Category: Eye Health

Suffering from eye discomfort or blurry vision can be scary, especially if it comes on suddenly or is a result of a dramatic event. Below are some of the common eye-related disorders. However, remember that common doesn’t mean it should be ignored. If you are experiencing any of these systems or if you have questions about your eye health, call us to schedule an appointment with one of our caring eye care professionals.

Symptom One: Red Eyes

Many things can cause red or bloodshot eyes, including allergies, pink eye, or eye trauma. Our eye care professionals can help determine the cause of your redness and develop a treatment plan for you! Be sure to mention your red-eye symptoms when scheduling your appointment!

Symptom Two: Itchy Eyes

Itchy eyes are one of the most common eye symptoms that people experience. Again, there are many potential causes that could lead to itchy eyes, including allergies, contact lens usage, and prolonged use of digital devices. Even though it may provide temporary relief, you should never rub your eyes as it can add allergens or bacteria into your eye, compounding the issue.

Symptom Three: Puffy Eyes

Swelling around the eyes is due to excessive fluids in the skin tissue, but there are a variety of reasons for that extra fluid to be present. Allergies, Dehydration, overconsumption of salt, lack of sleep, stress, and crying can all lead to eyes appearing puffy.

Symptom Four: Burning Sensation in Eyes

If certain products, makeup, facial cleaners, or shampoo, come in contact with our eyes, we may experience a burning sensation in our eyes. If the burning sensation is a continued problem, identify your surroundings and the products you are using and try to reduce your exposure. If reducing your exposure isn’t an option, or if you are still suffering, call our office to schedule an appointment.

Symptom Five: Spots in Vision

Although this sounds scary, it isn’t necessarily a reason to worry. Spots or floaters are caused by protein and tissue in the gel-like matter in your eyes, and it is normal to occasionally see spots in your vision. This will even become increasingly common with age. If you are experiencing more spots or floaters than normal, call our practice to schedule an appointment, and be sure to mention your vision changes!

Symptom Six: Painful Eyes

Call our office immediately if you have a foreign body enter your eye or if you are experiencing prolonged eye pain. While waiting for your appointment, remain calm, avoid rubbing your eye, and do not try to remove the object yourself. When speaking with our team, we may ask you to describe your symptoms in detail to help us pinpoint the cause.

Our team of trained professionals is here to answer all of your eye-related questions! Schedule an appointment with us today, even if your eye health feels like it is in perfect condition!

Thinking about giving contact lenses a try but nervous they might not be right for you? Although the only guaranteed way to have a positive experience with contact lenses is to schedule an appointment with one of our eye care professionals, we want to address some of the common myths we hear about wearing contact lenses.

Myth One: I’m too old to wear contact lenses.

Some people believe once they reach a certain age, contact lenses are no longer appropriate or possible. If you develop the need for a corrective perception later in life and worry contact lenses will not work, talk to our team! We can explore your options for making contact lenses fit into your prescriptive needs and your lifestyle.

Myth Two: My child is too young to wear contact lenses.

On the flip side, most parents are cautious about their children wearing contact lenses. There are no age restrictions on wearing contacts. However, we like to ensure your child is responsible and mature enough to manage the application, removal, and care of contact lenses. If your child has expressed interest in contact lenses, our staff can advise whether they would be a suitable fit.

Myth Three: Contact lenses will get lost behind my eye.

We hear this one a lot, and we are here to confirm that this is physically impossible. Although contact lenses can shift in your eyes, there is a membrane that covers your eye which connects inside your eyelid that prevents anything from getting behind your eye. So even if your contact shifts slightly, never panic. It can be easily adjusted.

Myth Four: Contact lenses can get stuck to the eye.

This is another popular misconception. However, we believe it originates from improper wear, care, and removal, and not because contact lenses are a bad solution for individuals. In most situations where a contact feels stuck, your eye may simply be dry. Applying some rewetting drops should loosen them up and make them easy to remove.

Myth Five: I’ll never be able to put in contact lenses.

Placing contact lenses directly on your eye can be scary, especially the first few times, but our team is here to help! Our trained professionals will coach you through the process and ensure you are confident in your abilities to put in and take out your contact lenses before leaving the office.

We hope by debunking some of these common myths, your eyes are open to the idea of wearing contact lenses. Don’t let fear ruin your chances of living happily with contact lenses. Schedule an appointment with our team to talk about your specific needs, and we can explore your options together!

Cataracts affect about 24 million Americans and are the leading cause of blindness in the world.* Cataracts are a natural part of aging but should be addressed as they start to affect your vision. If you are over the age of 40, we recommend scheduling a yearly comprehensive eye exam to detect cataracts as they develop. Want to learn more about the cause, symptoms, and treatment of cataracts? Read below!

What causes cataracts?

Cataracts are the clumping together of proteins within the lens of your eye, causing cloudiness in your vision. While health issues like diabetes, obesity, smoking, ultraviolet radiation, and family history can influence your development of cataracts, your eyes and body’s natural aging also leads to cataracts. As you age, cataracts may begin to develop and get larger or more severe over time naturally.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. If you start to experience any of the following symptoms associated with cataracts, schedule an appointment with our office.

• Slight blur in vision
• Dim or cloudy vision
• Light sensitivity (sunlight or lamps seem too bright)
• Colors appear faded
• Reduced night vision quality

Types of cataracts

Subcapsular

Subcapsular cataracts, most commonly found in individuals with diabetes, typically occur in the back of the lens. Because of where it develops, you may notice symptoms of degraded night vision or difficulty reading first.

Nuclear

Nuclear cataracts are the most common and are associated with aging and occur in the central zone of the lens.

Cortical

Cortical cataracts are the opposite of Nuclear cataracts and begin in the outer part of the lens, interfering with light passage through the eye.

Are cataracts preventable?

Lower your risk of developing cataracts by maintaining your body and eye health.

• Schedule a yearly comprehensive eye exam! 
• Stop smoking!  Smoking can increase your risk of cataracts.
• Continuing treatment if you have diabetes or other medical conditions will help minimize your risk.
• Prevent ultraviolet radiation by wearing 100% UV blocking sunglasses.

Treating cataracts

If you are experiencing symptoms listed above or are concerned you may be developing cataracts, call our office to schedule an appointment. During your appointment, we will examine your eyes and provide the best recommendation to manage your cataracts or recommend surgery if needed. Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear lens to improve your vision.

Have more specific questions about cataracts, your risk, or treatment options? Call our office to schedule an appointment and let us know you would like to learn more about cataracts!

*National Eye Institute (https://nei.nih.gov)