Eye Care

Give your eyes the gift they need

August 30, 2022 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Before we know it, the air will be getting cooler and the days shorter – and the holidays will be upon us. During this joyous time of the year, the last thing you want to worry about is your cataracts and worsening vision preventing you from being able to fully enjoy your time with family and friends.

Planning for a needed cataract surgery before the holiday season can help you avoid this dilemma, not to mention, you’ll use up leftover FSA funds, avoid cataracts worsening in poor winter weather, and promote a better overall quality of life.

What Are Cataracts and How Do You Treat Them?

As you age, proteins begin to build up and clump together in the eye’s lens, preventing light from passing clearly through the lens and obscuring vision. These protein deposits are known as cataracts and are a normal part of the aging process.

When a cataract has progressed to the point that it is interfering with normal, everyday functions, such as driving or reading, surgery is often the recommended course of action.

When you come to Anne Arundel Eye Center, our goal is not only to treat the cataract, but to get you back to doing the things you love. Cataract surgery involves removing the lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens. We have multiple options to enhance your near or far vision, including special lenses that can often give you a range of vision beyond what it was before the cataracts formed. Approximately 90 percent of cataract surgery patients report better vision following the surgery.

Why Treat Cataracts Now?

The clearer vision associated with cataract surgery provides many quality of life benefits including better near and distant vision – making colors brighter and making it easier to read, work on your computer, watch TV, and even drive. As well, according to a 2022 study in The Medical Journal of Australia, people over the age of 65 who received timely surgery for cataracts in both eyes not only increased their visual acuity, but minimized their risk of falls and injuries related to falls. This is because with a cataract, the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, which can significantly interfere with vision, leading to falls and injuries.

Not to mention, vision changes caused by cataracts may become more noticeable during the winter months. “Dim lighting caused by late sunrise and early sunset can make vision changes from cataracts more noticeable,” says Dr. Kathryn Gurganus Turner, Consultative Optometrist at Anne Arundel Eye Center. “Also poor weather tends to cause glare and blur from cataracts to be more bothersome.” Taking care of cataract surgery prior to the winter season will help you avoid these worsening conditions for untreated cataracts.

Plus, if you have funds left in a FSA account, taking care of a cataract surgery before yearend will put you at ease from losing those funds if not used. Anne Arundel Eye Center also offers two cataract surgery elective additions: LenSx Laser Assisted Surgery and Multifocal Lens Implants. LenSx Laser Assisted Surgery is a blade free procedure that additionally addresses astigmatism during cataract surgery, while Multifocal Lens Implants offer an expanded view over the standard lens implant, causing many patients to find that their dependence on glasses is decreased significantly after surgery. As these optional add-ons are not covered by insurance carriers and are out-of-pocket expenses, they are a great way to use up extra FSA funds.

So – believe it or not – it’s already time to schedule your surgery appointments prior to the holidays. If you treat yourself now, you won’t have to worry about squeezing in a much-needed appointment later, and you’ll be able to fully connect with the ones you love before the New Year.

Want to get holiday-ready? Call Anne Arundel Eye Center at 410-224-2010 and let us help you restore your vision. We’re dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

What You Should Know: Emergency Eye Care

February 20, 2022 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

An eye emergency constitutes an event that puts your eyesight at risk. Any such event requires immediate professional treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. Examples of eye emergencies include:

Loss of Vision: If you experience any form of vision loss, even if you are not experiencing pain, contact your eye doctor immediately. In fact, loss of vision is one of the most significant indicators of an eye emergency. Lack of pain in no way diminishes the seriousness of the situation.

Torn or Cut Eyelid: If you experience a cut or torn eyelid, apply gentle pressure with a clean, dry cloth until the bleeding subsides. Then rinse the area with water, cover with a clean bandage, apply a cold compress over the bandage to reduce pain and swelling, and seek medical help immediately.

Scratched Eye: If any direct damage occurs to your eyeball, DO NOT apply any pressure to stop the bleeding. Gently place a cold compress over the affected eye to reduce swelling and help control any bleeding and seek medical help immediately.

Protruding Eye: Any bulging of a single eye, especially in children, is a very serious sign and requires immediate professional attention. Contact your eye doctor immediately.

Foreign Object Under the Eyelid: First of all, DO NOT rub your eye if something becomes stuck under your eyelid. Try to wash it out with water. If that does not work, contact your eye doctor immediately.

Chemicals in the Eye: If any chemicals come into contact with your eye, immediately flush the eye with cool tap water. Turn your head to the side, with the affected eye facing down. Hold the eyelid open and allow the water to run over the eye. Do this for 15 minutes. After flushing the eye, seek immediate medical attention.

Foreign Object Embedded in the Eye: First and foremost, as hard as it may be to resist, DO NOT try to remove the object or apply pressure to the eye. Leave the object in place and bandage the eye. Then cover the healthy eye with a clean cloth or gauze and seek immediate medical attention.

There is a general theme when it comes to eye emergencies; if you experience an eye emergency, seek immediate medical attention and contact your eye doctor – ophthalmologist or optometrist – right away. If you are unable to reach your eye care physician, have a family member or friend drive you to the nearest emergency room. And remember the following advise.

•DO NOT rub your eye.

•DO NOT attempt to remove a foreign object that is in contact with the cornea or that is embedded in the eye.

•DO NOT use dry cotton or sharp objects on the eye.

•DO NOT contaminate a burn. Avoid breathing on the affected area.

If you have any questions about what you have just read or if you would like to learn more about AAEC’s Emergency Eye Care Services, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

Sources:

Emergency Eye Care ClearVue.org

Eye Allergies: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

April 24, 2019 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Eye allergies can be an annoying complication of seasonal changes but there’s important information that can help you treat those symptoms. An allergic reaction affecting the conjunctiva, the clear layer overlying the eye, is commonly referred to as allergic conjunctivitis. There are several subtypes/subdivisions of allergic conjunctivitis, with the most common being seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC). Both SAC and PAC are triggered by an immune reaction involving a particular allergen.

Common allergens include: pollen, grass, weeds, dust, and pet dander.

[Read more…]

Retinal Detachment: Definition, Symptoms, and Treatment

December 1, 2018 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

A retinal detachment refers to a separation of the retina – the light-sensitive membrane in the back of the eye – from its supporting layers. This serious medical condition is typically caused by trauma, diabetes or an inflammatory disorder.

Symptoms of Retinal Detachment

• Flashes of light (Especially in peripheral vision)

• Blurred/blurry vision

• Floaters in the eye. Also referred to as shadows or spots

• Blindness in a portion of the visual field

The sudden and dramatic appearance of these symptoms is a strong indication that the retina is either tearing or detaching. If you feel you may be experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor immediately. Any sudden change in your vision is a serious medical condition that requires prompt medical attention from your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Treatment of Retinal Detachment

Most cases of retinal detachment require one of the following surgeries.

• Freezing (cryopexy): The application of intense cold to the area with an ice probe to form a scar, which holds the retina in place.

• Laser Surgery (photocoagulation): This is used to seal the tears or holes in the retina.

• Pneumatic Retinopexy: The placing of a gas bubble in the eye to help the retina float back into place. Then a laser is used to fix the retina in place.

More extensive cases require more invasive procedures, including:

• Scleral Buckle: This is done to indent the wall of the eye, relieving the tugging of the vitreous on the retina.

• Vitrectomy: This is done to remove gel or scar tissue that may be pulling on the retina.

If you have any questions about what you have just read or if you would like to learn more about your various treatment options, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010.

Led by Dr. Boles, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Sources:

Retinal Detachment

Flashers and Floaters in the Eye: What are They and What do They Mean?

November 22, 2018 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

As we age, the eye’s gel-like vitreous begins to dissolve and liquefy, creating a watery center. Occasionally some un-dissolved vitreous particles will float around the now watery center, appearing as spots or what we refer to as floaters.

Floaters in the eye are a fairly common, harmless apparition that will generally fade away in time. Yet, while these floaters are typically common, they can be the first signs of a more serious medical condition, such as retinal detachment.

If you ever see a shower of floaters (spots) accompanied by flashes of light (photopsia), then you should seek immediate medical attention. The sudden and dramatic appearance of these symptoms could indicate that the retina is either tearing or detaching.

Retinal detachments and retinal tears are both emergency conditions that require immediate medical attention. An eye surgeon must reattach or repair the retina to prevent permanent vision loss from occurring.

So if you see floaters in your eye, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – at your earliest convenience. Any change in your sight is a serious medical condition that requires prompt attention. If these symptoms appear rapidly and include flashes of light, call your eye doctor right away.

If you have any questions about what you have just read, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Sources:

Eye Floaters, Flashes and Spots