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

.