Implants for Vision Correction
There are cochlear implants to allow many deaf persons to hear sounds they never could before. Wouldn’t be nice if there were implants for eyes? While bionic vision implants are still in early stages of utilization, there are lens implants for nearsightedness/myopia. Such an implant is the EVO Visian ICL™, manufactured by Staar Surgical Company, […]
Eye Drops to the Rescue
Eye drops are great. They help lubricate dry eye. They get rid of red eye. They can also be used to treat a condition like diabetic edema, macular degeneration and may prevent vision loss after retinal vein occlusion. Two studies, one done at the University of New South Wales in Australia and another at Columbia […]
Contact Lenses That Deliver Medication
Aren’t contact lenses great? They sit right on the eye and give the wearer more natural vision than glasses. They also don’t fog up in rainy damp weather and don’t get in the way when a person plays sports. Recently, scientists developed a way for contacts to deliver medicine to the eye. This is very […]
Digital Device Use in Children
I’d tell you that digital device use among children and teens is on the rise, but you only have to look at your waiting room to see that is the case. Still, I thought I would share some statistics with you: 41 percent of 8-12-year-olds have a smartphone 84 percent of 13-18-year-olds have a smartphone […]
Omega-3 Supplements—Are They Beneficial For Your Eyes?
Omega-3 are polyunsaturated fats that are found in cold water fishes, such as salmon and mackerel, as well as nuts, like walnuts and flaxseed. These fats help prevent cardiovascular disease and may help keep eyes healthy. Yet, there is a limit to their benefits. A study sponsored by the National Eye Institute (NEI) suggested that […]
Blue Light and Eye Health
It is clear that more and more people are using digital devices, such as smart phones and tablet computers. While these devices can make it easier to work and communicate, not to mention have fun, there is a trade-off to all this convenience. Digital devices can affect eye health. There has been an increase in […]
Contacts and Diabetes
According to the American Diabetes Association, in 2012 there were over 29 million Americans with diabetes. Of these 29 million, many are contact lenses wearers. In the past, contacts were not recommended to patients with diabetes. Now contacts are recommended to diabetics as an vision option. Yet, optometrists need to be on the lookout for […]
New Competition for Optometrists/Ophthalmologists & How to Beat It!
Times are changing! In the new world of Internet everything, there are services such as Blink and Opternative.com that offer vision exams either by computer or via specialized tools. These services stress convenience since they allow people to get vision exams at their home or office. While these services have their downsides, they are definitely […]
Dry Eye Isn’t So Cut and Dry
Patient: My eyes hurt after a long day at work. Doctor: You have dry eye. Take these eye drops and call me in the morning. Yes, the above vignette is an exaggeration. Still, you need to be more of a detective when it comes to dry eye. You might ask patients the following: 1. Do […]