While most people understand that diabetes affects blood sugar levels, many are unaware that the disease also impacts eyesight. In fact, diabetic eye disease is a leading cause of blindness in the US.
Diabetic eye disease encompasses a group of eye conditions caused by diabetes, including: Read more
As we age, the amount of collagen and elastin our skin produces decreases, which is an unavoidable result of aging. This decrease, along with sun exposure and genetics, is one of the main causes of under-eye wrinkles that can make us look tired or older than we actually are.
However, all hope is not lost! There are reliable, safe, and effective ways today to improve the appearance of sagging or wrinkled skin under the eyes. Here are 5 of the best treatments that tighten the skin underneath eyes for a more youthful appearance. Read more
LASIK eye surgery is the most common form of vision correction surgery. The laser procedure makes precise corrections of the cornea to restore vision for those who are nearsighted, farsighted, or who have astigmatism. While results vary, most patients report 20/20 vision after LASIK eye surgery.
LASIK utilizes lasers to reshape the cornea to improve how the eye focuses. The degree of reshaping is based on the thickness and curvature of your cornea, which is measured with a 3D map of your eye, much like how a topographical map that shows mountains and valleys. The details from the map are taken into account along with information about the type and degree of vision needed for optimal results.
If you’re tempted to try non-prescription contact lenses to make your Halloween costume look extra cool or creepy, you might want to think again. Any of those contact lenses that promise to make your eyes vampire red or zombie white and any color in between may seem like the final touch for your perfect costume, but wearing them for a night of dress-up isn’t worth the risk.
For that matter, wearing non-prescription contacts to enhance or alter your eye color any time of the year is too much of a risk to take for the health of your eyes. The American Association of Ophthalmology reports, “Wearing contacts without an exam and prescription from a doctor can blind you. Packaging that claims ‘one size fits all’ or ‘no need to see an eye doctor’ is wrong.”
Millions of people wear contact lenses every day, but too many of them aren’t aware that contact lenses pose a risk of developing an eye infection if not used properly. Eye infections can be quite painful and potentially damaging to your eyes, so they’re not to be taken lightly with a wait-and-see approach. Some untreated eye infections can even cause permanent vision loss or blindness.
Gravity and time have an effect on all of us, and for some people aging comes with increasingly heavy or drooping eyelids. Droopy eyelids are technically called ptosis, which is a condition that isn’t just about appearances. Droopy eyelids can also affect your vision.
Eyelids become heavy or droopy when the levator muscle, which lifts the eyelid, stretches and weakens over time. As the levator muscle weaks, it becomes harder to keep the eyes fully open.
Optometrists and ophthalmologists are commonly confused, which is understandable. If you Google “eye doctor near me,” the results will likely be a mix of results for optometrists and ophthalmologists, so how do you know which one to see? Both types of eye doctors specialize in eyesight and the overall health of your eyes. However, one type of eye doctor may be better suited for specific situations.
The main difference is that while both optometrists and ophthalmologists perform vision screenings, only ophthalmologists are trained to perform comprehensive eye examinations. Comprehensive exams involve dilating the eyes, and are crucial for detecting more serious eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Read more
There are many types of surgical procedures for the eyes. Corrective eye surgeries are those that are performed in order to restore or improve a patient’s vision. Most procedures work to reshape the cornea so that light passing through it can focus on the retina. Some surgeries replace the lens of the eye.
In some cases, these surgeries are medically necessary to correct vision loss or prevent blindness from diseases such as: Read more
Beginning in the early to mid-40s, most of us start to have problems seeing clearly at close distances, particularly when reading or working on the computer. This is because our eyes and vision change over time, just like our bodies do. Over time, the lens in your eye becomes less flexible, which makes it harder for your eyes to focus on objects close up. This condition is called presbyopia, and it’s is a natural part of the aging process of the eye.
Presbyopia is not a disease, it cannot be prevented, and it is not the same as farsightedness (even though the symptom of not seeing well close up is similar). However, you can correct your close up vision with eyeglasses. In fact, all those over-the-counter drugstore glasses that you see everywhere are designed especially for presbyopia.
Constructed from magnifying lenses set into eyeglass frames, these drugstore glasses, also known as “readers,” are cheap and popular options for people who need help reading or seeing things close-up. The question most commonly asked when it comes to readers is, “Do cheap eyeglasses damage your vision?” Or, “Is it safer for my long-term vision to use prescription glasses instead of readers?” What’s the difference between the two eyeglass options? Read more
A stye, also called a hordeolum, is a small, red, painful lump that grows from the base of your eyelash or under your eyelid. Most styes are caused by a bacterial infection. Styes are common in children, people with chronic lid infections, and those with diabetes. You can also get a stye if you have blepharitis, which can make the base of your eyelashes red and swollen. Styes can be quite painful and unsightly, with prominent swelling and redness.
There are two kinds of styes, or hordeolums: Read more