Seniors, Falling & Eye Injuries from Falling

Did you know that falls are the leading cause of injury related emergency room visits among people over 65 years old? Recently researchers studied how often seniors falling resulted in eye injury-especially eye injury that might have been overlooked as part of their hospital visit. They reviewed records from 270 patient visits of patients with an average age of 81 years old. 180 patients presenting in the emergency room from this group had fallen. Of these 155 patients were found to have an orbital fracture-the boney structures around the eye! In addition there were many other serious eye injuries including eye globe ruptures, hemorrhages behind the eye and retinal detachment. The message is clear. Falls in older people may be associated with sight-threatening ocular injuries which are common and easy to miss in this population demographic. It is important to have a thorough eye exam after what might even be considered a minor fall. More important, it is critical to create safe environments for seniors and to tend to those sight threatening senior eye problems-such as cataracts-to help avoid lost mobility and increased risk of falls!

If you or someone you know is a over 65, please schedule regular eye exams for common senior eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration (AMD) so you can maintain eye health and vision-and reduce your risk of falls! Schedule an eye exam at Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, or Facebook to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates offices are conveniently located at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Common Causes of Eyelash Loss

 

Eyelashes are more than just a cosmetic fringe! Lashes protect the eye from debris that can obstruct vision or cause infection or injury. Eyelashes grow, fall out and replace themselves in a natural cycle every six to 10 weeks, just like the hair on top of your head. While it’s normal to lose between one and five eyelashes each day, a more rapid lash loss-called “madarosis”-can be a symptom of an underlying health problem in the eye or in another part of the body.

There are many reasons people can lose more lashes than average. If you’re not also losing hair from the eyebrows or scalp, eyelash loss may signal:

• Irritation from Cosmetics. Leaving eye makeup on too long, using and removing lash extensions and using eyelash curlers, whether heated or non-heated, can all harm lashes and speed up shedding. Eyelash loss can also stem from allergies to mascara and from glue used to apply eyelash extensions.
• Blepharitis. Itchiness or burning accompanied by redness or swelling of the lids may indicate blepharitis. This is a condition that happens when clogged oil glands near the base of the eyelashes cause chronic inflammation and problems in the eyelash follicles.
• Trichotillomania. This is a condition where stress or other emotional or psychological distress causes a person to pull out their own eyelashes habitually.
• Skin Cancer. More rarely, localized lash loss can be a symptom of a skin cancer on the eyelid. Cancer can interrupt eyelash growth as harmful cells spread.

If you or someone you know experiences an abnormal amount of eyelash loss, please schedule an eye exam at Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates offices are conveniently located at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.           

Ethnicity Increases Eye Disease Risk

 

While it may be widely known that the risk of vision loss increases with age, you may be less aware that one’s ancestry and ethnicity can play a significant role in increasing odds.

Researchers reporting in the journal Ophthalmology reported a link between African ancestry and Latino-Americans and increased intraocular pressure, a major risk factor for the eye disease glaucoma. This is one of the latest examples of a growing body of research showing that certain minority groups are at greater risk for serious eye conditions that can cause vision loss and blindness if left untreated. As a reminder, Americans of African, Latino and Asian heritage need to be aware of their increased risk for eye diseases. It is sharing information about eye disease among these ethnic groups to encourage people of these backgrounds to take early steps to protect their sight.

• Compared to Caucasian Americans, African- and Latino-Americans have a much higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts.
• Asian-Americans are at a significantly greater risk for developing angle-closure (acute or narrow-angle) glaucoma. While less common than open-angle glaucoma, if untreated it can still cause irreversible vision loss.

Many eye diseases may have no apparent symptoms in their early stages. Signs can remain hidden unless detected through a dilated eye exam. These exams are the best way to detect eye diseases so they can be treated early to help prevent vision loss.

If you or someone you know is of African, Latino and Asian ancestry and concerned about their risk of eye disease, please schedule and eye exam with eye doctors at Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates offices are conveniently located at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.           

Preventing Vision Loss From Diabetes

 

Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults. This is a growing problem as the number of people living with diabetes increases, so does the number of people with impaired vision. Diabetes can cause a disease of the eye called diabetic retinopathy (DR). In its early stages, you may not notice any symptoms or changes to your eyesight, and you cannot tell that this condition is damaging your eyes. If it is not detected and treated in a timely manner, your vision can be damaged permanently. A recent study, conducted at Centers for Disease Control found that the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was high, affecting almost one-third of adults over age 40 years with diabetes, and more than one-third of African-Americans and Mexican Americans.

If you or someone you know has diabetes there are important steps you can take to prevent vision loss including a) maintain good control of your blood sugar and blood pressure with diet, exercise and medications prescribed by your physician, b) having regular eye exams as recommended by your eye doctor. Depending on how long you have had diabetes and the health of your retina, your eye doctor may recommend specialized testing including scans and pictures in order to monitor changes that occur from diabetic retinopathy. Be sure to follow up on appointments and testing.

The key to preventing vision loss from diabetes and diabetic retinopathy is early detection, diagnosis and treatment if necessary.

If you or some you know is diabetic and has not had a recent eye exam please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates offices are conveniently located at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.          

Causes of Night Vision Problems

 

It’s no surprise that most people don’t see well in the dark. However, some people have considerable difficulty seeing at night or in poor light. This is called “night blindness” or nyctalopia. Night blindness doesn’t mean you are completely unable to see at night, but that your vision is poorer then. It is not a disease in itself, but instead is a symptom of some other type of vision problem. Certain cells in the eye’s retina are responsible for allowing you to see in dim light. If these cells are affected by a disease or condition, night blindness occurs.

Some of the eye conditions that can cause night blindness include:

• Nearsightedness 
• Glaucoma 
• Certain  Glaucoma Medicine
• Cataracts 
• Diabetes
• Retinitis Pigmentosa-an eye disease that causes blindness
• Vitamin A Deficiency
• Keratoconus-an cornea disease where it is very steeply curved

If you or someone you know has difficulty seeing at night-especially if it seems to be getting worse-pleas schedule an eye exam with eye doctors at Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates offices are conveniently located at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.