You may have heard of Fuchs’ Dystrophy, but do you really know what it is? Here is everything you need to know about the eye disease, including ways to preserve your eye health.

What is Fuchs’ Dystrophy?

Fuchs’ Dystrophy causes the cornea, or the clear layer on the surface of your eye, to swell. When healthy, the cells on the inside of the cornea maintain a proper balance of fluids within the cornea and prevent inflammation. With Fuchs’ Dystrophy, these cells gradually die which causes a buildup of fluid (edema) within the cornea. The result is vision loss, especially in the morning and in low light conditions, and eye discomfort.

Symptoms- Fuchs’ Dystrophy, which usually affects both eyes, can cause a number of symptoms. Vision may be blurred and is usually worse in the morning and improves throughout the day. There may be pain or a sense of grittiness on the surface of the eye. Other symptoms can include distorted vision and a sensitivity to light.

Causes- Smoking and diabetes increase the risk of Fuchs’ Dystrophy. The disease most commonly develops among people in their 30s and 40s, but symptoms do not show until after age 50 or even later. Women are slightly more likely than men to develop Fuchs’ dystrophy. A family history of Fuchs’ dystrophy increases the risk, although the genetic basis of the disease is complicated.

Treatment- There are various medications to relieve Fuchs’ Dystrophy symptoms and maintain eye health. When the disease has progressed, the only means to significantly recover vision is cornea transplant surgery.

Prevention- Regular eye examinations will ensure that early signs of Fuchs’ Dystrophy, or any other eye conditions, are noticed and addressed appropriately. Visit your doctor if you notice any of the above symptoms.

Ensure optimal eye health with regular care and exams! Book your appointment with your Valley Eyecare Center optometrist. Call us at 602-955-2700 or schedule online today.

Most people already know that exercise is beneficial to your health, but did you know that exercise also has significant positive impacts on your vision health? Regular exercise can help you to see better, for longer.

Reduces the risk of developing series eye diseases

There are direct links between inactivity and the likelihood of suffering form serious eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), studies have shown that people who regularly exercise are 25 percent less likely to develop glaucoma than people who are inactive. Other research has identified a distinct relationship between physical activity and age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 60, revealing that people who exercise just three times a week are significantly less likely to develop macular degeneration.

Exercise tips for eye health

It might not be easy to make the time to get to the gym every day, but that’s not the only way to exercise. Simply taking regular walks or light jogs around your neighborhood or doing yoga and other bodyweight exercises are easy ways to fit exercise into a busy schedule. Just working out two or three times a week will go a long way in ensuring your long-term vision health!

The bottom line on exercise and your vision

Research shows time and time again that being active will significantly decrease your risks for vision-threatening conditions, so make exercise a priority! Also, don’t forget to visit your eye doctor regularly. Comprehensive, routine check-ups are critical to finding and treating eye conditions in the early stages.

Try exercising for the sake of your eyes! To learn more ways to protect your vision health or to have your eyes examined, book your appointment with your Valley Eyecare Center optometrist. Call us at 602-955-2700 or schedule online today.

We all know that smoking can impact our overall health because it can lead to lung cancer, heart disease, and other health problems, but did you know that smoking can also impact your eye health? No matter how old you are, your vision can be affected by smoke.

Eye Health Issues Related to Smoking

Cataracts—Smoking increases your chance of developing cataracts, which impede your vision and can make it blurry. Cataracts develop slowly over time, but treatment is simple and can be fixed by new glasses or, in some cases, surgery.

Age-related macular degeneration—This eye health issue is more common for those 50 and older and causes damage to the macula, which is near the retina. Macular degeneration can affect either the peripheral vision or the vision that you use to see straight in front of you. This problem can often be exacerbated in those who have smoked.

Uveitis—This eye health issue is less common than the two previously listed, but it can harm vital structures of the eye, such as the iris or the retina. Uveitis can also lead to other more serious vision problems, such as glaucoma and retinal detachment.

Dry eye—If you have smoked yourself, or if you have been around others who smoke, you may notice that your eyes are permanently dry. Using eye drops can only help so much; you may need to stop smoking or tell others around you to stop smoking if your dry eye gets bad enough.

Smoking harms virtually every organ and part of your body, and it plays a vital role in your eye health. To learn more about the effect of smoke on your eyes, or to schedule an appointment with an optometrist at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.