blogtometry

Protect your eyes during the cold season

blogtometry — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:18:49 +0000

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye is an inflammation or infection of the tussue lining the inside eyelid and/or white part of the eye. It is a common eye disease, especially in children and may affect one or both eyes. Depending on the type, conjunctivitis can be highly contagious and easly spread in schools or at home.

Conjunctivitis can be caused by an infection from a virus or bacteria. It can also develop as a result of an allergic reatcion to irritants like pollen, smoke, cholorine in pools, and ingredients in cosmetics. Less commonly, conjunctivitis may be caused by sexually transmitted diseases like Chlyamydia and gonorrhea.

Common Symptoms of conjunctivitis:

A Gritty feeling in one or both eyes

Itching or burning in one or both eyes

Excessive tearing

Discharge

Swollen eyelids

Pink discoloration of the white part of the eye

Increased light sensitivity

Allergic Conjunctivitis occurs more in people who have seasonal allergies. The conjunctivitis develops when the person comes into contact with something that triggers an allergic reaction in their eyes.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is an infection typically caused by staph. or strep. bacteria from your skin or respiratory system. It can also be spread by instects, contact with other people, poor hygeine, or by using contaminated eye makeup or lotions.

Viral conjunctivitis is commonly caused by contagious viruses associated witht eh common cold. This is typically contracted through coughing or sneezing by people with upper respiratory tract infections. It can also spread along the body’s own mucous membranes that conenct the lungs, throat, nose, tear ducts, and conjunctiva.

Chemical conjunctivitis can be caused by irritants like pollution, chlorine in pools, and other noxious chemicals.

Protect yourself with these tips:

Aviod touching your eyes with your hands

Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently

Change your towel and washcloth frequently and dont share them with others

Discard eye cosmetics, particularly mascara

Don’t use any one else’s eye cosmetics or eye care items

Follow your eye doctor’s instructions on proper contact lens care

If you start to notice signs of a conjunctivitis, see your eye doctor as soon as possible to help diagnose the cause and proper course of action

Courtesy of Omoto Optometry – Your VisionSource! Serving the greater Sacramento area for over 30 years. Visit our website at http://www.visionsource-dromoto.com, or call us at (916) 421-1278 for more information

Are you eating right this Thanksgiving?

blogtometry — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:13:20 +0000

With Thanksgiving around the corner, a lot of us are looking forward to a feast of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. With that in mind, here is some food for thought on nutrition and how it relates to your eye.

Nutrition can affect the development of cataracts and age related macular degeneration, two of the leanding causes of blindness and visual impairment amount aging Americans.

Antioxidants – Antioxidants vitamins and zinc supplements in combination have been shown to reduce the risk of developing advanced AMD by about 25% in subjects who were at high risk for developing the advanced stages of AMD. These supplements also reduced vision loss by 19%. Antioxidant power does not stop there. Higher intakes of Vitamin C can reduce the risk of cataracts and/or slow their progression. Good sources of the antioxidants Vitamin C and E include orange juice, grapefruit juice, papaya, cantaloupe, oranges, green peppers, tomato juice, strawberries, broccoli, grapefruit, almonds, sunflower seeds, safflower oil, peanuts, peanut butter, and corn oil.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin – higher consumption of these carotenoids have been associated with reduced risk of developing AMD. In addition, consuming foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin have been found to reduce the need for cataract surgery and showed a lower risk for developing specific types of cataracts. Some good sources of lutein and zeaxanthin include many green leafy vegetables like kale, collard greens, spinach, turnip greens, broccoli, as well as yellow corn, green peas, persimmons and tangerines.

So, when having your Thanksgiving Day feast, don’t just load up on protein and starches. Remember to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables as well. Your eyes and your body will thank you for that.

Managing your dry eye

blogtometry — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:03:23 +0000

Dry eye is a common eye condition that affects millions of people. Typically it is a result of either an inadequate amount of tears and/or poor tear quality. Commonly, dry eye will present with an irritated, gritty, scratchy, or burning feeling, excess tearing, or blurred vision. In advanced cases, dry eye can damage the eye and impair vision. Here are some factors that may contribute to dry eye:

Age – as we get older our tear production and quality decrease. The majority of people over 65 experience som symptomof dry eyes

Gender – women are more likely to develop dry eye than men due to hormonal changes due to pregnancy, using oral contraceptives, and menopause.

Medications – many common medications can contribute to dry eye. These include antihistamines, decongestants, blood pressure medications, and antidepressants. (Do not discontinue the use of your medications unless instructed to do so by your doctor).

Medical conditions – rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and thyroid problems are all commonly associated with dry eye symptoms. Chronic inflammation of the eyelids or improper positioning of the eyelids can also cause dry eye to develop.

Other factors – the use of contact lenses and refractive surgery (LASIK) have also been linked to dry eye problems.

If you do have dry eyes, your doctor will commonly do one or more of several treatment options aimed at keeping your eyes healthy and comfortable.

Artificial tears – typically a first step in dry eye treatment, artificial tears help keep the eye lubricated and may be used as often as needed, but are typically recommended to be used four times a day as a minimum. It is important to not use drops that say they get the red out as these have medication in them and may cause more problems with constant use.

Punctal plugs – in cases where dry eye is due to lack of volume of tears, sometimes treatment invovles plugging the draining system of the eyes. This keeps your tears in contact with your eye longer and prevents them from draining too rapidly.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements – these supplements may be recommended by your optometrist to help aid in the production of quality tears.

Warm compress with lid massage – this treatment option is aimed at ensuring the proper function of the oil glands of your eyelids. These oils from the gland help prevent tears from evaporating too fast, but in too much quantity can canuse dry eye symptoms as well.

Eyelid cleaners – cleaners help remove buildup or excess oils on the eyelid that may cause inflammation of the lid and as a result improper functioning of its glands.

Environmental changes – sometimes just by adapting your environment can help reduce the symptoms of dry eyes. Taking periodic breaks from extended periods on the computer or reading, drinking plenty of water, wearing sunglasses that protect your eyes from the wind and sun, using a humidifier to increase the moisture in your room all may help with symptoms. In addition, avoiding some situations like having a fan on while you sleep, having the air blowing in your face in the car, and working under air vents can also help reduce symptoms.

Dry eye is a chronic problem and requires regular check ups with you optometrist. If you feel that you have dry eye, be sure to get evaluated by your optometrist to determine the best course of treatment for your individual situation.

Is your baby’s vision developing properly?

blogtometry — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:59:12 +0000

When born, babies do not have the same vision as older children or adults. Their vision isn’t fully developed, but are rapidly improving during the first few months of their lives.

Birth to four months – your baby may be able to look at high contrast targets, but may not be able to tell the difference between two targets or move their eyes between two targets. Their focus is primarily on objects 8 to 10 inches from their face. During this period, their vision improves rapidly. They can start tracking objects with their eyes and reach for them at around three months. Their eyes may wander or be crossed, but if an eye turn appears to be constant, an evaluation is warranted.

Five to eight months – eye movements and coordination skills improve. Depth perception starts to develop at about five months old. Color vision should also be present by five months old. At around eight months, most babies start crawling, which develops eye-hand-foot-body coordination.

Nine to twelve months – at 9 months, babies can stand up. By 10 months, babies should be able to grasp objects with the thumb and forefinger. At around one year old, a baby is crawling and attempting to walk.

Signs of eye or vision problems in your baby

– Excessive tearing may indicate blocked tear ducts

– Red or encrusted eyes may be a sign of an eye infection

– A constant eye turn may show a problem with the eye muscles and can lead to vision not developing properly

– Extreme light sensitivity may indicate a high eye pressure

– A white pupil may indicate the presence of an eye cancer

If any of these signs are present, seek immediate attention by your pediatrician or optometrist.

First eye exam – even with no eye or vision problems present, a first eye exam is recommended at age 6 months. This will allow an optometrist to check for:

– Excessive or unequal amounts of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism that can prevent proper development of your baby’s eyes

– Eye movement ability

– Eye health problems

InfantSEE is a public health program designed by theAmerican Optometric Association to ensure eye and vision care becomes an integral part of infrant wellness. Under InfantSEE, a participating optometrist grovides a comprehensive infant eye exam for babies between 6 and 12 months old as a no-cost public service.

Contacts this Halloween . . . don’t get tricked . . .

blogtometry — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:22:36 +0000

Halloween season is in full bloom and with it comes the season of cosmetic contact lenses. While cosmetic contact lenses are a fun way to add that extra touch to your halloween costume, it’s important to be very careful when using them. According to the FDA, they have “received reports of the lenses causing corneal ulcers, eye infections and vision loss because of people not using them properly, or because they were not designed properly for someone’s eyes.” The FDA also warns “even decorative lenses are prescription, so over-the-counter sales are illegal.” With that being said, here are a few tips to enusre you are safe this halloween season.

If you are intersted in decorative contacts, see your eye care specialist. They can make sure the lens is appropriate for your eye and that they don’t cause any damage to the eye.

Get a prescription for decorative contact lenses. Contact lenses are medical devices and a presciption helps ensure the quality of the lens you use.

Get trained at your eye care provider’s office. It is important to learn how to properly insert and remove lenses to prevent damage to the eye. In addition, proper care and hygeine is important to reduce your risk of getting an eye infection or ulcer.

More than the window to your soul . . .

blogtometry — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:37:17 +0000

Your eyes are more than the window to your soul. They can tell your optometrist a lot about your general health too. In addition to the numerous eye diseases, such as: dry eye, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc . . . optometrists can look for signs of many systemic diseases in your eyes like: high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, tumors, and more. In fact, your eyes are one of the few places that a health care provider can look at living blood vessels without cutting you open or injecting your with tracing dyes. It is important to have regular eye exams, not only for your eye health, but for the health of the rest of your body as well.

Courtesy of Omoto Optometry – Your VisionSource! Serving the greater Sacramento area for over 30 years. Visit our website at www.visionsource-dromoto.com, or call us at (916) 421-1278 for more information