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Sometimes your eyes don’t make enough tears or the tears evaporate too fast because they don’t have the right amount of compounds in them. This is called dry eye. Up to 5% of Americans complain of some form of dry eye. Individuals who wear contact lenses or have undergone LASIK or other types of refractive surgery commonly complain of dry eye. The condition is more common in women and is more common and severe in older persons.

Dry eye may occur by itself, or the surface of the eye may be inflamed at the same time. This condition can make it harder for you to carry out certain activities such as reading for long periods or looking at a computer screen. You may also be less comfortable in dry environments.

Mild cases of dry eye may go away on their own. However, if dry eye persists and goes untreated, it can cause ulcers or scars on the surface of the eye (cornea). This can be painful and may lead to some vision loss. Permanent loss of vision from dry eye, though, is uncommon.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

Dry eye can lead to different symptoms, including:

• Being unable to read, work on the computer or do other eye-intensive activities for long periods

• Blurry vision

• Burning or stinging of the eye

• Discharge from the eye

• Discomfort while wearing contact lenses

• Eye fatigue

• Feeling like there is something in your eye

• Eyelids that feel heavy

• Not being able to cry, even when upset emotionally

• Periods of excess tears followed by very dry eyes

• Redness or pain in the eye
   

If these symptoms persist or grow worse, contact your eye doctor. He or she will identify the underlying cause of dry eye and offer treatment options.

Causes of Dry Eye

Many factors can lead to dry eye, both temporary and ongoing (chronic), including:

• Allergies

• Chemical and heat burns of the membrane that covers the eye and inside of the eyelids (conjunctiva)

• Chronic inflammation of the conjunctiva or the lacrimal gland

• Cosmetic eyelid surgery

• Diseases of the skin on or around the eyelids or the glands in the eyelids

• Exposure to irritants, such as chemical fumes, tobacco smoke or drafts from heating or air conditioning

• Hormone replacement therapy

• Immune system disorders such as lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis

• Long-term contact lens wear

• Medications such as antidepressants, antihistamines, birth control pills, certain blood pressure medicines, nasal decongestants, Parkinson’s medications and tranquilizers

• Not blinking enough while looking at electronic screens

• Pregnancy

• Refractive surgery, such as LASIK

• Thyroid disease

• Vitamin deficiency or excess
   

Treatments for Dry Eye

Several treatments are available to relieve symptoms of dry eye, including:

• Anti-inflammatory medication such as cyclosporine or short-term use of corticosteroid eye drops

• Dietary changes or supplements, such as adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet

• Managing the underlying condition with medication or other treatments

• Plugging the tear ducts to keep the tears from flowing away, either temporarily or permanently

• Switching medications that may be causing dry eye

• Wearing contact lenses less frequently or switching to another type of lens
   

If you have dry eye, you may also be able to take steps to reduce the symptoms, such as by:

• Avoiding dry conditions

• Filtering the air in your house with an air cleaner

• Keeping the moisture in your house at a comfortable level with a humidifier

• Resting your eyes periodically during vision-intensive activities such as computer use or reading

• Using over-the-counter artificial tears, gels or ointments

• Wearing close-fitting glasses or sunglasses to prevent evaporation of tears
   

For more information about treating dry eye or about dry eye in general, contact us today.

Similar to a bruise under the skin, a subconjunctival hemorrhage happens when a small blood vessel located between the sclera (white portion of an eye) and the conjunctiva (lining on the surface of an eye) breaks and covers the sclera with blood. Unlike broken blood vessels located under the skin which take on shades of black, blue, and green, a subconjunctival hemorrhage located under the clear conjunctiva has a bright red appearance initially, and slowly fades to orange and yellow, as the tissue of the eye absorbs the blood.
 

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Symptoms

Usually painless upon occurrence, a subconjunctival hemorrhage typically goes unnoticed until the individual looks in the mirror or someone else points out the red spot on the eye. Subconjunctival hemorrhage has few symptoms, and mostly affects a person's appearance and sometimes self-esteem. The hemorrhage, however, can cause a full sensation on the surface of the eye or a feeling of eye awareness when blinking. It can also cause slight irritation or a feeling of grittiness. Subconjunctival hemorrhage should not affect vision, cause pain, or lead to any changes in eye discharge.
 

Subconjunctival Hemorrhage Causes and Risk Factors

The specific cause of subconjunctival hemorrhage is not always apparent. Extremely delicate, the blood vessels of the eyes rupture easily and can break under the pressure of a powerful sneeze, violent coughing, vomiting, or strain from activities like weight lifting. Subconjunctival hemorrhage can also result from an injury to the eye in cases of excessive eye rubbing, inserting contact lenses, or through some other trauma. In addition, a viral or bacterial infection of the eye such as conjunctivitis can cause a subconjunctival hemorrhage.

Certain medications or medical conditions can predispose an individual to recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhages. These conditions include diabetes, high blood pressure or hypertension, blood clotting disorders, and blood thinning medications like aspirin or Coumadin.
 

Diagnosis and Treatment

An eye care professional will diagnose subconjunctival hemorrhage by observation. If a trauma or injury to the eye is pinpointed as the cause of the subconjunctival hemorrhage, a more comprehensive eye exam will be necessary to check for further damage. Like bruises on the skin, subconjunctival hemorrhages clear up on their own without additional treatment. The blood will eventually absorb back into the eye and disappear. If caused by an infection or underlying medical condition, treatment for that underlying medical problem will be necessary.

Symptoms and Problems Caused By Autism

Autism is a neurological disorder in which the person has difficulty processing and reacting to information received from their senses. The individual also has trouble communicating and interacting socially.

Signs of autism include:

• Lack of shared social interaction

• Postponement in development

• Untimely response to sensory information
   

As a result of the condition, autistic people commonly have visual problems, including:

• Lack of eye contact

• Gazing at spinning objects or light

• Short-lived peripheral glances

• Side viewing

• Difficulty using visual information efficiently

• Trouble staying visually focused

• Eye movement disorders

• Crossed eyes

• Problems with motor skills and depth perception

• Troubles with eye-hand coordination

• Sensitivity to light
   

In addition to the above complications, there are often challenges with coordinating central and peripheral vision. So, for instance, if asked to track an object with their eyes, an autistic person generally will not look directly at the target. Rather, they will glance over or look off to the side of the object. On the other hand, individuals may disregard peripheral vision all together and stay fixated on a specific spot for extended periods of time.

The inability to merge both peripheral and central vision can result in problems processing and incorporating visual information. And when visual processing is inhibited, motor, speech, mental and perceptual capabilities could be impacted.
 

Testing for Autism

Many times, autistic people are visually or tactually defensive. As it specifically relates to vision, this means that the person tends to continuously scan visual information as a way of trying to process its meaning.

A primary care physician will and can diagnose autism, but an optometrist can evaluate vision and perform tests that examine the individual’s visual abilities. Tests usually consist of having the person perform actions—like sitting, standing, walking and throwing a ball—while wearing specialized lenses and/or yoked prisms. By doing this, the optometrist is able to inspect their postural adaptations and how they see and react to visual stimulation.

Once information from the tests is gathered, the specialist can prescribe lenses to help with astigmatism, farsightedness or nearsightedness. Vision therapy may also be recommended and can be used to encourage visual stimulation, eye movement and awakening of the central visual system. All forms of treatment are intended to help autistic individuals establish visual space, increase peripheral stability, improve central vision, have better eye coordination and enhance how the person processes visual information.

A follow-up examination will likely be scheduled every three to five weeks to evaluate progress.

Each eye picks up a slightly different image, but through a process called fusion, the brain blends the images together to make one three-dimensional picture. Good eye coordination is needed, however, and allows the eyes to sustain proper alignment so that they can focus on practically the same image, though it is seen somewhat differently.

Causes of Poor Eye Coordination

For some, eye coordination is poor. It may be the result of immature eye muscle control or a defect in vision development. Because of this, the person must apply excessive force to try to keep the eyes aligned. Should poor eye muscle control be severe enough, the muscles cannot adjust the eyes enough for them to capture the same image, and double vision may be the outcome.

With double vision, the eyes and brain pick up two different images. To make up for this imbalance, the brain overlooks the visual it gets from the weaker, more impaired eye. And just like any body part that is not being used, its functions deteriorate. Thus, with the weaker eye no longer being depended upon for use, permanent visual impairment sets in. This can lead to a condition known as lazy eye or amblyopia, and signs of poor eye coordination may persist, including:

• Difficulty reading and/or concentrating

• Vertigo

• Eye fatigue

• Headaches

• Poor performance of tasks
   

Vision therapy is one type of treatment used to assist with the correction of eye coordination problems. This form of physical therapy uses a mixture of vision exercises and specialized equipment to train the visual system to repair itself and reduce eye strain.

Treatment Options

Implemented under the guidance of an optometrist, vision therapy is performed in an office once to twice a week for up to an hour. Depending on the severity of the eye coordination problem and associated symptoms, the types of exercises and equipment will be tailored to meet the individual needs of the patient. These factors will also determine the number of sessions the patient requires. To complement in-house visits, the optometrist may also instruct the patient on how to perform certain vision exercises at home.

Devices that may be used during a vision therapy session include:

• Therapeutic or corrective lenses

• Optical filters

• Prisms

• Occluders or eye patches

• Balance boards

• Computer software

• Vision-motor-sensory training equipment

• Electronic target with programmed apparatuses
   

When vision therapy is complete, and all necessary sessions have ended, the patient’s visual skills and capabilities should have improved and symptoms should have decreased significantly. In addition, visual efficiency should have enhanced and the patient should be more efficient when it comes to processing and understanding visual information.

The eye has many parts that work together to create vision. The eyes themselves are only part of “seeing.” The brain is also involved. The eyes, though, begin the complex process of vision by gathering, focusing and passing on visual information to the brain.

To help you learn how the eye works, here is a quick overview of the anatomy of the eye. This information is also useful in understanding which parts of the eye are affected by different health problems of the eye.

Cornea. Light first enters the eye through this transparent, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye. The cornea bends — or refracts — the light onto the eye’s lens.

Pupil. This is the round hole at the front of the eye that appears black. It is located behind the middle of the cornea and is surrounded by the iris.

Iris. The iris, or the colored part of the eye surrounding the pupil, controls how much light enters the eye. The iris can make the pupil bigger or smaller by opening or closing.

Lens. Behind the pupil and the iris is a transparent structure that looks similar in shape to the lens of a magnifying glass. Unlike glass lenses, though, this part of the eye can change shape. This enables it to bend the rays of light even more, so they land in the right place on the retina, at the back of the eye.

Vitreous body, or gel. The eye is filled with a gel that helps it keep its round shape. Light entering the eye first passes through the cornea then the lens and then the vitreous body before reaching the retina.

Retina. At the back of the eye is the retina, or a thin layer of light-sensitive nerve cells. The retina contains different types of photoreceptors — called rods and cones — which respond to light that lands on them.

Cones. These light-sensitive nerve cells are located in the macula, which is located at the center of the retina. Cones are necessary for focused central vision. Cones also enable you to see colors in bright-light conditions.

Rods. These light-sensitive nerve cells surround the macula and extend to the edge of the retina. The rods provide you with your side, or peripheral, vision. They also help you see at night and in dim light.

Optic nerve. The cells of the retina turn light into electrical impulses. These electrical signals are collected by the optic nerve — a bundle of about 1 million nerve fibers — and transmitted to the brain. The brain puts all this information together to produce the image that you see.

To learn more about eye anatomy or to have your eye health examined, please contact our practice.

The redness associated with “red eye” is usually caused by dilated or swollen blood vessels. As a result, the surface of the eye looks bloodshot. In contrast to vision problems or pain in the eye, red eye is often less of a concern. However, there are times when red eye may be a sign of a more serious condition.

Causes of Red Eye

When the blood vessels running over the surface of the white part of the eye (sclera) become swollen, the eyes look red or bloodshot. This can be caused by:

• Acute glaucoma, a medical emergency in which a sudden increase in eye pressure causes severe pain and vision problems

• Colds or allergies

• Dryness of the eyes

• Dust or other small particles in the eye

• Exposure to chemicals, such as in a chlorine swimming pool

• Infection

• Injury, such as scratches of the outer layer of the eye (cornea)

• Subconjunctival hemorrhage, which is caused by a broken blood vessel on the surface of the eye, often after coughing or straining

• Sun overexposure
   

Red eye caused by inflammation of infection may occur along with discharge, itching, pain or vision problems. Several conditions can cause this, such as:

• Blepharitis, which is characterized by inflammation or swelling of the edge of the eyelids

• Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, which is characterized by infection or swelling of the layer of clear tissue that covers both the surface of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids (conjunctiva)

• Corneal ulcers, which are open sores on the cornea that are often caused by a serious viral or bacterial infection

• Uveitis, which is inflammation of the uvea, the part of the eye that includes the iris
   

When to See an Eye Doctor

Short periods of red eye that happen occasionally are not usually a problem. They may clear up on their own after resting your eyes or avoiding anything that was irritating them.

However, red eye that continues for longer periods or occurs alongside vision problems or pain in the eye may be a sign of a more serious problem. Contact your eye doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Discharge from one or both eyes

• Minor vision changes

• Pain in the eye

• Redness that lasts longer than one or two days
   

Seek immediate medical help for any of the following:

• Being unable to open your eye or keep it open

• Feeling like a foreign object is in your eye

• Loss of vision

• Puncture wound to the eye

• Seeing halos around lights

• Severe eye pain, headache, nausea or sensitivity to bright lights
   

If you are experiencing long-lasting red eye or red eye combined with any of the symptoms listed above, call us today to schedule an appointment, so we can assess your eye health and provide any necessary treatment options.

Many people experience small, dark, cobwebby shapes drifting across their field of vision. These floaters are especially common as people age. Flashes, a similar phenomenon, are quick flickers of light. Both are usually harmless, but, occasionally, can be a sign of serious eye troubles.

Causes

Vitreous humor is a clear gel that fills the rear two-thirds of your eyeballs. With age, vitreous becomes more liquid and can form stringy clumps. Tiny cell clusters cast shadows on your retina. These are what you see when you notice a floater. If you try to look directly at them, they float away. When your eyes stop moving, floaters drift around.

About 25 percent of people have floaters by the time they reach their 60s. The number of people in their 80s who experience floaters increases to about two-thirds. Very nearsighted people are more likely to develop floaters. Floaters are also more common after eye injuries, after cataract surgeries and in people with diabetes.

Symptoms may include:

• Dark, floating spots in your vision that appear as flecks or knobby, clear strings of floating material

• Spots that you notice more when looking at a plain background, such as the sky or a blank movie screen

• Moving spots that you cannot look at directly

• Spots that come and go from your line of vision, eventually drifting away
   

Inflammation or bleeding in the eye can also cause floaters. Occasionally, floaters result from a torn retina, which is a serious condition requiring prompt treatment.

Flashes

When tiny vitreous fibers pull on your retinal nerve cells, you may sense a quick flash of light. This might also look like multiple flashes over a wider area. Flashes often occur in conjunction with floaters. If you experience flashes, contact your ophthalmologist. Flashes may be a symptom of retinal detachment.

Managing Floaters and Flashes

In rare cases, floaters are a symptom of a serious problem with the retina. If you have any of the following symptoms, see your eye doctor immediately:

• Sudden onset of flashes and / or floaters

• One-sided, gradual shading, like a curtain being drawn across your field of vision

• Sudden decline in clear, central vision
   

However, as long as your floaters are not related to retina damage, they are unlikely to be more than a nuisance. In time, they could disappear and become less noticeable, or they might stay and become even more annoying.

You can try this easy, non-surgical way to get temporary relief from floaters: Look up, down, left and right. This may shift the floater out of your field of vision.

Some patients may be suitable candidate for laser surgery to treat benign floaters. Nonetheless, the possible risks of this treatment option should be weighed against the benefits.

Concerned about floaters, flashes or other symptoms? Call us today for a comprehensive vision exam. We can evaluate your eye health, help identify the cause of your floaters and / or flashes and suggest appropriate treatment options, based on your individual anatomical, visual and lifestyle needs.

The term retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a set of degenerative genetic diseases that gradually kill off the light-sensing cells (rods and cones) of the retina, eventually causing blindness. It is a relatively rare genetic disorder, affecting only 1 in 4,000 people. Retinitis pigmentosa can be difficult to adapt to without proper support. Although there is currently no cure for RP, regular visits with your eye care professional are important to monitor the progression of the disease, adapt to the condition, and become aware as new RP treatments are available.
 

Symptoms of Retinitis Pigmentosa

Although there are variations dictating how a person inherits and develops retinitis pigmentosa, this condition is usually characterized by the following symptoms:

• Poor and narrowing peripheral (side) vision.

• Difficulty seeing or driving in dimly-lit conditions. This is often called “night blindness.”

• As the disease progresses, vision may narrow to just a small, central vision field or “tunnel vision.”

• Difficulty discerning colors.

• Problems reading or doing intricate work due to deficiencies in the central field of vision, which often disappears first.
   

The progression of the disease can vary significantly depending on whether the condition is inherited as a dominant or recessive trait. Regular testing by your eye care professional is very important if you have RP for two reasons:

1. Eye exams and vision tests can give you an idea of how your condition is progressing so that you can be aware of and prepare for any adaptations you need to make as your vision declines.

2. With modern technology, there are currently efforts under way to provide treatments to slow the progression of RP, or to create solutions that simulate the behavior of healthy retina cells. Your eye care professional can inform you of any developments that might be able to make a positive impact in the quality of your life as you live with this condition.
    

If you or a loved one suffers from any of these symptoms, please contact your eye care professional today for an appointment.

An eye occlusion is a blockage in one of the arteries or veins supplying blood to the retina and/or optic nerve. These blockages can cause severe and sudden vision loss. Contact your eye care professional immediately if you experience sudden vision loss, and follow up right away with your family doctor. Eye occlusions often signal other serious health problems requiring immediate medical attention.
 

Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Occlusions

There are 4 main types of eye occlusions, categorized based on the vessels involved, their location within the eye, and the type of vision loss they cause. An eye care professional will perform a complete eye exam to determine the root problem:

• Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion or “BRAO”— Characterized by a sudden loss of peripheral vision, and occasionally central vision, from a broken clot or plaque traveling from the carotid (in the neck) artery into the branch retinal artery. Rapid treatment (within 12-24 hours of the onset of symptoms) with glaucoma medicine can help. 80% of patients with a BRAO can recover up to 20/40 in visual acuity.

• Branch retinal vein occlusion or “BRVO”— Involves distorted and diminished vision, peripheral vision loss, and blind spots in one eye. This type of occlusion usually occurs in people with diabetes or high blood pressure. Your eye care professional will diagnose the condition based on retinal bleeding along one of the retinal veins, which is detected during a fluorescein angiogram test. Laser and pharmaceutical treatments can help some patients recover a degree of their lost vision.

• Central retinal artery occlusion or “CRAO”— Manifests as painless, yet extensive and sudden vision loss in one eye and can point toward serious narrowing of the carotid artery or complications of diabetes. Immediate, full medical and eye exams are necessary to address the root cause. Vision loss is often permanent, with only a few therapies offering limited success at restoring some vision. Treatments must be implemented within a very short time frame after the onset of symptoms to have a chance of success.

• Central retinal vein occlusion or "CRVO"— Diabetes and high blood pressure are risk factors for CRVO, which can cause mild to severe vision loss. Laser and pharmaceutical treatments can stop the damage and prevent worsening vision if caught early.
   

Any sudden vision loss, whether painful or painless, requires immediate attention because prompt treatment offers better vision outcomes in the case of eye occlusions. Also remember to check in with your physician for diagnosis and treatment of other potentially serious eye occlusion risk factors.

Stinging, irritated eyes, and blurred vision may indicate nothing more than a case of blepharitis -- an unpleasant but, in most cases, relatively harmless condition. Blepharitis is a chronic eyelid inflammation caused by a variety of irritants and/or the inability to maintain proper eye lubrication. In some cases, bacterial infection may be involved. If you suffer from this annoying problem, don't feel obliged to live with it -- see your eye care professional to discover the cause of your blepharitis and get advice on how to relieve yourself of it.

Blepharitis may take one of two forms, anterior (toward the front of the eyelid, where the eyelashes begin) and posterior (on the inner edge of the lid). You may even have both types of blepharitis at the same time. Anterior blepharitis often occurs when dandruff flakes, allergens, or bacteria irritate the eyelid and eyelashes. Posterior blepharitis is the result of a failure on the part of tiny glands within the eyelid, known as meibomian glands, to produce sufficient lubrication between the eyelid and the cornea of the eye.

Typical symptoms of blepharitis include the formation of crusts along the eyelids, eye pain, redness, oozing, abnormal tear formation, irregularities in the arrangement of your eyelashes, and a tendency for the eyelids to stick together.
 

Getting Relief from Blepharitis

The good news is that most cases of blepharitis are more annoying than dangerous. While extreme cases may require medical treatment to prevent possible damage to the cornea, your eye care professional can recommend several simple home care practices you can adopt to keep this recurring problem at bay. These may include warm compresses, commercial eyelid cleansers, anti-dandruff shampoos, and artificial tears.

You may also be advised to stop wearing contact lenses or using eyeliner and eye shadow, since these practices can make people more prone to blepharitis. (Since blepharitis attacks tend to come and go, you may want to keep a pair of eyeglasses handy so you can continue to see clearly while treating the condition.) Even a massage of the outer eyelids can help relieve the condition.

No one enjoys the prospect of a chronic eye condition, but once you learn how to control your blepharitis instead of simply suffering with it, you will feel better both physically and emotionally. Contact your eye care professional for personal help and advice on this common yet irritating problem.