Diabetes and The Eyes

You may have heard that diabetes causes eye problems and may lead to blindness. Diabetics are at a greater risk of becoming blind, but there are steps you can take to avoid eye problems.

First and foremost, keep your blood sugar levels under control.

Secondly, maintain a normal blood pressure to help keep any eye conditions from worsening.

If you smoke, quit.

With routine checkups by an eye care specialist, you can keep minor problems from becoming  major ones. A dilated eye exam once a year is highly recommended.

If any of the following occur between eye examinations, please see your optometrist or ophthalmologist immediately:

• Double vision
• Floaters, spots or sudden flashes of light
• Blurriness
• Difficulty reading signs or books
• A straight line does not look straight

The things listed above can help preserve your vision as well as eating a healthy diet and exercise as advised by your healthcare professional. And always maintain good eye protection habits by wearing sunglasses with UV protection to reduce exposure.

To schedule a diabetic eye evaluation or if you are experiencing any eye problems, please call Eye Center South for an appointment at (334) 793-2211.

September – Healthy Aging Month: Tips for Healthy Vision

Many changes come with the aging process, however, vision loss and blindness do not have to be among them. Here are some tips for maintaining healthy vision as we age.

The most important thing we can do to reduce our risk of vision loss is to visit an eye care professional regularly for a comprehensive dilated eye exam.  Even if you are not having any visual complaints, sometimes age-related diseases have no symptoms.

A dilated eye exam is somewhat different than the basic eye exam usually done for glasses or contacts.  By having a dilated exam, your doctor is able to examine the back of the eyes and can detect any problems in the early stages, before vision loss occurs.

Here are some tips to follow for maintaining healthy vision now and later:

Eat a well-balanced diet.  Fruits and vegetables help keep your eyes healthy.  Dark, leafy greens such as spinach and kale are especially good for eye health.  Eating fish such as salmon and tuna, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids, have eye health benefits as well.

Maintain a healthy weight.  Being overweight can leave you at a higher risk for diabetes and, if not well-controlled, diabetes can cause complications with diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma, which can eventually lead to vision loss.

Don’t smoke.  Smoking increases the risk for cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and other conditions that can damage the optic nerve.

Wear sunglasses while outside.  Sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays.  Choose sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays.

Healthy vision begins with early detection and treatment.  If you have been diagnosed with an eye condition, be sure to follow up as directed with your eye care professional and learn more about your treatment options.

Children’s Eye Health

It is sometimes difficult for parents to decide when their child needs a thorough eye exam.  Most pediatricians will perform an evaluation during a well-child visit.  But if there is a family history of eye problems, the child may need to be referred to an optometrist or an ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye examination.  Even if there are no known risk factors or family history, it is recommended that children get their vision checked at 6 months of age, 3 years old, and before first grade.

A few signs that may help in determining if your child needs a more thorough eye exam include:

• Complaints of problems seeing information on the chalk board
• Difficulty reading and writing
• Blurry or double vision
• Eye pain
• Headaches
• Takes more time to finish homework

Early detection and treatment is the key to providing your child the best opportunity of having healthy eyes and good vision.

If you have concerns about your child’s vision, call your optometrist for an appointment or call Eye Center South at 334-793-2211 to schedule an appointment with our Board-Certified Pediatric Ophthalmologists.

Celebrate Independence Day with Independence from Glasses and Contacts

In celebration of Independence Day in the United States, why not also celebrate independence from glasses and contact lenses with LASIK.

LASIK, which stands for Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, is a procedure that reduces or eliminates the need for glasses or contact lenses.  LASIK surgery is performed by using a special laser that permanently changes the shape of the cornea giving the patient clearer, sharper vision.  With nearsighted people, the goal of LASIK surgery is to flatten the cornea.  With farsighted people, a steeper cornea is desired.  LASIK surgery can also correct astigmatism by smoothing an irregular cornea into a more normal shape.

In the event a patient is not a candidate for LASIK, other refractive surgeries are available.  If you or someone you know is considering laser vision correction, call Eye Center South at 1-800-NEW-EYES, to schedule a complimentary LASIK evaluation with Dr. Sebastian Heersink, Dr. Marnix Heersink or Dr. Zsolt Bansagi and be one step closer to being independent of glasses and contacts.

Understanding Cataracts and Cataract Surgery

Everyone is born with a natural lens. As we age, the natural lens will become cloudy, which is called a cataract. Cataracts may also be present at birth or develop as the result of an eye injury. However, cataract surgery is one of the most common operations performed in the U.S.

During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed with a technique called phacoemulsification, which makes a small opening in the side of your cornea. By ultrasonic vibrations, the lens is broken into small pieces and removed. The natural lens is then replaced with an artificial (manmade) lens known as an intraocular lens (IOL).

Usually the doctor will not perform cataract surgery on both eyes at the same time, but can be done a few days to a few weeks apart, if needed.

See your eye care specialist for a thorough evaluation if you think you may have cataracts.

Protecting Your Eyes Against Ultraviolet Rays

Ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause damage to your eyes as well as increase your risk of cataracts and certain cancers of the eyes and eyelids.  Those at higher risk of the dangers of UV damage are Caucasians.  Traits of Caucasians include the following: people with fair skin, light-colored eyes and people who get prolonged exposure to the sun and/or tanning beds.  To help ensure good eye protection, wearing sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection or labeled as UV400 are recommended for everyone, not just those who work in the sun.

Maintain healthy eyes with adequate UV protection, a well-balanced diet, getting regular exercise, not smoking and keeping routine eye exams with your eye care professional.

Hearing Aid Specialist Great Savings!

WOW… a $1000 savings and a free Phonak ComPilot II ($525 savings)! Don’t pass up these savings! Call Hearing Aid Specialist, Gene Smith, at Hearing Center South to schedule your free hearing screening and for more information at 334-793-2211.