Fall Allergies
Seasonal allergies are the most common cause for allergic conjunctivitis. During the late summer and early fall weed pollen is released into the air and carried by the wind to pollinate like plants for reproduction. These microscopic pollen particles will also make their way into our nose, eyes and throats causing allergic reactions. The most common weeds during the fall season include grasses, ragweed, sagebrush, pigweed tumbleweed and cocklebur and some trees also pollinate during the fall season as well.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms are itchy eyes, watery eyes and burning eyes. As the pollen allergens settle into the moist mucous membrane of the eye they will cause your eyes to become irritated. They will begin to itch and tear. Most patients will begin to rub their eyes unknowingly making the condition worse. The eyes then will become red and inflamed. If you are a contact wearer allergy season can become a nightmare. Most patients have to stop wearing their contacts and return to their glasses for a period of time. Hopefully your glasses have an updated prescription.
Treatments
Many suggest that when the pollen count is at its highest remain indoors with the windows closed. Avoidance would be the best solution, but not always possible. Try to keep your hands away from your eyes, instead use a cold compress for relief of itching and burning. There are many over the counter decongestant allergy drops and artificial tears that work well for some patients and are less expensive. But if your condition worsens it would be best to seek treatment from an ophthalmologist who can prescribe a prescription for an anti-inflammatory or corticosteroid drop. Your ophthalmologist can monitor your progress and keep you on your drops for a safe amount of time.
If you are a contact wearer and cannot tolerate going through another allergy season we recommend having a free consultation with Dr. Nielsen to see if you are a LASIK candidate. Just imagine better vision and a life without the hassle and irritation of contacts and glasses. Please call 1-877-373-2020 today for your free V.I.P. consultation.
Welcome to our blog, where we discuss eye health and relevant issues, as well as the most up to date information about refractive surgery such as LASIK and cataract.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
UV Eye Safety
The sun is at its highest point of the year, making for longer, hotter days for us all to enjoy. This also means more exposure to UV rays which are three times more powerful than in the winter months. Luckily, thanks to years of public education campaigns since sunscreen was first introduced to the American market in the late 1960’s, many beachgoers and sun-lovers are now wearing SPF lotions to protect their skin from these dangerous rays. However, skin-protection is not enough, and people need to be aware of how important it is to protect their eyes as well.
UV rays are responsible for a bevy of sun-related medical eye issues: Photokeratitis (sunburn to the cornea), snow blindness, cataracts, macular degeneration and even eye cancer. Needless to say, consumers should be making their purchasing decisions based on the UV protection the sunglasses offer – not on fashion. However, sunglasses have become an iconic fashion accessory, symbolizing coolness in American pop culture. They come in different styles and can be seen, day and night, on bad-boy actors, fashionistas, and rap stars. Shades can make the common man look suave, but more importantly, they are intended to prevent eye damage. So here’s the big question: are people wearing the right kind of sunglasses, for the right reasons? According to the June 2010 issue of Prevention, the majority of consumers are basing their sunglass purchases on style and price, rather than on the level of UV protection. In addition, many choose darker shades thinking that they will offer better protection. Contrarily, dark lenses without the proper UV protection can be even more harmful than lighter lenses because they cause pupils to dilate and let in more light. Lenses, no matter what shade they are, get their UV protection from adding a chemical to the lens material, or applying a chemical coating to the surface of the lens. Without these special chemicals, they are basically useless – no matter how dark they are.
So what are the right kind of sunglasses to wear? When purchasing, consumers should look for sunglasses with a sticker promising at least 99% UV-A and UV-B protection. They should also choose large specs, such as the celebrity-style shades that have become popular in recent years (i.e., Paris Hilton, the Olsen Twins). When looking for the right size lens make sure the sunglasses span the brow and cheek bones and have wide temple arms (part that rests over ears and wraps side of head). These broad arms will protect from stray rays that can enter from the sides of glasses. Glasses that fit close to the face will also help deter stray light. Lastly, don’t evaluate the effectiveness of the sunglasses on price. Many lower priced sunglasses provide the same protection as expensive ones (just follow the above criteria when evaluating). Remember, with high priced sunglasses you may be paying for the label (designer name), style and frame quality, but none of this equates to protective UV ray blocking ability.
UV rays are responsible for a bevy of sun-related medical eye issues: Photokeratitis (sunburn to the cornea), snow blindness, cataracts, macular degeneration and even eye cancer. Needless to say, consumers should be making their purchasing decisions based on the UV protection the sunglasses offer – not on fashion. However, sunglasses have become an iconic fashion accessory, symbolizing coolness in American pop culture. They come in different styles and can be seen, day and night, on bad-boy actors, fashionistas, and rap stars. Shades can make the common man look suave, but more importantly, they are intended to prevent eye damage. So here’s the big question: are people wearing the right kind of sunglasses, for the right reasons? According to the June 2010 issue of Prevention, the majority of consumers are basing their sunglass purchases on style and price, rather than on the level of UV protection. In addition, many choose darker shades thinking that they will offer better protection. Contrarily, dark lenses without the proper UV protection can be even more harmful than lighter lenses because they cause pupils to dilate and let in more light. Lenses, no matter what shade they are, get their UV protection from adding a chemical to the lens material, or applying a chemical coating to the surface of the lens. Without these special chemicals, they are basically useless – no matter how dark they are.
So what are the right kind of sunglasses to wear? When purchasing, consumers should look for sunglasses with a sticker promising at least 99% UV-A and UV-B protection. They should also choose large specs, such as the celebrity-style shades that have become popular in recent years (i.e., Paris Hilton, the Olsen Twins). When looking for the right size lens make sure the sunglasses span the brow and cheek bones and have wide temple arms (part that rests over ears and wraps side of head). These broad arms will protect from stray rays that can enter from the sides of glasses. Glasses that fit close to the face will also help deter stray light. Lastly, don’t evaluate the effectiveness of the sunglasses on price. Many lower priced sunglasses provide the same protection as expensive ones (just follow the above criteria when evaluating). Remember, with high priced sunglasses you may be paying for the label (designer name), style and frame quality, but none of this equates to protective UV ray blocking ability.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Cataract Awareness Month
August is cataract awareness month so now is an excellent time to start getting educated about this common condition which could be affecting you or a loved one. Cataracts are a leading source of decreased vision in older adults, and according to the World Health Organization, approximately one in every six Americans, age 40 or older, are affected by them.
Cataracts cause a clouding of the lens inside the eye and blurred vision. They develop with age, as the eye’s lens thickens and loses both flexibility and transparency. Cataracts are a natural part of aging, but can also occur earlier in life due to eye injuries, specific medications, and certain diseases. Surgery is the only way to treat the condition: there are no glasses, drops or medications that will cure cataracts.
The most advanced form of surgery is micro-incision cataract surgery which utilizes ultrasonic technology. During this procedure the cataract is broken up with ultrasound technology and then removed through a micro-surgical incision. It is then replaced with a permanent artificial lens implant or intraocular lens (IOL). There are different types of IOLs; including single focus and multi focus lenses (also known as premium or lifestyle IOLs). The single focus lens corrects patients’ distance vision but they will still need reading glasses to see up close. In contrast, multi-focus lenses give patients a range of vision to see near, far and in between, without the aid of glasses for most of their daily tasks.
Generally, if someone has a cataract that is restricting their vision and they are in good health, they will be an excellent candidate for micro-incision cataract surgery. A surgeon’s extensive training and experience reduces the probability of risks. At the Nielsen Eye Center, South of Boston, MA, micro-incision cataract surgery is performed by Steven A. Nielsen, MD. He is a board certified ophthalmologist who had performed over 20,000 refractive surgeries, and is the most experienced multi focus lens implanter north of New York. His cataract procedures are done on an outpatient basis and usually take about five minutes. The majority of his patients are able to drive the next day.
Call 877-373-2020 or visit http://www.golasik.net/ to find out more about cataract surgery.
Cataracts cause a clouding of the lens inside the eye and blurred vision. They develop with age, as the eye’s lens thickens and loses both flexibility and transparency. Cataracts are a natural part of aging, but can also occur earlier in life due to eye injuries, specific medications, and certain diseases. Surgery is the only way to treat the condition: there are no glasses, drops or medications that will cure cataracts.
The most advanced form of surgery is micro-incision cataract surgery which utilizes ultrasonic technology. During this procedure the cataract is broken up with ultrasound technology and then removed through a micro-surgical incision. It is then replaced with a permanent artificial lens implant or intraocular lens (IOL). There are different types of IOLs; including single focus and multi focus lenses (also known as premium or lifestyle IOLs). The single focus lens corrects patients’ distance vision but they will still need reading glasses to see up close. In contrast, multi-focus lenses give patients a range of vision to see near, far and in between, without the aid of glasses for most of their daily tasks.
Generally, if someone has a cataract that is restricting their vision and they are in good health, they will be an excellent candidate for micro-incision cataract surgery. A surgeon’s extensive training and experience reduces the probability of risks. At the Nielsen Eye Center, South of Boston, MA, micro-incision cataract surgery is performed by Steven A. Nielsen, MD. He is a board certified ophthalmologist who had performed over 20,000 refractive surgeries, and is the most experienced multi focus lens implanter north of New York. His cataract procedures are done on an outpatient basis and usually take about five minutes. The majority of his patients are able to drive the next day.
Call 877-373-2020 or visit http://www.golasik.net/ to find out more about cataract surgery.
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