Sleep Apnea Increases Glaucoma Risk

What do sleep apnea and your risk of developing glaucoma have in common? Researchers, reporting in the journal Ophthalmology, the official publication of the American Academy of Ophthalmology found that obstructive sleep apnea is not simply a marker for poor health, but is actually an independent risk factor for open-angle glaucoma. The relationship between the two conditions is significant, given the large numbers of people worldwide who suffer from them. Based on this finding, we want to alert obstructive sleep apnea patients of the associations between obstructive sleep apnea and open-angle glaucoma to raise the issue and encouraging treatment of those who need it.

Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that blocks breathing during sleep for more than 100 million people worldwide. In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway becomes blocked, causing breathing to stop for up to two minutes. Symptoms include loud snoring and persistent daytime sleepiness. Glaucoma affects nearly 60 million worldwide.  If untreated, glaucoma reduces peripheral vision and eventually may cause blindness by damaging the optic nerve. Only half of the people who have glaucoma are aware of it because the disease is painless and vision loss is typically gradual.

If you or someone you know suffers from sleep apnea they should be diligent in having eye exams and glaucoma evaluations as they are at greater risk for open angle glaucoma. Please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Vision Quality: LASIK vs. Ortho-K Contact Lenses?

For patients wishing to decrease their dependence or eliminate their need for eyeglasses for seeing at a distance, LASIK can be an excellent choice. LASIK is a type of laser eye surgery that provides a method of vision correction to help people with common vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism see clearly at distance without being dependent on glasses or contact lenses. An alternative some patients explore is called Ortho-K or Orthokeratology. This is a method of contact lens fitting used to temporarily reshape the cornea to allow people to see at distance and be independent of eyeglasses and contacts for periods of time throughout the day.

Researchers reporting in the journal Cornea evaluated the the differences in visual performance between LASIK and Ortho-K contact lenses for the treatment of low-to-moderate myopia or nearsightedness. The results in this study suggest that LASIK provides better visual quality outcomes than Ortho-K contact lenses for the treatment of low-to-moderate myopia would be preferred for those patients seeking more precise vision results and vision correction.

If you or someone you know has questions would like to learn more about LASIK or schedule a Free LASIK consultation please call Doctor &Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Monitor Diabetic Retinopathy after Weight Loss Surgery

What does weight loss surgery have to do with diabetic retinopathy? As it turns out if you have diabetes and diabetic retinopathy, even if you have successful weight loss surgery and normal blood glucose-you still need regular eye exams to monitor the progression or stability of diabetic retinopathy.

Researchers reporting at the  American Diabetes Association found weight-loss surgery might accelerate progression of diabetic retinopathy in some cases. In the study, 7 of the 40 or 17.5% of the diabetes patients screened about a year before and again after bariatric surgery suffered a progression of their diabetic retinopathy as compared with the 2% to 4% of the overall diabetes patients who develop retinopathy each year. The opposite effect might have been expected. If you have a condition such as diabetic retinopathy that is the result of the diabetes and the diabetes is in remission, it makes intuitive sense that the progression of the condition would be arrested. Although a few patients did appear to have regression of their eye disease most remained unchanged after surgery in the study.

The patients who did progress had higher pre-surgical glucose levels and the greatest reduction in glucose levels afterward. A rapid reduction in blood glucose after the weight loss surgery-which is called “normoglycemic re-entry” or a temporary anemic episode after the weight loss surgery may actually be responsible for in the progression of preexisting diabetic retinopathy, but the mechanism is really unclear and requires a great deal of further investigation.

One fact for sure-even if after weight loss surgery your blood glucose is normal, people with moderate background diabetic retinopathy prior to weight loss surgery should be monitored closely post-surgery for evidence of progression.

If you or someone you know is having weight loss surgery and is diabetic and has diabetic retinopathy, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment for regular eye exams to monitor any progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Diabetic Retinopathy & Risk of Cardiovascular Events

Fairfield CountyOphthalmologist Claudia Castiblanco, M.D. alerted patients with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy about their increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular events. “We know very well that diabetes causes significant blood vessel disease throughout a person’s body. Very important for to advise patients about is the close association between the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy and future cardiovascular (CV) events such as heart attack or stroke,” stated Dr. Castiblanco.

The relationship between diabetic retinopathy, its 4-year progression, and CV outcomes including CV death or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke was analyzed in participants in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial who also participated in the ACCORD Eye Study. The diabetic retinopathy was classified as either none, mild, moderate, or severe and whether it was worsening was also graded. The hazard of CV death or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke increased by 38% for every category of change in retinopathy severity and steps of progression further raised the hazard. Thus the researchers believe that both the severity of retinopathy and its progression are determinants of predisposition to CV outcomes. “The health of the retina may provide us with an anatomical index of the effect of metabolic and blood vessel factors on future CV outcomes and events,” summarized Dr. Castiblanco.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about diabetes, diabetic eye problems, diabeticretinopathy and the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Information about Diabetes, Eye Disease & Problems

Doctor & Associates provided information about diabetes, eye disease, diabetic retinopathy and eye problems as Prevent Blindness America designates November as National Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month.

Diabetic Population & Eye Problems Growing

There are more than 25 million people in the U.S. who have diabetes and this number is rapidly growing-in an almost epidemic proportion. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age with some 8 million people ages 40 and older who have diabetic retinopathy.

You Can Prevent Vision Loss from Diabetes

Although there is no cure for diabetic eye disease, annual eye exams for diabetes patients are essential to help slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic eye disease. The potential vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented if it's caught early and treated in time. More than one third of those diagnosed with diabetes do not adhere to vision care guidelines recommending a dilated eye exam every year. As part of Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month we are urging people with diabetes to have a dilated eye exam every year. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater his or her risk for developing diabetic retinopathy. However, diabetic retinopathy does not only affect people who have had diabetes for many years, it can also appear within the first year or two after the onset of the disease.

In addition to having regular eye examinations and testing at the direction of your eye doctor, patients can help to reduce the risk of developing diabetic eye disease  by not smoking, controlling their cholesterol and lipid profile and blood pressure, as well as working to eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fish, fruit and green leafy vegetables and exercising. 

If you or someone you know has diabetes or even elevated blood sugar levels they should work to prevent diabetic eye disease and problems with regular eye exams by calling Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Best Age of Fitting for Contact Lens Success

Doctor & Associates Ophthalmologists shared some thoughts about a common question parents ask about fitting children with contact lenses-“What is the best age to get my child fit with contacts?”

Fitting Children with Contact Lenses

Sometimes parents wonder what the best age is to fit their children with contact lenses in order to give them the most successful and safest wearing experience. Researchers reporting in Eye & Contact Lens: Science and Clinical Practice  studied differences  in current symptoms, compliance, ocular health and adverse events between current successful long–term contact lens wearers fit as children or as teenagers. They found that successful contact lens wearers fit as children are no more likely to report previous contact lens–related adverse events, problems with compliance, decreased wearing time, or worse ocular health than those fit as teenagers amd suggest that parents should not rely on age as a primary determinant in fitting children with contact lenses, but should rely on their eye doctor’s recommendations and evaluation of their child.

If you or someone you know has questions or would like to learn more about fitting children with contact please feel call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment and we will be happy to make recommendations about your kids and the best age to fit them with contacts.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at

129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Avoiding Eye Problems with Halloween Contact Lenses

Doctor & Associates cautioned about the use of decorative contact lenses for Halloween in order to avoid potentially serious eye problems. The Food and Drug Administration,  regulates all contact lenses as medical devices that require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye care professional. Even someone with perfect vision would still require an eye exam and a prescription in order to wear any kind of contacts, including cosmetic lenses. Some websites advertise decorative contacts as if they were fashion accessories or toys with attractive packaging in order to draw teens and young adults, especially girls. The problem is not that people use decorative, noncorrective lenses-but that they buy the contacts without a prescription through unlicensed vendors on the Internet or at flea markets and specialty shops.

Changing your eye color or turning your eyes into a devilish or ghoulish look can be fun but can also lead to serious vision threatening problems. Buying over-the-counter contact lenses exposes you to huge risk including scratched corneas, pink eye and more serious types of blinding infection as a result of a corneal ulcer.

Federal law classifies all contact lenses as medical devices and restricts their distribution to licensed eye-care professionals. Illegal sale of contacts can result in civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation.

The safe and effective use of contact lenses-whether decorative or not-requires proper fitting and education about their care to prevent the potential for serious eye  problems from becoming a reality. If you or a friend would like to learn more about contact lenses of any type including decorative contacts please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Fuchs Dystrophy Severity & Risk Factors

“As a corneal specialist Fuchs’ Dystrophy is an eye problem I frequently get called upon to diagnose, rule out or treat,” commented Leslie Doctor, M.D. “Additionally, I provide education and counsel to Fuchs’ Dystrophy patients about their prognosis, risks and progression so they can have realistic expectations,” she explained.

Information About Fuchs Dystrophy

Fuchs’ Dystrophy is a type of corneal disease that affects the inner most layer of the cornea-the endothelium. Fuchs’ Dystrophy is slowly progressive and can be found in both eyes and is slightly more common in women than men. While it is possible to observe Fuchs’ Dystrophy in people in their 30’s and 40’s, it usually does not compromise vision until people are in their 50’s or 60’s. The endothelial cells are responsible for pumping water out of the cornea and helping to maintain the corneal transparency. While the reason is poorly understood, in Fuchs’ Dystrophy, the endothelial cells die, which make the endothelium less efficient in its pumping activity. This results in the cornea swelling and distorting vision.

Researchers reporting in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science studied the effects of smoking, and other risk factors, on the development of advanced Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) and on central corneal thickness (CCT). As predicted, being female increased the odds of developing advanced Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) by 34% and smoking increased the odds by 30%. Besides reporting that smoking was associated with an increased risk of developing advanced FECD, diabetes was also associated with increased in corneal thickness-reflecting greater risk of corneal swelling.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about cataract surgery, air travel and flying please feel free to call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Diabetic Macular Edema Injection Frequency

“Diabetic Macular Edema is a fairly common cause of vision loss in diabetics who have diabetic retinopathy. Fortunately, we have specialized drugs for injection-such as Lucentis® & Eyelea®-that are helpful to treat and reverse the effects of Diabetic Macular Edema,” explained Ophthalmologist Claudia Castiblanco, M.D. “But, we counsel diabetics that they need to be patient as we plan and schedule their examinations, testing and treatment visits as sometimes the best results can only be achieved with multiple injections over some period of time,” she further explained.

Researchers reporting in the British Journal of Ophthalmology shared helpful information about the importance of the VEGF inhibitor injection frequency in the treatment of diabetic macular edema. The study confirmed that In general good long term results are achieved by about 4 months of injection treatment, but 20% of patients with persistent Diabetic Macular Edema at 12 months achieved a dry macula with considerable restoration of vision with sustained treatment through 24 months suggesting that persistent Diabetic Macular Edema at 4-12 months should not be used as a stopping criterion for treatment.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about vision loss in diabetics, please feel free to call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Role of Vitamins & Antioxidants in Cataract Risk

Antioxidants and vitamins may play a role in your risk of developing cataracts according to researchers reporting their results in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Until now, studies have been inconsistent regarding the association between blood antioxidants or vitamins and risk of age-related cataract. By evaluating13 different studies researchers found the lower the level of vitamin E, α-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, the greater the risk of age-related cataract in Asian populations but not in Western populations, whereas β-Carotene, lycopene, and β-cryptoxanthin had no significant association with risk of cataract.

While these results look somewhat interesting, the question remains whether increasing intake through dietary supplements actually have any role in decreasing the risk of cataract formation.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about antioxidants, vitamins, cataracts, cataract surgery or lens implants please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

What are Scleral Contact Lenses?

Scleral contact lenses are large-diameter gas permeable lenses designed to vault over the entire corneal surface and rest on the "white" part of the eye, called sclera. Scleral lenses are noticeably larger than standard contacts and have a diameter greater than that of soft contact lenses, which is usually from 15 mm to 24 mm. In comparison, the average human cornea is about 11.8 mm in diameter and most conventional gas permeable contact lenses are 9.0 to 9.5 mm in diameter.

Scleral lenses are designed to treat a variety of eye conditions, some of which are keratoconus and dry eye syndrome. They might improve vision and reduce light sensitivity for people suffering from Steven-Johnson syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome, corneal ectasia, for eyes that have undergone a cornea transplant and some post injury eyes. Advances in lens technology are allowing manufacturers to design scleral lenses that can correct more conditions than ever before, including bifocal scleral lenses for correction of presbyopia.

Sometimes these lenses are also used as special effect contact lenses, also called theatrical, to dramatically alter the appearance of the eye. They are often used in movies and during Halloween for cosmetic purposes only and not for vision correction.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about cataracts, cataract surgery, lens implants and how to reduce your risk of cataracts or other eye diseases please, call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Is Laser Cataract Surgery a Gentler Procedure?

Both laser cataract surgery and traditional cataract surgery procedures can provide patients with excellent vision in a safe and effective manner. We constantly strive to provide cataract patients with even greater degrees of safety, precision and reproducibility during their cataract operation. Any time we can make an eye surgery procedure gentler, there are benefits to patients. Lasercataract surgery allows us to replace a number of manual steps with surgeon controlled laser precision as well as helping us reduce the energy levels required to fragment and break down the cloudy lens material that has formed the cataract.

One of the observations and indicators of “gentleness” of cataract surgery procedures is the effect the operation has on the inside layer of the cornea-called the endothelium. Quantifying corneal endothelial cell loss is a good yardstick. Researchers reporting in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery compared the amount of corneal endothelial cell loss between traditional cataract surgery and laser cataract surgery. One eye of each patient had “traditional” cataract surgery and the other eye had femtosecond laser cataract surgery-and both eye had lens implants.

The results showed that the eyes having laser cataract surgery had considerably less endothelial cell loss-and thus demonstrated having a gentler cataract surgery procedure. This is important for not only routine cataract surgery in healthy eyes, but would be especially beneficial for eyes that were at greater risk of endothelial cell loss because they had low endothelial cell counts to begin with or even some preexisting condition such as “cornea guttata”-tiny droplets on the back surface of the cornea-which can indicate a weakening of the corneal transparency mechanism and are a precursor of Fuchs Corneal Endothelial Dystrophy.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about cataracts, cataract surgery, lens implants and how to reduce your risk of cataracts or other eye diseases please, call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Retina Exam before Cataract Surgery

Dr. Leslie Doctor

“If you have cataracts and we are contemplating cataract surgery we will always want to be especially diligent in performing a thorough and critical retinal exam-and any additional testing-to carefully correlate the degree of vision loss with the density and position of the cataract,” Leslie Doctor, M.D. “When cataract patients report a decrease in vision, it is important for us to correlate the visual symptoms and visual acuity to the degree of cataract present,” she further explained. In some instances, a careful examination and specialized testing of the retina can reveal underlying pathology such as epiretinal membranes, retinal wrinkling or macular pucker with edema. In fact, some studies report a prevalence of epiretinal membranes in 7% of patients older than 60 years and in 20% of patients aged 75 years or more-the prime demographic for cataract surgery. Therefore, before you have cataract surgery at Doctor & Associates you should expect to have a thorough retina exam and testing ordered by your cataract surgeon in order to help you get the best results.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about cataracts, cataract surgery, lens implants or retina exams and testing before cataract surgery please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment. 

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

25% Off Childrens’ Eyeglasses at Doctor & Associates

As parents are getting their children ready for the “Back to School” season, Doctor & Associates is pleased to offer a 25% discount on kids eyewear and eyeglasses through September 30, 2014. We are featuring eyeglass frames from Nike, Penguin, Lily Pulitzer, RayBan®, Jimmy Choo and Nine West, to name some of the popular kid’s eyeglasses we offer.  To schedule an eye exam or eyeglass selection and fitting, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Cataracts Don’t Have to Slow You Down

“One of the important responsibilities we have to our Fairfield County seniors is to educate them about the symptoms of cataracts and the benefits of cataract surgery and lens implants have on vision as well as daily living, maintaining mental alertness and frankly the safety and comfort of just moving around without the worry of tripping and falling,” explained Corneal Specialist & Cataract Surgeon Leslie Doctor, M.D.

For many patients cataracts start out slowly and have little effect on vision at first. But, as the cataract becomes denser, so does the impact on vision and the ability and ease of overall functioning. The most common symptoms that bother patients with cataracts can include blurring, clouding or dimming of vision, sensitivity to light and glare, double vision in one eye, poor night vision, fading or yellowing of colors and the need frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescriptions. These are the visual symptoms of cataracts. “But cataracts can do even more to the person as a whole,” stated Dr. Leslie Doctor.

“What we have come to realize is that the loss of visual function over time in seniors is often associated with premature or accelerated mental decline. Decreased vision-especially in varying lighting conditions and where there are shadows, creates mobility and safety difficulty and can also put patients at increased risk for orthopedic injury-especially hip fracture. Restoring vision with cataract surgery and lens implants plays a real role senior health, well being, mobility, safety and mental state,” said Dr. Leslie Doctor.

When cataracts begin to interfere with daily activities or with patient comfort, mobility and safety, they can be treated surgically. Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most frequently performed surgeries in the United States. There is a full range of lens implants available that allow us to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and even near vision problems after cataract surgery, as well as distance vision, without requiring bifocals or reading glasses for the vast majority of patients.

If you or someone you know has questions about cataract, cataract surgery or lens implants please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

School Eye Exams for Fairfield County Kids

Eye exams for kids going back to school are an important part of the school “readiness” that parents should include in their “Back to School Checklist”. Children use their eyes and vision as critical tools in their learning process.  Kids today operate in a very intense and demanding visual environment as they read, write, play sports, use computers and tablets and on and on…and it is easy to see why scheduling a Back to School eye exam is so important.

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. The earlier a vision problem is detected and treated, the more likely treatment will be successful.

If you or someone you know has needs to schedule an eye exam for their children, or has questions or concerns childrens’vision problems, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

BOTOX® & Type 2 Diabetes: What Do They Have in Common?

There is some interesting research about BOTOX® and Type 2 Diabetes. What do BOTOX® and Type 2 Diabetes have to do with each other you ask?  A new study reports that it appears a better understanding of the proteins affected by injections of the wrinkle relaxer BOTOX® could help scientists develop new ways to treat Type 2 Diabetes.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is best known as an injection for helping patient smooth fine lines and wrinkles in order to look their best. BOTOX® is also used as treatment for a number of medical conditions including migraine, urinary incontinence, profuse sweating and crossed eyes, among others. In each of these cases, BOTOX® works because it has a paralyzing effect: that is, it relaxes specific muscles, which then provides the desired effect. BOTOX® accomplishes this effect by blocking certain proteins called SNARE (Soluble NSF Attachment Protein Receptor) proteins. It turns out that SNARE proteins in the beta cells of the pancreas help the pancreas secrete insulin, thus blocking these proteins in the pancreas could lead to insulin resistance which is the hallmark of Type 2 Diabetes. Understanding this mechanism will hopefully provide researchers with new ways to diagnose and treat Type 2 Diabetes in the future.

If you or someone you know is interesting in learning more about the mechanisms or clinical application of BOTOX® Cosmetic and how it might be related to understanding Type 2 Diabetes  please call Doctor& Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Hypertensive Retinopathy Predicts Stroke Risk

During your regular eye exam we thoroughly and carefully exam the tiny blood vessels in your Retina-especially for seniors and others who have high blood pressure, other vascular disease and diabetes. For patients with hypertension or high blood one of very important things we can tell from your eye health is you potential risk of stroke. In the past assessment of the signs of hypertensive retinopathy-the retinal vascular condition that results from high blood pressure-has been recommended for determining end organ damage such as kidney and heart problems.

According to researchers reporting in the journal Hypertension there is a clear predictive value of evaluating whether hypertensive retinopathy predicts the long-term risk of stroke in those with hypertension.  In this study, participants with hypertension aged 50 to 73 years had gradable retinal photographs, no history of diabetes mellitus, stroke, and coronary heart disease at baseline and data on incident stroke, were included from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Retinal photographs were assessed for hypertensive retinopathy signs and classified as none, mild, and moderate/severe. Any history of stroke, cerebral infarction or hemorrhagic stroke were identified and confirmed. The results showed that after adjusting for age, sex, blood pressure and other risk factors, persons with moderate hypertensive retinopathy were more likely to have stroke. Even in patients with hypertension on medication with good control of blood pressure, hypertensive retinopathy was related to an increased risk of stroke!

From this study we know that hypertensive retinopathy predicts the long term risk of stroke, independent of blood pressure, even in treated patients with hypertension with good hypertension control. Thus, if you have high blood pressure, it is often important for us to obtain photographs at your eye examination in order to document and assess hypertensive retinopathy signs that may be useful for assessment of your stroke risk.

Eye Specialists Note Need for Fireworks Eye Safety for July 4th

Doctor & AssociatesOphthalmologists provided some advice on the need to use proper eye safety and precautions for July 4^th fireworks celebrations. The importance of fireworks eye safety cannot be overemphasized considering that eye injuries are the second most frequent injury seen in the emergency room each July 4^th weekend.

Common sense and good judgment make it quite possible to reduce the risk of eye injury from fireworks displays. First, regarding children and fireworks of any type-THEY DON’T GO TOGETHER! To help kids avoid suffering severe eye injuries and burns is to not let kids play with any fireworks. It is even better not to purchase, use or store fireworks of any type. Protect yourself, your family and your friends by avoiding fireworks personally. 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 the eye.

·         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 Doctor & Associates at 203-227-4113 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

call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Cataract Surgery for Both Eyes Gives Best Results

Fairfield County Cataract SurgeonLeslie Doctor, M.D., noted that while having cataract surgery in one is likely to improve vision and visual functioning, the best results are found in patients who undergo second eye cataract surgery. A cataract in one or both eyes often causes blurry, cloudy or dimming of vision but more importantly it can cause a meaningful decrease in visual functioning that impacts daily activities and lifestyle. In general it is well known that the presence of a cataract negatively affects both subjective quality of life and objective performance measures.

Researchers reporting in Ophthalmology studied the impact that a cataract and cataract surgery have on clinical measurements of vision, reading speed, objective mobility performance and subjective visual functioning. The results showed that patients who had the cataract surgery in both eyes demonstrated better visual performance, better mobility-based task performance and even scored better on the Activities of Daily Vision Scale (ADVS). “So we tell our patients that even though they might find a great improvement after having cataract surgery in only one eye, the data indicate that having cataract surgery on both eyes provides the best visual functioning,’ summarized Dr. Leslie Doctor.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about cataracts, cataract surgery and visual functioning please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

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Laser Cataract Surgery Information

Patients often ask us whether we use the laser for cataract surgery. In fact, for many patients we are able to perform laser cataract surgery and lens implants using the Alcon® LenSx® Femtosecond Laser in order to provide exquisite reproducibility, precision, safety and a gentler cataract surgery procedure. At Doctor & Associates, cataract surgery is one of the most frequent types of eye surgery procedures we perform-and, typically with excellent results. However, it is technically complex and requires considerable surgical skill in order to perform the great number of manually delivered steps required.

Dr. Leslie Doctor commented, “Using the laser for cataract surgery allows me to create "perfect" incisions, without using a blade or knife, in terms of size, position and architecture. This is important in order to have self-sealing, “sutureless” incisions without the use of stitches, and to help in preventing infection. Also, the laser helps me create a perfectly centered and sized "capsulotomy", which is the opening I prepare in the front of the crystalline lens where the cloudy lens material is removed and is critical in the centering of the lens implant to provide the best uncorrected vision. Laser cataract surgery also is quite helpful when I liquefy and soften the crystalline lens where the cataract has formed because I can use less energy to remove the cataract, which is gentler on the eye.”

If you or someone you know has cataracts or is considering cataract surgery and would like to learn more about laser cataract surgery, please call Doctor & Associates at 203-227-4113 to schedule an appointment.

Corneal Specialist on Dry Eyes, Contact Lenses & Birth Control Pills

“What does having dry eyes have to do with wearing contact lenses and birth control pills?” asked Fairfield County CornealSpecialist Leslie Doctor, M.D.  As it turns out there is indeed a relationship between dry eye symptoms in woman using oral contraceptives who wear contact lenses. A study published in the journal Cornea examined the relationship among oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use, contact lens wear and dry eye signs and symptoms in healthy young women. “As it turned out, there were no differences in dry eyes between the phases of the menstrual cycle and no evidence that tear osmolarity-or saltiness-was affected by OCP or contact lens use in the young women. However, the study found that the combination of OCP use and contact lens wear together may increase the severity of dry eye symptoms,” noted Dr. Leslie Doctor.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about dry eyes, contact lenses and oral contraceptive birth control pills please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment. 

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

What Causes an Eyelid Lump?

There are a number of types of lumps and bumps that can form in your eyelids. A common cause of an eyelid lump is called hordeolum which is a painful inflammation of the eyelid that is usually caused by a bacterial infection. Hordeolum results from an infection of the oil glands in the eyelid and results in a lump. Often, the infected lump drains and heals by itself with no treatment. Sometimes, the infection can sometimes spread to other glands in the eyes and can become long lasting or it can also turn into a cyst which is called a chalazion. Hordeolum can be internal, on the inside of the eyelid, or external, on the outside of the eyelid near the eyelashes where it would also be called a stye. Sometimes hordeolum can be acute and appear suddenly and heal in a short time, or chronic and long lasting and occurring over time. Common treatments for hordeolum include warm compresses applied at home, prescription and non prescription lid scrubs, antibiotics, steroids, lid massages and others types of treatment.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about eyelid lumps, bumps, chalazia, styes or hordeolum please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Difficulty with Progressive Lenses?

Have you been struggling with progressive lenses? Do you feel that you cannot get used to them and that your vision is not satisfactory? The Opticians at Eyewear at Willows might have an answer for you. We now offer a new progressive lens design called Nikon DigiLife that offers outstanding intermediate vision while still preserving balanced all-day, all-distance performance. Nikon DigiLife is personalized to each patient's prescription, unique fitting parameters and designed for the visual demands of today's lifestyle. DigiLife provides progressive wearers with a completely new visual experience and level of satisfaction. Choosing the right kind of progressive lens is crucial. Your lifestyle and occupation play a big role at making final decision. Make sure to get the right frame for your prescription. The frame should fit your face comfortably and not slide down as well as sit correctly on your nose bridge. Correct fit, the right frame selection, accurate lens design and updated prescription should help you to be able to wear your progressives more successfully.

To learn more about NikonDigiLife, please visit us at Eyewear at Willows or call us at 203-227-9380 to ask questions about progressive lenses.

UV Eye Protection for Eye Health

UV or ultraviolet light from the sun is well known as a cause of skin damage-but UV may also cause considerable risk to eye health and vision. Especially in the summer months, patients need to use a little caution as they exposed to greater amounts of UV with outdoor activities.

A number of eye problems, conditions and diseases that can be caused by or accelerated by UV exposure includes cataracts, age related macular degeneration (AMD), facial and eyelid skin cancer, photokeratitis or “eye sunburn” and even a tissue growth on the surface of the eye called pterygium. Of great concern is that UV eye damage is cumulative and often doesn’t become noticeable to patients for many years after being exposed.

Some easy precautions you can take to protect your eyes from UV include:

• Always wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Sunglasses without UV protection may shade the eyes but actually cause the pupils to dilate, allowing in even more harmful rays.

• Wear a brimmed hat along with sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays.

• Choose wrap-around sunglasses to protect the eyes and the skin around the eyes.

• Be aware that although some contact lenses may offer UV protection, they cannot protect the entire eye and the skin around it.

• Choose sunglasses made of unbreakable polycarbonate, especially for children and for those who lead active lifestyles.

• Be sure to ask your doctor about the photosensitizing side effects of any medications that you might take.

• Always wear eye protection when using a tanning bed. According the American Academy of Ophthalmology, tanning beds can produce UV levels up to 100 times more than the sun, which can cause serious damage to the external and internal structures of the eye and eyelids.

At Doctor & Associates we have wide range of UV protecting eyeglass lenses available to choose from. Eye protection from UV needs to be complete but doesn’t have to be overly expensive. High quality sunglasses should block out 99-100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation. It is also important to have UV protection in everyday eyewear, which is readily available with a number of UV blocking eyeglass lens materials, specialized coatings and photochromic lenses.

If you or someone you know has a question or concerns about ultraviolet (UV) eye damage and injury and how to select protective eyewear please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851

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Laser Treatment for Pinguecula

A Pinguecula is a common, non-cancerous growth of the clear, thin tissue covering the eye called the conjunctiva. The growth is raised slightly from the surface of the white part of the eye called sclera. While the exact cause is unknown, long-term sunlight exposure and eye irritation may be factors. Welding is a major job-related risk. Usually no treatment is needed however keeping the eye moist with artificial tears may help prevent the area from becoming inflamed. Sometimes the temporary use of mild steroid eye drops can also be helpful.

Occasionally the growth may need to be removed for comfort or for cosmetic reasons especially if it grows over the cornea and impairs vision. Laser treatment for Pinguecula may be an option where other types of treatment have not been satisfactory according to researchers reporting in the journal Cornea. The overall cosmetic results were excellent or good in 90.5% of laser-treated cases with minimal scarring or hemorrhage. The researchers concluded that argon laser photocoagulation is an effective and safe method for removing a Pinguecula for cosmetic purposes and the laser method facilitates control of the extent and depth of removal and thus minimizes conjunctival defects and other complications.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about Pinguecula, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Patients Need Better Understanding of Diabetic Retinopathy

In order to better preserve eye health and vision, patients with diabetes need some help in order to have a better understanding of diabetic retinopathy. A recent study exploring patients’ understanding of the risk factors, cause and controllability of their own diabetic retinopathy revealed considerable misunderstanding, gaps in knowledge and potentially damaging beliefs about the cause and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

Focus groups and interviews were conducted with patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR), nearly half of whom had severe proliferative DR-a serious complication. Most of these patients had also undergone diabetic laser treatment. At the conclusion of the study, patients were found to have had a reasonable understanding of the basic risk factors for DR, such as diabetes control, but they were less clear about specific risk factors such as blood pressure and lipid control.

Most patients attributed their DR either to poor diabetes control or to failings of the health care system, rather than having a basic understanding of the small blood vessel disease including circulatory and oxygen deprivation that results from the damaged blood vessels in the retina. Some patients believed that their DR was a result of health aspects beyond their control or environmental factors, whereas others were unsure about the cause.

Improving patients' understanding of the major risk factors for DR as well as helping them have a better understanding of the causes of diabetic retinopathy and being able to grasp expectations of realistic outcomes of laser treatment may improve patients' coping mechanisms, adaption to disease and ocular outcomes.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about diabetic eye problems including diabetic retinopathy please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Prevent Sports Eye Injuries

Anyone who participates in recreational or competitive sports of any type really needs to consider proper eye protection to prevent sports eye injuries. More than 40,000 people suffer from eye injuries related to sports every year. With proper eye protection and wearing protective eyewear it is possible to limit the risk of eye injuries from sports. The range and type of sports eye injuries can include abrasions of the cornea and bruises of the eyelids, retinal detachments and internal bleeding. The most serious risks can be catastrophic and may involve permanent vision loss along with lifelong disability.

The good news is that 90 percent of serious eye injuries are preventable through use of appropriate protective eyewear. The risk of eye injury can vary depending on the activity. Make sure the level of eye protection you or others in your family use is appropriate for the type of activity. Regular eyeglasses do not offer proper eye protection. Athletes need to wear appropriate, sport-specific protective eyewear properly fitted by an eye care professional. Lenses made from polycarbonate materials provide the highest level of impact protection; they can withstand a ball or other projectile traveling at 90 miles per hour.

If you or someone you know has questions or would like help in selecting, fitting or choosing sports protective eyeglasses, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851

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Bright Red Eye: What Could It Be?

Subconjunctival hemorrhage is a benign eye disorder that is a common cause of acute ocular redness or a “bright red eye”. Patients sometimes call our practice complaining of a “bright red eye” or “bleeding eye”. It seems to come on with a cough or a sneeze-or sometimes with some heavy lifting-or for no reason at all-and has no pain, blurry vision or discharge.

We will of course ask you to come in so we can evaluate the problem, but it is possible that it is a subconjunctival hemorrhage. The major risk factors include trauma and contact lens usage in younger patients, whereas among the elderly, systemic vascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis are more common. In patients in whom subconjunctival hemorrhage is recurrent or persistent, further evaluation, including a workup for systemic hypertension, bleeding disorders, systemic and ocular malignancies and drug side effects, is warranted.

If you or someone you know experiences a “bright red eye” please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851

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High Altitude Eye Health Problems

“Our Fairfield County community has lots of residents who are very active outdoors people,” commented Leslie Doctor, M.D. “Patients who spend a great deal of time in high altitudes-skiing, mountain climbing or even just touring-sometimes express concern about the effects on their eyes, especially if they have some other eye problems or diseases related to hypoxia or not enough oxygen,” she said. Have you ever been concerned about your eye health at high altitude?

Researchers from the Tübingen High Altitude Ophthalmology (THAO) reporting in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science examined the effect of high altitude on the cornea and on the drainage angle of the eye-a key anatomical landmark for predicting narrow angle glaucoma risk. Using the advanced imaging technique of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) they studied corneal thickness changes and the depth and shape of the “anterior chamber angle” to determine the effects of high altitude. In normal healthy eyes, they found that a significant degree of reversible corneal swelling occurred with increasing altitude but no effect was noted on the size or shape of the eye fluid drainage angle. Since the corneal swelling was reversible it was not damaging. However, for patients with corneal dystrophy problems such as Fuchs Dystrophy, any endothelial dystrophy or compromise there may be some delay in the deswelling of the cornea. For patients who might be at risk for narrow angle glaucoma, the researchers reported that no change in angle depth or shape occurred at the higher altitudes-and thus there was no increase in angle closure glaucoma risk.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about eye health problems at high altitude feel free to 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 is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

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Connecticut Surgeon on Dry Eye after Cataract Surgery

FairfieldCounty Cataract Surgeon Leslie Doctor, M.D. shared insight into dry eye problems after cataract surgery. “As a corneal specialist I tend to listen carefully and take meticulous care to educate my cataract patients about dry eye after cataract surgery. Patients of cataract age and especially those having cataract surgery should know a little bit about dry eye as this is a somewhat common but temporary condition they may experience,” said Dr. Leslie Doctor.

According to the Prospective Health Assessment of Cataract Patients Ocular Surface (PHACO) Study some 60-75% of a cataract aged population had a meaningful deficiency in their tear film testing before cataract surgery! Further, although cataract surgery is quite friendly to the cornea, it does require an incision can temporarily interrupt corneal nerves responsible for reflex tearing and tear film integrity. This along with some of the solutions used during the cataract surgery procedure can result in a dry eye. The symptoms one might experience could include fluctuations of vision, dryness, grittiness, tearing, burning and a general tiredness as well as an overall sandy feeling. The good news is that for the vast majority of patients with dry eye there are potentially helpful treatment options that include specialized artificial tear lubricants and solutions, tiny punctal plugs to help you retain tears and prescription medication that stimulates production of your own tears. In addition there are more technological approaches such as lasers and other methods to treating underlying blepharitis, eyelid gland problems or eyelid inflammation that can contribute to dry eye as well.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about cataract surgery and dry eyes please feel free to call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Lower Your AMD Risk by Eating Fish

“It might seem a bit odd, but the research suggests that we can lower our risk of age related macular degeneration by eating more fish,” shared Leslie Doctor, M.D. “Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a very common cause of vision loss in seniors. Recently, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that age related macular degeneration (AMD) may be associated with a high dietary fat intake. The results of their study found that eating fish, such as tuna, four times a week, may reduce the risk of macular degeneration,” explained Dr. Leslie Doctor.

The subjects of the study were participants in the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who did not have AMD at when the study commenced. After 12 years of follow-up, 567 people with a visual loss of 20/30 or worse were identified. Fat intake was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. The study found:

• Those patients whose total dietary fat intake was in the highest quintile had over one and a half times the risk of AMD as those whose fat intake was in the lowest quintile,
• Linolenic acid consumption was directly associated with the risk of AMD,
• High intake of docosahexaenoic acid was associated with a modest reduction in the risk of AMD.
• Those who ate four or more servings of fish a week were at a 35% lower risk of AMD when compared to those who ate fewer than three servings of fish a week.

The researchers concluded that dietary fat intake was associated with an increased risk of age related macular degeneration (AMD) and that this may have been due to the presence of Linolenic acid in the fat. They added that a high intake of fish, a rich source of docosahexaenoic acid, may reduce this risk.

 

If you or someone you know has a family history of age related macular degeneration or wishes to learn more about their risk of AMD or how to lower their risk of AMD through diet, 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 is a leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.

Advantages of Wearing Transitions® Lenses

It is easy to overlook your eyes. Wearing Transitions® Lenses, color changing lenses which adapt to changing light, will help you to protect your eyes. Most people agree that sight is the sense they rely on the most. Seeing 20/20 is great, but healthy eyes are even more important since that will keep your vision sharp and clear.  With ordinary clear lenses your eyes have to constantly adjust to changing light. Your pupils dilate and your eyes squint. It does not seem like much, but over the course of the day it can all add up to cause eyestrain and fatigue. Transition lenses filter the light for you so your eyes do not have to work as hard, allowing your eyes to stay relaxed and comfortable all day long. You cannot see or feel UV rays, but they are present all year long. And just like your skin, your eyes need protection. Damage from UV exposure is cumulative, building every time your eyes are exposed to the sun. Research shows that UVA and UVB rays may contribute to short-term vision impairment as well as to potentially serious age-related eye problems, like cataracts and macular degeneration. The good news is that wearing transition lenses will help protect your eyes by blocking 100% of invisible UVA and UVB rays.

 Everybody can agree that glare is distracting and annoying in some situations. The cause of glare is simple-too much light. Transition lenses are the perfect antiglare solution because they rapidly adjust to changing light. They block glare outdoors by providing your eyes with exactly the amount of shade they need for any situation.

If you have any questions or interest in Transitions® Lenses please call Eyewear at Willows at 203-227-9380 and speak to our Opticians.