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Smoking is BAD for Your Vision
Smoking increases your risks for eye disease, including cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. And the more a person smokes, the higher the risks. The good news is that after people quit smoking, their risks for these eye diseases becomes almost as low as for people who never smoked.
Smoking also raises the risks for cardiovascular diseases that indirectly influence your eyes’ health. And tobacco smoke, including second-hand smoke, is an irritant that worsens dry eye.
Smoking increases the risk of serious vision loss in people with other eye diseases. And when women smoke during pregnancy they are more likely to give birth prematurely, putting their babies at higher risk for a potentially blinding disease called retinopathy of prematurity as well as other health problems.
One of the safest things to do for your vision? Never start smoking at all.
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Stay in Shape to Protect Your Eyes
Diet and lifestyle choices can directly affect your eyes. May is Healthy Vision Month and the best way to take care of your eyes is to look after your overall health and get annual eye exams. Exercising, eating right and stop smoking are three of the best investments you can make in your vision.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology encourages you to find ways to be healthier, so your vision will last a lifetime. Making healthy choices and getting regular eye exams can help reduce the risk of getting some eye diseases and can reduce vision loss or slow down the disease if you do have age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.
- Make Eye-Healthly Food Choices: A diet low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains benefits the entire body, including the eyes. Studies show that foods rich in vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin are good for eye health. These nutrients are linked to lower risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and dry eye later in life. Eye-healthy food choices include citrus fruits, vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables and cold water fish.
- Quit Smoking: Avoiding smoking and second hand smoke — or quitting, for current smokers — are some of the best investments everyone can make for long-term eye health. Smoking increases risk for eye diseases like cataract and age-related macular degeneration and raises the risks for cardiovascular diseases that indirectly influence eyes’ health. Tobacco smoke, including second-hand smoke, also worsens dry eye.
- Maintain Normal Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and Glucose Levels: High blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose (sugar) levels all increase the risk of vision loss from an eye disease. Keeping these under control will not only help one’s eyes but also overall health.
- Get Regular Physical Activity: Not only does 30 minutes of exercise a day benefit one’s heart, waistline and energy level, it can also do the eyes a world of good! Many eye diseases are linked to other health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol levels.
- Know the Symptoms of Vision Loss: Signs of vision loss may become apparent as reading, writing, shopping, watching television, driving a car and/or recognizing faces become more difficult. Vision loss that may be noticed by friends and family include missing, bumping into or knocking over objects, stepping hesitantly, and squinting or tilting the head when trying to focus.
- Get Regular Eye Exams: Adults age 65 and over should get a medical eye exam every one-to-two years. Regular eye exams are crucial in detecting changes in vision, which may be a symptom of a treatable eye disease or condition.
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May is Healthy Vision Month
Healthy Vision Month is a great time to learn more about eye health and how important regular comprehensive dilated eye exams are to maintaining healthy vision.
Early detection of eye disease is the key to preventing vision loss and blindness. Many people who are at risk for vision loss do not know it, and millions of people in the United States have undetected vision problems and eye diseases and conditions.
Are You At Risk?
Eyesight has a huge impact on day-to-day living and is one of the senses most fear losing most. Unfortunately, many people often do not pay attention to their eye health unless they notice a problem.
Many common eye diseases that can lead to vision loss and blindness, such as diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), often have no early warning signs or symptoms.
Regular eye exams can help make sure the eyes are healthy, however the risk of vision loss and blindness is higher for some people based on race, ethnicity, and other socioeconomic factors.
You might be at higher risk for eye disease if you have a family history of eye disease; have diabetes; are African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, or Alaska Native; or are older than 50. Some diseases affect certain populations disproportionately.
- Glaucoma, which affects your side or peripheral vision first, is three times more common in African Americans than in Whites. It is a leading cause of blindness in African Americans.
- Diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness caused by uncontrolled diabetes, occurs more often in Hispanics/Latinos than in Whites.
- American Indians and Alaska Natives are 35 percent more likely to have diabetes than the average adult in the United States, putting them at increased risk of diabetic eye disease.
- Older adults are at higher risk of developing age-related eye diseases and conditions such as AMD, glaucoma, or cataract. AMD is a leading cause of blindness in Whites.
A comprehensive dilated eye exam is the best thing you can do to protect your vision. In addition to having regular eye exams, eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and wearing protective eyewear are just a few other things you can do to protect your sight.
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April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month
April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. Of the 4.1 million Americans age 40 and older who are visually impaired or blind, 2.6 million are women.
A recent study I found shows more women than men have age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, the four leading eye diseases in the country. According to the National Eye Institute, the causes are primarily due to longevity as well as hormonal factors.
The first thing every woman should do, especially those ages 40 and older, is get a dilated eye exam…because early detection and treatment, vision loss can be lessened. Keeping a healthy lifestyle also helps keep the eyes healthy, including exercising regularly, not smoking and following a healthy diet.
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April – Sports Eye Safety Month
Each year, an estimated 100,000 people are hurt by sports-related eye injuries. About 13,500 of these injuries result in permanent vision loss. In support of Sports Eye Safety Month, the American Academy of Ophthalmology reminds athletes everywhere that the great majority of sports-related eye injuries can be avoided by simply wearing the proper protection.
•Baseball and basketball account for the largest number of injuries among young athletes.
•Little League pitchers can achieve pitching speeds up to 70 mph. That’s fast enough to seriously damage an eye.
•In basketball, serious eye injuries caused by flying fingers and elbows can be prevented by wearing appropriate protective eyewear.
•Many other popular sports, such as tennis, soccer, football, golf, water sports, and hockey, put unprotected players at risk for serious eye injury.
The risk of eye injury can vary depending on the activity. Make sure the level of eye protection you or others in your family use is appropriate for the type of activity. Regular eyeglasses do not offer proper eye protection.
Studies have shown that more than 90% of eye injuries can be prevented, simply by wearing the right protective eyewear.
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What You Need To Know Post-LASIK Surgery
Since receiving FDA approval in the 1990’s, LASIK Vision Correction has safely and effectively improved the eyesight for millions of people. An estimated 600,000 LASIK procedures are performed yearly in the U.S. and that number is on the rise.
Eye Center of Texas recently celebrated helping more than 75,000 satisfied patients correct their vision with LASIK in Houston. If you’re thinking about LASIK, you may want to know what to expect after this life-changing procedure. (Learn more about preparing for LASIK)
What to Expect After Surgery
The healing process starts immediately after your surgery and your doctor will recommend that you go home and rest for the remainder of the day. (Read more about the LASIK recovery timeline) You may experience temporary burning and expect blurry vision immediately after surgery, but the this should improve by the next morning.
Your eyesight should stabilize and continue to improve within a few days, although in rare cases it may take several weeks or longer. For most people, vision improves immediately.
Important Things NOT to Do After LASIK:
- No rubbing your eyes! If you rub your eyes you could shift the corneal flap – it’s important that the corneal flap heals and adheres securely to your cornea.
- No eye makeup for one (1) week.
- No swimming or hot tubs for two (2) weeks (chlorinated water irritates eyes and bacteria could be in the water).
- No working out or heavy lifting for one (1) week after surgery.
Important Things to Remember TO Do:
Follow-up appointments are a must for 3-6 months after surgery to monitor your vision and eye health. If you experience dry eyes, glare or halos, please know that most of these symptoms should be gone or reduced by your six-month follow up visit.
Knowing what to expect and how to handle the “after” of eye surgery will help prepare you for life after LASIK.
To learn more about how LASIK surgery can improve your life, contact Eye Center of Texas, leaders in Texas eye care, today to schedule a free consultation.
Further reading about LASIK in Houston:
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I’ve just had LASIK surgery! What can I expect?
If you’re thinking of having LASIK Eye Treatment, you’ll undoubtedly have a lot of questions about what to expect immediately after the operation. Do you need to take a significant amount of time off of work? What can I expect to experience? Will I be in pain? How long does it take for my vision to improve? Thankfully, LASIK surgery is one of the safest surgical procedures around. Let’s take you step by step through the immediate aftermath of a successful treatment.
Upon completion of the operation, your surgeon should have you rest for a bit. Many people report experiencing a temporary burning/itching sensation immediately after the procedure that is momentary and fleeting.
After a momentary rest, you will be released to return home. Make sure to arrange transportation ahead of time, as you won’t be able to drive yourself!
There are several important things to remember upon being released.
You will be prescribed medication. Follow your doctor’s instructions and remember to take any medication prescribed to you, such as eye drops and other medicines to lubricate your eyes.
You will have a temptation to rub your eyes. Do not rub your eyes. If you rub your eyes, there is a small chance this could dislodge the corneal flap created by the surgeon necessary in reshaping the underlying cornea.
Avoid tasks that could result in getting dust, dirt or water in your eyes. Avoid getting water in your eyes within the first 72 hours after a laser eye surgery procedure. It’s recommended that you avoid activities such as swimming or relaxing in a hot tub for several weeks post-surgery.
Blurriness and haziness is very common immediately after the surgery, but this should last only until the next day. Your eyesight will continue to improve in the next few days, although it can rarely take an additional week or two. It’s definitely recommended you take a few days off of work for proper rest and healing, although people have reported going to work the next day with no problems.
After the initial operation, your doctor will schedule a post-operative check up to occur within 24 to 48 hours of the operation. They will test your vision to ensure your eyes are healing, and whether you will be clear to drive without glasses or contact lenses. In most states, this requires uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. There will be additional follow-up appointments as well depending on the doctor’s judgment. Appointments that are scheduled anytime from 1 week to 6 months after the operation is normal.
The good news is that for most people, their vision improves immediately!
The long-term results offer several benefits. Most people achieve 20/20 vision or better after the surgery, but results do vary. Some people only achieve 20/40 or less. You may still need to wear glasses or contact lenses following the treatment, however your prescription level typically will be much lower than before.
Complications can occur, although the LASIK Treatment is considered a very safe procedure, with current statistics showing only 1% of patients experienced serious complications.
And finally, always remember to talk with your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have. They will have the expertise to directly address any concerns that apply to your case.
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A Guide to LASIK Eye Surgery and What to Expect
If you meet the qualifications for Houston LASIK, the procedure can greatly improve your life. LASIK, which stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is one of the most common and successful eye surgeries to treat astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. (Further reading: What is the difference between nearsighted and farsighted?)
Understanding the Requirements for LASIK Surgery
The surgery is almost always successful, but patients must meet the right requirements. (For evaluation: Am I a candidate for LASIK?) You may be advised against LASIK surgery if your prescription is too high. If you have any temporary problems with your eyes such as conjunctivitis or an infection, you must wait until your eyes have fully healed.
Also, your cornea should be the correct thickness, as performing the surgery on a thin or misshapen cornea can affect the results. If your pupils are too large, your doctor may advise you against LASIK, as the surgery could increase your risk of side effects like halos and glares.
Before your surgery, your doctor will examine your eyes to make sure you are a candidate for LASIK. He or she will examine your cornea with a corneal topographer, an instrument that measures the curvature of your cornea. Your doctor will probably perform a wavefront analysis, a procedure that creates a map of your eye. Your pupil and the moistness of your eyes will also likely be examined.
During the LASIK Procedure
At the beginning of your surgery, your doctor will apply numbing eye drops to your eyes. A lid speculum keeps your eyelids open and a suction ring is applied to your eye to prevent movement. Then, your surgeon will use either a microkeratome tool or a femtosecond laser to create a small flap in your cornea.
The surgeon will fold back the flap to access the part of the eye called the stroma and use an excimer laser to remove some corneal tissue. Removing this tissue allows the cornea to reshape for improved vision. The laser will flatten the cornea for nearsighted people and create a steeper cornea for farsighted people. After the cornea is correctly reshaped, the flap will be placed back over the eye.
LASIK surgery only takes about five minutes on each eye and should be completed within 15 minutes. The procedure is pain-free and does not require stitches or bandages. However, you may feel some burning or itching immediately after the surgery. Your doctor will probably have you rest for a short time before a post-operative exam.
How Long Will My Vision Be Blurry After LASIK?
You will probably experience blurry or hazy vision temporarily, but your vision should be clear by the next day. Most patients notice improvements in their vision within a day of having the surgery. Over the next few days or weeks, your vision will continue to improve. Doctors usually recommend staying home for a couple days after LASIK surgery to rest and refraining from strenuous exercise for a week.
How Long After LASIK Can I See 20/20?
The results of the procedure vary from patient to patient, but many patients may see 20/20 vision after the surgery after a few days. Each patient is unique, and sometimes results may take a few weeks. In less common instances, a few patients may need to continue wearing glasses or contacts but with a much lower prescription. A LASIK enhancement procedure, while uncommon, is sometimes necessary to improve the results of the surgery.
What About LASIK After 40?
Some people also still need to use reading glasses, especially once they enter their 40s. (Read more about blended vision & LASIK after 40 and bifocals & LASIK and However, LASIK surgery has a high success rate and most people who receive the surgery experience drastically improved vision.
LASIK Surgery at Eye Center of Texas & What to Expect
Eye Center of Texas is preferred by over 300 Houston area eye doctors. Our world-class doctors use the latest technology and have helped over 75,000 satisfied patients see clearly. To learn more about LASIK surgery at Eye Center of Texas, contact us today. Here are more resources our patients have found helpful: How long after LASIK can I see 20/20? Learn more about pain above eye socket, What causes dry eyes at night? Why are my eyes red? Learn more about a bump on the eyelid that won’t go away.
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Easter Eggs are Egg-cellent for Your Eyes.
Good News…there is no reason to eliminate eggs from your Easter celebrations! In fact, the incredible, edible egg is chock full of eye friendly antioxidants and eggs yolks are high in lutein, a type of carotenoid that helps fight macular degeneration, the leading cause of legal blindness. According to a 2009 study, older adults who consumed four egg yolks a day for five weeks had improved macular health. And here’s a little side note: ECT’s Dr. Ting-Fang Suarez usually has a boiled egg in her pocket. She says they’re a filling snack and they’re good for eyes…she should know because she specializes in retina diseases.
There are so many great ways to enjoy eggs that they never get boring. Whether your favorite egg dish is an Easter Egg, omelette or egg salad sandwich, it’s easy to get all the nutrition they contain while reaping their health benefits!
Happy Easter Egg Hunting!
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Do you have Pre Diabetes?
An estimated 86 million Americans, that’s one in three adults have prediabetes, and nearly 90 percent of them don’t know it. The good news is that prediabetes can be easy to diagnose and can be reversed with diet and exercise.
Tomorrow, March 22, 2016 is Prediabetes Alert Day and The American Diabetes Association is asking Americans to learn where they stand with prediabetes, a condition that can lead to type 2 diabetes.
- Tune in to or record The Dr. Oz Show on Tuesday, March 22, for a program about prediabetes and ways to lower your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
- Visit DoIHavePrediabetes.org. Take the one-minute risk test and encourage everyone you know to take it, too. A score of 5 or higher means you should talk to your doctor.
Eye Complications due to Diabetes:
People with diabetes do have a higher risk of blindness than people without diabetes. But most people who have diabetes have nothing more than minor eye disorders. With regular checkups, you can keep minor problems minor. And if you do develop a major problem, there are treatments that often work well if you begin them right away.
Eye Center of Texas has 2 ophthalmologist who specialize in diabetic retinopathy: Dr. Ting-Fang Suarez and Dr. Paul Stewart. They would like everyone with prediabetes and diabetes to know that the longer you’ve had diabetes, the more likely you are to have diabetic retinopathy. Almost everyone with type 1 diabetes will eventually have nonproliferative retinopathy. And most people with type 2 diabetes will also get it. But the retinopathy that destroys vision, proliferative retinopathy, is far less common. People who keep their blood sugar levels closer to normal are less likely to have retinopathy or to have milder forms.
Your retina can be badly damaged before you notice any change in vision. Most people with nonproliferative retinopathy have no symptoms. Even with proliferative retinopathy, the more dangerous form, people sometimes have no symptoms until it is too late to treat them. For this reason, you should have your eyes examined regularly by an eye care professional.
Stay at a healthy weight, eat well and be active. With these steps, you can stay healthier longer and lower your risk of diabetes.
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Katy
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Houston, TX 77084
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The Woodlands/Conroe
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