IMPORTANT EYE CARE NEWS

Although most people may think that eye doctors do nothing but deal with appointments of people needing glasses and contacts, they actually do a whole lot more. Even general eye evaluations entail examining the health of the eye and looking for any potential concerns. Take for example, someone needing contacts for the first time; in addition to the evaluation, the doctor will need to provide additional services. This can include training on how to insert and remove contacts and providing general care information as well as diagnosing and solving any fit problems. They also need to know which type of contacts would be best for their patient as there are many varieties, including toric, multifocal, soft disposable, keratoconus, rigid gas permeable, monovision and irregular-shaped lenses for individuals with corneas that have suffered disease or surgery.

What do you do if you are not comfortable with the product that has been prescribed to you by your Texan eye care provider? If you think that prescriptions are always accurate, think again! There are never guarantees with health care; the options that you could have been selecting in your exam may not feel good to your eyes when you are wearing your glasses or contacts all day. There could have been a missed measurement when the optical store sold you the glasses. So, how will your current optometrist react to this news? Will they happily re-evaluate your prescription and take care of the problem for you?

If you are searching for eye physicians of Austin, you likely already know that there are a lot to choose from. So, how do you know which one you should go to? If you are like most others, you probably assume that all eye doctors and facilities provide the same quality service; this is not the case. Not only do services vary, but prices do too.

Some assume that only people who are very concerned with their appearance need an exam for contacts, this is absolutely not true. While contacts do make you look better, and often younger, they allow you to see better too! Glasses are absolutely wonderful to have, however contacts provide a vision correction that is significantly more natural. Many people tried wearing lenses many years ago and were discouraged by the discomfort, but things have changed. In recent years, several companies have started offering silicone-based soft lenses, which allow for a greater amount of oxygen transmission. Some can even be worn continuously for 30 days - they are that comfortable!

AVAIRA Recall November 15, 2011

Study Shows Cataract Risk Can be Lowered by 40% Research at Oxford University in England reveals that a diet with no meat products may offer nutrients that protect against the formation of cataracts.

Contact Lens Acute Red Eye (CLARE) is an Inflammation caused by Deposits or Bacterial By-Products on Contact Lenses

Dermatochalasis Causes Droopy Eyelids Dermatochalasis is a disorder of the eyelids characterized by redundant, thin and flaccid eyelid skin and muscle. Dermatochalasis and the resultant droopy eyelid is a result of the aging process and is much more common in elderly people although dermatochalasis does appear in younger people as well. It is usually first noticed in the 40’s and then continues to worsen. Dermatochalasis occurs with equal frequency in males and females and in all races. Causes of Dermatochalasis

Xanthelasma are Benign but are Cosmetically Unattractive Xanthelasma are deposits of cholesterol and lipids under the skin’s surface in the eyelid area characterized by yellowish-brown distinct areas that are soft and flat and elliptical in shape. A xanthelasma usually ranges in size from 5-30 mm in length. The lesions are symmetrical and bilateral (around both eyes) and tend to increase in number and size. Xanthelasma are permanent and are benign lesions that usually have no symptoms but are cosmetically unappealing. They typically appear after the age of 40 but are sometimes apparent even in teenagers. They usually occur in the inner canthus area (on the eyelids, upper and lower, nearest the nose). The yellowish plaques represent lipids and cholesterol under the skin. These may be hereditary but in about 50-60% of patients there is high cholesterol and/or other lipids such as triglycerides. Prevalence of Xanthelasma

Cataract Surgery Using Femtosecond Lasers Contrary to the belief of many, cataract surgery is not performed using lasers………not yet anyway! In February 2010 the first laser cataract surgery was performed in the U.S. This exciting new breakthrough was performed using the LenSx femtosecond laser now owned by Alcon Labs, Inc. (Ft.Worth, Texas). The technology was developed by the same group that developed all-laser LASIK. Several other companies also have similar technology in the development pipeline. It is important to note that the LensSx technology is FDA approved in the U.S. for three clinical indications but that its availability in the marketplace is extremely limited currently since it only recently received the FDA approvals. Current cataract surgery is certainly improved over the results from 30-40 years ago but does not deliver the safety and accuracy found in laser refractive eye surgery such as LASIK or PRK. About 35% of cataract surgery patients experience mild to moderate complications (posterior capsule opacification, cystoid macular edema (CME), vitreous loss or endothelial cell loss). Two percent of cataract patients have more serious complications (i.e. retinal detachment, persistent CME, corneal compliations, infection). However, LASIK only has a 0.2% serious complication rate. Therefore, current cataract surgery has a 10 X higher rate of complications compared to LASIK.

Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Can Cause Severe Problems when it Causes the Eye to be Infected Herpes zoster ophthalmicus is an infection of the eye caused by varicella zoster virus. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus is the ocular involvement of an overall infection termed herpes zoster, commonly called shingles. Varicella zoster is the same virus that causes chicken pox. Once people are infected with this virus, usually by chicken pox as a child, it remains within the body in a dormant stage in the sensory ganglion (nerve roots). It is estimated that 95% of all adults harbor this virus and are therefore at risk for shingles. The risk of obtaining a herpes zoster infection during one’s lifetime is estimated at 10-20%. Estimates are that in the U.S. alone each year there are one million cases of herpes zoster. Reactivation of the Varicella Zoster Virus causes Shingles (Herpes Zoster) The varicella zoster virus can remain in the dormant stage forever or for decades but can be reactivated in some people. Reactivation of the virus is caused by a decreased immune system that can be caused by aging, HIV, high stress levels or illness. When the virus reactivates it usually spreads to the skin causing a severe rash called herpes zoster (shingles). If the varicella zoster virus spreads down the first division of the trigeminal nerve it is called herpes zoster ophthalmicus. If the forehead or nose becomes infected, the eye often becomes infected on the same side as the skin involvement. The incidence of ocular involvement of all shingles cases is estimated to be as high as 25%.

Acuvue TruEye Soft Lenses Better than Your Current Contacts? Vistakon (Johnson & Johnson) recently introduced their new daily disposable lens, which is the first and currently the only silicone hydrogel soft lens on the market. The name of the lens is 1-Day ACUVUE® TruEye™. Silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses offer approximately 500% more oxygen transmission than traditional soft lens materials and are the fastest growing segment of contact lenses materials. The more silicone there is in the soft lens material, the higher the oxygen transmission of the lens. Oxygen transmission is extremely important to keep the eye healthy and feeling comfortable. 1-Day ACUVUE® TruEye™ has Exceptional Moisture & Wettability for Optimal Comfort