Night Blindness

How’s your night vision? I don’t think mine is the worst out there, but I don’t think it’s great, either. It does take your retina a moment or two to adjust to differences in light when going from bright to dark or vice versa. Some people do tend to have more trouble with night vision than others. People who are nearsighted, for example, can be slower to adapt to seeing in the dark. So what can you do if you’re worried about your night vision? Check your own night vision first — you don’t need the doctor for this one. … Continue reading →

Ptosis

A condition of the upper eyelid that can occur at birth, due to surgery of the eye, disease or injury is known as ptosis. The most pronounced symptom of ptosis is droopiness of the eye. This can manifest itself in one or both of the eyes. Other symptoms include inability to close the eye shut, problems with blinking, straining and fatigue of the eye or eyes, crossed eyes, double vision, and/or irritation. Ptosis is caused by a nerve or a weakness in the muscle that keeps your eyelids open (levator muscle). If it is due to a birth defect, a … Continue reading →

Wear Your Glasses!

I was eight years old when I got my first pair of glasses — and I’ve been wearing them every day since then. At first, I hated them. They itched my nose. They felt weird on my ears. I took them off every chance I got — for example I wouldn’t wear them out onto the playground for recess. But one day I was playing outside and noticed how clear everything looked. I had forgotten to take my glasses off! That’s when I realized how helpful they are. If your child is fighting against the idea of glasses, here are … Continue reading →

Migraines and Vision

If you have a history of migraines and other headaches, you may be more likely to have retina damage than people who don’t have a history of migraines and headaches. A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is linking retinopathy (retinal damage) with migraines. Retinopathy can lead to severe vision impairment and even blindness. Worse, both retinal disease and migraines have been linked with stroke. Migraine headaches affect approximately seventeen percent of women and six percent of men in the United States. Scientists aren’t exactly sure what causes migraines, though they suspect that both blood … Continue reading →

Soothing Dry Eyes

Dry eye syndrome (also known as DES) is surprisingly common; it is one of the top reasons Americans visit the eye doctor! Symptoms of dry eye syndrome include: Stinging red eyes Blurry vision Sensitivity to light If you suffer from dry eye syndrome, your eyes aren’t producing enough tears to keep your eyes lubricated. Over the counter eye drops (also called artificial tears) can help bring relief, but it can be a pain to always be reaching for the eye drops! Your eye doctor may also provide a topical steroid eye drop or cream that can help your eyes retain … Continue reading →

A Link Between Alzheimer’s and Glaucoma

British researchers have discovered common protein fragments in people with Alzheimer’s disease and people with glaucoma. This discovery may change how both diseases are treated. These protein fragments are called amyloid-beta. In people with Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid beta fragments form plaques in the brain. In people with glaucoma, amyloid beta fragments seem to cause the death of cells in the retina. The University College of London study focused on testing drugs that blocked pathways normally traveled by the amyloid beta fragments. In animal testing, the drugs reduced eye damage and helped preserve the lives of cells in the retina. The … Continue reading →

Shopping For “Healthy” Sunglasses

A while back I wrote about my struggle to find the perfect sunglasses. Back then any pair of shades that didn’t make me look like a bug would make it to the check out counter. Then I went to the ophthalmologist and got a major wake up call. If you base your choice in outdoor eyewear on comfort or fashion you may be putting your eyes at risk. Many of us look at sunglasses as an accessory or simply a way to avoid squinting on a sunny day. Rarely do we consider how they protect our eyes and the skin … Continue reading →

Living With Color Blindness

Think for a moment about how many things in life rely on color. From getting dressed in the morning (making sure your clothes match) to driving to work (and reading traffic signals), color is all around us! Compensating for an inability to see colors can be easy in some ways and not so easy in others. As far as traffic lights go, a person can learn the order of the three lights — red at the top, yellow in the middle, and green at the bottom — and watch for which one is lit. Even if you can’t see the … Continue reading →

Color Blindness

Most people with color blindness can see some color. People who can see no color at all are actually pretty rare! In a normal eye, there are color-sensitive cells in the retina — the layer of nerves at the back of the eye that convert light into signals sent to the brain. These color-sensitive cells are called cones, and they come in three types: sensitive to red, blue, or green light. In a normal eye, you see color when the cone cells sense any or all of these types of light; cone cells work best in bright light and not … Continue reading →

LASIK: Before and After

Preparing for LASIK laser vision correction surgery isn’t difficult. Here are a few things you can expect: A surgical coordinator will talk to you about preparation and aftercare, and take a medical history. Eye tests, like corneal thickness, refraction, and pupil dilation. Evaluation of your vision correction prescription (using your glasses/contact lenses). A meeting with the surgeon to ask any questions you may have. You may be asked to not wear contact lenses for several days before the procedure. If you wear rigid gas permeable contact lenses, you may be asked to not wear them for several weeks before the … Continue reading →