Elisabeth S. Swan, O.D.

Your chances of having an occupation-related eye injury can be greatly reduced with the right eye protection. Those who work around chemicals, flying particles (even dust) or splashing liquids are probably already aware of the dangers. Hazards such as fumes, lighting, and exposure to bloodborne pathogens can be found in certain other work environments.

Your employer should be providing appropriate eye protection. If not, ask about it. If you are self-employed, conduct an eye hazard assessment of your workplace. We carry several several lines of safety eyewear which meet federal ANSI standards for safety including Wiley X Eyewear, which is the manufacturer of all US Military eyewear. Wiley X has fashionable styles for motorcyclists, bicyclists, target shooters, and outdoor adventurists.

We are here to offer advice and suggestions to you and your employer, and are a phone call or e-mail away.

If you have an infection in your eye or if you have severe symptoms, it’s not a good idea to try to treat your eyes yourself using over-the-counter (OTC) solutions. Call us instead and let us identify the specific cause.

If you’ve got low-level non-persistent irritation, here are a few pointers:

• Dry eyes: can be caused by fatigue, dehydration, certain medications, exposure to wind or sun, or extended periods of reading or computer work. Choose an OTC eye drop that is not a decongestant. Decongestant eye drops can the blood vessels to shrink, making the eyes whiter. But they can cause dryness and irritation—some of the very conditions you might be trying to reduce. They can also cause the pupils to dilate.

• Red eyes: can be caused by infection, fatigue, allergies or dryness. OTC drops can lubricate and help flush the eyes to free them from pollen.

If you’ve got any sort of discharge, the chances are you’ve got an eye infection. In that case, it’s best to come in and get checked. We may prescribe an antibiotic eye drop to treat the underlying problem once we’ve got an accurate diagnosis. If you use eye drops, make sure you don’t touch your eye with the container, to avoid contamination.

You can find more information about eye health and care for the eyes at www.allaboutvision.com or give our office a quick call. We’re here to help.

Dry eye syndrome has many causes: decreased tear production, eyelid abnormalities, dry environments, and certain medications.

Winter’s colder temperatures and stronger winds and the dry heating systems in buildings are additional causes. There are a number of things you can do to reduce symptoms of seasonally linked dry eye: wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from wind and light, apply over-the counter artificial tears, use a humidifier to increase the level of humidity at home or work, and consume plenty of water.

Give us a call if you’d like help with your symptoms.

Many people think they can manage their eyesight themselves when their vision starts to slip. A trip to the drugstore for a pair of readers is simpler and cheaper than making an appointment with an eye care professional.

But wait, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to vision care.

What if you’ve got eyes with differing focal points? Cheaters may help with short tasks but they are likely to cause headaches when you nestle in for chapter 20 of War and Peace.

Do you know if your eyes are properly aligned? They need to be in order to function properly, just like your car’s tires need aligning to be safe.

Also, a comprehensive eye examination for your child is an important investment for the future as it can identify difficult-to-detect issues early enough for you to take corrective action.

For instance, we can verify that normal vision development is on track, eliminating issues that lead to interference with academic achievement. Amblyopia, a fairly common childhood affliction, is a deficiency in one eye that can cause the developing brain to simply shut off the image from the blurry eye. If left untreated, the result can be permanent vision impairment.

Health care insurance generally provides for a comprehensive eye examination. If you don’t have insurance or an HSA, don’t let that stand in the way of making an appointment with us. We can help work out a payment schedule that will work for you and possibly save you money in the long run through early

A flexible savings account (FSA) allows you to pay for medical expenses not included in regular health insurance plans—such as certain dental, vision and alternative medical services—on a pre-tax basis.

A FSA often covers expenses that you end up paying yourself out of pocket. So, you might as well get some tax relief for it, right? Check with your employer for additional information on the company’s FSA benefit and ask about the next open enrollment period.

And if you already have a FSA, don’t forget to take advantage of that money you have set aside before it expires. Come see us for a new pair of prescription glasses, sunglasses, or extra contact lenses!

It’s a big word for tiny floaters, those specks that people begin to notice as they grow older. Sometimes they appear to be tiny insects or cobwebs drifting round the visual area.

If they were stationary we wouldn’t notice them because the eyes and related neurons that provide information to the brain would adapt to their presence and not send a signal of recognition to the brain.

Generally, floaters cause no ill effects. But if you suddenly experience flashing lights and a shower of floaters, it could signal retinal detachment. In that case, give us an immediate call.

Many people are surprised to learn that how they eat can directly and seriously affect their eyesight. Believe it or not, your eating—and other lifestyle choices–may eventually cause you to go blind.

Current research suggests that weight gain from a high-calorie diet is linked to diabetes. There are over 25 million Americans with diabetes and another 79 million at risk; an increasing number are children. It kills more people than breast cancer and AIDS combined.

Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults. Three major eye problems that diabetics develop are cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy. Cataracts can emerge at an earlier age in people with diabetes. Glaucoma, the buildup of fluid pressure in the eye, damages nerves and vessels in the eyes. Retinopathy results from damage to the small vessels. If retinopathy is not detected early or is not treated, blindness can result.

If you have diabetes, it is essential that you get a comprehensive dilated eye exam annually, perhaps even more frequently. Retinopathy can develop without apparent symptoms but you can greatly reduce your risk of blindness with early treatment and care. Even if you don’t have vision insurance, most major medical plans will cover an eye health exam to test for diabetic eye disease. Medicare will cover, at not charge, a screening exam for diabetic eye disease for diabetics, those with pre – diabetes, and certain individuals who are at greater risk for diabetes. ( Give us a call for more information)

To avoid developing diabetes in the first place, focus on positive lifestyle practices such as maintaining a healthy diet with a target weight and increasing your physical activity. Check with your employer, county health department or community center to see if there are programs available to support you.

Celebrate American Diabetes Month by committing to changes that will ensure good vision for life.

Tarantulas are growing in popularity as pets and learning tools at schools and museums. That’s swell unless you happen to handle the species with barbed hairs that eject from the abdomen when threatened.

Those hairs can lodge in the eye directly or through rubbing your eye after handling a tarantula. Because the hairs are barbed and fragile, it makes removal problematic. Hairs embedded in the cornea can cause enormous pain and corneal scarring.

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of costuming for Halloween and forget to think about safety. We’ve discussed Halloween safety with you before but enough injuries occur every year that we’d like to provide some safety thoughts again this year.

Many parents are unaware that some lip liners are not approved for use in and around the eyes. You can check the Summary of Additives on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website. If your child wants a blood-curdling look around the eyes, use products that are approved for that area. Or stay with spooky instead of bloody and use eye shadow and eyeliner that is approved by the FDA. When using face paint or make-up, leave a margin around the eyes.

What about the costumes themselves? The Prevent Blindness America website cautions against the use of “masks, wigs, floppy hats or eye patches that block vision.”

And then there are the props. Spears, swords, wands—all sharp objects should be carefully considered. If Robin Hood simply can’t go trick-or-treating without his trusty sword, store it safely in a belt or scabbard and make sure it is made of soft, flexible material.

Don’t allow your children to use novelty contact lenses for Halloween unless you check with us first. No matter how tempting it might be to acquire a supernatural gleam or a zombie gaze, these “accessories” can cause serious eye infection leading to diminished vision and even blindness.

We hope you have a safe and happy Halloween.

Now that the school year is underway, the great germ swap will be swinging into action.

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is a common childhood eye disease. It’s an inflammation or infection of the layer of tissue lining the inside of the eyelid known as the conjunctiva.

There are different forms of conjunctivitis–some viral, some bacterial. Some are the result of allergies, irritation, sexually transmitted diseases or a response to air contaminants.

Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are infectious. Schools, with children in close quarters sharing supplies, are a prime source of spreading. Be on the lookout for any of these symptoms: a gritty feeling in the eyes, itching or burning, excessive tearing, discharge, swollen eyelids, pinkish cast in the white of the eye, or increased light sensitivity.

No matter how the condition was acquired, conjunctivitis can be diagnosed with a comprehensive eye examination. If you suspect your child has it, give us a call. We can evaluate the conjunctiva and surrounding tissues. Our examination can determine whether vision is affected and check to see if other tissues are affected.

Because treatment of conjunctivitis depends on its cause, accurate diagnosis is important. For instance, we often recommend antibiotic eye drops or ointment for bacterial conjunctivitis. Viral forms do not respond to antibiotics but we can suggest ways to relieve symptoms.

Practicing good hygiene will keep you from getting conjunctivitis in the first place.  Here are a few suggestions for your school-age children:

• Train them not to touch or rub their eyes unnecessarily
• Encourage them to wash their hands during breaks
• Discourage sharing of washcloths and towels
• Include packaged hand wipes in their lunch box