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Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the pressure inside your eyes increases enough to damage the nerve fibers in your optic nerve and cause vision loss. The increase in pressure happens when the passages that normally allow fluid in your eyes to drain become clogged or blocked. Glaucoma often is called the “silent thief of sight,” because most types typically cause no pain and produce no symptoms until noticeable vision loss occurs.
 
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S. Glaucoma can be a devastating disease if not diagnosed and treated.  It most often occurs in people over age 40. People with a family history of glaucoma, African Americans, and those who are very nearsighted or diabetic are at a higher risk of developing the disease.
 
A less common form of glaucoma is acute angle-closure glaucoma, symptoms can occur suddenly and can include blurry vision, halos around lights, intense eye pain, nausea and vomiting. If you have these symptoms, make sure you see an eye doctor or visit the emergency room immediately so steps can be taken to prevent permanent vision loss.
 
Normal-tension glaucoma (also termed normal-pressure glaucoma, low-tension glaucoma or low-pressure glaucoma) is an open-angle type of glaucoma that can cause visual field loss due to optic nerve damage. But in normal-tension glaucoma, the eye’s IOP remains in the normal range. The cause of normal-tension glaucoma is not known. But many doctors believe it is related to poor blood flow to the optic nerve. Normal-tension glaucoma is more common in those who are Japanese, are female and/or have a history of vascular disease.
 
Everyone should be concerned about glaucoma and its effects. It is important for each of us, from infants to senior citizens, to have our eyes checked regularly. Early detection and treatment of glaucoma is the only way to prevent vision impairment and blindness.

There are a few conditions related to this disease which tend to put some people at greater risk. This may apply to you if:
·         You are over 45 and have not had your eyes examined regularly
·         Someone in your family has a history of glaucoma
·         You have abnormally high intraocular pressure
·         You are of African descent
·         You have diabetes
·         You are highly myopic (nearsighted)
·         You have regular, long-term steroid/cortisone use
·         You have a previous eye injury
 
Glaucoma cannot be prevented but if diagnosed and treated early, it can be controlled. Generally glaucoma can be treated successful if diagnosed. Treatment can involve glaucoma surgery, lasers or medication, depending on the severity. Eye drops with medication aimed at lowering IOP usually are tried first to control glaucoma.
 
Despite the fact that glaucoma patients are being treated for their eye condition, LASIK or other laser vision correction options may still be an option for patients who are near-sighted, far-sighted or have astigmatism.
 
Many patients with glaucoma may have been told that due to the elevated pressure within their eyes, they were not considered a good candidate for LASIK.  If the glaucoma is under good control, LASIK can still be an option to a patient’s vision problems. 
 
Candidates must be thoroughly screened, undergoing a complete eye examination, including a retinal exam. During the examination, the LASIK surgeon will make observations and measurements to determine if LASIK is a possibility.  The surgeon may consider between the PRK and LASIK procedures, both are similar forms of laser vision correction. PRK generally causes less of a pressure increase during the surgery so is sometimes the favored method of laser vision correction.
 
If you are turned down for LASIK surgery because you have glaucoma, it might be advisable to visit a glaucoma specialist or another LASIK surgeon who has had experience with performing LASIK on glaucoma patients.

The beach, the backyard pool and even the ski slopes are very inviting but eye damage can be just around the corner. The most immediate danger is photokeratitis, a painful type of corneal sunburn linked to the bright sunlight reflected off water, sand and snow. Reflected sunlight can double the exposure of harmful UV rays. Long-term exposure to UV light can lead to cataracts, skin cancer around the eyelids and even damage to the retina.

Ultraviolet damage is cumulative. Exposure to UV light, wind, and dryness can cause pingueculas. These are abnormal, but usually non-cancerous, growths on the white part of the eye near the nose. They can start in the teen years or early adulthood and can grow onto the front part of the cornea, possibly requiring surgical removal. Protection from UV exposure and wind starting early in life can help reduce the incidence of these growths. It is estimated that 80% of lifetime absorption to UV light occurs before the age of 18. Unfortunately, a recent survey found that a high percentage of parents are unaware of the potential for damage and rarely protect their children’s eyes.

Sunglasses with UV protection can help boost the eyes’ ability to filter out the damaging rays.  However, sunglasses that do not block UV rays should be avoided. Sunglasses shade the eyes from the bright sun and cause the pupils to dilate somewhat. If the UV rays are not blocked by the lenses, more UV enters the eyes that if no lenses are worn.

Guidelines for selecting sunglasses for your child:

• Sunglasses should block 99% to 100% of both types of ultraviolet rays: UV-A and UV-B. Be wary of labels that claim a product blocks harmful UV without specifying exactly what amount of UV rays they block.
• Select sunglasses that suit children’s active lifestyles. Lenses should be impact resistant and the frames should be bendable, unbreakable and/or have snap-on temples. Polycarbonate is the most impact resistant material available and the best choice for active children. Children’s sunglasses should never be made of glass.
• Check the lenses carefully for scratches, bubbles and distortions. Here’s an easy test for non-prescription lenses: hold the glasses away from your eyes and look through the lenses at a good horizontal or vertical line, such as a window frame. If the line appears wavy instead of straight, the glasses may actually make it more difficult to see (although some distortion may be seen with prescription lenses for corrective purposes).
• Have your child try on the sunglasses before making a purchase. The lenses should be large enough to shield the eyes from most angles (above, below and either side) and to block light that enters in around the frames. The sunglasses should also fit snugly against the bridge of the child’s nose in order to reduce the amount of sunlight that enters the eyes.
• Check the sunglasses periodically to make sure they fit well and are not damaged. Children often don’t complain about their vision even when there is a problem. A regular check of their glasses is a good idea.
• Fashion should be the last thing you think about when buying sunglasses. Look at the amount of UV protection, lens quality, and durability to assure that you buy
  the right sunglasses for your child.

If you have questions or concerns, always consult your eye doctor.

One out of every 5 Americans suffers from allergies. An allergic reaction happens when the body mounts an unusual immune response to something that’s normally harmless.

Common Allergy Symptoms and Signs

• Sneezing, often associated with nasal congestion
• Coughing and postnasal drip
• Conjunctivitis or “pink eye”
• Itchy nose, mouth or throat
• Allergic “shiners” (dark circles under the eyes)

Approximately 75% of allergy sufferers will have symptoms affecting the eye. The most common form of “treatment” is simply trying to avoid what’s causing the allergy. Keeping the home free of pet dander and dust and keeping pets off the furniture helps. Staying inside with the air conditioner on when a lot of pollen is in the air also helps. Air conditioners filter out allergens, though the filters must be kept clean. Wearing wraparound sunglasses can help shield your eyes from allergens.

Over-the-counter and prescription medications each have their advantages; for example, over-the-counter products are often less expensive, while prescription ones are often stronger. Allergy pills may be more convenient but for relief of eye-related symptoms, drops are usually more effective.

Common causes of excessively watery eyes can be allergies or dry eye syndrome — two very different problems. With allergies, your body’s release of histamine causes your eyes to water. It seems paradoxical but watery eyes can also result from dry-eye syndrome. The excessive dryness works to stimulate higher than normal production of the watery component of your eye’s tears. 

Decongestant eye drops “get the red out”. They contain vasoconstrictors, which make the blood vessels overlying the white part of your eyes smaller; this lessens the apparent redness of your eyes. With extended use however, small blood vessels on the surface of the eye can become dependent on the vasoconstrictors to stay small. When the drops are discontinued, the eyes become even redder…because the vessels rebound to a diameter larger than they were initially. This process is called rebound hyperemia.  

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) eye drops may be prescribed to decrease swelling, inflammation and other symptoms associated with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (hay fever).  Some eye drops have ingredients called mast-cell stabilizers, which also alleviate redness and swelling. Mast-cell stabilizers are similar to antihistamines. But while antihistamines are known for their immediate relief, mast cell stabilizers are known for their long-lasting relief.

Eye Allergies and Contact Lenses

Even if you are generally a successful contact lens wearer, allergy season can make your contacts uncomfortable. Airborne allergens can deposit on your lenses, causing direct discomfort. Allergens can also stimulate excessive production of natural substances in your tears, which then bind to your contacts and further reduce lens comfort.  Common solutions can be to switch to daily disposable lenses, only wearing glasses or Lasik.  

Over the last two decades, over 17 million people world-wide have had LASIK to decrease their dependency from glasses or contacts by treating their nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and even presbyopia.  Patients who have undergone laser eye surgery will commonly share that their LASIK procedure was a life-changing experience for them. With the incredible technological advances in LASIK vision correction, LASIK is safer than wearing contact lenses for 10 years.

You can often see floaters or spots when looking at a plain background, like a blank wall or blue sky. Floaters are small clumps of condensed protein or cells that form in the vitreous, the clear fluid that fills the interior cavity of the eye.   Floaters may appear as specks, strands, webs or other shapes moving into your field of vision. You don’t see the floater itself but its shadow cast onto the retina, the light sensitive film at the back of the eye.  Since the floater is within your eye, and moves with it, any effort to look directly at the floater causes it to constantly “run away” as your eye turns.
 
Light Flashes
 
Flashes of light lasting a few seconds may appear in your vision when the vitreous gel pulls or tugs on the retina. This may happen as a natural result of aging or it may occur temporarily if you receive a blow to the head or eye. Usually these flashes, which are often described as lightning streaks, are noticed at night.
 
The onset of new light flashes of short duration at night, especially when accompanied by the appearance of many new floaters or a blackening out of part of your field of vision, may indicate a retinal tear or detachment. If you experience light flashes in combination with these symptoms, you should contact your eye doctor immediately.
 
What Causes Eye Floaters and Spots?
 
In most cases, floaters are part of the natural aging process. As we grow older, the vitreous shrinks causing the development of cloudy clumps of vitreous which are seen as floaters. The shrinking vitreous gel in the eye sometimes pulls free of its attachment to the back of the eye at the optic nerve. When this happens, a large floater is usually seen which can resemble a cobweb. This is frequently associated with the sensation of flashing lights as a result of the vitreous pulling on the retina.
 
Treatment for Spots and Floaters
 
Most spots and eye floaters are annoying but harmless and the vast majority of people with floaters do not develop retinal detachment. Whether you see clusters, specks, black dots or cobwebs, most floaters go away over time. Either the gel completely dissolves, or the chunks settle down to the bottom of the eye or (most likely) your brain learns to simply ignore them. There is no drug therapy available to eliminate floaters. People are sometimes interested in surgery to remove floaters but many doctors are unwilling to perform such surgery except in severe cases.  If you suddenly see new floaters or floaters accompanied by flashes of light or peripheral vision loss, it could indicate serious conditions such as diabetic retinopathy; vascular abnormalities such as retinal hemorrhages or carotid artery disease, in addition to the beginning of a retinal detachment.  Whenever you experience an increase in the number of floaters, with or without light flashes, you should call your eye doctor immediately.

It is important to protect your eyes against damage from the sun.  Much like protecting your skin from harmful UV rays of the sun with sunscreen, sunglasses are a must when on the beach or ski slopes and when driving to prevent glare.  In general, everyone should get in the habit of wearing sunglasses anytime their eyes are exposed to sunlight.  Everyone is at risk for eye damage from the sun year-round.  The risk is greatest from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Excessive sun exposure can cause loss of vision, cataracts, and even cancer of the eye.

UV rays are a part of sunlight that is an invisible form of radiation which can penetrate and change the structure of skin and eye cells, they are commonly divided into UVB and UVA rays, your sunglasses should block both forms.  UVB rays have shorter wavelengths and are the principle cause of sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging of the skin.  UVA rays have longer wavelengths and penetrate more deeply, contributing to skin cancer and aging.   People who wear contact lenses that offer UV protection should still wear sunglasses.
 
There are many options to choose from when selecting sunglasses.  Primary concerns are usually fashion related but keep in mind that the main purpose of sunglasses are to protect your eyes.  Children should also wear sunglasses and not the toy versions, but real sunglasses that indicate the UV-protection level just as with adults.  Polycarbonate lenses are generally recommended for children because they are the most shatter-resistant.  Polarized sunglasses can be used for driving and, in fact, can reduce glare from a long, flat surface such as the hood of the car or the road’s surface.  Lightly tinted lenses block roughly 70 percent of UVB and 20 percent of UVA.  Medium-tinted lenses block about 95 percent of UVB and 60 percent of UVA.  Dark-tinted lenses block an average of 99 percent of UVB and 60 percent of UVA.  Sunglasses that wrap around or have side pieces sides offer protection from rays creeping in around the edges.  You could also ask an eye-care professional to test your sunglasses if you’re not sure of their level of UV protection. Any protection is better than no protection