Dry Eye Discomfort Slows Reading

Dry Eye Slows Reading Speed

Anyone who experiences the symptoms of dry eye is familiar with dryness, discomfort, burning, light sensitivity and even watering that can mark the presence of dry eye disease. But, did you know that dry eye problems and disease can impact visual function? Researchers reporting in Cornea compared visual function using reading tests including the Radner Reading Test, the International Reading Speed Texts [IReST], and the Wilkins Reading Test and studied cognitive function, fatigue, dry eye symptoms, reading acuity, reading rate and blink rate. The results showed significantly lower reading rates in all reading tests in patients with dry eye and a significantly increased fatigue level when reading in dry eye patients.

If you suffer from symptoms of dry eye such as dryness, burning, light sensitivity or watering and have noticed an uncomfortable slowing of your reading ability and even greater eye fatigue or tired eyes when reading, please call The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999, visit The Eye Care & Surgery Center, Google+ or facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter to schedule an appointment.

The Eye Care & Surgery Center is located at 592 Springfield Avenue, Westfield, New Jersey 07090, 10 Mountain Boulevard, Warren, New Jersey 07059 and 517 Route One South, Suite 1100, Iselin, New Jersey 08830, and is conveniently located for patients from throughout central and northern New Jersey.

Eyelid Surgery Can Help Tired Looking Eyes

When friends, family and coworkers keep telling you that you “always look tired” it is worth a look in the mirror to see what you might find. Heavy, puffy upper or lower eyelids can often equate to a “tired look.” The good news is that as a cosmetic eye plasticsurgeon I can help you “refresh that look” with cosmetic eyelid surgery, called blepharoplasty. Blepharoplasty cosmetic eyelid surgery involves the meticulous removal of fat and skin to give the eyelid a more youthful shape and refreshed appearance, that helps achieve more awake and refreshed appearance. In fact when considering facial rejuvenation, cosmetic eyelid surgery is often an important part of the plan. When I perform an “upper eyelid blepharoplasty” we help make more of the upper eyelid visible and this helps patients look refreshed and “more awake.” When I perform lower eyelid blepharoplasty, it reduces the puffiness of the lower eyelid so the skin can appear smoother and tighter. Patients who have eyelid surgery can expect that their facial features look more youthful and rejuvenated and they typically tell me that they now look as young as they feel!

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about facial rejuvenation, cosmetic eyelid surgery or other non surgical treatments to help you look your best please schedule a consultation with Cosmetic Eye Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Baljeet Purewal, M.D by calling The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999, visiting The Eye Care & Surgery Center, Google+ or facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter to schedule an appointment.

The Eye Care & Surgery Center is located at 592 Springfield Avenue, Westfield, New Jersey 07090, 10 Mountain Boulevard, Warren, New Jersey 07059 and 517 Route One South, Suite 1100, Iselin, New Jersey 08830, and is conveniently located for patients from throughout central and northern New Jersey.

Do You Struggle at the Computer?

Do you struggle at the computer because you are on it 8 hours or more a day and those progressive lenses just don’t seem to work? You are among the several million patients in the U.S., with progressives which do not meet those needs. Some of the symptoms which develop are muscle pain in the back of the neck and shoulders, headaches and tired eyes. This happens because we are not built to work at such lengths for extended periods of time. There are specific lens designs which address this problem. They are called Near Variable Focus Lenses. Unlike progressives which give you distance on the top of the lenses and slowly progressing to your near prescription towards the lower portion of the lens-hence they are called progressive lenses-these Near Variable Focus Lenses are made exclusively to address the range of your computer and fully giving you the near power on the bottom. Unlike progressives, they are made so that you do not have to raise your chin and drop your eyes to find the portion you would like to read. As you are looking straight on to the computer the whole upper portion of the lens give you full clarity and as you lower your eyes you will be able to read fully without strain. The wonderful thing about this lens is that I can customize it to the range in your office or a bit further away. The lenses run in midrange focus from 3.5 feet to 13 feet.

Example: I recently had an attorney at our Iselin office who expressed that he needed to not only do his computer work but when in court needed to stand and address the court, judge and his client and at the same time scan the desk with his paperwork . I gave him a tailored Near Variable Focus Lens which gave him a distance of 13 feet and all the way down to his reading portion, thereby maximizing his vision. Excellent candidates for a Near Variable Focus Lens are hairdressers, attorneys, mechanics, dentists, CPA’s, secretaries, and anyone who is currently struggling with that computer range.

By: Elle Quintanilla
NJ Licensed Optician

If you or someone you know has a question about Near Variable Focus Lenses or needs help with eyeglass frame selection or lens fitting, please call The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999, visit The Eye Care & Surgery Center, Google+ or facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter to schedule an appointment.

The Eye Care & Surgery Center is located at 592 Springfield Avenue, Westfield, New Jersey 07090, 10 Mountain Boulevard, Warren, New Jersey 07059 and 517 Route One South, Suite 1100, Iselin, New Jersey 08830, and is conveniently located for patients from throughout central and northern New Jersey.

Predictors of Macular Degeneration Treatment Results

Predictors of Macular Degeneration (AMD) Treatment Results
Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) continues to pose the potential for causing vision loss in those over 50 and especially seniors. Today, with early diagnosis and treatment we can often preserve eye health and vision. When we examine you and find evidence of AMD we might recommend treatment with injections of medications such as Lucentis® at carefully prescribed intervals. We also will take the time necessary to answer your questions, in particular regarding what your visual results might be from having the carefully prescribed series of Lucentis® injections. By using information from studies that help us predict the 12 month treatment response to Lucentis® in patients with wet macular degeneration we can make some approximate predictions for your visual prognosis.

Initial Examination Predictors of Results
From these studies we can predict that those patients with lower Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), of a younger age, with smaller areas of new blood vessel growth and leakage under the retina are most likely to have a good chance of gaining 3 lines of BCVA after 12 months of treatment. This means that should we make the diagnosis of wet macular degeneration and prescribe the Lucentis® injection treatments, you should be prepared to be committed to at least a 12 month treatment plan with appointment scheduling we will recommend based on your individual situation. By following through with this set of recommendation we have the best chance of preserving and improving your vision.

If you or someone you know has questions about Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), treatment of wet AMD with Lucentis® injections or what we know about the visual prognosis of these treatments, please call The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999, visit The Eye Care & Surgery Center, Google+ or facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter to schedule an appointment.

The Eye Care & Surgery Center is located at 592 Springfield Avenue, Westfield, New Jersey 07090, 10 Mountain Boulevard, Warren, New Jersey 07059 and 517 Route One South, Suite 1100, Iselin, New Jersey 08830, and is conveniently located for patients from throughout central and northern New Jersey.