No matter what your age, night driving can be a little challenging, whether you’re driving around the corner or across the country. Low lighting, glare, and other factors may make it difficult to see clearly and react quickly to hazards. Why Driving Is Harder at Night Your ability to drive safely at night may be affected by: Availability of Street Lights. It’s obviously more difficult to see in areas that aren’t well lit. UK researchers discovered that injury severity increased by almost three times if an accident occurred on a road that had no lighting. Glare. Glare, depending on the amount, can be a minor annoyance and or may make it impossible to see. You may experience more problems with glare from oncoming headlights as you get older. Headlight and Windshield Problems. Dirty windshields and hazy or misaligned headlights can contribute to night vision problems. Age-Related Vision Changes. In addition to trouble handling glare, natural changes in your vision related to aging may make night driving harder. As you get older, the muscles that control your pupil weaken, and the pupil becomes a little smaller. This means less light enters your eyes when it’s dark. Rod cells also decline as you get older. These photoreceptor cells, located in the retina, are essential for good night vision. Eye Diseases and Conditions. You may notice problems with glare and see halos around lights at night if you have cataracts. Cataracts occur when the clear lenses inside your eyes become cloudy. Other eye diseases and conditions that may affect night driving include macular degeneration, vitamin A deficiency, glaucoma, and retinal diseases. Dry Eyes. Glare may seem worse if your eyes are too dry. What You Can Do if You Have Trouble Driving at Night Taking a few of these steps can help you drive safely: Avoid Looking Directly at Lights. Minimize the effects of glare by shifting your gaze slightly to the side when oncoming cars come close to you. Get Rid of Haze on Your Headlights. Discolorations on plastic headlight coverings can dim your headlights, making it difficult to see at night. If cleaning doesn’t clear the headlight covers, buy new ones. Realign Your Headlights: It’s difficult to see the road ahead of you if your headlights aren’t properly aligned. The next time you visit a mechanic, request to have your headlight alignment checked. Do a Little Cleaning. Keeping headlights and your windshield clean will make it easier to find your exit or spot an obstruction in the road. Keep Your Eyes Moist. Use artificial tears to lubricate your eyes if you have dry eyes. Blink more often to spread tears across your eyes. Reduce Your Speed. Slow down if you’re having trouble seeing. Decreasing your speed is a simple way to ensure that you reach your destination safely. Drive During the Day if You Have Difficulty Seeing at Night. It’s best to limit long trips, or even short ones, to the daylight hours if it’s very difficult to see at night. Visit Your Optometrist. If you’ve noticed that it’s harder to see at night lately, it’s a good idea to visit your eye doctor. Your optometrist can determine if the problem is caused by natural aging changes or eye diseases and conditions, like cataracts or glaucoma. If you do have a vision problem, your optometrist can recommend treatments or strategies that may help. Are you concerned about your night driving ability? Call our office to schedule an appointment. Sources: Injury Prevention: Road Traffic Casualties: Understanding the Night-Time Death Toll, 4/2006 American Academy of Ophthalmology: Night Vision 12/19/18 Harvard Health Publishing: Blinded by the Night, 6/07 Car and Driver: Do and Don’ts For Safe Night Driving, 7/2/19 American Optometric Association: Senior Vision: Over 60 Years of Age Safety Serve: Driving at Night The National Safety Council: The Most Dangerous Time to Drive
Daily Habits That May Be Harming Your Eye Health
Using old makeup, forgetting to wear your sunglasses, or even rubbing your eyes could increase your risk of developing an eye injury, disease, or infection. Fortunately, it’s easy to avoid many types of eye problems by making a few changes to your usual routine. Your risk of eye issues could be higher if you do any of these things. Rub Your Eyes Like most people, you probably rub your eyes without even thinking about it when you’re tired or your eyes feel a little uncomfortable. Rubbing your eyes may seem like a harmless habit but can cause several eye issues, including: Corneal Abrasions. These painful scratches develop on the cornea, the clear layer of tissue that covers your iris and pupil. You may be more likely to develop a corneal abrasion if there’s a small piece of dust or debris in your eye when you rub it. Dark Circles Under Your Eyes. Vigorous rubbing may break small blood vessels under your eyes, causing the skin to look darker. Rubbing may also cause puffiness and wrinkles. Keratoconus. Keratoconus is a condition that occurs when your cornea thins and becomes cone-shaped. The condition distorts your vision and makes it hard to see clearly. Rubbing your eyes, particularly if you use your knuckles, may raise your risk of keratoconus, according to a French research study that appeared in the February 2020 issue of Cornea. Touch Your Eyes Without Washing Your Hands Washing your hands before touching your eyes is an easy way to avoid eye infections caused by bacteria, viruses, dirt, and other substances. Handwashing can also keep you healthier. Many viruses, including influenza, enter the body through the eyes and other mucus membranes. It’s particularly important to wash your hands before you put in or take out your contact lenses. If you handle your lenses with dirty hands, you might develop a severe infection that could cause permanent vision issues. Leave Your Sunglasses at Home Wearing sunglasses protects your eyes from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) light year-round. Exposure to UV light increases your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, cancer, and growths on your eyes. When you shop for sunglasses, read labels before you make your purchase. Sunglasses that offer 100 percent protection from UVA and UVB rays are the best choice. Don’t Wear Safety Glasses Safety glasses protect your eyes on the job and at home. Wearing the glasses keeps chemicals, and slivers of wood, metal, glass, and other materials from damaging your eyes. Wear the glasses any time you work with dangerous chemicals or use machinery, including saws, sanders, drills, and lawnmowers. Never Clean Makeup Brushes or Use Old Makeup Your makeup habits may be the reason you develop a painful eye infection. Protect your vision by: Cleaning Brushes and Applicators at Least Once a Week Disposing of Eye Makeup After Three Months Throwing Out Eye Makeup if You’ve Had an Eye infection Avoiding Applying Eye Makeup in a Moving Vehicle Not Sharing Eye Makeup Changing the way you apply eyeliner may also help you keep your eyes healthy. University of Waterloo researchers discovered that eyeliner migrated into the tear film of the eye much more quickly when it was applied to the inner part of the eyelid. Eyeliner can cause redness, discomfort sensitivity, and eye infections if it enters the tear film. The product can also build up on contact lenses, making them feel uncomfortable. Spend Too Much Time Viewing Digital Screens Dry eye, eyestrain, blurred vision, and headaches can occur if you don’t take breaks from your digital screens periodically. The American Optometric Association recommends following the 20/20/20 rule to improve eye comfort. After viewing a screen for 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet in the distance for at least 20 seconds. If you’ve been working steadily for two or three hours, take a half-hour break that doesn’t involve screens of any kind. Adding anti-glare filters and screens to devices and wearing computer glasses that block blue light can also be helpful. Improving your daily habits and visiting the optometrist for checkups can help you protect your eye health. Has it been a while since you’ve had an eye exam? Contact our office to schedule your appointment. Sources: PubMed: Cornea: A Case-Control Study of Keratoconus Risk Factors, 6/20 American Academy of Ophthalmology: Corneal Abrasion and Erosion, 9/17/20 American Optometric Association: Computer Vision Syndrome University of Waterloo: Study Finds Eyeliner Application May Cause Eye Problems, 4/1/15 American Academy of Ophthalmology: The Sun, UV Light and Your Eyes, Jun. 11, 2020
Getting Your Child Accustomed to New Glasses
Have you been having trouble sleeping? Fatigue, concentration problems, and irritability aren’t the only consequences of insomnia. Your eye health may also suffer if you can’t fall asleep or stay asleep. These Things Can Happen to Your Eyes if You Don’t Get Enough Sleep Most of us experience sleep problems from time to time. Stress, spicy foods, caffeinated beverages, illnesses, injuries, or the birth of a new baby can interfere with your ability to get a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, if sleep difficulties become chronic, you may be at risk of developing one of these eye issues: Dry Eye. Researchers who conducted a systematic literature review published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science in 2018 reported that almost half of patients with dry eye don’t sleep well. Dry eye could be related to incomplete closure of your eyes when you sleep, problems with tear production, diabetes and other diseases, or hormonal changes due to menopause or pregnancy. Improving sleep quality and duration while using eye drops at night can help relieve dry eye, although you may still experience dry, irritated eyes from time to time. If you continue to have dry eye symptoms, your eye doctor can recommend treatment options. Eye Spasms. A twitching eyelid isn’t usually a sign of a serious condition, although it’s certainly annoying. Spasms may be more likely to occur if you don’t get enough sleep, are stressed, have allergies, or spend many hours viewing digital screens. If your spasms don’t go away after a week or two or make it hard to see or keep your eye open, get in touch with your optometrist. Circles, Bags, and Bloodshot Eyes. Dark circles, bags under your eyes, and red eyes may not damage your vision, but they can make you feel self-conscious about your appearance. Fluid retention due to poor sleep causes bags and circles, while dilated blood vessels can make your eyes look red and bloodshot. Glaucoma. The pressure inside your eye increases if you have glaucoma. If your condition isn’t treated, the pressure may damage your optic nerve, causing permanent vision loss. Glaucoma can also occur even if your pressure is normal, in some cases. The amount of sleep you get may affect your glaucoma risk. Researchers who analyzed a survey of more than 6,000 glaucoma patients discovered that people who slept seven hours a night were three times more likely to develop glaucoma than those who slept 10 or more hours. Patients who took 30 minutes or more to fall asleep had twice the risk of developing glaucoma. Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (AION). One of the most serious effects of lack of sleep, AION can occur as a result of sleep apnea, a condition that causes hundreds of breathing pauses throughout the night. Oxygen deprivation caused by sleep apnea can eventually lead to optic nerve damage and vision loss. The optic nerve transmits electrical impulses from your retina to your brain and is essential for good vision. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines or other treatments keep your airways open and stop breathing pauses that can damage your vision and your health. Regular eye examinations are particularly important if you have sleep issues. Identifying and treating sleep-related eye problems promptly will reduce your risk of vision loss and ease discomfort and other symptoms. Contact our office if you’re ready to schedule your appointment. Sources: Journal of Glaucoma: Association Between Sleep Parameters and Glaucoma in the United States Population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2/19 American Academy of Ophthalmology: Eye-Opening Study: Relationship Between Glaucoma and Poor Sleep, 4/10/19 Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science: Sleep Disorders are a Prevalent and Serious Comorbidity in Dry Eye, 11/18 Cleveland Clinic: Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (AION) All About Vision: Eye Twitching: Causes and Treatments
The Effects of Smoking on Your Eye Health
Smoking increases the likelihood of developing many types of health issues, including conditions and diseases that may affect your vision. If you are a smoker or live with someone who smokes, your eye health may be at risk. 7 Diseases and Conditions Related to Smoking Smoking can cause several eye-related problems, including: Diabetic Retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy, one of the most devastating effects of diabetes, can rob you of your eyesight. The condition damages the tiny blood vessels in your retina, the layer of the light-sensing cells at the back of your eye. The vessels begin to leak fluid or blood, causing symptoms ranging from blurred vision to night vision problems to blind or dark spots in your visual field. A change in blood flow may be responsible in part for the changes. In a study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, retinal blood flow and blood velocity were lower in chronic smokers who had type 2 diabetes. Cataracts. Your smoking habit may cause cataracts to form in your eyes. Cataracts occur when the normally clear lens inside the eye becomes cloudy. The eye condition can cause blurred vision, halos around lights, glare, poor night vision, and faded colors. Swedish researchers discovered that men who smoked more than 15 cigarettes a day had a 42 percent increased risk of cataract surgery. Men who once smoked more than 15 cigarettes a day but had quit smoking more than 20 years earlier still had a 21 percent higher risk than non-smokers. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). AMD affects the macula, the area of the retina responsible for central and color vision. Cell deterioration is responsible for the “dry” form of AMD, while leaking blood vessels cause vision problems in the “wet” form. If you have AMD, you may notice blurred vision, blind spots in the center of your vision, faded colors, distortions, or straight lines that appear wavy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that smokers are twice as likely to develop the condition as non-smokers. Uveitis. Smoking may increase your risk of a painful eye disease that can cause vision loss. Inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye, can cause redness, eye pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and floaters. Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). Smokers are more likely to get TED and may not respond to treatment as well as non-smokers. TED, also known as Grave’s disease, causes bulging eyes, redness, pain, and dry eye. If the disease isn’t treated promptly, swelling may damage the optic nerve. Difficulty Seeing Colors. Color vision problems may also be a consequence of smoking, according to researchers at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Their study detailed how smoking affected blue-yellow and red-green vision and explored the difficulty heavy smokers had when trying to distinguish between certain colors and contrasts. Dry Eye. Smoking affects the tear film of your eyes and may cause dry, painful red eyes. Although dry eye may seem like a minor problem, you may be more likely to develop abrasions and ulcers in your cornea, the clear layer of tissue that covers the iris and pupil, if dry eye is a frequent problem. You don’t have to be a smoker to experience eye health issues. Exposure to secondhand smoke may increase your likelihood of developing dry eye, AMD, and other eye conditions and diseases. What About Vaping? Vaping may not produce noxious smoke, but it’s not any safer for your eyes than smoking cigarettes or cigars. Although more studies need to be done on the effects of vaping, the habit can dry the eyes and may increase your risk of developing macular degeneration. In addition to nicotine, the chemicals used to flavor e-cigarettes may also cause eye issues. If you’re a smoker, live or work with a smoker, or have smoked in the past, yearly eye examinations are particularly important. Contact our office to schedule your appointment. Sources: JAMA Ophthalmology: Smoking Cessation and Risk of Cataracts, 3/14 Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Effects of Habitual Cigarette Smoking on Retinal Circulation in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes, 3/16 All About Vision: Vaping, Like Smoking, May Harm Your Eyes, 10/19 All About Vision: How Smoking Harms Your Eyes Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey: Heavy Smoking Can Damage Vision, Rutgers Researcher Finds, 2/18/19 CDC: Vision Loss, Blindness, and Smoking American Academy of Ophthalmology: Smoking and Eye Disease, 1/16/20
How to Keep Your Eyes Safe From Germs
Germs look for the easiest way into your body, often entering through your eyes and other mucus membranes. Fortunately, taking a few simple steps to protect your eyes may reduce your chance of developing an illness or infection. Don’t Touch Your Face Like most people, you probably touch your face many times throughout the day without thinking about what you’re doing. In fact, medical students who participated in a study at the University of New South Wales touched their faces an average of 23 times per hour. Forty-four percent of those touches involved the nose, mouth, or eyes. If bacteria or viruses are on your hands, you’ll transfer them to your eyes by touching or rubbing. Although your hands may look clean, they actually harbor more germs than you may realize. A typical hand has about 150 different species of bacteria on it, according to a University of Colorado at Boulder study. Rubbing your eyes can also increase your risk of developing keratoconus, an eye condition that occurs when the normally round cornea becomes thin and cone-shaped. The cornea is the clear tissue covering your iris and pupil. If you develop keratoconus, your vision may become blurred and distorted. Wash Your Hands No matter how careful you are about keeping your hands away from your face, you’re bound to forget from time to time. You’ll be less likely to spread germs to your eyes if you make hand-washing a frequent habit. Fortunately, soap and warm water will remove the germs that could make you sick. Scrub your hands and nails for at least 20 seconds to get rid of bacteria and viruses. If running water isn’t available, hand sanitizer is a good option. In addition to washing your hands after using the bathroom, wash them: Before and After Preparing Raw Meat, Poultry, or Fish After Working with Soil After Changing a Diaper, Helping Someone Else with Bathroom Needs, or Removing Animal Waste After Taking Out the Trash After You Blow Your Nose or Sneeze After Washing and Bandaging a Wound Before Touching Your Eyes or Using Eye Drops After Taking Care of Someone Who Is Ill Clean Your Glasses The outside of your glasses may be coated in germs, particularly if someone sneezes or coughs near you. Handling your glasses, then absentmindedly touching your eyes, will send those germs into your eyes. Clean your glasses in the morning and evening, or after you’ve been around someone who has been sneezing or coughing. You don’t need expensive eyeglass cleaners to remove bacteria and viruses. Soap and warm water will get rid of the germs. Avoid Sick People Keeping your distance from people who sneeze, cough, or mention that they don’t feel well will help keep germs away from your face. If possible, stay at least six feet away from people who are ill. Follow Contact Lens Hygiene Recommendations Germs and viruses may also find their way into your eyes if you wear contact lenses and don’t practice good hygiene. In addition to increasing your risk of illness, poor contact lens hygiene can cause potentially serious eye infections that could temporarily or permanently affect your vision. If you wear contact lenses, be sure to: Wash your hands before putting in, removing, or handling your lenses. Clean your contact lens case every day, and refill the wells with fresh solution. (Don’t just top off the solution already in the wells.) Replace your contact lens case every three months or as soon as it becomes cracked or damaged. Never use saliva to wet/clean your lenses. Follow your eye doctor’s cleaning instructions. Keep the cap on solutions to prevent contamination. Don’t wear your contact lenses while swimming. Replace your lenses as recommended by your optometrist. Regular eye examinations will help you keep your eyes healthy. Contact our office if you’re ready to make an appointment for your next exam. Sources: American Academy of Ophthalmology: How to Take Care of Contact Lenses, 3/18/20 International Journal of Ophthalmology: The Correlation Between Keratoconus and Eye Rubbing: A Review, 2019 University of Colorado at Boulder: Women Have More Diverse Hand Bacteria Than Men, According to CU-Boulder Study, 11/3/08 All About Vision: Eye Germs and Viruses: Keeping Hands, Glasses and Contacts Clean, 8/20 American Academy of Ophthalmology: Eye Infections: Be Careful Now or Regret It Later, 6/24/20 Cleveland Clinic: Common Cold PubMed: American Journal of Infection Control: Face Touching: A Frequent Habit That Has Implications for Hand Hygiene, 2/15 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Frequent Questions About Hand Hygiene
Symptoms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye condition common in older Americans, slowly damages your central and color vision. Signs and symptoms of the condition can be subtle at first and may not seem particularly alarming. Fortunately, your optometrist can spot changes in your eyes before you notice any vision problems. What Happens if You Have AMD AMD affects the macula, the central part of your retina. The retina, a layer of cells at the back of your eye, contains photoreceptor cells called rods and cones that transform light rays into electrical impulses. Once the impulses reach the brain, they’re converted into recognizable images. Cones, located in the center part of your field of vision, help you see colors and make good central vision possible. If AMD damages the cones, you may notice changes in the way you see the world. Two forms of AMD can cause vision problems. They include: Dry AMD. A thinning macula and drusen are responsible for vision changes if you have the dry form of AMD. Drusen are white or yellow protein deposits that collect under the retina. Wet AMD. Leaky blood vessels obstruct your central vision if you have the wet type of AMD. The vessels may eventually scar the macula. Do Any of These Symptoms Sound Familiar? AMD may not cause any noticeable symptoms at first. As the condition worsens, you may experience: Blurry Central Vision. You may notice that your central vision is blurry, while your peripheral (side) vision is clear. Blind Spots. Blind spots in your central vision might make it difficult to read, sew, do close work, recognize friends and family, or drive. Wavy Lines. As cells in your macula deteriorate, straight lines may now appear wavy. Dull Colors. Colors may look dull, or it may be difficult to tell the difference between subtle shades of colors or textures, according to Bright Focus Foundation. Clumsiness. What at first glance appears to be clumsiness may actually be related to your eyesight. Poor depth perception and difficulty distinguishing textures can make it easy to miss a step or fail to see obstacles in front of you. Trouble Seeing in Low Light. Everything may be darker than usual, no matter what the time of day. You may need more light to read and may notice that it takes longer for your eyes to adjust when going from a bright room to a dark one. Glare. Increased glare may make it even harder to see clearly. AMD Treatment Options Although there isn’t a medication or procedure to treat the dry form of AMD at this time, you can do a few things that may help you protect your eye health. The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that taking a combination of nutritional supplements may slow the progression of dry AMD in some cases. The recommended supplements include: Copper (2 mg) Zinc (80 mg) Zeaxanthin (2 mg) Vitamin E (400 IU) Vitamin C (500 mg) Lutein (10 mg) Improving your diet, getting more exercise, and quitting smoking may also be helpful. If you have the wet form of AMD, your optometrist may recommend eye injections that stop unhealthy blood vessels from developing in the macula. Laser therapy, another treatment option, seals leaky vessels. Whether you have AMD symptoms or it’s time for your annual eye examination, we’re here to help you care for your eyes. Contact our office to schedule your appointment. Sources: National Eye Institute: Age-Related Macular Degeneration, 8/17/20 American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is Macular Degeneration?, 2/28/20 Bright Focus Foundation: Macular Degeneration: Signs & Symptoms Foundation Fighting Blindness: What Is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?
Good Eye Health Is Essential for Athletes
Eyesight is a crucial, yet often overlooked, aspect of sports ability. Without good vision, scoring points, hitting balls, and fending off opponents becomes much more difficult. Why Good Vision Is Particularly Important for Athletes It’s difficult to determine which player has the ball or accurately judge your distance from the golf hole if everything in front of you is blurry. Although some athletes are lucky enough to have 20/20 vision, many find it difficult to see clearly due to common refractive errors like myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness.) In fact, more than 150 million Americans wear some type of corrective eyewear due to refractive errors, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Visual acuity, the ability to see objects and images sharply, isn’t the only aspect of good vision. Good depth perception is needed to line up a shot accurately, while peripheral (side) vision is essential for spotting a member of the opposing team intent on stealing the ball from you. Tracking, the ability to follow a moving object with your eyes, makes it possible to estimate where a ball will land or spot its path in the sky. Even subtle problems with eye alignment, eye teaming, focusing, tracking, or other visual skills can affect your sports performance. Dry eye might also affect your vision, no matter what type of sport you play. The condition is more likely to be a problem during windy, sunny, or dusty days. Your risk of dry eye increases as you get older, but the condition can be a side effect of some prescription medications or caused by certain health conditions. When your eyes become too dry, you may experience blurry vision, sensitivity to light, discomfort, or a foreign body sensation. Even if you don’t have any vision problems, glare from the sun or lights may interfere with your ability to see well. Although glare can be an issue for anyone, it tends to affect athletes with light eyes more than those with dark eyes. Caring for Your Vision Taking a few of these steps will help you protect and enhance your vision: Wear Eye Protection. Eye injuries can cause permanent or temporary vision loss. The injuries occur most frequently in basketball, baseball, water sports, and racquet sports, according to FamilyDoctor.com. Wearing shatterproof, polycarbonate goggles that completely cover your eyes is the easiest way to prevent an eye injury. Schedule Yearly Visits with the Optometrist. Even minor changes in your vision can affect your sports performance. Unfortunately, you’ll never know your prescription isn’t strong enough or an alignment problem is responsible for your depth perception issues if you don’t make time for a comprehensive eye examination. Reduce Glare. Glare from lights or the sun is a common cause of vision complaints from athletes. Your optometrist can recommend tinted glasses or sunglasses that help reduce the effects of glare. Consider Contact Lenses. Contact lenses may offer clearer vision than eyeglasses, plus the lenses never slip or fog over on cold days. Take Advantage of the Latest Eyeglass Lens Options. Both polycarbonate and Trivex lenses are good choices if you want a lightweight, impact-resistant lens that’s tough enough to wear while playing sports. Trivex lenses offer exceptional clarity and help reduce halos around lights. Keep Your Eyes Moist. Artificial tears or eye drops will keep your eyes moist during games or practices. If over-the-counter drops aren’t helpful, your optometrist may offer prescription eye drops or recommend adding tiny plugs to the drainage channels in your eyes. Wearing goggles or wraparound sunglasses may help prevent your eyes from drying out on sunny or windy days. Try a Few Exercises. If you’d like to improve your tracking, focusing, or eye teaming abilities, your optometrist can recommend a few activities or games that can help you fine-tune your visual skills. Don’t Ignore Eye Injuries. Even seemingly minor eye injuries should be examined by your eye doctor. Call your optometrist or go to the emergency room immediately if you have severe pain, bleeding, discharge, vision loss, a cut on or in your eye, or something stuck on or in your eye. Prompt treatment can reduce the risk of vision damage. Regular eye exams are a must if you’re an athlete. Call our office to schedule your visit. Sources: American Academy of Ophthalmology: Eye Health Statistics American Academy of Ophthalmology: Sports Eye Safety, 5/6/19 U.S. News & World Report: The Link Between Good Eyesight and Sports Performance, 5/29/18 Family Doctor: Eye Injuries in Sports
How Your Tears Work and Their Importance for Vision
Tears not only help you express emotions but also keep your eyes healthy. The constant moisture provided by tears is essential for eye comfort and clear vision. What Do Tears Do? Tears are produced by the lacrimal gland, a small gland located above each eyelid. Every time you blink, a film of tears coats your eyes. Some tears evaporate while others eventually exit through tiny drainage channels in the inside corners of your eyes that are connected to your nose. Tears have several functions. They’re needed to: Moisturize the Eyes. Every time you blink, a layer of tears covers your eyes, keeping them moist and comfortable. These tears, called basal tears, also have an anti-bacterial effect and can help you avoid eye infections. Remove Debris. Reflex tears wash away dust and debris that can fall into your eyes. When your eyes sense the presence of a foreign body, tear production ramps up in an attempt to flush out the object. Reflex tears also appear in your eyes when you cough or yawn. Provide Clear Vision. Washing away dust and debris removes obstructions that could cloud your vision or scratch your eye. They also play a role in light focusing, an essential component of clear vision. Help You Show Emotion. Tears start to flow whether you’re happy, sad, or in pain. Crying sheds hormones that make you feel stressed, while also triggering the production of endorphins, hormones that improve your mood. The Three Layers of Tears The watery liquid produced by the lacrimal glands mixes with oils and mucus to create three-layered tears. Every tear you produce contains these layers: Mucin. Located closest to your eye, the inner mucin layer of the tear contains mucus, which helps tears adhere to the surface of the eyes. Aqueous. The middle aqueous layer contains much of the water in a tear. Lipid. The outer lipid layer is made up of oils that prevent tears from evaporating too soon. Oils also keep the surface of the tears smooth and transparent, which is essential for good vision. How Lack of Tears Can Affect Your Vision Lack of moisture causes a condition called dry eye. You may develop dry eye if you don’t produce enough tears or your tears drain or evaporate too quickly. Symptoms of dry eye include: Blurred Vision Double Vision Sensitivity to Light Itching Burning Aching Redness Foreign Body Sensation If dry eye is severe, temporary or permanent damage to your cornea can occur. The cornea is the layer of tissue covering your iris and pupil. If the cornea becomes scarred, you’ll have trouble seeing clearly. Factors that can cause or worsen dry eye include: Using Digital Devices. People tend to blink less when using smartphones, laptops, and other digital devices. The Weather. Your eyes may feel drier on windy, dusty, or sunny days. Your Age. Dry eye is more common in people over 50, according to All About Vision. Low Indoor Humidity. Any system or device that decreases humidity, whether it’s a furnace, fan, or air-conditioner, can dry your eyes. Diseases. People who have Sjogren’s syndrome, diabetes, lupus, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other diseases may be more likely to develop dry eye. Other Factors. Your risk of dry eye may increase if you wear contact lens, fly often, take certain medications, are a post-menopausal woman, or don’t close your eyes completely while you sleep. Preventing and Treating Dry Eye Blinking more often, taking frequent breaks while using digital devices, and wearing wraparound sunglasses can help you keep your eyes moist. Using a humidifier, particularly while you sleep, may also reduce dry eye. Replacing lost moisture is a simple way to ease dry eye symptoms. Drugstore shelves are full of over-the-counter eye drops and artificial tears that increase moisture and reduce blurred vision, discomfort, and double vision. If your eyes don’t feel better after using over-the-counter drops, you may benefit from prescription eye drops that boost tear production. Treatments that unclog blocked oil glands might be helpful if your tears evaporate too quickly due to insufficient oil content. Punctal plugs offer another option for severe dry eye. Temporary or permanent plugs are added to drainage channels in your eyes and prevent tears from draining. Have you been struggling with dry eye? We can help ease your discomfort and keep your vision clear. Contact our office to schedule your appointment. Sources: National Eye Institute: How Tears Work, 7/16/19 American Academy of Ophthalmology: Facts About Tears, 12/21/16 All About Vision: Dry eye syndrome: Symptoms and causes, 6/19 Duke Health: Immune Response Likely Culprit in Eyelid Gland Condition That Causes Dry Eye, 7/25/18
How Nutrition Can Be Beneficial to Your Vision
Brother set had private his letters observe outward resolve. Shutters ye marriage to throwing we as. Effect in if agreed he wished wanted admire expect. Or shortly visitor is comfort placing to cheered do. Few hills tears are weeks saw. Partiality insensible celebrated is in. Am offended as wandered thoughts greatest an friendly. Evening covered in he exposed fertile to. Horses seeing at played plenty nature to expect we. Young say led stood hills own thing get.
In alteration insipidity impression by travelling reasonable up motionless. Of regard warmth by unable sudden garden ladies. No kept hung am size spot no. Likewise led and dissuade rejoiced welcomed husbands boy. Do listening on he suspected resembled. Water would still if to. Position boy required law moderate was may.
Uveitis Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
Ought these are balls place mrs their times add she. Taken no great widow spoke of it small. Genius use except son esteem merely her limits. Sons park by do make on. It do oh cottage offered cottage in written. Especially of dissimilar up attachment themselves by interested boisterous. Linen mrs seems men table. Jennings dashwood to quitting marriage bachelor in. On as conviction in of appearance apartments boisterous.
No opinions answered oh felicity is resolved hastened. Produced it friendly my if opinions humoured. Enjoy is wrong folly no taken. It sufficient instrument insipidity simplicity at interested. Law pleasure attended differed mrs fat and formerly. Merely thrown garret her law danger him son better excuse. Effect extent narrow in up chatty. Small are his chief offer happy had.