Successfully managing your glaucoma is a continuing partnership between you and Eyecare Associates. Everyone at ECA is dedicated to providing the best care possible; however, it is critical that you take your medication(s) as directed and commit to keeping your follow-up appointments.
Diagnostic testing is another tool used by your doctor to evaluate the advancement of your disease. When scheduling your follow up examination, be sure and also schedule any tests recommended by your doctor.
Keep in mind that Glaucoma is hereditary. Anyone who has a relative diagnosed with Glaucoma should schedule an examination to determine if they too suffer from this disease.
As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that you are being successfully treated, we have compiled a list of tips and suggestions to assist you in remembering to take you glaucoma medication.
Helpful Hints for Remembering Your Glaucoma Medication Consistency
Always take your eye drops at the same time every day (or as recommended by your doctor).
Associate taking your eye drops with other daily routines you have established for yourself, such as brushing your teeth.
Keep your eye drops in the same place in your home and always know where they are.
Ask a friend or family member to remind you to take your drops. Each day, they can ask, “Did you remember your eye drops today?”
Send Yourself A Signal
Set a daily clock or watch alarm to serve as a reminder to take your eye drops.
Put a reminder note in a prominent location, such as on the refrigerator door or on the mirror in your bathroom.
Keep a calendar nearby and draw an “X” through each day after your medication is taken. This will serve as an easy visual cue to whether you took your medicine that day.
Make Sure You Do Not Run Out of Medication
Keep a log of how long the eye drops last so you can get a refill before running out.
Once you know how long your medication should last, mark your calendar to refill your prescription one week before you expect to run out.
You are highly valued as a patient at Eyecare Associates. We view successful health care as a partnership between you and us. Please call us with any questions you might have. We look forward to seeing you on your next visit.
Do You Suffer from Dry Eyes
If you suffer from Dry Eyes Syndrome you will be pleased to know that we now have a Dry Eyes Clinic specifically designed for your treatment and care. Our Dry Eye Specialists have specially designed a variety of diagnostic tools and treatments to eliminate the uncomfortable symptoms associated with dry eyes.
Dry Eye Symptoms include:
Red Eyes
Burning
Itching
Foreign Body Sensation
Sandy/Gritty Feeling
Light Sensitivity
Watery/Tearing Eyes
Contact Len Discomfort
Eye Soreness
Arthritis/Joint Pain
Some people do not produce enough tears or the appropriate quality of tears to keep the eye healthy and comfortable. This is known as dry eye.
Tears are produced by two different methods. Tears can be formed at a slow steady rate and are responsible for normal eye lubrication. Large quantities of tears can also be produced in response to eye irritation or emotions.
Tears that lubricate are constantly produced by a healthy eye. Excessive tearing occurs when the eye is irritated by a foreign body, dryness or when a person cries.
What Causes Dry Eye? Tear production normally decreases as we age. Although dry eye can occur in both men and women at any age, women are most often affected. This is especially true after menopause.
A wide variety of common medications can cause dry eye by reducing tear secretion. Be sure to tell our doctor the names of all the medications you are taking, especially if you are using diuretics, beta-blockers, antihistamines, sleeping pills, medications for “nerves” or pain relievers.
How Are Dry Eyes Treated?
Artificial Tears - Since many of the medications that can cause dry eyes are necessary, the use of “artificial tears” may be recommended. These eye drops are similar to your own tears. They lubricate the eyes and help maintain moisture.
Punctal Plugs - Conserving your eyes’ own tears is another approach to keeping the eyes moist. Tears drain out of the eye through a small channel into the nose.
Your doctor may close these channels with punctal plugs. The closure conserves your own tears and makes artificial tears last longer.
If you suffer from these or other uncomfortable symptoms of dry eye… we can help! We would like to schedule an appointment to tell you about an exciting, new therapy for dry eye. Please call us today!
Eye Allergies
The eyes are one of the most sensitive and vulnerable organs of the body. Airborne allergens and other particles can land directly on the surface of the eye, causing irritation and redness. Although tears constantly wash the eyes, they can’t always keep out allergens like pollen or pet dander. Because of this ocular allergies are common.
What Are Ocular Allergies?
Eye allergies are no different than those that affect your sinuses, nose or lungs. When an allergen comes in contact with your eyes, your body releases histamine, a chemical produced in reaction to a substance that the immune system can’t tolerate. Special cells called mast cells make histamine. These cells are present throughout the body but are highly concentrated in the eyes.
Ocular allergies tend to be airborne. The most frequent allergic trigger are pollen, pet hair or dander, dust and some medications.
Other triggers that irritate the eyes but are not true allergies are cigarette smoke, perfume and diesel exhaust.
Treatment
If you have ocular allergies or any kind of allergic disease, the most effective treatment is prevention. Try to avoid the allergens that trigger symptoms. This is not always an easy task, especially if your triggers are airborne, such as pollen.
When ocular allergies can’t be controlled, there are several medications that may help to relieve symptoms. Most of these treatments are topical, such as eye drops or ointment.
Allergic Conjunctivitis and conjunctivitis caused by an infection can be hard to distinguish. They both manifest themselves by an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the membrane lining under the eyelids). Both have similar symptoms, such as redness, itching and swelling in the eye area. However, when conjunctivitis is caused by allergies, both eyes are usually affected. Viral or Bacterial Conjunctivitis, also known as “pink eye”, can affect either a single eye or both eyes.
Common symptoms of Allergic Conjunctivitis are:
Redness and itching under the eyelid
Excessive watering
Swelling of the eyeball
Common symptoms of conjunctivitis associated with infection are:
Feeling that eyelids are “glued” shut upon waking
Sensitivity to light
Pus on the surface of the eye
Burning sensation
It is important to determine whether someone has conjunctivitis because of allergies or infection since each treatment is different. Because of this reason, it is necessary to schedule an appointment with your doctor so that he can accurately diagnosis your condition and prescribe the proper course of action to ensure your ocular health.
Should You Be Worried About Macular Degeneration?
Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people fifty years of age or older. Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic eye disease that occurs when tissue in the macula, the part of your retina that is responsible for central, detailed vision, deteriorates. Central vision becomes limited; however, side vision remains clear. There are two types of Macular Degeneration, “dry” and “wet”.
Dry is the most common type of Macular Degeneration. In the early stages, changes in vision may be hard to notice. Over time, your central vision slowly worsens. You may notice wavy lines and blank spots in the center of your vision. Colors may look dim. There is no way to restore vision lost from dry macular degeneration; however, it should be monitored closely because it can turn into wet macular degeneration.
Wet macular degeneration is less common but more serious. Vision loss is quick and severe. You may suddenly notice dark spots, blank spots, wavy lines and dim colors in the center of your vision. If wet macular is caught early, laser treatment may help slow further vision loss.
A healthy macula is necessary for normal central vision acuity. Early detection and treatment may help reduce the severity of vision loss; therefore, every person over the age of fifty should have an annual eye examination, especially those who have a family history of macular degeneration.
Summer UV Protection for the Eyes
The hot, sultry days of summer are upon us and for those of you who have lived in our southern region, you know what that means. Sometimes, it feels as though we are inside a sauna when we are outdoors! Most individuals know to drink plenty of water, and to protect their skin from those harmful UV rays by wearing sunscreen or a hat during the hottest part of the day. But, did you know that your eyes also need protection?
Eyecare Associates wants you to have a wonderful time this summer, whether you’re out on the lake, strolling through the park or jogging on the levee. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation not only damages your skin, it can also damage the eye permanently. Sun exposure, especially if combined with glare of pavement, can cause the equivalent of a temporary burn to the surface of the eye. Doctors are also concerned that repeated UV exposure can cause permanent damage to either the lens of the eye or can lead to certain eye diseases. Ultraviolet radiation is believed to be a risk factor in the development of both cataracts and macular degeneration.
What can you do to protect your eyes this summer? The best thing is to invest in a good pair of UV blocking sunglasses and wear them whenever you are outdoors. When buying sunglasses, it is important to look for a lens that blocks at least 98 percent of UV radiation, both UV-A and UV-B.
The Looking Glass offers a wide variety of styles and options to meet your eye care needs, whether you need prescription glasses, prefer transition lenses, or just want to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. The knowledgable staff at The Looking Glass will be able to assist you and your family in safely enjoying the sun and help you ensure strong, healthy eyes now and in the future. So, grab your shades and have a great summer!
Diabetic Services
Approximately 16 million people in the United States have diabetes and one-third of them do not know it. People with diabetes are 25 times more likely to become blind than people without diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness among adults. Each year 12,000 to 24,000 people lose their sight because of diabetes. By detecting and treating diabetic eye disease early through annual, dilated eye exams, people with diabetes can preserve their sight.
Diabetic Eye Disease is a group of eye problems that affects those with diabetes, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma. The most common of these is diabetic retinopathy, which affects 5.3 million Americans over the age of 18.
Diabetic retinopathy is a potentially vision threatening condition in which the blood vessels inside the retina become damaged from the high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes. These damaged vessels can then leak, bleed or scar and cause retinal detachment, hemorrhaging or macular edema, conditions than can damage vision.
More that one-third of those diagnosed with diabetes do not receive the recommended vision care and may be at risk for blindness. Because there are often no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, vision may not be affected until the disease becomes severe.
Once diagnosed with diabetes, schedule a complete dilated eye examination with your doctor at least once a year. Make an appointment promptly if you experience blurred vision and floaters that:
Affect only one eye
Last more than a few days
Are not associated with a change in blood sugar
In advanced cases of diabetic retinopathy, laser treatment has been shown to reduce the loss of vision. The surgery does not cure diabetic retinopathy, nor does it prevent future vision loss, especially if diabetes or blood pressure is not well controlled.
Diabetes can also affect your vision by causing cataracts and glaucoma. If you have diabetes, you may get cataracts at a younger age and your chances of developing glaucoma are doubled.
Early diagnosis of diabetes and effective control of blood sugar and hypertension through diet, exercise and medication can help to reduce your risk of developing eye diseases associated with diabetes.
