Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis Pigmentosa is a hereditary disorder that has a variable pattern of transmission. It can be passed on as a sex-linked trait or as an autosomal dominant or recessive trait. It is a disease of the rods (the retinal photoreceptor largely responsible for vision in dim light and for peripheral vision), so that the primary symptoms relate to a failure to see properly in dim illumination. The disease may be mild or may progress to cause total blindness, depending on the nature of the condition and its duration. It is not inevitable that each case will develop and cause constricting field loss. Some cases of retinitis pigmentosa remain stable for a lifetime.

At this time there is no specific treatment for this disease. Treatment with 15000 IU/day of vitamin A palmitate has been suggested. It is important to know your genetic tree so you could get help from genetic counseling.

Many causes of Retinitis Pigmentosa are mild and either do not appear to progress or do so quite slowly. Naturally, persons who develop the disease in their first decade are worse off than those who develop Retinitis Pigmentosa in their forties or fifties.

If you are concerned about Retinitis Pigmentosa or have a family member who has Retinitis Pigmentosa please call Doctor & Associates at 203-227-4113 for an eye examination.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Sports Eyewear and Glasses

Sports injuries account for around 40,000 eye injuries in the USA yearly, with the significant number of them happening to individuals under age 30. Children are more susceptible to eye injuries due to their undeveloped sense of depth perception and slower coordination. The sports that are most responsible for eye injuries are basketball, baseball and racquet sports. Eye injuries from sports can be minor or major form of trauma which could result in temporary or permanent vision loss. Although all eye injuries can be devastating most are preventable by choosing to wear the correct protective eyewear.

Sports glasses should be made with either polycarbonate or trivex lenses. The lenses should be inserted into sports frames that are specific to the sport they will be worn for and should meet ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) specifications. Sport frames are light weight and usually made of nylon, Kevlar or a polycarbonate/nylon blend to provide durability. Large rubber nose pads distribute the weight evenly and prevent slippage. Frames should fit snug and be form fitting to diffuse the impact of a blow over a large area, away from the eye. A wrap fit is desirable with a strap behind the head to keep the frames securely in place.

If you have any questions regarding sports eyewear or would like to purchase a safe pair of sports glasses Eyewear at Willows will be happy to help, located at Doctor & Associates at 203- 227-9380.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Eye Watering and Tearing Problems

Tearing may be the result of lacrimation, which is excessive tear formation of the lacrimal gland, or it may be caused by epiphora (excessive tearing), which is defective drainage of tears. Lacrimation may result from psychologic stimuli (e.g. grief or sadness), from irritation of the eye by wind or dust or from irritative inflammatory disorders of the conjunctiva, cornea or lids. These causes of lacrimation usually are self-evident and desist once the stimulus has stopped.

Persistent tearing, with overflow onto the cheek, usually is caused by obstruction somewhere in the lacrimal drainage system from the punctum situated on the medial aspect of the lower lid to the nasolacrimal duct. It is important to mention that dry eye is a common reason of tearing as well.
Regardless of the cause, the treatment of tearing caused by defective drainage structures is largely surgical. The decision to have surgery for excessive tearing due to drainage structure problems really depends on the distress of the patient created by the mechanical reflux of tears and the association of secondary infections.
If you are bothered by constant tearing and you are not sure why your eyes are watering all the time please call Doctor & Associates at 203-227-4113 for a consultation.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Polarized Sunglasses & Eyeglasses: How They Work?

For years, boaters and fisherman have used polarized sunglasses to reduce glare from the water that they spend so much time on. In the past few years, however, the benefits of polarized sunglasses have been realized by a variety of outdoor sports enthusiasts as well as drivers and general use wearers. These sunglasses can be used for driving and in fact can reduce the glare that comes off a long, flat surface such as the hood of the car or the surface of a road. Polarized sunglasses can also be used indoors by light sensitive people such as post cataract surgery patients or those exposed to bright light through windows. The popularity of polarized lenses has increased dramatically as has the availability.    

The principle of polarized light reduction is best illustrated by thinking of a polarized lens as a Venetian blind. The blind blocks light at certain angles while allowing light to transmit through selected angles. Polarizing filters are aligned 90 degrees to the angle of the polarized light. As spectacle lenses are designed to eliminate the polarized light in the horizontal plane, the filter is placed vertically in the eye wire or eye rim. This means that the filter must be properly aligned during surfacing edging and layout, otherwise the filter will not work properly.

Today’s polarized sunglass lenses represent the best sun wear and outdoor lifestyle options available. If you have any questions regarding polarized lenses please call Eyewear at Willows at 203-227-9380 located at Doctor & Associates.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Eyelid Problems-What is Blepharitis?

Blepharitis is a common inflammation of the lid margin. Patients usually complain of a sandy or itchy feeling of the eyes, especially in the morning. There usually is redness, as well as a thickening and irregularity of the lid margins. The disease may occur at any age.

The two most common types of chronic inflammation of the lids are staphylococcal blepharitis, and seborrheic blepharitis. Seborrhea is a common cause of dandruff. The base of the eyelash usually is caked with a greasy type of scale that comes off easily, leaving an intact lid margin.

At times blepharitis can be infectious in origin. When this is the case it invariably is a result of staphylococcus aureas. The lid margins become ulcerated and congested and adhesive exudate forms on the base of the follicles and or the lid margin. The ulcerative type of blepharitis is more serious because if the inflammation reaches down to the base of the follicles, it can cause permanent scaring, with either loss of lashes or misdirection of lash and regrowth. Also, the cosmetic consequences are undesirable because the lids become thickened, heavily vascularized and unattractive. The most common treatment for chronic blepharitis is lid hygiene. Warm water and compresses as well as lid scrubs become daily routine for blepharitis patients.

If your eyes feel uncomfortable all the time and you have the above symptoms please call Doctor & Associates at 203-227-4113 for help.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

LASIK Monovision and Near Vision

Although LASIK is typically used for the correction of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism to help patients see at a distance, there are some patients who might benefit from a technique called monovision LASIK to help correct their near vision needs as well. Presbyopia is a normal condition of aging where the crystalline lens inside your eye that is typically soft and flexible begins to lose that flexibility and thus limit your ability to change focus from far to near and near to far. Patients with presbyopia typically report that their “arms are too short” and that near objects and reading material are becoming fuzzy or blurry.

Using monovision LASIK it is possible to “blend” the vision for near and far by correcting your dominant eye for far and your non dominant eye for near. Thus, the need for glasses with two different focal lengths is resolved by focusing each eye at a different focal length. Monovision LASIK can be effective for some patients with the need for mild near vision correction. Depending on the amount of close work you do at work and for how long each day, monovision LASIK may be a good alternative. One way to get a sense of how you will do with monovision LASIK is to mimic the effect with a temporary pair of contact lenses.

To find out if you might be a good candidate for monovision LASIK please feel free to schedule a consultation with Corneal Specialist & LASIK Surgeon Leslie Doctor, M.D. by calling Doctor & Associates at 203-227-4113.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Fairfield County Eye Injury Prevention Month

Doctor & Associates wishes to announce that October has been designated Eye Injury Prevention Month by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. When most people go out to mow the lawn, jump-start the car or get ready to do some spring cleaning, the last thing they think about is protecting their eyes, but it should be first on their mind. It is a good idea to think about protecting your eyes from the extraordinary damage often caused by the most ordinary of activities.

Many household chemicals, such as cleaning fluids, detergents and ammonia, are extremely hazardous and can burn the eye's delicate tissues. When using chemicals, always read instructions and labels carefully, work in a well-ventilated area and make sure spray nozzles point away from you and others before spraying. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after use.

Before using a lawnmower, power trimmer or edger, check for debris. Stones, twigs and other items can become dangerous projectiles shooting from the blades of a lawnmower, potentially injuring your eyes or those of innocent bystanders. Prevention is the first and most important step in avoiding serious eye injuries, so be sure to protect your eyes with appropriate protective eyewear. Please feel free to phone Doctor & Associates at 203-227-4113 to schedule a consultation and examination.