: Sunburn of the eye. Redness, burning, tearing, and a feeling of grit in your eye are all symptoms of this painful condition. Wearing sunglasses any time you are outside is a critical strategy for promoting eye safety.

Cataracts

Ultraviolet radiation contributes to the development of cataracts as you age. Your eyes, like a camera, have a lens which can become cloudy over time. Light has more difficulty entering the eye, reducing your vision. Colors and contrast diminish and tasks such as driving become difficult and dangerous.

Macular Degeneration

Lining the rear interior of the eye is your retina, which receives the image after it passes through the eye’s lens. The retina then transfers the information to the optic nerve. The part of your retina that is responsible for the central part of the image, like the face in a portrait, is called the Macula. Ultraviolet radiation promotes Macular Degeneration, in which deposits build up on the macula and cause degradation of the image and eventual loss of vision. Macular Degeneration currently has no cure and can only be slowed once it has started.

Eye Skin Cancer

Just as any other area of your skin that is exposed to ultraviolet radiation can suffer skin cancer, so too can the delicate skin of the eye area. The prevention is again the right pair of sunglasses and a hat with a brim. As a cosmetic aside, these eye safety tactics can also help you avoid pesky lines and wrinkles in those areas.

Ultraviolet radiation can destroy your vision. Even on shady days, UV rays are still present and should be on your mind. Protect your sight now to enjoy clear vision for many sunny summers to come.

Filed Under: Eye Exams, Eye Health

Signing Up for New Vision Benefits this Year? Here are a Couple Things to Keep in Mind

May 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment

 Most medical insurance plans don’t cover dental or routine vision. Therefore, you are usually given an option for signing up for those benefits as a separate entity. However, unlike a dental or prescription drug plan, the vision is usually the one that is most left in the dark. It can also be slightly difficult to interpret. Here are a few key things to keep in mind when choosing a vision benefit plan that is right for you and becoming familiar with your new plan.

1. Become informed with the proper name of the Vision insurance company.

Often times, the name of your Vision insurance plan is not the same name as your medical carrier. Although, you may only be issued a card for your medical plan, an entirely different insurance company may be administering your vision benefits. Some Vision carriers don’t give out separate identification cards, leaving you unsure of what insurance company information you should give when calling to set up an appointment. For example, your medical benefits may be through Blue Cross Blue Shield or Aetna, while your Vision may be through VSP or Eyemed. If it is an available option, you can call your vision benefit administrator and request a card, print out one from their website, or just simply write down the name of it on the back of your medical/dental insurance card. Giving the proper name of your vision benefits administrator helps the office staff to collect your accurate co-pays and gather your proper benefits to ensure that you are getting all the benefits that you are entitled to.

2. Know the difference between a funded benefit plan and a discount plan.

A funded benefit usually offers the eye health exam at a low co-pay and gives an allowance amount for you to use toward glasses or contact lenses. For example, you may be entitled to $200 you can use toward glasses within the calendar year. Since a benefit plan offers the most savings to you, the benefit is usually only offered as a one time use throughout the year (depending on the benefit frequency). Besides the savings, another upside to a benefit plan is the extended coverage that may be offered for unique situations. For example, coverage for early replacements of lost glasses or medically necessary eyewear for certain eye conditions, such as Keratoconus.

A discount plan usually has a lower premium, so in turn, offers lower savings at time the time of your visit. It guarantees you a percentage off the practice’s retail price for exams and eyewear. For example, you may be entitled to 20% off retail price of exam and 30% off retail price of glasses.  On the other hand, most discount plans don’t put a cap on how often you can use these discounts throughout the year. Knowing the difference can help you calculate your savings from the actual benefit versus your savings from the higher/ lower premium.

3. Know your vision benefit frequency.

Find out if your benefits are reset every calendar year, or by last service date.  Also, unlike most medical insurance plans, Vision plans often don’t require you to meet a deductible. So, the benefit frequency doesn’t necessarily follow that of your medical plan. Knowing this will help you better plan out how to make the most of your benefits and allowances.

4. Know your physician network for both Vision and Medical.

A routine exam is what you will use your vision benefit for. However, a visit to treat pink eye, glaucoma testing, and even cataract surgery would be considered medical. Although it may seem absurd, the physician that may be on your Vision panel of doctors may not always be within your medical network panel. So be sure to coordinate accordingly to minimize any out of pocket expenses, should you ever need to have a medical eye visit.

 

** This is not an exact quote of the insurance plans named above. Each plan is subject to their own contracted amounts. Please check with your insurance plan for an accurate benefit quote.**

Filed Under: Vision Insurance

Vegetables Support Eye Health

April 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

We’ve all heard it at some point in our lives: Carrots are good for our eyes. While that may not have enticed you to eat them, there was truth in the myth because of the valuable vitamins contained in those vegetables. Children’s eye care research has proven that eating certain vegetables supports your eye health throughout your lifetime.

1. Beta Carotene

The reason that carrots are highly touted to youngsters is because they are rich in Beta Carotene. This powerful antioxidant helps prevent major eye issues such as Cataracts and Macular Degeneration as you age. Sweet potatoes are another food that is rich in Beta Carotene, and you’ll also find this antioxidant in spinach.

2. Vitamin C

Another amazing antioxidant, vitamin C, supports the collagen in your body. Your cornea is comprised of collagen fibers so vitamin C intake is very beneficial to the health of that important eye structure. You may equate fruits with vitamin C but you may not realize that veggies such as raw broccoli and peppers are very high in the vitamin. Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and spinach are additional veggies high in vitamin C. Children’s eye care specialists know the likelihood of your child voluntarily eating these foods may be minuscule, so you may need to get creative or sneaky.

3. Lutein

Age Related Macular Degeneration and cataracts can steal your sight as you age, but lutein is a vitamin that combats both diseases. Lutein is a substance found in the pigment of your eye, and is theorized to help filter light and prevent sun damage within your eye. Lutein-rich vegetables are kale, spinach, corn, broccoli, and squash and are most effective when part of a high fat meal, such as with red meat.

4. Vitamin E

Yet another vital antioxidant, Vitamin E protects your eyes from a thing called a free radical, which is a byproduct of your metabolism known to damage healthy cells. Nuts, especially almonds and sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, and some enriched cereals are a good source of vitamin E. A diet rich in Vitamin E also helps in the fight against cataracts and macular degeneration.

Children’s eye care specialists recommend giving your child’s vision a healthy and strong foundation by incorporating as many of the foods above as your child will tolerate. For picky eaters, consult your child’s eye doctor for advice on supplements that will fill in the dietary gaps.

Filed Under: Children's Vision, Eye Health

Everything You Need to Know about Eye Floaters

April 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Everyone experiences eye floaters; those barely visible squiggly lines or spots in your field of vision. For most people they are simply a curiosity. At what point do eye floaters become a situation to discuss with your doctor of optometry?

Normally occurring eye floaters are painless, harmless, and generally do not obstruct your vision to any severe degree. These little dots, lines, and squiggles are caused by small particles of protein in the eye’s vitreous humor, or the gel-like component that fills the eyeball. When light strikes these particles in a certain way, it makes them visible to you. This phenomenon is often more prevalent when you are looking at something bright white or a very strong light source. Other than the amusement they provide when they scurry away as you try to look directly at them, you may not pay them much attention. Some symptoms that accompany eye floaters can signify a serious condition, however, and should send you to an optometry specialist.

Increased Floaters

If suddenly you notice that the number of eye floaters you are experiencing has increased dramatically, you may be heading for Retinal Detachment. This condition is when your retina has begun to separate from its proper seat in the back of your eye. You must act quickly if this is occurring since your doctor of optometry needs to surgically reattach the retina before permanent vision loss happens.

Flashes of Light

Patients who experience flashing lights or odd visual patterns along with pain may be having retinal detachment, migraine headaches or visual migraines. Regular migraines can be very painful and may sideline you for days at a time with nausea, vomiting, throbbing pain, sensitivity to light and more. A visual migraine is more likely to be limited to the visual disturbances alone and usually are not painful.

Eye Pain

Eye floaters should not cause you any degree of pain. The presence of pain could indicate a more serious condition such as an eye tumor, eye strain, irritated soft tissue within the eye, sinus problems, or other conditions. Any time you have eye pain, it is worth a call to your optometry specialist to be safe.

Floaters should not be an issue that causes you concern unless you have other symptoms or conditions that accompany them. Any time you notice changes in your eye health, contact your Phoenix optometrist for a diagnosis.

Filed Under: Eye Health

Top 4 Ways to Beat Spring Allergies

April 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The blooming season has begun, and your allergies have started to blossom too. You dread the idea of months of suffering; the sneezing, watery and itchy eyes, and general misery that comes with spring. How can you make this allergy season more tolerable? Your Phoenix eye care professional recommends these allergy wellness tips.

1. Plan ahead

The best tactic in the war against allergy season is to plan ahead. If you need allergy medication, start taking it slightly before the season begins for the most effective treatment. This helps your body prevent the inflammatory response from typical allergens in the first place. Once your body starts to react, it can be hard, if not impossible, to get the inflammation under control.

2. Cleanliness

Washing your face after you’ve been outside, and showering before bedtime will rinse away pollen and dust on your skin and hair. Keep dogs and cats bathed and as clean as possible to prevent them from bringing allergens into your home. While impractical to bathe them daily, try a special allergy solution that is wiped on the animal, minimizing the effects of their dander. Consult your eye care or allergy professional for more details on these products. Vacuum carpets well and wipe down surfaces regularly to minimize the amount of pollutants inside your home.

3. Using your HVAC

During allergy season (and really, any other time of year), it is critical to replace your HVAC system filter monthly. Be sure to purchase a filter designed to remove most allergens, and set a reminder that will let you know it’s time for replacement. Air filters cannot effectively remove pollutants if they are clogged and dirty. Keep your windows closed and use your cooling system rather than allow wind to blow dust and pollen into your house.

4. Natural Help

Rather than using chemicals and medications, you can opt for homeopathic cures. Herbs and foods that naturally fight inflammation, saline as part of your eye care routine or in a method called nasal irrigation, and even acupuncture have been shown to help allergy sufferers immensely without the potentially dangerous side effects of allergy medications.

Rather than being in misery this spring, there are plenty of ways you can reduce the severity of your suffering. Talk to your Phoenix eye care professional before the season begins to ensure that you are comfortable even though the world is in bloom.

 

Filed Under: Eye Health
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