Scratch Resistant Coating for Glasses

Most of us get often frustrated with scratches on our lenses even though we try to take the best care of our glasses. Well, here is some important information you need to know. No eyeglass lens material is scratch proof. However, a lens that is treated with a scratch coat does become more resistant to scratching. Most types of plastic lenses, including high-index and polycarbonate, have scratch-resistant coatings automatically placed on them during manufacturing due to their softer nature. Most scratch coatings are inexpensive and will come with a one-year warranty against normal scratching, making it a good investment. In general, glass lenses will scratch less easily than plastic lenses, and plastic lenses will scratch less easily than high-index lenses. Some people are willing to sacrifice the weight of glass lenses over plastic just to avoid extra scratches. We highly recommend a scratch-resistant coating especially for those who work in dusty and dirty environments.

If you or someone you know has questions about eyeglass lenses and scratch resistant coatings, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to arrange an appointment.

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

How Safe is Laser Vision Correction?

Dr. Leslie Doctor, M.D.

LASIK Surgeons Know About Safety
This past October 21, 2015 marked the 20 year anniversary of FDA approval of the use of the excimer laser for Laser Vision Correction of common eye problems such as nearsightedness or myopia. 20 years is a long time and we have now arrived with technology, techniques, skills and experience to be able to provide patients wanting to eliminate their dependence on glasses and contacts, with a safe, effective and reproducible laser eye surgery treatment-whether LASIK, PRK or other method of correction.

Patient Barriers to LASIK
Still, one of the main barriers to patients who want to have LASIK is there concern about safety. A recent study was conducted to determine what percent of LASIK & Refractive Surgeons WHO ACTUALLY PERFORMED THE PROCEDURE, have had Laser Vision Correction. Certainly, eye surgeons who perform refractive surgery MUST know the dark dirty secrets of safety issues and would avoid putting themselves at undue risk. After all…EYE SURGEONS NEED EXCELLENT VISION!

Results of the Laser Vision Correction Safety Study
The study, called Prevalence of Laser Vision Correction in Ophthalmologists Who Perform Refractive Surgery was published in the September Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery and had some interesting results. Responses were received from 248 (99.2%) of 250 ophthalmologists who were queried, of which 232 (92.8%) met the criteria of currently working as refractive surgeons. Of the 232 subjects, 161 (69.4%) reported that they had refractive errors potentially amenable to treatment with laser vision correction, not including presbyopia. Of the 161 ophthalmologists with treatable refractive errors, 54 (33.5%) reported they were not candidates for laser vision correction for a variety of reasons and 107 (66.5%) reported they were candidates for LVC. Of the laser vision correction candidates, 62.6% reported that they had an LVC procedure in their own eyes! Of the overall 232 subjects, more than 90% recommend LVC for adult members of their immediate family!

The message is clear. The data speaks for itself. Two thirds of the eye surgeons who perform LASIK, and are good candidates for LASIK-HAVE LASIK! They are confident of the safety, efficacy and predictability-THAT THEY HAVE IT THEMSELVES!!!! And they recommend it to their family members. The key here to having a great result is finding out if you are a good LASIK candidate. We can help!

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about LASIK or schedule a Free LASIK Consultation, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Dry Eyes from Computer Screens?

Are you ever bothered by dry eyes when you stare at a computer screen too long, play video games for a while or even just use your iPad or computer tablet for long periods of time? There is a good reason that you experience dry eye symptoms when using these VDT screens.

Video Display Terminal Use & Dry Eyes
According to researchers publishing in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, users of video display screens or computer terminals are at greater risk for symptoms of dry eyes and dry eye disease (DED). In this study a group of 672 young and middle-aged Japanese office workers who used video display terminals (VDT) completed questionnaires and underwent dry eye testing. Of the 672 workers, 76.5% had definite dry or probable dry eye disease with the percentage being higher in woman than men and higher in office workers over 30 years of age especially if they used computers more than 8 hours per day. Thus, DED is common among young to middle-aged VDT or computer screen users. Thus, it is recommended that anyone using VDT or computer screens of any type for moderate to long periods of time or even those who notice increased dryness or grittiness should take measure to try and keep the eye surface moist and intact such as the use of lubricants, artificial tears or even more aggressive measures if the extensive use of the VDT or computer screens is a daily event.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about glaucoma and vascular disease, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to arrange an appointment.

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

Injections Best for Diabetic Macular Edema Treatment

Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is a somewhat common and significant cause of vision loss in patients with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy and can occur in any stage of the eye disease. Because of the wide range of effects DME can have on vision it has been treated aggressively, most often using laser photocoagulation treatment. Today, the research suggests that Vascular Endothelial Growth (VEGF) Inhibitor injections, using drugs such as Lucentis® or Eylea® provide superior outcomes as compared to laser photocoagulation for treatment of moderate to severe visual impairment caused by DME.


DME Treatment with VEGF Injections
According to reports in the American Journal of Ophthalmology on an analysis of studies on Diabetic Maculopathy published between January 1, 1985 and July 31, 2013, although laser photocoagulation has been the standard treatment for DME for nearly 3 decades, there is increasing evidence that better outcomes can be achieved with anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (anti-VEGF) injections. In fact, the number of patients with DME gaining an improvement of seeing an additional 10-15 letters on the eye chart was at least 2 times greater for those patients treated with the anti-VEGF injections as compared to being treated with laser treatments. Thus, the researchers concluded that anti-VEGF therapy is superior to laser photocoagulation for treatment of moderate to severe visual impairment caused by DME.

If you or someone you know has diabetes and is concerned about their risk of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) or Diabetic Retinopathy, it is critical that they have regular dilated eye exams and if necessary treatment with Lucentis® or Eylea® if they have DME or other retinopathy. Please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to arrange an appointment.

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

Diabetic Eye Exam Compliance

Being responsible, scheduling and attending your appointments for diabetic eye exams is essential for those with diabetes in order to maintain their eye health and vision. While there is no cure for diabetic retinopathy, with careful management of risk factors such as blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, moderation of alcohol consumption and routine exercise along with regular annual dilated eye exams, the potential vision loss from diabetes and associated diabetic eye problems can be minimized. BUT-this requires that patients do their part and keep a strict schedule and compliance with their eye doctor’s recommendations for diabetic eye exams and testing. Researchers reporting in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, studied and identified variables that predict adherence with annual eye examinations using the Compliance with Annual Diabetic Eye Exams Survey (CADEES), a new questionnaire designed to measure health beliefs related to diabetic retinopathy and annual eye examinations.

Factors that Influence Diabetic Eye Exam Compliance
A number of factors seemed to influence diabetic patient compliance with annual diabetic eye exams including beliefs concerning whether insurance covered most of the eye examination cost, whether it was difficult to schedule or physically get to an eye exam appointment, whether patients had been counseled and made obtaining an eye examination a top priority and whether they had been previously told that they had signs of diabetic retinopathy. Clinicians can also help patients with compliance with the diabetic eye exams counseling newly diagnosed patients more diligently along with those with uncontrolled blood glucose on the importance of annual eye examinations and discussing and helping patients remove perceived barriers and misconceptions.

If you or someone you know has diabetes they need to have regular annual dilated eye exams to prevent vision loss from diabetic eye diseases and problems. Please share this information with anyone you know who is diabetic and ask them to call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to arrange an appointment.

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

Eye Exams for Diabetic Retinopathy

If you have diabetes, having annual dilated eye exams are a critical and necessary way to help prevent vision loss from diabetic retinopathy. As directed by your eye doctor, the eye examinations for diabetic retinopathy need to be thorough and when necessary include advanced testing such as retinal photography, fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in order to really document how the retina and it’s blood vessels are functioning. Depending on the severity and the risk of progression of each patient’s diabetic retinopathy we will advise them of the frequency and intervals for their exams. But, patients with diabetes need to know that it is terribly important to keep their appointments.

Vision loss from diabetes and especially catastrophic vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented with early detection, diagnosis and treatment. 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, visiting Doctor & Associates, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to arrange an appointment.

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

Diabetic Eye Disease & Problems

Diabetes, diabetic eye disease and especially the eye health and vision problems caused by diabetic retinopathy continue to affect millions of people just like you. According to the Centers for Disease Control, diabetes affects more than 25 million people in the United States. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age and although there is no cure for diabetic eye disease, annual eye exams and timely treatment for diabetes patients are essential steps that can help slow the progression of the disease.

About Diabetic Retinopathy
The 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.

Reducing Your Risk of Diabetic Eye Disease
In addition to having regular eye examinations and the necessary level of eye 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, lipid profile and blood pressure and restricting their alcohol consumptions 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 Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Lower Eye Pressure after Cataract Surgery

If you are one of the 20% of patients with cataracts who either has somewhat high eye pressure (IOP) or actually has glaucoma, there is good news about what to expect when you have cataract surgery. Researchers reporting in Current Opinion in Ophthalmology studied the effect that cataract surgery had on eye pressure-or intraocular pressure (IOP) and found evidence to suggest that cataract surgery provides a lowering effect on IOP in the long term and the amount of the lowering is proportional to the preoperative IOP. That is, eyes with higher preoperative IOP have the greatest average lowering, whereas eyes with IOP in the lower range of statistically normal tend to have an IOP that is unchanged from before cataract surgery, or even higher following cataract surgery. This benefit of cataract surgery for glaucoma patients or glaucoma suspects may be helpful in allowing them to reduce their glaucoma eye drops or appreciate even greater effects of laser treatment for glaucoma.

If you or someone you know has cataracts and is thinking about cataract surgery, please share this information and ask them to call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Treatment of Lazy Eye or Amblyopia

Treatment of Amblyopia

The best results are always achieved if the treatment of amblyopia is started as early as possible. If necessary, children with refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism can wear glasses or contact lenses when they are as young as one week old. Children with cataracts or other “amblyogenic” conditions need to treated promptly in order to minimize the development of amblyopia. One of the most important treatments of amblyopia is correcting the refractive error with consistent use of glasses and/or contact lenses. Other mainstays of amblyopia treatment are to enable as clear an image as possible, for example, by removing a cataract, and forcing the child to use the non dominant eye by patching or blurring the better seeing eye with eye drops. Eye drops are used to “penalize” the good eye and force the use of the weaker or amblyopic eye. We may be able to use eye drops instead of patching when the amblyopia is not very bad or when a child is unable to wear the patch as recommended. For mild to moderate degrees of amblyopia, studies have shown that patching or eye drops may be just about equally effective. Generally, we start to see improvements in vision within weeks of treatment, however for optimal results it will be necessary to be patched for many months.

In some cases, treatment for amblyopia isn’t successful and it is difficult to stop treatment but is recommended when there is any real benefit. Children who have amblyopia in one eye and good vision only in one eye should wear safety glasses and sports goggles to protect the normal eye from injury. As long as the good eye stays healthy, these kids function normally in most aspects of society.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about the treatment of amblyopia or needs a kids eye exam, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Halloween Decorative Contact Lens Safety

Halloween decorative contact lenses can be really fun as part of your costume. But, non prescription “fashion” contacts need the same types of selection, fitting and care to avoid eye injury. Decorative contact lenses are especially popular right around Halloween but require that you have a clear understanding of how to use them safely.

Facts & Tips for Halloween Contact Lens Eye Safety

• Decorative contact lenses are not cosmetics or “over the counter” merchandise. They are medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Places that advertise them as cosmetics or sell them without a prescription are breaking the law.
• They are not “one size fits all.” An eye doctor, either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist, must measure each eye to properly fit the lenses and evaluate how your eye responds to contact lens wear. A poor fit can cause serious eye damage, including;

1. a scratched cornea
2. a corneal infection
3. pink eye conjunctivitis
4. decreased vision
5. blindness

• Places that sell decorative lenses without a prescription may give you few or no instructions on how to clean and care for your lenses. Failure to use the proper solution and care regimen to keep contact lenses clean and moist can lead to infections.

Where NOT to Buy Decorative Contact Lenses

• street vendors
• salons or beauty supply stores
• boutiques
• flea markets
• novelty stores
• Halloween stores
• record or video stores
• convenience stores
• beach shops
• Internet (unless the site requires a prescription)

These are not authorized distributors of contact lenses, which are prescription devices by federal law.

How to Buy Decorative Contact Lenses Safely.
Get an eye exam from a licensed eye doctor, either an ophthalmologist or optometrist, even if you feel your vision is perfect to make sure your eyes are healthy enough to wear contacts. Get a valid prescription that includes the brand name, lens measurements, and an expiration date. But don’t expect your eye doctor to prescribe anime, or circle, lenses. These bigger-than-normal lenses that give the wearer a wide-eyed, doll-like look have not been approved by FDA. Buy the lenses from a seller that requires you to provide a prescription, whether you go in person or shop online. Follow directions for cleaning, disinfecting, and wearing the lenses, and visit your eye doctor for follow-up eye exams. See your eye doctor right away if you have signs of possible eye infection including:

• redness
• eye pain that doesn’t go away after a short time
• decrease in vision

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 someone you know wishes to learn more or be fit with any type of contact lenses-including decorative contacts-please schedule an eye exam at Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to arrange an appointment.

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

Fruits Can Reduce Diabetic Risk

About Diabetes & Eye Problems
Lifestyle choices such as what you eat can have a meaningful impact on your overall health. According to the Centers for Disease Control diabetes affects more than 26 million people or over 8% of the U.S. population-a number that is growing annually with no end in sight. Seniors are particularly affected with almost 11 million or 27% of U.S. residents aged 65 years and older having diabetes. Diabetes is a major risk factor for cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, which is the most severe of these three eye diseases and affects approximately 7.7 million Americans. More than 4 million, over 28% of people with diabetes aged 40 years or older had diabetic retinopathy, and of these, some 650-700,000 or almost 4% of all diabetics have advanced diabetic retinopathy that can result in severe vision loss. Diabetic eye disease continues to be the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults 20 to 74 years of age.

Eat Fruit to Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes
According the reports from the Harvard School of Public Health eating certain whole fruits may reduce the risk for Type 2 diabetes, even though fruit juice consumption may increase the risk for diabetes. Investigators combined data from 3 studies: the Nurses' Health Study of more than 66,000 patients, the Nurses' Health Study II of more than 85,000 patients and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study with over 36,000 patients. The participants in all 3 studies completed questionnaires assessing health and lifestyle factors, including diet, every 2 years.

The researchers excluded participants with a baseline diagnosis of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer, as well as those who had missing data for fruit or fruit juice consumption or an extremely high or low caloric intake, and those who had an unclear date of diabetes diagnosis.

The analysis was adjusted for personal, lifestyle, and dietary risk factors for diabetes. The researchers concluded that every 3 servings of fruit per week were associated with a lower risk for Type 2 diabetes. When the researchers looked at individual types of fruit in a multivariate analysis, adjusted for the same factors, they found that 3 servings per week of some fruits were more closely associated with reduced risk of diabetes especially blueberries, grapes and apples.

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

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

Lazy Eye or Amblyopia: What is it?

Lazy Eye Amblyopia: What is it?
Amblyopia or “lazy eye” is a very common vision problem that we see in children. In fact it is responsible for more vision loss in kids than all other reasons combined. Amblyopia is a decrease in the child’s vision that occurs even without any structural problem being present. The decrease in vision results when one or both eyes send a blurry image to the brain. The brain then “learns” to only see blurry with that eye, even when glasses are used. Only children can get amblyopia. If it is not treated, it can cause permanent loss of vision. There are a number of types of amblyopia including strabismic amblyopia which is caused by an eye alignment or eye turning problem, deprivation amblyopia which is caused by cataracts or other condition that “deprives” the eye of a visual image, and refractive amblyopia which is due to an uncorrected refractive error such as farsightedness or astigmatism.

Depending on the cause of the amblyopia and whether there is an underlying uncorrected refractive error, sometime glasses can help but will not correct the vision to 20/20. With amblyopia, the brain is “used to” seeing a blurry image and it cannot interpret the clear image that the glasses produce. With time, however, the brain may “re-learn” how to see and the vision may increase. Remember, glasses alone do not increase the vision all the way to 20/20, as the brain is used to seeing blurry with that eye. Because of this, much of the time the normal eye is treated with patching or eye drops to force the amblyopic “weak” eye to be used and to make it “stronger.”

If you or someone you know wishes to learn about “lazy eye” or amblyopia or has questions or concerns about amblyopia or needs a kids eye exam, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Laser Cataract Surgery is Gentler

At Doctor & Associates we see many of our own patients in need of both routine and complex cataract surgery as well as patients who have had cataract surgery elsewhere and for a number of reasons their corneas may not clear as fast as they would like or they don’t see as crisply as they would like. Typically, these people had a bit more fragile corneal tissue that could have really benefited by have the most gentle cataract procedure possible.

According to researchers reporting in the Journal of Refractive Surgery, laser cataract surgery does indeed allow for a gentler cataract surgery procedure. While there is really no difference between manual cataract surgery and laser cataract surgery in uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, surgically induced astigmatism, and corneal aberrations, the laser cataract surgery was gentler on the cornea as it caused less loss of fragile endothelial cells and less corneal swelling from the cataract surgery. Also, the amount of time required for the more intense parts of the cataract surgery procedure-chopping, fragmenting and removing the cataract are significantly lower with the laser cataract surgery.

There is little doubt that laser cataract surgery gives the cataract surgeon the ability to deliver a gentler cataract surgery that is easier on the cornea and the delicate internal structures of the eye. Really, anyone with a concurrent eye condition such as diabetic retinopathy, fragile corneal tissue, glaucoma or thinning retinal tissue should have laser cataract surgery as it allows us to reduce the energy required to break apart and remove their cataract.

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

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

Why Do Children Need Glasses?

Why Do Children Need Glasses?
Kids can need glasses to correct common refractive errors that can blur their vision - like nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), or astigmatism, or they need glasses to help correct an eye muscle imbalance, or strabismus such as “crossed eyes” (esotropia) or provide help with a vision development problem such as “lazy eye” (amblyopia). The reasons children can need to wear glasses really depends on the nature of their vision development and eye coordination and focusing ability. The reasons can be somewhat different than for adults in certain cases. Depending on the problem, they may have to wear the glasses through their developmental years and could “outgrow” the need in certain development instances.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about why children need glasses or needs a kids eye exam, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Eye Injury & Laser Pointer Safety

Given the widespread use of laser pointers, the possibility and ways in which they pose a risk to eye safety and cause eye injury is often overlooked. Laser pointers are very commonly used in the classroom, business meetings, at presentations and lectures-but did you know that they are also sold as toys? This could be a cause for concern as the greater a laser pointer's output power, the more likely it will cause serious eye injuries. Understanding the safety of that laser pointer in your desk drawer or in your kid's hand isn't always obvious but we can share some information that may be useful.
 

Laser Pointer Basics
As laser power increases above five milliwatts, the time margin for safe exposure decreases, meaning that permanent eye and skin damage can occur quickly. However, the challenge is that the output power of laser pointers is not immediately apparent to the user. Laser pointers often lack appropriate labeling or are mislabeled, and definitive testing of individual pointers is beyond the reach of the average consumer. What we know for sure is that even the briefest exposure to high-powered blue handheld laser products can cause serious eye injuries.

Researchers reporting the results of a study in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology found that if a laser with less than five milliwatts of output power is directed at someone's eye, that person can blink or turn away without suffering an eye injury. However, the natural protective mechanisms of the eye – such as the blink reflex – are ineffective against lasers with an output power greater than five milliwatts, and severe retinal damage may occur, even after momentary exposure.
 
Here's what the FDA advises:

• Never aim or shine a laser pointer at anyone.
•  Don't buy laser pointers for your children.
• Before purchasing a laser pointer, make sure it has the following information on the label:
•  a statement that it complies with Chapter 21 CFR (the Code of Federal Regulations);
•  the manufacturer or distributor's name and the date of manufacture;
•  a warning to avoid exposure to laser radiation; and
•  the class designation, ranging from Class I to IIIa. Class IIIb and IV products should be used only by individuals with proper training and in applications where there is a legitimate need for these high-powered products. 

The problem is that many laser pointers lack labels or have inaccurate labels and the researchers found that 60 percent of the sampled laser pointer products that the FDA tests are overpowered compared with what the label says. Those pointers may be powered in the 10s or 100s of milliwatts!
 
How do you know if your laser pointer is overpowered?
Ideally, consumers could buy a laser pointer with the certainty that it's powered under five milliwatts but this isn’t possible based on the poor labeling and compliance.
 The FDA says that if you have a laser pointer that isn't labeled or if you don't trust the labeling, consider the following:

• If the pointer is small and runs on button batteries, its output probably is less than five milliwatts.
•  If it's pen-sized and runs on AA or AAA batteries, it's likely to be more powerful and may exceed five milliwatts.
• If it's flashlight-sized and runs on a cluster of AA or AAA batteries or runs on lithium batteries, it likely exceeds five milliwatts.
• Pointers sold with battery chargers probably drain their batteries quickly and are likely to be overpowered.
• Some pointers are sold with a removable cap that spreads the beam into a pattern.  If used without the cap, the beam becomes a single beam that could exceed 5 milliwatts.
•  Look for keywords that sellers might use to indicate a pointer is highly powered without saying that it's over five milliwatts: powerful, bright, ultra, super, military, military grade, super bright, high power, ultra bright, strong, balloon pop, burn, burning, adjustable focus, lithium battery, lithium powered.
•  Look for videos or photos that show the laser burning, melting, balloon popping or show a bright, well-defined beam of light.
•  Look for purchaser comments on websites that tout the brightness or power of the product.

Blue & Violet Laser Pointers Are the Most Dangerous!
Blue and Violet laser pointers are the most dangerous because the human eye actually is less sensitive to blue and violet. So, while a person would react quickly to a red or green laser, that person may not blink or turn away as fast from an equally powerful blue or violet light, creating a greater likelihood of injury.
 
If you or someone you know is concerned about laser pointer use and eye safety, please have them call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

About Photochromatic vs. Tinted lenses

Photochromatic lenses change from light to dark as you go from indoors to outside, then lighten again as you return indoors. This makes a great choice for professions that require continually walking between indoors and out, such as real estate or construction. Without photochromatics, these patients would constantly have to switch between their clear glasses and sunglasses. The darkening mechanism in these lenses is a chemical called silver halide. When exposed to UV light, the molecules are excited into a state of darkening. The more UV light exposure, the darker the lenses become. Photochromatic lenses do not darken very well inside a car because most windshields block out UV rays. So for people who want driving sunglasses, it is best to recommend a separate pair that is permanently tinted. Newer and more advanced technology allows more rapid darkening when you go outside and a more rapid return to clear when you go inside, and 100 percent UV protection.

In contrast to the changeable photochromatic lenses, another option in colored lenses is a permanent tint. Tints are available in almost any color desired. Lighter tints are often used as a fashion accent, while darker tints allow the wearer to use the lenses as sunglasses when paired with a UV coat. A tint can be solid-in which the entire lens is the same color-or gradient, a gradual fade from dark to light, usually fading from the top down. Keep in mind that a tint alone does not provide UV protection. To truly make a pair of sunglasses, you must combine the tint with a UV coat.

If you or someone you know has questions about eyeglass lenses including photochromatic lenses, tinted lenses or Transitions® lenses please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Eye Infection: What You Should Know!

If you’ve experienced red, itchy eyes, you may have wondered whether it’s a symptom of allergies or dry eyes or a more serious condition, such as an eye infection. Here is an overview of allergies and dry eye as compared to an eye infection.

About Allergies & Dry Eyes
Symptoms of Allergies or Dry Eyes

• If you work at a computer for an extended time or have allergies to products or airborne substances, you may experience dry, red or irritated eyes.
• Generally allergies and dry eyes affects both eyes.
• Treatment options usually include resting your eyes or using an over-the-counter or prescription eye drops, as recommended by your eye doctor.

About Eye Infections
Symptoms of Eye Infections

• Frequently occurs when bacteria, fungi or viruses attack any part of your eye, including the surface, membrane lining of the outer eye and inner eyelid, interior portions or the soft tissue of the eyelid.
• Infections inside the eye or in the soft tissue of the eyelid are the most dangerous and if left untreated, the condition may spread throughout the eye.
• Symptoms usually include redness, pain, discharge, watering and sensitivity to light; usually occurs only in one eye; if symptoms are detected, immediately contact your eye doctor for an evaluation

Types of Eye Infections
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) – A common infection that is highly contagious.
Viral Keratitis – Can be simply related to a respiratory virus or cold or more serious such as Ocular Herpes that occurs when exposed to the Herpes Simplex Virus.
Fungal Keratitis – A fungus commonly found in organic matter such as soil, leaves or branches of a tree.
Acanthamoeba Keratitis – A parasite that attacks the eye more often in individuals wearing contact lenses and swimming in pools, lakes, ponds, hot tubs or streams who are at increased risk for contracting this infection.
Trachoma – Usually found in underdeveloped countries. Typically infects the inner eyelid along with eyelashes touching the area can infect the cornea and cause permanent blindness.
Endophthalmitis – Occurs with a penetrating eye injury or complication following eye surgery and if left untreated, may lead to blindness.

Preventing Eye Infections

• If you experience symptoms associated with an eye infection, contact Doctor & Associates immediately. Prompt treatment is necessary to reduce the risk of permanent blindness.
• To avoid eye infections, wash your hands throughout the day, especially if you are near an individual with a red eye or other signs of infection. Contact lens wearers should follow care and handling instructions provided by their eye doctor.

If you or someone you know is concerned about having an eye infection please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

ADHD, Eye & Vision Problems

Parents of school age children often approach us and wonder if some of the attention or behavior issues that their kids experience are related to a vision problem or are simply a manifestation of their ADHD or ADD. This is a question MANY parents of children diagnosed with ADHD and ADD ask!

ADHD, Vision & Refractive Error
A recent study reported in the journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (AAPOS) discussed the notion that there was an association between ADHD/ADD, uncorrected refractive-errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism-and visual acuity. The investigators performed a case matched controlled study that included 56 ADD/ADHD children diagnosed according to criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-TR), along with 66 age-matched control children and then examined both groups for uncorrected visual acuity for distance and near, cycloplegic refraction-an eye test to measure uncorrected refractive error with eye drops, ocular motility, and binocular function. Their results showed that ADD/ADHD children had similar visual acuity at distance and near and refractive errors as normal subjects. Eye movement and the ability to use both eyes together, or “binocular function”, as well as focusing ability were also found to be similar in both groups and thus probably did not contribute to ADD/ADHD type behavior.

If you or someone you know has ADHD and is concerned about any effects of vision problems, refractive errors or decreased visual acuity please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Cataracts Cause Night Driving Problems

As we age, the onset of cataracts is sometimes very slow and subtle. In fact many patients try to ignore the symptoms of cataracts-blur, cloudiness, glare and light sensitivity-and just cope with the vision decrease. One symptom of cataracts that is difficult to ignore and is also the most troubling, is how disturbing cataracts can be while trying to drive at night. Driving at night is already difficult enough as reduced lighting can cause you to misjudge distances and boundaries like the edge of the road or distance between you and other vehicles, as well as simply causing an overall dimming of your vision. If you are becoming afraid to drive at night and you suspect or have been told that you have the beginning of a cataract it might well be time to consider whether cataract surgery might be a good option to help you regain your night driving safety and comfort level.

If you or someone you know feels they have night driving problems that might be related to cataracts or has a question about cataracts, laser cataract surgery or lens implants please feel free to schedule an eye exam by calling Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Why is Polycarbonate THE Lens of Choice for Kids?

Polycarbonate is the type of high-index lens. It is thin and lightweight like other high-index lenses, but it has some extra features that make it a very appealing option. It is the standard for safety glasses and for children's glasses due to its impact resistance. In case of an eye injury polycarbonate material will not shatter and will protect the eye. Poly can withstand impact forces much greater than any other lens material. In addition, polycarbonate provides excellent inherent UV protection without having to pay extra for a UV coat application to the lens. It has low specific gravity, which means, ounce for ounce, that poly is lighter than other lens materials. Polycarbonate should be the only material used in rimless or semi-rimless frames, any other material will likely crack in such a frame. Finally, poly's impact resistance allows a laboratory to ground it thinner than any other material. With all these good points, polycarbonate is a very soft material and therefore is more prone to scratches. For this reason, most labs will automatically apply a scratch coating to poly lenses. Polycarbonate is also more difficult to tint, especially in dark shades. Despite some drawbacks, choosing polycarbonate as a lens option is often easy to justify; it is lightweight, thin, has UV protection as an inherent property, is very safe, and typically has a scratch coat automatically applied. It is one of our most used lens materials.

 If you or someone you know has questions about children’s eyewear or eyeglasses, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County,  Google+ or or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Headaches & Childrens’ Eye Problems

About Headaches and Childrens’ Eye Problems

It is pretty common for parents to bring their children in for an eye exam because they are complaining of headaches. Headaches are a frequent complaint of kids but fortunately they are usually not serious. Some of the more common causes of headaches in kids include migraine, the stress and tension of school, certain foods with nitrate or MSG preservatives, physical trauma, sinus infections and of course eye problems. Parents can be concerned with the serious but truly rare occurrence of brain tumors causing headaches but this is usually accompanied by other complaints of dizziness, weakness of arms and legs and a loss of coordination.

Evaluating Kids with Headaches

As part of evaluating any child with headaches I always want to be sure that there has been a complete and thorough examination by their pediatrician who may need to order additional tests or even a referral to a neurologist. Then I will need to perform a complete eye exam including evaluation of the pupils, a refraction to determine any refractive error or need for glasses, eye alignment and binocularity testing and sometimes possibly a visual field examination. Generally I will put drops in the child’s eyes to dilate the pupils, so that the optic nerves can be properly examined and the refractive error can be most accurately measured.

Eye Problems That Can Cause Headaches

If your child has uncorrected hyperopia or farsightedness, it requires extra effort to focus clearly while reading. This can sometimes lead to fatigue and headache. Glasses can reduce the effort required to see clearly at near and improve the headache, if significant hyperopia exists.  Mild hyperopia is normal in children, however, and generally does not cause headaches or other symptoms.

When we read or perform other near activities, our eyes pull in toward each other, this is called convergence. The decreased ability to pull the eyes toward each other when viewing near objects (convergence), particularly while reading, may cause headaches.  This is called convergence insufficiency, and symptoms include the doubling of images or words, blurred vision, fatigue, and headaches which worsen with prolonged reading.  At home eye exercises, sometimes with the help of computer software, can help treat convergence insufficiency. Glasses are sometimes prescribed, but costly in-office eye exercises are rarely necessary.

 Acute infections, allergic and inflammatory diseases of the eyes can also cause headaches.  These problems are often accompanied by redness of the eye and/ or the eyelid as well as light sensitivity or photophobia. Acute glaucoma can cause headaches, but rarely affects children.  Pseudotumor Cerebri (aka, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension) is a condition caused by increased intracranial pressure or too much fluid around the brain, and this causes headache and swelling of the optic nerves, but does not typically cause redness of the eyes. During the complete eye exam we perform, we will be able to rule out these problems as a cause of headaches in your child. If we do not find any ocular causes of your child’s headache we may refer them back to his/her pediatrician and/or to a neurologist to look for other possible causes of the headaches.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about childrens’ headaches and eye problems or needs a kids eye exam, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Kids School Eye Exams in Fairfield County

It seems like the summer has really just started-but believe it or not it’s almost time to get the kids ready to go back to school! As part of your “Back to School Checklist,” it’s important to remember to schedule an eye exam for your children. Keep in mind that childrens’ eye health and vision is one of the core functions of learning. Today more than ever, kids operate in a very intense and demanding visual environment as they read, write, play sports, use computers and tablets and on and on…and being able to get clear and efficient vision plays a critical role for them.

An annual eye exam for children is a good idea as it is not uncommon for childrens’ vision to change during their school years and development. Regular eye exams can detect these 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. It is important to observe children for some common behaviors that might indicate an eye or vision problem. Watch for:

·  Frequent eye rubbing or blinking

·  Short attention span

·  Avoiding reading and other close activities

·  Frequent headaches

·  Covering one eye

·  Tilting the head to one eye

·  Holding reading materials close to the face

·  An eye turning in or out

·  Seeing double

·  Losing place when reading

·  Difficulty remembering what he or she read

If your child exhibits any of these please bring it to our attention. Your child should receive an eye examination at least once every two years, preferably EACH YEAR, 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 or concerns about childrens’ vision, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Can a Mediterranean Diet help Dry Eyes?

Research has shown that the traditional Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, as well as a reducing the incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, but can this diet have an benefit for those with dry eyes and help dry eye symptoms?

Mediterranean Diet & Dry Eyes

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 and then studied their tear film and measured its quality and quantity. They then also measured the serum level of Vitamin D for each patient. The final results suggested that eating a Mediterranean diet was NOT associated with an improvement in dry eye symptoms and complaints but higher vitamin D levels had 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. Making sure your vitamin D intake is adequate can also be helpful if you suffer from dry eye problems.

If you or someone you know has questions about diet and dry eye or has dry eyes and needs help for their symptoms, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Avoid Airbag Eye Injury from Car Accidents

While everyone knows that airbags and seatbelts are critical to avoiding body injury in car accidents there is some important information everyone should also know about avoiding air bag related eye injury in car accidents!

Avoid Airbag Eye Injury in Car Crashes

Airbags along with seat belts are important safety features in cars today. But, a recent report in Survey of Ophthalmology suggests that the incidence of eye injury and facial trauma in car accidents from airbags is increasing! How can this be happening?

Airbags were originally designed as a supplemental safety system to seatbelts, to protect the head from hard surfaces in frontal crashes. It is critical that all passengers wear their seatbelts even if your car has airbags in the front, back and sides of the passenger cabin because the seatbelts restrict and prevent you from being quickly and forcefully thrown forward and colliding with the rearward inflating and accelerating airbags as they are deployed during a car accident. Airbag deployment and passenger collision with airbags has been reported to cause eye injuries including corneal abrasions, alkali burns and the serious effects of eye compression such as retinal tears, retinal and vitreous hemorrhages, retinal detachment and even cataracts. SO-the message is clear. For eye protection and safety in motor vehicle accidents, all occupants of cars should wear safety belts at all times even if your vehicle has airbags!

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about avoiding eye injury from airbags during car accidents, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Help for Childrens’ Tear Duct Problems

About Childrens’ Tear Duct Problems

Normally, tears drain through tiny openings in the corners of the upper and lower eyelids called “puncta,” then enter the nose through the nasolacrimal duct. Sometimes the nasolacrimal duct or tear duct is blocked or obstructed during infancy, or becomes obstructed later, making it impossible for the tears to drain normally. This can cause the eyes to run water or even produce a discharge. Often, the tears well up on the surface of the eye and overflow onto the eyelashes, eyelids, and down the cheek. This usually occurs within the first days or weeks of life.

Sometimes, the eyelids can become red and swollen, even stuck together with yellowish-green discharge since the normal eyelid bacteria are not properly "flushed" down the obstructed system. Probably the most common cause of a tear duct obstruction in kids is a failure of the membrane at the end of the tear duct opening to open fully at the time of birth. Generally we see this happening in some 5-10% of newborn infants where one or both eyes is affected with a tear duct obstruction - BUT some 90% of cases clear without any treatment with the first 12 months after birth.

Treatment of Kids’ Tear Duct Obstruction

As most of the time the obstruction will clear on its own, we don’t always have to treat it. But, if it persists and causes the welling up of tears or the sticking or redness of the eyelids, we suggest a gentle massage as a first step and prescribe antibiotic eye drops if necessary. Sometimes we will need to do a tear duct probing to clear the blockage and in a some more difficult situations we might need to perform a tear duct dilation with a tiny balloon or even insert some microscopic tubes.

As a Pediatric Ophthalmologist I do these types of treatments as a matter of routine and, as a parent, I will make sure to thoroughly explain them and answer all of your questions if they become necessary.

If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about childrens tear duct problems or needs a kids eye exam, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment. 

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

Detect Early Alzheimer's Disease by Eye Movements

Alzheimer’s Disease presents a significant set of challenges to the health and well being of the U.S. population-especially as our population ages. The NIH National Institute on Aging, estimates that more than 5 million people may have Alzheimer’s Disease. It is becoming more and more critical that we find ways to detect, diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s Disease so as a society we can offer early intervention for patients and their families.

Eye Movement Research & Alzheimer’s Disease

According to researchers reporting in Investigative Ophthalmology & Vision Science a subtle change in eye movements may provide a useful diagnostic tool for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease. In general, eye movements follow a reproducible pattern during normal reading. Each eye movement ends up in a fixation point, which allows the brain to process the incoming information and to program the following movements. The researchers found that Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) produces eye movement abnormalities and disturbances in reading so that patients with early AD show abnormal fixation patterns. So we now know that evaluation of eye movement behavior during reading might provide a useful tool for a more precise early diagnosis of AD and for monitoring the progress or stability of Alzheimer’s Disease.

If you or someone you know has questions or Alzheimer’s Disease and eye movements, please call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates in Fairfield County, Google+ or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to schedule an appointment.

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

Cataract Risk Increases with Body Mass Index (BMI)

High Body Mass Index (BMI) is an indicator of being overweight or obese and is a well known risk factor for common health problems including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and orthopedic joint problems. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a normal weight by a Body Mass Index (BMI) 18.5-25 kg/m², excess body weight or being overweight as BMI of 25--30 kg/m², and obesity as BMI of ≥30 kg/m^2.

Cataract Risk and Body Mass Index (BMI)

In general, there is some controversy and disagreement as to whether a high BMI predisposes patients to a greater risk of developing cataracts. By conducting an extensive statistical review of studies and performing a careful Meta Analysis researchers found that being overweight or obese were significantly associated with an increased risk of cataracts, especially those called “posterior subcapsular cataracts” which typically cause the greatest vision decline. This relationship was independent of sex, alcohol intake, diabetes and hypertension.

If you or someone you know is concerned about cataracts and weight or body mass index (BMI) please share this information with them and ask them to call Doctor & Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor & Associates, Google+ 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.