If you are one of the millions that suffer from chronic headaches, especially with neck and shoulder pain, eyestrain, tired eyes, along with dry eye and motion sickness in the car, there may be new hope for you.   Headaches can be a very complex disease diagnosis process and there are so many possible causes.  Some are simple tension headache from stress and anxiety, others are sinus inflammation.  Sometimes patients that have been diagnosed with migraine headaches are not actually migraines.  The patient may have bad vision, high blood pressure, narrow angle glaucoma, Chiari malformation, aneurysms or a brain tumor.   I cannot re-iterate enough, migraines are a diagnosis of exclusion and that diagnosis should not be completely reached until after a CT or MRI scan of the brain to first rule out a very serious medical condition.

We are so excited to add new technology to our office to test and treat those that have constant, chronic headaches.  Neurolens is a new digital, prescription lens technology that incorporates a contoured prism design, never available before.   Neurolenses were developed by an optometrist in conjunction with neurologists after seeing many patients suffering with chronic headache and neck/shoulder pain even after taking medications.

Misalignment of the eyes puts lots of stress on the Trigeminal Nerve, which is the largest of the cranial nerves in the brain and extends down to the upper shoulder region.  When the eyes are working hard to put the two images they see into one image (like using binoculars), it can trigger symptoms like headache, neck/shoulder pain, tired eyes, motion sickness in the car, computer eye strain, and even dry eyes.  This is what is called Trigeminal dysphoria.

Trigeminal dysphoria is a recent discovery between the relationship of eye misalignment and the Trigeminal cranial nerve.   With the invention of the Neurolens eye tracking device, precise measurements of how the eyes work a team can be measured more precisely.  It is a simple and quick screening test involving multiple targets the patient watches on a screen.   Imagine trying to drive a car with two steering wheels for each front wheel to keep the two front wheels straight driving down the road.  You would be a little stressed and arms tired after just a little while trying to control the movement of your vehicle.  Trigeminal dysphoria works in a similar way.  It creates a lot of tension in the nervous system when the eye muscles don’t line up correctly, which can cause a host of symptoms not always linked to the eyes.   With the huge increase in the use of all kinds of digital devices, I am seeing so many people suffering from this condition….and they don’t have to now.  I predict many children labeled dyslexic, not all, but many will be helped from Neurolenses.

Even those that seem to have perfect 20/20 vision can have misalignment of the eye muscles and Trigeminal dysphoria.  Many patients have even had their eyes examined and though the patient sees well with or without glasses and the eyes are healthy, many times the eye misalignment has been missed.  With the new technology in our office to track eye muscles, we can screen you for Trigeminal dysphoria.

Neurolenses are a God send to many, chronic headache suffers I believe.  We are already seeing the results in our office from patients that we have prescribed Neurolenses for.   We believe in them so much, if a patient is a strong candidate for help with them, we will buy them back if the patient doesn’t get relief after 30 days.

If you have bounced from doctor to doctor for headache relief, trying multiple medications that offer slight and temporary relief or see a chiropractor often for back and shoulder pain that keeps coming back, I urge you to seek a Neurolens screening from a qualified Neurolens doctor soon.   Let us help you get relief finally!

Tory Moore, OD

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist and Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 30 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.  Like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source  and you can also connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas

Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!

1. Children should be given a flashlight to help them see where they are going in the dark and also to be seen by others easier.
2. Consider using face paint instead of masks to help children see to get around better.  At least make sure the eye holes are large enough so as not to obstruct their vision.
3. Reflective tape can be attached to costumes and clothing to make them more visible as well.
4. If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
5. Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional.  While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as “one size fits all,” or “no need to see an eye specialist,” obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal.  This can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss or blindness.
6. Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.
7. You might want to go out early before total darkness as well to make it safer for your children.
8. And put your pets, especially cats,  somewhere safe.  Unfortunately, people do mean things to animals.  Better to be safe as well as protecting kids from animal bites since there will be lots of pet anxiety that night with all the activity and noise.

For the safest environment and a more positive atmosphere,  instead of trick or treating, consider bringing your kids to the Fall festival at the Moore County Community Building in Dumas  Halloween night.   Activities to include bouncy castles, concession foods, games, crazy cardboard maze, free give aways, prizes, & TONS of CANDY!!  And all the dentists say, “Yes!”

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 25 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas and like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source You also can visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.   Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”

Blindness occurs at different levels however.  When people say someone is blind, that doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t see anything at all, like pitch black darkness.  If you are legally blind, that just means you see worse than 20/200 even with the best pair of prescription glasses possible.  You might be able to see cars and trees but they are so blurred you can’t make out the details, even if you get up closer.  Some people have “no light perception” where they cannot even see a light at all.   That only makes up about 15% of people considered legally blind.  A better term for a lot of these people who have some vision, while not very clear, is “visually impaired.”

With the large increase in the aging population now that the baby boomers are becoming senior citizens,  we see a lot more macular degeneration.  It is the leading cause of blindness in those over 65 years old.   The central retina deteriorates and causes vision loss in the central vision making reading difficult or even impossible.  In worst cases people can’t see straight ahead to drive or even a person’s face they are talking too disappears in the central blind spot.  The often can see something out of the corner of their vision, like a chair on the side of the room but when they turn to look directly at it, it disappears.

People with a visual impairment like this often can be helped with low vision devices.    Whether a hand held magnifier, high powered reading glasses or a closed circuit television, there are different tools available for those with low vision.   They are like tools.  Some times a pair of pliers can be used for lots of different tasks, but sometimes you just need a pair of needle nosed pliers to do the job well.  Or the same can be said for shoes.   Sometimes casual shoes or tennis shoes  work, sometimes dress shoes are needed but sometimes you need to have some good work boots.

Low vision devices are no different.   When ordinary spectacle glasses and bifocals just don’t help enough to see anymore,  sometimes we need a different tool for the job.   A hand held magnifier may work great for a short glance at a medicine bottle.   Trying to read your mail might require a magnifier on a stand that you don’t have to hold and try to focus just right.  Reading a letter or looking over papers for more than 5 minutes would probably do better with the CCTV that can magnify what the person is looking at and display on a monitor screen 40X bigger.

There are other “tools” that can be used around the house for low vision patients to make their life easier and to help keep their independence.  Examples are large number phones, large number playing cards, voice assisted devices, large letter pill organizers, etc…  They can also help with counseling and other referrals to help stay independent as much as possible.  We can refer those with low vision starting at 20/70 best corrected visual acuity  to the Texas Department for the Blind Services for help from the state.  They can come to your home for an assessment of your needs around the house and see what they can provide.  The nearest local office is in Amarillo and their phone number is 806-351-3870 if you have questions about how they can help.  It’s your tax dollars so don’t feel bad about asking for help if you need it.  That is what they are there for.

The best way to avoid going blind is to have regular, annual eye wellness exams.   Most people with medical eye problems still see fine, until the end stages when it’s too late and all the damage is done.   Even if you think you see great, have your eye’s health examined every year.    Better to prevent problems and catch them early then waiting and then it’s too late.

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist and Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 23 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.  Like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source  and you can also connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas

Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”

http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/05/08/pkg-illinois-toddler-eye-cancer.wrex

or ABC News:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/mom-catches-year-olds-eye-cancer-snapping-photo/story?id=30954695

First of all, the pupil is the window into the eye.   Some say it’s the window to the soul but definitely it is a window into the overall health of the body.  It looks black normally because light doesn’t escape or reflect out easily as in some animals like cats and dogs.   If the pupil is big enough or you get enough light to shine in, you can see a reddish-orange reflection with the right tools.

The retina is the inner back lining of the eyeball that detects light and sends the signals through the optic nerve to our brain in order for us to interpret what we see.   The eye is the camera, the brain is the TV set basically.  I used to say the retina is like film in a camera but with everything digital now, I have changed the analogy to the digital sensors in your phone or digital camera.  Anyway, the retina have ALOT of blood supply.  Between that and the layer of pigment cells on the outer layer, the color generally appears reddish-orange.

Eye doctors use that reddish-orange reflection to determine the amount of refractive error like nearsightedness or astigmatism a person has for glasses.  That is how we can tell what power glasses need to be for little babies or people who can’t talk.  It is also how we know if your child is malingering (faking) the need for glasses.

If that reflection is dim, has shadows, or a different color, that tells us there is something wrong with the pathway for light entering the eye.  Either the lubricating tear film on the front surface, the cornea, the crystalline lens, the vitreous fluid, or the retina could have a problem.

Retinoblastoma is a fairly rare cancer that usually develops in very young children but it is possible for an adult to develop it too.  It is from a genetic mutation of the retinal cells and the risk of passing the gene to offspring can be higher for those families that have had someone affected.  It is very aggressive and can spread to other parts of the body very quickly.  The sooner the eye is removed that better chance of survival.  Yes, the eye needs to be removed quickly.  As tragic as that sounds, children adapt fairly well since they are not seeing out of the affected eye anyway.

I encourage young parents to take a picture of their child with a flash straight on from 3-4 ft away.   I do it to screen children and to help them relax by showing them their picture so they get comfortable with me examining their eyes before I do more.  Both pupils will either be dark if the pupils are too small or both a reddish-orange glow, which is the reflection off the retina. If it is orange, you can enlarge the picture and look for shadows, which could indicate a problem with the surface of the eye or cataracts.   Yes, children can have cataracts, though rare.   If a reflection is white, it could be a refractive error (nearsightedness, astigmatism, etc.), a cataract, a retinal detachment or retinoblastoma possibly and you would want that checked immediately by having the child’s eyes dilated.  They may have to be given a sedative to get them to cooperate and get a good view. If the doctor is not getting a view because the child is not cooperating or crying, the child should be referred to someone who will perform a sedated eye examination, most often a pediatric ophthalmologist.

As a side note, there should also be a little white reflection on the cornea, the front surface of the eye, from the flash.  That white dot from the flash should both be in the same relative position to the pupil of each eye. If not, your child could have an eye turn.

Also, all children under 18 are mandated to be covered for at least a wellness eye exam once a year under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

Please have your kids eyes examined at 3-4 years of age at a minimum and every year after that.   Just because they seem to get around doesn’t mean that both eyes are okay.  If one is not seeing well or turned, the vision won’t develop properly and it is permanent after age 6-7 years old when the optic nerve quits developing.  Don’t take any chances with the vision and the health of your child.

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist and Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 25 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.  Like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source  and you can also connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas

Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”

Modern archers with a compound bow usually depend on being able to use a peep sight on the bow string up close to the eye.  It basically is a little round circle that you can “peep” through.  A front sight pin that extends a little further past the bow is aligned in the peep sight with the target.  Much like a rifle or pistol has a back sight and a front sight, both which have to be aligned with a target.  The human eye can only focus on one point at a time, so it is imperative with archery or firearms to concentrate on the front sight.  The back sight and the target are usually slightly blurred when you do so.

A problem occurs as we age though and we begin to lose our focusing ability up close.  After forty something years old, the crystalline lens in the eye begins to harden and cannot change shape as easily to focus on near  objects.  Sort of like an egg being fried and the protein in the egg yolk begins to change from runny to thick and then hard.  It’s not a muscle that is too weak and needs to be strengthened.  So that is why we ALL eventually have to have some help in the form of bifocals or even better, progressive lenses that can focus in all places (mis-labeled as “no-line bifocals” often times.)

So what do you do when the front sight pins of the bow begin to be more difficult to focus after forty?  The easiest way to compensate (there is a lot of compensating after 40) is to use what is called a “Verifier,” available from Specialty Archery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_s_lpHqHXo

It is a screw-in lens that is attached to the peep sight and allows for slight magnification to see the sight pins better.  I have not found out it if can be used in competitive archery or not yet but it’s not any different than wearing bifocal glasses to correct your vision so I wouldn’t think it would be against the rules.  It is not a scope to make the target magnified like a different product called a “Clarifier,” to be used with a scope and makes the target easier to see.

I recently prescribed a daily disposable bifocal soft lens to a forty year old competitive archer and he likes it for the time being.  He hasn’t ever worn glasses and still sees 20/20 far away.  He has been noticing it is not as smooth and easy to focus those sight pins quickly like it used to be.  I told him rifle and pistol shooters have the same problem after forty years old with open, iron sights.  The only thing you can do is either use some kind of scope or a peephole sight that extends the depth of focus of the eye.  Peepholes are fine for stationary, target shooting like Olympic shooters would do but are not practical for action shooting or even hunting.  This patient of mine wears the multifocal contact lens on his dominant eye and uses it just for shooting since he still reads fine without glasses…for now at least.   It focuses the sight pins better with a very slight blurring of the distance target but not bad within 50 yards.

So if you are over forty and not seeing those sight pins on your bow quite as well, good news!  There is hope for you in maybe more than one way.   Have your eyes examined for any uncorrected vision problem or eye disease first.  Unless you still want to blame your poor shooting on your eyes or your eye doctor.

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist and Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 25 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.  Like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source  and you can also connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas

Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”

The AREDS2 study on age related macular degeneration demonstrated less risk of the disease when people had more antioxidant vitamins (Vit. E  & C, Zinc) as well as carotenoid pigments (Lutein and Zeaxanthin) from the food we eat.  The pigment helps protect the macula area of the retina and our body doesn’t produce it.  It makes sense that the macula could deteriorate faster if you have poor nutrition.

With bariatric surgery, it may be hard to digest a tablet let alone swallowing some of those big pills.  There are liquid or chewable vitamins that can be used to help minimize malnutrition by absorbing the vitamins more effectively.  Check with a pharmacist or nutritional expert on the availability of such items.

If you have had bariatric surgery, it is important to have annual eye examinations to make sure the eyes stay healthy.  Make sure you are getting your diet supplemented with a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement that you can take easily and absorb and try to get fruits and vegetables with dark colors in your diet.

Reference

1. Rui Azevedo Guerreiro, Rui Ribeiro. Ophthalmic Complications of Bariatric Surgery. Obesity Surgery, 2014    http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11695-014-1472-y

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist and Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 23 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.  Like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source  and you can also connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas

Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”

In the past, photochromic lenses that change with the light have limited darkening behind the car windshield so most people would have to have a separate pair of sunglasses that stay dark all the time.  That works great but sometimes it is inconvenient for some people when they walk inside and don’t have their clear pair with them or have no place to put their sunglasses once inside.

Transitions Optical has a newer product available now called Transitions XTRactive.  The basic Transitions Signature lenses are better than ever but still need UV to change them.  Windshield glass blocks UV light and so while they are good, they aren’t the very best option if you drive a lot and want to reduce the brightness of light.

Transitions XTRactive lenses however get dark behind the windshield and yet still get almost perfectly clear inside.  The lens tint once you go inside is almost indiscernible.  So if you are one of those that seem to always be switching glasses or end up wearing your sunglasses inside because you forgot the clear pair, this might be a great option for you.

We have demonstration lenses available to see for yourself how dark and how clear they become.  We even guarantee them if you are not happy with their performance and will exchange them for another type.

Come see what they are all about!

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist and Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 23 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.  Like our Facebookbusiness page:  Dumas Vision Source  and you can also connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas

Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”

I have had my share of them over the years.  More than average I dare to say.  I have had medical tests, CT and MRI scans, dental visits and special mouth guards to prevent teeth grinding while sleeping and have taken more over the counter and prescription drugs than the local drug addicts during my years.  I still remember my first severe headache on a trip with one of my friends to Six Flags of Texas in Dallas.  What a miserable time.  Ultimately I had sinus surgery ten years ago, which relieved almost all of them.

Believe me, I know how you feel.  When the pain is so bad you wish someone could drill a hole in your skull to relieve the pressure and all you can do is lie on the cold, tile floor with an ice pack on your head after taking tons of medicine and pray “God, please take away the pain.”  I’ve been there.

If I could break down my patient’s main reasons for wanting an eye exam into three categories, they would be in this order:

1. Blurred vision –either just a slight blur or a major blurring at distance or near, with or without lenses.

2. Wellness checkup – they see okay with or without vision correction but want to make sure everything is healthy and maybe update their contact lens prescription while having no apparent problems.  Perhaps previously diagnosed with a medical eye condition and ensuring there is no progression.

3. Headaches – There are so many things that can cause a person to experience a headache, it can give somebody….. well, quite frankly,  a headache trying to find the cause.
Since there are so many causes of a headache, a good patient history is absolutely important.  When did they start, do you have a history of headaches before, how often do they happen, how long do they last, what region of the head do they hurt at, what time of day do they generally happen, are they disabling or can you still function, do you have any vision abnormalities like spots or wavy lines before or during the headache, does medicine help the pain, do you get dizzy or nauseous with the headache, do they seem to happen related to certain activities such as reading or computer use, what other medical problems do you have that you know about, what medicines do you use or recently stopped using?  Doctors have to consider the patients age, sex, family history, history of seasonal allergies, medicines being used or even discontinued recently and any medical conditions you might have.    Your diet, water intake and sleep apnea even can play a large role.  Headaches are perhaps one of the most challenging diagnoses due to the many possible causes.  I will cover the most common in order of prevalence that I often encounter.

1. Uncorrected basic vision

When someone comes in with a complaint of frequent headaches, after the preliminary testing, one of the first tests we do is a refraction of the eyes.  That is the part where we determine how the eye can see and what glasses prescription might be needed to make the patient see more clearly and see more comfortably.  You know, “Which is better, one or two?”

The most common cause of headaches that I see in my office is uncorrected farsightedness, especially in school age children.  If the patient is farsighted, they can see far away easier than up close.  They may be able to see up close too but they have to work twice as hard as normal to do it if their eye is using it’s near focusing ability (accommodation) to help the patient’s far vision.  It does that subconsciously like an auto-focus camera.  The eye should only “focus” or tense up when looking at objects within arm’s reach for the most part.  Uncorrected farsightedness (hyperopia) makes the eye, without even thinking about it; try harder to keep the vision clear while looking far away.  That constant, unneeded focusing causes strain and ultimately headaches in the frontal region of the head or around the eyes usually by the early or late afternoon after focusing the eyes more than average.  Basic single vision glasses worn all the time will typically resolve the headaches even though the vision of the patient has been clear anyway up until this point.  The eyes are just working too hard and the extra muscle tension causes the headache.  So farsighted glasses correction is more for comfort than to help the vision in many cases.

2. Uncorrected near vision after 40 years old

After the dreaded big 4-0, (typically 43 years old) the focusing system of the eye that helps to see up close begins to weaken.  The lens in the eye becomes stiffer and less flexible, which causes the automatic focusing of the eye to strain even more to make your near work activities harder and harder to see.  It’s not a weakening muscle, it’s simply the lens not able to flex anymore very well, like a piece of old rubber that doesn’t flex very well.    At this point, we need extra help to see up close clearly and comfortably.  Whether we need a prescription or not for the far away vision and more power for up close, then at that point a multi-focal lens with multiple focusing powers is recommended so people can see at all distances.  When patients that are 40 years old or over seem to get headaches after reading or other near vision work, quite often this is a sign they need a multifocal lens such as a progressive lens or a bifocal.  This is like using a tool to take the load off the eyes and make them focus better and not to have to strain to see.  If you get headaches after reading or looking up close and your arms seem too short anymore, more than likely you need help with the focusing in the form of a multi-focal lens.  Glasses or contacts can help.

3. Binocular vision disorders

The eyes are separate organs that work as a team (think of a pair of horses yoked together) to give clear, comfortable, binocular single vision.  When the coordination of the two eyes is not optimal, they have to work harder than normal , if they can, to keep the eyes aligned exactly in the same direction in order to not see double.  Imagine someone that slouches or is pigeon toed is told to “straighten up” and they have to exert more muscle effort to get the back or feet lined up straight.  The eyes can do the same thing and it causes a lot of muscle strain and possibly a headache.  Sometimes an eye that turns inward, outward or is higher or lower than the other is not easy to discern.  The uncoordination of the eyes is possibly caused by uncorrected vision but also could be caused by a genetic muscle or nerve problem or even by a medical condition such as diabetes, hypertension or even a stroke.  If basic glasses with or without a bifocal doesn’t’ help, then prism power can sometimes help.   A prism bends light so the muscles don’t have to work so hard to see one picture.

4. Medical eye problems

The most common medical eye problem  that can cause a headache from a more uncommon type of glaucoma called acute angle closure glaucoma.  When the drainage system of the eye is narrow, it can be difficult or even impossible for the inner eye fluid (aqueous humor) to drain properly.  This makes the fluid pressure inside the eye to increase rapidly and often times there is signs of a red eye, blurred vision and a severe headache over the eyebrow to the point of nausea.  There are treatments to relieve the condition.

Inflammation inside the eyeball itself, usually related to an auto-immune condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, can cause pain in and around the eye that can be construed as a headache.  Rarely a corneal abrasion or a bacterial ulcer on the eye’s surface can cause inflammation and pain enough to cause a frontal headache.

5. Eyewear and lens problems

Eyeglasses are precision made devices that must have very exact measurements in order for the brain to see clearly and comfortably at all distances.  If the frame is crooked on the face, it can cause eye strain and eventually a headache.  The same goes for a lens that is not centered in front of the pupillary axes.  Even what the material the lens is made out of can sometimes cause subtle distortion that could cause a headache.

6.  Sinus headaches

Having personal experience in this area, I can attest that these can be extremely painful.  When the air spaces in the bones of the skull that surround the eye called sinuses get inflamed  from infection or irritation from allergens,  the tissues expand and gets congested.  That causes a pressure feeling around and between the eyes but even on the side of the temples and down to the jaw.   It can cause the eye to feel like it’s going to pop out it hurts so badly.  Often times a patient will wake up with sinus pain due to sleeping on one side causing fluid to build up and congest the sinus passages more.  Increased water intake, decongestants (Sudafed), mucous thinning medicines (Mucinex) and sometimes antibiotics and nasal steroid inhalers when needed, can generally help but long term treatments may be needed such as nasal saline rinses, antihistamines, and immunotherapy (allergy shots).  Cysts (fluid filled bubbles) can develop and block off the drainage of sinuses at times building up pressure and pain and are not easily seen on CT or MRI scans.  Frequent severe headaches that are not getting better should be evaluated by an ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist) or neurologist (specialist of the brain and nervous system) if sinus and brain imaging with CT or MRI scans did not reveal any problems.

7. Tension headaches

Tension headaches generally happen later in the day but can happen at any time due to the stress load, work ergonomics (how your body is positioned at work) or anxiety the patient is suffering from, whether they realize it or not.  They tend to make the head hurt like a tight band around the head or start in both temples and work backwards.  They usually happen while at work or school in the afternoons but can wake up a person due to neck or back vertebrae misalignment.  Sleeping wrong on a pillow can cause muscle tightness and a resulting headache.   Resting and using pain reliever medicine usually makes tension headaches better.  Children can often get headaches from internalizing anxiety from bullying, domestic abuse or the stress caused by fighting or divorcing parents.  A child’s home life can impact them severely.

8. Migraines (vascular) headaches

Not all headaches are migraines as some people mistakenly believe.  A migraine headache is generally a severe headache on one side of the head that is preceded by some sort of visual distortion such as spots or wavy lines.   The pain is so severe a patient may experience nausea or dizziness and is usually sensitive to light and sounds.  Over the counter medications generally don’t help very much except for some that have caffeine and so migraine sufferers usually have to lie down and rest in quiet, dark locations until it gets better.  They can happen at any time and can be brought on by menstrual cycles or even certain foods.  Sometimes the cause is never found.  They tend to happen in women more than men.  There are prescription medicines that can help prevent or thwart migraine attacks.   Migraines are considered a diagnosis of exclusion however.  Your doctor needs to be fully confident that all other causes of headaches including tumors and aneurysms have been completely ruled out and excluded before they can be called a true migraine headache.  The International Headache Society has listed specific signs and symptoms that must be present or not present to officially classify your headache as a migraine.   I recommend keeping a journal of your headaches:   date and time when they happen, what you ate and drank that day, associations that made it worse such as reading or computer use, medicines used, menstrual cycles, etc… that might help isolate any specific triggers.

9.  Severe Medical Problems

Very rarely, a very serious medical problem can cause headaches.  The main serious medical problems causing headaches would include:

·         Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)   Usually happen with poor diet, get a feeling of weakness, shakiness, moodiness and breaking out in a sweat and nausea.

·         Hypertension (high blood pressure)   Usually start at the base of the back of the skull where the head and neck meet, have ringing in the ears, sometimes dizziness.

·         Aneurysm (small area of ballooning outward of blood vessel)  Usually a quick forming, stabbing pain that is incredibly painful.  Often described as the worst headache ever.

·         Benign increased intracranial pressure (higher than normal fluid pressure in the brain and spinal cord caused by poor drainage or reabsorption of fluid)   Often related to females that are considered overweight and over 30-40 years.  Rarely, some people have smaller than average drain openings (foramens) in the skull that keeps fluid from circulating well.

·         Inflammation of cranial arteries – usually hurts on one side of temple, vision decrease in one eye, over 60 years old. It is not normal for someone over 60 years old to have frequent headaches unless they have a long history of them.

·         Poor blood circulation from a blood clot or stroke – usually sudden, associated with numbness or paralysis of facial muscles or limbs, eyelid drooping, sudden loss of vision.

·         Brain tumor – usually very gradual onset of headaches and other symptoms such as vision or hearing loss, behavior changes, depression, and can feel like general sinus pressure in some cases.

If you are experiencing frequent headaches, please see your medical physician for a medical evaluation and a reputable eye doctor for an comprehensive eye and vision examination to find the source and make sure it’s not serious.

Even if you do not buy any eyewear, you are welcome to drop off your donation of peanut butter or PopTarts at our office.  

It’s not the kid’s fault that they go hungry.   Studies are showing when the kids are not going hungry, they do better in school.  If they can get through school with a good education and not drop out, perhaps the generational poverty cycle can be broken.

If you have any questions about our offer, you can contact our office at 935-2020 or information about the SnackPak program in Dumas at SnackPak 4 Kids Dumas.  Thanks for your support of SnackPak 4 Kids and Dumas Vision Source.

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The following information is from SnackPak 4 Kids website (http://snackpak4kids.org/history)

“It began with 10 hungry students at Will Rogers Elementary School in Amarillo.  Bushland couple Dyron and Kelly Howell had discovered that Amarillo was the largest city west of Dallas without a weekend backpack program. And yet more than 3,200 children in the Amarillo Independent School District relied only on the meals served to them at school for their weekly food. That meant hundreds of children spent their nights and weekends hungry.

Determined to find some way to address this need, the Howells assembled ten bags of food that could be prepared without adult supervision—juice boxes, peanut butter, sandwich snack crackers, breakfast cereal, Pop-Tarts, fruit cups and more. On Friday, September 3, 2010, the first ten Snack Pak 4 Kids recipients were given those bags, which contained enough food to get them through the weekend. The Howells prepared the bags again the next week, and got others involved. Soon the number of children grew, and then the program expanded to other schools. Teachers began seeing academic improvement, better concentration, and higher attendance among SP4K recipients.
As of early 2014, the program has grown to serve 5,200 students in 30 school districts, Amarillo, Booker, Borger, Bushland, Canadian, Clarendon, Clayton NM, Dalhart, Dimmitt, Dumas, Friona, Fritch, Happy, Hereford, Highland Park, Lockney, Panhandle, Pampa, Perryton, River Road, Spearman, San Antonio, Stratford, Sunray, Tahoka, Texhoma, Texline, Tulia, White Deer, and Wildorado.

Every week, hundreds of volunteers pack 14 regular, nutritious items into plastic bags and deliver these bags to participating schools.  At the schools, officials discreetly place these bags in students’ backpacks on Fridays. Students receiving the bags have each been identified by school staff members (counselors, nurses, teachers or principals) as living in a “food-insecure” household—which means these families don’t always know the source of their next meal. The SP4K program feeds each elementary student and any siblings at home not old enough to attend school.

Our new Snack Shak program currently provides food to middle school and high school students, and is expanding quickly.”

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Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist and Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 23 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.  Like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source  and you can also connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas

Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”

Vistakon, owned by Johnson & Johnson and the manufacturer of Acuvue lenses,  has recently decided to go from selling 6 packs of their lenses to 12 and 24 packs.  So instead of a 3 month supply, they will come in 6 month or 1 year supplies.  All Acuvue lenses are technically 2 week replacement lenses (except the 1-Day Dailies) and I recommend normally to take them all out every night.  I don’t believe they deliver enough oxygen for the cornea to be healthy and have more risk of long-term damage or infection, in my opinion, though the FDA has recommended up to 6 nights wear with Acuvue Oasys.   Of course the FDA has approved lots of drugs that you later see ambulance chasing lawyers advertising to sue for you from damage those same drugs have done.

We realize this will cost more up front to patients but because of basically buying them in bulk, you would actually save more money over the year than buying 8 boxes of 6 packs to get through a year like before.  Just like buying a 24 roll package of paper towels is cheaper from Costco or Sam’s than if you buy 1 roll at Walmart or grocery store since you buy so many in bulk.

WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THIS!

I believe with so many patients over wearing their lenses, the thinking behind this move is to get patients to change them every two weeks like they are supposed to.  You are just defeating the purpose of disposables by not changing them out like you are supposed to.  You change your underwear everyday or your bath water every time don’t you?  Same principle.  Changing your lenses regularly keeps your vision your best, more comfortable and less dry and they can deliver oxygen to your eye more by not being coated with proteins, lipids and calcium from the tears.  Studies done by the industry show patients change their contacts more often like they are supposed to if they have a lot on hand.  So take care of your eyes and replace your contacts on schedule.  Put an alarm in your phone calendar or your Google calendar to remind you if you have to.  You only have two eyes and they have to last you a lifetime.

I want to let our patients know before they need more lenses to be prepared for the difference in Acuvues’ policy.

Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist and Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry.    Serving the Dumas, Texas,  Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 23 years.   Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment.  Visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information.  Like our Facebook business page:  Dumas Vision Source  and you can also connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas

Tory Moore, OD  – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”