All of us have experiences digital eye strain at some point, but do you know how to protect your eyes? Digital eye strain is caused from using a digital device for two hours or more at one time.
Do I have Pink Eye?
We have all heard of or had pink eye! Its never fun and can be highly contagious! With the kids back in school and cold and flu season upon us it’s always good to know the warning signs of pink eye! Red, watery and itchy eyes may be a sign of conjunctivitis or pink eye. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the top symptoms of pink eye include: • Redness or swelling of the white of the eye • Increase amounts of tears • White, yellow or green discharge • Itchy or burning eyes • Increased sensitivity to light Viruses and bacteria can cause pink eye. It’s important that you see your physician. While it can get better on its own, sometimes an antibiotic is prescribed to clear it up. Don’t hesitate if you think you might have pink eye. Call our office at 480-994-18972 to make an appointment! Learn more: http://www.cdc.gov/features/conjunctivitis/
Four Tips to Make Sure Your Kids Vision is ‘Grade A’ This School Year
Four Tips to Make Sure Your Kids Vision is ‘Grade A’ This School Year A Kids Vision is the best asset they can have for school With back-to-school upon us, parents will be scrambling to buy new school supplies and clothes. As they tick off their long list of school to-dos, ophthalmologists are reminding moms and dads not to neglect one of the most important learning tools: their children’s eyes! Good vision and overall eye health are vital to learning. Scottsdale Eye Physicians & Surgeons, PC joins the American Academy of Ophthalmology in emphasizing the importance of healthy vision to academic success during Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month in August. Because children are still growing, being vigilant about eye health is important. The earlier problems are identified; the sooner they can be addressed. For healthy eyes and vision throughout the school year, here at Scottsdale Eye Physicians we recommend the following four tips: 1. Get regular childhood vision screenings – Kids vision changes rapidly, making regular vision screenings an important step in detecting and correcting eye problems early. In addition to screenings for infants, the Academy recommends further vision screening for children when they are: Pre-school age, between age 3 and 3 and a half Entering school Experiencing a possible vision problem For school-age children, a vision screening, which is less comprehensive than a dilated eye examination by an ophthalmologist, can be performed by a pediatrician, family physician, nurse or trained technician during regular checkups. If the screening detects a problem, the child may need to see an ophthalmologist — an eye physician and surgeon – or other eye care professional. 2. Know and share your family eye health history – Everyone should find out whether eye conditions or diseases run in their family. Parents should share that information with the person performing the screening when possible. Examples of common eye conditions include nearsightedness, crossed eye, known as strabismus, and lazy eye, known as amblyopia. If these are not treated in childhood, they can cause permanent vision loss in one eye. 3. Watch for signals of eye problems – Parents should be alert to symptoms that could indicate an eye or vision problem, such as complaints of eyestrain, headaches and squinting when reading or performing other common activities. Other symptoms to look for include a white or grayish-white coloring in the pupil, one eye that turns in or out, or eyes that do not track in sync together. 4. Wear protective eyewear when playing sports – Eye injuries while playing sports can cause serious damage to your kids vision, whether by getting smacked with an elbow during basketball or hit with a hockey stick. If your child plays racket sports, hockey, field hockey, baseball or basketball, consider having them wear goggles or other certified protective eyewear. Good vision is your child’s best asset for going back to school, make sure and be scheduling regular exams and taking the best steps to ensuring good vision! At Scottsdale Eye our doctors are trained to offer care for children of all ages! Call 480-994-1872 today to make an appointment! Visit the Academy’s website to learn more about common childhood eye conditions and how to care for your kids vision!
Where Do you Dispose of Your Old Contact Lenses?
Could old contacts be contributing to micro-plastic waste? What do you do with your old contact lenses? Scientists are hoping the answer isn’t flush them down the toilet or wash them down the sink. A new study shows that contact lenses could be contributing to micro-plastic waste that is creating pollution in our waters. These tiny pieces of plastic measuring no bigger than a sesame seed are considered micro-plastic waste. The study has found that these small pollutants are ending up at the bottom of lakes and in our oceans which could be harming sea life. The idea to study the fate of contact lenses came when senior study author Rolf Halden, a professor and director of the Center for Environmental Health Engineering at Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute, started to wonder whether there was existing research on what happened to contact lenses after use. There was none. After finding no info on contact lens waste the professor decided to survey both contact lens wearers and non-wearers to find out how they were discarding lenses. After surveying 139 individuals they found that roughly 15-20% of people were discarding them in the toilet or sink. Lead study author Charlie Rolsky, a doctoral student in biology at the same institution, said in a statement. “This is a pretty large number, considering roughly 45 million people in the U.S. alone wear contact lenses.” After the lenses are flushed they end up in water treatment plants which are known to filter out waste, but since these filters are used for larger items contact lenses which can be flexible are slipping through the filters. They also found that bacteria used to breakdown biological waste was ultimately breaking down the contacts into smaller pieces making them a contributor to micro-plastic waste. Moral of the story is when discarding contact lenses be sure to toss them in the waste basket instead of down the toilet or sink. Taking this small step in how you dispose of your lenses could be helping the planet with micro-plastic waste. It could also be one small change that could help aquatic life along the way. More info on contact lens waste: https://www.livescience.com/63376-contact-lens-sewage-microplastics.html
Eye Drops and Nasal Sprays Dangerous When Ingested by Children
Most people consider over-the-counter eye drops to be safe. When used correctly by an adult, they are, but in the hands of a young child, they can be dangerously harmful. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that when in the hands of children, ingestion of redness eye drops, or nasal decongestant sprays can cause serious harm. The FDA reviewed 96 cases of accidental ingestion between 1985 and 2012, by children between 1 month and 5 years and found that resulting events included decreased respiration, decreased heart rate, sedation, nausea, vomiting, mydriasis, lethargy, hypothermia, and even coma. Fifty-three cases were hospitalized. Active ingredients including tetrahydrozoline, naphazoline, and oxymetazoline which are included in a variety of brand name products produced serious symptoms when ingested in the reports. A very small amount of these medication can cause significant symptoms. Tetrahydrozoline is the ingredient that gets the red out in eye drops, oxymetazoline is the ingredient in Afrin nasal spray, and naphazoline is an antihistamine in various topical ocular allergy products, such as Naphcon-A and Opcon-A. The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission proposed a rule requiring redness-relief eye drops and nasal decongestant sprays to have child-resistant packaging. The rule is not in effect, requiring care takers to take additional steps to prevent kids from getting their hand on these products. Take these additional measures to keep your kids safe from these harmful chemicals: Keep medicines in their original packaging. Store potentially hazardous substances out of sight and reach. Keep the national Position Help Line number 800-222-1222 in mind in case of emergency. Avoid taking medicine in front of children. When products are being used, never let young children out of your sight
20 Surprising Health Problems an Eye Exam Can Catch
Many People think that eye exams are just about vision, but complications spotted in the eye are frequently the first sign of disease lying elsewhere. Because your eyes are the openings to nerves, blood vessels and connective tissues throughout your body. Here are 20 surprising conditions your eye doctor may detect during a comprehensive eye exam: 1. Aneurysm An aneurysm is a bubble in the wall of a blood vessel. This can cause a leak or rupture to the wall. A severe, single sided headache or loss of body or facial function can be a sign of an aneurysm. An aneurysm requires immediate medical attention because of its potential damage to your health. 2. Brain Tumor Increased pressure in the brain that get transmitted to the eyes can be cause by brain tumors. Changes to the optic nerve caused by swelling near the back of the eye can be detected by a doctor. Changes in the size of a pupil, recent double vision, or loss of side vision can also be signs of a brain tumor. 3. Cancers of blood, tissue, or skin Some cancers can be found during a detailed eye exam. Skin cancers can affect the outer surfaces of the eye and the eyelids. The most frequent types of skin cancers are melanoma, basal cell, and squamous cell. Lymphoma and leukemia can affect the interior part of the eye and tumors in the breast or other areas can also spread to the ocular fixtures. 4. Diabetes A sign of diabetic retinopathy can be in blood vessels in the retina that leak blood or yellow fluid. This disease can sometimes appear in the eye tissue before a person has even been diagnosed. Vision loss and other serious complication can be avoided with early detection. 5. Giant cell arteritis GCA is a prolonged inflammation of medium-sized arteries that affects the arms, upper body, and neck. These arteries help nurture the eyes and inflammation can result in double vision, blurred vision, or even sudden vision loss in one or both eyes. Blood tests or a dilated eye exam can allow an early diagnoses of giant cell arteritis. Medical treatment can avoid a lifetime of blindness and even premature death. 6. High blood pressure Kinks, unusual bends, or bleeding from blood vessels in the back of the eye can be a signal of high blood pressure. High blood pressure affects one in three adults in the US. A known risk factor in the progression or onset of diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration and other diseases is high blood pressure. During a dilated eye exam your doctor may be able to notice signs of high blood pressure. 7. High cholesterol A sign of high cholesterol may be a blue or yellow ring around the cornea, particularly in a person younger than 40. Elevated cholesterol can also be detected by deposits in the blood vessels of the retina. This may be an indicator to a life-threatening stroke. 8. Lupus Dry eyes can coexist with this inflammatory disease. Swelling in the white part of the eye, the middle layer or the light-sensitive tissue located in the back of the eye can also be caused by lupus. 9. Lyme disease An infection spread by ticks, lyme disease leads to inflammation throughout the body. Many people with Lyme disease experience encounter inflammation to the optic nerve and an increase in floaters in the early stages of infection. 10. Medication toxicities Some drugs can be toxic to the optic nerve or retina of the eye. Red, scaling eyelids, red eyes, scratchy corneas or conjunctivitis can be symptoms of toxicity. 11. Multiple sclerosis An indication of multiple sclerosis can be inflammation of the optic nerve. This is a degenerative disease that affects the nervous system. Commonly this inflammation can coincide with severe blurred vision, painful eye movement or even double vision. 12. Myasthenia gravis Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder that causes muscles to tire easily and weaken. The early symptoms of this disorder often include problems in the eye. A common indicator is drooping eyelids in one or both eyes. Double vision, weakness in the arms or legs, or debilitating problems with breathing, talking, chewing or swallowing are other symptoms of this condition. 13. Rheumatoid arthritis Signs of RA most commonly involve red eyes with deep, severe pain. This can indicate scleritis, a painful inflammation of the white part of the eye which requires medical attention. Commonly, people who have rheumatoid arthritis also suffer from dry eye. 14. Sarcoidosis Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs in the body, including the eyes. Iritis, a recurring, painful inflammation of the iris or colored part of the eye is the most common symptom of this disease in the eye. Light sensitivity can also be caused by this condition. 15. Sexually transmitted diseases Syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, HIV, gonorrhea, genital warts, and pubic lice can all affect layers in the eye. These serious conditions can often be detected during an eye exam. 16. Sickle cell disease Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that can develop stiff, comma-shaped red blood cells that may block the flow of blood to the body. A wide array of ocular changes from severe hemorrhages, redness and burst blood vessels on the surface of the eye and even retinal detachment inside the eye can all be caused by this disease. 17. Sjögren’s syndrome Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s white blood cells to attack the glands that make tears and saliva. A key feature of this condition is dry eyes. Other symptoms can include blurry vision, dry mouth, and burning or stinging in the eyes. 18. Stroke Blood vessels in the retina can contain blockages or clots. These can cause sudden blind spots or give the illusion of a “curtain” closing over a person’s vision. These can also be an indicator of an increased risk for stroke. A loss of side vision could also be a signal of brain
Eating Healthy Prevents AMD
Eating healthy is the starting point for a healthy lifestyle and a better quality of life. We all know our diet can affect everything from our weight to our heart but recently it’s been discovered that eating healthy can have a major impact on your vision and preventing Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
Early Detection Critical to Treating Glaucoma
Early Detection Critical to Treating Glaucoma Scottsdaley Eye Physicians and Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology remind the public of the importance of eye exams Glaucoma is a major cause of vision loss worldwide. It affects more than 3 million people in the United States—nearly half of whom are unaware they have the disease. During Glaucoma Awareness Month in January, Scottsdale Eye Physicians and Surgeons joins the American Academy of Ophthalmology in reminding the public that early detection and treatment can help protect your sight. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, which transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. Typically, the disease initially has no signs or symptoms. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause irreversible blindness.
Understanding Covid-19 and How it Affects Your Eyes
New evidence suggests that the surface of the eye may be resistant to Covid-19 infection. A study led by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis experimented on 25 corneas of human donors and found that they proved to be resistant to Covid-19. As were still learning about Covid-19, there have been many questions about how the virus spreads and different ways a person can get infected. While the general advice of being cautionary not to touch your mouth, nose or eyes circulates from the CDC, researchers are experimenting on how the virus is being transferred. The human corneas tested, which are the transparent dome that protects the iris and pupil, also were exposed to Zika virus, and herpes simplex virus. The experiment showed that there was no sign of COVID-19 replication, but the other 2 viruses were able to replicate. “The cornea and conjunctiva are known to have receptors for the novel coronavirus, but in our studies, we found that the virus did not replicate in the cornea” says author and senior ophthalmologist Rajendra S. Apte. The team isn’t entirely sure as how this is possible but infers that it is “likely regulated by a distinct antiviral pathway”. We may find in the future that eye coverings are unnecessary to protect against the virus. As these findings are only preliminary, health professionals shouldn’t assume otherwise and still wear protective eyewear. It is important that we still take the extra precautions to protect ourselves as we are still learning about the nature of the virus. At Scottsdale Eye Physicians and Surgeons we are striving to make sure we are taking the right steps forward in protecting our patients and staff. We are following CDC guidelines at our practice and our Doctors as well as numerous staff members have already received their Covid-19 Vaccination. If you have any questions about the Covid-19 procedures at our office please call our front desk at 480-994-1872.
Understanding Diabetic Retinopathy
If you suffer from diabetes, the possibility of diabetic retinopathy is a real thing. To keep your vision from harm, you should be in the know about the facts of diabetic retinopathy and how to get yourself checked and treated. If you think you could be affected by diabetic retinopathy now or in the future, you may be asking yourself these questions: