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The American Diabetes Association (ADA), an advocacy group for diabetes research and awareness, is a leading resource when it comes to diabetes information.  In a recent article, the ADA outlined some important eye care tips for those suffering from this far-too-common condition.  While some of these tips will be obvious to any diabetes patient—keep blood sugar levels in check, manage high blood pressure, etc.—one tip stood out as particularly important to me.  “See your eye care professional at least once a year for a dilated eye exam,” the ADA article suggests. “Having your regular doctor look at your eyes is not enough.”

So, why are eye exams so important for those living with diabetes?  The answer is simple.  Those with the condition are at an increased risk of developing eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness.  These conditions include cataracts and glaucoma.  Read on to learn a bit more about these serious eye conditions and how they’re treated today.

Common Eye Conditions Among Diabetes Patients

Diabetes patients are at higher risk for a host of different ailments, and eye conditions are no exception.  Here are two common and treatable eye conditions that are particularly common among those living with diabetes.

Those with diabetes are at higher risk for:

• Cataracts: A cataract is characterized by a clouding of the eye’s lens.  Ultimately, this affects one’s ability to see clearly.  While cataracts are typically associated with aging, those with diabetes are particularly at risk.  For those who develop this condition, Cataract Surgery is often the best option.  During the procedure, your eye’s natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens, known as an Intraocular Lens (IOL).
• Glaucoma: Essentially, glaucoma is a disease where the optic nerve becomes damaged, typically as a result of increased pressure in the eye.  Ultimately, this causes vision loss or even blindness.  Glaucoma Treatment is often achieved through the use of eye drops and medications.  In some cases, we treat the condition with lasers or surgery.  It’s important to remember that when it comes to glaucoma, early detection is key.  This is why those with diabetes need to be even more vigilant.  Make an appointment today.

Don’t Hesitate.  Schedule Your Eye Exam Today

Diabetic Eye Care is a must.  We encourage you to contact us today and schedule an Eye Exam.  Our offices are located in Winchester, serving Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Book your appointment at (540) 722-6200.

It’s no secret that our eyes say a lot about us.  So, what are your eyes saying about you?  If you’re one of the thousands of Americans who experience drooping and sagging eyelids, yours may be saying the wrong thing.

As we age, the eyelids tend to loosen and sag.  Although this is a normal part of the aging process, many woman and men become distressed as their eyelids lose their youthful tone and shape.  For others, this problem can be more than simply cosmetic.  Sagging eyelids can often interfere with a person’s visual field, causing reduced peripheral vision.  Thankfully, there’s blepharoplasty to combat these issues.  Never heard of blepharoplasty?  Read on to learn more about this common and time-tested surgery.

So, What Is Blepharoplasty?

Blepharoplasty—also known as an eyelid lift—is a surgery used to correct drooping eyelids by removing excess skin, fat and muscle.  This is an outpatient procedure, performed under local anesthesia to keep you comfortable throughout.

While not everyone is a candidate for eyelid surgery, blepharoplasty is often the best option for patients suffering from:

• Folded, sagging or loose eyelids
• Eyelids that are interfering with vision
• Bags under the eyes
• Fat deposits in the upper eyelids

Eyelid surgery is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures.  According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, eyelid surgery ranked as the third most common plastic surgery in America, with over 200,000 blepharoplasty procedures performed in 2010 alone.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Don’t let drooping eyelids age you prematurely or interfere with your vision.  You can do something about it.  Contact us today and learn more about Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery).  Our offices are located in Winchester, serving Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Book your appointment at (540) 722-6200.

Sun protection is essential at this time of year when UV rays are at their highest. The strong sunlight during the summer months is linked to a variety of harmful effects, and the eyes are not spared from them. There are a number of eye conditions that may surface as a result of sun exposure.

Harmful Effects of the Sun on the Eyes

Some conditions that may occur as a result of UV exposure include:

• Cataracts
• Macular degeneration
• Skin cancer that occurs around the eyes
• A sunburned cornea

Some of these conditions are treatable, however, prevention is the better option.

Preventing Eye Damage from the Sun

In order to prevent eye damage from the sun, ensure that you wear sunglasses with appropriate UVA and UVB protection. In bright sunlight, a hat can also lend additional shade and protect the eyes. Of course, sunscreen should also be applied to the skin around the eyes. Sensitive formulas for the face are available to ensure irritation does not occur.

Reversing Sun Damage

For conditions like cataracts that may be treatable, please contact us.

There are a number of vision conditions that are prevalent in individuals with diabetes. As a result, it is essential that individuals suffering from the disease receive regular check-ups. It is also important that they are familiar with how their condition can impact their eyesight.

How the Eyes Change Due to Diabetes

If you have diabetes, you may experience one of the following eye conditions:

• Cataracts - individuals with diabetes have higher instances of cataracts. This is a condition that causes clouding over the lens of the eye. Blurred vision and greater difficulty processing bright light are a couple of the symptoms. This condition can be corrected with surgery.
• Glaucoma - this condition occurs when there is a build up of pressure in the eye due to inadequate drainage. This disease can have no symptoms for a period of time, so regular eye exams can ensure that this issue is treated early.

The conditions above can occur primarily due to the increased blood sugar that causes the lens of the eye to swell. An eye doctor that detects these issues in someone undiagnosed may also be the first to recognize the signs of diabetes.

Book Your Eye Exam

If you have diabetes and are due for an eye exam, contact our office to book an appointment.

Natural vision decline occurs commonly in individuals over 40 - while there is a large percentage of Americans that experience this, it doesn’t occur in everyone. There are, however, a substantial number of different causes that make it more likely that you’ll experience some form of vision decline as you age.

• Presbyopia - loss of the natural flexibility of the eye which makes it harder to focus on things up close. Most commonly, it’s reading affected by this condition that is relatively harmless.
• Cataracts - half of American seniors aged 65 and older experience this.
• Macular degeneration - a condition that is common with age, but is classified as a disease rather than a natural aging change is the leading cause of blindness in American seniors.
• Reduced pupil size - this is a natural physical change that occurs. As the pupil shrinks, it becomes harder for the eyes to adjust to lighting changes, and that can have an impact upon vision.

While vision decline with age may not be experienced by everyone, the chances are high with the above conditions occurring commonly along with others. To discuss how we can help treat your vision changes, come in for a consultation.

Treatment for poor vision is a necessity for many Americans, but the specific causes of vision decline can vary. According to the National Institute of Health, the following conditions are frequently responsible for vision changes. Some of these problems develop with age while others can appear at any stage of life.

• Presbyopia - this is a common eye condition that appears in individuals over 40. It’s characterized by the inability to focus on close objects, and can lead many to turn to reading glasses. Other treatment options can address vision decline from Presbyopia.
• Cataracts - this issue surfaces most often in the elderly when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. It can affect vision greatly, causing blurred vision, halos, bad vision at night and ultimately, poor vision during the day.
• Glaucoma - this is a condition where there is increased pressure in the eye, and it can be severe enough to cause blindness gradually or very quickly.
• Macular degeneration - this condition involves a loss of central vision. In particular, it causes blurred and distorted vision of things viewed up close. This is an issue that typically appears with age and it happens after 40. However, it can also cause blindness and is the leading cause in people over the age of 60.
• Retinal detachment - this vision issue is self-explanatory but is characterized by a curtain over vision, floaters or random flashes of light.
• Optic neuritis - inflammation of the optic nerve.

For a diagnosis on your vision changes and treatment options that can help with the decline, contact See Clear.

Before or after you’ve had a vision improvement procedure it’s important to focus on your eye and vision health and protect it. Maintaining your eye health involves more than the obvious factors and vision is an essential sense so these tips that focus on protection should not be overlooked:

1. Wear sunglasses - shielding your eyes from harmful UV rays is a more obvious way to protect your eye health but sunglasses should be worn even on those days where there are a few clouds in the sky. Many Americans put them on just to cope with brightness, but UV rays are present even when the sun is not as visible.

2. Maintain a healthy weight - there are a variety of conditions linked to obesity or unhealthy weight that can affect eyesight negatively. Hypertension and high cholesterol are two conditions, along with diabetes. Overweight individuals also have a 30% higher risk of cataracts.

3. Focus on healthy eating - not only will healthy eating control your weight, you’ll also find that your vision is enhanced when you’re consuming fresh fruits and veggies daily (or in the very least, it’s protected from decline). It’s true that carrots have benefits to the eyes. Other orange and yellow vegetables and leafy greens are also especially beneficial.

4. Take out those contacts - taking out contacts is an important part of a daily routine as they can dry out the eyes and cause harm if left in for longer periods of time than they should be. Following the directions for use and care for specific contact lenses is essential!

While we offer great solutions to prevent vision loss and improve vision changes, there are some natural ways that you can try to keep your eyes strong and in optimal health. These natural vitamins can be found in specific foods or taken as supplements and are said to help with age related vision problems in particular.

• Vitamin A - helps to promote strong vision in low light
• Vitamin C - studies have shown that the risk of getting cataracts is reduced by 70% in those who take vitamin C.
• Vitamin E - this vitamin can help to combat the free radicals in the body that harm cells, including those related to vision.
• Zinc - the human eye contains a large quantity of zinc, the most when compared to any other part of the body. Therefore, the link between zinc and the eye is logical!
• Selenium - this can improve eye health and better help the body absorb vitamin E which is essential in preventing vision loss!

Natural sources of vitamins have the greatest health benefits overall as they have a bearing upon the health of the eyes as well as the body. Healthy foods are safe sources of these vitamins, but supplements are another option. However, it is essential to discuss their medical history with a doctor before beginning a supplement program.

It’s a misconception that you should only get your eyes checked if you are struggling with your vision. There are a number of benefits that can result from getting your eyes examined on a regular basis and failing to have an eye exam annually can be detrimental to your overall health. Not only can an eye exam provide insight into the health of your eyes, other physical problems can be detected. Get your eyes checked at least once per year for the following benefits:

1. Your vision will be assessed and a diagnosis made - by getting your routine eye exam, your vision will be assessed and recommendations can be made to enhance your eyesight.

2. Eye diseases can be detected - eye diseases like glaucoma don’t always show symptoms before they begin to cause damage. With a routine eye exam, the issue can be caught early enough so treatment can begin before vision is severely compromised or blindness occurs.

3. Other diseases or illnesses may be detected - diabetes and high blood pressure can be detected during a routine eye exam. If an opthamologist detects a physical disease or illness that’s displaying symptoms through the eyes, a medical doctor can provide treatment options to improve overall health.

By visiting the eye doctor for a routine eye exam at least once a year, you can ensure that you not only optimize your vision; but also improve your life with better health!