Floaters in your vision

A lot of people joke about seeing stars, but many people actually do see shapes run across their field of vision. These shapes are technically called “floaters” and can vary in appearance from specks and dots to clouds and cobwebs. EyeCare America explains this phenomenon as “clumps and strands within the gel of the eye” that create shadows on a person’s retina.

These shadows account for the varying shapes and are typically cast when a person is looking at a large, solid-colored object (like a wall). Unfortunately, although some are harmless, floaters can occasionally indicate a serious problem with the eye, such as a torn retina.

People who are middle-aged are especially prone to floaters, so be alert and talk to your doctor if you notice any changes in your vision. It’s important to get your eyes examined on a regular basis to treat and prevent conditions like floaters.

Early signs of vision problems in children

Many people think adults are the only ones who have to worry about their visual health. In reality, lots of children have visual problems that may go unnoticed by their parents or teachers. According to Prevent Blindness America, there are many signs that a child is having difficulty seeing, and adults should be on the lookout for both visual and auditory clues that indicate a problem.

For instance, many children with visual issues have noticeably red, swollen or crossed eyes. Other signals include a child’s tendency to rub her eyes frequently, squint, tilt her head, complain that words are blurry, or hold books close to her face when reading. Some children may also close one eye or lean their head forward in an attempt to see something more clearly. Prevent Blindness America suggests that older children may verbally express their visual discomfort, using such phrases as:

• “My eyes are itchy.”
• “Everything seems blurry.”
• “I have a headache” or “I feel dizzy” – particularly after reading a book or doing homework.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your own child, talk to an eye doctor on your True Dental Discounts - vision plan as soon as possible. He or she can perform a complete visual examination and determine the extent of your child’s eye-care needs. In many cases, children who begin wearing glasses to improve their vision end up with better grades and a more focused interest in school. It’s a win-win situation!

Laser treatments for glaucoma patients

If you are one of the over 4 million Americans who suffer from glaucoma, you may be interested in a treatment option known as cyclophotocoagulation. This is a laser surgery that is designed to reduce the fluid entering a patient’s eye, thereby lowering eye pressure. According to the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, cyclophotocoagulation is generally used to treat advanced open-angle glaucoma after other treatment options have not been successful.

In cases of open-angle glaucoma, a patient’s eye does not drain liquid properly, causing pressure to build up and eventually damage the optic nerve. To solve this, some patients turn to cyclophotocoagulation surgery, which uses a laser to damage the ciliary body so that it will create less fluid in the eye. This is generally an outpatient procedure and is performed with local anesthesia. After the surgery, some patients experience pain or inflammation, but this should go away after a couple of weeks.

An ophthalmologist in your True Dental Discounts vision plan will conduct follow-up exams to monitor the pressure in your eye and make sure your eye is healing properly. As a whole, Cyclophotocoagulation can be an extremely beneficial procedure in treating open-angle glaucoma, so talk to your eye doctor to see if it might help in your individual situation.

Dry eyes? Try a humidifier

When allergy season rolls around, many people begin to suffer from dry, irritated eyes. One simple solution to this problem is to alter the humidity levels in your home. According to The Dry Eye Company, patients with chronic dry eyes can benefit from purchasing a humidifier. Humidifiers work by releasing moisture into the air and can be used in any enclosed room to help control humidity levels.

Watch out, though: Too much humidity can increase the amount of dust and mold in a room, so be sure to keep your levels around 40 to 50 percent. Any lower than approximately 30 percent, and people will likely notice a change in their eyes. Many people suffer from dry eyes year-round, so be sure to ask your eye doctor about any irritation you experience in your eyes. He or she can help diagnose the cause and talk to you about potential solutions, such as a humidifier.

Preventing and recognizing a lazy eye

Childhood is a time of rapid growth and change for the entire body, particularly for the eyes. A person’s sight undergoes critical developments in the early years, meaning parents must be extra-vigilant about their child’s eyesight during this time. One issue that can arise in young children is known as amblyopia – or “lazy eye.” In this case, one eye is strong while the other is weak, creating a harmful imbalance.

EyeCare America recommends that parents get their child’s eyes checked by age four because early treatment is the most effective. Children who are treated before the age of nine are generally able to have better-restored vision than those who wait until their teenage years. It’s important to get the opinion of an ophthalmologist because it’s hard to detect a lazy eye (even the child may be unaware she has a problem). If an imbalance is detected, the eye doctor may recommend one of several treatments, most of which are geared toward building strength in the weak eye.

This may be done by having the child wear an eye patch over her good eye or even using drops to blur vision in her good eye. Both of these methods force the child to use her weak eye in order to regain strength and balance. While perhaps difficult at first, the payoff will be a lifetime of good vision. If you suspect your child may have a lazy eye, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your eye doctor. It’s always a good idea to get regular check-ups, and in case of a problem, your doctor can begin treatments early and effectively.

I don’t wear glasses. Do I need to visit the eye doctor?

Yes. According to a recent survey by the American Optometric Association, 20 percent of adults who do not wear glasses or contacts have never been to an eye doctor. Many of them assume that since they do not have noticeable problems with their vision, it is not necessary to schedule an appointment. Unfortunately, this common misperception often has devastating consequences, particularly when it comes to glaucoma. The American Optometric Association reminds patients that glaucoma – a degenerative vision condition – often “sneaks up” without any signs of pain or other symptoms.

Although this condition is not yet curable, it is treatable, and the earlier treatment begins, the better the patient’s future quality of life. For this reason, it is extremely important for all adults to visit an optometrist regularly. The American Optometric Association suggests adults under 60 without vision problems should schedule an eye exam once every two years. After age 60, an exam should be conducted annually.

More frequent appointments may be necessary, depending on the person’s medical history and current health. If you have never been to the eye doctor, it’s easy to schedule that first appointment: Just call an optometrist on your discount vision plan. You will reap significant savings while also taking control of your health.

Protect your vision from the sun

As the long days of summer wind down, it’s natural to want to go outside and soak in all the warmth you can. But before you do, take care to protect not only your skin from sun damage, but also your vision. Even if you go outside on a cloudy day, the same ultraviolet rays that cause your skin to burn can also damage the surface of your eyes.

According to the American Optometric Association, unprotected exposure to the sun can increase the risk of certain types of cataracts and also cancer of the eyelids. On the interior of the eye, harmful rays from the sun can damage the retina, possibly causing significant vision loss over time. The effects of the sun add up each time you go outside without proper protection, so it’s important to think ahead and take the following simple precautions:

• Wear sunglasses outside, even on cloudy or winter days. AOA suggests that sunglasses should block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation and screen 75 to 90 percent of visible light. Talk to an eye doctor on your True Dental Discounts, vision plan for recommendations and individualized guidelines. 
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat. Hats block any extra rays from entering your eyes around the sunglasses.

See better with Vitamin C

You might have grown up hearing that eating carrots is a good way to sharpen your vision, but research is showing another excellent way to boost your eye health: Vitamin C. According to the American Optometric Association, nearly all cells in the body rely on Vitamin C to stay healthy, particularly those in the eyes. Research shows that Vitamin C is critical to the health of ocular blood vessels and can reduce the risk of cataracts by more than 50 percent. In addition, studies show Vitamin C, when taken in combination with other nutrients, and can slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness for people over 55.

Unfortunately, the body does not produce Vitamin C on its own, so people need to make a conscious effort to get enough of this valuable antioxidant. The FDA suggests that males need 90 mg/day, while females need 75 mg/day. To give you a frame of reference, one medium orange is approximately 70 mg. Other great sources of Vitamin C include fruits such as grapefruits, tomatoes, bananas, apples and peaches. The most concentrated doses of Vitamin C come from the juices of such fruits as oranges and grapefruits – one cup of orange juice has a whopping 124 mg!

An optometrist on your True Dental Discounts, vision plan can give you more detailed information about sharpening your vision with Vitamin C. It’s easy to integrate antioxidants like Vitamin C into your diet if you have a little help and encouragement, so be sure to ask about it at your next appointment.

Common eye conditions: Blepharitis

Have your eyelids ever been red, itchy, irritated or become crusty? These are all symptoms of blepharitis, a common eye condition caused by bacteria, a skin condition like dandruff, or other factors. Blepharitis is not contagious and generally does not cause permanent damage, but it is important to be aware of its symptoms and keep it under control. According to the American Optometric Association, there are two types of blepharitis – anterior blepharitis, which occurs at the outer area where eyelashes are attached, and posterior blepharitis, which affects the inner edge of the eyelid.

Anterior blepharitis is often caused by bacteria or dandruff of the scalp and eyebrows. Posterior blepharitis can be the result of irregular oil production by eyelid glands and can also be caused by skin conditions like rosacea. Neither version of the condition typically disappears completely, but patients can help keep it away by keeping their eyelids clean and free of crust. Eye doctors often recommend using warm compresses and prescribed antibiotics. Doctors on your True Dental Discounts, vision plan may also suggest not using eye makeup or contacts during treatment. By following their recommendations and taking care of your eyes, you can greatly reduce the occurrence of blepharitis and keep your eyes comfortable and healthy.

Information for Vision after 40

Even if you never wore glasses as a child or young adult, it’s important to be aware of changes in your vision once you reach age 40. According to the American Optometric Association, there are five common vision changes you may experience in middle age, including:

• Changes in color perception: The lens within your eye, which is normally clear, may start to discolor and make it difficult for you to differentiate between shades of colors.
• Problems with glare: Driving may become more difficult as glare from headlights or the sun becomes more noticeable. This increase in glare is a result of light being scattered on the retina instead of being properly focused.
• Reduced tears: Tear glands tend to produce fewer tears as you age. Post-menopausal women may notice that their eyes are especially dry and should talk to their True Care Advantage optometrist about solutions like medicated eye drops.
• Needing more light: You may have noticed it is not as easy to read in dim lighting as it once was. Solve this issue by using bright lamps while reading or working.
• Difficulty reading or working up close: The lens in the eye starts to become more flexible as you age, making it harder for your eyes to focus on nearby objects.

This can cause books or documents to appear blurry at close distances, so ask your True Care eye doctor about getting reading glasses as well as an overall vision exam.

Can Botox treatment help your vision?

Move over wrinkles. Botox has found a new use, and it’s not to help people look younger. All over the country, ophthalmologists are using the drug to correct adult strabismus, or lazy eye. Injected in small doses, Botox can help stop the muscle spasms that cause adults to experience double vision, blurred images, a loss of depth perception, and many other symptoms of strabismus.

During the procedure, an ophthalmologist on your True Care Advantage vision care plan will use a very thin needle to inject Botox directly into the eye muscles. Often, an anesthetic cream is applied to soothe the site of the injection. According to the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Botox lengthens the injected muscle while shortening the opposing muscle, which helps correct many cases of strabismus. In general, side effects from the treatment are rare, and the effects last approximately three months. Fortunately, the procedure only takes a few minutes in the office and can be repeated as necessary down the road.

If Botox treatments sound appealing, tell your eye doctor about all of the medications and supplements you are currently taking so he or she can determine if the procedure is right for you. The foundation suggests that good candidates are generally healthy people who are not pregnant or nursing.

I’m losing my night and peripheral vision – what could be the cause?

Although many eye conditions develop later in life as an effect of aging, others are caused by genetic factors and may begin to present themselves much earlier. One such condition is retinitis pigmentosa – a disease that causes damage to the rods and cones in a person’s retina. Rods are responsible for both peripheral and night vision, and as they become damaged, the person with RP slowly begins to lose these types of sight.

The American Optometric Association suggests that signs of RP often become apparent in childhood or adolescence, with night vision typically declining first. Fortunately, the disease is gradual, meaning a person may not develop a severe case for many years. Once the disease does progress, however, the patient may only be able to see straight ahead in a form of “tunnel vision.” At this stage, people must adapt to their new range of vision and stay aware of their surroundings.

Otherwise, they may accidentally bump into furniture or other objects that are no longer in their peripheral vision. If you suspect you or your child may have retinitis pigmentosa, talk to an optometrist on your True Care Advantage vision care plan that specializes in low vision. He or she can provide you with valuable information about ways to slow the progression of vision loss, including making changes to your diet to include vitamin A and lutein. And although there is currently no cure for RP, your eye doctor can introduce you to several of the low-vision aids available, such as magnifying lenses and night-vision scopes. Such doctors are also good sources of information about living productively and independently with low vision. Find out more by scheduling an appointment today.

Protective eyewear and unexpected injuries

You may not think of your home, workplace or favorite playing field as dangerous areas for your eyes, but it is very common to experience eye injuries in these day-to-day places. In fact, according to the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, more than 1 million people experience eye injuries each year. The vast majority of these injuries could have been prevented with protective eyewear, so think twice before you write off eye protection as unnecessary.

Even common places like your house, backyard and car can lead to injuries. When in your house, the foundation suggests working in a well-ventilated area and being extra cautious while using cleaning chemicals. Accidental sprays in the eye can severely damage the surface of your eyes and even cause blindness. In your yard, make sure to wear protective eyewear to prevent getting hit with a stone while mowing or trimming... (read more)

Vision after 40 - Tips for seeing better

Even if you never wore glasses as a child or young adult, it’s important to be aware of changes in your vision once you reach age 40. According to the American Optometric Association, there are five common vision changes you may experience in middle age, including:

• Changes in color perception: The lens within your eye, which is normally clear, may start to discolor and make it difficult for you to differentiate between shades of colors.

• Problems with glare: Driving may become more difficult as glare from headlights or the sun becomes more noticeable. This increase in glare is a result of light being scattered on the retina instead of being properly focused... (read more)

Exactly what kind of eye care professionals are you seeing and what do they do?

If you’ve ever been to an all-encompassing eye care practice, you’ve probably been introduced to several different kinds of eye care practitioners ­– ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians. But what exactly does each of these do, and how can they help improve your vision... (read more)