Eye Health

Arizona Eye Care: Sports-Related Blindness and Eye Injuries

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In: Eye Health, Health and Wellness comments
Arizona Eye care

When most people think “Arizona eye care,” they think about sunglasses. They think about LASIK. They think about annual eye exams and glaucoma prevention and picking the perfect prescription lenses. And though each of those steps on the road to healthy vision is an important one, there’s one that many people unfortunately overlook: sports-related blindness and eye injuries.

From racquet ball matches to pick up soccer games at the park, playing the sports you love without the proper protection can mean putting your eyesight at risk. According to the Coalition to Prevent Sports Eye Injuries, more than 600,000 eye injuries related to sports happen each year, and 42,000 of those injuries are severe enough to require immediate Emergency Room attention.

Whether your son is the number one baseball star on his little league team or your daughter sinks every basketball layup she makes, children are just as at risk for sports-related blindness and eye injuries as adults are – and perhaps even more so. In fact, according to the Nation Eye Institute, eye injuries are the leading cause of blindness in children in the US.

But with so many P.E. classes, weekend tournaments, and after-dinner games in the driveway, just how do you make sure that your child’s eyes are protected?

Proper eyewear can successfully prevent sports-related blindness and eye injuries when worn consistently.

In lacrosse, ice hockey, softball and baseball, for example, invest in a helmet with a polycarbonate face mask or wire shield. Polycarbonate is a lightweight but durable, shatterproof plastic that protects the eyes and face. Every member of the team should wear a polycarbonate mask – not just the catcher!

In basketball, racquet sports, soccer and field hockey, an entire face mask or wire shield may not be necessary. However, protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses is essential and should be worn at all times.

Choose eye protectors that have been tested to meet the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards or that pass the CSA racquet sports standard. For additional information, talk to an optometrist or ophthalmologists at Nationwide Vision today.

Insight from the Arizona Eye Specialists: 3 Eye Care Myths Dispelled

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In: Eye Health comments
Arizona eye specialists

As we bid adieu to January, National Eye Health month, Nationwide Vision’s leading Arizona eye specialists would like to take this timely opportunity to dispel common myths about eye health care. Comprehensive wellness starts with a solid understanding of how your eyes function, so hone your ocular understanding and clarify your outlook with this Arizona eye care insight.

Take if from us, the Arizona eye specialists – these three tall tales are works of fiction:

  • Your vision will be worsened by reading in dim light: False.
    This common misunderstanding goes hand in hand with another fallacy – that frequent squinting weakens your eyesight. Fortunately for late-night bookworms, both of these statements are incorrect. When there is inadequate light (or when you’re due for a new pair of glasses), squinting is quick common. By squinting, one’s eyes let in less light, making the pupils smaller and further enhancing the eyes’ focus. Those who squint often are not permanently damaging their vision, but may find themselves with a headache and, ultimately, wrinkles around the eyes. Consult your doctor if you find yourself squinting excessively – it may be time for a new pair of eyeglasses.
  • Eating carrots improves your eyesight: False.
    Although carrots are high in vitamin A, which is essential for good vision, carrots don’t contain enough of the nutrient to affect how well you read. Eat a balanced diet and consider taking a multivitamin daily to ensure your eyes have all the vitamin A necessary to function at full ocular capacity. If you are concerned about your vision or interested in perfecting your eyesight with a procedure like LASIK, visit your Arizona eye care provider today.
  • Staring at a computer screen is bad for your eyes: False.
    Children throughout Arizona can collectively say “I told you so!” Staring closely at the television or computer screen will not hurt one’s eyesight. Temporarily, however, it might incur a headache. Much of the problem stems from the screen itself, because people staring at a screen for extended periods tend not to blink. Normally, people blink about 15 times a minute. If you spend most of the day on a computer or watch a lot of television, be cognizant of your blinking. Blinking keeps the cornea from dying and stop dust and debris from collecting in the eye.
contacts

Is Your Child Ready for Contacts?

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In: Eye Health comments

You have heard the same story over and over again for the last three months. “Mom, can I please please get contacts? I promise I’ll take care of them!” Sure, you heard the same story when your daughter begged you to let her get a dog three years ago. Now you might as well add “Professional Dog Caretaker” to your resume. Still, you can tell your daughter really does not like her glasses, and her self-esteem seems to be suffering because of it. How do you really know when to make the transition from glasses to contacts?

Believe it or not, age usually is not the most important factor when considering whether your child should begin the transition to wearing contacts. Most eye doctors first ask you to assess your child’s level of responsibility. Does your child wash their hands, shower, do their chores and complete their homework without needing reminding? See how your child’s level of maturity compares with their motivation for contacts. If they truly want contacts, they may put in the effort to properly care for them, regardless of their past actions.

Consider as well the level of your child’s happiness. Some children may develop low self-esteem with wearing glasses, particularly as they enter into their middle school years. Unfortunately, your child may also be subject to some unfriendly comments from classmates and peers as a result of needing to wear glasses. If using contacts instead results in a significantly higher level of confidence for your child, it may be worth taking the next step in the process.

Fortunately, the next step is a painless one! At Nationwide Vision, we have contact lens professionals available at any of our 63 locations. These individuals can help you and your child consider all components and questions, in additional to developing a plan that works best for everyone. Schedule an appointment at a location near you today!

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Why Your Child Should Receive an Annual Eye Exam

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In: Eye Health comments

Being a mom means so much more than the title suggests. Moms have the skills of a chef, the endurance of a marathon runner, and have enough patience to fill a dozen virtues. Moms juggle more schedules than most circus performers, making sure everyone makes it to play dates, piano practice and the dentist clean and on-time. With an already hectic schedule, it’s hard to imagine adding an annual eye exam to the list. What you may not know is a comprehensive eye exam can reveal potential medical conditions, before any outward symptoms become noticeable.

For children, an eye exam can reveal the early on-set of either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. With November being Diabetes Awareness Month, we want to share with you why your child may not be immune. Currently, one in every 400 children and adolescence in the US have diabetes, and the number continues to grow annually. Type I diabetes does not result from poor diet and exercise, but rather from the pancreas’ inability to metabolize insulin properly. That means even a child who lives a healthy lifestyle can still have diabetes. Regardless of the cause, both Type I and Type II diabetes have similar symptoms, including extreme thirst, drowsiness and sudden weight changes among others.

What does this have to do with an eye exam? Because the eyes are so sensitive, the signs of diabetes often reveals themselves first inside the eyes. High insulin levels begin causing slight damage to the blood vessels within the retina, giving optometrists a warning before your child begins noticing symptoms. If diagnosed early, a treatment plan can begin long before the disease begins to spiral out of control. If your child has already received a diagnosis, an annual eye exam is essential for monitoring the progression of damage to the retina, a condition called Diabetic Retinopathy.
In addition to diabetes, an annual eye exam can reveal other medical conditions. For example, clots in the tiny blood vessels inside of the retina can be a signal risk for strokes, while thickened blood vessel walls along with narrowing of the vessels can be a sign of high blood pressure. Puffy eyes may mean you have an allergy, or may have consumed too much sodium. Yellowing of the eyes may be sign of hepatitis, gallbladder disease or likely a gall stone block.

With enough to worry about as it is, an annual eye exam will most likely simply put your mind at ease, allowing you to concentrate on the joys of simply being a mom! For more information on diabetes awareness, please visit http://www.diabetes.org/ To schedule an appointment for an annual eye exam, check out www.nationwidevision.com.

water

Don’t Take a Hydration Vacation

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In: Eye Health, Health and Wellness comments

Drink more water!

You’ve heard these words before, but many not have paid as much attention to them as you should. Water makes up half our body weight and is crucial to our well-being, particularly in our dry Arizona climate.  Let’s be clear—soda pop and coffee contain water, but plain, old H2O is what keeps the machine well oiled.

Have you grabbed for your water bottle yet? Think about it—your body expects water.  It needs water to function, to maintain the proper temperate, remove waste, lubricate your joints, etc.

So, you think you’re drinking enough water, right?  Here are symptoms of not having enough of it in your system

  • - Little or no urine, or urine that seems darker than usual
    - A dry mouth
    - Constant sleepiness or fatigue
    - Thirsty all the time
    - Headaches
    - Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
    - No tears when crying
    - Dry eyes

I personally experienced what happens when you don’t drink enough water years ago when I got up in the middle of the night to go to the restroom and passed out.  Fearing the worst, I went to the doctor’s office to find out what’s wrong and after examining my daily routine, it was determined I just wasn’t drinking enough water.  I was among those thinking coffee should suffice.

Back in the days of wearing contacts, I relied on eye drops to keep my constantly dry eyes moist and “less scratchy.”  Then, when I focused on drinking more water during the day, I found I had less of a need for them.

A good way of increasing your daily water intake is to set a goal, a measurement. Fill up a water bottle every morning at work and be sure to finish it before you go home.  If you prefer bottled water, make sure you knock down at least two of them before calling it a day. You should drink around 48 ounces of water per day.

I think you’ve got it by now.

The bottom line: We go back to where this whole post started—Drink more water.

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garden

A Sight for Sore Eyes

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In: Eye Health, Medical comments

Eye injuries happen, and often when we least expect them. According to Prevent Blindness America, more than 700,000 Americans injure their eyes at work each year, and another 125,000 injure their eyes at home. Another 40,000 eye injuries occur while playing sports and thousands more go unreported each year. Did you know though up to 90% of all eye injuries could be avoided with the proper eye protection?  Sure, safety goggles may not make a fashion statement, but they will protect you from potential blindness and also save you a costly trip to the E.R.

Not everyone realizes that items around their own homes can cause some of the worst eye injuries and happen all too often.  Every year, over 125,000 people receive an eye injury from common household items like a splash of bleach or oven cleaner. Add in the threat of champagne corks, flying fragments from drills or yard equipment, a loose rug and the fall that follows or even a mishandled curling iron, and you may just wonder why eye injuries don’t happen MORE often!

If you find yourself with a potential injury to the eye, the most important thing is to see a professional right away. Denying your injury or attempting to fix it yourself has the potential to cause worse damage. Here are some signs you may have sustained an eye injury and should see someone immediately.

  • You have obvious pain or trouble seeing.
  • You notice a cut or torn eyelid.
  • One eye does not move as well as the other.
  • One eye sticks out compared to the other.
  • You notice an eye has an unusual pupil size or shape.
  • There is blood in the clear part of the eye.
  • The person has something in the eye or under the eyelid that can’t be easily removed.

Vision is a gift.  Make sure you always wear proper eye protection when putting your vision at risk, and don’t leave your healthy vision to chance. You only have one pair of eyes to get you through an entire lifetime!

Photo By: USDA.gov

owl

Diabetic Retinopathy

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In: Eye Health, Medical comments

You can never be too cautious when it comes to your health, especially when we’re talking about the health of your eyes.  Did you know individuals with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes are at risk for Diabetic Retinopathy, a disease which can result in blindness?  But wait, there’s good news! As long as you have a comprehensive eye exam annually, you’ll have a good chance of catching the disease before it starts causing significant damage to your vision.

Diabetic Retinopathy is the most common form of diabetic eye disease.  It usually affects people who have had diabetes for a long time, but becomes detrimental to your vision when left untreated.  Diabetic Retinopathy is what we call an ocular manifestation of a systemic disease, meaning that it is an eye condition that directly or indirectly results from a disease processed in another part of the body.  Diabetic Retinopathy is caused by prolonged high blood glucose levels, which over time causes damage to the small blood vessels within the retina, eventually leading to blindness if not treated.  This disease affects up to 80% of all patients who have had diabetes for over 10 years.  However, by catching it in the early stages, patients have a 90% change of reducing their symptoms. Note that the early symptoms can only be discovered through an annual exam. By the time an individual notices vision problems, the chances of a successful treatment are significantly reduced.

If you are diabetic and experience any of the symptoms below, please consult with an eye doctor ASAP.

  • Blurred, and/or spotted vision
  • Missing areas of vision
  • Trouble seeing at night
  • Pain in one of your eyes

Aside from an annual eye exam, those with diabetes can help slow Diabetic Retinopathy by keeping their blood sugar and blood pressure in control and refraining from smoking.

Click here to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with Nationwide Vision.

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windows

Eyes: The Windows to Your Health

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In: Eye Health, Health and Wellness, Medical comments

The human body’s system is what we call “interconnected,” meaning that changes in one part of our body, such as our eyes, can actually mean that there’s a change with another part of our body. By having a comprehensive eye exam, your doctor may be able to spot a medical condition early, and begin a treatment plan before it starts to affect you.

Since the eyes live on the surface of our bodies and are see-through, blood vessels, nerves and tissues can be easily viewed with specialized equipment. This allows doctors to be the first to spot certain medical conditions with just a simple eye exam. There are a few medical conditions that doctors are able to spot based on what your eyes look like, or how they react to different light. Clots in the tiny blood vessels inside of the retina can be a signal risk for strokes, while thickened blood vessel walls along with narrowing of the vessels can be a sign of high blood pressure. Puffy eyes may mean you have an allergy, or may have consumed too much sodium. Yellowing of the eyes may be sign of hepatitis, gallbladder disease or likely a gall stone block.

Because the eyes are always changing, Nationwide Vision strongly recommends everyone receive an eye exam on an annual basis. Having said that, adults with no symptoms or known risk should minimally get a base line exam by age 40, and should return every 1-3 years for evaluation until their mid-60’s.  To help ensure healthy vision and overall health, adults 65+ need to receive a comprehensive eye exam annually.

Aside from getting your comprehensive eye exam regularly, make sure and eat these foods for optimal eye health; blueberries, leafy greens such as kale and spinach, peas and apricots.

Click here to schedule your annual eye exam today!

Photo By: downhilldom1984

sunflower

Are Your Sunglasses Doing Their Job?

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In: Eye Health comments

Summer plans may be cooling down, but temperatures are still rising!  That big yellow thing in the sky is hitting temperatures of over 100 degrees here in Arizona.  Before you set off to buy a new pair of styling shades, let us fill you in on a few quick facts to help you find a pair most beneficial for your eyes.

Sunglasses help protect your eyes from a few different sunrays, including Ultraviolet rays (UVA) and UVB rays.  Here’s what you need to know about these potentially harmful exposures:

UVA

  • Ultraviolet rays remain at the same intensity all year long. Regardless of the season, these rays mean business!
  • UVA rays cause more damage to our bodies than UVB rays.
  • Even short exposures to UVA rays while commuting to or from work can cause noticeable damage.
  • Many doctors say that it only takes around nine moderate doses of UVA rays to experience a noticeable change on our bodies.

    • UVB

  • UVB rays are also known as “tanning rays.”
  • These rays are strongest in northern hemisphere’s summer months orwhen sections of the Earth orbit closest to the sun.
  • UVB rays are only strong enough to penetrate the very top layer of our skin.Now that you know the basics, don’t forget these additional facts when shopping for a new pair of sunglasses:
  • Choose a pair that is 99-100% both UVA and UVB protected.
  • Avoid sunwear referred to as “cosmetic.” It won’t give you the protection you need from the sun.
  • Larger lenses > smaller lenses (they protect more of your eye)
  • Wearing tinted glasses doesn’t necessarily protect you from the sun’s rays. In the same token, clear lenses can offer UVA and UVB protection. Stop by your local Nationwide Vision Center, and we will help you find a pair that works best for you.

    • Now that you know the secrets to picking out a fully-protected pair of sunglasses, double check your current pair and make sure your lenses are doing their job.  Remember too that although hats are recommended in sunny weather, you should still wear your sunglasses for true eye protection.

    Photo by: Dave-f

    carrots

    Carrots and Your Eye Health

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    In: Eye Health, Health and Wellness comments

    So you’re saying that if I eat a bunch of carrots I’ll have perfect vision?  Not exactly, but eating carrots does improve your vision in some ways, thanks to the large amount of Vitamin A they contain.

    Carrots are rich in what we call beta-carotene, an important precursor to vitamin A. Although keeping your vitamin A levels up may not increase your vision to a perfect 20/20, but it can help to convert the light that enters your eye into nerve signals which allows you to see better in lower light (dark) situations. On the other hand, extreme deficiencies in vitamin A can have detrimental effects on your vision, including blindness.

    Carrots aren’t the only vegetable or food that contains a high source of beta-carotene.  Other orange-colored foods such as mangos, pumpkins, cantaloupes and sweet potatoes are also great sources of beta-carotene.  Fruits and veggies aside, this nutrient is also prevalent in dairy products such as milk and cheese, as well as egg yolks and liver.

    Like other nutrients such as fat, sodium, cholesterol, etc., be careful how much beta-carotene-rich foods you eat.  Since beta-carotene is a pigment, it may cause your skin to become orange.  This hasn’t proven to be harmful, but we recommend consulting a doctor if this happens to make sure you’re consuming a balanced diet.

    Photo by: ccharmon