Should I get my eye exam done online this year?

There is no FDA-approved computer system or app that substitutes an in-person eye exam with an actual eye doctor. The American Optometric Association President explains that “patients need to be wary of any company that claims its device can replace the care that a doctor provides.”

Online exams attempt to replace several critical components of an eye exam with your optometrist, one being the refraction test. The is the test that asks “which is clearer, 1 or 2?” The refraction determines your prescription; there is no way to accurately check this remotely. Also, more importantly, there is no great way to assess your ocular health remotely. Findings such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, ocular melanomas, retinal tears, retinal holes, and retinal detachments often have no symptoms early on and cannot be properly diagnosed remotely.

The TOP FIVE foods for eye health

It is a well known fact that carrots are good for the eyes. However, are there other foods that may be even better? In recent years, there has been more research done on the relationship between nutrition and eye health. Here, I hope to provide you with a brief summary of some of the most powerful foods that you can eat to protect your baby blues through the years.

1) Leafy Green Vegetables

Greens such as spinach, kale, collard greens, and Brussels sprouts are packed full of lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that greatly reduce your risk of macular degeneration, an eye disease that can lead to blindness. Many Americans are low in these antioxidants, which are only obtained through diet. Can’t stand the taste of uncooked kale or spinach? Try adding them to a smoothie with your favorite fruits, for a nutrient-packed breakfast.

2)   Bell peppers

Just one yellow or orange pepper gives you about 4 times more Vitamin C than an orange! Vitamin C has been shown to reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration as well as slow the onset of cataracts. Other great sources of Vitamin C include broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, and kiwi. Next time you make a salad, why not put some chopped bell peppers and strawberries on top? Delicious!

3)   Nuts and seeds

Almonds make a delicious mid-day snack and are rich in Vitamin E and zinc, both of which can protect your eyes from free radical damage. Other great sources of Vitamin E and Zinc include sunflower seeds and peanuts.

4)   Salmon

Those who eat fish rich in Omega-3s such as salmon, tuna, and halibut 2-3 times a week are at a lower risk for developing macular degeneration down the road. Additionally, these foods help provide relief from dry eyes. For the vegetarians out there, other great sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids include flax seeds, soybeans, and walnuts.

5)   Sweet potatoes

Providing even more Vitamin A than carrots, sweet potatoes help protect against dry eyes and night blindness. Other great sources of Vitamin A include mangoes, peaches, and yellow squash.

Though most eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration occur in the later years of life, the processes that lead to their development begin much earlier. A lifetime of good health will yield its benefits down the road, and it is never too late to take the first step into a healthy lifestyle. A multivitamin can provide you with some of the vitamins I mentioned, but the best source is through diet. So, fill your plate with variety and color. Here’s to years of great health!

Thank you for a great year!

As the end of the year is nearing, we wanted to take a minute and give a BIG thank you to all of you! We appreciate your continued support of our small, family-owned business. Thanks to you all, we bounced back after COVID closures just fine and are now busier than ever. Cheers to 2022 and a new year!

iPhone or Double Espresso before bed? Take your pick.

Are you the person who just HAS to check Facebook and HAS to make one more move on Words with Friends right before bed? Yup, me too. But I’m going to try to stop! You see, smartphones and laptops emit very bright blue light, which mimics the brightness of the sun. This tricks your brain into thinking it is daytime and tells it to stop producing melatonin, which tells your body “it's time to go to sleep." Interestingly, one study found that subjects who read a printed book before bed (versus those who read on a smartphone) had longer REM sleep, secreted more melatonin, and had more energy the next day. Another study found that looking at a smartphone before bed had an even worse effect on the subjects’ sleep schedule than a double espresso!

Why would I see the eye doctor? I'm still seeing just fine.

Regular eye exams are important. This is especially true over the age of 55 when the risk for cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration increases. When somebody has very early glaucoma or macular degeneration, there are almost always no obvious symptoms. The person would never FEEL anything was wrong with their eyes. Or even notice any vision changes. However, if somebody does end up with one of these diagnoses, once vision is lost, it’s generally lost forever. As an eye doctor, one of the most sad and frustrating things for me is seeing these sorts of cases in which a person loses vision permanently, yet the vision loss could have been preventable if they would have just come in sooner rather than waiting years and years, until it’s too late. Case in point: Just because your eyes FEEL good or you are still seeing “just fine” ever since your LASIK surgery that was many years ago, I still encourage you all to have regular check ups. Most insurance will cover exams yearly since that what is generally recommended, though even every 2 years may be acceptable for some. Better late than never, right?

Should I buy the "eye vitamins" I see for sale at the grocery store?

Great question! So, there was a large study done several years ago called the “Age-Related Eye Disease Study” or “AREDS” that investigated the potential benefit of a certain cocktail of vitamins on a very specific eye disease: macular degeneration. The study found that there are specific vitamins and micronutrients that can reduce the progression of INTERMEDIATE DRY macular degeneration to more advanced stages by about 25%.

Nothing is known about the possibility of these vitamins possibly preventing macular degeneration down the road. And the vitamin dosages are not small. Because of this, it is generally not recommended to just start taking these vitamins if there is no sign of macular degeneration present. The best thing that can be done to possibly prevent macular degeneration and other eye diseases is making specific “eye health friendly” lifestyle changes, if needed. These changes include having a well-rounded diet, remembering to include (if possible) fruits, veggies (especially leafy greens) and eggs (which are great for macular health). Other changes that are recommended include smoking cessation as well as protecting the eyes from the sun with a GOOD pair of sunglasses.

Case in point: Ask your eye doctor before simply starting any vitamin or supplement, to be sure it is something that truly makes sense for you and that also won’t interfere with any other medications you may be taking.

What's on your back to school checklist?

You’ve purchased most of the items on your school supplies list. Glue sticks. Crayons. Notebooks. Tissues. Scissors. But have you gotten your child in yet for his/her yearly eye exam? A child’s vision can change even every several months, and it is often found that children will not complain even though their world is blurry…they will instead often simply squint their way through it. The screening done at the pediatrician’s office doesn’t check for any sort of focusing issues that may be present with reading, a possible small eye turn, or overall eye health. Give us a call today or request an appointment on our website to be sure to get them in before the first day of school! Being able to see the board well and not get headaches with near work is essential to success in the classroom.

What we are actually looking at with all those bright lights....

Since the retina is one of the only places in the body we can easily see blood vessels, a retinal evaluation (performed at every eye exam) can sometimes be one of the first indicators of systemic disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and many other possibilities. With the advent of retinal photography, we can sometimes catch subtle changes earlier and better montior changes that may occur over time.