But fear not!No matter what your age, there are steps you can take to help prevent cataracts or slow their development. Today, cataract surgery, in which cloudy lenses are removed and replaced with synthetic implants, is helping millions of Americans see better than ever before.

Don’t wait until your vision becomes affected to start thinking about cataracts—read on to discover a healthy tip you can tackle today!

Keep your vices in check!
It’s no secret that cigarettes pose a litany of health risks to you and those around you. But did you know it affects your eye health too? “Research suggests that smoking increases your chances of developing cataracts,” explains Vivek Jain, MD, a VSP doctor at Beach Eye Care in Virginia Beach, VA. So if you need another reason to put down the pack, think about the future of your vision.
Have plans to head out to happy hour this week? Just remember to enjoy your beer, wine, and cocktails in moderation. Like cigarettes, excess alcohol consumption can pose a number of health risks, one of which is an increased chance of developing cataracts.

Eat right!
Studies suggest that those with diabetes are at greater risk for developing cataracts. That’s why maintaining healthy blood sugar is so important—for both your overall health, and the health of your vision.

But a healthy diet should be a priority for all of us. “We always encourage our patients to eat lots of leafy greens,” explains Dr. Jain. “Vitamin supplements are also a great way to make up for those nutrients we don’t get enough of in our diet.” Eating foods high in antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, selenium, and vitamins C and E may also help ward off cataract development.
Shade your eyes from the sun
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again—protect yourself from UV rays and your eyes will thank you! “Ultraviolet light can hasten the formation of cataracts,” explains Dr. Jain, “even in younger patients.”

To reduce your exposure, wear a wide brimmed hat when spending time outdoors and always keep shades with UVA/UVB protection close at hand, no matter what the season.

Visit your eye doctor
Even if your vision is clear and healthy, make it a priority to schedule yearly eye exams. Routine visits allow your eye care professional to look for signs of cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other vision disorders. This early detection just may save your sight!

The content of this article is for general informational awareness purposes only. Please consult your eyecare doctor or physician for actual advice.

EnVision Newsletter – VSP – 2011

How your eyes appear a specific colour – the iris is the coloured part of the eye, and it contains pigmentation. The pigment in your eye typically doesn’t change in adulthood, but does after birth when babies eyes turn from blue to their permanent colour.

The role that genes play in eye colour – there is some mystery when it comes to genetics and eye colour. There are three genes that represent the eye colours green, brown and blue; but science has yet to determine the genetic link for other colours like hazel or grey. It was once thought that brown was always the dominant gene. So, two parents that have brown eyes should produce a brown-eyed child. It turns out, that’s not always the case so brown is not always dominant over blue or green eyes. It is of course more likely that two brown-eyed parents spawn a brown-eyed child, it’s just not the rule! Green is also said to be dominant over blue from a genetic perspective as the darker eye colour is the one that wins the battle. It seems to be a roll of the dice which genes meet up to create the eye colour of children.

How eye colour changes – most babies are born with blue eyes, but not all older children or adults do. This is because the brown pigment melanin that can make eyes green or brown isn’t present at birth and can develop with age!

Article Source: Wayne Yarrow

All people with diabetes need to get a dilated eye exam at least once a year.

What is diabetic eye disease?
Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of this disease. All can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.

Diabetic eye disease may include:

•diabetic retinopathy—damage to the blood vessels in the retina
•cataract—clouding of the eye’s lens
•glaucoma—increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that leads to optic nerve damage and loss of vision

Of the three diseases listed above, diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease.

This disease is a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, retinal blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. These changes may result in vision loss or blindness.

What are the syptoms of diabetic retinopathy?

Often there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Vision may not change until the disease becomes severe. Nor is there any pain. Blurred vision may occur when the macula, the part of the retina that provides sharp, central vision, swells from the leaking fluid.

This condition is called macular edema. If new vessels have grown on the surface of the retina, they can bleed into the eye, blocking vision. But, even in more advanced cases, the disease may progress a long way without symptoms. That is why regular eye examinations for people with diabetes are so important.

Who’s at risk?

Anyone with diabetes is at risk. The longer someone has diabetes, the more likely he or she will get diabetic retinopathy. Between 40 and 45 percent of those with diagnosed diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy.

How is diabetic retinopathy detected?

If you have diabetes, you should have your eyes examined at least once a year. Your eyes should be dilated during the exam. That means eyedrops are used to enlarge your pupils. This allows the eye care professional to see more of the inside of your eyes to check for signs of the disease.

How is diabetic retinopathy treated?

Your eye care professional may suggest laser surgery in which a strong light beam is aimed onto the retina.
Laser surgery and appropriate follow-up care can reduce the risk of blindness by 90 percent. However, laser surgery often cannot restore vision that has already been lost. That is why finding diabetic retinopathy early is the best way to prevent vision loss.

Can diabetic retinopathy be prevented?

Not totally, but your risk can be greatly reduced. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) showed that better control of blood sugar level slows the onset and progression of retinopathy and lessens the need for laser surgery for severe retinopathy.

The study found that the group that tried to keep their blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible also had much less kidney and nerve disease. This level of blood sugar control may not be best for everyone, including some elderly patients, children under 13, or people with heart disease. So ask your doctor if this program is right for you.

How common are other diabetic eye diseases?

If you have diabetes, you are also at risk for other diabetic eye diseases. Cataracts develop at an earlier age in people with diabetes. Cataracts can usually be treated by surgery.

Glaucoma may also become a problem. A person with diabetes is nearly twice as likely to get glaucoma as other adults. And, as with diabetic retinopathy, the longer you have had diabetes, the greater your risk of getting glaucoma. Glaucoma may be treated with medications, laser, or other forms of surgery.

What research is being done?

Much research is being done to learn more about diabetic eye disease. For instance, the National Eye Institute is supporting a number of research studies in the laboratory and with patients to learn what causes diabetic retinopathy and how it can be better treated. This research should provide better ways to detect and treat diabetic eye disease and prevent blindness in more people with diabetes.

Adapted from a publication in the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health.

We need complete sets of eyewear, including prescription glasses, readers, and sunglasses – both plastic and metal frames are accepted. Cases can also be used if they are donated with the glasses inside.

Simply come into The Eye Works Optometry on the corner of First & Main Streets in downtown Napa and place the eyewear in our donation box that is located at the front door.

Between the VSP program and the Lions Club they will ensure the glasses are recycled and distributed to chldren and adults throughout the world!

Questions? Contact Dr. Craig Sultan at 707 254 2020 at The Eye Works Optometry.

Causes :
A person develops eye allergies when the immune system overreacts to an allergen. An allergen is a word for any substance that can cause an allergic reaction. Allergens may be found indoors or outdoors and include things such as grass, tree and weed pollen, dust, and pet dander. When exposed to these allergens, cells in the eyes release histamines and other chemicals in an effort to protect the eyes. It is this chemical reaction that causes blood vessels inside the eyes to swell, and the eyes to become itchy, red and watery. Allergies can also trigger other problems, such as conjunctivitis (pink eye).

Types of Eye Allergies:
Eye allergies are generally categorized into two types: seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC).
• SAC:
The most common type of eye allergy; people affected by SAC experience symptoms during certain seasons of the year.
• PAC:
These types of eye allergies are usually caused by dust, pet dander or other allergens that are often present year-round.

Symptoms:
The following symptoms commonly occur with eye allergies:
• Itching
• Redness
• Tearing
• Swelling
• Burning
• Blurry vision
• Eye mucous
Although the symptoms of eye allergies can be extremely annoying and uncomfortable, they usually cause no harm to the eyes.

Risk Factors:
Allergic eye reactions occur when a person is sensitive to an allergen. Eye allergies often affect the conjunctiva, the clear covering that covers the front part of the eyeball. This clear covering is the same type of material that lines the inside surface of the nose. Because the two areas are so similar, allergens can trigger an allergic response in both areas. Therefore, people with nasal allergies may also suffer from eye allergies.

Diagnosis:
An optometrist or ophthalmologist can usually diagnose eye allergies based on a patient’s symptoms. To confirm the diagnosis, the eye doctor may use a slit lamp to examine the front part of the eye. This examination may reveal the presence of conjunctival and eyelid swelling and dilated blood vessels, which would confirm the diagnosis. In some cases, the doctor may use an instrument to scrape the conjunctiva to check for the presence of eosinophils, cells that are present in severe cases of eye allergies.

Treatment:
The most effective treatment for eye allergies includes minimizing exposure to the allergens that are triggering the allergic response. This may include staying indoors when pollen counts are high, wearing sunglasses to prevent pollens from entering the eyes, reducing the amount of dust present in the home, and cleaning floors with a damp mop instead of a dry sweeper. Those suffering from eye allergies may also try avoiding irritants such as cigarette smoke, air pollution amd strong odors. Contact lenses should also be avoided while allergy symptoms are present, as symptoms can cause discomfort with contact lenses.

Medications :
Both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications can be beneficial to those suffering from eye allergies. OTC artificial tears, decongestants and antihistamines can be effective in treating short-term symptoms. Artificial tears help flush the allergens out of the eyes. Decongestant eyedrops are available without a prescription to help alleviate eye redness.
Prescription medications are highly effective in relieving symptoms. Antihistamines reduce itching, redness and swelling, usually rather quickly. Mast cell stabilizers may be used to help prevent the release of histamines, thus reducing symptoms.
Source:
Eye Health Media Guide. “Allergies”, pages 2.8 – 2.11. Alcon, Inc., 2008.
“Allergies of the Eye.” University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, 2008.

I. Eye twitching:

Eye twitching (myokymia fasciculation) is a usually benign muscle twitch or spasm that occurs in the eyelids. If you’re experiencing this type of eyelid twitch it can be difficult to determine the cause and proper course of treatment but I’ll try to help you. It’s quite likely that if are reading this you’re suffering from these twitches and are asking yourself, “Why is my eye twitching?” or “What can I do about it?”. First it’s important that you understand that this is a symptom of an other underlying cause rather than an illness in and of itself.

While usually harmless, an eye twitch can be very annoying. Twitching may be associated with the following:
Stress
Caffeine
Fatigue and lack of sleep
Pink eye
Allergies
Pinched nerve

Medication Withdrawal:

(Benzodiazepines, or benzos for short, are a
class of drug that help with anxiety and stress management. They are often prescribed by a psychiatrist in a mental health setting. They are, however, not meant to be a long term solution. Rather, they are used as a crutch until a person is able to learn and implement techniques that allow him to manage the stress in his life. The length of time it takes someone to do this varies greatly, and some people may develop a dependence on the medication, which can lead to benzo withdrawal when they stop taking it.
Panic disorder
Neurological Disorder
Tourette syndrome

Many people with an eye twitch find that the problem corrects itself with no intervention. In these cases the cause was likely temporary stress, lack of sleep, or other momentarily imbalances. Some people develop a more chronic eyelid twitching. In some cases eye twitching can be serious and a sign of neurological problems. If you have any other health issues or concerns speak to a doctor. While this is certainly rare it’s not unheard of so better be safe rather than sorry and get it checked out.

What’s my take on this – by ruling out some of the serious causes above (medication side effects – fairly common) the most common cause is stress related – even I’ve had this twitch – What to do?????
For some reason a low dose of any generic antihistamine tablet often works (for this cause) and I also suggest some crushed ice in a baggie applied to the closed eye which helps decrease the frequency of the run away nerve firing that causes the muscle to twitch.

Dr. Craig Sultan
The Eye Works Optometry
1006 First Street, Napa, CA 94558
707 254 2020
www.the-eyeworks.com

Nearsightedness is a vision problem (or Refractive error) in which the eye sees near objects clearly, but distant objects are blurred.
The medical term for nearsightedness is myopia – which is derived from a Greek word meaning “closed eyes.” It’s believed this is a reference to the primary symptom of nearsightedness, which is squinting.

What causes nearsightedness?

Clear vision requires the cornea and the lens of the eye to focus light perfectly on the retina. For this to happen, the cornea and lens must have exactly the right amount of curvature so they can focus light within the length of that eyeball.
Nearsightedness occurs when the cornea (or lens, or both) is too curved and light from distant objects is focused inside the eye before it reaches the retina. At the retina (beyond the focus point of the nearsighted eye), images of distant objects are blurred.

In some cases, the cornea and lens have a normal amount of curvature, but the eyeball is longer than normal, and therefore the retina is located too far from the normal focusing point. This is called axial myopia because the distance blur is due to an unusually-long axial (front-to-back) length to the eye.

Why is near vision unaffected?

In an eye with normal vision, the focusing muscle inside the eye has to change the shape of the crystalline lens in order for near objects to be seen clearly. This focusing process is called Accommodation. Accommodation is required for near vision because light reflecting from near objects enters the eye in such a way that a greater amount of lens curvature is required to focus it (compared to light entering the eye that’s reflected from distant objects).

Because a nearsighted eye has a cornea or lens (or both) that is too curved for clear distance vision, it can see near objects with less than the normal amount of accommodation. So a nearsighted eye not only sees near objects clearly without corrective lenses, it does so with less effort than a normal eye!

This is why some nearsighted individuals prefer to remove their eyeglasses for sustained reading and other near vision tasks. If they have a mild amount of nearsightedness, their eyes will be less strained and more comfortable for reading and computer work if their nearsightedness is left uncorrected (reducing the need for accommodation). However, individuals with moderate or severe amounts of nearsightedness must hold objects very close to their eyes to see them clearly – these people are more comfortable leaving their corrective lenses on at all times.

A mild amount of nearsightedness is especially beneficial if you are over age 40 and are experiencing the normal age-related loss of accommodative ability called presbyopia. As we get older, the crystalline lens inside the eye becomes hardened and the focusing muscle inside the eye can no longer change its shape. Accommodative ability is lost, and near objects become blurred. It’s this normal age-related change that requires us to wear reading glasses, bifocals, or Progressive lenses to restore our near vision when we get older.

Since a mildly nearsighted eye can see clearly up close without accommodation, some nearsighted individuals who wear eyeglasses can avoid bifocals or progressive lenses by simply removing their glasses for reading and other near vision tasks.

If you are nearsighted, over age 40 and you wear contact lenses, I can adjust your contact lens prescription for Monovision. This involves changing your contact lens prescription to make (or leave) one eye mildly nearsighted. The eye with your current contact lens prescription will see distant objects clearly, and the eye with the modified contact lens prescription (because it’s made mildly nearsighted) will see clearly up close. Thus with both eyes open, monovision contact lenses allow you to see clearly at all distances without reading glasses.
(Not everyone is comfortable wearing monovision contact lenses. A trial fitting can determine if monovision will work for you. Bifocal contact lenses are also available.)

How common is nearsightedness?

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), about 30 percent of Americans are nearsighted.
Myopia usually occurs during childhood and is almost always diagnosed before age 20. Nearsightedness can worsen throughout the school years, and the earlier a child becomes nearsighted, the more nearsighted they will tend to be as an adult.

What are the symptoms of nearsightedness?

Symptoms of nearsightedness include:
• Squinting (when viewing distant objects)
• Headaches (usually later in the day; caused by squinting)
• Blurred vision (distance only)

Nearsightedness is not associated with poor academic performance. In fact, nearsighted youngsters tend to be better than average students.

Who is at risk?

Anyone can have nearsightedness. A family history of myopia is a risk factor. Extensive near work (i.e. reading and computer use) may be an added risk factor for individuals with a genetic tendency to become nearsighted.

How is nearsightedness detected?

Nearsightedness is detected by a comprehensive eye exam performed by an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist.
Though school vision screenings are often very effective at detecting nearsightedness, all children should have a professional eye exam prior to beginning school to rule out the presence of myopia.
If your child is nearsighted, they should have an annual eye exam throughout their pre-teen and teenage years. Yearly prescription changes may be necessary to maintain clear vision.

How is nearsightedness treated?

Nearsightedness can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, Refractive surgery or corneal refractive therapy also known as corneal molding which involves wearing contacts while you sleep to reshape the cornea allowing your daytime vision to see 20/20.

Can nearsightedness be prevented?

At this time, there doesn’t appear to be anything that can be done to prevent nearsightedness. But research shows that fitting some nearsighted youngsters with rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses may slow or halt the progression of their myopia. (This effect is not seen with soft contact lens wear.) Talk to me about this
In some cases I will prescribe reading glasses or Bifocal lenses for youngsters to reduce their accommodative stress when reading. Accommodative stress may be a factor in the development and progression of myopia, and that relieving this stress may decrease the likelihood that a youngster will become nearsighted or that their myopia will progressively worsen. However, this practice remains controversial.

Sunglasses come in many colors. So many flavors – what is best for me?

Visual comfort can be as different as personalities. One person loves rose colored lenses (not me). I prefer gray lenses. Let me share my view of the best lens colors for different life styles.

Gray lenses reduce brightness without distorting colors as do most tinted lenses.

Brown and amber lenses reduce brightness and glare from the blue end of the spectrum
are consequently referred to as Blue Blockers. My experience is that it creates
greater contrast resulting in better depth perception.

Yellow Lenses – reduces the haze from foggy and overcast days sharpening up your
view, however this color may cause some color distortion. Shooters will often
wear this color

Green tinted lenses reduce brightness like gray lenses and reduces some of the blue
waves of light, creating good contrast with minor color distortion. This color is
not in vogue at this time, yet it is still a very comfortable lens. Ray-Ban made
its G-15 a gray-green combo very popular.

Rose colored lenses are good for water sports and create good contrast against blue or
green backgrounds.

Blue tinted lenses – think Elvis, may (or may not) look good, but are probably the worst
Color for your eyes. Here’s why – The blue waves of light are the most harmful
waves of the visible spectrum; only the UV rays are more dangerous. Too much
blue light can result in macular degeneration – this is why Blue Blockers have
become so popular.

A few things to remember: polarized lenses are the best protection and most comfortable vision unless you are a pilot ( the LED lit panels are not visible with polarized lenses) and so are many cell phone screens and I Pods and their cousins.
Polarized lenses are available in all of the colors above. Try a tinted sun lens next to a good polarized lens and you’ll choose the polarized lens nearly every time.

Dr. Craig Sultan
The Eye Works Optometry
1006 First Street – Downtown Napa
www.the-eyeworks.com
707 254 2020

The Eye Works – where its good to be seen!