January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month

It's a new year and what better resolution than leading a healthier lifestyle in 2014. 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, but many don’t think about their eye health when making their new year’s resolutions

January has been named National Glaucoma Awareness month by Prevent Blindness America to help promote the importance of regular annual eye exams.  Today close to three million people actually have Glaucoma, but some of them do not even 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. The condition is also 6 to 8 times more common to be found in African-Americans than in Caucasians. 

Glaucoma is an eye disease which damages the optic nerve (the pathway for vision between the brain and eye) in the back of the eye most often when eye pressure is elevated in an individual’s eye for an extended period of time.  This process can often decrease peripheral vision without symptoms, thus earning it the moniker of “the silent thief of sight”.  As such, annual eye exams are the number one deterrent from individuals suffering vision loss caused by 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. 

Many patients are familiar with the dreaded “air-puff test” which is one method of measuring eye pressure, but there are also other methods – such as the Icare Tonometer which measures intraocular pressure (IOP) with no drops or puff of air required for a more comfortable and accurate assessment.  If Glaucoma is detected early enough, there are many steps that can be taken in order to maintain the amount of healthy vision one currently has through topical (eye drops), laser, or even surgical treatments.

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 2014. It does not matter whether you wear corrective lenses or not, or even if you think your eyes are in perfect condition. Getting a regular eye exam is a necessary part of your overall healthcare regimen, and vital to make sure you are able to continue maintaining healthy vision. So make sure you make an annual eye exam a part of your healthier lifestyle in 2013 and keep seeing your best all year round.

Are your eyes constantly tearing? You may actually be suffering from Dry Eyes!

You may have noticed the sensation that your eyes feel drier this time of year. As the heaters are running and the humidity drops, dryness can often creep in. This dryness can be particularly bothersome if you are a person suffering from Dry Eye Syndrome or what is also known as Ocular Surface Disease.

A person suffering from Dry Eye Syndrome may often feel like they have burning, stinging eyes, redness, and a foreign body sensation.  However; the most common symptom is often a reflex tearing effect caused by dry, irritated eyes.  This tearing is too watery and can often run down one’s face instead of properly hydrating the eye, thus not helping to relieve dry eye symptoms. 

There are certain systemic diseases that can exacerbate this condition. Some of the most common systemic diseases that put you more at risk for dry eye include Diabetes, Thyroid disease, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. In addition, lifestyle factors such as increased caffeine consumption, increased computer use, and certain medications can lead to dry eye if not properly managed.

Your eye doctor plays a vital role in the fight against dry eye by diagnosing and treating this condition in a number of ways. The first line of treatment is often properly managing any contributing systemic diseases such as Diabetes with your Primary Care Provider.  Once this is under control your eye doctor will initiate a treatment protocol that may include over the counter eye drops and vitamin supplements, prescription eye drops and lifestyle changes. 

Discussing your specific symptoms with your eye doctor can help determine the best treatment options. Some options your eye doctor may choose to treat your dry eye include:

1.                           Over the counter artificial tear eye drops; which can help alleviate minor dry eye symptoms

2.                           Omega 3 vitamin supplements have also been shown to improve tear film and alleviate many symptoms.

3.                           Punctal plugs; which keep your tears from draining as quickly and thus keep the tear film on your eyes for a longer period of time.

4.                           Anti-inflammatory medication eye drops such as Restasis can help a patient produce more tears over time.

To find out if you suffer from dry eye syndrome please contact our office at 770-479-0222 or www.EdwardsEyeCare.com to schedule your comprehensive eye examination. 

Focus on Eye Care During November or Diabetes Awareness Month

Diabetes is becoming more and more prevalent in our country. Today, over 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.  Beginning symptoms of diabetic retinopathy can present as what may seem like routine blurry vision or fluctuating vision and this is the reason yearly eye exams are so important as early as possible to prevent vision loss.

To avoid these complications to your eyes make sure to include your eye doctor in your team of healthcare professionals and to visit him/her regularly just as you would with your primary care physician and dentist. As a part of your diabetes management team, your eye doctor can often be your first line of detection for diabetes due to the findings of your annual dilated eye exam. Your eye doctor may also utilize advanced High Definition retinal photography in order to document the presence and progression of any diabetic changes to your eyes during each eye exam.

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.  If you are an individual with or at risk for diabetes please make sure to get a comprehensive eye examination each and every year.    

Spring is here and Eye Allergies are in Full Swing

Have itchy, red eyes been an all too common occurrence 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.  Itchy eyes are the most common symptom associated with eye allergies and is triggered by outdoor and indoor allergens.  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.

But what are eye allergies and how do you know if you are suffering from this condition? Eye allergies can encompass many symptoms such as itching, burning and dryness that are caused by allergens in our environment and is commonly referred to as “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, smoke and chlorine) and even viruses and bacteria, can compound the effect of eye allergies, or even cause irritation symptoms similar to eye allergies for people who may not even have allergies.

The eyes are an easy target for allergens and irritants because, like the skin, they are exposed and sensitive to the outside environment.  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.             

In very mild cases, oral allergy medication may help relieve itchy eyes along with cold compresses to the eyes a few times each day.  However, your eye care professional is best able to treat this condition with specific anti-allergy drops that can keep those red, itchy eyes away and have you back outdoors enjoying the beauty of spring.   

Modern Eye Care, Old Fashioned Service

My wife Anne and I are thrilled to have opened our new eye clinic this month – Edwards Eye Care- in beautiful Cherokee County. After practicing optometry in the metro Atlanta area for the past five years, we had been searching to find the perfect community to start our own eye care practice. Little did we know that the perfect area would turn out to be just a few miles from our family in Woodstock, Georgia. We are now settling in to our new eye care office in Hickory Flat and are truly excited about the future of our practice in this growing area. When we began talking about the vision for our practice, we knew that we wanted to be in a family friendly environment where we could make a positive impact on the community. While we do provide quality eye care services and products, we know our job is not complete until all our patients know the importance of annual comprehensive eye care in order to maintain proper vision and overall health. The comprehensive eye exam is so important because through routine visits eye doctors are able to diagnose an eye disease such as glaucoma or macular degeneration in its early stages to save vision, or even pick up on a systemic condition like diabetes or hypertension through viewing the retina which can in some cases save lives. As a secondary emphasis of our practice, we knew that giving patients a comfortable experience within our eye care office would be important to alleviate anxiety that can sometimes accompany a visit to any doctor. To this end, we designed our practice to incorporate comfortable elements of the home environment in order to put our patients at ease when coming to our office. As you walk in you will notice traditional craftsman architectural elements that complement our large selection of designer eyewear within our optical. When entering the exam rooms, a patient will notice the newest technology available to monitor proper eye health, such as the Optomap Retinal Camera, which takes a wide view image of the inside of the eye. These elements were all carefully thought out to provide our patients with the best eye care experience available. We are excited to have found the right community for our family and our practice. We look forward to serving the eye care needs for residents of Woodstock, Canton and the surrounding Northside area for years to come. Thank you for your support and we look forward to meeting your family soon. For more information on our practice or to schedule your next eye examination please call 770-479-0222 or visit www.EdwardsEyeCare.com.

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.

Remember to schedule your child's Back to School eye exam

It's that time of year when the activities of summer are keeping you so busy having fun that it's easy to forget the start of a new school year is just around the corner. The majority of all we learn is attributable to the information we are able to process from the images we see. We know that reading is enhanced when our eyes are functioning properly, and many learning difficulties can be attributed to poor vision. A back to school eye exam from our eye doctors can help put your mind at ease that your child is being given the best opportunity to succeed in the classroom. To learn more about children's eye exams and learning please follow this link.

How often should one have their Eyes Examined?

When was the last time you had your eyes examined? It is a common question and you are likely to be asked it the next time you come into the eye doctor's office. But how often should you have your eyes examined?

The short answer for most individuals is every year. However, if you have diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of eye disease you may need to be followed more closely. A family history of macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, cataracts, and other conditions are particularly important to tell your eye physician at the time of your visit.

Childhood eye exams are also important to monitor proper visual development. Some conditions that might place a child more at risk for eye disease include premature birth, family history of retinoblastoma, congenital cataracts, high refractive error, and strabismus.

To see a detailed list of eye exam frequency recommendations from the American Optometric Association please click here.