Spring is here and eye allergies are in full swing

Have itchy, red eyes been an all to common occurence for you since the beginning of spring this year? You may be suffering from eye allergies. While it is estimated that 50 million Americans suffer from all types of allergies, approximately 4 percent of allergy sufferers report that eye allergies are their primary allergy, and these can often be caused by many of the same triggers or allergens as indoor/outdoor allergies. For some, eye allergies can prove so uncomfortable and irritating that they interfere with job performance, impede leisure or sports activities, and even curtail vacations. What are eye allergies? Eye allergies may also be called “allergic conjunctivitis” by your eye care professional. This is a reaction to indoor and outdoor allergens (such as pollen, mold, dust mites or pet dander) that get into your eyes and cause inflammation of the conjunctiva, the tissue that lines the inside of the eyelid and helps keep your eyelid and eyeball moist. Eye allergies are not contagious. Other substances called “irritants” (such as dirt and smoke, chlorine, etc.) and even viruses and bacteria, can compound the effect of eye allergies, or even cause irritation symptoms similar to eye allergies for people who aren’t even allergic. The eyes are an easy target for allergens and irritants because, like the skin, they are exposed and sensitive. Certain medications and cosmetics can also cause eye allergy symptoms. By way of response to these allergens and irritants, the body releases chemicals called histamines, which in turn produce inflammation. To read more about eye allergy symptoms and treatments please click the following link to read a recent article from all about vision.

FAQ: Contact Lenses

Do patients experience discomfort or pain when using contact lenses? Most first time wearers are surprised when they experience how properly fit contact lenses feel in their eyes. I recommend a trial period for first time contact lens wearers and these patients will often comment that after a few days of this initial adjustment period with a properly fit contact lens they no longer even feel the contact lens in their eyes. Can I wear contacts when I participate in sports? Absolutely, competitors in every area of athletics have discovered the advantages of wearing contact lenses. Unlike eyeglasses, contacts don't steam up from perspiration, don't smudge and don't become foggy when you transition from cold to warm temperatures. They provide distortion free depth perception and allow you to appreciate full peripheral vision. Properly fit contacts stay on your eyes, even during strenuous exercise. Can I swim with contact lenses? We really discourage patients from swimming in contact lenses. Water, even chlorinated pool water, contains a number of agents that can cause very serious corneal infection, and this risk is increased if you are wearing contact lenses. In the same way, we don't recommend that patients shower with their contact lenses or use hot tubs. Can I wear soft contact lenses if I have astigmatism? Yes. Patients with astigmatism can wear a special type of soft contact lens called a toric lens that will correct your astigmatism. Some newer lenses are also simply called lenses for astigmatism rather than toric lenses. Patients with a large amount of astigmatism may also benefit from wearing a specialty contact lens such as a rigid gas permeable contact lens or a synergeyes hybrid contact lens. I currently wear reading glasses over my contact lenses in order to read. Is there an alternative so I don't have to wear glasses at all? Yes. Multifocal contact lenses are available both in the rigid gas permeable material as well as the soft lens material. It offers the best of both worlds allowing patients good vision both close up and in the distance with no to very minimal dependence on reading glasses. Monovision is another option for contact lens wearers that want to avoid reading glasses - where one eye is corrected for viewing distant objects (usually the dominant eye) and the other eye (usually the non dominant eye) is corrected for reading and close work. If my disposable contact lenses are still comfortable beyond their replacement period, can I continue to wear the same pair? No. In order to maintain optimal eye health, it is important to adhere to the wearing schedule prescribed by your eye care professional. Lipid and protein deposits can accumulate on the contact lens over time, leading to chronic irritation. The main advantage of wearing disposable lenses is that you are able to put a fresh new pair of contact lenses in your eyes at a regularly scheduled interval - this leads to healthier lens wear and the most optimal vision possible.

Glaucoma Awareness Month and Annual Eye Exams

It's a new year and what better resolution than leading a healthier lifestyle in 2012. One item on everyone's list this year seems to be heading back to the gym - to improve their fitness level, or just eating healthier overall for a better quality of life. However, how many of you think about going to the doctor more often for preventative health care screenings? Though it may be down your resolution list a bit, making it a point to see your eye doctor for regularly scheduled eye exams is a must in order to keep seeing your best in 2012 and beyond. It does not matter whether you wear corrective lenses or not, or even if you think our eyes are in perfect condition. Getting a regular eye exam is a necessary part of your overall health care, and vital to make sure you continue with healthy vision. Prevent Blindness America is helping promote the importance of regular annual eye exams by recognizing January as Glaucoma Awareness Month. Close to three million people actually have glaucoma, but half of them do not realize it because there are often no warning symptoms. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States of America and the first major leading cause of preventable blindness. Approximately 120,000 Americans are mostly blind because they suffer from glaucoma, accounting for 9% to 12% of all cases of blindness in the United States of America. Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among the African-American population in the U.S. as well. The condition is 6 to 8 times more common to be found in African-Americans than in Caucasians. Annual eye exams are the number one deterrent from individuals suffering vision loss from Glaucoma and other preventable eye diseases. This is because even in a routine eye examination, your eye doctor can detect signs and/or risk factors of glaucoma. If the condition is detected early enough their are many steps that can be taken to maintain the amount of healthy vision you currently have through topical (eye drops), laser, or surgical treatments. So make sure you make an annual eye exam a part of your healthier lifestyle in 2012 and keep seeing your best this year and beyond.

Cataract Surgery Can Benefit Those With Alzheimer’s Disease

As we age the natural lens in the middle of the eye will eventually become more cloudy, this is known as a cataract. With the cloudy discoloration present in a cataract, the eye’s natural lens begins to act like a filter causing a decrease in vision, contrast and the overall amount of light entering into the eye. In turn, everyday activities of daily living such as moving about the house, reading, and cooking can become more difficult. Studies have shown those with Alzheimer’s Disease also have difficulty perceiving contrast. Recently several studies have been released showing the benefits of cataract surgery for Alzheimer’s patients. Reports show with better vision comes better sleep patterns, less depression, and a better overall mood. Patients studied had mild dementia and at least one significant cataract. A neuropsychologist evaluated patients at their 1 month and 3 month post-operative visits. Mood, behavior, sleep patterns, the ability to function independently, and cognitive abilities were assessed. Results showed an overall increase in mood, recognition, ability to function independently, and sleep patterns. Dr Alan Lerner says, “If you can’t perceive something, it is hard to remember it.” A simple statement that is so true. The overall conclusion of the study showed that by improving the ability to perceive, cataract surgery can give an Alzheimer’s patient a better quality of life.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month!

Diabetes is becoming more and more prevalent in our country. Today, 21 million Americans have Diabetes and it is estimated that one third of this population do not even know they have the condition. During the month of November, I am proud to spotlight the importance of frequent eye exams for individuals with Diabetes and those at risk for this disease.

Dilated eye exams at appropriate intervals are extremely important for individuals with Diabetes and those at risk for this disease due to the possibility of substantial vision loss with long term uncontrolled Diabetic eye disease. In these cases of advanced diabetic retinopathy, an individual may have irreversible vision loss or even total blindness as a result. To avoid these complications to your eyes make sure to include your eye doctor in your team of healthcare professionals and to visit us regularly just as you would with your primary care physician and dentist. As your eye care team we can often be your first line of detection for diabetes due to the findings of your annual dilated eye exam. The photos above show retinal photos taken during a comprehensive eye exam, the top image show a normal healthy retina while the bottom image displays the damage that can be done by advanced diabetic eye disease. At my practice we are helping to contribute to a healthier patient population by meeting three specific objectives set by the American Optometric Association and their National Diabetes Month Campaign. These three vision objectives of the Healthy People 2010 campaign are: to increase the proportion of persons who have a dilated eye examination at appropriate intervals, reduce visual impairment due to diabetic retinopathy, and to increase vision rehabilitation.

Keep decorative colored contacts from causing a ghastly sight this Halloween

AN EYE INFECTION FROM DECORATIVE CONTACT LENSES COULD BE A VERY SCARY SIGHT THIS HALLOWEEN

Over the last few years you may have seen decorative contact lenses as a halloween costume accessory for some enthusiasts getting completely into character. However, with celebrities such as Lady Gaga routinely wearing them in her music videos, the popularity of these lenses is likely to hit an all time high this Halloween.

While these contacts may impress your friends or even win you a costume contest, it is important to know the risks involved in wearing contact lenses that aren’t approved for your eyes. Contact Lenses are medical devices that should not be worn without approval and a current prescription from an eye doctor.

These decorative contact lenses often have many pitfalls when they are worn or cared for incorrectly, or when they are worn by an individual that should not be wearing contact lenses at all.

These are some important basics of contact lens care to remember:
• Do not buy contacts without a doctor’s prescription. These are medical devices that fit your eye and if they do not fit properly or are the wrong material for your eyes then they can damage your eyes.
• Do not share lenses, wear them longer than the recommended replacement time, or sleep in contact lenses. Remember to wash your hands every time before handling lenses, change your contact lens case monthly, and always use the proper solution for your contact lenses.
• If your eyes are red, painful, creating mucus discharge, or if your vision is blurry make sure to contact your eye doctor as soon as possible.

Above all remember to be safe this Halloween season, and if your eye doctor has not approved your eyes for a special decorative lens – then it is not worth the risk, because you only get one pair of eyes.

Happy Halloween!

Sjogren's Syndrome in the News!

Tennis champion Venus Williams recently made headlines when she had to withdraw from the U.S. Open Tennis Championship just before the tournament began. Many fans were surprised to find out that she suffers from a mysterious autoimmune disease known as Sjogren's Syndrome. This condition was making her extremely fatigued to the point that she barely had enough energy to get out of bed much less to excel at the highest level of tennis competition.
Though Sjogren's syndrome may seem to be new information to the general public, eye doctors have been experts on this condition for years due to its ocular manifestations.
Sjogren's syndrome and other autoimmune disorders are well known causes of dry eye syndrome. That is one reason that you may have had your eye doctor ask you if you have been tested for autoimmune diseases and/or arthritis if you experience unresolving dry eyes. It is not uncommon for an eye doctor to order bloodwork to rule out this type of condition if dry eye symptoms continue to manifest despite ocular therapy. Some of the hallmark signs of Sjogren's Syndrome include unresolving dry eye and dry mouth symptoms. If these symptoms sound familiar to you it is definately worth mentioning to your eye doctor and general primary care physician in order to rule out Sjogren's Syndrome or other underlying systemic cause.
As an interesting side note I once attended the same school as Venus Williams growing up in central florida where she attended a nearby tennis academy, and we both have degrees from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She is now being successfully treated for her condition and I'm sure we will all see her back on the court soon.