Elisabeth S. Swan, O.D.

How would you like to reduce your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by a significant amount? Well, here’s an easy and delectable way to do it: eat more fish.

A recent study showed that subjects who ate one or more servings of fatty fish per week dodged the AMD diagnosis by 42% compared to those who only ate fish rarely. This result corroborates earlier studies of the protective link between fish oil and eye health.

In the rush to prepare for the upcoming school year – buying school supplies, new clothes and shoes for growing feet – parents often overlook one critical piece of back-to-school preparations.

You guessed it – eye health and safety.

If you’re shopping for sports equipment, be sure to ask about recommended eye protection for the sport. Purchasing protection and using it routinely is much less expensive and far safer than treating an eye injury later.

Also, did you know that amblyopia is the most common cause of vision problems in children? It most often results from the misalignment of a child’s eyes causing them to cross or turn out. Sometimes one eye focuses better than the other causing the brain to favor it. This gives rise to the term lazy eye.

Because amblyopia causes reduced vision, it is important to identify it before your child heads through the schoolhouse doors. If undetected, it can be misinterpreted as a learning or behavioral disorder.

Early treatment greatly increases the chances of reversing such vision loss. Untreated or treated too late, the affected eye may never develop good vision, a condition considered “functional blindness.”

A comprehensive vision screening is required to detect amblyopia and other vision issues that otherwise may cause your child to struggle academically. Make an annual eye exam part of your overall preparation for the upcoming school year.

This word sounds like more fun than it actually is.

When the connective tissue of the conjunctiva (the mucous membrane that lines the eyelid) thickens, it can cause a yellowish elevated spot on either side of the cornea. This is what’s known as a pinguecula (pin-GWAY-cue-luh).

The condition is benign and usually not treated. The most common causes of a pinguecula are over – exposure to sun, wind, and dust (which is another reason why wearing sunglasses is so important ). Sometimes artificial tears or steroid drops are used. Removal of a pinguecula is rare.

About this time every year the stories start to roll in: a boy struck in the eye by a bottle rocket permanently losing vision to his left eye, a toddler with a sparkler burning his eyelid, a rogue spark from a roman candle burning a girl’s eye.

We understand the allure and magic of fireworks. But the only way to protect yourself and your family 100% is to avoid purchasing fireworks in the first place.

It’s summer, school’s out and outdoor vacations are starting. And because wearing sunglasses is vital to the preservation of your sight, we are reminding you again to put on eye protection whenever you go outdoors.

Regardless of your age, ultraviolet (UV) radiation can damage various parts of the eye and also the skin around the eyes. UVA’s are longwave ultraviolet rays from the sun. UVB’s are shortwave. They both penetrate the atmosphere and cause cataracts, skin cancer and more. Help children establish good protection habits early in life to avoid problems later.

Some contact lenses have UV protection. But don’t get too comfortable if you wear treated lenses. The website for the Mayo Clinic points out that you still need to wear sunglasses for full UV protection outdoors. Wearing a sun hat extends the sphere of protection.

Be sure you buy UV-protection that blocks 99-100% of UVA and UVB rays. And regardless of what others are wearing this summer, buy larger glasses which will cover more of the eye area. Wraparounds offer especially good protection.

Additional features you may wish to consider include polycarbonate lenses which resist impact and polarized or photochromic lenses which reduce glare.

And to beat that forgetting thing? Here’s our suggestion: put your sunglasses and a hat near the door or near the car and house keys. If they’re easy to grab as you go out the door, you’ll increase your chances of remembering.

Researchers at Harvard have confirmed earlier research identifying a protective link between fish oil and eye health.

A ten-year study of more than 38,000 women suggests that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish may have a benefit in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Women in the study who ate at least one serving of fatty fish (tuna and dark-meat fish) per week had a 42% reduced likelihood of being diagnosed with AMD. Given that about nine million Americans over 40 have some degree of AMD, fish looks like a delicious ticket to eye health.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays contribute to cataracts, cancers of the eye, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and pterygium (a growth on the conjunctiva).

Many Americans know that UV rays can damage the skin but are still unaware that extended exposure to the sun can also damage vision.

Two simple ways to protect your eyesight from the sun’s damaging rays are the consistent use of UV-blocking eyewear and sun hats or caps and keeping up-to-date on comprehensive eye exams.

If you are an active swimmer, bicyclist or other summer sport enthusiast, the chances are you already know the advantages of bladeless LASIK and contact lenses.

In addition to providing better peripheral vision without the obstruction of frames, both of these options reduce the chance of injury and are more compatible with the headgear, goggles and other protection associated with sports.

Many summer sports activities call for eye protection of one kind or another: swim goggles, sunglasses for bicycling, shatter-resistant goggles for racquet sports, etc. If you wear prescription glasses, you know the challenges of fitting these additional protective devices into your routine so that you can be active and safe during the summer sports season.

If you are a good candidate for them you might consider switching to either contact lenses or bladeless LASIK. Be aware that wearing contact lenses while swimming can cause problems, depending on the conditions and the type of lenses. Check with us if you’re not sure.

Bladeless LASIK is a precise and predictable procedure with fewer complications. And it uses laser rather than a metal blade. One survey indicates that 74% of LASIK patients “feel better able to participate in sports or fitness activities.”

Regardless of how you choose to protect your eyes in summer, remember to do the following:

1. Wear sun protection: sunglasses, a hat or cap
2. Protect your eyes during sports
3. Avoid exposure to chemicals

Make sure your eyes have as much fun as you do this summer.

Break out of your winter cocoon and start taking advantage of the many seasonal fruits and vegetables appearing this spring. Eye-protecting nutrients such as vitamins A and C, lutein, and bioflavonoids are found in many of the earth’s fresh bounty.

Here are some to look for in the next few months:

artichokes, asparagus
blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries
lettuce, okra
mangoes, pineapple. rhubarb
spring peas, zucchini

High-powered green laser pointers are ten to twenty times as powerful as the limit set by the Food and Drug Administration. They produce up to 50 milliwatts of power, enough to burn the center part of the retina.

They can easily be purchased online and are popular among teens who enjoy aiming them at airplanes. Apparently, that’s not all they’re aiming at. The number of eye damage cases from improper use is on the rise.