Contact Lenses, Dry Eyes & Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills may make wearing contact lenses less comfortable as dry eye problems can be more troubling. What does having dry eyes have to do with wearing contact lenses and birth control pills? It is noteworthy that there is a relationship between dry eye symptoms in woman using oral contraceptives who wear contact lenses. Researchers reported on a study in Cornea where they evaluated the interaction between oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use, contact lens wear and dry eye signs and symptoms in healthy young women. While there were no differences in dry eyes between the phases of the menstrual cycle and no evidence that tear osmolarity-or saltiness-was affected by OCP or contact lens use in the young women, it was clear that the combination of OCP use and contact lens wear together may increase the severity of dry eye symptoms.

If you or someone you know has a question about dry eyes, oral contraceptives or birth control pill use and contact lens wear please call The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999, visit The Eye Care & Surgery Center or facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter to schedule an appointment.

With locations 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, The Eye Care & Surgery Center is a leading NJ eye care practice conveniently located for patients from throughout central and northern New Jersey.

What is a Hordeolum Eyelid Lump?

There are a number of different types of eyelid lumps and bumps that we see at The Eye Care & Surgery Center. Hordeolum is a common, painful inflammation of the eyelid that is usually caused by a bacterial infection. The infection affects the oil glands in the eyelid and results in a lump. Often, the infected lump drains and heals by itself with no treatment. However, the infection can sometimes spread to other glands in the eyes and can become long lasting. It can also turn into a cyst which is called a chalazion. Hordeolum can be internal, on the inside of the eyelid, or external, on the outside of the eyelid near the eyelashes. Hordeolum on the outside of the eyelid is known as a stye. Hordeolum also can be acute and appear suddenly and heal in a short time, or chronic and long lasting and occurring over time. Common treatments for hordeolum include warm compresses applied at home, prescription and non prescription lid scrubs, antibiotics, steroids, lid massages and others types of treatment.

If you or someone you know has a question about eye lid lumps such as hordeolum, stye or chalzion please call The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999, visit The Eye Care & Surgery Center or facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter to schedule an appointment.

With locations 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, The Eye Care & Surgery Center is a leading NJ eye care practice conveniently located for patients from throughout central and northern New Jersey.

Protect Your Eyes from UV Damage

The Eye Care & Surgery Center wants to advise patients of the importance of protecting their eyes from excessive exposure to UV light from the sun as the potential for cumulative damage to their eyes and sensitive tissue around the eyes is not trivial. While the summer months are a great time to be outdoors-walking, hiking, swimming-going to the beach-and just enjoying our community, there are some common sense precautions along with wearing appropriate UV protective eyewear that everyone people should take. Some precautions regarding UV eye protection include:

• Always wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Sunglasses without UV protection may shade the eyes but actually cause the pupils to dilate, allowing in even more harmful rays.

• Wear a brimmed hat along with sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays.

• Choose wrap-around sunglasses to protect the eyes and the skin around the eyes.

• Be aware that although some contact lenses may offer UV protection, they cannot protect the entire eye and the skin around it.

• Choose sunglasses made of unbreakable polycarbonate, especially for children and for those who lead active lifestyles.

• Be sure to ask your doctor about the photosensitizing side effects of any medications that you might take.

• Always wear eye protection when using a tanning bed. According the American Academy of Ophthalmology, tanning beds can produce UV levels up to 100 times more than the sun, which can cause serious damage to the external and internal structures of the eye and eyelids.

At The Eye Care & Surgery Center we have an extensive selection of UV protecting eyeglass lenses available to choose from. Eye protection from UV needs to be complete but doesn’t have to be overly expensive. High quality sunglasses should block out 99-100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation. It is also important to have UV protection in everyday eyewear, which is readily available with a number of UV blocking eyeglass lens materials, specialized coatings and photochromic lenses.

If you or someone you know has a question or concerns about ultraviolet (UV) eye damage and injury and how to select protective eyewear please feel free to call The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999, visit The Eye Care & Surgery Center or facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter to schedule an appointment.

The Eye Care & Surgery Center is a leading New Jersey eye care practice with offices 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.

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