Visors Help Prevent Hockey Eye Injuries

Whether you are a hockey fan or a hockey player you know all too well the risk of hockey eye injuries. Hockey is especially popular among middle school, high school and college athletes where the result of an eye injury can be catastrophic and life changing. Eye injury is a series risk among hockey players and it requires that parents and players take some precautions.

Research on Hockey Eye Injury Prevention

Research presented at Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology was very meaningful. The researchers found that wearing visors could cause a four-fold decrease in the risk of eye injuries. The researchers, based at the University of Toronto and Harvard Medical School, examined data from The Sports Network (TSN) and The Hockey News annual visor survey over the last 10 seasons from 2002 to 2013 in the NHL. The data clearly demonstrated that the risk of eye injury is 4.23 times higher for players who do not wear a visor.

Causes of Hockey Eye Injuries

The study also found that the majority of eye injuries are caused by being hit by the puck (37%) or struck by a high stick (28%) or by a fight or scrum (18%), while the researchers could not identify the cause of injury for 17%. Players without visors had a more aggressive style of play, measured by penalty minutes, hits and fights in a case-control study. There was also a weak, but positive correlation between eye injuries and penalty minutes.

Going Forward to Prevent Hockey Eye Injury

As hockey players develop, grow and get stronger their games and playing style become faster and more intense, and the risks continue to increase-thus it is important to maximize protection. Since the majority of hockey injuries are accidental in nature, it is not good enough for players to try to be more cautious. This study pretty firmly supports the common sense notion that wearing visors goes a long way to decreasing injuries among hockey players.

If you or someone you know plays hockey please share this information with them to help them decrease their risk of hockey eye injury, or 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 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.

Dry Eye Problems & Computer Screen Use

Dry eye problems can be caused by many general health, eye health and environmental issues. Pretty much any situation that slows down the production of your natural tears or increases the rate of evaporation of your tears will act to create dry eye problems. Thus, it is not surprising that extensive use of computer screens or VDT terminals, phone screens or even video games can cause dry eye problems.

Research on Dry Eye problems Caused by Computer Video Display Screens

According to researchers publishing in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, users of video display screens or computer terminals are at greater risk for symptoms of dry eyes and dry eye disease (DED). In this study a group of 672 young and middle-aged Japanese office workers who used video display terminals (VDT) completed questionnaires and underwent dry eye testing. Of the 672 workers, 76.5% had definite dry or probable dry eye disease with the percentage being higher in woman than men and higher in office workers over 30 years of age especially if they used computers more than 8 hours per day. Thus, DED is common among young to middle-aged VDT or computer screen users.

Recommendations to Avoid VDT Dry Eye

Thus, it is recommended that anyone using VDT or computer screens of any type for moderate to long periods of time or even those who notice increased dryness or grittiness should take measure to try and keep the eye surface moist ad intact such as the use of lubricants, artificial tears or even more aggressive measures if the extensive use of the VDT or computer screens is a daily event.

If you or someone you know uses video display terminals or any type of electronic device for long periods 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.

Eye Safety Facts & Tips

Most people are shocked to learn that every day more than 2,000 workers in the United States sustain job-related work injuries that require some type of medical treatment. Prevent Blindness America reports that 2.4 million eye injuries occur each year, with nearly 1 million resulting in some degree of vision loss. About 90 percent of these injuries are avoidable, when the right eye protection is worn, reports the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

The most common eye injuries are:

•  Cuts or scrapes from flying objects, such as metal and wood chips, that become embedded in the eye
• Burns from steam, infrared light or splashes of chemicals, grease or oil
• Infections from contaminated substances, such as splashes of blood or respiratory droplets or other products on fingers that are used to touch or rub the eyes

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires workers to use eye and face protection whenever there is a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented with proper equipment, such as goggles, face shields or safety glasses. The best way to avoid eye injury in the workplace or from household chores, activities and tasks is to wear proper protective eyewear. If you have questions or need assistance with protective eyewear selection or fitting 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.

Should you or someone you know have the misfortune of experiencing an eye injury please call us at 908-789-8999 or immediately visit the nearest emergency room where the physician can call our office as we always have a doctor on call for emergencies.

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.

Tax Refunds Make LASIK Costs Affordable

This time of year presents opportunities for people considering LASIK to take advantage of some potential tax advantages to make LASIK readily affordable.  “For anyone who wears glasses or contact lenses, LASIK offers the possibility of seeing clearly at distance without the hassle and dependence,” noted Jerette Lerner, Director of Surgery Programs at The Eye Care & Surgery Center in Westfield, New Jersey. “Typically, patients who are hesitant about LASIK surgery tell me that they either need to see some more long term results or they just can afford it at this time,” shared Ms. Lerner.

Corneal Specialist & LASIK Surgeon Joel Confino, M.D. commented on long term LASIK results, “I have been performing LASIK since the mid-1990s with excellent results. My experiences and outcomes are consistent with the LASIK Quality of Life Collaboration Project between the FDA, National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense and data from PROWL studies reported by the FDA, in that with thorough screening and preoperative testing, careful patient selection and realistic patient expectations, in the hands of experienced surgeons there is little negative effect and LASIK is safe, effective, predictable  and beneficial over long time horizons.”

 “For those thinking about LASIK the decision is often about how to make it affordable and tax time can offer some opportunities,” explained Ms. Lerner. Ms. Lerner offered the following information:

Take Advantage of LASIK Tax Deductions

While each situation is different, in general, depending on your personal income and how much you have incurred in out of pocket medical expenses-including deductibles and co-pays, it is quite possible that LASIK eye surgery might be a deductible medical expense. “Anyone considering LASIK should check with their tax advisor, preparer or C.P.A. to see how they might be able to take a LASIK tax deduction.

Take Advantage of Using Tax Refunds for LASIK

If you think you might be eligible for a tax refund or already know that you are getting a tax refund and want to consider using it to pay for LASIK, there are some simple steps to take. First, after filing your tax return it generally takes the U.S. Department of Treasury about three weeks or so to process your return and send you a refund check. This is a good time to schedule your complimentary consultation with a LASIK surgeon to find out if LASIK is the best vision correction option for your eyes and lifestyle. At this consultation you and your surgeon can determine if, how and when to proceed to schedule your LASIK surgery.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about whether they are a candidate for LASIK, please call The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999, visit The Eye Care & Surgery Center or facebook.com/eyecareandsurgerycenter to schedule a Free Evaluation.

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.

Meet Henry Lee, M.D.!

The Eye Care & Surgery Center is pleased to welcome Cosmetic Eye Plastic, Reconstructive & Eyelid Surgeon Henry Lee, M.D. to our staff. Dr. Lee earned his medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and completed a residency in Ophthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute of The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, followed by a Fellowship in Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Aesthetic Eye Associates in Kirkland, Washington sponsored by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS).

Dr. Henry Lee
Cosmetic Eye & Eyelid Plastic Surgeon

At The Eye Care & Surgery, Dr. Lee sees patients who are interested in looking their best with both non surgical and surgical facial rejuvenation procedures and treatments.  His approach is to help you identify areas of concern and decide whether a single or combination treatment using BOTOX® Cosmetic, Dysport® or Xeomin®, as well as gel fillers including Restylane®, Juvéderm™ and Radiesse® Injections will provide the desired results of volumizing and working to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. When necessary to achieve the best results Dr. Lee will explain the benefits of cosmetic eyelid plastic surgery including "eye lifts" or blepharoplasty to help patients with puffy, baggy or tired looking eyelids.

As a Reconstructive Eye Surgeon, Dr. Lee has a special interest in treating patients with eyelid position problems such as entropion and ectropion, droopy eyelids or ptosis and is expert in eyelid and orbital reconstruction and treatment of benign and malignant eyelid and orbital tumors, lacrimal system trauma, orbitofacial trauma, symptoms of tearing and nasolacrimal duct disorders. 

Dr. Lee is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS).

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about facial rejuvenation, cosmetic eyelid surgery or other non surgical treatments to help you look your best please schedule a consultation with Cosmetic Eye Plastic & Reconstructive surgeon Henry Lee, M.D by calling The Eye Care & Surgery Center at 908-789-8999.

Diet Supplements Help Dry Eyes

At The Eye Care & Surgery Center we see a great number of patients who suffer from dry eye problems and complaints. In fact dry eye is a very common condition we can help by using a range of treatment options that are targeted for the underlying cause of the dry eye. For a few patients, specially formulated artificial tears and lubricants may help dry eyes. For others we may need to insert microscopic plugs into the tear ducts or prescribe oral antibiotics, anti-inflammatory eye drops or even Restasis eye drops to help them make more of their own natural tears. For patients who have dry eye symptoms related to eyelid gland problems or rosacea we can help their dry eye with intense pulsed light of the IPL treatment. Now, we know that diet and the use of certain formulation diet supplements may also be of help for dry eyes.

Research on Help for Dry Eyes with Diet Supplements

According to researchers reporting in Clinical Ophthalmology taking dietary supplements that contain a combination of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants can be helpful in the treatment of dry eye symptoms. A study was conducted to understand the effectiveness and tolerability of dietary supplements containing a combination of omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants for help for dry eye symptoms and complaints. The researchers wanted to know if the dry eye diet supplements helped scratchy and stinging sensation in the eyes, eye redness, grittiness, painful eyes, tired eyes, grating sensation, and blurry vision. After 12 weeks of taking the supplements all individual symptoms improved significantly from an average rating of 11.9 to 6.8 indicating that dietary supplementation with a combination of omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants was an effective treatment for dry eye.

If you or someone you know needs help for dry eyes, 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.

Polarized Lenses and the Winter Sun

By Elle Quintanilla

About the Winter Sun

This winter has been a real problem-cold, snow and glare! Be aware of the winter sun, glare and how polarized lenses can be very helpful.  We motorists begin are particularly troubled by the glare from the sun. This affects a majority of adults as we begin to become susceptible to this glare and require a longer time to recover from its exposure. There may even be an increase in traffic accidents due to the motorists being temporarily blinded by the sun. This can occur from driving directly into the sunlight or from the reflected light from another vehicle, road or any reflective surface.

About Polarized Eyeglass Lenses

The powerful glare of the winter sun has the potential to damage the eye due to the lower elevation of the sun in the sky. When snow is on the ground the risk increases to 85% of the UV rays being transmitted upward. Using 100% polarized lenses is truly the only way to eliminate glare. Polarized and antireflective lenses are especially good for protecting the eyes from the winter glare in the winter and also all year round. They utilize a polarized filtering technology to deflect and diffuse concentrated light waves. This process eliminates 99% of the reflected glare.

Polarized lenses also provide excellent protection for the outdoor enthusiast by blocking the glare that causes eyestrain and fatigue. A frequent problem for the skiers, snowmobilers and others who spend time in the intense reflective light of the snow is “snow blindness”. This can damage the cornea for up to 1 week causing eye pain and extremely sensitivity to light and that of having sand in the eyes. While sun wear is a popular fashion accessory, protective eyewear is critical now as scientists point out the rapid deterioration of the earth’s ozone layer and subsequent increased amount of UV rays. Regular eye exams are a crucial necessity for optimal vision health. Eye care professionals can assist in the selection of the appropriate protective and fashionable eyewear in order to suit everyone’s lifestyle needs.

If you or someone you know needs help for dry eyes, 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.