Keeping the Windows to the Soul Clean and Clear
Ask anyone about which sense they fear losing the most, and a majority would definitely give “eyesight” as their answer. It’s not difficult to understand why: humans function and react based mainly on what they can see. Eye doctors can attest that only with proper care and maintenance will our eyes serve us well in our lifetimes, with little or no impairment whatsoever.
Eat right to see right
Proper nutrition will help keep your vision clear as well as maintain overall health. Vegetables like carrots contain Vitamin A that is beneficial to eye health; a deficiency in this important nutrient often results into xerophthalmia, or drying of the eyes which could lead to permanent blindness. Food that contains antioxidants and zinc is also good for the eyes.
Eye ailments
If you were born with defective eyes, you could develop congenital eye disorders such as astigmatism, myopia, and glaucoma. These can be corrected via surgery, eyeglasses, or eye drops. Patients with cataracts and macular degeneration should consult an ophthalmologist.
Adequate protection
Each time you go out into the world, anything from a speck of dust to sunlight can result in eye discomfort and might even escalate to something serious. Use protective eyewear when travelling or working with industrial equipment to avoid flying debris. Dark sunglasses with ultraviolet-rated protection should be used to prevent damage caused by intense light. Also, avoid rubbing your eyes with your hands and reading in dim light.
What Happened to the EENT Doctor?
At one point in time, some doctors specialized in eye, ears, nose, and throat health. They were known as EENT doctors. However, all these changed in 1979.
Ophthalmology and otolaryngology grew together during the early 20th century. In 1903, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology was formed, dedicated to the major advancement of both fields. Its recruitment base expanded from the New England area to the rest of the United States. Continue reading →
Does Eye Color Affect Eyesight?
For the record, eye color has little to no bearing on visual acuity. However, it may tell a different story about a person’s optical profile.
Before delving into details, it’s important to know how eye colors are formed. Brown is the most common color, shared by over half of the world’s population. Brown eyes come from inheriting at least one dominant gene from one or both parents. Due to variations in genetic coding, it’s possible for both blue-eyed parents to have a brown-eyed offspring.
Perhaps the biggest impact eye color has on a person, other than defining his or her looks, is light sensitivity, or photophobia. Brown eyes are less light-sensitive because of the high presence of melanin in them, as produced by a gene known as OCA2. On the other hand, light-colored eyes can be more light-sensitive as they have less protective pigments.
This puts athletes with blue eyes at a slight disadvantage, as their reduced resistance can blind them while playing on a sunny day. The glare can also disrupt an affected person’s situational awareness, an essential skill in daily life that can save one from a roadside mishap.
Other causes of photophobia include contact lens irritation, corneal abrasion, and meningitis. Because of its possible implications, it is important to have this condition checked by an eye doctor, who can make a proper diagnosis and prescribe the right solution.
Tips for Minimizing Your Risk for Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease caused by excess pressure in the eye due to poor circulation of eye fluids. If left untreated, the pressure could damage the optic nerve and cause permanent blindness; in fact, it is the second most common reason for blindness in the world.
Most of the risk factors for glaucoma, such as age and race, are out of your control. However, there are a few things you can do to minimize your risk:
Eating Right
Make smarter decisions when eating. Cutting down on trans fats helps lower high blood pressure. This means reducing the amount of fried foods and processed foods in your diet.
Increase the amount of fish, particularly ones rich in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon— in your diet. Blueberries and cranberries are rich in bioflavonoids, which strengthen the capillaries in the eyes, allowing more essential nutrients to reach it.
Regular Exercise
Regular exercise has been proven to be effective in lowering your intraocular pressure (IOP). You do not need to work out in the gym like a bodybuilder to achieve this effect though. Moderate exercise like jogging three times a week is enough to lower your IOP.
Take note that you can still develop glaucoma despite following the tips above, especially if you have a family history of the disease. With that in mind, it is best that you see an ophthalmologist for a thorough eye exam every year once you reach the age of 40.
The Four Main Types of Refractive Errors
Do you have trouble reading objects from a distance or up-close? Then it is likely that you have a refractive error, a condition wherein the shape of your eye prevents sufficient light from focusing on your retina. Refractive errors come in one of four major types: myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism. You need to go to reliable eye doctors and get tested to get proper diagnosis. Continue reading →
Getting Your Eyes Checked by an Eye Doctor
When a person experiences problems with his eyes, the automatic response should be to visit his eye doctor to get treated and alleviate any discomfort he feels. Yet, with several eye clinics in the area, it can be a task to find the right eye doctor. Simply knowing what each type of doctor is trained to do for the patient can make the process a little easier.
Ophthalmologist
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye and vision care. They are trained to perform eye exams, diagnose and treat disease in relation to the eyes, prescribe necessary medication and perform eye surgery. They are also capable of writing prescriptions for eye glasses and contact lenses.
Optometrist
An optometrist is someone who has medical training but is not a physician. Optometrists are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of specific eye-related diseases, yet are commonly focused on routine eye care and conducting vision testing for glasses or contact lenses.
If the eyes are generally healthy, have problems with their vision, or have a minor infection, a visit to an optometrist is ideal. However, if the problem is related to medical issues like glaucoma, macular degeneration or cataracts, then visiting an ophthalmologist is the better option. Visiting a facility with a team composed of optometrists and ophthalmologist is a great way to have any eye concern addressed.
What you Don’t Know can Blind You
How can you protect your eyes? Most people would enumerate ways to avoid just about every possible source of eyestrain. However, what many don’t realize is that your eyesight could end up getting damaged from a lot of other ordinary activities that, apparently, don’t really have anything to do with your eyes, much like:
Smoking
Smoking isn’t just bad for your lungs. As a matter of fact, it can also increase your risk of developing cataracts and other retinal diseases. It also serves to aggravate already existing eye problems. Continue reading →
Seeing an Eye Doctor in Durham, NC? Important Facts on LASIK Surgery
“There are several qualifications that an individual has to meet before this treatment can be administered. For one, your eyes’ prescription needs to be stable and not constantly changing; moreover, certain eye disease, especially when coupled with age, could also serve as a detriment. This is why efficient eye doctors in Durham, NC like those from North Carolina Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat should check your condition thoroughly before having you sign on to the procedure.
Of all your basic senses, losing your vision could perhaps be the most devastating. This is why science has seen to it that reliable treatments like LASIK are as safe as possible, for the benefit of those in dire need of getting their eye conditions fixed.”
http://www.nceent.com/seeing-eye-doctor-durham-nc-important-facts-lasik-surgery/
Seeing Clearly: Finding the Right Eye Doctors
Much like any part of the body, the eyes have their own crucial role to play in people’s lives. Caring for the eyes is an important yet often neglected matter though, and most people only seek for help when the problems have already reached a serious stage. If you have yet to see an eye doctor or are in the process of searching for one, these few reminders will help you find the right ones.
Ask for referrals – One of the best ways to find good eye doctors is to ask for referrals from trusted sources. These could be your attending physician, your parents or siblings, or even reputable professional organizations who have a database of eye specialists in different areas of the country.
Experience and credentials – Check on the track record and experience of the eye doctors you are planning to visit. Go for the ones who have been in the industry for several years. Check their licenses, awards, and memberships in key organizations as all of these add up to their reputation.
Make an assessment – After you have chosen a doctor and have gone through a check-up or treatment, assess and evaluate your visit. Did the doctor attend to you in a professional manner? Was he or she able to make you feel comfortable before and during the procedure? Was he or she able to treat your condition properly and effectively?
What You Need to Know About Cataract Surgery
Statistics show that cataract problems are so widespread, at least half of all Americans will have had its symptoms or undergone surgery by the time they reach 80 years old. Don’t worry if you happen to be suffering from it, there are many treatments available today that can help you overcome the condition.
Many experts suggest that surgery is the only way to remedy a cataract. Therefore, no eye drop, medication, or pair of spectacles will make them go away or prevent them altogether. If you can no longer see clearly because of cataracts, talk to an eye doctor about cataract surgery.
The most common question patients with cataracts ask is: “When is the right time for cataract surgery?” The best way to make this decision is to talk to your eye doctor about how the condition is affecting your daily activities. Normally, if it’s mildly bothersome, it can wait. However, if it’s a major nuisance, you may need to discuss having surgery as soon as possible.
Trusted eye doctors know how frustrating and agonizing it can be to lose your vision. That’s why they do their best to help people with cataracts understand their options. These doctors have the modern technology and top expertise you need to help you deal with your cataract problem.
North Carolina Eye Ear Nose & Throat 