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Could Pain Around Your Eye Be Caused by Periorbital Cellulitis?
Periorbital cellulitis could be to blame if you're experiencing pain and swelling around your eye. Prompt treatment will prevent the infection from spreading to your eye.
What Is Periorbital Cellulitis?
Periorbital cellulitis occurs when your eyelid or the skin around your eye becomes infected. Although anyone can develop the infection, it most often affects children 2 or younger, according to WebMD.
Periorbital cellulitis can occur due to a scratch, cut, or insect bite on your eyelid or the skin surrounding the eye. The infection may also be caused by a sinus infection or a stye. A stye is a painful red bump that forms on the eyelid when an oil gland becomes clogged.
Bacteria enter your eye through cuts or openings in the skin or travel to the skin from the sinuses, causing swelling and redness around the eye. The area may be painful, particularly if you press on the swollen skin, and you may notice that the white part of the eye looks red. Although the infection is painful, it doesn't usually cause a fever or affect your vision. Periorbital cellulitis typically only affects one eye.
Periorbital Cellulitis Increases the Risk of Developing Orbital Cellulitis
Without treatment, periorbital cellulitis can become orbital cellulitis, a serious eye infection that can threaten your vision. Orbital cellulitis is an infection of the muscles and fat in the eye socket. Pain and swelling around the eye is also a symptom of orbital cellulitis. The swelling may spread to the cheek or eyebrow in some cases.
Other symptoms include:
Pain when you move your eye
A bulging eye
Headache
Purple or red skin on the eyelid
Trouble moving the eye
Difficulty seeing
Double vision
Eye and nose discharge
People who have orbital cellulitis usually don't feel well and have fevers. It's important to call your optometrist right away or go to the emergency room if you or a family member have these symptoms. Without treatment, orbital cellulitis may cause hearing or vision loss, optic nerve damage, blood infections, or meningitis, according to Medline Plus.
Treating Periorbital Cellulitis
Your doctor may recommend a computerized tomography (CT) scan to determine if your symptoms are caused by periorbital cellulitis or orbital cellulitis. A blood test may also be needed to determine the type of bacteria causing the infection.
Antibiotics kill the bacteria that cause periorbital cellulitis symptoms and can begin to improve your symptoms in just a day or two. People who have mild symptoms and are 1 year or older can often be treated at home with oral antibiotics. Younger children and people who have more severe symptoms may need to be hospitalized.
If periorbital cellulitis turns into orbital cellulitis, you'll need to receive intravenous (IV) antibiotics in the hospital. Surgery may also be needed to drain the infected area and reduce pressure around the eye.
Preventing Periorbital and Orbital Cellulitis in Children
The Hib vaccine can reduce your child's risk of developing both periorbital and orbital cellulitis. This vaccine offers protection from the Haemophilus influenzae type B, a type of bacteria that can cause cellulitis, meningitis, and other serious infections. The vaccine is usually given to children at 2 months and again at 12 - 15 months.
Don't ignore swelling or pain in or around the eye. Contacting our office as soon as you notice these symptoms will ease your pain and help you avoid serious complications that could threaten your vision.
Sources:
Medline Plus: Orbital Cellulitis
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib) VIS, 8/26/21 Type b
Essential Questions to Ask Your Optometrist During an Eye Exam
Will you be visiting the optometrist soon? During your next appointment with the eye doctor, you may want to ask a few of these questions.
How Often Should I See You?
Your optometrist will recommend an eye exam schedule based on your age and any eye conditions or diseases you may have. Although the ideal schedule varies from person to person, the American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends scheduling comprehensive eye examinations every two years between ages 18 to 64. Once you reach age 65, it's time to visit the optometrist every year.
Children should see the eye doctor once between 6 to 12 months of age, once between 3 to 5 years, before entering first grade, and annually between ages 6 to 17, according to the AOA.
More frequent exams may be needed if your vision changes or you currently wear contact lenses and glasses. You might also need to see the eye doctor more often if you have an eye condition or disease that requires careful monitoring.
Do I Have Any Signs of Eye Disease?
Signs and symptoms of eye diseases and conditions can be subtle. Unfortunately, your eyesight can be damaged even if you don't notice a change in your vision. By the time you do begin experiencing vision problems, the damage may be irreversible. Regular eye examinations help you ensure that your condition or disease will be treated promptly should you ever develop an eye disease or condition.
During your comprehensive eye examination, your optometrist conducts several tests that help him or her spot signs of common eye conditions, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and corneal ulcers.
You'll also discuss any changes to your health that could increase your risk of eye disease. For example, diabetes and high blood pressure can damage tiny blood vessels in your retina or cause them to leak, affecting your vision. Illnesses like shingles and Lyme disease can inflame various parts of the eyes, while liver disease could damage your corneas and the clear lenses inside your eyes.
Are Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses Best for Me?
You'll need to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses if you have a refractive error that causes myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, or presbyopia (difficulty seeing close objects as you get older). Your optometrist will help you decide which option is the better choice for you or write you a prescription for new contact lenses or glasses if you already wear them.
Contact lenses usually provide a little clearer vision than eyeglasses. You also won't have to worry about keeping your glasses secure when you play sports and won't have to deal with foggy lenses when it's cold outside.
Eyeglasses might be the better choice if you're not comfortable touching your eyes to put in or remove contact lenses, you have dry eyes, or don't want to bother with cleaning contact lenses.
Whether you plan to only wear eyeglasses or need a backup pair of glasses for times when you aren't wearing your contact lenses, you'll need to think about the best type of eyeglasses lenses for you. Your eye doctor will explain the various benefits of single vision, bifocal, trifocal, and progressive lenses during your visit.
Your eye doctor may also make a few recommendations based on your interests or lifestyle. For example, prescription goggles can help you see clearly if you ski, swim, or play sports, while sunglasses improve eye comfort and reduce your risk of developing cataracts or macular degeneration.
How Can I Protect My Eye Health?
Your appointment may also include a few tips that will help you keep your eyes healthy, such as:
Eating a healthy diet
Wearing eye protection when you use machinery or play sports
Taking frequent breaks when using digital devices to prevent eyestrain and dry eye
Throwing away eye makeup every few months
Giving up smoking (Smoking is a risk factor for cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye conditions.)
Washing your hands before handling your contact lenses
Is it time for your next comprehensive eye exam? Contact our office to schedule your appointment.
Sources:
American Optometric Association: Comprehensive Eye Examinations
All About Vision: Questions to Ask Your Eye Doctor, 1/21
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Common Eye Disorders and Diseases
Medicine Net: Are Contact Lenses Better Than Glasses?, 10/27/2
Helping Your Child Adjust to New Glasses
Whether your child just started wearing glasses for the first time or recently got new glasses, getting used to a pair of glasses can take a little time. These four tips may help ease the adjustment process.
Consider Your Child's Opinion When Selecting Frames
Chances are you wouldn't like wearing glasses very much if someone else insisted that you pick an unattractive pair. Your children probably feel the same way. In fact, they may be more likely to wear glasses without complaint if they choose them. Obviously, some factors may make some frames off-limits, but your kids should be able to find a stylish pair of frames in your price range.
Letting your child choose a special eyeglass case may also make wearing glasses more appealing. They may find a case that they really like at the optometrist's office, where there are plenty of cute, colorful choices.
Make Comfort a Priority
Eyeglasses aren't much fun to wear if they constantly slip down your nose, pinch your nose, or hurt your ears. When you help your child select glasses, consider the fit carefully. Make sure:
The frames cover at least 80 percent of your child's field of vision
Arms aren't too tight or too loose
Nose pads aren't uncomfortable
The frame isn't too heavy
The glasses don't slip down when your child bends his or her head
Although it's certainly possible to make some adjustments to the frames, it may not be possible to make an uncomfortable pair of glasses comfortable. If the glasses don't feel good when your child puts them on, they may not be the right choice.
No matter how well the glasses fit normally, they may slip a little when your child plays. Silicone ear locks or grips placed over the earpieces of the glasses prevent slipping and are barely noticeable.
Discuss the Adjustment Process
Let your child know that he or she may feel a little disoriented or notice slightly blurry vision after putting on a new pair of glasses. Headaches and eyestrain may also occur as your child gets used to his or her eyeglass prescription. All About Vision notes that these issues occur as the brain becomes accustomed to the new prescription.
Luckily, these issues usually go away in two to three days at most. While your child adjusts to the glasses, short breaks are perfectly okay, Although your child should try to wear the glasses most of the day, taking them off occasionally won't be harmful and may ease the adjustment process. If your son or daughter experiences issues that last longer than a few days, let your optometrist know.
Offer Encouragement
Wearing glasses may not seem quite as exciting once the novelty wears off. Compliments and encouragement can help your child feel better about wearing glasses, particularly if they have gotten a few negative comments at school.
If you start counting family members, friends, classmates, sports figures, and fictional characters who wear glasses, your child may be surprised at just how many people wear glasses. Reading books about getting glasses, such as "Arlo Needs Glasses" or "Peppa's First Glasses", may help young children feel more enthusiastic about wearing glasses.
Of course, rewards can also be helpful. Receiving stickers at the end of every day or choosing a small prize at the end of a week may give your child a little extra incentive to keep the glasses on.
Is it time for your child's next eye exam? Contact our office to schedule a visit for your son or daughter.
Sources:
All About Vision: Does It Take Long to Adjust to New Glasses?, 3/20
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus: Glasses for Children
How Cold Weather Affects Your Eyes
Have you noticed that your eyes become dry, itchy, or red when the temperature drops and cold winds blow? Winter weather can increase your risk of developing these four eye complaints.
1. Dry Eye
A layer of tears normally keeps your eyes moist and lubricated. Exposure to windy conditions and hot air can cause tears to evaporate, leaving your eyes dry and gritty. Other dry eye symptoms can include redness, pain, blurry vision, burning, itching, stringy discharge, discomfort when reading or using digital devices, or the feeling that's something stuck in your eye. Wind and hot air from your home or vehicle's heating system may also make your contact lenses feel dry and uncomfortable.
If dry eye is a constant problem for you no matter what the season, the natural drop in humidity during the winter months may only worsen the problem.
Fortunately, you can ease the pain of dry eyes by:
Using Over-the-Counter Liquid Tears or Rewetting Drops if You Wear Contacts
Wearing Glasses or Sunglasses on Windy Days
Taking Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements
Running a Humidifier to Increase Humidity Inside
Drinking More Liquids
Blinking Often
Avoiding Sitting or Working Near a Vent, Register, or Radiator
Taking a Break from Your Laptop or Digital Device Every Few Hours
Visiting Your Optometrist if Dry Eye Symptoms Continue
2. Too Many Tears
As strange as it may seem, watery eyes can actually be related to dry eye. When your eyes are dry, your body reacts by producing more tears in an attempt to remedy the problem. All of the tips mentioned above can be helpful if you notice that your eyes are often watery during cold weather.
3. Red, Itchy Eyes
Redness and itching can also be symptoms of allergies. Although seasonal allergens like pollen and grasses may no longer be a problem, you might still suffer from symptoms if you're allergic to dust mites, pet dander, or mold.
Since you spend more time indoors during the winter, your exposure to these substances increases, triggering eye symptoms. Harvard Health Publishing notes that allergens can be spread throughout your home by your furnace.
Improving your eye comfort can be as simple as:
Covering Bedding in Washable Dust Mite Covers
Vacuuming or Mopping Floors Often
Brushing Pets Outdoors if It's Not Too Cold
Replacing Pillows or Bedding That Contains Down or Feathers with Down-Alternative Products
Keeping Pets Out of Your Bedroom
Changing Sheets and Pillowcases Regularly
Taking Allergy Medication and Using Eye Drops to Relieve Symptoms
Changing Your Furnace Filter
4. Photokeratitis
If your eyes are red and painful after spending time outdoors, photokeratitis could be the cause. The condition may be more likely to occur if you spend time around snow and ice without wearing eye protection. Because both of these substances reflect the sun's rays, your corneas (the clear tissues over your irises and pupils) and the conjunctiva (the membrane that covers the white parts of your eye and the insides of your eyelids) can become sunburned.
In addition to pain and redness, other symptoms of photokeratitis may include light sensitivity, halos around lights, blurred vision, tearing, headaches, twitching eyelids, or a foreign body sensation.
Fortunately, photokeratitis usually goes away on its own. If the symptoms linger more than a day or two, you're in severe pain, or you're having trouble seeing, call your optometrist. In the future, you can prevent photokeratitis by wearing sunglasses or goggles that block both ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) rays. Donning sunglasses or goggles year-round may also reduce your risk of cataracts and skin cancer in and around your eyes.
Are you struggling with dry eye or other eye issues because of the cold weather? We can help ease your discomfort. Contact the office to schedule your appointment.
Sources:
American Optometric Association: Winter is coming: Help Patients Combat Dry Eye, 12/14/17
American Academy of Ophthalmology: What is Photokeratitis — Including Snow Blindness?, 1/13/20
Harvard Health Publishing: How Can I Reduce Symptoms from My Winter Allergies?, 12/19
Do You Have Trouble Seeing While Driving at Night?
No matter what your age, night driving can be a little challenging, whether you're driving around the corner or across the country. Low lighting, glare, and other factors may make it difficult to see clearly and react quickly to hazards.
Why Driving Is Harder at Night
Your ability to drive safely at night may be affected by:
Availability of Street Lights. It's obviously more difficult to see in areas that aren't well lit. UK researchers discovered that injury severity increased by almost three times if an accident occurred on a road that had no lighting.
Glare. Glare, depending on the amount, can be a minor annoyance and or may make it impossible to see. You may experience more problems with glare from oncoming headlights as you get older.
Headlight and Windshield Problems. Dirty windshields and hazy or misaligned headlights can contribute to night vision problems.
Age-Related Vision Changes. In addition to trouble handling glare, natural changes in your vision related to aging may make night driving harder. As you get older, the muscles that control your pupil weaken, and the pupil becomes a little smaller. This means less light enters your eyes when it's dark. Rod cells also decline as you get older. These photoreceptor cells, located in the retina, are essential for good night vision.
Eye Diseases and Conditions. You may notice problems with glare and see halos around lights at night if you have cataracts. Cataracts occur when the clear lenses inside your eyes become cloudy. Other eye diseases and conditions that may affect night driving include macular degeneration, vitamin A deficiency, glaucoma, and retinal diseases.
Dry Eyes. Glare may seem worse if your eyes are too dry.
What You Can Do if You Have Trouble Driving at Night
Taking a few of these steps can help you drive safely:
Avoid Looking Directly at Lights. Minimize the effects of glare by shifting your gaze slightly to the side when oncoming cars come close to you.
Get Rid of Haze on Your Headlights. Discolorations on plastic headlight coverings can dim your headlights, making it difficult to see at night. If cleaning doesn't clear the headlight covers, buy new ones.
Realign Your Headlights: It's difficult to see the road ahead of you if your headlights aren't properly aligned. The next time you visit a mechanic, request to have your headlight alignment checked.
Do a Little Cleaning. Keeping headlights and your windshield clean will make it easier to find your exit or spot an obstruction in the road.
Keep Your Eyes Moist. Use artificial tears to lubricate your eyes if you have dry eyes. Blink more often to spread tears across your eyes.
Reduce Your Speed. Slow down if you're having trouble seeing. Decreasing your speed is a simple way to ensure that you reach your destination safely.
Drive During the Day if You Have Difficulty Seeing at Night. It's best to limit long trips, or even short ones, to the daylight hours if it's very difficult to see at night.
Visit Your Optometrist. If you've noticed that it's harder to see at night lately, it's a good idea to visit your eye doctor. Your optometrist can determine if the problem is caused by natural aging changes or eye diseases and conditions, like cataracts or glaucoma. If you do have a vision problem, your optometrist can recommend treatments or strategies that may help.
Are you concerned about your night driving ability? Call our office to schedule an appointment.
Sources:
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Night Vision 12/19/18
Harvard Health Publishing: Blinded by the Night, 6/07
Car and Driver: Do and Don’ts For Safe Night Driving, 7/2/19
American Optometric Association: Senior Vision: Over 60 Years of Age
Safety Serve: Driving at Night
The National Safety Council: The Most Dangerous Time to Drive
Choosing the Correct Lenses to Match Your Lifestyle
Frame style isn't the only decision you'll need to make when selecting new eyeglasses. Once you've chosen a frame that complements your face, you'll need to consider which lens type best fits your lifestyle. From lenses that reduce glare to styles that protect your eyes when you play your favorite sport, today's lenses offer more flexibility than ever.
Do You Need Single Vision Lenses, Bifocals, Trifocals, or Progressives?
Before you choose a lens material, you'll need to think about the type of lenses you want. Choices include:
Single Vision. Single vision lenses offer the same lens power throughout the lens and can be used to improve your vision if you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism. They can also be used for reading glasses if you have presbyopia.
Bifocals and Trifocals. These lenses contain two or three zones separated by a noticeable line. For example, bifocals might contain one lens power for far vision and one for near vision. Bifocals and trifocals eliminate the need for multiple pairs of glasses, but some people find the lines distracting.
Progressives. Progressive lenses eliminate the lines, allowing a more seamless transition between lens powers than trifocals or bifocals.
Are Plastic Lenses Right for You?
Plastic lenses are made of Columbia Resin 39 (CR-39), a lightweight plastic polymer that resists breaking. If you have a high (strong) prescription that would normally require thick lenses, high-index plastic lenses may be a good choice for you. The lenses are thinner than normal and fit your eyeglass frames better.
Who Can Benefit from Plastic Lenses? Plastic lenses offer a good option for most people. The lenses are the least expensive choice and are ideal for reading, driving, hobbies, using digital devices, and other everyday activities.
Polycarbonate Lenses Help You Avoid Eye Injuries
Polycarbonate lenses are even lighter than plastic lenses and were originally designed for Air Force helmet visors and bulletproof glass in banks, according to All About Vision. The thin lenses are a good choice for nearly any prescription and are often used in sports goggles and safety glasses.
Who Can Benefit from Polycarbonate Lenses? Polycarbonate lenses won't shatter if dropped and are impact-resistant, making them a safe choice for children. If you work in construction, other hazardous jobs, or enjoy home improvement projects, adding polycarbonate lenses to your glasses or safety glasses will help protect your eyes. Goggles with polycarbonate lenses reduce the risk of eye injuries when playing sports. The lenses are also a good option for anyone who prefers thin eyeglass lenses.
Trivex Lenses Decrease the Weight of Your Glasses
Made with urethane-based monomers, Trivex lenses are lighter than polycarbonate or plastic lenses, yet still impact-resistant. The lenses provide a little clearer vision than polycarbonate lenses and offer excellent peripheral vision.
Who Can Benefit from Trivex Lenses? Ideal for sports, highly detailed work, or reading, Trivex lenses provide sharp vision without the weight of plastic or polycarbonate lenses. The enhanced side peripheral vision makes Trivex lenses worth considering if you need good side vision for driving or sports.
High-Definition (HD) Lenses Use Digital Technology
Limitations in the traditional lens manufacturing process can cause slight distortions if your prescription is high. Thanks to the digital technology used to create HD lenses, you'll enjoy crisp vision, excellent contrast, and reduced glare.
Who Can Benefit from HD Lenses? Is fuzzy vision or eyestrain a problem for you? HD lenses offer superior vision for people with high prescriptions and may even reduce your eyestrain. The lenses also eliminate halos or starbursts around lights, make night driving more comfortable, and decrease adjustment time if you wear progressive lenses.
Other Lens Choices
You can also choose coatings to add to your lenses or select specialty lenses. Coatings can be added to prevent scratches, block blue light, and reduce glare.
Computer glasses may be a good option if you experience digital eyestrain when using your laptop or desktop. The glasses provide clear vision in the intermediate area between near and far vision, reduce glare, and decrease eyestrain symptoms.
Although most eyeglass lenses block 100 percent of UV light, it's still important to wear sunglasses when you're outdoors. Standard sunglass lenses or photochromic lenses that darken outside and lighten when you're indoors will help you reduce your risk of cataracts and cancer. Polarized sunglass lenses reduce glare, improving your comfort whether you're driving, enjoying a day at the beach, or playing sports.
Do you need a comprehensive eye examination before getting a new pair of eyeglasses? Contact our office to schedule your appointment.
Sources:
All About Vision: How to Choose the Best Lenses for Your Eye Glasses
WebMD: Eyeglasses That Do the Job
Verywell Health: The Different Types of Eyeglass Lens Material
Ways to Get Your Eyes Summer Ready
You may be ready for the summer, but are your eyes? Taking a few steps to protect your eyes can help you avoid painful injuries or conditions that may affect your vision. These four tips can improve your eye safety this summer.
Wear Sunglasses
Sunglasses aren't just accessories, they prevent your eyes from the damaging effects of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Exposure to UVA and UVB light increases your risk of macular degeneration, cataracts, and skin cancer around the eyelids, according to Prevent Blindness. Sun exposure may also include the likelihood of pterygium, a growth on your eye that can interfere with vision or might cause photokeratitis.
Photokeratitis occurs when your cornea or conjunctiva become sunburned. The cornea is the clear layer of cells that cover your iris and pupil, while the conjunctiva is found on the whites of your eyes and inside your eyelids.
You're more likely to develop photokeratitis if you spend time in the water or on the sand and don't wear sunglasses. Symptoms of the condition include redness, tearing, pain, headache, and sensitivity to bright light. You may also notice that your vision looks blurry or it feels as if something is stuck in your eyes.
Photokeratitis symptoms usually improve in a few days. If your condition doesn't get better or you have severe pain or loss of vision, call the optometrist.
Some sunglasses offer more protection than others. Look for glasses that:
Fully Block Ultraviolet Rays. Sunglasses that block 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays provide the ultimate protection from the damaging effects of ultraviolet light.
Offer Complete Protection: Light still enters your eyes from the sides, tops, and bottoms of your frames when you wear standard sunglasses. Wraparound styles completely prevent UV light from reaching your eyes. The glasses also keep wind or debris from irritating, drying, or injuring your eyes.
Fit Well. You probably won't wear your sunglasses consistently if they're too tight or slip down your nose. Try on several pairs before you make a decision. A good fit is particularly important for kids. If the sunglasses are comfortable, your kids are much more likely to wear them all day.
Help You See Better. All About Vision notes that gray lenses reduce brightness but don't affect normal color perception, while brown, copper, or dark amber lenses improve contrast and visual sharpness while also blocking blue light. Green lenses are helpful in improving contrast without affecting color. Prescription sunglasses are a good idea if you normally wear glasses.
Wear Goggles in the Water
Water in the eye is an unavoidable hazard of water activities and sports. If you're splashing around in the pool, you're bound to get a little water in your face.
Chlorine or salt in water can be very irritating to your eyes. Putting on goggles every time you take a dip will help you avoid red, uncomfortable eyes.
Use Eye Protection
Wearing safety glasses or goggles when you complete home improvement projects such as mowing your lawn or working with chemicals protect your eyes from devastating injuries. If you forget to put on eye protection, a tiny piece of wood can pierce your eye when you build your new deck, or chemicals may burn your cornea.
Don't Wear Your Contact Lenses in the Water
Contact lenses may swell, stick to your eyes or change shape if worn while you swim, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These changes make it easier for your eyes to become scratched. If this happens, bacteria or amoeba in the water can enter your eyes through the scratches, causing infections that could jeopardize your vision.
Safeguard your vision by wearing eye protection and visiting the optometrist for annual vision checkups.
Sources:
Prevent Blindness: How Can UV Rays Damage Your Eyes?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Water and Contact Lenses
American Academy of Ophthalmology: 5 Ways to Get Your Eyes Summer-Ready, 4/28/17
Cleveland Clinic: How to Choose the Best Sunglasses for Your Eye Health, 6/19/19
American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is Photokeratitis – Including Snow Blindness?, 1/13/20
Improve Your Eye Health by Practicing These 5 Healthy Habits
Are you doing everything you can to protect your eyes? These five tips can help you improve your eye health.
1) Adopt a Hands-Off Policy
When your eyes are tired or itchy, rubbing them is a natural reaction. Unfortunately, rubbing your eyes can irritate them, injure your corneas (the clear tissue that covers your iris and pupils) or even cause a serious corneal condition called keratoconus.
Keratoconus occurs when the cornea becomes cone-shaped and can be caused by excessive rubbing. Symptoms included blurred or distorted vision, sensitivity to light, and difficulty seeing in low light.
Do you find it difficult to keep your hands away from your face? Most of us touch our eyes and faces many times throughout the day without even realizing it. During one study of face touching at The University of New South Wales, researchers discovered that participants touched their faces an average of 23 times in an hour. Fifty-six percent of those touches involved mucous membranes like the eyes.
Touching your eyes transfers bacteria from your hands to your eyes and provides a convenient way for germs to enter your body. As a result, you may become sick or develop an eye infection. Fortunately, it's easy to avoid these health issues by washing your hands frequently and avoiding touch your face and eyes.
2) Step Away from Your Screens
Digital technology makes our lives easier and much more interesting, but it's not without a few drawbacks. In addition to concerns about social isolation, spending too much time looking at laptops, desktops, tablets, e-readers, or cellphone screens can cause computer vision syndrome.
If you have this syndrome, you may experience dry eye, blurred vision, eyestrain, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain. Taking regular breaks from the screen and using the 20-20-20 rule recommended by the American Optometric Association can help. After looking at a screen for 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
3) Improve Your Contact Lens Habits
If you've ever worn your lenses longer than recommended or reused solution, you may have paid the price. In fact, eye irritations and infections are common in people who don't follow good contact lens hygiene. Severe infections can even lead to temporary or permanent loss of vision.
Making these simple changes can help you protect your eyesight and improve the comfort of your lenses:
Don't wear your lenses longer than your optometrist recommends.
Use rewetting drops specially designed for contact lenses.
Wash your hands with soap and water before handling your lenses.
Don't use water to clean or store your lenses or reuse solutions.
Stay away from over-the-counter contact lenses during Halloween.
Give your eyes a break and wear your eyeglasses occasionally.
4) Wear Sunglasses Year-Round
Sunlight affects your eyes no matter what the season. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can increase your risk of cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, cancer in your eyes, and skin cancer on your eyelids.
Wearing sunglasses that protect your eyes from the harmful effects of ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays can help you avoid these conditions. Check the tags and labels when you shop for sunglasses. Avoid glasses that don't offer 100 percent protection from UV light. For maximum protection, choose wrap-around styles that limit the amount of light that can reach the tops and sides of your eyes.
5) Add More Fruits and Vegetables to Your Diet
A diet high in fatty, fried, and sugary foods isn't good for your overall health or your eyes. Foods that contain these nutrients can help you protect your eyesight:
Beto-Carotene and Vitamin A. Carrots, sweet potatoes, eggs, spinach, butternut squash, and milk all contain healthy amounts of beta-carotene and vitamin A. Eating these foods can keep your eyes moist and reduce your risk of night blindness and eye infections, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Zeaxanthin and Lutein. Found in kale, honeydew melon, spinach, peas, yellow squash, oranges, and mangoes, these nutrients can protect your eyes from the effects of the sun.
Vitamins C and D. Vitamin-C rich foods, like oranges, peppers, tomatoes, and papaya, can lower your cataract risk, while foods high in vitamin D may reduce your risk of macular degeneration. Foods that contain vitamin D include tuna, salmon, sardines, liver, cheese, egg yolks, and fortified orange juice, milk, and cereal.
Regular eye examinations are an important part of protecting your eye health.
Sources:
American Optometric Association: Computer Vision Syndrome
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: 5 Top Foods for Eye Health, 5/11/18
Reducing Your Chance of Getting Computer Vision Syndrome
Sore muscles aren't the only problem you may have if you spend hours looking at a computer screen, tablet or cellphone every day. Prolonged use of digital screens can also cause eye discomfort and may even affect your vision. Fortunately, making a few changes to your viewing habits can reduce your risk of developing the syndrome.
What Is Computer Vision Syndrome?
Also called Digital Eye Strain, Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) can affect anyone who uses a digital device. Although the words you see on your screen may look perfectly clear, they're not quite as sharp as words printed on paper. As a result, your eyes may need to work a little harder than usual. Issues with contrast, glare, and optimal viewing distance can also contribute to the problem.
Fifty-nine percent of adults who use digital devices for two hours or longer experience symptoms of CVS, according to The Vision Council. The syndrome also affects children who use digital devices.
CVS can cause a variety of symptoms including:
Dry Eye
Eye Strain
Blurred Vision
Headaches
Sore Neck and Shoulder Muscles
In addition to these symptoms, irritability, reduced attention span, and poor behavior can be signs of the syndrome in children, The Vision Council notes.
How You Can Reduce Your Risk of Developing Computer Vision Syndrome
These recommendations can help you avoid CVS symptoms:
Take Regular Breaks. Step away from your digital device every two hours. Spend at least five or 10 minutes doing something that doesn't involve digital screens during your break.
Follow the 20/20/20 Rule. Look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds after spending 20 minutes using a digital device. Following this rule may reduce tension in your eye muscles and decrease eye strain.
Reduce Glare. Glare is a significant factor in eye strain. Reduce it by adding anti-glare filters to your screens. Consider wearing computer glasses when you use your devices. The glasses provide clear vision at the optimal viewing distance for your desktop or laptop and reduce glare.
Make Blinking a Priority. People tend to blink less when viewing digital screens. Blinking keeps your eyes moist and helps prevent dry eye and eye strain. Fortunately, you can reduce dry eye by taking a blink break every half-hour. During your break, look away from the screen and spend a few seconds blinking slowly. If your eyes are normally dry, use artificial tears throughout the day.
Use Recommended Viewing Distances. The American Optometric Association recommends placing your screen four to five inches below eye level and 20 to 28 inches from the eye.
Improve Lighting Levels. The brighter the light, the more likely you'll experience eye strain and other CVS symptoms. Close shades and draperies during the sunniest part of the day to reduce glare and eye strain. Do bright overhead lights bother your eyes? Task lighting may offer a more comfortable solution. If you can, turn off fluorescent lights and rely on floor or desk lamps instead. Don't work in front of or behind a window or light source.
Adjust Device Settings. Your eyes must work harder if your screen is brighter or darker than natural or room lighting. In addition to adjusting brightness, increasing the size of the type may also help minimize CVS symptoms.
Schedule a Comprehensive Eye Exam. CVS may have more of an impact on you if your eyeglass or contact lens prescription isn't up-to-date or you have an eye condition. During your visit, your optometrist can also make a few recommendations that may improve your comfort while you use digital screens.
Do you suffer from CVS? Your optometrist can help you ease your discomfort. Contact our office to make your appointment.
Sources:
The Vision Council: Digital Eye Strain
Symptoms and Treatments For Age-Related Presbyopia
Did your parents or grandparents joke that they couldn't read the type in a book or on the back of a medicine bottle because their arms were suddenly too short? Once you pass age 40, you just may find yourself complaining about the same problem. Called "presbyopia," the condition affects your ability to see near objects clearly.
How Presbyopia Affects Your Vision
Aging causes many changes in your body, from gray hairs to stiffening of the lenses inside your eyes. Located behind the iris inside your eye, the clear, disc-shaped lens focuses light rays on to the retina at the back of your eye. The retina converts the rays into signals and sends them to the brain. Once the brain receives the signals, it transforms them into recognizable images.
The shape of your lens constantly changes to allow you to view objects at various distances. The shape-shifting ensures that light rays are correctly focused on your retina no matter how near or far the object or image. Although the lenses are very flexible when you're younger, they stiffen with age. When this happens, it becomes difficult to focus on close objects. As a result, words on a page or screen look blurry and out of focus.
Presbyopia isn't a sign of serious eye disease and happens to practically everyone, even people who've had perfect vision their whole lives. Although you'll still be able to see objects in the distance clearly, your near vision will suffer as you grow older.
Ways to Cope with Presbyopia
These treatments and strategies can help you see more clearly when viewing near objects:
Reading Glasses. Reading glasses improve your near vision, making it easy to see up close once again. Although the glasses are available in stores, you'll have to guess which lens power is best for you if you buy reading glasses at the grocery store. When you visit your eye doctor, you'll receive a precise lens prescription that will make your near vision sharp and clear. During the visit, you'll receive a thorough eye exam, which will help you ensure that the change in your vision is caused by presbyopia and not cataracts, diabetic eye disease or other conditions.
Bifocals, Trifocals and Progressive Eyeglass Lenses. These lenses can be good choices if you already wear glasses due to myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism (blurred vision due to an irregularly shaped cornea). Bifocals combines two viewing powers in one lens, each separated by a noticeable line, while trifocals combine three powers. Progressive lenses offer multiple powers without any lines.
Contact Lenses. Bifocals, trifocals, and progressive lenses aren't the only solutions if you have presbyopia in addition to myopia, astigmatism or hyperopia. Manufacturers also often contact lenses that contain multiple powers.
Magnifiers. A magnifying glass can help you thread a needle or decipher the assembly instructions that came with your new bookshelf. Magnifying mirrors make it easier to put on makeup or complete other grooming tasks.
Laser Refractive Surgery. The surgery changes the shape of your cornea (the clear layer of tissue that covers your iris and pupil) with a laser, sharpening your vision. If you have presbyopia, your eye doctor may recommend correcting one eye for distance vision and one for near vision. Your eyes compensate for the difference and work together to provide good near and far vision. Before having the surgery, your eye doctor may recommend that you wear contact lenses that mimic the results of the surgery, as this solution isn't comfortable for everyone.
Corneal Inlays. Inlays are tiny devices implanted in the center of your cornea. Corneal inlays offer the newest way to treat presbyopia and work by increasing the depth of focus in the middle of the cornea, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. They can only be used if you don't have myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism.
Have you been having trouble seeing close objects lately? Presbyopia Awareness Month, held every April, is the perfect time to schedule an eye exam. Contact us to make your appointment.
Sources:
American Academy of Ophthalmology: What is Presbyopia?, 1/13/20
Hunter's Creek
- Address: 4101 Hunters Park Ln #400
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- Address: 7004 Tavistock Lakes Blvd Ste 146
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- Thursday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Saturday By Appointment Only
- Sunday Closed
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