BOTOX® for Crossed Eyes?

Almost everyone knows that BOTOX® is a pretty popular treatment to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and help restore a youthful appearance. BOTOX® can also be helpful for migraine headaches, facial spasms, excessive sweating and a host of other problems. We also know that BOTOX® can also be helpful for treatment of crossed eyes! According to articles from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, recent studies as well as other expert reports, BOTOX® injections can indeed be a possible treatment option for certain patients with crossed eyes.

If you or a child you know has crossed eyes and wishes to learn more about treatment options, 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.          

Fireworks Cause Eye Injuries

No Fireworks Are Safe, Even Innocent Sparkler Causes Thousands of Eye Injuries

We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July season, but please be aware of the facts about fireworks. Fireworks injuries cause approximately 10,000 visits to the emergency department each year, most of them involve children who suffer thousands of eye injuries. Although the most disabling injuries occur with illegal firecrackers, most injuries are caused by legal fireworks parents buy for their children, such as sparklers, firecrackers, bottle rockets, and Roman candles. Every year thousands of patients need treatments who suffer a range of fireworks-related injuries, from cuts and bruises to damaged corneas and ruptured eyeballs. To help reduce the number of potentially blinding fireworks accidents this holiday, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is working to debunk common myths about fireworks injuries.

Here are five fireworks myths, debunked:

• Sparklers are safe for young children. Sparklers burn at 1800 degrees, hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers were responsible for most of the injuries to children age 5 and younger.
• It’s safer to view fireworks than it is to light or throw them. Bystanders are injured by fireworks as often as the operators.
• Consumer fireworks are safe. Sparklers and firecrackers each account for more than 1,400 injuries to the eyes. 
• It’s safe to pick up a firework after it has been lit. Even though it looks like a dud, it may not act like one. 
• It’s not the Fourth of July without consumer fireworks. The Fourth can be complete without using consumer fireworks. The safest way to view fireworks is to watch a professional show.

If you experience a fireworks injury, we urge you to minimize the damage to the eye:

• Seek medical attention immediately.
• Do not rub the eye. Rubbing may make the injury worse.
• Do not attempt to rinse the eye.
• Do not apply pressure to the eye.
• Do not remove objects from the eye,
• Do not apply ointments or take pain medications before seeking medical help.

Patty C Shares a Cataract Surgery Experience

“My experience with Dr. Leslie Doctor and her staff was everything one hopes for in medical care.  My options for cataract surgery were clearly explained both medically and financially, the staff was top notch, the surgery experience was professional and caring, and my recovery care well explained and well managed.   I would highly recommend Dr. Doctor & Associates to any seeking ophthalmological care.”- Patty C

If you or some you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants 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.          

AMD & Low Glycemic Diet

Does a Low Glycemic Diet Help AMD?

Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University also believe that the study, published in the journal PNAS, points to potential biomarkers of AMD. These can be used to predict when a person is at risk for this disease, which is the leading cause of vision loss in adults over the age of 50. Using a mouse research model, the researchers observed that a high–glycemic diet resulted in the development of many AMD features, including loss of function of cells at the back of the eye called retinal pigmented epithelial atrophy (RPE) and of the cells that capture light, called photoreceptors-both of which are precursors to Dry AMD, whereas a low–glycemic diet did not. Importantly, switching from a high–glycemic diet to a low–glycemic diet arrested damage to the retina. The authors of the study suggested that these experimental results may indicate that switching from a high–glycemic diet to a low–glycemic one is beneficial to eye health in people that are heading towards developing AMD.