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The cornea is present as a clear tissue that is located at the front of the eye. A corneal ulcer occurs when there is a sore in the layer of the cornea. Symptoms of this include redness, drainage, visual disturbances, sensitivity to light, itching and discomfort.
Causes and Effects of Corneal Ulcers
The most common cause of a corneal ulcer is infection. This can occur following damage to the eye. Other possible causes include fungi, eye dryness, a scratch in the eye, an inflammatory disorder, allergic eye disorders, and viruses.
Contact lens wearers are especially prone to corneal ulcers, especially if they wear their contacts while sleeping or while swimming.
Changes in vision may take place after a corneal ulcer has healed. It can also cause long term damage to the vision and even a loss of the eye itself. In some cases a corneal transplant may even be necessary. This is why it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible after noticing any symptoms.
Treatment of Corneal Ulcers
After examination of the eye, the eye care professional will determine what type of treatment is needed. If the corneal ulcer was caused by bacteria the doctor will likely prescribe a topical antibiotic for the eye. Culture of the eye drainage may be taken for further examination. If the doctor suspects a fungal infection topical anti-fungal medication may be needed. If the corneal ulcer is severe, oral agents may also be prescribed.
Prevention of Corneal Ulcers
The best way to avoid suffering from a corneal ulcer is protection of the eye. When doing any type of work or activity that would put yourself at risk for damage to the eye you should wear some type of mask, safety glasses, or goggles. If you are prone to dry eyes you can administer lubricating eye drops as needed. Contact lens wearers need to take proper care of the lenses in cleaning them and storing them. Contact lenses should never be worn while sleeping or swimming. Most importantly, proper hand washing is a must to avoid transmitting bacteria to the eye. This is the first line of defense in protecting your health.
Can You Pass Along an Eye Disease or Condition?
Have you noticed that children who wear glasses often have parents who also need a little help seeing? Myopia, or nearsightedness, is just one of the eye conditions and diseases that can be inherited.
Inherited Eye Diseases and Conditions
In addition to determining your eye color and height, your genes also include information that may increase your risk of developing conditions or illnesses. Heart disease, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure, and dementia are among the diseases that can have a genetic component.
Some eye diseases and conditions are also inherited, including:
Trouble Seeing Colors. More common in men than women, color blindness affects your ability to see certain colors. Red-green is the most common form of color blindness, followed by blue-yellow, according to the National Eye Institute. The problem may be due to a defect in the genes responsible for color vision.
Myopia and Hyperopia. Both myopia and hyperopia (farsightedness) can run in families. First-degree relatives, which includes children, brothers, and sisters, are more likely to be nearsighted if a family member has myopia, Medline Plus reports. Genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors shared by the family may all be contributing factors. For example, spending too little time outdoors during childhood may increase the risk of myopia.
Glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when the pressure inside the eye increases. High pressure can damage the optic nerve and cause partial or complete loss of vision. Unfortunately, loss of vision due to glaucoma is permanent. Both the angle closure and congenital (present at birth) forms of glaucoma can be passed along, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation.
Rare Eye Diseases. Rare eye diseases, like Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) or juvenile macular degeneration, can also run in the family. RP causes night vision problems and loss of peripheral vision, while macular degeneration affects the central part of your vision. Other rare, inherited eye diseases include Leber congenital amaurosis, choroideremia, Kearns-Sayre syndrome, Stargardt disease, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Best disease, and retinoblastoma.
Strabismus (Crossed Eyes). Parents who had strabismus when they were children may be more likely to have kids with eye alignment problems. Even mild alignment problems that aren't particularly noticeable can affect the eyes' ability to work as a team. Strabismus can happen due to weak eye muscles or problems with the part of the brain that controls the eye muscles. Symptoms can include double or blurry vision, fatigue, poor depth perception, and sensitivity to light.
Lazy Eye (Ambylopia). Ambylopia is a condition that occurs when the brain ignores information received from one eye. Your child may be more likely to develop amblyopia if they have or have had strabismus. Other eye conditions that can increase the risk of amblyopia include cataracts, a droopy eyelid, or significantly different vision in each eye. Kids with amblyopia also have trouble with depth perception and blurry vision. You may notice that your child squints or tilts their head to see better, or has poor coordination.
Cataracts. The clear lens inside the eye plays an important role in good vision. It focuses light rays on the retina, the layer of light-sensing cells that sends electrical impulses to the brain. Cataracts cloud the lens, making colors look dull. Other symptoms of cataracts include blurry vision, light sensitivity, glare, and halos around lights. A congenital cataract, a type of cataract that's present at birth or appears soon after, can be inherited.
Do you think you or your children may have an inherited eye disease? Call our office to schedule an eye exam.
Sources:
Glaucoma Research Foundation: Are You at Risk for Glaucoma?
Longevity: Eye Issues: Hereditary or Is Your Environment to Blame, 3/26/18
Prevent Blindness: Inherited Retinal Disease
An Active Lifestyle Can Help You Protect Your Eyes
Staying active helps you maintain your weight, keeps your heart healthy, strengthens your bones, and may even help you lower your risk of several serious eye diseases. No matter what your age, increasing your activity level offers a simple way to safeguard your eye health.
The Eye-Health Benefits of an Active Lifestyle
Couch potatoes are at increased risk for many health problems, including conditions that can damage vision. The more you move, the less likely you'll develop glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy.
Reducing Your Risk of Glaucoma with Exercise
Glaucoma occurs when the pressure inside your eyes increases. If the pressure remains high, your optic nerve may be damaged. The optic nerve provides a crucial pathway between the eyes and the brain. Damage to the nerves prevents electrical impulses from the eyes from reaching the brain, causing loss of vision.
Aerobic exercise offers a natural way to lower the pressure inside your eyes and improve blood flow to the optic nerves and retinas. Walking, running, biking, swimming, dancing, and other types of exercise that raise your heart rate qualify as aerobic exercise. You don't need to schedule long workouts to enjoy the benefits of exercise. Walking briskly for 20 minutes at least four times a week can help protect your eyes, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation.
Worried About Macular Degeneration? Increasing Our Activity Level Can Help
The same types of exercise that lower your glaucoma risk can also reduce your risk of developing the wet form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Wet AMD occurs when new, abnormal blood vessels begin to grow in the macula, the center part of the retina. The retina is a layer of light-sensing cells at the back of your eye. These vessels can leak fluids or blood and cause blurred vision or blind spots in the central part of your vision.
Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine discovered that regular exercise reduced the overgrowth of blood vessels by up to 45% in mice. Staying active could have the same effect on people too.
Moving More May Also Help You Avoid Retinopathy
Retinopathy also happens due to blood vessel changes in the retina, although, unlike macular degeneration, the changes can affect the entire retina. High blood sugar levels caused by diabetes cause blood vessels in the retina to leak and may also encourage the growth of abnormal vessels. High blood pressure can also cause retinopathy.
Exercising often, in addition to eating a healthy diet, helps you maintain a healthy weight and reduces your risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure.
No matter how busy your life is, you can probably spare 15 to 20 minutes every day or two to get a little aerobic exercise. If you're exhausted by the time you return home at the end of the day, exercise before you go to work, or put on your sneakers and go for a short walk during your lunch break.
Keep This Warning in Mind if You Have Glaucoma
If you already have glaucoma and are hoping to decrease the pressure inside your eyes with exercise, it may be a good idea to avoid exercises that require you to drop your head. Lowering your head while you exercise may cause pressure inside your eyes to rise.
If you practice yoga, avoid the downward-facing dog, forward bend, plow, and the legs-up-the-wall poses. These poses increased eye pressure in people with and without glaucoma, according to a research study published in PLOS One. For safety's sake, check with your eye doctor before you start a new exercise plan and continue to use the medication prescribed to treat your condition.
Embracing a healthy lifestyle, in addition to visiting your optometrist for annual eye exams, can help you protect your vision. If it's time for your next checkup, get in touch with our office to schedule an appointment.
Sources:
Glaucoma Research Foundation: Can Exercise Lower Eye Pressure?
University of Virginia: Exercise Can Slow or Prevent Vision Loss, UVA Study Suggests, 6/30/20
How Eye Makeup Mistakes Can Affect Your Vision
Do you use makeup to accentuate your eyes? Whether your go-to style is a smoky eye or you prefer a more understated look, eye makeup mistakes could increase your risk of eye irritation, infection, or vision loss.
What Types of Eye Problems Can Be Caused by Makeup?
If you're like most people, you probably don't pay much attention to expiration dates on your eye makeup. Unfortunately, as soon as you open a new package of eyeshadow or uncap a tube of mascara, bacteria begin to grow in the product and on the applicator. Replacing makeup every few months is a simple way to avoid bacterial or fungal infections that could cause pain and temporary or permanent vision loss.
Infections can also occur if you don't wash your hands before handling eye makeup, or if an uncovered product becomes contaminated with bacteria, dirt, or dust.
Signs and symptoms of an infection can include pain, redness, discharge, and swollen eyelids. Get in touch with your optometrist right away if you notice any of these symptoms. Without prompt treatment, serious or permanent vision damage could be a possibility.
Have you ever poked yourself in the eye while applying makeup? A poke could cause minor irritation as well as scratch or damage the white part of your eye or your cornea, the clear, rounded tissue that covers your iris and pupil. Scratches can be quite painful, while more serious injuries could put your vision at risk.
The type of eye makeup you use may also cause issues. Eyeshadow that contains glitter or sparkling powder creates a dramatic look but tends to migrate into the eye easily, causing discomfort, irritation, or scratches. The problem can be worsened if you wear this type of makeup with contact lenses. The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that corneal infections or irritations occur more often in contact lens wearers who wear glitter eye makeup.
What You Can Do to Protect Your Vision
These simple steps can help you avoid eye injuries, irritation, and infection:
Throw Away Eye Makeup After Three Months: Don't keep eye makeup longer than the expiration date, which is usually about three months. If you develop an eye infection, throw out all of your eye makeup immediately.
Don't Share Eye Makeup: Sharing your makeup increases your risk of bacterial infection.
Wash Up Before Applying Eye Makeup: Wash your hands, your eyelids, and your eyelashes before you put on your makeup.
Don't Continue to Use Eye Makeup That Irritates Your Eyes: You may be allergic to your eye makeup if redness and irritation develop soon after you apply the product. Stop using the makeup, and stay away from other brands of makeup that contain the same ingredients. The American Optometric Association reports that makeup that contains nickel, lead, thallium, selenium, arsenic, cadmium, carmine, and beryllium is more likely to cause allergic reactions.
Forget About Car Touchups: You're more likely to injure your eye if you apply makeup in a car, train, or another moving vehicle.
Take Off Eye Makeup Before Sleeping: Eye makeup is more likely to find its way into your eyes if it's worn overnight.
Keep Eyeliner Off Your Lash Line: Eyeliner applied directly to the lash line can block oil glands that moisturize your eyes, causing dry eye. Applying eyeliner too close to the eye may also increase your risk of irritation or bacterial infection. In a study published in Eye & Contact Lens, researchers discovered that applying glitter eyeliner inside the lash line rather than outside of it resulted in a 15 to 30 percent increase in glitter particles in the tear film.
Clean Brushes and Applicators Daily: Keeping brushes and applicators clean is a simple way to reduce your risk of infection. It's best to wash applicators and brushes used on or around the eyes after every use.
Sharpen Eyeliner Before Every Use: Sharpening removes bacteria that can coat the tip of the eyeliner.
Stay Away from Shared Eye Makeup Samples: Shared samples are overflowing with bacteria. Skip the sample area unless the store offers single-use samples.
Use Gentle Cleaning Products: Prevent eye irritation by choosing gentle, hypoallergenic makeup remover. Baby shampoo or petroleum jelly make excellent, low-cost cleaners.
Following these makeup safety tips and scheduling regular visits to your optometrist can help you safeguard your vision. Contact our office to make your next appointment.
Sources:
American Academy of Ophthalmology: How To Use Cosmetics Safely Around Your Eyes, 3/24/21
Eye & Contact Lens: Migration of Cosmetic Products into the Tear Film, 9/15
University of Waterloo: Study Finds Eyeliner Application May Cause Eye Problems, 4/1/15
American Optometric Association: Academy Award in Makeup? Not for These Patient Gaffes, 2/9/2
What You Need to Know About Uveitis
Uveitis, a painful eye condition that affects the middle of the eye, can lead to vision loss if it's not treated in a timely manner. Fortunately, your optometrist can offer several treatments that will help reduce pain and preserve your vision.
Uveitis Causes Inflammation in the Eye
Uveitis occurs when the uvea, the middle part of your eye, becomes inflamed. Although uveitis can happen at any age, it mostly occurs in people ages 20 to 60, according to the National Eye Institute.
Types of uveitis include:
Anterior Uveitis. This kind of uveitis causes inflammation between your iris, the colored part of your eye, and your cornea, the clear tissue that covers the iris. It may also affect the ciliary body, a ring-shaped muscle responsible for changing pupil size and lens shape.
Intermediate Uveitis. Intermediate uveitis affects the vitreous gel that gives your eyeball its shape and the outer parts of the retina. The retina is the layer of light-sensing cells that lines the back of the eye.
Posterior Uveitis. Posterior uveitis inflames the retina and the choroid, the layer between the retina and the sclera (white part of the eye).
Panuveitis. Panuveitis affects the anterior, intermediate, and posterior parts of the eye.
Symptoms of Uveitis
If you have uveitis, you may experience one or more of these symptoms:
Pain in your eye
Blurry vision
Redness
Small pupil size
Light sensitivity
Floaters (Wispy shadows that seem to float in front of your eyes)
It's not always possible to determine why you have uveitis, although these factors may increase your risk:
Eye injury
Eye surgery
An autoimmune disorder, like lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, or Crohn's disease
Shingles
Psoriasis
Multiple sclerosis
Lyme disease
Sarcoidosis
Toxoplasmosis
Tuberculosis
Certain strains of the herpes virus
AIDS
Behcet's syndrome
Ulcerative colitis
Rheumatoid, reactive, or juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Kawasaki disease
Medication side effects
Cancer of the eye
Uveitis can damage the tissues in your eye causing vision loss or blindness. If the condition isn't controlled, you may be more likely to develop:
Glaucoma
Cataracts
Swelling or scarring of the retina
Detached retina
Optic nerve damage
Uveitis may affect just one eye or both eyes. Symptoms can start gradually or occur suddenly. If you notice any of the symptoms of uveitis, call your optometrist immediately.
Once you've had uveitis, you may be more likely to get it again. Regular eye exams at the optometrist's office will help you manage your condition.
Uveitis Treatment
Treatment for uveitis may include:
Medication. Your eye doctor may prescribe drugs that stop spasms in your iris, reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, treat viruses, or suppress your immune system. Corticosteroids, drugs that reduce inflammation and pain, may also be recommended. Your uveitis medications may be in pill, eye drop, or injectable form.
An Implant: If you have posterior uveitis that doesn't get better after taking medication, an implant added to the back of your eye may be recommended. The implant contains corticosteroid medication and helps keep inflammation under control.
Surgery. Sometimes medication isn't helpful in controlling inflammation in the vitreous. If that's the case, surgical removal of the vitreous may be needed. After the vitreous is removed, it's replaced with saline solution, silicone oil, or a gas bubble.
Treatment of Underlying Conditions. Managing a condition or disease that may have caused or worsened inflammation in your eye can help keep uveitis under control.
Do you have any of the symptoms of uveitis? Whether you're concerned about troubling changes in your eyes or it's time for your next exam, we're here to help you care for your eyes. Contact our office to schedule an appointment.
Sources:
National Eye Institute: Uveitis, 7/11/19
American Optometric Association: Anterior Uveitis
American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is Uveitis?, 11/9/20
Myths About Your Visual Health
Misinformation tends to be confused with fact the longer it circulates. Unfortunately, that often means that people don't have the information they need to make informed decisions about their general or visual health. Have you heard any of these eyesight myths and wondered if they're actually true?
Myth: You Don't Need an Eye Examination if Your Vision Isn't Blurry
Fact: Vision changes can often occur very gradually. In fact, you may not even realize just how much your vision worsened until you receive a brand new pair of glasses or contact lenses.
Blurry vision isn't the only issue that can affect your visual health. As you age, your risk of glaucoma, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration rises. If you don't have regular eye exams, you may not realize that you have one of these conditions or diseases until you experience permanent vision loss.
All About Vision recommends vision examinations for children at 6 months and 3 years, then every two years until age 18. Adults 18 to 60 should see the eye doctor every two years. After age 61, eye exams should be scheduled annually.
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you'll need to see your optometrist every year to determine if your prescription has changed. More frequent exams are also needed if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, a family history of eye disease, a previous eye injury, or currently have an eye disease.
Myth: Drugstore Eyeglasses Offer a Good Solution if You're Having Trouble Seeing
Fact: Choosing your eyeglasses from the drugstore or grocery store may seem to offer a simple solution if your vision has started to get a little blurry. Although they may be inexpensive, drugstore glasses offer a few drawbacks including:
Lack of Customization: The glasses contain the same lens power in each lens and only offer a limited range of lens options. It's not unusual to need different lenses for each eye or require a stronger prescription than the store-bought glasses can offer. Store-bought glasses also don't provide correction for astigmatism, a refractive error that can distort your vision at both far and near distances.
Discomfort: Wearing glasses that aren't right for your eyes can cause headaches and eyestrain.
Worsening of Eye Conditions: It's not a good idea to assume that the glasses alone will correct your vision problem. If you have an underlying health or vision problem, skipping an eye exam may mean that your condition will worsen and cause temporary or permanent vision loss.
Myth: Eating Carrots Will Help You Overcome Vision Problems
Fact: Carrots contain vitamin A, a nutrient essential for good eye health. Although eating carrots and other foods that contain vitamin A is certainly a good idea, you'll still be nearsighted or farsighted no matter how many carrots you eat.
Myth: Sitting Too Close to the TV Will Harm Your Children's Eyes
Fact: Do you find yourself repeating your parents' warning to move away from the TV? Although you may experience eyestrain if you sit too close to the TV or hold a digital device close to your eyes, your kids may not have the same difficulty. The American Academy of Opthalmology reports that there is no evidence that sitting close to the TV will damage the eyes whether you're an adult or a child.
Myth: Children Outgrow Crossed Eyes
Fact: Strabismus, or crossed eyes, occurs when the eyes are misaligned. Although many people believe that children will outgrow crossed eyes, that's not true, according to the American Optometric Association.
Without treatment, your child will struggle to focus on near objects and experience double vision or depth perception issues. Eventually, your child's brain may start to ignore the input from one eye. Fortunately, strabismus can be treated if you make visits to the optometrist a priority in early childhood.
Myth: Reading in the Dark Is Bad for Your Eyes
Fact: Reading in dim light may also cause eyestrain and headaches, but your eyes won't be damaged if you don't turn on a light. Your need for light increases as you age. When you get older, tiny muscles that control pupil size don't work quite as well. As a result, the pupils don't widen as much as they used to in low light conditions.
Regular eye examinations offer a simple way to protect your visual health? Has it been a while since you saw the optometrist? Contact our office to schedule a convenient appointment.
Sources:
All About Vision: Eye Exam Cost and When to Have an Eye Exam
American Optometric Association: Strabismus
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Can Sitting Too Close to the TV Damage Your Eyes?, 12/9/10
Is Your Eye Pain an Emergency?
Do you know when you should call the eye doctor if you have eye pain? Waiting too long to seek treatment can prolong your pain and result in permanent vision loss in some cases.
Don't Ignore Eye Pain
Pain is a warning sign that should never be overlooked. Even if your pain seems fairly mild, it's important to see your optometrist as soon as possible. If you wait, the pain may worsen and you may face the loss of vision.
Do you know what types of conditions and injuries require an immediate visit to the eye doctor or emergency room? You'll need immediate care if you experience any of these six eye issues.
Corneal Abrasion or Ulcer
A scratch or ulcer on your cornea, the clear, rounded layer that covers your iris and pupil, can be very painful. Corneal abrasions often heal on their own, but ulcers may require treatment with antibiotics, antifungal, or antiviral eye drops to prevent scarring and vision loss.
Other symptoms of abrasions or ulcers may include blurry vision, tearing, sensitivity to light, redness, and a foreign body sensation. You may be more likely to develop an infected corneal ulcer if you wear your contact lenses longer than recommended, don't clean your lenses often enough, or swim in them.
Foreign Bodies and Lacerations
An eye injury can occur if you get something in your eye or a foreign object cuts your eye. These injuries can occur if you don't wear eye protection when you play sports or use machinery, but may also happen if you have a motor vehicle or other type of accident. Even mowing the lawn without eye protection can increase your risk of one of these eye injuries.
Depending on the severity of the injury, you may need antibiotic drops, removal of the foreign body, stitches, or surgery to repair damage caused by a cut.
Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Angle-closure glaucoma symptoms occur suddenly and may include severe pain in your eye and head, loss of vision or blurry vision, nausea, vomiting, or halos around lights. The condition occurs when drainage channels inside your eye become blocked by your iris, increasing the pressure in your eye.
Surgery to remove a small piece of the iris and unblock drainage channels will help protect your vision, although some vision loss may still occur.
Ocular Shingles
In addition to causing a painful, red rash on your body, shingles may also affect your eyes. Approximately 200,000 Americans develop shingles in their eyes every year, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Redness, vision changes, light sensitivity, and tearing can also occur with ocular shingles. Vision loss can be temporary or permanent.
Treatment includes steroid drops to decrease inflammation and drops that reduce pain by keeping your pupils dilated.
Optic Neuritis
Optic Neuritis occurs when your optic nerve begins to swell. The nerve transmits light impulses from your eyes to your brain. If the nerve doesn't function properly, you'll have difficulty seeing. You may feel pain when you move your eyes or might notice that the back of your eye hurts if you have optic neuritis. Other symptoms can include blurry vision and faded colors.
Corticosteroids, a type of medication that decreases swelling, can be helpful if you have optic neuritis.
Uveitis
The middle part of the eye becomes inflamed if you have uveitis. The condition can cause mild to severe vision loss if eye tissue is damaged. Pain, blurry vision, small pupil size, redness, and sensitivity to light are common symptoms. People who have certain diseases and conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, AIDS, shingles, ulcerative colitis, and Kawasaki disease, are at an increased risk of developing uveitis.
Eye doctors treat uveitis with corticosteroid drops, pills, and injections to reduce spasms or suppress the immune system. In some cases, surgery may be necessary.
Do you or a family member have eye pain? Prompt treatment will help you protect your vision. Call our office right away to schedule an appointment.
Sources:
National Eye Institute: Uveitis, 7/11/19
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus: A Growing Risk, 7/17
Cleveland Clinic: Eye Pain: Possible Causes
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Recognizing and Treating Eye Injuries, 2/25/19
All About Vision: Eye Shingles: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments
American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is Optic Neuritis, 4/9/20
Do You Have an Eye Cold?
Colds and other viral infections don't just cause sneezing and coughing but they may also affect your eyes. If your eyes are red, uncomfortable, and won't stop watering, an eye cold may be to blame.
What is an Eye Cold?
An eye cold occurs when you have viral conjunctivitis, commonly called "pink eye." Viruses affect mucous membranes in your body, including those in the eyes, lungs, and nose.
Viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can be spread by person-to-person contact or by touching an object contaminated by the virus. If someone coughs near you or shakes your hand after wiping their eyes, you may catch an eye cold. If you already have a cold, it may spread to your eyes if you cough or sneeze into your hand then rub your eyes.
Although viral conjunctivitis isn't a serious eye infection, you might need to stay home from school or work to prevent the virus from infecting other people.
What Are the Symptoms of Viral Conjunctivitis?
If you have viral conjunctivitis, you may develop one or more of these signs and symptoms:
The Whites of Your Eyes Look Pink or Red
Watery Eyes
Discharge
Itching and Burning
Blurry Vision
Sensitivity to Light
Eyelid Swelling
A Feeling That Something Is Stuck in Your Eye
These symptoms may also occur if you have allergic or bacterial conjunctivitis. If you've haven't been sick but have allergies, your eye discomfort may be related to your allergies.
Bacterial conjunctivitis can occur if your eye comes in contact with bacteria. You can develop this form of conjunctivitis if you don't wash your hands before touching your eyes, fail to clean your contact lenses properly, or use contaminated makeup or personal care products.
How Can I Treat an Eye Cold at Home?
Viruses usually go away on their own within a week or two. While you wait to get better, these steps can help improve your comfort:
Create a Soothing Compress. Wet a washcloth with warm water, wring it out, and place it over your eyes. Warm washcloths can be particularly helpful if discharge glues your eyes together when you wake up in the mornings. After the compress remains on your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes, you should be able to gently pry your eyelashes apart.
Use Artificial Tears. Artificial tears lubricate your eyes and relieve burning, itching, and grittiness.
Take Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers. The medication may help reduce pain, inflammation, and fever.
Get Plenty of Rest. Rest is an important aspect of your recovery. Even if you don't feel ill, it's a good idea to devote more time to rest.
Washing your hands frequently, particularly if you've accidentally touched your eyes, will help prevent the virus from infecting other people in your home. Wash towels, washcloths, and pillowcases in hot water every day. If only one eye is infected, use a separate washcloth and towel to prevent the virus from infecting your other eye.
It's also important to throw away eye makeup, contact lens solutions, and contact lenses (unless you wear daily contact lenses). If you continue to use the products, you may reinfect yourself.
When Should I Visit the Optometrist?
Call your eye doctor if you have trouble seeing, your symptoms aren't improving after a week, you have a green or yellow discharge, or you have severe pain when you look at bright lights.
Your optometrist can determine if your symptoms are caused by viral conjunctivitis or another type of conjunctivitis. Although antibiotic eye drops won't help viral conjunctivitis, they may be prescribed if you have bacterial conjunctivitis. Drops that relieve allergy symptoms may be recommended if your symptoms are actually caused by allergies instead of a virus.
Are you experiencing any of the symptoms of conjunctivitis? Contact our office to schedule an appointment.
Sources:
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Quick Home Remedies for Pink Eye, 3/27/19
Focus on Your Eyesight During Healthy Vision Month
Maintaining good vision can be as simple as visiting your optometrist for regular checkups and making a few important lifestyle changes. Healthy Vision Month, held every May, is the perfect time to prioritize your vision health.
Regular Eye Exams Are a Must at Every Age
Visiting your eye doctor on a regular basis can help you enjoy clear vision, reduce your risk of developing certain eye diseases, and ensure that you receive prompt treatment if you are diagnosed with an eye disease or condition.
The American Optometric Association recommends this checkup schedule for people who have no symptoms or are at low risk of eye and vision problems:
Birth to 2 Years. First visit between 6 to 12 months
Ages 3 to 5. At least one visit during this time period
Ages 6 to 17. Once before first grade, then annually
Ages 18 to 64. Every two years
Ages 65 and older. Every year
Yearly exams are recommended at any age if you wear glasses or contact lenses, have an eye condition or disease or are at increased risk of an eye condition or disease.
During a comprehensive eye examination, your eye doctor tests your ability to see clearly at various distances and examines the internal and external parts of your eye. The exam also includes glaucoma and other tests and drops to dilate your pupils. Dilation gives your optometrist a clear view of the retina and optic nerve at the back of your eye.
Talk Eye Health with Your Family
Certain eye diseases and conditions, including macular degeneration, cataracts, colorblindness, and eye misalignment, tend to run in some families. Sharing information about these conditions and diseases can help protect the entire family, especially if the problems typically appear during childhood. Letting your optometrist know about the diseases you could possibly inherit can help him or her assess your risk and monitor you closely for possible signs of the disease or condition.
Wear Sunglasses Year-Round
Sunglasses aren't just a fashion statement. The glasses can protect your eyes from the harmful effects of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Exposure to these rays can increase your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and cancer in and around your eyes.
When buying sunglasses, select glasses that protect you from 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Wrap-around styles provide the most protection and block the rays from entering your eyes through the sides.
Improve Your Diet
A healthy diet benefits every part of your body, including your eyes. When you're shopping, add leans meats and poultry, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains to your cart. Avoid or limit fatty, fried, processed or junk foods.
Step Away from Your Screens
Spending too much time using digital screens can strain your eyes and cause headaches and dry eye. In fact, those symptoms, in addition to blurred vision and sore neck and shoulder muscles, can be symptoms of computer vision syndrome. The syndrome affects both children and adults who use digital devices.
You can lower your risk of developing computer vision syndrome by taking a 15-minute break after two hours on a device. Following the 20-20-20 rule can also be helpful. Look at an object 20 feet in the distance for 20 seconds after viewing a screen for 20 minutes.
Protect Your Eyes from Injury
Do you wear goggles or protective eyewear when you saw a piece of wood or use caustic chemicals? Even a tiny woodchip or a single drop of a chemical can cause a serious eye injury. Donning goggle, face shields or safety glasses before you start a project can help you avoid permanent damage to your eyes.
If you play any sports, it's also important to protect your eyes during games and during practice. Depending on what sport you play, you should either be wearing safety goggles or a helmet with a safety shield. If you are unsure, ask your eye doctor about the appropriate sports protective eyewear.
Put your eye health first by practicing good habits.
Sources:
American Optometric Association: May Is Healthy Vision Month
How Your Child's Eyes Develop
Vision changes drastically in the first months of your child's life. Although the world looks a little hazy to a newborn, a baby's eyesight begins to sharpen in just a few weeks. As your child grows, improvements in visual ability continue to occur.
The First Two Months
Although your newborn can focus on your face when you hold him or her close to you, people and objects more than a foot away will look blurry. Color vision isn't fully developed at birth but will improve in just a few weeks. Black and white objects or deeply contrasting color combinations are particularly appealing to babies for this reason.
As the weeks go by, focusing ability rapidly improves. Eye teaming, the ability to coordinate the movements of both eyes when looking at an object, will become stronger during the first two months. Until it does, your baby's eyes may occasionally drift off in different directions. This is perfectly normal and isn't a cause for concern unless it occurs longer than four months.
Months Three to Four
Your baby's world has rapidly expanded, thanks to the newfound ability to see objects in the distance clearly. Does your child's face light up when you walk into the room? Your baby can now recognize favorite people, pets, and toys.
During this stage, your baby will be able to track moving objects with his or her eyes, grab at a dangling toy or latch on to a strand of your hair with a surprisingly strong grip.
Months Five to Eight
As visual pathways between the brain and eyes become more developed, your child's vision will sharpen while focusing and tracking become second nature.
Although babies are born with 20/400 vision, vision improves to about 20/25 at about six months of age, according to All About Vision. Hand/eye coordination, color vision, depth perception and the ability to see in three dimensions develop and improve during this phase.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that babies receive their first eye examination between 6 to 12 months of age. This examination is particularly important, as it can identify issues that could have a long-term impact on your child's vision if untreated.
Months Nine to 12
Your baby's depth perception and ability to judge distance continue to improve, during months nine through 12. These skills are important when performing tasks that require good hand/eye coordination, such as throwing a ball. As your baby explores his or her environment by crawling and walking, hand-eye coordination will become even more refined.
The Toddler Through Preschool Years
Playing with toys, climbing a play structure, building towers with blocks, coloring, looking at books, and other activities strengthen your child's visual abilities and improve motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Matching games and simple puzzles not only help enhance your child's fine motor skills but also strengthen visual memory. Visual memory helps your child remember things he or she has seen and is an essential aspect of reading and writing.
Early Childhood Through the Teen Years
Refractive errors often develop during childhood or teen years, although they can also occur in younger children. The errors make it hard to see close or near objects clearly or read the numbers or letters on an eye chart. Difficulty seeing the board at school or trouble reading may be among the first signs that your child is nearsighted or farsighted and needs eyeglasses. Yearly eye examinations are important during this stage, as children aren't always aware that they have a vision problem.
Regular eye examinations help protect your child's eyesight. Is your child due for a visit to the eye doctor? Contact us to schedule a convenient appointment.
Sources:
American Optometric Association: Infant Vision: Birth to 24 Months of Age
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Refractive Errors in Children, 7/25/14
All About Vision: Your Infant’s Vision Development: What to Know
American Academy of Ophthalmology: Eye Screening for Children, 8/4/14
Hunter's Creek
- Address: 4101 Hunters Park Ln #400
Orlando, FL 32837 - Phone: (407) 855-6132
Office Hours
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- Tuesday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Wednesday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Thursday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Saturday By Appointment Only
- Sunday Closed
Pixon Lake Nona
- Address: 7004 Tavistock Lakes Blvd Ste 146
Orlando, FL 32827 - Phone: (407) 378-2585
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- Tuesday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Wednesday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Thursday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Friday 9:00am - 6:00pm
- Saturday By Appointment Only
- Sunday Closed
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