Sunglasses

UV protection is crucial to the well being of one's skin but also eyes.  The UV radiation that comes from the sun comes in three different types.  UV-A, UV-B and UV-C.  UV-C is absorbed by the ozone and therefore isn't harmful.  UV-A and UV-B however can be harmful to one's eye.  Long term UV exposure can speed up the progression of cataracts.  It can also cause changes to the surface of the eye in the form of pinguecula or pterygium.  UV is also a risk factor for Age Related Macular Degeneration.  Short term exposure of excessive amounts of UV can lead to photokeratitis, or a sun burn of the eye. 

To provide adequate protection from the sun your sunglasses should*:

block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation;

screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light;

be perfectly matched in color and free of distortion and imperfection; and

have lenses that are gray for proper color recognition

If you spend a lot of time outdoors, wrap around frames can provide additional protection from the harmful solar radiation.

Don’t forget UV protection for kids of all ages. They tend to spend more time outdoors compared to adults.

Always wear UV protected eyewear and keep up with your yearly eye exams.  Not all tints work for the same patient.  Your doctor will monitor your vision and ocular health and can recommend the best type of sunglasses for you. 


*Information gathered from the AOA website.

 

 

 

 

The Contact Lens Conundrum

I find myself having this conversation over and over with my patients.  I love contacts, I wear them myself but if not taken care of properly or over worn it can lead to serious complications.  The topic at hand: The importance of soft contact lens care and maintenance. 

Simply put: over wearing your contact lenses can lead to very serious infections that can lead to vision loss.  The surface of the eye, the cornea, is avascular.  Meaning it has no oxygen supply.  As soon as you insert a contact lens you are diminishing the amount of oxygen getting through to the cornea.  Any patient who is a contact lens wearer is at a slightly higher risk of infection vs. a patient who does not wear contact lenses.  That risk increases if you sleep in them when you are not supposed to or if you wear them longer than the indicated time.  Most soft contact lenses are replaced daily, bi-weekly and monthly.  Daily disposable lenses are thrown away every night.  Two week and monthly replacement lenses must be removed daily.  The appropriate solution must be used to clean and store these lenses.  Some lenses are meant to be slept in and some are not.  What determines this? The amount of oxygen that the contact lens allows through to the eye.  Only wear your contact lenses as indicated. 

Here are some of the most common contact lens complications I see.

Neovascularization of the cornea
The abnormal growth of blood vessels due to a lack of oxygen.  Most common cause: contact lens wear.  When the cornea is deprived of oxygen it's going to start to form it's own blood supply.  If the blood vessels get within the line of sight it can be detrimental to one's vision.  The cornea must be clear to provide us with optimal vision.

 

Corneal Infiltrates

Infiltrates are usually the precursor to an infection usually an ulcer.  They are white grayish cells that appear on the cornea.  They usually happen due to lack of oxygen to the cornea or due to a toxic reaction to the preservatives in contact lens solution.  Patient will present with light sensitivity, redness, tearing or discomfort. 

 

 

Corneal Ulcer

Ulcers are probably one of the most painful complications of contact lens wear.  It's an open sore on the surface of the eye that has become infected.  It is also known as a bacterial keratitis.  It's literally bacteria growing on your eye.  Imagine the petri dishes that you grew in science lab.  When you first culture the bacteria the petri dish is clear as the islands of the bacteria start to grow they start to become fuzzy.  That's what an ulcer essentially looks like a tiny island of bacteria growing on your eye.  Most common symptoms include redness, pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision, inability to open eye, foreign body sensation or lid swelling.  Though there are many reasons for an ulcer one of the most common causes is contact lens over wear.  Ulcers are a serious complication and need to be treated right away as they can cause a permanent loss of vision.

 

 

 

 

If at any time you experience a painful, red eye remove your contact lenses and see your eye care provider right away.  A patient should always have a pair of glasses to reduce the amount of contact lens wear. 

 

 

 

Why does my eye doctor need to know all my medications?

Patients don't always necessarily think of bringing in their list of medications to an eye exam.  In the past when asking a patient's health history some respond with: it's not relevant.  The truth is: It's all relevant!  Medications and systemic history play a big role in ocular health.

The eye is a blue print to your health.  By dilating your pupil and looking at your retina we can see if any systemic disease such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, among others are affecting your ocular health.  Diabetes affects the vision of more than half of the 18 million people diagnosed with diabetes above the age of 18.

Medications are also very important.  Certain medications can lead to vision problems.  Long term use of systemic corticosteroids can lead to the premature formation of a certain type of cataract that can lead to both distance and near vision loss.  Patients with auto immune disease taking high dosages of plaquenil can have loss of central vision.  This does not happen often but I have seen it.  It is important that your eye doctor knows because a visual field test would need to be done at least once a year to monitor any changes.  So many medications can cause changes in your vision so it's important for us to know so we can treat or monitor accordingly.

A recent study published by JAMA Psychiatry (found here) states that children and youth on anti-psychotics are at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.  A 3 fold increase risk, the study states.  We know that if not controlled type 2 DM can lead to loss of vision.

Supplements are no exception.  High dosages of Vitamin A and beta carotene may lead to an increase risk in lung cancer in current and former smokers.  Always consult your physician before starting any supplement. 

So not only is it important to bring your medications to an eye exam but it's also important to be aware of the side effects.   Next time you go in for an eye exam remember to bring in a list of medications if any.  You'll be surprised at what you discover!

Welcome

Welcome to Visionista Daily, your daily source of vitamin "SEE".  Visionista Eye Care is located in Houston, TX and was founded by Dr. Alma Hernandez.  You can find us at www.visionistaeyecare.com. This blog was created to provide our patients and the general public with any information pertaining to vision, ocular health or anything relevant in the world of Optometry.

Dr. Hernandez is committed to serving patients and making the most of their vision whether it be by prescribing glasses, the most up to date contact lenses or by simply educating patients on nutrients that can help protect against ocular disease.

Good vision does not necessarily mean you should skip your yearly eye exam. An eye exam is more than just prescribing glasses or contacts.  An eye exam can detect disease that can lead to vision loss.  An annual eye exam is like a physical for your eyes.  Our goal is to make sure your eyes remain healthy throughout the years.

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Email us any topics you would like to learn about: info@visionistaeyecare.com.