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A Quick Guide to Treating Glaucoma

  • Post category:Glaucoma

Just like your joints are vulnerable to arthritis as you age, your vision is vulnerable to problems over time. If you’re lucky, you’ll experience nothing more than a bit of near- or far-sightedness, but if you’re like millions of Americans, you’ll one day develop glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a family of diseases that damage the optic nerve and prevent the eye and brain from communicating. It’s a serious issue that shouldn’t be neglected, especially since it can ultimately lead to blindness if left untreated. Luckily, there are many innovative glaucoma treatments available when you need them.

Cyclo G6 Laser

The Cyclo G6 Laser is one of the newest achievements in glaucoma treatment. The entire system is dedicated to treating glaucoma for patients who have not experienced success with eye drops but do not want to undergo surgery. It uses gentle technology capable of reducing intraocular pressure by 30 to 40 percent without the need for incisions or implants. If you want to extend or even eliminate the need for surgery while still improving and protecting your vision, Cyclo G6 Laser treatment is a perfect choice.

Kahook Goniotomy Procedure

This minimally invasive glaucoma procedure uses a Kahook Dual Blade to safely, effectively, and easily relieve glaucoma symptoms. Your surgeon makes an opening in the trabecular meshwork, which is a group of very small canals where fluid leaves the eye. This new opening allows fluid to flow out of the eye and relieve pressure. You can expect the The Kahook Goniotomy procedure to reduce your reliance on eye drops. (more…)

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An Eyelid Lift Can Transform Your Appearance

Your appearance is defined by so many elements, especially in your facial region. The contour of your cheeks, the fullness of your lips, and the size and shape of your eyes all contribute to the distinguished look of the person you see in the mirror. As you get older, you may find that your eyes are changing for the worse, especially around the eyelids.

Eyelid problems are common, especially in older adults. You may have excess, hanging skin that covers the natural fold of the upper eyelids, or you might notice chronic puffiness or deep grooving that ages you ten years. Fortunately, an eyelid lift surgery known as blepharoplasty has become a routine procedure that can reverse these conditions and transform your appearance into a younger and more rejuvenated version of yourself.

How Is an Eyelid Lift Done?

An eyelid lift is done to reverse the effects of age and gravity on the skin around the eyes. It can be done just for cosmetic reasons or even for medical reasons if the extra fold of skin hangs over the eyelashes and disrupts vision. It only takes about two hours for your eyes to transform from saggy and tired to tighter, healthier, and more contoured.

What Are the Benefits of an Eyelid Lift?

An eyelid lift can improve your appearance and boost your confidence in many ways. Not only does it eliminate the puffiness and bags under your eyes, this procedure also lifts and removes the hooded skin on your upper lids to help you look and feel younger and healthier. (more…)

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Are You At Risk Of Cataracts?

  • Post category:Cataracts

Losing your sharp vision to age isn’t the only threat that your eyes face over time. Cataracts are also a major concern, especially for the elderly. Learn all about cataracts to identify your risk level and seek the treatment you need to preserve as much of your vision as possible.

What Are Cataracts?

A cataract forms when the normally clear lens of the eye becomes yellow or cloudy, making everything appear like it is behind a foggy or frosty window. It’s not a sudden condition, but one that gradually forms until it can no longer be resolved with just eyeglasses and stronger lighting.

On a healthy eye, the lens sits positioned behind the colored iris and works to focus light that passes into the eye. When the lens does this correctly, the membrane on the back inside wall of the eyeball basically functions like the film of a camera to help images become visible. However, as the lens yellows into a cataract, the cataract scatters incoming light and prevents sharply defined images from reaching the retina like it should.

What Are the Common Symptoms of Cataracts?

A cataract can be identified from a few different symptoms, none of which should be ignored or assumed to be insignificant.

  • You need to change your eyeglasses or contact prescription
  • You see halos around lights
  • Increased sensitivity to light and glare
  • Double vision
  • Cloudy vision

As the cataract grows, the symptoms will become more obvious, until you can no longer ignore them. You may also notice that the natural lens of your eye looking yellow. (more…)

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How to Diagnose the Problem With Your Eyelids

You probably don’t think about the health of your eyelids as much as you consider the health of your heart or skin, but the truth is that your eyelids play an important role in your overall well being. This means they are also prone to a number of different problems and diseases. If you have been experiencing any of the following, the following issues could be to blame.

Blepharospasm

Blepharospasm is the condition of chronic eyelid spasms that become debilitating over time. You may be in the initial stages of blepharospasm if you notice yourself blinking or squinting repeatedly, especially with forceful closure following by difficulty opening the eyelids again.

Stress, bright lights, fatigue, driving, and social interactions all have the potential to make these eyelid spasms intensify. Unlike diabetes and heart disease that can be improved through healthy choices, blepharospasm can’t be easily avoided. This is why it’s so important to watch for symptoms and seek medical attention as soon as you suspect a problem. (more…)

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Three Uses of Botox for the Eyes

We all know Botox as the miracle wrinkle treatment that reduces signs of wrinkles along the face, but anti-aging is far from the only purpose of Botox. Believe it or not, Botox offers a range of medical uses that improve your vision health and help you enjoy a better quality of life. Here’s what you should know!

What Is Botox?

Botox is formulated with botulinum toxin and injected into the body to relax targeted muscles. It begins to work over the span of a week and lasts about three or four months before another treatment is needed. Each eye consists of six muscles, and two of the muscles move the eye from side to side, giving Botox the potential to be a powerful solution for any muscle-related eye problems.

Reduce Crossed Eyes

The muscles in the eye keep your gaze straight by working against each other, basically pulling at each other with equal strength to keep the eyes looking in the opposite directions. However, some people suffer weakness in one muscle that allows the stronger muscle to pull the eye in the opposite direction. This results in crossed eyes, called strabismus. Botox resolves crossed eyes by relaxing the stronger eye muscle and giving the weaker one a chance to recover its power. (more…)

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Are You At Risk of Glaucoma?

  • Post category:Glaucoma

You take steps to protect your heart health and skin health, but what about your eye health? The truth is that adults over the age of 40, especially those of African American and Hispanic descent, are at highest risk of glaucoma. By educating yourself now, you can prevent unwanted eye conditions in the future and preserve your quality of life.

The Definition of Glaucoma

The eye achieves clear vision through a complex web of functions, one of which involves the optic nerve. An eye’s optic nerve is responsible for transmitting images to the brain. Glaucoma arises when the optic nerve can’t do its job and vision becomes compromised. Glaucoma is so serious that it can cause blindness in only a few years if left untreated.

Causes of Glaucoma

Glaucoma hurts the optic nerve as a result of increased pressure in the eye. That pressure builds when eye fluid fails to circulate to the front of the eye. As pressure builds up instead of flowing through, the optic nerve becomes paralyzed. Doctors have yet to establish the exact cause of this pressure, but they do know that it is an inherited problem passed from parents to children. Chances are, if one eye has glaucoma, the other will as well. (more…)

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Does Your Vision Suffer When Driving At Night?

It’s not uncommon for vision to weaken with age, especially at night, but this is a dangerous trend. If your own diminishing vision makes it difficult to drive at night, it’s important to see your eye doctor for the right treatment.

Why Is Driving At Night More Challenging?

Night time driving isn’t easy. Sudden glares of light from cars, street lamps, and traffic signals force the eyes to constantly adjust to new levels of light with only split seconds in-between. This places strain on the eyes and makes even common routes feel unfamiliar. Many people find that their daytime vision remains strong while their nighttime vision weakens.

Th eyes actually work by sensing light with two different types of cells called rods and cones. While cones thrive in strong sunlight, rods prefer low light. This means that as the rods weaken with age or due to another health condition, your night vision will suffer. In addition, since the eyes contain fewer rod cells than cone cells, and since the light receptors within rods can’t regenerate as rapidly, night vision – especially while driving – can become challenging. (more…)

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Can Eyelid Surgery Restore Youthfulness to Your Face?

You have probably given plenty of thought to the way that wrinkles are changing the appearance of your skin, but have you ever contemplated the role that your eyelids play on your face? It is very common for the eyelids to droop with age and make you look much older and fatigued than you are. Fortunately, cosmetic eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, is a minor procedure that can have a major positive impact on the appearance of your face.

Age Causes Unwanted Eyelid Droopiness

It’s nearly unavoidable for the skin to lose its firmness as you age. Your body produces less and less collagen and elastin each year after the age of 30. Since collagen and elastin are the two most important components of healthy skin, their growing absence leaves the skin with no choice but to become stretched and weak.

This causes the eyelids to stretch, and the muscles supporting them become weaker. Stores of fat create a saggy, droopy appearance to your eyelids that once used to look effortlessly perky. In addition to affecting your upper lids and bags under your eyes, droopy eyelids also limit your field of vision. (more…)

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The Best Solution to Dry Eye

  • Post category:Dry Eye

As a dry eye sufferer, you understand just how much the condition can interrupt your daily schedule and diminish your quality of life. You might use lubricant eye drops in an effort to stay comfortable, but have you ever stopped to think about how much money those drops are costing you, likely for minimal results?

The truth is that lubricant eye drops are only a bandaid to the larger issue of dry eye syndrome. Thanks to the development of autologous serum drop treatment, patients with dry eye can save thousands of dollars every year by using a treatment that works by restoring eye health. Here is everything you should know about this innovative solution to dry eye!

Why Does Dry Eye Occur?

Dry eye is considered a chronic health problem that is caused by low or abnormal tear production in the eye. Without enough tears, the surface of the eye cannot stay properly lubricated. This results in frustrating and unpleasant symptoms like burning, stinging, and scratching. (more…)

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Suffering from Chronic Headaches? Check Your Eyesight

We’ve all endured temporary headaches after stressful days at work or long days of squinting into the sun, but chronic headaches are a monster of their own. Chronic headaches and migraine pain is often debilitating, robbing patients of their quality of life. If you can relate, your vision could be to blame.

Vision Problems Translate into Headache Pain
Your body is one complex and interconnected system. This is especially true for your eyes and your head. If you haven’t visited the eye doctor recently or have neglected basic eye care, you could have an eye condition that is leading to your headaches. Vision-related headaches occur in many forms, including as dull pressure behind the eyes, throbbing in the temples, and a light pounding at the top of the head.  

For example, most people with astigmatism must squint in order to focus their vision on a specific word or object. Without the right glasses or contacts, astigmatism causes constant squinting, which in turn puts tension on the eye muscles, which then forms headache symptoms. Farsightedness, also known as hyperopia, is another common vision problem that causes headaches to develop. If you are farsighted, it requires extra effort and straining to see clearly, which again places too much strain on the eye muscles and causes headaches to form in the skull. (more…)

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