How to Deal with Dry Eyes

Millions of people suffer the symptoms of dry eyes and this is especially a problem for people over age 50 and with certain medical conditions.

Dry eyes generally occur when the eyes do not produce enough tears to lubricate the eyes. Symptoms include pain, itching, redness and blurry vision.

For some, it can be a minor discomfort, for others it can be painful and lead to serious eye problems if untreated.Sometimes, it’s an occasional problem, others a constant issue.

Either way, it’s important to have it checked and to take steps to deal with the problem.

There are many different causes of dry eyes, for example:

·         Medications such as decongestants, antihistamines, blood pressure medicine

·         Severe weather such as cold winds

·         Artificial conditions such as air conditioning and indoor heating

·         Smoking and poor diet

·         Aging

·         Other medical problems

Equally there are many steps you can take and remedies you can use to help your eyes stay moist.

These include:

·         Blinking:When you are concentrating, you tend not to blink as much. This can be a problem when you stare too long at something like a computer or TV screen. When you fail to blink frequently, eye moisture evaporates quickly. So make sure you look away from your screen and blink regularly.

·         Humidify: Low moisture levels can dry your eyes fast. This can be a problem both with heating in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.If necessary, consider getting a humidifier for areas where you spend a lot of time.This puts more moisture in the air meaning your tears evaporate more slowly.

·         Stop Smoking: Smoking has been shown to dry out your eyes (as well as increasing the risk of other problems such as cataracts and glaucoma.)

·         Take Care with Air vents:Air vents – such as in automobiles can reduce the moisture in your eyes if they are pointed at your face. Make sure to aim the vents away from your eyes if possible.

·         Take Supplements: Some studies have shown that Omega-3 could help prevent dry-eye syndrome and that vitamin A supplements or vitamin A rich foods can help keep your eyes moist.

·         Eye Drops and Artificial tears:Artificial tears and lubricating eyedrops and gels help provide more moisture and lubrication for the surface of your eye. They are typically used about four times a day, but they can be used as often as needed. Lubricating eye ointments are much thicker than eyedrops and gels and can last much longer. They can blur your vision so are normally used while you are asleep.

Dry eye may seem a minor issue on its own but it can be very uncomfortable and can also lead to bigger problems. It’s therefore important to take steps to deal with it where you can.

Contact your Optometrist Charlottesville CA quickly and they will help you take actions to make improvements.

An Introduction to Lasik Eye Surgery

LASIKis a form of laser eye surgery which is performed by Ophthalmologists for correcting vision.

LASIK stands for Laser In-situ Keratomileusis and can be used to help people who are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism.

Laser vision-correction surgery reshapes the cornea – the clear front part of the eye – so that light traveling through it is properly focused onto the retina at the back of the eye.

The advantages of LASIK eye surgery include its high success rate. More than 90% of patients normally achieve their desired vision after LASIK surgery.

Many patients no longer need to wear eye glasses after Lasik surgery.

It is also associated with little pain and allows people to return to normal very quickly without bandages or stitches.

The LASIK technique was initiated in Colombia in 1960 by Dr Jose Barraquer – who developed the first microkeratome used to cut thin flaps in the cornea and alter its shape. This procedure – called keratomileusis – was initially developed in his clinic. The surgery procedure was further developed in the 1990s and quickly became popular.

Normally patients stop wearing contact lenses a few days or weeks before surgery.

The surfaces of the patient's corneas are scanned by computer and laser in advance of surgery to create an exact map.The surgeon uses this information to calculate the amount and locations of corneal tissue to be removed during the operation.

The operation is performed with the patient awake but they are typically given a mild sedative and anesthetic eye drops. Antibiotics are typically prescribed beforehand to minimize the risk of infection.

The initial step is to create a flap of corneal tissue. A hinge is left at one end of this flap and the flap is folded back, revealing the stroma, the middle section of the cornea.

The second step is to use an excimer laser to remodel the corneal stroma. The layers of tissue removed are tens of micrometers thick. The patient's vision will become very blurry once the flap is lifted and this can be disconcerting.

After the laser has reshaped the cornea, the flap is repositioned over the treatment area by the surgeon.

The process usually takes about 10 minutes.

Although Lasik surgery has many pluses, the disadvantages include the fact that changes made to the cornea cannot be reversed. Any problems can permanently affect vision and it can very occasionally cause a loss of "best" vision.

Before having Lasik surgery, you will be given a full explanation of the process, your medical history will be evaluated and your eyes will be fully examined.

After the initial evaluation, your surgeon will answer any questions you may have.

You will receive an explanation of what to expect in the first couple of days. You will revisit the doctor for an evaluation 24 to 48 hours after surgery as well as at regular intervals within the first six months.

How to Choose the Right Eyeglass Lenses

There are many different types of eyeglass lenses available on the market. At Primary Eyecare we can help explain your options and find which are best for your glasses. Eyeglass lenses have advanced very much over the years. The new eyeglass lenses are now thinner, lighter, and more scratch resistant. A few options include polycarbonate lenses, trivex lenses, high index plastic lenses, photochromic lenses, and polarized lenses.

Polycarbonate lenses are a more durable lens, but they are thin and light. These lens are optimal for people who play sports or children. Trivex lenses are very similar to the polycarbonate lens but may have better correction for some. High index plastic lenses are for individuals who need a very strong prescription. Photochromic lenses are the lenses that are able to change from clear to tinted, so you have glasses and sunglasses within one frame. Polarized lenses are available for prescription sunglasses and help the reflection of light that causes glare.

At Primary Eyecare we determine what shape of lens is proper for your vision. This is an important factor because some lenses curve inward and some curve outward depending if you are nearsighted or farsighted. For people with astigmatism cylinder shaped lenses are typically needed. The availability of some lenses may depend on the style frame that you choose as well, but typically any frame can fit any lens.

Don’t let picking out eyeglasses be overwhelming. Come to Primary Eyecare and let our professional team assist you with your eyeglasses to ensure that you get exactly what you need for your eyes.

Would you give up an arm or a leg for your eyesight?

How aware are we about eye health issues? A recent study by Bausch and Lomb showed that almost 7 out of 10 people would rather give up a decade of their life, or even lose a limb, than go blind. Yet less than 30% of those same people take the most basic prevention measures to protect their vision.

Bausch and Lomb’s study, in conjunction with its partner KRC Research, polled 11,000 consumers in 11 countries about their awareness, attitudes and behaviours surrounding eye and vision health. Clearly, the benefits of having good vision are important to us, as the following key results showed:
• If forced to choose, people would rather lose their sense of taste (79%), hearing (78%), one of their limbs (68%) or 10 years off their life (67%) instead of their eyesight.
• Three-fourths of people would rather have their pay cut in half than have a permanent 50% decline in the quality of their vision.

So where is the disconnect? The study showed an overall lack of understanding of how preventive eye care relates to preserving vision. Here are a number of common misperceptions revealed by the study:
• 44% of those polled admitted they thought “I don’t need an eye test unless there is a problem”
• 42% said they believe “If I can see, then my eyes must be healthy.”
• 39% honestly believed “The only reason to visit an eye doctor is for vision corrections.”
• When it came to their eyes, 30% of those surveyed believed “If it doesn’t hurt, it’s not serious.”

In fact, 80% of vision impairment is preventable, many common eye diseases have no symptoms at all in their early stages, and up to 150 different diseases of the body may be detectable during an eye exam, including common conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Other interesting results from B&L’s study:

• Women were more likely than men to take steps to protect their vision, such as wearing sunglasses (81% vs. 77%), eating a healthy diet (82% vs. 75%) and refraining from smoking (79% vs. 73%).
• Married people were more likely than singles to have had a comprehensive eye exam in the past year (46% married vs. 38% single).
• For those who did not have regular eye exams, 65% said they had not visited an eye doctor because they did not have any symptoms and 60% because they had clear vision, dangerous reasoning since many eye diseases occur without any noticeable signs to the patient as mentioned above.
• 97% of doctors surveyed globally believe consumers do not have sufficient eye health knowledge.
• 94% of eye health professionals said women took better care of their eyes than men.

Hopefully the results of this research will help educate consumers on the importance of routine eye examinations to help prevent eye disease, as well as detect other chronic bodily conditions.

“People care deeply about their eyesight, but they’re simply not taking basic steps to preserve their vision. We need to bridge that gap,” said Cal Roberts M.D, B&L’s chief medical officer. “We hope this research will be an eye opener and it will encourage people around the world to take better care of their eyes to help improve their vision and overall quality of life.”

Complementing Your Hairstyle with Your Glasses

So, you just bought a fabulous pair of eyeglasses. They look great with your face shape, coloring and style. The only problem is your hairstyle isn’t going well with the new frames.

Here are some tips on matching your hairstyle to your glasses.

As a glasses wearer, you already know how difficult it is maintaining a fabulous hairdo if you have to constantly take your glasses on and off. This messes up the ‘do you spent so much time perfecting. Go for a hairstyle that keeps the hair away from your glasses, this will help the strands stay put.

Keep your bangs trimmed often, as they may interfere with your glasses and can look unkept if left too long. Bangs look great with light frames, so avoid large glasses, or frames that are too thick and heavy if you have bangs.

Color

If you normally keep your hair the same color, select a frame that will match your hair color, or complement it. Brown hair looks great with metal or dark frames. Blonde hair looks good with transparent or very light frames. Redheads look good in just about any color except white or yellow.

Style

When styling your hair for glasses, make sure the hairdo is in balance with the frame. When wearing a style that pulls your hair away from your face (i.e ponytail or bun), remember that your face will get extra focus with your glasses on. Your glasses can be used to either draw attention to your hairstyle, or to divert that attention.

• Your glasses should accent your hairstyle and the frame should match the strongest element of your style.
• If you want the best style to show off your fabulous frame, try a short hairstyle.
• Almost any style that pulls the hair off of your face will look good with any frame.
• A side-part looks great with square-shaped glasses.

Match your frame to your hairstyle

For wide frames, avoid hairstyles with lots of volume on the sides. Try hairstyles with a bit of height on the top. Chunky, textured bangs, long end lengths with no volume and short style with strong vertical lines also work well with square frames.

When wearing large frames, avoid long hairstyles with no volume, straight styles, or short pixie cuts. Styles that look best with large frames are proportion hairstyles and long, layered styles with volume on the sides.

With small frames, it is best to avoid styles that box in the face. Short, cropped styles with some wave highlight the face, showing off your frames.