Keeping An ‘Eye’ On Seasonal Allergies

For most Americans, the start of spring is welcomed by thoughts of warmer weather, beautiful flowers and picnics in the park. But, for the 50 million Americans who suffer from allergies, the early signs of spring more closely resemble sneezing, coughing and itchy, watery eyes.

Eye allergies, also called “allergic conjunctivitis,” are a reaction to indoor and outdoor allergens – pollen, mold, dust mites and pet dander – that get in the eyes and cause inflammation of the tissue that lines the inner eyelid.

While eye allergies can affect anyone, the spring can be particularly hard on contact lens wearers. Extended wear time and infrequent lens replacement are two of the main reasons contact lens wearers face more severe symptoms.

Below are some tips to help make the spring season more comfortable:

• Reduce contact lens wearing time when possible.
• Talk to your optometrist about changing your cleaning method or using daily disposable contact lenses.
• Use eye drops as prescribed by a doctor of optometry.

When it comes to treating symptoms of allergies, the American Eye-Q®, a recent nationwide survey conducted by the American Optometric Association (AOA), found more than one-third (36 percent) of allergy suffers use antihistamines or other medications to treat their symptoms. While antihistamines can help with typical symptoms like runny noses and sneezing, the medication can make ocular symptoms worse by reducing tear quality and quantity.

To effectively treat and relieve the symptoms caused by eye allergies, patients should see their optometrist.  In most cases, they can soothe allergy-related conjunctivitis with prescription or over-the-counter eye drops depending on the patient and his or her medical history.

While eye allergies can be a nuisance and affect job performance, leisure and sporting activities, symptoms of allergies can be curtailed and prevented by following these recommendations from the AOA:

• Don’t touch or rub your eyes.
• Wash hands often with soap and water.
• Wash bed linens and pillowcases in hot water and detergent to reduce allergens.
• Avoid sharing, and in some cases, wearing eye makeup.
• Never share contact lenses or contact lens cases with someone else.

Beyond discussing allergy relief with your optometrist, the AOA also recommends adults age 60 and under have a comprehensive eye exam every two years. Adults over age 60 should have eye exams annually. Based on an individual’s eye health and the severity of their eye allergies, the eye doctor may recommend more frequent visits. ~aoa.com~

For more information, or questions about your vision, contact:
Premier Eyecare of Edmond
405-513-8150
okpremiereyecare.com

Sports & Vision

Do you wish you could cut a few strokes off your golf score? Does your child always seem to be just a few steps away from the soccer ball? Having trouble returning your tennis partner’s serve? Vision, just like speed and strength, is an important component in how well you play your sport.

And there is much more to vision than just seeing clearly. Your vision is composed of many interrelated skills that can affect how well you play your sport. However, just as exercise and practice can increase your speed and strength, it can also improve your visual fitness and accuracy.

Because all sports have different visual demands, an optometrist with expertise in sports vision can assess your unique visual system and recommend the proper eyeglasses or contact lenses, or design a vision therapy program to maximize your visual skills for your specific sport. Remember, a thorough eye examination by your doctor of optometry is a great place to begin “getting the winning edge.”

Eye protection should also be a major concern to all athletes, especially in certain high-risk sports. Thousands of children and adults suffer sports-related eye injuries each year, and nearly all can be prevented by using the proper protective eyewear. Especially for sports played outdoors, appropriate sunglasses are a must, and some sport-specific designs may even help you improve your game. Ask your optometrist which type is best suited for your favorite sport. ~ AOA~

For a comprehensive eye exam, or questions regarding your vision contact:
Premier Eyecare, Julie Moore, O.D.
405.513.8150
http://www.okpremiereyecare.com

Corneal Modifications

The cornea is the clear covering of the front of the eye that bends (or refracts) light rays as they enter the eye. For clear vision to occur, the cornea must have the correct shape and power to focus incoming light rays precisely on the retina at the back of the eye. If the cornea is too steep, too flat or irregular in shape, it cannot bend light at the angle needed to focus on the retina. As a result, eyeglasses or contact lenses may be needed to refract the incoming light rays at the angle needed for clear vision. In a nearsighted eye, for example, the cornea’s shape causes incoming light rays to focus in front of the retina.

All corneal modification procedures are intended to alter the curvature of the cornea so that incoming light is refracted at an angle that allows it to focus precisely on the retina. This may eliminate the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses, or reduce the power of prescription lenses needed.

Those interested in any of the corneal modifications should first have a comprehensive eye examination to evaluate their eye health and determine their vision needs.

~ American Optometric Association ~

For questions, or to schedule your comprehensive eye exam, contact:
Premier Eyecare, Dr. Moore
#405-513-8150
http://www.okpremiereyecare.com

Contact Lenses

Whether you already wear contact lenses or are considering them, this section serves as a primer. Facts and statistics about contact lens wearers, pointers for safe and successful use of contact lenses, and contact lenses and cosmetics are just a few of the topics covered here.

Getting started right with your contact lenses involves going to a doctor who provides full-service care. This includes a thorough eye examination, an evaluation of your suitability for contact lens wear, the lenses, necessary lens care kits, individual instructions for wear and care and unlimited follow-up visits over a specified time.

Recommendations for Contact Lens Wearers from the American Optometric Association

1. Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses.
2. Carefully and regularly clean contact lenses, as directed by your optometrist. Rub the contact lenses with fingers and rinse thoroughly before soaking lenses overnight in sufficient multi-purpose solution to completely cover the lens.
3. Store lenses in the proper lens storage case and replace the case at a minimum of every three months. Clean the case after each use, and keep it open and dry between cleanings.
4. Use only products recommended by your optometrist to clean and disinfect your lenses. Saline solution and rewetting drops are not designed to disinfect lenses.
5. Only fresh solution should be used to clean and store contact lenses. Never re-use old solution. Contact lens solution must be changed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, even if the lenses are not used daily.
6. Always follow the recommended contact lens replacement schedule prescribed by your optometrist.
7. Remove contact lenses before swimming or entering a hot tub.
8. See your optometrist for your regularly scheduled contact lens and eye examination.
   ~ American Optometric Association~

For questions, or to schedule your comprehensive eye exam, contact:

Premier Eyecare of Edmond, Julie Moore, OD #513.8150

Encountering Problems with Near Vision after 40

If you have enjoyed relatively good vision throughout your life and haven’t needed eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct distance vision, then the development of near vision problems after age 40 can be somewhat of a concern and a frustration. Losing the ability to read the newspaper or see the cell phone numbers may seem to have occurred abruptly. Actually, these changes have been occurring gradually since childhood. But up until now, your eyes have had adequate focusing power to allow you to see clearly for reading and close work. Now your eyes no longer have enough focusing power for clear and comfortable near vision tasks.

Persons with presbyopia have several options available to regain clear near vision.

This loss of focusing ability for near vision, called presbyopia, is simply the result of the lens inside the eye becoming less flexible. This flexibility allows the eye to change focus from objects are far to objects that are close. Persons with presbyopia have several options available to regain clear near vision. They include:

• Eyeglasses, including single vision reading glasses and multifocal lenses
• Contact lenses, including monovision and bifocal lenses
• Laser surgery and other refractive surgery procedures

As you continue to age through your 50s and beyond, presbyopia becomes more advanced. You may notice the need for more frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions. Around age 60, these changes in near vision should stop and prescription changes should occur less frequently.

Presbyopia can’t be prevented or cured, but many options are available to help compensate for the loss of near focusing ability. Most individuals should be able to obtain clear, comfortable near vision for all of their lifestyle needs.

For questions, or a comprehensive eye exam, contact:

Premier Eyecare of Edmond, Dr. Julie Moore, #405.513.8150