About one in every six Americans over 40 has a developing cataract, but you can reduce your risk of cataracts by making some healthy lifestyle choices:

1. Protect your eyes from the sun. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun exposes your eyes to harmful free radicals that can damage your lenses. Protect your eyes and skin by applying sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 and wearing sunglasses that offer 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. You can also wear a wide-brimmed hat for additional protection.

2. Eat a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Studies show that antioxidants like vitamin C, lutein and zeaxanthin have healing properties and combat the effects of free radical damage. Fill your plate with foods like leafy greens, berries, tomatoes, citrus and yellow peppers to protect your vision. Omega-3 fatty acids may also lower your risk for cataracts, so boost your intake of fatty fish like salmon and sardines, as well as walnuts, chia seeds, eggs and cauliflower.

3. Say no to smoking. One cigarette contains 600 ingredients that produce over 7,000 chemicals when burned (American Lung Association). Every time you take a puff of a cigarette, you are breathing ammonia, acetone, carbon monoxide, lead and tar. These toxins cause oxidative stress to your eyes and make them more susceptible to cataracts.

4. Save alcohol for special occasions. Studies show that most Americans consume more beer, wine and cocktails than they would like to admit. Alcohol can damage the structure and function of eye cells and increase your risk for cataracts, so show moderation when you drink. There are many health risks associated with alcohol, so talk to your doctor for more information about how alcohol affects the body.

5. Exercise regularly. Physical activity increases levels of high density lipoproteins (HDL) commonly known as “good cholesterol.” HDLs have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects, which can help lower your risk for cataract development.  

6. See your eye doctor regularly. Even if you do not have vision problems, visit your ophthalmologist every year for a full eye exam. A comprehensive eye exam with dilation allows your doctor to assess your overall eye health and look for indications of eye disease like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

By adjusting your habits and making a few lifestyle changes, you could reduce your risk for cataracts and improve your health.  Make an appointment with an ophthalmologist today.

Over 90 percent of eye injuries are preventable, so remember these eye safety tips when working in the yard this spring:

1. Wear safety goggles at all times when working outside. Choose eye goggles that create a seal around the eyes to keep them fully protected.

2. Examine safety glasses and safety goggles for cracks and tears. If the condition is questionable, replace them.

3. Leaf blowers blow more than just leaves. Make sure that no one is around you when clearing out flower beds, especially children. Leaf blowers can dislodge dirt, debris, and small rocks easily and can cause eye injuries.

4. Plants can carry diseases, so protect the hands with gloves and avoid touching your eyes.

5. When spraying chemicals, wear a mask as well as safety goggles.

6. When finished with lawn work, shower immediately. Pollen and mold can cause eye irritation and aggravate eye allergies.

Make the most out of the mild spring weather and enjoy the time outside. Follow safety precautions and preserve your vision (source Safety Glasses USA).

If it has been over a year since you have seen an ophthalmologist, make an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam. A full eye exam with dilation will ensure that your vision is clear and your eyes are healthy.

Many eye diseases like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have no symptoms in the early stages, but they can slowly deteriorate your eyesight and make you more susceptible to falls and injury. Visit an eye doctor today for a vision health check-up. 

One of the easiest ways to identify pollen as a cause of eye irritation is to try an antihistamine. If that burning, stinging redness subsides, you may be on the right track. If it does not help at all, you will need to do some further investigation.

Possible causes of red, itchy eyes:

• Dust
• Pet dander
• Cigarette smoke
• Cleaning products
• Laundry detergents
• Personal hygiene products
• Makeup
• Improper care of contact lenses
• Medication
• Digital eye strain
• Dry eye
• Conjunctivitis

On the days your eyes are irritated, do some journaling. Take notes on the weather and your activities that day, paying attention to when you began feeling eye pain. If you can look back on the day’s events and compare your notes to other days that week, it may help you isolate the perpetrator.

Sometimes, in spite of your best efforts, you have to hang up your detective hat and call an expert. In that case, make an appointment with a board-certified ophthalmologist for a full eye exam and consultation. An eye doctor can evaluate your vision, diagnose the source of your eye irritation and help you find relief.  

Eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness in U.S. children, and most injuries in school-aged children occur during sports. These injuries account for an estimated 100,000 physician visits per year and cost more than $175 million. The good news is that most of these injuries are preventable with proper eye protection like safety glasses, goggles, shields and eye guards (source: NEI).

Here are some tips to help protect children’s vision during activities and sports:

1. Purchase helmets with polycarbonate face shields for hockey and baseball. Polycarbonate does not reduce visibility, and it is ten times more impact-resistant than other plastics.

2. Purchase proper safety goggles for racquet sports and basketball. Check for eyewear that is labeled ASTM F803 approved. This will provide the highest level of protection.

3. Check helmets, face shields and goggles regularly for cracks or signs of wear and replace them as needed.

4. Insist that children wear proper protective eyewear for all practices and games.

5. Encourage children’s sports teams and schools to adopt a policy on protective eyewear.

6. Ask coaches to be good role models and wear protective eyewear.

7. Schedule regular comprehensive eye exams for children to maintain clear vision and healthy eyes.

The risk of eye injury depends on the activity, so be sure to purchase eye protection that is specific to the activity. Regular eyeglasses do not offer proper eye protection, so never substitute regular glasses for sports eyewear. Talk to an ophthalmologist about prescription goggles or face shields so your children can participate in activities safely.

Through a comprehensive eye exam, an ophthalmologist can assess visual acuity and eye health. The doctor will perform several tests, including dilation of the pupil with special eye drops to view the retina and optic nerve. It is essential that eye issues are diagnosed and treated because certain vision problems affect not only eyesight but also overall wellness.

When and How Often Should You See an Eye Doctor?

The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests that you get a baseline eye examination at age 40 because this is often the time when early signs of eye disease or vision changes appear. A baseline vision screening allows your ophthalmologist to detect signs of eye disease at an early stage when intervention and treatment are most effective.

Many people need a comprehensive eye exam before the age of 40. If you have a chronic medical condition like hypertension or diabetes or a family or personal history of eye disease, you should see an ophthalmologist earlier (source: AAO).

After your eye examination, your ophthalmologist can tell you how often you should have your eyes examined. This will depend on your medical history, family history and other risk factors for age-related diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts. Most adults should have their next comprehensive eye exam in the next year to two years. 

Over time, the cataract will spread and cause symptoms such as blurred or double vision, sensitivity to glare, faded colors and halos around lights.   

Causes and Risk Factors for Cataracts

One of the greatest risk factors for cataracts is age, but many other factors influence cataract formation including:

• Family history
• Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, tanning beds and other sources
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Smoking
• High alcohol consumption
• Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications
• Statin medicines used to reduce cholesterol
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Previous eye injury or eye surgery
• Eye inflammation
• High myopia

An Ophthalmologist May Help with Cataract Diagnosis

If you think you may be at high risk for cataracts, make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. If you have a developing cataract, your doctor can suggest some lifestyle changes to help delay its progression. You may be able to slow the formation of cataracts by quitting smoking, changing medications, staying out of the sun or managing your blood pressure.

Cataract Treatment Involves Eye Surgery

If cataracts are affecting your vision, your ophthalmologist will perform cataract eye surgery. Cataract eye surgery is one of the most common and successful procedures performed in the United States. A surgeon removes the affected lens and replaces it with a clear plastic one called an intraocular lens (IOL). There are countless types of customized IOLs that can correct vision at various distances or even block ultraviolet light to protect the retina.

Another benefit of cataract surgery is that it is usually an outpatient procedure that can be performed at an ambulatory surgery center. There is little down-time required, so most patients can resume their normal activities rapidly.

It might be difficult to avoid getting cataracts, but you do not have to live with them. Make an appointment with your ophthalmologist today to improve your vision health. 

Detect Cataracts, Glaucoma and AMD Early

The goal of Save Your Vision Month is to increase awareness about the importance of quality eye care. The American Optometric Association recommends Americans of all ages visit an eye doctor for a yearly eye exam.

A comprehensive eye exam with dilation promotes early detection of conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration. When eye disease is diagnosed in the early stages, it is much easier to treat, and the outcome is more favorable. Conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration often do not have symptoms early on, so prompt intervention is necessary to prevent vision loss.

Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month

Every year, over 20,000 eye injuries occur in the workplace. Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month reminds us to be intentional and mindful of eye-healthy practices. If your eyes may be exposed to chemicals or flying debris, protect your vision with appropriate eyewear like safety glasses, safety goggles or face masks.

You might think that eye injuries only happen on construction sites and on factory floors, but eye damage can occur in any setting. One of the greatest hazards to eye safety is digital eye strain. Staring at digital screens for multiple hours per day can cause eye fatigue, blurred vision, neck and back pain and dry eye. If not treated properly, digital eye strain can threaten productivity in the workplace.

A simple, effective way to relieve the symptoms of digital eye strain is to follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will allow your eyes to relax as you find a new focal point (source: Rebuild Your Vision).

Schedule an Eye Exam to Help Insure Vision Health

March is the ideal time to make an eye exam appointment and renew your commitment to healthy vision. Your ophthalmologist will test you for refractive errors, focusing problems and eye conditions, and you can discuss the results of your comprehensive eye exam that day. You can leave your appointment knowing you have the most updated prescription for your vision needs.

If you have concerns about digital eye strain or eye safety in the workplace, discuss these issues with your ophthalmologist. Quality eye care is just a phone call away.

Pink Eye

Pink eye is the common name for conjunctivitis. It can be bacterial or viral, but the warning signs are similar: eye redness, swelling, burning and discharge. Viral conjunctivitis usually causes a watery discharge with crusting in the mornings, while bacterial conjunctivitis typically results in a constant, thick, yellow or green discharge. Pink eye is highly contagious and spreads quickly, especially in schools and day care centers. An ophthalmologist will usually prescribe antibiotic eye drops for bacterial pink eye.

Bacterial Keratitis

Bacterial keratitis is an infection of the cornea, the clear dome in the front of the eye. It is caused by pseudomonas bacteria found in soil and water or staphylococcus bacteria carried on human skin. Contact lens wearers can develop bacterial keratitis, but people who do not wear contacts can develop it as well. Although bacterial keratitis is not contagious, it can develop quickly and can cause vision loss if left untreated.

Stye

A stye develops when an oil gland in the eyelid or eyelash becomes infected with bacteria, usually bacteria that is normally found on the skin. It can look like a red bump under the eyelid or at the base of the eyelashes, and it can feel painful and tender. Most styes last about a week and will eventually heal without treatment.

When to Visit an Eye Doctor

It is not necessary to visit your eye doctor at the first sign of eye irritation, but if symptoms persist or worsen over 24 hours, or if you are a contact lens wearer and have a red eye for more than one day, you should make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. Here are a few symptoms that could indicate a serious eye infection:

• Swelling in the area around the eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision
• Eye pain
• Discharge that forms a crust along the lash line
• Blurry vision
• Extreme light sensitivity
• Sensation of a foreign object in the eye

Most eye infections can be prevented with good hygiene. Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes. Clean all towels, washcloths and pillowcases in hot water, and never share cosmetics. 

When the macula is damaged, central vision may appear dark, blurred or distorted. AMD is one of the leading causes of severe vision loss in the world among individuals over the age of 50.

AMD is a Worldwide Problem

One of the greatest challenges of AMD is that it is a multifactorial, progressive disease with no cure. There are two distinct types of AMD, wet AMD and dry AMD, and they behave differently. Currently, there are no tests that can identify risk or severity of AMD.

Available Treatments for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Because there is no cure for AMD, the goal is to delay progression of the disease. In some cases of dry AMD, this can be accomplished with over-the-counter multi-vitamins that help protect the eyes from oxidative stress. Patients with wet AMD can benefit from eye injections that block the growth of new blood vessels in the eye. However, neither of these treatments restores vision.

Future of AMD Treatments

Clinical trials for AMD are large, lengthy and expensive, but researchers are committed to learning more about how and why AMD develops. A study was recently published online in Ophthalmology that suggests small particles in the blood could indicate the presence of AMD. This is particularly exciting because AMD can go undiagnosed for many years. The researchers were hopeful that blood profiles could help detect AMD earlier, thus preventing vision loss.

The Best Way to Preserve Your Vision

Yearly eye exams are the most effective way to detect AMD and preserve your eyesight. At your eye exam, your ophthalmologist will evaluate your vision for:

• Eye diseases such as AMD, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy
• Refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism
• Focusing problems including presbyopia
• Other vision problems such as strabismus, amblyopia or binocular vision

Eye exams can also offer a window into your overall health and detect chronic conditions like hypertension or high cholesterol. If it has been over a year since you have had a full eye exam with dilation, contact your ophthalmologist to set up an appointment.