Cataract Surgery Lowers Eye Pressure

There is positive news for people who have glaucoma or high eye pressure (IOP) and cataracts, and are considering cataract surgery. This is meaningful as some 20% of patients with cataracts either have somewhat high IOP or actually have glaucoma. Researchers reporting in Current Opinion in Ophthalmology reviewed the effect that cataract surgery had on eye pressure-or intraocular pressure (IOP).

Research on Lowering Effect of Cataract Surgery on Eye Pressure
The data presented suggests that cataract surgery provides a lowering effect on IOP in the long term and the amount of the pressure lowering is proportional to how high the IOP was before the cataract surgery. That is, eyes with higher preoperative IOP have the greatest average lowering, whereas eyes with IOP in the lower range of statistically normal tend to have an IOP that is unchanged from before cataract surgery, or even higher following cataract surgery.

If you or someone you know has cataracts and glaucoma or a high eye pressure, and is thinking about cataract surgery, please share this information and ask them to 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.

How Safe is Laser Vision Correction?

LASIK Surgeons Know About Safety
This past October 21, 2015 marked the 20 year anniversary of FDA approval of the use of the excimer laser for Laser Vision Correction of common eye problems such as nearsightedness or myopia. 20 years is a long time and we have now arrived with technology, techniques, skills and experience to be able to provide patients wanting to eliminate their dependence on glasses and contacts, with a safe, effective and reproducible laser eye surgery treatment-whether LASIK, PRK or other method of correction.

Patient Barriers to LASIK
Still, one of the main barriers to patients who want to have LASIK is there concern about safety. A recent study was conducted to determine what percent of LASIK & Refractive Surgeons WHO ACTUALLY PERFORMED THE PROCEDURE, have had Laser Vision Correction. Certainly, eye surgeons who perform refractive surgery MUST know the dark dirty secrets of safety issues and would avoid putting themselves at undue risk. After all…EYE SURGEONS NEED EXCELLENT VISION!

Results of the Laser Vision Correction Safety Study
The study, called Prevalence of Laser Vision Correction in Ophthalmologists Who Perform Refractive Surgery was published in the September Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery and had some interesting results. Responses were received from 248 (99.2%) of 250 ophthalmologists who were queried, of which 232 (92.8%) met the criteria of currently working as refractive surgeons. Of the 232 subjects, 161 (69.4%) reported that they had refractive errors potentially amenable to treatment with laser vision correction, not including presbyopia. Of the 161 ophthalmologists with treatable refractive errors, 54 (33.5%) reported they were not candidates for laser vision correction for a variety of reasons and 107 (66.5%) reported they were candidates for LVC. Of the laser vision correction candidates, 62.6% reported that they had an LVC procedure in their own eyes! Of the overall 232 subjects, more than 90% recommend LVC for adult members of their immediate family!

The message is clear. The data speaks for itself. Two thirds of the eye surgeons who perform LASIK, and are good candidates for LASIK-HAVE LASIK! They are confident of the safety, efficacy and predictability-THAT THEY HAVE IT THEMSELVES!!!! And they recommend it to their family members. The key here to having a great result is finding out if you are a good LASIK candidate. We can help!

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about LASIK or schedule a Free LASIK Consultation, 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.

Diabetic Macular Edema Treatment with VEGF Injections

Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is a common cause of vision loss in patients with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. In fact it is one of the most frequent causes of vision problems in diabetics. Until recently diabetic laser treatment was the preferred treatment option for diabetic macular edema. According to researchers reporting in the American Journal of Ophthalmology reviewing and publishing an analysis of studies on Diabetic Maculopathy published between January 1, 1985 and July 31, 2013, although laser photocoagulation has been the standard treatment for DME for nearly 3 decades, there is increasing evidence that better outcomes can be achieved with anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (anti-VEGF) injections such as Lucentis® and Eylea®.

Results of Diabetic Macular Edema Treatment with Anti VEGF Injections
The number of patients with DME gaining an improvement of seeing an additional 10-15 letters on the eye chart was at least 2 times greater for those patients treated with the anti-VEGF injections as compared to being treated with laser treatments. Thus, the researchers concluded that anti-VEGF therapy is superior to laser photocoagulation for treatment of moderate to severe visual impairment caused by DME.

If you or someone you know has diabetes and is concerned about their risk of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) or Diabetic Retinopathy, it is critical that they have regular dilated eye exams. 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.

Compliance Key to Diabetic Eye Exam Effectiveness

Patients with diabetes hold a key to preventing vision loss from the disease by maintaining careful compliance with their eye doctor’s recommendations regarding having regular eye exams. Although there is no cure for diabetic retinopathy, with careful management of risk factors such as blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, moderation of alcohol consumption and routine exercise along with regular annual dilated eye exams, the potential vision loss from diabetes and associated diabetic eye problems can be minimized. BUT-this requires that patients do their part and keep a strict schedule and compliance with the recommendations for diabetic eye exams and testing.

Research on Diabetic Eye Exam Compliance
Researchers reporting in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, studied and identified variables that predict adherence with annual eye examinations using the Compliance with Annual Diabetic Eye Exams Survey (CADEES), a new questionnaire designed to measure health beliefs related to diabetic retinopathy and annual eye examinations.

A number of factors seemed to impact diabetic patient compliance with annual eye exams including a) whether they thought their insurance would pay for the eye exam, b) whether it was difficult to schedule or physically get to an eye exam appointment with their eye doctor, c) whether patients had been counseled and made obtaining an eye examination a top priority and d) whether they had been previously told that they had signs of diabetic retinopathy.

In addition, clinicians can also help patients with compliance with the diabetic eye exams by carefully and thoroughly counseling those newly diagnosed and those with poorly controlled blood sugar patients more diligently about the importance of annual eye examinations and discussing and helping patients remove perceived barriers and misconceptions.

If you or someone you know has diabetes they need to have regular annual dilated eye exams to prevent vision loss from diabetic eye diseases and problems. Please share this information with anyone you know who is diabetic and ask them to 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.

Eat Fruit & Reduce Diabetic Risk

What does eating fruit have to do with reducing your risk of diabetes? Based on research from the Harvard School of Public health quite a bit! Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health identified that eating certain whole fruits may reduce the risk for Type 2 diabetes, even though fruit juice consumption may actually increase the risk of diabetes.

Research on Diabetes & Eating Fruits
Investigators combined data from 3 studies: the Nurses' Health Study of more than 66,000 patients, the Nurses' Health Study II of more than 85,000 patients and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study with over 36,000 patients. The participants in all 3 studies completed questionnaires assessing health and lifestyle factors, including diet, every 2 years.

The researchers excluded participants with a baseline diagnosis of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer, as well as those who had missing data for fruit or fruit juice consumption or an extremely high or low caloric intake, and those who had an unclear date of diabetes diagnosis.

The analysis was adjusted for personal, lifestyle, and dietary risk factors for diabetes.

The researchers concluded that every 3 servings of fruit per week were associated with a lower risk for Type 2 diabetes. When the researchers looked at individual types of fruit in a multivariate analysis, adjusted for the same factors, they found that 3 servings per week of some fruits were more closely associated with reduced risk of diabetes especially blueberries, grapes and apples.

If you or someone you know has a question about eating fruit and risk of diabetes or diabetic eye disease and problems, 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.

Diabetic Eye Problems Still Troubling

Diabetes continues to be the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age in the United States. This is clearly related to the continuing surge in the number of additional cases of diabetes diagnosed each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control, diabetes affects more than 26 million people in the United States and although there is no cure for diabetic eye disease, annual eye exams for diabetes patients are essential to help slow the progression of the disease and prevent vision loss.

Vision Loss from Diabetes Can Be Prevented
The vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented if it's caught early and treated in time. The abnormal blood vessel leakage and growth can be treated with a range of options including diabetic laser treatment, but preferably injections of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor drugs such as Lucentis® and Eylea®. Patients have an important role to play and still have a way to go. 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.

In addition to having regular eye examinations and testing at the direction of your eye doctor, 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.

If you or someone you know has diabetes or even elevated blood sugar levels they should work to prevent diabetic eye disease and problems with regular eye exams by calling

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.

Helpful Eye Injury Facts to Know

Knowing some information and facts about eye injury and how to prevent it can be helpful to almost anyone. While some eye injury risks are common sense, other facts might actually surprise you. One of the most important facts to know about eye injury is that it can be prevented in 90% of the cases simply by wearing appropriate protective eyewear. What is troubling is that according to a survey by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, only 35 percent of people say that they always wear protective eyewear when performing home repairs or maintenance and even less wear protective eyewear while playing sports!

Eye Injury Facts and Myths

• Who is more likely to have an eye injury-men or women? Men!
• Are eye injuries more common on the job or at home? Nearly half of all eye injuries occurred in the home! In fact more than 40 percent of eye injuries were caused by projects and activities such as home repairs, yard work, cleaning and cooking. More than a third of injuries in the home occurred in living areas such as the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living or family room.
• More than 40 percent of eye injuries every year are related to sports or recreational activities.
• Eyes can be damaged by sun exposure, not just chemicals, dust or objects.
• Among people who have had eye injuries, more than 78 percent of people were not wearing eyewear at the time of injury!

If you or someone you know is concerned about eye injury and wants to learn more about preventing eye injuries and protective eyewear, please feel free to 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.

Use Caution with Decorative Contact Lenses for Halloween

Many of your friends and family like to use decorative contact lenses as part of their Halloween costumes. Fashion or decorative contact lenses give you the ability to change your “look” by changing your eye color or even creating patterns or logos on your eyes without correcting vision. BUT, decorative contact lenses need to be used with caution and a sound understanding of how to use them safely and avoid eye problems and injury.

Facts & Tips for Halloween Contact Lens Eye Safety

• Decorative contact lenses are not cosmetics or “over the counter” merchandise. They are medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Places that advertise them as cosmetics or sell them without a prescription are breaking the law.
• They are not “one size fits all.” An eye doctor, either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist, must measure each eye to properly fit the lenses and evaluate how your eye responds to contact lens wear. A poor fit can cause serious eye damage, including;

1. a scratched cornea
2. a corneal infection
3. pink eye conjunctivitis
4. decreased vision
5. blindness

• Places that sell decorative lenses without a prescription may give you few or no instructions on how to clean and care for your lenses. Failure to use the proper solution and care regimen to keep contact lenses clean and moist can lead to infections.

Where NOT to Buy Decorative Contact Lenses

• street vendors
• salons or beauty supply stores
• boutiques
• flea markets
• novelty stores
• Halloween stores
• record or video stores
• convenience stores
• beach shops
• Internet (unless the site requires a prescription)

These are not authorized distributors of contact lenses, which are prescription devices by federal law.

How to Buy Decorative Contact Lenses Safely. Get an eye exam from a licensed eye doctor, either an ophthalmologist or optometrist, even if you feel your vision is perfect to make sure your eyes are healthy enough to wear contacts. Get a valid prescription that includes the brand name, lens measurements, and an expiration date. But don’t expect your eye doctor to prescribe anime, or circle, lenses. These bigger-than-normal lenses that give the wearer a wide-eyed, doll-like look have not been approved by FDA. Buy the lenses from a seller that requires you to provide a prescription, whether you go in person or shop online. Follow directions for cleaning, disinfecting, and wearing the lenses, and visit your eye doctor for follow-up eye exams. See your eye doctor right away if you have signs of possible eye infection including:

• redness
• eye pain that doesn’t go away after a short time
• decrease in vision

The safe and effective use of contact lenses-whether decorative or not-requires proper fitting and education about their care to prevent the potential for serious eye problems from becoming a reality. If you or someone you know wishes to learn more or be fit with any type of contact lenses-including decorative contacts-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: Turning Back the Clock

HI, my name is Nancy and I would like to tell you about my recent surgery at The Eye care and Surgery Center. I can sum it up in one word, OUTSTANDING! From Dr. Jacobs and his staff, to the surgery center nurses and staff, all were wonderful. I cannot tell you how fantastic it is to see clearly at a distance for the first time in 53 years. And when they say the surgery is painless it truly is. Again the whole experience was painless, fast and gives you back great vision. I love it.


Nancy D

If you or someone you know has a question about cataracts, laser 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.

Castle Connolly Recognizes Dr. Confino in Top Doctors®

New Jersey Cornea Specialist, Cataract & LASIK Surgeon Joel Confino, M.D. of The Eye Care & Surgery Center has been selected and included in the Castle Connolly Top Doctors® list for 2015. This is the 14th consecutive year Dr. Confino has been recognized. Being selected a top ophthalmologist indicates that Dr. Confino was nominated by peer physicians and selected by a panel of experts. As nominations are open to all board certified physicians, thousands are included in the selection process. Less than 5% of the nation's licensed physicians are selected as Top Doctors® in their regions for their specialties. Physicians recognized by Castle Connolly have been selected based on extensive surveys of physicians nationwide and undergo a thorough review of credentials by Castle Connolly’s physician-led research team. Doctors cannot and do not pay to be selected as a CCML Top Doctor.

Congratulations to Dr. Confino!

To learn more about The Eye Care & Surgery center you may visit www.newjerseyvision.com, facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter or Google+.

Eye Movements Detect Alzheimer’s Disease

Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease pose a huge challenge to both the healthcare system and caregivers. A real key to helping all involved in their care is early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s so that resources can be offered.

Research on Eye Movements & Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease
According to researchers reporting in Investigative Ophthalmology & Vision Science a subtle change in eye movements may provide a useful diagnostic tool for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease. In general, eye movements follow a reproducible pattern during normal reading. Each eye movement ends up in a fixation point, which allows the brain to process the incoming information and to program the following movements. The researchers found that Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) produces eye movement abnormalities and disturbances in reading with those patients with early AD displaying abnormal fixation patterns. So we now know that evaluation of eye movement behavior during reading might provide a useful tool for a more precise early diagnosis of AD and for monitoring the progress or stability of Alzheimer Disease.

If you or someone you know has a question about early detection of Alzheimer’s Disease or the role of eye movements in Alzheimer’s Disease, 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.

Avoid Airbag Eye Injury in Car Accidents

While seat belts and airbags are intended to add a high margin of safety and protection in car accidents, recent research suggests that their improper or incomplete use may actually increase the risk of airbag related eye injury.
 
Research on Airbags & Eye Injury
A recent report in Survey of Ophthalmology suggests that the incidence of eye injury and facial trauma from airbags is actually increasing. How can this be happening? Airbags were originally designed as a supplemental safety system to seatbelts, to protect the head from hard surfaces in frontal crashes. It is critical that all passengers wear their seatbelts even if your car has airbags in the front, back and sides of the passenger cabin because the seatbelts restrict and prevent you from being quickly and forcefully thrown forward and colliding with the rearward inflating and accelerating airbags as they are deployed during a car accident. Airbag deployment and passenger collision with airbags has been reported to cause eye injuries including corneal abrasions, alkali burns and the serious effects of eye compression such as retinal tears, retinal and vitreous hemorrhages, retinal detachment and even cataracts. SO-the message is clear. For eye protection and safety in motor vehicle accidents, all occupants of cars should wear safety belts at all times even if your vehicle has airbags!
 

If you or someone you know has a question about eye injury from airbags in cars,  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.

Laser Pointers Pose Risk of Eye Injury

Laser pointers are common devices that are found in the classroom, lecture hall, business meetings and presentations and believe it or not even in toys. Yet, some of them may actually pose the risk of eye injury and are eye safety risks if not properly chosen and handled.

In general, the greater a laser pointer's output power, the more likely it will cause serious eye injuries.

Understanding Laser Pointers
As power increases above five milliwatts, the time margin for safe exposure decreases and permanent eye and skin damage can occur quickly. The problem is that the output power of laser pointers is not immediately apparent to the user. Laser pointers often lack appropriate labeling or are mislabeled, and definitive testing of individual pointers is beyond the reach of the average consumer. What we know for sure is that even the briefest exposure to high-powered blue handheld laser products can cause serious eye injuries.

Research on Laser Pointer Eye Safety
Researchers reporting the results of a study in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology found that if a laser with less than five milliwatts of output power is directed at someone's eye, that person can blink or turn away without suffering an eye injury. However, the natural protective mechanisms of the eye , such as the blink reflex, are ineffective against lasers with an output power greater than five milliwatts, and severe retinal damage may occur, even after momentary exposure.

Here's what the FDA advises:

• Never aim or shine a laser pointer at anyone.
• Don't buy laser pointers for your children.
• Before purchasing a laser pointer, make sure it has the following information on the label:
• a statement that it complies with Chapter 21 CFR (the Code of Federal Regulations);
• the manufacturer or distributor's name and the date of manufacture;
• a warning to avoid exposure to laser radiation; and
• the class designation, ranging from Class I to IIIa. Class IIIb and IV products should be used only by individuals with proper training and in applications where there is a legitimate need for these high-powered products.

The problem is that many laser pointers lack labels or have inaccurate labels and the researchers found that 60 percent of the sampled laser pointer products that the FDA tests are overpowered compared with what the label says. Those pointers may be powered in the 10s or 100s of milliwatts!

How do you know if your laser pointer is overpowered?
Ideally, consumers could buy a laser pointer with the certainty that it's powered under five milliwatts but this isn’t possible based on the poor labeling and compliance.

The FDA says that if you have a laser pointer that isn't labeled or if you don't trust the labeling, consider the following:

• If the pointer is small and runs on button batteries, its output probably is less than five milliwatts.
• If it's pen-sized and runs on AA or AAA batteries, it's likely to be more powerful and may exceed five milliwatts.
• If it's flashlight-sized and runs on a cluster of AA or AAA batteries or runs on lithium batteries, it likely exceeds five milliwatts.
• Pointers sold with battery chargers probably drain their batteries quickly and are likely to be overpowered.
• Some pointers are sold with a removable cap that spreads the beam into a pattern. If used without the cap, the beam becomes a single beam that could exceed 5 milliwatts.
• Look for keywords that sellers might use to indicate a pointer is highly powered without saying that it's over five milliwatts: powerful, bright, ultra, super, military, military grade, super bright, high power, ultra bright, strong, balloon pop, burn, burning, adjustable focus, lithium battery, lithium powered.
• Look for videos or photos that show the laser burning, melting, balloon popping or show a bright, well-defined beam of light.
• Look for purchaser comments on websites that tout the brightness or power of the product.

Blue & Violet Laser Pointers Are the Most Dangerous!

Blue and Violet laser pointers are the most dangerous because the human eye actually is less sensitive to blue and violet. So, while a person would react quickly to a red or green laser, that person may not blink or turn away as fast from an equally powerful blue or violet light, creating a greater likelihood of injury.

If you or someone you know is concerned about laser pointer use and eye safety, please have them 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.

Is ADHD Associated with Vision Problems?

For anyone with ADHD or the parent of a child with ADHD, there is an ongoing search for reasons it occurs as well as ways to allow better control, stability and overall functioning. We know that sometimes vision problems do contribute to inattentiveness and certain behavioral issues for children in school. But, is there an association between vision problems and children with an actual diagnosis of ADHD/ADD?

 Research on ADHD & Vision Problems
Researchers reporting in the journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (AAPOS) investigated the possibility that there was an association between ADHD/ADD, uncorrected refractive-errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism-and visual acuity. They performed a case matched controlled study that included ADD/ADHD children actually diagnosed with ADHD/ADD according to criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-TR), along with an age-matched control group of children and then performed eye exams to evaluate uncorrected visual acuity for distance and near, cycloplegic refraction-an eye test to measure uncorrected refractive error with eye drops, ocular motility or eye movement, and binocular function. Their results showed that ADD/ADHD children had similar visual acuity at distance and near and refractive errors as normal subjects. Eye movement and the ability to use both eyes together as well as focusing ability were also found to be similar in both groups and thus might not contribute to ADD/ADHD.

 
If you or someone you know has ADHD and is concerned about any effects of vision problems, refractive errors or decreased visual acuity 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.

Real Life Impact of Cataracts

Cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss for seniors with more than half of those over the age of 65 having some degree of cataract development.
 
What is a Cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the crystalline lens of the eye preventing light rays from passing through it easily. This results in a clouding and blurring of vision. For many patients cataracts start out slowly and have little effect on vision at first. But, as the cataract becomes denser, so does the impact on vision.
 

Symptoms of Cataracts
The most common symptoms that bother patients with cataracts can include blurring of vision, sensitivity to light and glare, double vision in one eye, poor night vision, fading or yellowing of colors and frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescriptions.
 
Real Life Impact of Cataracts
Poor vision in seniors has a much greater impact than just not seeing clearly. Poor vision in seniors is often associated with premature or accelerated mental decline. Cataracts and the associated decreased vision they cause add challenges to everyday living in terms of mobility and safety and can also put patients at increased risk for orthopedic injury-especially hip fracture. So, helping seniors restore vision with cataract surgery has an important place in securing senior health, well being, mobility, safety and mental state.

 When cataracts begin to interfere with daily activities or with patient comfort, mobility and safety, they can be treated surgically. Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most frequently performed surgeries in the United States. Today, we have a full range of lens implants available that allow us to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and even near vision problems after cataract surgery, as well as distance vision, without requiring bifocals or reading glasses for the vast majority of patients.

 If you or someone you know has questions about cataract, laser cataract surgery or lens implants please feel free to 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.

Think Twice before Buying Children’s Eyewear Online

Buying eyewear online could be risky business, especially where your children are concerned. How will you know the prescription is filled correctly? Are the customized measurements to fit the child’s facial structure done correctly for accurate visual acuity and comfort?

It is important that you consult a local professional, licensed optician, to ensure proper placement and positioning of child’s eyewear. He or she will be able to make any adjustments to the glasses for ultimate comfort and identify any problems that may exist with the prescription. Most opticians will have a rapport with your eye doctor and would be able to discuss any issues or concerns with them regarding the child’s vision.

By: Guest Blogger Amy Shabbat, Licensed Optician

If you or someone you know has a question about children’s eyeglasses, frames or lenses, 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.

Dark Circles Under Your Eyes

About Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
Dark circles under the eyes are a very common complaint we hear from patients. Dark circles can actually be caused by a number of different causes and thus we need to address them and treat them differently.

Excess Eyelid Fat
The space behind the eye, known as the orbit, contains a significant amount of fatty tissue. Orbital fat probably evolved to help cushion the eye from impact. However, as we get older, the support structures which keep the fat behind the eye weaken, and the fat moves forward into the eyelids. This results in fullness to the lower eyelids which most people find aesthetically unpleasing. This fullness, commonly referred to as bags under the eyes, makes people look older and tired. The best treatment for this type of problem is usually removal or repositioning of excess fat with a lower eyelid blepharoplasty procedure. Excess skin can be trimmed and tightened at the same time.

Hollowness in the Lower Eyelids
Dark circles under the eyes can also be caused by a depression or hollowness in the lower eyelids. Patients who have this problem can usually feel the underlying bone when the area of hollowness is touched. Today, we are able to treat the hollowness with injectable volumizing fillers whose qualities make them appropriate for the delicate eye area. These non surgical treatments typically last 6-12 months. Sometimes it becomes necessary to perform fat grafting or repositioning of fat to reduce hollows under the eyes as well as performing a blepharoplasty or lid tightening procedure known as canthoplasty to improve the lower eyelid contour.

Hyperpigmentation of Eyelid Skin
Sometimes dark circles under the eyes can be caused by too much pigmentation of the skin, although this is the least common cause. Patients often think that they have hyperpigmentation but what they are seeing is shadows from excess eyelid fat or hollowness at the orbital rim. If after examination and consultation patients do in fact have too much pigmentation of the eyelids we can use prescription bleaching creams that might be helpful.

Dr. Purewal
Cosmetic Plastic Eye &
Reconstructive Surgeon 

If you or someone you know would like help for dark circles under their eyes, please call The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999 to schedule a consultation with Cosmetic Eye Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Baljeet Purewal, M.D.

Remember Eye Exams for Kids

As the summer winds down and we get ready for the kids to go back to school let’s remember the importance of eye exams to make sure they have a solid eye health and vision foundation from which to begin school year. Children use their eyes and vision as critical tools in their learning process, especially when we consider the demanding visual environment and vision related tasks in the classroom as they read and write, use computers and tablets, but also for sports and recreation.

Importance of Regular Eye Exams for Children

Regular eye exams are important to detect changes to children’s vision or any eye problems that might hinder their overall well being and academic performance. The most frequent eye problems we find in school age kids are the common vision problems of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Sometimes, not having clear vision in the classroom can lead to the undeserved perception of a behavioral problem or attention problem.

 

Dr. Louis Furlan
Pediatric Ophthalmologist

Potential Signs & Symptoms of Children’s Vision Problems

·  Frequent eye rubbing or blinking

·  Short attention span

·  Avoiding reading and other close activities

·  Frequent headaches

·  Covering one eye

·  Tilting the head to one eye

·  Holding reading materials close to the face

·  An eye turning in or out

·  Seeing double

·  Losing place when reading

·  Difficulty remembering what he or she read

If your notice your child exhibiting any of these behaviors please let us know so that we can evaluate their significance, if any. Your child should have an eye exam at least once every two years and even more frequently if specific problems or risk factors exist, or if we find the need to address specific eye condition, problems of issues. As you know, the earlier we detect and address children’s vision problems, the better is the chance we will be successful in treatment.

If you or someone you know has a question or needs to schedule a children’s 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.

Do Early Cataracts Predict Cancer Risk?

Cancer Risk & Early Cataracts

There has been an association between the early onset of cataracts-in patients under 55 years old and the potential risk for developing cancer. This is thought to be due to the fact that early onset cataract is linked to insufficient antioxidative activity in one’s metabolism-which is also a known factor for increasing the risk of cancer.  Researchers reporting the journal Cancer Science, the official journal of the Japanese Cancer Association investigated the risk of cancer after being diagnosed with early onset cataract. The researchers examined claims from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of patients with early onset cataract, aged 20-55 and also compared it to a group of the same age range without cataracts. By using powerful statistical analysis they found that the overall incidence rate of all cancers was 2.19-fold higher in the early onset cataract group as compared to those without cataracts.  Further they were able to analyze where these patients were at greatest risk of developing cancer and found head and neck areas highest, followed by liver cancer and then breast cancer. This study suggests that patients with early onset cataract are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with cancer in subsequent years.

If you or someone you know is concerned about early cataract development or needs a regular eye exam where do a routine cataract screening and exam, please share this information with them and ask them to 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.

Use It or Lose It

Not sure how to use your FSA dollars before they expire? Check out six great ways to splurge.

n  Tired of wearing the same glasses every day? Pick up a second or third pair.

n  Be fashionable in prescription sunglasses. They’re important all year long!

n  Upgrade to premium lens options like no glare coatings and transitions.

n  Stock up on contact lenses.

n  Pay for other out of pocket costs like co-pays and deductibles.

n  Ready for LASIK surgery? It’s eligible too!

By: Guest Blogger Lynette Cababa, Optician

If you or someone you know has a question about Flex Plans 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.

Can a Mediterranean Diet Help Dry Eye?

At The Eye Care & Surgery Center we are always looking for ways to help patients with dry eyes or dry eye problems and symptoms. 

Research has shown that eating a Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, as well as a reducing the incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Diseases, and thus raises the question of whether the traditional Mediterranean diet might be helpful for any eye problems. Researchers tried to determine whether eating a Mediterranean diet could provide help for dry eyes. Reporting in the journal Cornea, the researchers had patients fill out the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire and a Dry Eye Questionnaire, and then studied their tear film, measuring its quality and quantity along with blood levels of vitamin D.

Unfortunately, the results suggested that eating a Mediterranean diet was NOT associated with an improvement in dry eye symptoms and complaints, BUT higher vitamin D levels had a small but favorable effect on dry eye syndrome symptoms. So, while the Mediterranean diet itself doesn’t directly reduce dry eye symptoms, it does seem to be an eating plan that can help promote health and prevent disease for your whole family.

If you or someone you know has a question about dry eyes or needs help for dry eye problems or symptoms, 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.

How Long Does Eyelid Surgery Last?

How Long Does Eyelid Surgery Last?

Rest assured - cosmetic eyelid surgery and the youthful facial rejuvenation it brings last for many years. Even with the removal of a small amount of eyelid skin and repositioning or removing eyelid fat in your 40’s or 50’s there is generally a fairly considerable rejuvenating effect that will last for many years, during which patients report that they look and feel better. However, aging is a dynamic process, influenced by many factors such as the pull of gravity, sun exposure, and even genetics.

Patients often ask me if they should wait until their condition worsens. My answer is that each person perceives the aging process differently, both psychologically and physically.  Most people understandably feel younger than their chronological age but may feel that their appearance does not reflect the way that they feel.  Rejuvenating the eye area helps address such common concern.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more or schedule a consultation for cosmetic eyelid or blepharoplasty, please call The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999 to schedule a consultation with Cosmetic Eye Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Baljeet Purewal, M.D.

Laser Cataract Surgery: A Gentler Approach

Laser Cataract Surgery Offers a Gentler Approach

When you visit The Eye Care & Surgery Center for a cataract evaluation and decide to have cataract surgery to help improve your vision, lifestyle and mobility, based on our eye examination and the health of the delicate structures and tissue inside your eye, we may recommend using laser cataract surgery to provide you with a more gentle cataract surgery and lens implant procedure.

 

LenSx Laser Cataract Surgery Laser

According to researchers reporting in the Journal of Refractive Surgery, laser cataract surgery does indeed allow for a gentler cataract surgery procedure. While there is really little or no difference between  traditional or manual cataract surgery and laser cataract surgery in uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected distance visual acuity, surgically induced astigmatism, and corneal aberrations, the laser cataract surgery was gentler on the cornea as it caused less loss of fragile endothelial cells and less corneal swelling from the cataract surgery. This is related to the fact that by using the laser energy to “presoften” the cloudy lens material of the cataract we are able to use considerably less ultrasound energy during the “phacoemulsification” portion of the procedure making the overall procedure much gentler. In addition, the amount of time required for the more intense phacoemulsification parts of the cataract surgery procedure-chopping, fragmenting and removing the cataract are significantly lower with the laser cataract surgery. 

If you or someone you know has a question about laser cataract surgery and 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.

Osteoporosis & Cataract Risk

What do calcium, osteoporosis and your risk of developing cataracts have to do with each other? Quite a bit as it turns out! Researchers reporting in the journal Clinical Ophthalmology shared some interesting information regarding an association between cataracts, cataract surgery and osteoporosis.

Calcium, Osteoporosis & Risk of Developing Cataracts

Most of us know that calcium is an important nutrient necessary for bone health and avoiding osteoporosis. But, did you know that calcium is an important factor in cataract formation? The researchers evaluated the association between osteoporosis and cataracts and found that age, female sex, higher socioeconomic class, smoking, chronic renal failure, hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases are all associated with an increased prevalence of osteoporosis. Then through careful statistical modeling also found that these factors and osteoporosis are ALL associated with an increased prevalence of cataracts. 

Thus, they concluded that osteoporosis is associated with the presence of cataracts which may be related to calcium imbalance, hormonal abnormalities, and even a shared genetic predisposition.

If you or someone you know is concerned about osteoporosis and their risk of cataracts, please feel free to 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.

Cataract Surgery-Taking the Fear Out

I am still working full time in Manhattan and noticed my vision was decreasing rapidly. I live in New Jersey and began asking around and doing research as to the best cataract surgeons. The same name kept coming up, Dr. Joel Confino.  I went to see Dr. Confino in his Westfield office for a consultation and learned that I had cataracts.  Dr. Confino and his staff explained that given the underlying good health of my eyes, I qualified for a multifocal lens implant that would allow me to see both distance and read without glasses. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I have worn glasses for over 60 years and I knew nothing else. They had become part of me.

Dr. Joel Confino, M.D.

I was a little scared, as we are dealing with my eyes. The entire staff put me at ease and treated me like one of their family. Once I had my first eye done, I couldn’t believe the difference in the quality of my vision. Everything was so clear, crisp, colorful and vibrant. I couldn’t wait to have my second eye done two weeks later.

Now I have completed both of my surgeries and I am thrilled. It has helped me excel at my job; daily tasks are much easier without having to look for glasses or try to find my reading glasses. The process from the first examination through both treatments was PAINLESS! I mean it…No Pain.  Now that I am done, I telling all my friends that are still scared to go get checked, GO, it’s nothing.

Thank you to The Eye Care & Surgery Center, Dr. Confino and his team for making me feel young again.

Ted M.

If you or someone you know has a question about cataracts, laser cataract surgery or 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.

Stop Smoking to Reduce Cataract Risk

Smoking is a well recognize risk factor for many health problems including high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, as well as eye problems and diseases such as age related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma and cataracts. There is relatively good news in that we now know that stopping smoking can reduce your risk of developing cataracts.

Research on Smoking & Cataract Development

Researchers studying the risk of cataracts among smokers reported in JAMA Ophthalmology that stopping smoking decreases the risk of cataracts over time. The researchers followed a total of 44,371 men, 45 to 79 years old over a 10 year period and the participants filled out questionnaires on their smoking habits and lifestyles and were then matched with the Swedish National Day-Surgery Register and local records of cataract extraction. The researchers found that smokers of more than 15 cigarettes a day had a 42% increased risk of cataract surgery compared with men who had never smoked. It also found that men who smoked an average of more than 15 cigarettes a day but had stopped smoking more than 20 years earlier had a 21% increased risk. Thus, they found a positive association between cigarette smoking and cataract surgery in men, with a significant increase of cataracts among smokers compared to those who never smoked. Also, stopping smoking was associated with a statistically significant decrease in risk with increasing time from stopping smoking. Even heavy smokers had some benefit from quitting smoking. Further, a previous study reviewed the relationship between smoking cessation and cataract risk in women. In this study, they found that after cessation of smoking, cataract risk in women decreased with time. Women who smoked 6 to 10 cigarettes a day but had ceased smoking 10 years earlier, and women who smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day but had ceased smoking 20 years earlier were found to have a relative risk of cataracts not significantly different from women who had never smoked.

Smoking cessation seems to decrease the risk of cataract development and the need for cataract surgery with time, although the risk persists for decades. The higher the intensity of smoking, the longer it takes for the increased risk to decline. These findings emphasize the importance of early smoking cessation and, preferably, the avoidance of smoking altogether.

If you or someone you know has a question about smoking, cataracts risk, laser cataract surgery or 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.

Eyelid Surgery: How Much Time Will I Need Off?

How Much Time Will I Need Off After Eyelid Surgery?

For patients considering eyelid surgery, knowing how long to be off work and what to expect in general helps patients plan. The recovery time following surgery varies from patient to patient depending on the type of surgery, their age and general health.  Even when undergoing the same procedure, patients may take different amounts of time to heal.

In general, for patients having uppereyelid blepharoplasty, 5 to 7 days off work is typical while for those having both and upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty, up to 10 to 14 days may be necessary. Patients with occupations requiring minimal physical activity may be able to get back to work sooner.

All patients having eyelid surgery will experience some swelling and bruising that will gradually improve over the first 1 to 3 weeks.  Ice packs, head elevation, and rest may help minimize swelling. The amount of swelling and bruising varies from patient to patient and even from the left and right sides in the same patient. Mild bruising may resolve in 5-7 days, whereas more significant bruising may last 10-14 days. Makeup can be applied to help hide residual bruising, usually starting two weeks after surgery. 

If you or someone you know would like to know more about eyelid surgery, what to expect before, during and after eyelid surgery or schedule a consultation to find out if eyelid surgery might be helpful in looking their best, please call The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999 to schedule a consultation with Cosmetic Eye Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Baljeet Purewal, M.D. You may also learn more by visiting The Eye Care & Surgery Center, Google+ or facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter.

Vitamin Supplements & Cataract Risk

In general, people take vitamins because they believe that they will have a favorable impact on their health and well being. While the best source of getting the daily required amount of micronutrients to maintain or improve health is by eating a proper diet each day, sometimes we just can’t be consistent with food alone. So, taking vitamin supplements may in fact be helpful in avoiding or preventing health problems, diseases and conditions. But how much vitamin intake is good? And is there any adverse effect of taking vitamins?

Vitamins & Risk of Cataracts

Are vitamins good or bad for affecting your risk of developing cataracts? Researchers reporting in the American Journal of Epidemiology evaluated the risks and benefits of taking high dose supplements of vitamins C and E and low-dose multivitamins with the risk of developing age related cataract.  Their study looked at any associations of high-dose supplements of vitamins C and E and low dose multivitamins with the risk of age related cataract in a group of 31,120 men who ranged in age from 45–79 years of age. Their results suggest that the use of high dose-but not low dose-single vitamin C or E supplements may increase the risk of age-related cataract. The risk may be even higher among older men, corticosteroid users, and long-term users.

If you or someone you know takes high doses of vitamins or is concerned about their risk of cataracts 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.

Migraine Symptoms without a Headache?

About Ocular or Ophthalmic Migraine

When most people think about the word “migraine” the first thought that comes to mind is “headache”. But, it actually is possible to have ocular or ophthalmic migraine with striking visual symptoms-and NO headache!”

Symptoms of Ocular or Ophthalmic Migraine

 Patients who are in good overall health sometimes tell us that about once or twice a month they see these strange pulsing images in both eyes-both with their eyes open and closed! Sometimes they tell us that they start out small, may last 10-20 minutes and even cause their vision to become blurry. These episodes actually describe what we know to be an Ocular Migraine-a migraine without a headache! What patients are experiencing is the aura that many sufferers have before the onset of a classic migraine headache. An ocular or ophthalmic migraine often includes zigzag lines, colored lights or flashes of lights expanding to one side of your vision over perhaps 10 to 30 minutes.

If you experience these symptoms, we need to be sure that this is not a sign of a more serious problem, and ask you to schedule an evaluation and eye exam so that we can rule out any other problems and work in concert with your primary care physician or a neurologist to make sure that other testing is not needed.

If you or someone you know has a question about Ocular or Ophthalmic Migraine, 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.

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.