Schedule Kids School Eye Exams

Believe it or not, once again it’s time to schedule eye exams for the kids going back to school. Part of your “Back to School Checklist,” should include making sure that children have the optimum eye health and vision to support the core of their learning experience at school. Reading, writing, seeing the blackboard or teacher as well as using computers all create a demanding visual environment for kids at school. They must be able to have clear and efficient vision to do their best.

As children grow and mature it is common for their eyes and vision to change, thus an annual eye exam for children is a good idea. By having a regular eye exam we can detect and address changes or any eye problems that might hinder their overall well being and academic performance. The most frequent eye problems we find in school age kids are the common vision problems of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Sometimes, not having clear vision in the classroom can lead to the undeserved perception of a behavioral problem or attention problem. What we know is that kids are often unable to verbalize that they have a vision problem as they just don’t recognize it.

Your child should receive an eye examination at least once every two years, preferably EACH YEAR, or even more frequently if specific problems or risk factors exist, or if recommended by your eye doctor. The earlier a vision problem is detected and treated, the more likely treatment will be successful.

If you or someone you know has questions about eye exams for children or needs to schedule an appointment, please feel free to call us at 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight, Google+ or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver  to schedule an appointment.

Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island. 

Can a Mediterranean Diet Help Dry Eye?

Eating a Mediterranean diet has been associated with a number of beneficial health effects including reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer, as well as a reducing the incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease.  

Research on Dry Eyes & Mediterranean Diet

Recently, researchers tried to determine whether eating a Mediterranean diet could provide help for dry eyes. Reporting in the journal Cornea, the researchers had patients fill out the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire and the Dry Eye Questionnaire 5 and then evaluated and measured their tear film quality and quantity along with their serum levels of Vitamin D. Unfortunately, the results suggested that eating a Mediterranean diet was not associated with an improvement in dry eye symptoms, but higher vitamin D levels did have a small but favorable effect on dry eye syndrome symptoms. So, while the Mediterranean diet itself doesn’t directly reduce dry eye symptoms, it does seem to be an eating plan that can help promote health and prevent disease for your whole family.

If you or someone you know has questions about dry eye or needs help for dry eye problems, or needs to schedule an appointment, please feel free to call us at 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight, Google+ or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver  to schedule an appointment.

Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island. 

Is Eyelid Surgery Forever?

How Long Does Eyelid Surgery Last?

Rest assured-cosmetic eyelid surgery and the youthful facial rejuvenation it brings-last for many years. Even with the removal of a small amount of eyelid skin and repositioning or removing eyelid fat in your 40’s or 50’s there is typically a considerable rejuvenating effect that will last for many years, during which patients report that they look and feel better. However, aging is a dynamic process, influenced by many factors such as the pull of gravity, sun exposure, and even genetics.

Patients often ask me if they should wait until their condition worsens. My answer is that each person perceives the aging process differently, both psychologically and physically. Most people understandably feel younger than their chronological age but may feel that their appearance does not reflect the way that they feel.  Rejuvenating the eye area helps address such common concern.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more or schedule a consultation for cosmetic eyelid or blepharoplasty, please call Center for Sight at 508-730-2020 to schedule a consultation with Cosmetic Eye Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Gregory Hofeldt, M.D.

What is Ocular or Ophthalmic Migraine?

The word “migraine” immediately causes patients to think about headaches. But did you know that there is a type of “eye migraine” called an Ocular or Ophthalmic migraine that has unusual symptoms –but no headache!

Dr. Keegan Johnson, M.D.
Center for Sight Corneal Specialist

Symptoms of Ocular or Ophthalmic Migraine

It is not uncommon for generally healthy patients to report that about once or twice a month they see these strange pulsing images in both eyes-both with their eyes open and closed! Often these pulsing images begin small and last for 10-20 minutes and may result in blurry vision. These episodes actually describe what we know to be an Ocular Migraine-a migraine without a headache! 

What patients are experiencing is the aura that many sufferers have before the onset of a classic migraine headache. An Ocular or Ophthalmic Migraine often includes zigzag lines, colored lights or flashes of lights expanding to one side of your vision over perhaps 10 to 30 minutes. If you experience these symptoms, in order to be sure that this is not a sign of a more serious problem, you should consider scheduling an evaluation and eye exam at center for Sight so that we can rule out any other problems and work in concert with your primary care physician or a neurologist to make sure that other testing is not needed.

If you or someone you know has questions or needs to schedule an appointment, please feel free to call us at 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight, Google+ or facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver  to schedule an appointment.

Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island. 

Pink Eye Conjunctivitis

Almost every day we receive phone calls from patients at Center for Sight asking how they know if they have conjunctivitis or “pink eye”.  Patients should understand that without having an external eye exam with one of the doctors-it is pretty much impossible for us to be able to tell. With that in mind, you should call and ask to come in to see us so that we can examine your eye and discuss a number of symptoms that help us determine if you have “pink eye” or conjunctivitis. Here are some things we will consider in the exam and diagnosis of conjunctivitis:

Bacterial Conjunctivitis

 If you have a bacterial infection causing pink eye conjunctivitis, you will usually have very red eyes. You may find crusting on your eyelids that can make them stick together as well as a heavy, pus-like discharge from your eyes that may be greenish at times. This infection may spread to both eyes.

Viral Conjunctivitis

If you have a viral conjunctivitis we often will find a very red, swollen eye, crusty eyelids and a more watery discharge. This discharge can also have strands of mucus or white, ropy strands. While many cases of viral pink eye infect only one eye, this infection can also spread to the other eye.

Allergic Conjunctivitis

If you have an allergic conjunctivitis and your allergies are causing your conjunctivitis, it will often look similar to viral conjunctivitis. Your eyes will be red and tearing. However, they will also be itchy. It is likely you may have a stuffy, runny or itchy nose as well.

Treatment for Pink Eye Conjunctivitis

Most of the treatments for pink eye conjunctivitis are supportive. Prescribing antibiotic eye drops does not treat viral conjunctivitis but does work well in treating bacterial conjunctivitis. Regardless of the cause, it is important to minimize the exposure and contamination of others by washing your hands frequently and throwing away used tissues. Do not share towels or pillow cases. Consider staying home from work or school until you are symptom-free for 24 hours. If you are a contact lens wearer, you should discontinue their use and stick with glasses until your infection clears. Then start with a fresh pair of lenses and a clean lens case.

If you or someone you know has questions about pink eye conjunctivitis symptoms, diagnosis or treatment or needs to schedule an appointment, please call us at 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight, Google+ or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver  to schedule an appointment.

Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island. 

Fireworks Eye Safety Precautions

Taking fireworks eye safety precautions is pretty critical because fireworks related eye injury is the second most frequent injury we see from the emergency room each July 4^th weekend. Fireworks displays and celebrations are just part of the July 4^th   but there are precautions everyone should take to prevent eye injuries.

Preventing Fireworks Eye Injuries

The best defense against kids suffering severe eye injuries and burns is to not let kids play with any fireworks. It is best if you do not personally purchase, use or store fireworks of any type. It is safer and just as enjoyable to attend only authorized public fireworks displays conducted by licensed operators. But be aware that even professional displays can be dangerous. However, if an eye accident does occur, there are a few things you should know:

·         Do Not Rub Your Eye (s)

·         Do Not attempt to rinse out the eye. This can be even more damaging than rubbing.

·         Do Not apply pressure to the eye itself-but protecting the eye from further contact with any item, including the person’s hand.

·         Do Not stop for medicine! Over-the-counter pain relievers will not do much to relieve pain. Aspirin (should never be given to children) and ibuprofen can thin the blood, increasing bleeding. Take the person to the emergency room at once.

·         Do Not apply ointments or drops. They may not be sterile and may make the area around the eye slippery and harder for the doctor to examine.

Once you are seen in the emergency room please feel free to have them call Center for Sight as we always have an eye doctor “on call” to provide consultation and continued care for you. If you or someone you know has questions about fireworks eye safety and eye injuries please feel free to call us at 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight, Google+ or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver  to schedule an appointment.

Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island. 

Stop Smoking & Reduce Cataract Risk

If you are concerned about the risk of cataracts, and if you are a smoker, there is good news in that by stopping smoking you should be able to decrease your cataract risk.

Research on Smoking & Cataract Risk

According to research on smoking and cataract risk reported in JAMA Ophthalmology, stopping smoking decreases the risk of cataracts over time. The study followed a total of 44,371 men, 45 to 79 years old over a 10 year period and the participants filled out questionnaires on their smoking habits and lifestyles and were then matched with the Swedish National Day-Surgery Register and local records of cataract extraction.

Findings on Cataract Risk in Smokers

Smokers of more than 15 cigarettes a day had a 42% increased risk of cataract surgery compared with men who had never smoked. It also found that men who smoked an average of more than 15 cigarettes a day but had stopped smoking more than 20 years earlier had a 21% increased risk. Thus, they found a positive association between cigarette smoking and cataract surgery in men, with a significant increase of cataracts among smokers compared to those who never smoked. Also, stopping smoking was associated with a statistically significant decrease in risk with increasing time from stopping smoking. Even heavy smokers had some benefit from quitting smoking.

This is supportive of the results of a previous study which detailed the relationship between smoking cessation and cataract risk in women. In this study, they found that after cessation of smoking, cataract risk in women decreased with time. Women who smoked 6 to 10 cigarettes a day but had ceased smoking 10 years earlier, and women who smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day but had ceased smoking 20 years earlier were found to have a relative risk of cataracts not significantly different from women who had never smoked.

Smoking cessation seems to decrease the risk of cataract development and the need for cataract surgery with time, although the risk persists for decades. The higher the intensity of smoking, the longer it takes for the increased risk to decline. These findings emphasize the importance of early smoking cessation and, preferably, the avoidance of smoking altogether.

If you or someone you know has questions about cataract risk and smoking or needs to schedule an appointment, please feel free to call us at 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight, Google+ or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver  to schedule an appointment.

Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island.