Does your child have myopia? Myopia, or nearsightedness, is when your child can see near objects clearly, but has difficulty seeing objects at a distance. Myopia can be caused by the shape of the eye’s cornea, or when the eye grows too long. While myopia is a common refractive error among children, many parents are unaware that myopia can worsen as children grow, impacting their learning and development. While the only option for treating myopia used to be glasses or regular contact lenses, now there are a variety of treatments available that may slow this condition’s progression. The most common treatment options work to prevent the eye from continuing to overgrow. These include prescription eye drops, multifocal glasses or contacts, or a therapy called orthokeratology, which are contact lenses worn at night that temporarily reshape the cornea for clear vision the following day. How do these special contacts and glasses work differently than regular lenses? Regular glasses and contacts only focus central light rays, which causes peripheral light rays to focus behind the eye’s retina, which is thought to stimulate eye growth. Orthokeratology and multifocal lenses correct the central light rays while also focusing peripheral light rays in front of the retina. This is thought to prevent the eye from continuing to grow. The myopia management treatment you choose depends on your child's unique vision needs. Please talk to us today to find out what treatment is best for your child.
If your eyes are itching, tearing, burning, or red you may have eye allergies, or what doctors call allergic conjunctivitis. Allergies develop when the body's immune system becomes sensitized to something such as pollen, dust, pet dander, or mold. These are called allergens, and there are many potential allergens in our environment that can come into contact with our eyes. With allergic conjunctivitis, allergens cause the eyes and surrounding tissues to become inflamed and uncomfortable. These symptoms may occur alone, or in combination with general allergic symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, or a stuffy nose. There are two main types of eye allergies: Seasonal and Chronic. Seasonal eye allergies are the most common form and occur in the spring or fall when the amount of pollen in the air is very high. Chronic eye allergies are less common, but potentially more severe than seasonal allergies. This form is non-seasonal and occurs continuously throughout the year. Chronic eye allergies may be triggered by dust, mold, pets or other allergens that are present year-round. While ocular allergies may be an ongoing condition, the right treatment from your eye care professional can reduce or eliminate symptoms.
Corneal refractive therapy (CRT) is a non-surgical treatment option for people suffering from mild to moderate presbyopia, nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. CRT offers a legitimate alternative to laser vision correction for many people. This procedure uses specially designed contact lenses, which are prescribed to reshape the surface of the cornea and reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or regular contact lenses. CRT treatment involves changing the curvature of the cornea by temporarily molding its shape using a gas permeable contact lens.
Blepharitis is a common condition, that results in inflammation affecting the eyelids, and eyelashes. Symptoms of blepharitis include redness, irritation, crusting, and a dry or sandy feeling in the eyes and eyelids. In most cases, this condition does not cause damage to one's vision. Typical causes of this condition include bacterial infections, allergic reactions, excessive oil production by glands in the eyelid, or poor eyelid hygiene. If you are experiencing symptoms of Blepharitis, contact your eye care professional to schedule an eye examination.
Ocular surface diseases are disorders of the surface of the cornea, the transparent layer that forms the front of the eye. These diseases include dry eye syndrome, meibomian gland dysfunction, blepharitis, rosacea, allergies, scarring from glaucoma medications, chemical burns, and immunological conditions. Ocular surface diseases can severely affect eyesight and quality of life. Symptoms may include blurry vision, discomfort or pain, redness and itching, and in severe cases, blindness due to corneal scarring. Unfortunately, cases often go undiagnosed and untreated due to a lack of understanding of symptoms and inaccurate evaluation.
When we are young, the lens inside of our eye is extremely flexible, and allows us to easily focus on close objects. Over time, the lens gradually loses its flexibility, which makes it difficult to focus on close objects. This condition is called Presbyopia, and it is a normal part of the aging process that happens to everyone, even those who have never had a vision problem before.
In a healthy eye, a balance exists between the fluid produced, and the fluid that leaves the eye. This balance keeps the eye pressure at a healthy level. In order to maintain balance the eye has a built-in drainage system. This drainage system controls the inflow and outflow of fluids, which is responsible for nourishing the eye. The eye's drainage system works a lot like a sink. Fluid is produced from the faucet and exits through the drain. If a blockage develops in the eye's drainage system, or if fluid is produced faster than it can escape - an overflow will occur. In the eye, this overflow causes the pressure to elevate. The optic nerve is most vulnerable to damage from elevated pressure. Continuous elevated pressure or spikes in pressure can damage the optic nerve. If left untreated, damage to the optic nerve can lead to vision loss and even blindness. The main goals of glaucoma surgery are to reduce eye pressure and prevent vision loss. When treating glaucoma one option to reduce pressure, is to turn off the faucet. Another option to reduce pressure is to remove the blockage that's slowing the fluid from escaping. And the final option for reducing pressure is to create a new channel for the fluid to escape through. Your doctor will recommend the best option for you.
Do your eyes feel irritated or like something is in them? Are you experiencing redness, burning, excessive tearing, or occasional blurry vision? You may have dry eye, a common condition where your eyes do not produce enough tears. Sometimes, the only symptom of dry eye is recurring blurred vision. Because there are many possible causes of dry eye, we gather a patient health history to better understand your risk.
