Dr. Stefano's Blog

Chronic dry eye is a common and treatable condition.  Also known as “dry eye syndrome,” this condition is characterized by insufficient tears.  Tears are vitally important to eye health, and their function is twofold: to clean the eye and to lubricate the eye.  Chronic dry eye results from either an inadequate amount of tears or a lack of quality tears.  There are a multitude of symptoms associated with this condition.

Symptoms of chronic dry eye include:
•    Itching
•    Redness
•    A “gritty” feeling
•    Pain
•    Sensitivity to light
•    Blurred vision

Treatment of Dry Eye

Before beginning treatment, we will first determine if you are, in fact, suffering from dry eye syndrome.  We do this by measuring your volume of tears and/or using a test to determine the quality of your tears.  If you are a candidate for dry eye treatment, we will sit down to discuss your options.  A common treatment option for those whose dry eye is a result of inflammation is Restasis.

Restasis is a twice-daily prescription eye drop used to increase tear production.  Although it’s not an overnight fix, your eyes may start producing more of their own tears after a month of treatment.  Often, patients will use “artificial tears” in conjunction with their Restasis treatment.  Although results vary from patient to patient, you may have to use artificial tears less frequently as you produce more of your own tears.  Restasis is not for everyone, but for many it can mean an end to their uncomfortable dry-eye symptoms.

Besides Restasis, there are other options available to sufferers of chronic dry eye.

Some treatments include:

•    Prescription drugs for eyelid inflammation
•    Eye inserts that lubricate the eye similarly to artificial tears
•    Silicone plugs applied to tear ducts

Looking for Chronic Dry Eye Treatment?

If you feel you’re experiencing Chronic Dry Eye, and would like more information on treatment, we encourage you to contact us today.  Dry eye is a common condition, and we can work together to find the best treatment options for you.  Our offices are located in Winchester, serving Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.  We can be reached at (540) 722-6200.  Call today to make an appointment.

LASIK is often the focus of much media attention. As a result, there are a lot of myths and mistruths surrounding the procedure. In an attempt to clear some of these up, here are a few facts about laser eye surgery.

A few common myths about LASIK today:

1. LASIK is a high-risk procedure. As with any surgery, there are some risks associated with LASIK. However, the risk of a vision-reducing complication is extremely low.
2. Choosing the right LASIK surgeon is not that important. When it comes to LASIK, your number one concern should be the level of experience and care of your surgeon.
3. Everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. All LASIK candidates receive a thorough screening prior the procedure, and a reputable provider will reject anyone not eligible for the surgery.
4. · LASIK seems like it would be painful. Pain is often mistakenly associated with the procedure. Numbing eye drops are administered to the patient before surgery. This is intended to keep the patient comfortable and relaxed throughout.
5. · All patients have serious “glare and halos” following the surgery. Under the care of an experienced surgeon, and when proper LASIK procedures are adhered to, it is uncommon for patients to experience significant glare and halos following the surgery.

Learn More About LASIK Surgery

Now that we’ve cleared up a few myths of LASIK, contact us for more information, and find out whether you’re a candidate for the procedure. LASIK eye surgery could be the right answer for you. Our offices are located in Winchester, VA, and we can be reached at (540) 722-6200.  Call today to make an appointment.

Chronic Dry Eye Syndrome may sound like it is accompanied by self-explanatory symptoms, but there is more to it than that. There are a variety of different symptoms that can characterize this common eye condition, including:

• Red eyes
• Burning or itching around the eyes
• Blurry vision
• Feelings of eye sensitivity in bright light
• Increased dryness after reading or staring at the computer for many hours
• Excessive tearing as the eyes try to compensate for the dryness
• Changes in weather conditions worsen the symptoms of dry eye. For example, windy weather, hold weather and low-humidity climates

Treating Chronic Dry Eye

A number of factors can contribute to the issue of chronic dry eye. However, the underlying cause is always reduced tear production. Treatment is available if you contact us.

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.

The fact that it is called Lasik Eye ’surgery’ is what leaves many people concerned about what to expect from recovery.  The reality is that Lasik surgery is not a very intensive procedure and recovery is not particularly lengthy.

Recovering from Lasik

When you undergo Lasik eye surgery, there are a number of things that you can expect from the recovery process:

• Initially you may have some level of blurred vision. Usually this subsides within the first day
• Patients usually find that they notice that their vision has improved within a couple of days
• A patient may find that their eyes feel dry, although prescription eye drops will usually be provided
• Within the first 48 hours following surgery, you will need to visit your eye doctor for a checkup. Usually, additional visits are booked within the first 6 and 12 months.

Visit Us for Lasik Eye Surgery

If you are ready to discuss your candidacy for Lasik, 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.

Lasik and other eye-related procedures are often covered by insurance plans or employer-provided flex-spending programs. Eyesight commonly begins to decline around age 40. Individuals approaching this stage of life should start exploring vision insurance if they do not have it already . It is important to begin the process before the need for intensive vision care arises.

How to Find Vision Insurance

• Check with your employer and insurance provider- you may have vision coverage provided by your employer. Checking with them is a beneficial first step to ensure you are not purchasing additional coverage when it is already available. If you have another form of insurance, verify your coverage with them as well.
• Contact a broker - if you do not already have coverage, a broker can help you explore your options. Coverage for vision care can vary greatly. You may find the process is simplified by using a professional.
• Verify the terms for basic coverage - the majority of vision insurance plans offer coverage for eye exams on an annual basis. Others will provide a set amount for eye glasses (or none at all). If you are only looking for basic coverage, ensure you look closely at these aspects of eye care.
• Check for specialized coverage - if you are interested in having coverage for Lasik treatment and other more intensive vision procedures, closely comparing coverage will be necessary. Different plans truly offer a wide range of coverage amounts, with varying deductibles and approved frequency of treatment.

Using Insurance for Eyesight Procedures

Our practice accepts a number of different insurance policies that cover eligible services. Contact us for more information.

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!