What are Cataracts? When Should You Contact an Eye Doctor?

When the eyes natural lens becomes clouded with clumped up proteins then you are developing cataracts. These clumped proteins block light from entering the eye, which causes your vision to become increasingly blurrier over time and if left unresolved will result in the complete loss of your vision.

Clouded lenses will negatively impact your quality of life because you will be unable to drive, read, or do many other things that you would regularly do.

Cataracts typically develop pretty slowly and in the beginning, you likely will not even notice a difference in your vision. Over time, however, your sight will begin to get worse. Interestingly, there are times during the cataract development phase where your vision might even appear to be clearer, but if this happens it will likely only be for a short amount of time.

In the beginning, you can counteract the negative effects to your vision from cataracts with good lighting and prescription glasses, but you will need to eventually undergo a cataract surgery to completely remove the effects of cataracts from your vision. If not removed, the cataract will only grow larger and continue to cloud your vision worse and worse until your lens is completely blocked by proteins and you will no longer be able to see.

When should you call your eye doctor?

The only real way to cataracts early is by having routine eye exams with a trained eye doctor. Only a professional eye doctor can ensure your eyes remain in tip top shape and detect cataracts. If you experience a rapid decline in vision then you should immediately consult your eye care doctor and schedule an eye exam as this could be indicative of cataracts or other possible eye disease that requires medical attention.

We always try out best when it comes to protecting our skin, but not enough of us take the same care to protect our eyesight. Protecting your eyesight is very important and essential if you hope to have good quality vision by the time you are in your 40s.

Your risk of vision loss gets higher and higher as you get older and if you don’t take care of your vision while you are young those risks get even worse.

Here are 4 things you can do to make sure you’re taking care of your eyesight:

1. Avoid digital eye strain: Screens are everywhere we go, so it is hard to avoid them. Staring at screens for long periods of time can result in what is called “digital eye strain.” Digital eye strain can result in your eyes hurting and feeling dry, you can also experience headaches. There is something simple and easy that you can do to help protect your eyes against digital eye strain and it is called the “20-20-20 rule.” What this means is every 20 minutes of time spent staring at a screen you should take a 20 second break to stare at something 20 feet away. It may sound silly, but this will help your eyes reset and prevent symptoms of eye strain.
2. Exercise proper contact lens usage: This means you need to take them out before bed and wash them using only contact lens cleaning solution. Sleeping in your contacts increases your risk of developing serious eye complications such as eye infection. You may be tempted to lick your contact lens to clean it, but this is a terrible idea. Our mouths are full of all kinds of bacteria which don’t belong in our eyes!
3. Get your eyes checked regularly: Make sure to never skip your annual eye exam. Not all eye diseases have visible symptoms right away, so it is important to get your eyes scanned frequently so you can catch these potential eye risks early.
4. Utilize eye protection: Approximately 2.5 million eye injuries occur in North America every year, so it is important that you are taking the necessary steps to protection your vision from possible dangers. Eye injuries most commonly occur while playing sports such as baseball and football or doing DIY projects such as gardening and home repair. Make sure the eye protection you use is always up to ANSI-approved standards so that it can properly protect your vision.

Over 20 million people in North America alone suffer from severe vision loss. Not all of these eye diseases can be prevented or cured, but there are some things you can do to help your eyes remain healthy and possibly lower your risks of developing serious vision loss.

Here are 4 things you can do to avoid severe vision loss:

1. Utilize UV blocking sunglasses: Overexposure to the suns harmful UV rays can increase your risks of developing cataracts. Sunglasses that are certified to block 95 to 100 percent of UVA-A and UV-B rays can protect your eyes against the suns harmful rays. These sunglasses prevent retinal damage and protect your eyelids being sunburned as well—a nice side effect of this is it also helps prevent wrinkles.
2. Don’t smoke: At this point it probably has begun to sound like a broken record, but you should avoid smoking and if you smoke already then it is time to quit! Aside from the risk of lung cancer, smoking can cause some serious side effects to your eyes as well. Smoking increases your risks of developing cataracts and accelerates age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
3. Take your vitamins: If you have a vitamin deficiency it can impair your retinal functions. There is some truth behind the “eat your carrots” eye health claims, but in all actuality, there are a lot of other vegetables out there that can be just as beneficial, if not more beneficial for your retinal health. Studies have shown that diets with high levels of vitamin E and C, lutein, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and zeaxanthin can help to reduce your risks of developing advanced AMD.
4. Regular eye screenings: Just because you aren’t showing any signs of eye disease does not mean you aren’t at risk of eye disease. You should get regular vision screenings to properly assess and maintain your eye health. Not all eye diseases show visible symptoms early in their development, so it is important to catch those diseases early to properly treat or slow down the progression of said eye disease. It is important to consult your eye care physician and set up routine screenings to properly maintain your eye health, especially if your family has a history with eye disease.

We value our eyesight above many things, but not a lot of us think about how to best protect our vision as we get older. Every day we are faced with decisions that can have an effect on our vision over time. It is important that we take the time to think about our eye health and do what we can do help maintain good vision.

Here are 3 simple things that you can do to protect your vision:

1. Keep screens at an arm’s reachIn today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with digital devices and computer screens. We use them at work, we use them at home and we see them in almost every store and restaurant—everywhere we look there are digital devices! The brightness of these computer monitors can cause our eyes to become strained. Studies also show that while looking at digital devices we blink a lot less than usual.

   If possible we should try to keep screens about an arm’s length away from our eyes to reduce the strain.

2. Don’t forget to blinkWe typically blink 15 to 20 times a minute, but when we are using digital screens we blink about half as much. Blinking plays an important role in refreshing the surface of our eyes. When we blink, tears are spread over our cornea and like a windshield wiper it wipes away dust and other free radicals. If like many others, you work with computers on a daily basis then probably regularly deal with symptoms of digital eye strain and dry eye. One technique you can utilize to reduce these symptoms is the 20/20/20 rule—this rule states that every 20 minutes you should look away from your computer at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will allow your eyes to blink more naturally and give them an opportunity to reset.
3. Eat your greensYes, yes, yes… We have all heard that we need to eat our carrots to maintain good vision, but there are a lot of other good food choices out there that have benefits for your eye health. Green vegetables are actually some of the best options for your eye health because they are jammed with lutein and zeaxanthin. These two nutrients are said to reduce the effects of excessive exposure to digital screens and other sources of glare.

So it is Spring! The beautiful season of blooming flowers and life, but wait isn’t there something else about Spring that isn’t so great? Right! The allergies! How could we forget about the allergies? Runny nose, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, irritated skin—all the good stuff! Spring is certainly a beautiful season, but the itchy eyes can be a real drag! So what can you do to protect your eyes during the Spring time to reduce irritation?

Here are a 3 things you can do this Spring to protect your eyes:

• Wear Some SunglassesWe recommend wearing sunglasses when you are outside, not only is this going to protect your eyes from the suns harmful rays, but it will also help to stop pollen from blowing into your eyes! Also, wearing some slick shades in the Spring is a great look!
• Wash Those HandsThis is cleanliness 101 people! Always make sure your hands are clean, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Pollen can easily get on your hands and the average person touches their face a lot every day. This creates a situation where you can rub pollen into your eyes and cause a lot of irritation and redness. Probably not a bad idea to keep some eye drops handy to keep your eyes clear of pollen.
• Filter That AirObviously, when you are outdoors you are exposed to a lot of allergens in the Spring, but the indoors can be just as bad. Pollen is so small that it can easily blow through the screens on your windows, so if you regularly have the windows open, expect to deal with the same allergy issues you would deal with in the outdoors. One thing you can do to help reduce the allergens in the air in your home is to get a high efficiency particular air (HEPA) filter. This air filter will help to regular the air in your home and remove allergens.

Spring is in the air as they say, just make sure you are taking precautions to protect your eyes from pollen and other free radicals. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy this beautiful time of year!

During winter, it can seem impossible to keep every part of your body covered and protected from the elements. Just like your hands need gloves, and you need snow boots to keep your feet toasty, there are things that you can do to keep your eyes healthy during the winter as well. Whether you’re living in a humid climate, or dealing with snowstorms, check out these 5 easy things you can do this winter.

Stay Hydrated

It may seem like a no-brainer, but make sure you’re drinking plenty of fluids, especially water. When the temperatures are dropping and winds are blowing hard, it’s easy for your eyes to lose moisture. Without proper hydration, your eyes may feel dry, sandy, or just plain uncomfortable. Drinking at least eight ounces of water every few hours is an easy way to keep hydration at the front of your mind. Pick up a water bottle that you like, and make sure to fill it up when it’s getting low. It may seem difficult at first, but drinking water will soon become a habit you may even enjoy.

Stock up on sunglasses and eyewear protection

There’s a lot of incredibly fun activities to indulge in when it’s cold and snowy outside. Ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, and tubing are just some of the activities we all love. If you know you’ll be spending a lot of time outside, make sure you have proper eyewear protection. It may not feel like it, but the sun is still beating down on you during the winter, and harmful UV rays could be bouncing off the snow into your eyes. If you wear contacts, make sure you’re using sunglasses that protect against 100% of all UV rays. For those that wear eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses are an easy way to stay protected, and still look great.

Apply Eye Drops When Needed

Chronic dry eye is nothing to joke about, but for those that suffer from seasonally dry eyes, artificial tears and eye drops are great tools to have in your arsenal. In the winter, it’s normal for everything from your hair to your skin to get drier, and that includes your eyes. If they start feeling too dry, eye drops are a really easy way to add some extra moisture. Combining liberal use of eye drops and extra hydration through drinking water can make an immense difference during dry winters.

Stay Away From Direct Heat Sources

Staying warm all winter is important, but there are smart ways to do it. If you’re staying inside, make sure to stay away from fire places. You can stay warm even if you’re not directly in front of a fireplace inside. Fireplaces can dry out your eyes and skin, so keeping some distance is a smart way to stay toasty. The same goes for outdoor fires. Don’t stand too close, as the smoke from the fire can aggravate delicate eyes and dry them out if you’re not at a safe distance.

Talk To Your Doctor If Dry Eye Becomes A Problem

If you’re following these tips and your eyes still feel dryer than the Sahara, it may be time to talk to your eye doctor. Dry eye is an incredibly common condition that millions of Americans are diagnosed with each year. Although there’s no cure, dry eye can be managed with prescription medications and artificial tear drops. Don’t let winter get the best of you this season; make the smart choice and schedule a time to talk about your eye health instead.

With age comes many amazing things, like wisdom and experience from the world around you. But what many people don’t expect is for their eyesight to change. Eye health is important no matter what age you are, but older, aging eyes require a yearly comprehensive eye exam. Before your next eye exam, make sure you know about these common eye conditions!

1. CataractsDoes your vision feel like it’s become less clear over the years? If you’re in your forties, fifties, or sixties, you may have developed cataracts. Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, making your vision less clear.With cataracts, the world around you will become harder and harder to see, as it lacks the precision and clarity you may have been used to in your youth. The good news? Cataracts are easily treatable with laser surgery. Cataract surgery is one of the most common eye surgeries performed, making it safe and easy to recover from. For cataracts that go untreated permanent, and severe vision loss can occur.
2. Dry EyeLiving in a digital age has many pros and cons. One great thing about the digital world is how connected we are to the world around us, no matter where we may be. But increasingly, people are finding this may not be the best thing, especially for your vision. Sitting in front of laptops, second monitors, tablets, and smartphones means we’re almost never disconnected from technology.This constant connection means your eyes are taking the brunt of the damage in the form of eye strain. Along with eye strain, many people are suffering from dry eye. Dry eye occurs when the eye’s tear film is negatively affected. Sufferers of dry eye could have dry, scratchy eyes, or eyes that tear up uncontrollably. Although there is no cure for dry eye, there are treatments available like artificial tears, eye drops, and punctal implants that can help control the symptoms of dry eye. Even if you aren’t diagnosed with dry eye, it’s important to take frequent breaks away from your computer screens and devices.
3. GlaucomaGlaucoma is often thought of as the silent thief of eyesight and vision. Glaucoma develops when pressure in the eye is higher than normal. The only way to know for sure if you have glaucoma is to go to your yearly comprehensive eye exams. Your eye doctor will be able to determine if the pressure in your eye is at a normal and healthy level.It’s also important to let your eye doctor know if anyone in your family has had glaucoma, as it can be something you are predisposed to genetically. If glaucoma is untreated, it will lead to peripheral vision loss, and even blindness. Glaucoma can be treated in a variety of ways, including medicated eye drops, surgery, or lasers.

Want to learn more about these common eye conditions? There’s never been a better time to schedule an appointment to talk to your eye doctor. Keeping up to date on yearly comprehensive eye exams will keep your eyes in the best health possible!

When it comes to nutrition, we have a lot of options available for us when we go to the grocery store every day. What we eat can have an effect on our health and ultimately that effects every part of our body. Even our eyes can be effected by our diet, so making smart choices with what we eat could possibly be the difference between clear or blurry as we get older.

Here is a list of nutrients that you should work into your daily diet to keep your eyes healthy:

• • Lutein and Zeaxanthin: These are essential antioxidants that can reduce your risks of developing chronic eye disease, such as age-related macular degeneration. Zeaxanthin is considered to be the most active antioxidant in the macula.
    Recommended food sources: dark leafy greens vegetables, eggs, broccoli, kiwi, grapes, goji berries.
  • Vitamin A: These vitamins are considered to help the cornea, retina and other eye tissue. Some studies suggest that vitamin A can help your night vision.
    Recommended food sources: fish, milk, beef liver, eggs, spinach and carrots.

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>Vitamin C: This antioxidant is said to lower your risks of developing cataracts and slows the progression of age-related macular degeneration.
Recommended food sources: oranges, peppers, cauliflower, papaya, berries, brussels sprouts.

• Vitamin E: Another strong antioxidant that is said to protect your eyes cells from damage caused by harmful free radicals.
  Recommended food sources: almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, vegetable oils and peanut butter.
• Essential Fatty Acids: While fats tend to be something that you are told to cut in a healthy diet, there are some fats that are good for you. Omega-3 fatty acids are said to play an important role in maintaining consistent retinal function.
  Recommended food sources: salmon, tuna, anchovies, trout, walnuts and green vegetables.

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Recent studies suggest that exercise can help to alleviate some eye pressure, which can potentially help if you have glaucoma. Now you might be thinking, “well, how much do I need to work out to get results?” The great thing is, you don’t need to work out rigorously to see results.

Studies show that you can lower your Intraocular Pressure (IOP) by doing exercises that raise your pulse only by 20%. You can raise your pulse by 20% by simply taking a 20-minute walk four times a week. Regular exercise might be helpful in preventing vision loss from glaucoma, but only an eye doctor can accurately assess your situation and tell you if exercise is helping you.

There are some forms of glaucoma, such as pigmentary glaucoma, that exercises do not have a positive effect on. In certain forms of glaucoma vigorous exercise can actually cause an increase in Intraocular Pressure.

While exercise can have benefits in lowering your Intraocular Pressure, you should consult with an eye care physician to know if it is the right decision for you. Exercise is great for your overall health, but cannot be treated as a substitute for glaucoma medication designed to lower your IOP.

Like the rest of our bodies, our eyes are affected by our health, so it is important that we keep our health in our consideration if we want to maintain good vision. Here are a few easy ways you can help to maintain the health of your eyes as you get older.

Eat right: Eating a nutrition rich diet full of vegetables and fruits is an important piece of the good eye health puzzle. Kale and Spinach are great examples of leafy greens that are essential in your diet for proper eye nutrition. Some studies have also shown that eating fatty fish with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids such as, salmon and halibut can have eye health benefits.

Use protective eyewear: Before going out on the football field, make sure you are taking the necessary precautions to protect your vision with the application of protective eyewear. Protective eyewear is important for more than just football players however, so make sure that you get your protective eyewear on before doing anything very active outdoors.

Wear sunglasses: When you go outdoors, make sure you equip those cool shades. Besides being a fantastic fashion accessory, sunglasses also play an important role in protecting your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.. Make sure your sunglasses block out 99% – 100% of UV-A and UV-B rays.

Control your weight: This goes hand-in-hand with eating right. Becoming obese can dramatically increase your risks of developing diabetes and other health problems, that can cause vision loss. Those who are obese can develop diabetic retinopathy or possibly glaucoma. If you are having difficulty controlling your weight then it is probably for the best for you to contact your physician.

Handle contact lenses properly: If you are a contact lens user, then it is important that you are cleaning your lenses regularly and not overusing them. It is easy to cut corners with simple daily routines, but cutting corners with your contact lens hygiene can prove dangerous for your eyes health. Serious eye infections and complications can occur by exposing your eyes to bacteria trapped onto the contact lens.