How do we see?

A great video that explains the process of vision, and the importance of having your children’s eye examined as early in life as possible.

 

Sleeping in Contact Lenses….Maybe not such a good idea….

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Many patient sleep in their contact lenses.  Some patients do this because they have the approval of their eye doctor, many patients sleep in their contact lenses because, frankly, they are too lazy or too tired at the end of the day to remove them.  With the introduction of more breathable contact lens materials in the late 1990′s, we thought that finally materials were available that would allow for safe overnight contact lens wear.  Certainly, these materials, which are known as silicon hydrogels, have been a boon to contact lens wearers, as the increased oxygen permeability that they provide allows for safer contact lens wear overall.  And certainly we have approved patients for overnight wear with these contact lenses (Purevision, Air Optix Night and Day, Biofinity, Oasys).  However, over the last year or two, I personally have seen one too many problems with overnight wear, even in patients wearing these more breathable contact lenses that are approved for this method of use.  I was moved to write this post because my colleague Dale Stein and I are currently treating one of the worst corneal ulcers that I have seen in 25+ years of practice.  A corneal ulcer is a very serious infection of the cornea which can lead to permanent loss of vision.  Fortunately, the patient is responding to treatment.  He was wearing an contact lens approved for overnight wear.  I now feel more reluctant than ever to recommend or approve overnight wear for any patient.  My take home message is this:  It is much safer to take your contact lenses out every night, even if wearing more breathable, approved materials.  Sleeping in contact lenses will increase your risk of corneal inflammation and or infection, and could lead to permanent loss of vision, or at the very least the inability to wear contact lenses.  Contact lenses are wonderful medical devices that should be worn according to your doctor’s recommendations, non-compliance can lead to serious problems.  And if you are looking for the safest, healthiest way to wear contact lenses, ask about daily disposable contact lenses.

Related Articles

• An Overview of Bacterial Corneal Ulcer (brighthub.com)
• Top Safety Tips for Contact Lens Wearers (everydayhealth.com)
• Eye Infection From the Use of Contact Lenses (brighthub.com)

Are You Taking Care of Your Eyes?

86% Of Those With An Existing Eye Disease Do Not Get Yearly Eye Exams Click below for an “eye opening article from the NY Times…..

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/health/21brody.html?_r=3&ref=health

January Named Glaucoma Awareness Month

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From VisionMonday……

January 3, 2011 12:18 AM

CHICAGO—With the start of the New Year, eyecare groups including Prevent Blindness America (PBA), the Glaucoma Research Foundation and American Optometric Association (AOA) are working to build awareness during January’s National Glaucoma Awareness Month.

PBA is reminding adults to schedule an eye exam in the New Year. More specifically, the organization said that the damaging effects of glaucoma may be detected through an eye exam before a patient notices any symptoms: “Patients in the early stages of glaucoma usually have no symptoms, no noticeable vision loss and no pain, which is why it is called the ‘sneak thief of sight.’ By the time symptoms start to appear, some permanent damage to the eye has usually occurred.”

“Our key message is that, unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma. But the good news is that if detected and treated early, the effects of vision loss can be diminished,” said Hugh R. Parry, PBA’s president and CEO. “We hope everyone has a happy and healthy 2011 and that it includes a visit to the eye doctor.”

According to the study “Vision Problems in the U.S.” by PBA and the National Eye Institute (NEI), there are nearly 2.3 million Americans ages 40 and older who have glaucoma with the disease being listed as the second leading cause of blindness in the world and the leading cause of blindness in African American and Hispanic populations in the U.S. “Many may not be aware that an eye exam cannot only help to protect vision, it can uncover evidence of other diseases including diabetes or hypertension,” the organization said.

For more information visit preventblindness.org/glaucoma or call (800) 331-2020.

Related Articles

• January 2011: Glaucoma Awareness Month (harlemworldblog.wordpress.com)
• Age-Related Eye Changes and Disease: Presbyopia and Glaucoma (generalmedicine.suite101.com)