What does being pregnant have to with your eyes? Sometimes quite a bit. During pregnancy your body undergoes fluctuations in hormone levels, changes in fluid retention and even an increase in your overall blood volume. These types of changes can result in your eyes changing in various ways. Fortunately eye changes due to pregnancy are usually temporary and resolve after the baby is born or after the cessation of breast feeding. Typically vision changes are minor and don’t require a change in eyeglasses, however there are some eye changes that do require care and attention.
If you were thinking about having LASIK you should delay your actual LASIK Surgery procedure until at least three months after your delivery or three months after you stop nursing. This is necessary because the thickness of your cornea may fluctuate during pregnancy and will reduce the accuracy of the LASIK correction. Also, hormonal fluctuations are often the cause of dry eye. This can make you uncomfortable by itself and can certainly make wearing your contact lenses more difficult. If you experience dry eyes during pregnancy be sure to consult your eye care provider so that “pregnancy-safe” lubricating eye drops or other alternative treatments for dry eye can be prescribed. Sometimes simply eating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, flax seeds and walnuts, may help resolve dry eye and also supports general good health.
On a more serious note, if your vision becomes noticeably blurry, it may signal high blood pressure or pregnancy-related diabetes. If you experience dry eyes, changes in vision or especially very blurred vision during pregnancy it is important to schedule an appointment to see us at The Eye Care & Surgery Center by calling us at 908-789-8999 or requesting an appointment at facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Eye Strain from Computer Use
Eye strain from computer use can be a problem as living in a ‘digital’ world, we are often staring at computer screens, mobile phones, video games and reading devices. Long periods of focusing on these electronic devices will not cause permanent damage to your eyes but may likely induce dry and tired eyes. Some symptoms of dry eye may be stinging, burning, tearing and possible blurred vision.
The average human blinks one time every five seconds, dependent on activity and exposure. Most humans blink on average 12-15 times per minute. However, studies have shown we blink only 6-7 times per minute while using our computers and other digital-screen devices. When we blink we irrigate and cleanse the eye, rewetting the cornea and allowing for more hydration. Elongated staring at a computer screen diminishes the blinks per minute, depriving the cornea of moisture.
Most people cannot work less and won’t play less on their digital devices so there are some precautions that can be taken to help reduce eyestrain. When sitting at the computer, position your chair approximately 25-30 inches from the computer screen and arrange your screen so you are looking slightly downward. Screen filters may be purchased to put over your monitor and add some more light to the work area to reduce glare from the screen. In ophthalmology 20/20 is considered optimal vision. Use this correlation in vision to remind you to look away from your digital device every 20 minutes and focus on something 20 feet away. Artificial tears are also very helpful in keeping the eyes lubricated. Use a drop in each eye if you begin to experience any of the dry eye symptoms mentioned in paragraph one. Take breaks from the computer often, even if just for a few minutes and make sure you are getting plenty of sleep at night. Most of all….BLINK, BLINK, BLINK.
Guest Blogger: Ivan Jacobs, M.D. Cataract & Glaucoma Specialist at The Eye Care & Surgery Center
The average human blinks one time every five seconds, dependent on activity and exposure. Most humans blink on average 12-15 times per minute. However, studies have shown we blink only 6-7 times per minute while using our computers and other digital-screen devices. When we blink we irrigate and cleanse the eye, rewetting the cornea and allowing for more hydration. Elongated staring at a computer screen diminishes the blinks per minute, depriving the cornea of moisture.
Most people cannot work less and won’t play less on their digital devices so there are some precautions that can be taken to help reduce eyestrain. When sitting at the computer, position your chair approximately 25-30 inches from the computer screen and arrange your screen so you are looking slightly downward. Screen filters may be purchased to put over your monitor and add some more light to the work area to reduce glare from the screen. In ophthalmology 20/20 is considered optimal vision. Use this correlation in vision to remind you to look away from your digital device every 20 minutes and focus on something 20 feet away. Artificial tears are also very helpful in keeping the eyes lubricated. Use a drop in each eye if you begin to experience any of the dry eye symptoms mentioned in paragraph one. Take breaks from the computer often, even if just for a few minutes and make sure you are getting plenty of sleep at night. Most of all….BLINK, BLINK, BLINK.
Guest Blogger: Ivan Jacobs, M.D. Cataract & Glaucoma Specialist at The Eye Care & Surgery Center
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Glaucoma Awareness Month in New Jersey
The Eye Care & Surgery Center wishes to direct patient’s attention to the fact that January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. “This is an important time to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease. Our understanding of this disease along with the ways in which we can diagnose and treat it have improved considerably,” New Jersey Glaucoma Specialist Roslyn Stahl, M.D. of The Eye Care & Surgery Center.
Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Moreover, among African American and Latino populations, Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness overall. Of particular note is that Glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common in African Americans than Caucasians.
Over 4 million Americans, and nearly 70 million people worldwide, have Glaucoma. Experts estimate that half of them don’t know they have it. Combined with our aging population, we can see an epidemic of blindness looming if we don’t raise awareness about the importance of regular eye examinations to preserve vision.
The most common type of Glaucoma—Primary Open Angle Glaucoma—is hereditary. The Nottingham Glaucoma Study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology evaluated the risk that siblings of Glaucoma patients would themselves develop Glaucoma within their lifetime. “While we already knew that there was a strong likelihood that family members of Glaucoma patients were at greater risk, the Nottingham Study found that siblings were 5 times more likely to develop glaucoma by age 70. This is why we strongly recommend that siblings of Glaucoma patients and Glaucoma suspects be screened for Glaucoma, each and every year,” said Dr. Stahl.
If you, a relative or someone you know is at risk for Glaucoma based on their age, heredity or health please tell them to call The Eye Care & Surgery Center to schedule and eye exam and Glaucoma screening. Early diagnosis and treatment goes a long way to preserving eye health and vision.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Can a Cataract Grow Back?
“The actual Cataract Surgery procedure involves removing the cloudy crystalline lens of the eye so that once a Cataract is removed, no, it cannot come back”, explained Ivan Jacobs, M.D. a Cataract Surgeon and Glaucoma Specialist at Eye Care & Surgery Center. “But what can happen that might make it seem like the Cataract has returned is a condition called “posterior capsular opacification,” commented Joel Confino, M.D. a Cataract Surgeon and Corneal Specialist at Eye Care & Surgery Center. The crystalline lens of the eye is where a Cataract forms. “The crystalline lens has a soft protein center and is surrounded by a capsule-kind of like the structure of an M&M candy,” said Dr. Confino. A Cataract forms because the protein becomes cloudy. During Cataract Surgery Drs. Jacobs and Confino use microscopic instruments to break up and remove the cloudy material as this is what blurs your vision. However, they leave the “capsule” in intact and actually place the intraocular lens implant (IOL) to correct vision inside the capsule to help correct your vision. In some patients the capsule become “opacified” some time after surgery leaving the patient’s vision cloudy and often with glare sensitivity much like the symptoms they had from the Cataract. Fortunately, using a YAG Laser, Drs. Jacobs and Confino are able to quickly, safely and effectively create an opening in the capsule along the visual axis which restores the vision almost instantly. This procedure called a “YAG Capsulotomy” takes only a few minutes and is performed using simple eye drop anesthesia without discomfort. So, while cataracts do not come back a condition called “posterior capsular opacification” can make it seem like the Cataract has returned.
Please feel free to contact us with your questions or to schedule an appointment regarding Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants by calling Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999.
Please feel free to contact us with your questions or to schedule an appointment regarding Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants by calling Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Baseline Eye Screening by 40
When Should You Have an Eye Exam?
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that every healthy person have a baseline eye exam by age 40. An ophthalmologic evaluation can uncover abnormalities of the visual system and reveal signs of systemic disease such as high blood pressure and diabetes. This age is a time when eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataract or retinal conditions may be identifiable in their early form and treatment can have a tremendous impact.
Age 40 is also about the age when people develop presbyopia, a normal aging process where the natural lens of the eye starts to lose its ability to focus, creating the need to use magnifying glasses or bifocals to read. Patients with known diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes should have regular eye exams at the time of diagnosis to search for signs of disease in the eye. The eye doctor would then determine appropriate intervals of follow-up care.
Other diseases such as autoimmune disease (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, etc.), thyroid disease, sleep apnea, blood disorders and neurological conditions can also affect the eyes. People with a strong family history of eye diseases or blindness should call their eye doctor today to set up an evaluation.
Guest Blogger: Dr. Roslyn Stahl, M.D. Glaucoma & Cataract Specialist
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that every healthy person have a baseline eye exam by age 40. An ophthalmologic evaluation can uncover abnormalities of the visual system and reveal signs of systemic disease such as high blood pressure and diabetes. This age is a time when eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataract or retinal conditions may be identifiable in their early form and treatment can have a tremendous impact.
Age 40 is also about the age when people develop presbyopia, a normal aging process where the natural lens of the eye starts to lose its ability to focus, creating the need to use magnifying glasses or bifocals to read. Patients with known diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes should have regular eye exams at the time of diagnosis to search for signs of disease in the eye. The eye doctor would then determine appropriate intervals of follow-up care.
Other diseases such as autoimmune disease (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, etc.), thyroid disease, sleep apnea, blood disorders and neurological conditions can also affect the eyes. People with a strong family history of eye diseases or blindness should call their eye doctor today to set up an evaluation.
Guest Blogger: Dr. Roslyn Stahl, M.D. Glaucoma & Cataract Specialist
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
How Safe Is LASIK?
The safety of LASIK is a key consideration for anyone thinking about Laser Eye Surgery for vision correction. It is important to understand the solid overall long term safety record as well as a look at what might be key factors that impact LASIK safety.
By far the most important factors that can affect LASIK safety are the laser and instrumentation to be used to perform the treatment and even more so, the skill and experience of the LASIK Surgeon.
Long Term Track Record
The use of the Excimer laser for performing Laser Eye Surgery for the Laser Vision Correction of nearsightedness was first approved in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 20, 1995. The Excimer Laser was specifically FDA approved for LASIK in 1998. So as of 2011, Laser Eye Surgery for vision correction has been performed for just over 16 years and the LASIK procedure has been performed under FDA approval for just over 11 years.
It is estimated that some 22 million patients worldwide have had LASIK.
LASIK is generally considered one of the most successful and safe surgical procedures of any type. Nearsighted patients can expect to achieve 20/40 vision more than 98 percent of the time and uncorrected vision of 20/20 or 20/25 more than 90 percent of the time. With regard to any loss of vision, it is quite rare to experience a loss of vision beyond 20/40 occurring in about only 3 per 1,000 cases and with regard to serious complications such as infection or corneal damage the risk is even less occurring in fewer than 1 in 1,000 cases. While not an infinite amount of time, the availability of the various Laser Vision Correction procedures, including LASIK for this 10-15 year timeframe with these results does give us access to real world experience and data that speaks to its long term safety record. But, there is more to safety than simply the FDA approval of the laser itself.
Safety is the Hands of the LASIK Surgeon
FDA approval does not ensure that a LASIK Surgeon is going to provide a thorough evaluation and consultation, does not imply that LASIK Surgeons will provide a complete review of the possible risks and complications of LASIK-nor does it imply that a LASIK Surgeon will use the appropriate screening and decision criteria to be sure that a patient is in fact a good candidate for LASIK or any Laser Eye Surgery for that matter.
So, with regard to LASIK safety, choosing a LASIK Surgeon is the most important decision a patient makes in deciding to have LASIK and is a significant part of making LASIK a safe and effective procedure. You should not choose a LASIK Surgeon based on slick advertising or low price. You should choose a LASIK Surgeon based on reputation in the community, the length of time they have been performing LASIK and the comfort and rapport established during your consultation. While the equipment used may provide a slight advantage or disadvantage in safety, it is ALWAYS the skill and experience of the surgeon that contributes the most to the overall safety of Laser Eye Surgery for the correction of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.
The best way for you or someone you know to really learn all they need to know about LASIK safety is to find out if they are a good candidate for LASIK by having an evaluation, examination, and consultation with Dr. Confino who is a Corneal Surgeon and LASIK specialist. Please feel free to contact us schedule an appointment by calling Eye Care & Surgery Center Toll Free at 800.504.1083.
By far the most important factors that can affect LASIK safety are the laser and instrumentation to be used to perform the treatment and even more so, the skill and experience of the LASIK Surgeon.
Long Term Track Record
The use of the Excimer laser for performing Laser Eye Surgery for the Laser Vision Correction of nearsightedness was first approved in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 20, 1995. The Excimer Laser was specifically FDA approved for LASIK in 1998. So as of 2011, Laser Eye Surgery for vision correction has been performed for just over 16 years and the LASIK procedure has been performed under FDA approval for just over 11 years.
It is estimated that some 22 million patients worldwide have had LASIK.
LASIK is generally considered one of the most successful and safe surgical procedures of any type. Nearsighted patients can expect to achieve 20/40 vision more than 98 percent of the time and uncorrected vision of 20/20 or 20/25 more than 90 percent of the time. With regard to any loss of vision, it is quite rare to experience a loss of vision beyond 20/40 occurring in about only 3 per 1,000 cases and with regard to serious complications such as infection or corneal damage the risk is even less occurring in fewer than 1 in 1,000 cases. While not an infinite amount of time, the availability of the various Laser Vision Correction procedures, including LASIK for this 10-15 year timeframe with these results does give us access to real world experience and data that speaks to its long term safety record. But, there is more to safety than simply the FDA approval of the laser itself.
Safety is the Hands of the LASIK Surgeon
FDA approval does not ensure that a LASIK Surgeon is going to provide a thorough evaluation and consultation, does not imply that LASIK Surgeons will provide a complete review of the possible risks and complications of LASIK-nor does it imply that a LASIK Surgeon will use the appropriate screening and decision criteria to be sure that a patient is in fact a good candidate for LASIK or any Laser Eye Surgery for that matter.
So, with regard to LASIK safety, choosing a LASIK Surgeon is the most important decision a patient makes in deciding to have LASIK and is a significant part of making LASIK a safe and effective procedure. You should not choose a LASIK Surgeon based on slick advertising or low price. You should choose a LASIK Surgeon based on reputation in the community, the length of time they have been performing LASIK and the comfort and rapport established during your consultation. While the equipment used may provide a slight advantage or disadvantage in safety, it is ALWAYS the skill and experience of the surgeon that contributes the most to the overall safety of Laser Eye Surgery for the correction of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.
The best way for you or someone you know to really learn all they need to know about LASIK safety is to find out if they are a good candidate for LASIK by having an evaluation, examination, and consultation with Dr. Confino who is a Corneal Surgeon and LASIK specialist. Please feel free to contact us schedule an appointment by calling Eye Care & Surgery Center Toll Free at 800.504.1083.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Diabetic Eye Disease Month at Eye Care & Surgery Center
Eye Care & Surgery Center wishes to announce that Prevent Blindness America has designated November as National Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month. This is an important time to spread the word about this potentially blinding disease. We need to work to help patients avoid the complications of diabetic retinopathy, which blinds over 8,000 Americans each year. The vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented if it's caught and treated in time. A recent study found that more than one third of those diagnosed with diabetes do not adhere to vision care guidelines recommending a dilated eye exam every year.
As part of Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month we are urging people with diabetes to have a dilated eye exam every year. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater his or her risk for developing diabetic retinopathy. However, diabetic retinopathy does not only affect people who have had diabetes for many years, it can also appear within the first year or two after the onset of the disease.
Patients can help to reduce the risk of developing diabetic eye disease by not smoking, controlling their cholesterol and lipid profile and blood pressure, as well as working to eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fish, fruit and green leafy vegetables and exercising.
The key to successful treatment of diabetic retinopathy is early detection and intervention. We are fortunate to have Milton Kahn, M.D. at Eye Care & Surgery Center, who is a fellowship trained in Diseases of the Retina and a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy. If you or someone you know has diabetes or is even prediabetic please feel free to schedule a diabetic eye examination at Eye Care & Surgery Center by phoning 908.789.8999.
As part of Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month we are urging people with diabetes to have a dilated eye exam every year. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater his or her risk for developing diabetic retinopathy. However, diabetic retinopathy does not only affect people who have had diabetes for many years, it can also appear within the first year or two after the onset of the disease.
Patients can help to reduce the risk of developing diabetic eye disease by not smoking, controlling their cholesterol and lipid profile and blood pressure, as well as working to eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fish, fruit and green leafy vegetables and exercising.
The key to successful treatment of diabetic retinopathy is early detection and intervention. We are fortunate to have Milton Kahn, M.D. at Eye Care & Surgery Center, who is a fellowship trained in Diseases of the Retina and a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy. If you or someone you know has diabetes or is even prediabetic please feel free to schedule a diabetic eye examination at Eye Care & Surgery Center by phoning 908.789.8999.
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