FSA - Use It Don't Lose It

It’s that time of year again – if you don’t use your benefits you’ll lose them (most don’t roll over).  Call to schedule your exam before your deductible starts over January 1, 2020!  Many patients lose valuable eye care benefits because they’ve let the year slip away.

HALLOWEEN EYE SAFETY

HALLOWEEN is just around the corner.  If your children enjoy dressing up and trick-or-treating thru the neighborhood for candy, make sure they do it safely. Many eye injuries are reported every year as a result of Halloween activities.


Masks, wigs and eye patches are fun Halloween accessories, but make sure they don't block visibility. Some masks are very dangerous for children because they block their side vision.

If you decide to disguise your child with make-up instead of a mask, use hypo-allergenic options and keep it away from the eyes. It's a good idea to carry a wet towel or washcloth in case the make-up begins to run while trick-or-treating. Running around in a costume makes some kids perspire, so a quick clean-up around the eye area may be necessary before the night is over.


Some costumes don't seem complete without swords or wands. Still, do not allow your child to carry sharp objects. Sharp, pointed props endanger your child eyes as well as the eyes of other children.


Older kids and adults often complete their Halloween costumes with cosmetic contact lenses. Remember that contact lenses are medical devices and require a valid prescription. If not used safely, contact lens use could lead to vision loss.

PINK EYE PANDA - Do you Have "Pink Eye"

Pink eye — also called conjunctivitis — is inflammation of the thin, clear covering of the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids (conjunctiva) and is a highly contagious infection.  See your eye doctor immediately!

Conjunctivitis can have several causes:

• Viral conjunctivitis symptoms include watery, itchy eyes or sensitivity to light. One or both eyes can be affected. Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can be spread by coughing and sneezing.

• Bacterial conjunctivitis symptoms include a sticky, yellow or greenish-yellow eye discharge in the corner of the eye. In some cases, this discharge can be severe enough to cause the eyelids to be stuck together when you wake up. One or both eyes can be affected. Bacterial conjunctivitis is contagious, usually by direct contact with infected hands or items that have touched the eye.

• Allergic conjunctivitis symptoms include watery, burning, itchy eyes and are often accompanied by stuffiness and a runny nose, and sensitivity to light. Allergic conjunctivitis affects both eyes, but this type of pink eye is not contagious.

Here are precautions you can take to significantly reduce your risk of getting pink eye:

1. Wash your hands frequently, especially when spending time at school or in other public places.
2. Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
3. Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes.

RAY-BAN WAYFARER: TIMELESS EYEWEAR

Bausch & Lomb, a U.S. eyeglass manufacturer, introduced the Ray-Ban sunglasses brand in the late 1930s. One of their designers invented the Wayfarer with all-plastic frames in the early 1950s.  Soon, the Wayfarer became the first sunglasses variety to meld style and functionality. All sunglasses do the same thing, but the Wayfarer made choosing shades a declaration of fashion consciousness. Bausch & Lomb sold the Ray-Ban brand to Italian eyewear manufacturer Luxottica in 1989. Since then, Ray-Ban has tweaked and reshaped the Wayfarer to suit modern tastes, but Ray-Ban hasn’t changed the Wayfarer’s essential fashion mission.   

The Wayfarer is essentially the standard plastic-framed sunglass shape. It has a horizontal bar that rests at the top of the nose, with rounded lens frames. The top corners of the frame fronts jut out a bit. They’re mostly flat in the front and do not curve to the contours of the face.  If you’ve seen the 1980s classic films “Risky Business” or “The Blues Brothers,” you’ve seen Wayfarers.

Edwards Eye Care is an authorized dealer for Ray-Ban.  Stop in our office and check out The Wayfarer and other styles we carry.

PREGNANCY AND YOUR EYES

Pregnancy is a wonderful time when the body is changing rapidly, and it makes sense to nourish your entire body, including your eyes, with healthy foods and an adequate amount of rest. 
 

Many of the changes of pregnancy are well understood — hormonal surges, food cravings, shifts in mood, morning sickness, an expanding belly — but not all women know that vision changes can also accompany those 40 weeks of gestation.  Most ocular changes are temporary and will clear up after delivery.

If you're an avid contact lens wearer, you may have to switch to glasses during your pregnancy. Most doctors advise against being fitted for new contact lenses while you're pregnant as your eyes may be in a constant state of change.  If you normally wear contact lenses on a daily basis, make sure you have a good pair of backup glasses to wear during your pregnancy if you need a break from your contacts!

Glaucoma: Silent Thief of Vision

Glaucoma is a progressive, degenerative disease of the optic nerve that can lead to permanent vision loss.  It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.  3 million people in America have
glaucoma and approximately 50% of people don't know they have it by because it is symptomless. However, with early detection and treatment, vision loss can be prevented.  Various forms of glaucoma exist and most forms have ​no pain or symptoms ​ .  Glaucoma is screened for and detected during your annual eye exam.

There are many risk factors for glaucoma.  Some of these risk factors include:  ● Age over 40 ● African American, Asian, or Hispanic descent ● a family history of glaucoma ● being highly nearsightedness or farsighted ● history of ocular injury ● diabetes ● sleep apnea ● use of certain medications such as steroids

The treatment for glaucoma may include eye drops, laser procedures, and/or surgery.

Currently, there are no therapies that prevent glaucoma.  The best practice is have annual exams for early detection and treatment. ​  Advancing technology allows us to detect glaucoma earlier than ever, thereby preserving your vision for years to come.


Written by Dr. Vandana Gandhi
09/14/2019

Vandana Gandhi, O.D.

Board Certified Optometric Physician
Graduate of University of Illinois
Graduate of Illinois College of Optometry

​

Dr. Gandhi Patel has been practicing optometry for more than 10 years with much of that time spent in the Midwest and Chicago area. She completed residency training at a Veteran’s Hospital in Primary Care/Disease Management.

She joined the Edwards Eye Care team of doctors in 2017, seeing patients on Tuesday's and Friday's.

She has extensive experience in all types of contact lens fittings (such as soft contact lenses, rigid gas permeable contacts, daily contact lenses, monovision and multifocal contact lens care), comprehensive eye examinations, diabetic eye examinations, emergency eye care, eye disease management including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, allergies, dry eye and more.

She lives in the Cherokee County area and in her free time enjoys playing tennis, cooking and spending time with her husband and two children.