Cataract Patient Story from Gesine

"My entire experience with getting my cataract surgery done with the Eye Care and Surgery Center was wonderful. Dr. Stahl is such a great doctor: she explained everything thoroughly to me before my surgery, told me all of my options, and answered all of my questions patiently and thoroughly. I knew exactly what to expect at every stage of the process. The office staff was also great; they explained the procedures, costs, and everything else to me. The actual surgery went perfectly. The staff at the surgical center was very nice and took great care of me. By the next morning my vision was almost perfect! I couldn't wait to get the second eye done, and when it was done, I was amazed at how bright and beautiful colors were. I had no idea what I had been missing with my cataracts. Everything now is so vivid. I can see better when I drive and when I do my artwork. It has dramatically improved my quality of life. I would recommend this surgery, Dr. Stahl, and the Eye Care and Surgery Center to anyone considering it. You'll be so glad you did it!”-Gesine

If you or some you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants 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.

Police Officer LASIK Experience

“As a police officer my vision has to be sharp and clear. Working nights, I found around 3:00 AM I was having difficulty seeing into a car during a traffic stop with my contact lenses. That made me uncomfortable. I asked some of the officers I work with if they knew anyone who had LASIK. A few of them did, and they all had it with the same doctor, Dr. Confino. They were happy so I called to find out more. I booked a consultation, had to keep my lenses out for few days before, and went to see if I qualified to have my vision fixed. After a very thorough exam and sitting with both Dr. Confino and his team, I was told I could have LASIK and would be back to work the next day. I booked it for the following week. I was also told, because I am a first responder, that entitled me to a $1000 discount, I didn’t even ask, they offered. I had my LASIK and the next day I went for my post-op checkup and they told me I was 20/15! I am really happy with my new vision and think Dr. Confino and his team at The Eye Care & Surgery Center are amazing. My wife has already booked her exam to see if she can have it too.”-Chris

If you or some you know is tired of the hassle of glasses or contact lenses for seeing at distance and would like to find out if LASIK might be a good vision correction option, 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.

Google Artificial Intelligence Can Help Diabetic Eye Exams

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) more than 29 million people in the U.S. have diabetes and are therefore at risk for diabetic retinopathy and its associated vision loss and potential blinding complications. All diabetics should have regular eye exams with thorough retina exams. The task of diabetic eye exams is enormous and soon will be assisted by Google Artificial Intelligence disease detecting software. Researchers, reporting in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology showed that by using Google software to analyze images and then having retina specialists provide input to refine the algorithms,  it allowed the computer software disease detection software to become roughly as effective at the retina specialists. This technique of using machine learning “neural networks” to refine disease detection is hopefully able to bring even more effective early detection and diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy to those at risk.

If you or someone you know has diabetes please be sure to have regular eye exams as early detection, diagnosis and treatment are the keys to preventing vision loss from diabetes. Schedule a diabetic eye exam at 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.

Retinal Blood Vessel Blockage Warns About Heart Arrhythmia

Certain types of blockage of blood vessels in the retina may be an indicator of a recently developed heart arrhythmia called Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) according to research reported in BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) is the most common type of cardiac or heart arrhythmia where patients experience an irregular and often rapid heart rate that can increase the risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. While any retinal artery or vein occlusion warrants a complete workup by a cardiologist, in particular if you should suffer a Retinal Artery Occlusion (RAO) you have a significant risk of having a recent onset of AFib.

Learn more about retinal blood vessel blockage and AFib by scheduling an eye exam at 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.

Cataract Success with Dr. Shah

Dr. Shah

“Dr. Shah and her staff were great to deal with. Very pleasant and helpful. The office is very clean and has the latest equipment. If you need any kind of eye care I highly recommend using The Eye Care & Surgery Center.”-C. Wagner

If you or some you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants 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.

Prevent Falling in Glaucoma Patients

Patients who have glaucoma, especially those with poor vision and very limited visual fields, need to be quite careful and have some preventative steps taken to avoid falling. These patients are a high risk group and are prone to have bone fractures when they do take a fall. In a recent study reported in the American Journal of Ophthalmology it was determined that most common causes of falling were tripping and slipping due to uneven flooring and poor vision. Almost 75% of falls occur in the home and more than 40% of people who fall suffer some type of injury. There are some common sense steps we can take to help prevent falling and thus prevent injury. These include:

>Clean up clutter and remove or repair any tripping hazards such as newspapers, pet items, loose rugs and damaged floorboards or tile.

>Install adequate lighting by placing stronger bulbs in fixtures to be sure hallways and rooms are very well illuminated.

>Install grab bars on stairs and in bathrooms as well as installing non-slip mats in showers and tubs.

>Always wear shoes to avoid the risk of slipping and if shoes are just too uncomfortable be sure to buy non-slip socks.

>Take your time getting up from chairs or sofas and move slowly at first.

These simple fall prevention interventions, particularly those for minor home modification, should be an adequate starting point to prevent falls. If you or someone you know has glaucoma or suffers from poor vision, know that they are at greater risk for falling. Be sure they have a thorough eye exam by scheduling an appointment at 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.

Migraine Help with Glaucoma Eye Drops

The beta-blocker eye drop Timolol or TIMOPTIC® may help relieve migraine headache pain according to research in JAMA Neurology. While there are several bets-blocker medications that can be taken by mouth for migraine, they tend to work very slowly-sometimes hours or days-and are not terribly helpful for migraine sufferers. TIMOPTIC® eye drops are very quickly absorbed into the blood and seem to alleviate the pain in most patients with migraines fairly quickly. Research in underway to determine the best dose and frequency of these eye drop to help those with migraines.

If you or someone you know suffers from migraines help with eye drops may be on the way. Learn more at 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.

Thinner Retina a Sign of Cognitive Decline

We know that people with dementia typically have a thin retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) when we test them using optical coherence tomography (OCT) during their eye exam. Researcher reporting the results of a large study in JAMA Neurology found a significant association between RNFL thickness and cognitive function even when dementia had not yet been diagnosed. In fact, they found that those people in the bottom 20% of RNFL thickness were twice as likely to suffer cognitive decline over the next three years! This is the first study to identify that a thin RNFL indicates a risk of future cognitive decline and suggests that regular eye tests could help identify those likely to get dementia at a much earlier stage, which means suitable treatments could be prescribed at a more effective time to slow or stop the onset of dementia at early stages of the disease.

If you or someone you know is concerned about their risk of cognitive decline or even dementia, please schedule an eye exam at 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.

Help for Keratoconus with Corneal Cross Linking

Keratoconus is a disease of the cornea in which the normally round dome like shape undergoes thinning and begins to bulge. This results in light entering the eye being irregularly focused and blurring of vision. Early on, the vision changes from keratoconus can be managed with eyeglasses and even later with contact lenses. However, keratoconus is progressive and many sufferers require cornea transplant surgery. The use of a new treatment option called Corneal Cross Linking appears to be successful in the treatment of keratoconus and stabilizes the shape of the cornea either significantly or completely halting the disease progression. 

If you or someone you know suffers from keratoconus and would like to know more about corneal cross linking, schedule an eye exam at 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.

ADHD & Focusing Problems in Children

Did you know that ADHD can cause focusing problems in children? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders in children and cause many difficulties-including focusing problems. A clinical study reported in

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology evaluated the relationship between the neurological system that controls attention and eye focusing. They found that children with ADHD have a less accurate focusing, or accommodative response and may affect attentional deficits, which could have a direct impact on the academic, cognitive, and visual performance of ADHD children.

If you or someone you know has a child with ADHD and would like to learn more about focusing problems in children or schedule an eye exam 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.

Jackie S. Wanted LASIK

Jackie S. shares her experience. “I am a medical technician that requires sharp, clear vision to perform the intricate tasks of my job.  I have been a contact lens wearer since my teenage years and they worked fine.  The practice I am affiliated with has me working late nights once a week. In doing so, I began to notice the discomfort my eyes were experiencing after working a ten to twelve hour shift.  Colleagues also began to mention how red my eyes seemed once midday arrived. I began to consider LASIK as an alternative to contact lenses and my glasses. As a medical professional, I was weary and needed to know everything there was to know about the treatment and the physician that I would allow to perform it. I was evaluated at The Eye Care & Surgery by Dr. Joel Confino. I had heard wonderful things from our own patients about Dr. Confino and our professional paths had crossed previously and I recalled how impressed I was with his skill set and demeanor. The evaluation did NOT qualify me for LASIK due to dryness of my corneas. Dr. Confino suggested an alternative treatment called EBK (Epi-Bowman Keratectomy). He explained that is a surface procedure similar to PRK but with faster healing and more comfortable during healing for the patient. He further explained that he was the only physician in New Jersey currently trained to perform. I of course researched it from top to bottom and decided to move forward. I had my EBK treatment and was back to work the next day and worked every day except one, for the following week. I was in no discomfort, my eyelids just felt very heavy and I wanted to keep them closed. Dr. Confino and his staff had advised that I should plan to be a little compromised with my vision for the first week and to plan my work schedule accordingly. I had done that but then was fine so I asked to work and was fully capable. There was no pain or discomfort during the treatment or during my healing process. This was truly a great experience. I am now 20/20 and contact lens free! I could not be happier or more pleased with my outcome.”- Jackie S.

If you or some you know is tired of the hassle of glasses or contact lenses for seeing at distance and would like to find out if LASIK might be a good vision correction option, 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.

Improvement in Glaucoma Blindness Rate

Rate of Blindness Caused by Glaucoma Decreasing

Glaucoma affects more than 2.7 million people in the United States and over 60 million globally. Although the disease is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, the probability of going blind from glaucoma has been significantly reduced due to advances in diagnosis and treatment. In office use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to study and measure the nerve fiber layer of the retina and optic nerve as well lasers and implantable microscopic devices to change the risk of blindness from glaucoma. Researchers from Mayo Clinic College of Medicine studied the change in the rate of blindness from glaucoma over 2 consecutive 20 year periods and found that the rate of blindness was decreased by half but still remained unacceptably high! The best ways to avoid vision loss from glaucoma are to know your risk factors-such as family history, African and Hispanic descent, smoking, diabetes and sleep apnea, and be sure to schedule regular eye exams with glaucoma testing within timeframes recommended by your eye doctor.

If you or someone you now is concerned about their risk of glaucoma, schedule an eye exam at 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.

Gina’s Cataract Surgery

“I had been diagnosed with cataracts by my optician one year ago.  I knew my vision was failing rapidly but I was determined to find the very best surgeon due to the severity of my vision loss and very high glasses prescription.  I was literally wearing glasses Thicker than Coke bottles with a -18 prescription.  I then set out to find a surgeon and was shocked to find a “mill” of cataract surgery centers!  I was hurried through, presented with forms and bills and rushed along.  One highly recommended surgeon actually told me that he “didn’t have much confidence “that my vision could be corrected! After visiting five more facilities, including two in New York, I was beginning to accept the fact that my vision would continue to deteriorate and that I could no longer drive! Then suddenly I remembered Dr. Joel Confino! My children had gone to him years ago and I figured I’d try one more time! From the moment I entered the office, I knew I had found the right place.  The office staff was professional yet very friendly! They sensed my struggle and assisted me with filling out forms and literally helped me find the waiting area and guided me to the exam rooms.   The best news of all was when Dr. Confino examined my eyes.  He instantly knew the seriousness of the extent of my vision loss.  He examined carefully, thought deeply, and said “I believe we can drastically improve your vision!” At that moment I knew I found a competent, experienced, confident doctor!!!!  We planned and discussed exactly what needed to be done and set up dates for my surgeries!  However, I was still fearful and had a million more questions!  The office staff answered every single one of my questions, no matter how many times I called, even if it was the same question over and over!  Every single person was supportive, professional, serious, yet always friendly and upbeat!  

This continued from my very first appointment throughout my entire journey!  I can now proudly say that i have 20/20 vision! I feel like a true miracle has occurred!!! I can see leaves and flowers and colors and details!  I can drive at night!!! No more thick heavy glasses, no more scratchy contact lenses!  My miracle is Dr. Joel Confino and Team at the Eye Care and Surgical Center! Forever grateful and appreciative, Gina N.” 

If you or some you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants 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.

Things to Know About Cataracts

Three Things Patients Should Know About Cataracts

Cataracts are an extremely common cause of vision loss-especially as we grow older. In the U.S. some 25 million people have cataracts which can often cause cloudy, blurry vision, dimming of vision, faded or dulling of colors, glare and difficulty with night vision or in dim lighting. These symptoms may indicate the presence of cataracts, which affect about 70 percent of people by age 75. The good news for people with cataracts is that they are corrected with cataract surgery and lens implants and restore excellent vision and a better lifestyle. Things you should know about cataracts include:

Age Isn’t the Only Risk Factor for Cataracts. Pretty much everyone will develop cataracts with age, many studies demonstrate that lifestyle and behavior can influence when and how severely you develop cataracts. Diabetes, extensive exposure to sunlight, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and certain ethnicities have all been linked to increased risk of cataracts. Eye injuries, prior eye surgery and long-term use of steroid medication can also result in cataracts.

Cataracts Cannot Be Prevented, But You Can Lower Your Risk. Always wear UV blocking sunglasses and hats with brims when out in sunlight. Eating more Vitamin C-rich foods may delay how fast cataracts form. Absolutely, avoid smoking cigarettes, which have been shown to increase the risk of cataract development.

Cataract Surgery Helps Improve More Than Your Vision. During cataract surgery, we replace the natural clouded lens with a permanent artificial lens implant or called an intraocular lens, or IOL, which should improve your vision significantly and allow us to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism that you may have had before your procedure. In addition, we can help you choose a lens implant that also provides you a range of clear vision for arm’s length and near tasks such as for reading or using the computer. Besides the vision benefits, cataract surgery has been shown to improve your overall quality of life and reduce the risk of falling by providing more comfortable and safer mobility. 

If you or some you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants please schedule an appointment at 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.

Back to School Contact Lens Care

Did you know that 25% of children and adolescent emergency room visits related to medical devices are for contact lens problems? Many of our children and teenagers start wearing contact lenses as they enter junior high or high school. Safe and enjoyable contact lens wear does require good hygiene and care in order to prevent a risk of infection. Young people are notoriously poor at caring for their contact lenses, creating a potential gateway for serious eye infections that can cause impaired vision or even blindness. Research has shown that poor contact lens care practices by teens and young people raise their risk of eye conditions such as infectious keratitis and corneal ulcers. In the most severe cases, they may require corneal transplants to restore sight. Fortunately, contact lens eye infections can be prevented by following simple contact lens care guidelines. Here are some practical safety tips that teens with contact lenses should follow to avoid eye infections.

New Quarter, New Case! Replacing your contact lens case every three months will help keep germs at bay. To make it easy to remember, swap out your case at the beginning of each quarter. Waiting to replace contact lens cases after 6 months increases the risk of eye infection by nearly 5.5 times!

Just Say NO to H20. You may be captain of the swim team, but you shouldn’t swim, shower or go in a hot tub wearing lenses. Water from the tap might be clean enough to drink or bathe in, but it’s still home to the parasite Acanthamoeba, which can cause severe eye infections resulting in vision loss. For the same reasons, NEVER use water to rinse or soak contact lenses or cases.

You Snooze, You Lose. Never sleep in your contact lenses. Even occasionally sleeping in contact lenses increases the risk of moderate to severe eye infection by 6.5 times. Unfortunately, a poll of nearly 100,000 people by BuzzFeed found that about 70 percent of respondents occasionally or regularly sleep in their contact lenses.

It’s Too Late If You Wait. Symptoms of eye infections include redness, pain and light sensitivity and requiring examination and evaluation immediately. Waiting to get examined or treated could lead to vision loss.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more or has questions about contact lens hygiene and safety, please schedule an appointment at 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.

Eat Chocolate for Good Vision!

Did you know that eating chocolate is good for your vision? Not just any chocolate but dark chocolate! According to a study in JAMA Ophthalmology, eating dark chocolate resulted in small improvements in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity for at least 2 hours. While this might seem kind of silly there is a reason to believe the result is due to the presence of substances called flavanols which may enhance blood flow to the central and peripheral nervous systems, and actually improve cardiovascular function. Since your eyes and in particular the retina is a highly vascular structure it is no real surprise that the flavanols could have an impact. Certainly more research needs to be done-but in the meantime keep eating that dark chocolate!

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.

Avoid Eyebrow Tweezing & Plucking Infections!

Joel Confino, M.D.

Avoid Eyebrow Tweezing & Plucking Infections! 

Plucking or tweezing to shape eyebrows into a flawless, face-framing arch is a common grooming process used by many people-both women and men. Did you know that eyebrow hair removal of any type-plucking, waxing, tweezing, threading or even shaving-can be a source of serious infection called “preseptal cellulitis” and should be done with care and consideration of good hygiene in order to avoid infection risk. A study reported in the journal Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery examined patients who had eyebrow infections-either preseptal cellulitis or infected cysts-and identified both the type of bacteria and the patient history and event that resulted in the infection. More than 2/3 of the patients who had eyebrow infections had actual abscesses that were caused by forms of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (24%) and other very damaging bacteria. If you are going to personally have your eyebrows groomed please be aware of using good hygiene techniques including hand washing, washing and swabbing the eyebrow area before and after with alcohol, wiping and soaking all tools such as tweezers with alcohol before you use them. These are serious causes of eyebrow infection with potentially very damaging results.

If you or someone you know has and eyebrow infection or ingrown eyebrow and has been plucking, tweezing, waxing or threading please schedule and appointment at 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.

Contact Lenses that Adjust to Sunlight?

Did you know that there are now FDA approved contact lenses that adjust to sunlight? These contact lenses darken automatically when you wear them in bright sunlight and then lighten in darker lighting conditions, just like the eyeglass lenses you have known about for years. They are available under the name ACUVUE® OASYS Contact Lenses with Transitions® Light Intelligent Technology. This convenient feature may be helpful for certain patients who are particularly light sensitive but shouldn’t be regarded as a substitute for UV protecting sunglasses which offer a great deal more protection.

If you would like to learn more about ACUVUE® OASYS Contact Lenses with Transitions® Light Intelligent Technology 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.

Aging, Cognitive Decline, Vision & Hearing

Many people seem to think that getting older and normal aging results in an almost certain loss of cognitive abilities and nothing can be done to slow or halt this decline. Research doesn’t actually support this thinking, especially with regard to maintaining good vision and hearing. Researchers  studied a group of people 50+ years of age from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and found that there is a clear pattern whereby seniors who work to avoid sensory impairment-particularly vision and hearing-do not experience the same magnitude or speed of cognitive decline as those who have a single sensory impairment and more so a dual sensory impairment. The message is quite simple-seniors and those at risk fir age related memory loss and cognitive decline need to be sure to maintain their eye health and vision and hearing.

If you or someone you know-especially those in the senior age group-has not had a thorough eye health and vision exam, please schedule an appointment at 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.

Lipid Lowering Medication Can Help Diabetic Retinopathy

Did you know that medications used to treat high cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood can help diabetic retinopathy? In two clinical studies, the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study and the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) study, the medications Fenofibrate (TriCor, Lipofen, Triglide, Trilipix) and Statins (Lipitor, Crestor, Mevacor, Pravachol, Zocor) have been found, to reduce the signs of blood vessel disease in the retina from diabetic retinopathy but also to actually reduce the need for certain treatments for diabetic retinopathy.  We are hoping that additional research becomes available that helps us help patients with diabetes avoid the sight threatening complications of this terribly common disease.

If you or someone you know has diabetes please be sure to have regular eye exams in order to avoid the potentially blinding vision loss from this disease. Schedule an eye exam at 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.

Pterygia “Surfer’s Eye” & Melanoma Skin Cancer Risk

Does a Pterygium or "Surfer's Eye" Increase Melanoma Risk?  

A pterygium (pronounced “tuh-RIJ-ee-uhm”) is an elevated, wedged-shaped bump of tissue on your eyeball that starts on the sclera or white of your eye-most often on the side near your nose and can extend to the cornea. Although A pterygium is commonly referred to as "surfer's eye"  because being around bright sunlight for long periods of time-particularly the harmful UV reflected light from water such as the ocean-can increase your risk. But there are other causes as well and  you don't have to be a surfer or ever see the ocean to get a pterygium. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun appears to be the primary cause for the growth of pterygia but exposure to dust and wind along with dry eye disease are very common causes. Pterygia usually develop in 30- to 50-year-olds, and are rarely are found in children. If you have a light skin complexion and light eyes you have a greater chance of getting a pterygium.

Recently, researchers reporting in the British Journal of Ophthalmology reported the results of a study that considered whether people who had pterygia were at greater risk of melanoma skin cancer. They felt that since pterygia seemed to me more common in light skinned, light eyed people who were exposed to a lot of sunlight, that maybe they had greater melanoma skin cancer risk. They found that having a pterygium indicates a significantly increased risk of developing a melanoma of the skin and that eye care providers who see patients with developing pterygia should advise these patients of this increased risk and recommend regular skin surveillance with a dermatologist. Further, we know that if a pterygium becomes inflamed and affects the cornea, excision- pterygium surgery-may be necessary to avoid vision changes from corneal distortion or even scarring.

If you or someone you know has a pterygium, please schedule an eye exam at 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.

Cataract Surgery Helps Avoid Car Accidents

Did you know that the improved quality of vision obtained after cataract surgery can lower your risk of a car accident by 9% according to new information published in the journal Ophthalmology? Cataracts typically develop with age and result in a clouding of the lens inside the eye. As the lens gets progressively cloudy and more opaque it limits the amount of light entering the as well as reduce contrast and clarity. People who develop cataract complain of symptoms that might include decreased visual acuity, impaired color vision, glare, dim vision and particular trouble seeing at night. Not all cataracts need to be removed. But when a cataract impairs your safe mobility-especially for driving-it is time to consider cataract surgery and lens implants. Results from the JAMA Ophthalmology study results show that drivers with cataracts who get surgery to have them removed may lower their risk of getting into traffic crashes.

If you or some you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants 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.

Doctor Chooses a LASIK Surgeon

“Dr. Confino came highly recommended. Being a doctor myself, I was eager to see what one of my patients was bragging about. I was seen initially for a VERY thorough exam and consultation. His bedside manner was second to none, accompanied by the same from his entire staff. I underwent a PRK procedure with ease. The consistent follow up care ensured I was healing correctly. Outside of having no discomfort whatsoever, I was able to return to my normal lifestyle, and work as a doctor, almost immediately. If you are looking for a fantastic eye surgeon and an office staff that compliments him, see Dr. Confino. I highly recommend him.”-Dr. D.

If you or some you know is tired of the hassle of glasses or contact lenses for seeing at distance and would like to find out if LASIK might be a good vision correction option, 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.

Eye Problems in Women with Neurological Conditions

Women are more likely to experience neurological problems, such as migraines and multiple sclerosis, with eye problems and complications. When women come to see us for eye exams complaining of headaches or sudden visual problems we have to be more aware that there are certain neurological conditions that target women. These can include:

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological disorder that affects woman more than men and often first becomes noticeable with eye problems such as optic neuritis with decreased vision and pain when moving your eyes as well as possibly double vision.

Migraines

Although migraines can occur at any point, after puberty, women are more likely to suffer from these vision-affecting headaches by a factor of two. Many patients with migraines come in for an eye exam complaining of visual phenomena or aura, which can range from zigzag lines or aura to fragmented vision or complete visual loss. These types of symptoms are associated with “classic migraines.”

Thyroid Eye Disease

Thyroid eye disease, also known as Graves ’ disease, affects women in their 50s and 60s and may be associated with thyroid problems and brings patients in complaining of dry eye symptoms such as irritation and redness. In more advanced cases Graves’s patients could have bulging eyes and double vision as well due to poor eye muscle movement.

Learn more about neurological diseases and disorders that affect your eyes at 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.