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Are Your Eyes Getting Enough Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is essential for healthy vision, yet many of us don't get enough of this important vitamin. Luckily, increasing your intake of vitamin D is fairly simple.
 

Why Is Vitamin D So Important?

Most Americans don't get enough vitamin D in their diets. In fact, 28.9% of U.S. adults were considered deficient in vitamin D, while another 41.4% received insufficient amounts of the vitamin, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Vitamin D helps your bones absorb calcium, bolsters your immune system, keeps your muscles strong, and prevents some types of cancer. Good lung, brain and heart health depend on this crucial nutrient.

Vitamin D may also play a part in these eye conditions and diseases:

• Dry Eye. Do your eyes ever feel dry and itchy? Those symptoms, in addition to redness, burning, tearing and sensitivity to light, may mean you have dry eye.

• Glaucoma. High pressure inside your eye causes glaucoma, which may damage the optic nerve. The nerve sends electrical impulses from the eye to the brain. If any part of the optic nerve is damaged due to glaucoma, you'll suffer permanent vision loss. Fortunately, it may be possible to prevent or reduce vision damage if glaucoma is detected early.

• Macular Degeneration. Macular degeneration affects the center of the retina, the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye. The disease causes blurry central vision or a blank spot in your central vision. Macular degeneration is often referred to as "age-related" macular degeneration (AMD) since it usually affects older people.

• Cataracts. Cataracts dull your vision, cause haloes around lights and make it difficult to handle glare. These problems happen when the clear lens inside your eye becomes cloudy. The lens, a curved structure located behind your iris and pupil, changes shape to help you see clearly whether you're looking at a near or far object.

• Diabetic Retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy causes vision loss when blood sugar is consistently high in people who have diabetes. Blood vessels in the retina leak blood or fluid, obstructing vision. New, abnormal blood vessels may form and begin to leak. In some cases, scar tissue also forms, worsening vision.
   

What Research Tells Us About the Link Between Vitamin D and Eye Health

Researchers have been curious about the effects of vitamin D for some time. Among the most interesting discoveries are:

• Vitamin D Deficiency Might Make the Retina or Macula Thinner. Research participants who were deficient in the vitamin had thinner central macular areas, according to a study published in Cureus in 2021. Researchers also noted thickness differences in the retinal nerve fiber layers when comparing results from patients with severe deficiencies compared to those who were less severe.

• Adequate Vitamin D Levels May Lower the Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. According to a systematic review published in Maturitas, a high 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration is associated with a reduction in AMD.

• The Link Between Vitamin D and Dry Eye: In another study published in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology in 2022, researchers discovered that people with vitamin D deficiencies were more likely to have dry eye than those with normal levels of the vitamin.
   

Although these study results are fascinating and certainly help support the link between low vitamin D and eye disease, researchers note that more research is necessary.
 

3 Ways to Get Vitamin D

Wondering how you obtain vitamin D? Your level of the nutrient increases through any of these methods:

• Eat Foods that Contain the Vitamin. These include fortified milk and orange juice, soy drinks, egg yolks, salmon, sardines, tuna, and beef liver.

• Take Supplements. Supplements can help you increase your vitamin D intake if the foods you eat don't provide enough vitamin D.

• Spend Time in the Sun. Your body produces vitamin D when you venture outdoors on a sunny day. Unfortunately, most people don't get enough vitamin D through sun exposure alone. Doctors don't recommend that you use low vitamin D as an excuse to sunbathe though, as sun exposure increases your skin cancer risk.
   

In addition to increasing your vitamin D intake, visiting the optometrist will help you keep your eyes healthy. Need to make an appointment? Give our office a call to schedule your visit.
 

Sources:

NCBI: The British Journal of Nutrition: Vitamin D Deficiency and Insufficiency Among US adults: Prevalence, Predictors and Clinical Implications, 4/11/2018

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29644951/

NCBI: Cureus: Ocular Findings Among Patients with Vitamin D Deficiency, 5/21/2021

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8215305/

Indian Journal of Ophthalmology: A Study of the Association Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) in the Indian Population, 2/2022

https://journals.lww.com/ijo/Fulltext/2022/02000/A_study_of_the_association_between_Vitamin_D.32.aspx

Maturitis: Circulating Vitamin D Concentration and Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Systematic Review and Meta Analysis, 6/2016

https://www.maturitas.org/article/S0378-5122(16)30072-X/fulltext

Review of Optometry: Vitamin D Comes to Light, 11/15/2013

https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/vitamin-d-comes-to-light-45073

Eye patches are used to strengthen muscle control in weak eyes. By placing a patch over the strong eye, the weaker eye is forced to do the heavy lifting. While it may be uncomfortable for the patient at first, the muscle controlling the weaker eye will become tougher and more resilient. This will allow the individual to control its movement. When removed after therapy, the person should be able to move both eyes in an organized fashion so that they work together and not against one another.

A prism has the same cross-section across the entire length of its shape. When used in eyeglasses, they often correct abnormalities associated with nearsightedness, farsightedness and double vision. Eyeglasses, or corrective lenses, reduce or increase the size of the image based on the eyes’ ability to see and focus, while prisms fool the brain into believing the eyes are working collectively by moving the image somewhat down, up, right or left. The geometric configuration permits light to be bent or mirrored in particular ways. Prisms are pounded into the lenses to show the image outside the span of sight and bring it into view so that it can be observed more closely.

How Age-Related Macular Degeneration Could Affect Your Eyesight

Imagine how difficult life would be if you could no longer recognize faces, drive, or even complete a crossword puzzle due to a blank or blurry spot in your central vision. That's the reality that older Americans with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) face every day. The disease affects almost 20 million people in the U.S., according to BrightFocus Foundation, causing varying degrees of central vision loss.
 

AMD Affects the Central Part of the Retina

The retina, a layer of tissue at the back of the eye, converts the light rays that enter your eye into electrical impulses. The impulses travel to the brain through the optic nerve where they're processed and turned into images. Unfortunately, damage to the retina affects the transmission of these important impulses. If retinal cells are damaged, you may develop a blind spot in your vision or notice that things look blurry.

AMD affects the macula, the center part of the retina. The disease is called "age-related" macular degeneration because it most often affects people 50 and older. If you have AMD, blurry or blank spots in the middle of your visual field may begin to interfere with your eyesight.

No one is quite sure what causes AMD, although researchers believe that these factors, in addition to age, could increase your risk of developing the eye disease:

• Being Obese or Overweight

• A Family History of AMD

• Smoking

• High Blood Pressure

• Poor Nutrition

• Not Exercising Enough

• Light-Colored Irises

• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
   

Women are more likely to develop AMD because they typically have longer lifespans than men, according to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.
 

AMD Symptoms and Types

Blurriness or a blind spot in your central vision aren't the only symptoms of AMD. If you have the eye disease, you may notice that recognizing your friends, reading, or spotting obstacles when you're driving becomes more difficult. You might also notice that straight edges and lines look wavy or warped.

Before those changes to your vision happen, yellow protein deposits called drusen may begin to form in your retina. Although you can't tell that you have drusen, your optometrist can see them during an eye exam.

Large drusen are the type that concern eye doctors the most, as they mean that you're at risk of developing advanced AMD, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). It could be a long time before you develop vision problems if you have small drusen, or you may never experience changes in vision, the AAO notes.

If you're diagnosed with AMD, your optometrist will tell you that you have either the wet or dry form of the disease. Wet AMD happens when blood or fluids leak from abnormal blood vessels that grow in your macula.

Abnormal blood vessels aren't present if you have dry AMD, the more common form of the disease. Instead, the cells in the macula begin to thin and eventually die. In some cases, dry AMD can turn into wet AMD as the disease progresses.
 

Treating AMD

There are no treatment options for dry AMD currently, although taking special supplements may be helpful. Called the AREDS2 formula, these supplements contain a combination of antioxidants that could lower the chance of vision loss. Several research projects are currently underway to find treatments for dry AMD.

Sealing leaking blood vessels is the goal of wet AMD treatments. Eye doctors use lasers or inject medications that seal leaking blood vessels and prevent new abnormal vessels from forming.

Are you worried about your AMD risk? Adopting healthy lifestyle habits and visiting the optometrist for annual eye exams will help you protect your vision. AMD Awareness Month, held every February, is the perfect time to schedule your appointment with our office. Give us a call to arrange your visit.
 

Sources:

BrightFocus Foundation: Age-related Macular Degeneration: Facts & Figures, 12/8/2022

https://www.brightfocus.org/macular/article/age-related-macular-facts-figures

American Macular Degeneration Foundation: Risk Factors for Macular Degeneration

https://www.macular.org/about-macular-degeneration/risk-factors

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Is the Higher Incidence of ARMD in Hyperopia Versus Myopia Associated with Higher Intensity Light at the Retina?, 4/2011

https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2352536

American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Are Drusen?, 3/8/2022

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-druse

Your Blurry Vision Could Be Caused by Astigmatism

Does everything look blurry, whether you're reading a book or watching the sun set in the distance? Your blurry vision could be caused by astigmatism, a refractive error that affects 1 in 3 people, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
 

When Everything Is Blurry

Myopia (nearsightedness) makes distant objects look fuzzy, while hyperopia (farsightedness) affects your ability to see close objects clearly. Astigmatism, another type of refractive error, causes blurry vision at both near and far distances. Refractive errors happen when light rays entering the eye aren't properly bent (refracted) and focused on the retina, the light-sensing cells that line the back of the eye.

Astigmatism can occur on its own or can happen in combination with myopia or hyperopia.
 

Astigmatism Symptoms and Causes

Blurry vision isn't the only symptom of astigmatism. The refractive error may also cause headaches and eyestrain, particularly after reading or spending time using your laptop or tablet.

Astigmatism may also make it difficult to see well at night or in dimly lit rooms and can cause halos around lights.

Astigmatism can be occur due to an issue with:

• Your Cornea. The cornea, the clear round tissue that covers your iris and pupils, bends light rays as they enter your eyes. People with astigmatism often have corneas that are shaped more like footballs than round balls. The unusual shape makes it harder for the cornea to bend light rays correctly.

• Your Lens. Astigmatism may also be caused by the clear lens inside the eye. The lens, located under your iris and pupil, also helps focus light rays on the retina.

• Both the Cornea and the Lens. In some cases, curvature problems in both the lens and the cornea can cause astigmatism.
   

Although astigmatism often occurs for unknown reasons, you may be more likely to develop it if you had eye surgery, an eye injury or keratoconus, according to the American Optometric Association. Keratoconus is a condition that causes the cornea to become thinner and cone shaped.
 

What You Can Do to Improve Your Vision

If you have astigmatism, your optometrist can recommend several options that will sharpen your vision, including:

• Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses. An additional lens power added to your contact lens or eyeglass prescription keeps light rays focused at the correct place on the retina. If you wear contact lenses, your eye doctor may prescribe toric, hybrid, or gas permeable lenses, depending on the degree of astigmatism. Your optometrist can help you decide which type of lenses are best for you.

• Refractive Surgery. Refractive surgery changes the shape of your cornea, allowing you to see clearly without glasses or contact lenses. During laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), a laser is used to make a small flap in the cornea and reshape your corneal tissue. Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) involves reshaping the cornea by completely removing the outer layer. Both procedures can also improve near and far vision.

• Orthokeratology. Orthokeratology, another astigmatism treatment option, temporarily reshapes your cornea, providing hours of clear vision. Special contact lenses worn at night improve light refraction by flattening the center part of your cornea. In the morning, you'll remove the lenses and enjoy sharp vision throughout the day. You must wear the contact lenses every night or your vision will become blurry again.
   

A visit to the optometrist can help you correct astigmatism and improve your eyesight. Give us a call when you're ready to make an appointment for your vision exam.
 

Sources:

National Eye Institute: Astigmatism, 6/26/2019

American Optometric Association: Astigmatism

American Academy of Ophthalmology: Eye Health Statistic

Dry Eyes? Blepharitis Could Be to Blame

Wondering why your eyes are red, dry, and itchy? A condition called blepharitis could be the reason.
 

What Is Blepharitis?

Blepharitis occurs when your eyelids become inflamed and irritated. The inflammation can be due to:

• Bacteria on Your Eyelids

• Clogged Oil Glands at the Base of Your Eyelashes

• Overgrowth of Tiny Mites That Live in Eyelash Follicles

• Allergies

• Skin Conditions, Like Rosacea, Psoriasis, and Dandruff
   

According to an article published in the February 12, 2021 issue of Review of Ophthalmology, blepharitis can also change the quality of the oil made by your eyelids. Natural oils keep your tear film healthy and your eyes moist and comfortable. If the oil you produce isn't high quality, you may soon experience dry eye.
 

How Can I Tell if I Have Blepharitis?

In addition to dryness, signs and symptoms of blepharitis include:

• Stinging, Burning, Itchy, or Watery Eyes

• Foreign Body Sensation

• Eyelid or Eye Swelling

• Light Sensitivity

• Crusts on Eyelids First Thing in the Morning

• Bubbles in Your Tears

• Dandruff-Like Flakes on Your Eyelashes

• Eyelashes That Fall Out Easily or Don't Grow Normally
   

According to the National Eye Institute, untreated blepharitis can increase your risk of developing chronic red eye, damaged corneas, or bumps (styes and chalazions) on your eyelids caused by blocked oil glands.
 

What Should I Do if I Think I Have Blepharitis?

A visit to your optometrist is the best place to start if you're suffering from dry eye. Your eye doctor can determine if your symptoms are caused by blepharitis or another condition. He or she can also discuss treatment and management options, which may include:

• Cleaning Your Eyelids. Can you remember the last time you cleaned your eyelids? Most people don't devote any time to their eyelashes when washing their faces. If you have blepharitis, a daily eyelid cleaning can help keep your condition under control. Clean your lids with baby shampoo diluted in water or eyelid cleanser or wipes. Use gentle pressure with a washcloth or wipe to remove debris and bacteria.

• Using Compresses. Warm compresses soften blocked oil glands and loosen crusts and flakes. Use a moistened washcloth or an eyemask that can be heated in the microwave.

• Improving Your Skincare Routine. Bacteria or oil on your face, hair, and scalp can cause or worsen your symptoms. Washing these parts of your body regularly may help ease your blepharitis and dry eye symptoms. If you have dandruff, keep flakes under control with a dandruff shampoo.

• Drugstore or Prescription Drops. Liquid tears or lubricating eye drops will ease dry eye symptoms. A steroid eye drop might be helpful if your eyes are red and swollen.

• Choosing Makeup Carefully. Some types of makeup can irritate your eyelids and cause blepharitis. Stay away from products that contain parabens, wax, and fragrances. Throw away any makeup used before you were diagnosed with blepharitis, as it may be contaminated with bacteria. Avoid makeup products that irritate your eyelids, even if the product is labeled hypoallergenic.

• Taking Antibiotics. If an overgrowth of bacteria is responsible for blepharitis, your eye doctor may prescribe antibiotic eyedrops or ointment. In some cases, oral antibiotics may be recommended.

• Getting Rid of Mites. If mites are responsible for your condition, your eye doctor may recommend scrubs or gels designed to kill the parasites. In some cases, an oral medication that kills the mites may be the best option. You may need to use the products or medication for several weeks to ensure that all of the mites have been killed.

• Increasing Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake. Taking fish oil supplements or eating foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, flaxseed, and soybeans, could have a beneficial effect on dry eye symptoms and blepharitis.

• Trying Cyclosporine. These prescription eyedrops reduce inflammation and help your eyes produce more tears.

• Treating Underlying Conditions: Keeping rosacea, dandruff, psoriasis, or allergies under control may help reduce your blepharitis symptoms.
   

Do you think your dry eyes might be caused by blepharitis? Give us a call and we'll schedule your visit with the eye doctor.

Sources:

American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is Blepharitis?, 8/8/2022

National Eye Institute: Blepharitis, 8/31/2020

Review of Ophthalmology: Dry Eye: The Blepharitis Connection, 2/12/2021

American Optometric Association: Blephariti

Is Vision Care Part of Your Back-to-School Routine?

If your son or daughter's calendar doesn't include a visit with the eye doctor, he or she may not be prepared to handle another school year. Changes in your child's vision over the summer could cause vision problems that may interfere with learning. In addition to checking the sharpness of your child's vision, your optometrist also looks for subtle conditions and diseases that could affect his or her eyesight.
 

Why Good Vision Is Important for Academic Success

A complex interaction between the brain and the eyes makes learning possible. The eyes send electrical images to the brain, which turns them into recognizable images. If your child has a vision problem, the brain struggles to create clear images. As a result, reading, writing and even completing math problems can be difficult.


Once images are processed, they're stored in short- and long-term memory. In some cases, poor vision can interfere with the storage process, leaving gaps in your child's memory. He or she may struggle to remember a spelling word or recall history facts during a test, despite studying for the exam.

Vision issues can also cause eyestrain, headaches and fatigue, which make completing schoolwork uncomfortable. Does your child struggle to pay attention in class? Although this may seem like a behavioral problem, an issue with vision may be to blame. When your child can't see well or the words seem to jump or move on the page, he or she may become frustrated and may not be able to finish assignments or follow along with the words in the textbook..
 

Common Vision Problems in Children

Children can experience a variety of vision problems, including:

• Refractive Errors. Myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness) can make words, people and objects look blurry. Some children also suffer from astigmatism, a refractive error that causes blurry vision at any distance due to an imperfectly shaped cornea. School vision screenings don't always detect refractive errors. Up to 75% of vision problems are missed during school screenings, according to the American Optometric Association.

• Strabismus. Commonly called "crossed eyes," strabismus occurs when the eyes are misaligned. Even a minor, virtually unnoticeable difference in alignment can affect your child's vision. Strabismus symptoms include double or blurry vision, eyestrain, poor depth perception and sensitivity to light. Kids who have strabismus may tilt their heads or the book when reading.

• Amblyopia. The brain ignores information from one eye if your child has amblyopia or "lazy" eye. Amblyopia can happen if your child has strabismus, but can also be caused by cataracts or uncorrected refractive errors. Children who have amblyopia may also experience poor depth perception and double or blurry vision or tilt their heads to see. Other symptoms include squinting and eye rubbing.

• Other Vision Problems. Issues with eye teaming, eye tracking, focusing, hand-eye coordination, depth perception and other problems may also affect your child's vision.
   

How You Can Help Your Child Prepare for School

These tips can help you ensure that your child is ready for the new school year:

• Limit Screen Time. Too much time playing video games, surfing the Web or texting can cause eyestrain, red eyes and fatigue. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than an hour of screen time for kids ages 2 to 5 and suggests parents of older kids set their own limits.

• Follow the 20/20/20 Rule. Frequent breaks help your children avoid eyestrain. Encourage your kids to look at an object 20 feet in the distance for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

• Wear Protective Eyewear. Make sure your young athletes wear goggles or protective safety glasses when practicing or playing sports.

• Make an Appointment with the Optometrist. Schedule a visit with the eye doctor before the first day of school or during the first few weeks of the new school year. If your child does have a vision problem, correcting it as soon as possible may help improve his or her academic performance and make schoolwork less stressful. Does your child already wear eyeglasses or contact lenses? Vision can change often during childhood. Yearly exams help you ensure that your child's eyeglass prescription is up to date.
   

Does your child need to see the optometrist? Call our office to schedule his or her back-to-school appointment.
 

Sources:

American Optometric Association: School-Aged Vision: 6 to 18 years of Age

National Eye Institute: Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

American Academy of Pediatrics: Media and Young Minds, 2016

American Optometric Association: Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)

All About Vision: How Vision Affects Your Child in School, 3/24/2022

Feeling Anxious or Depressed After Vision Loss?

It's only natural to feel anxious, depressed, or upset when a disease or injury damages your eyesight. After all, losing some or all of your vision is a major, life-changing event.
 

Signs of Mental Health Issues

Although everyone experiences mental health problems a little differently, some signs are fairly common. If anxiety has become a problem after vision loss, you may feel tense and on edge. Obsessive worrying may also be a sign that you're struggling with anxiety. Concerns about the future and the life changes caused by your vision problems may prevent you from falling asleep and staying asleep. Other signs and symptoms of anxiety may include:

• Sweating

• Shaking

• Rapid Breathing

• Shortness of Breath

• Heart Palpitations or Increased Heart Rate

• Fatigue

• Tingling or Numbness in Hands or Feet

• Headache

• Stomachache

• Diarrhea

• Irritability

• Difficulty Concentrating
   

If you're depressed, you may notice some of these signs:

• Sadness

• Crying Spells

• Disinterest in Your Usual Activities or Hobbies

• Difficulty Finding the Energy to Do Everyday Things, Like Showering or Cooking

• Appetite Changes

• Weight Gain or Loss

• Constant Fatigue

• Sleep Issues

• Feeling Helpless or Hopeless

• Irritability

• Trouble Focusing
   

People who've lost vision due to glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other eye diseases often worry about how they'll work and care for their family or how they'll be able to enjoy a full, active life with vision loss.

According to a literature review in Clinical Ophthalmology, depression is a common problem among people who have visual impairments. In one study, almost 33% of visually impaired people reported symptoms of mild depression, while 45% of people with severe vision impairment said they were moderately depressed in another study.
 

What to Do If You're Experiencing Mental Health Issues

Too often, people feel guilty or ashamed if they have mental health issues, yet they wouldn't feel the same way if they had the flu or a broken leg. Mental health issues are health problems and are no different than any other condition or illness.

If you're feeling sad or anxious following vision loss, take these steps:

• Tell Someone. Let your family members and friends know how you're feeling. They can offer a safe place to vent about your situation and can provide support and assistance when you're not feeling up to making dinner or cleaning the house.

• Talk to Your Family Doctor. Your family doctor can prescribe medication that controls your symptoms and helps you feel like yourself again.

• Consider Therapy. Your family doctor can also provide recommendations to counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists. These professionals offer therapies that decrease anxiety, depression and stress and improve coping skills.

• Let Your Optometrist Know About Your Struggles. If you have some remaining vision, your eye doctor can recommend aids and lenses that help you make the most of your eyesight. Although your vision loss may be permanent, magnifiers, telescopes, prism lenses and other eyeglass changes could help you maximize your remaining vision.

• Use Low Vision Devices. Low vision devices and aids could make your life a little easier after vision loss. Many options are available, including handheld magnifiers, large print books, audiobooks, and text-to-speech devices that read printed words. Smartphone apps that describe objects or read texts or words can also be helpful.

• Try Vision Rehabilitation. During vision rehabilitation, you'll try low vision aids, learn new ways to complete everyday tasks, and receive orientation and mobility training that will help you travel safely. When you're feeling more in control of your life, you may notice that depression and anxiety symptoms become less severe.

• Join a Support Group. Support groups offer the opportunity to meet others experiencing the same issues and challenges. Vision Aware offers a list of support groups, although you may also find groups online on sites like Facebook or Reddit.
   

Do you need a little help managing your vision loss? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the optometrist.
 

Sources:

Clinical Ophthalmology: Visual Impairment and Mental Health: Unmet Needs and Treatment Options, 12/3/2020

CDC: Vision Loss and Mental Health

All About Vision: Vision Loss and Mental Health: Learning to Cope and Overcome, 5/10/2022

Vision Aware: Support Groups and Other Resources

Signs You May Have Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration can cause changes that affect your central vision. This age-related eye disease is one of the most common reasons why people experience vision loss, according to the National Eye Institute. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can help you get the care you need to slow the progression of the disease and maximize your vision.
 

What Is Macular Degeneration?

The macula occupies the center part of the retina, a layer of light-sensing cells at the back of your eye. The cornea (the clear tissue covering your iris and pupil) and the lens inside your eye focus light onto your retina. Once light reaches the retina, it is transformed into electrical impulses. The impulses travel along the optic nerve to the brain where they're converted into images.

Macular degeneration occurs when the cells in the macula become damaged. When macular cells are damaged, the brain receives incomplete information from the eyes. As a result, you may notice changes in your vision. AMD can affect just one eye or both of your eyes.

Although anyone can develop AMD, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) notes that your risk may increase if:

• You're 50 or older

• Other people in your family have or had AMD

• You're overweight

• You have high blood pressure

• You eat foods that contain saturated fats

• You smoke
   

Macular Degeneration Signs and Symptoms

You may have one of these two forms of macular degeneration:

• Dry. Most people have the "dry" form of macular degeneration. In this form, the cells in the macula gradually become thinner and die.

• Wet. Wet AMD happens when abnormal blood vessels begin to grow in the macula. These blood vessels often leak, interfering with vision and creating scars. Dry AMD can turn into the wet form in some cases.
   

If you have AMD, you may experience these signs and symptoms:

• Blurred Vision. Blurry central vision can be a sign of AMD.

• Dull Colors. Do colors look dull or faded? That's not surprising since your macula is responsible for good color vision. If macular cells are damaged or die, colors won't look as rich and vibrant.

• Wavy Lines. AMD distorts straight edges and lines, making them look wavy.

• Blind Spot. Eventually, you may notice a blind spot in your central vision. As central vision is essential for reading, driving and recognizing faces, a blind spot can have a serious impact on your life.

• Trouble Seeing in Low Light. AMD may make it difficult to read or see in low light or adjust quickly when walking from a dark room to a light room.
   

During your visit to the eye doctor, your eyes will be dilated so that any drusen that may have formed can be detected. Drusen are yellow, fatty deposits that form under the macula. If you have drusen, you may already have dry AMD or may be more likely to develop the eye disease.
 

Treatments for AMD

Eye doctors treat wet AMD with injections or laser treatments that slow leaks and decrease the number of abnormal blood vessels in your macula.

Although there is no treatment for dry AMD now, taking AREDS supplements may help slow the progression of AMD, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The supplements contain lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, copper, and vitamins C and E. Wearing sunglasses that protect your eyes from ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays can also be helpful, as can eating a healthy diet and avoiding smoking.

Scientists are hard at work looking for treatments for the dry form of AMD. According to Bright Focus Foundation, researchers are exploring a possible immune system link to AMD, investigating an implant that slowly releases a protective medication, researching eye drops that improve blood flow to the retina, and conducting several other AMD studies.

If you have already experienced vision loss due to AMD, your optometrist can recommend low-vision aids, like magnifiers, telescopes, special eyeglass lenses, and large-print books and products.
 

Sources:

National Eye Institute: Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Data and Statistics, 7/17/2019

Bright Focus Foundation: The Latest Research on Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration, 7/9/2021

All About Vision: What Is Macular Degeneration?, 3/2022

American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is Macular Degeneration?, 2/10/2022

Glaucoma and You: The Importance of Eye Exams

Has it been a while since you've seen the optometrist? You may be putting your vision at risk if you haven't been scheduling regular eye exams. In addition to updating your contact lens or eyeglass prescription during your visit, your eye doctor also performs a glaucoma test. This simple test detects increased pressure in your eyes that could damage your vision.
 

What Is Glaucoma?

Pressure inside your eye helps your eyeball keep its round shape. If the pressure becomes too high, you may develop a condition called glaucoma. Primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common type of glaucoma, doesn't usually cause any symptoms at first. Unfortunately, the high pressure may soon begin to damage your optic nerve, even if you don't notice any changes in your vision.

The optic nerve sends electrical impulses from the retina at the back of your eye to your brain. Once the impulses reach the brain, they're turned into recognizable images. Damage to the optic nerve interrupts this flow of impulses to the brain. If this happens, you may experience permanent vision loss, which could be partial or full. Vision loss caused by glaucoma often affects your peripheral (side) vision first.

This type of glaucoma can happen to anyone, although it's more likely to occur as you get older. African American and Hispanic people have an increased risk of primary open-angle glaucoma, according to Bright Focus Foundation. Other risk factors include

• A Family History of Glaucoma

• A Cornea That's Thinner Than Normal

• Myopia (Nearsightedness)

• Diabetes

• High Blood Pressure

• An Eye Injury

• Corticosteroid Use
   

Unlike primary open-angle glaucoma, acute angle-closure glaucoma causes immediate, noticeable symptoms, including severe pain, nausea, vomiting, blurry vision, redness in the eyes and halos around lights. If you have these symptoms, go to the emergency room immediately. If you don't seek treatment right away, you could lose your vision.

Acute angle-closure glaucoma happens when a drainage channel in your eye becomes blocked. The channels allow aqueous humor, the fluid inside your eye, to drain. Normally, as the fluid drains, it's replaced by new fluid. When the drainage channel is blocked, pressure inside your eye becomes dangerously high in a short amount of time.

You may be more likely to develop this form of glaucoma if the bottom of your iris is narrower than usual, your iris covers the drainage channel, or the clear lens inside your eye is located farther forward than normal
 

A Visit to the Eye Doctor Can Help You Protect Your Vision

During your appointment with your optometrist, you'll receive a glaucoma test. The test is usually performed by directing a puff of air at your eye to determine if the pressure inside your eye is higher than normal.

Your eye doctor will also dilate your pupils. Enlarging your pupils with special eye drops makes it easier to see the retina at the back of the eye and the optic nerve. Changes in the optic nerve, such as cupping at the head of the nerve, could mean that your eye pressure is too high. Your eye doctor may also perform a visual fields test to determine if you've lost any side vision.
 

Prompt Treatment of Glaucoma Is Essential

If you are diagnosed with glaucoma, your optometrist will recommend treatment to lower your pressure. The sooner you begin treatment, the less likely you'll suffer vision loss. Treatments for primary open-angle glaucoma include:

• Prescription Eye Drops That Lower Pressure Inside Your Eye

• Laser Procedures That Improve Drainage or Reduce the Amount of Fluid Produced

• Filtration Surgery to Create a New Drainage Channel
   

If you have acute angle-closure glaucoma, drops will be used to try to decrease the pressure. You may also need laser or traditional surgery to make a small drainage opening in your iris or reposition your iris to allow better drainage.
 

Sources:

Bright Focus Foundation: Risk Factors of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma, 08/20/2021

American Optometric Association: Glaucoma

National Eye Institute: Facts About Glaucoma, 04/21/2022

Medline Plus: Glaucoma Test