board certified ophthalmologist

Annapolis Eye Doctor: Is the Eyelid Crusty & Swollen? It may be Blepharitis

April 1, 2013 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Have you noticed that your eyelid has become slightly swollen, red, and crusty? You may be suffering from a common eye condition known as Blepharitis. This common inflammation of the eyelid is often caused by excess bacteria growth, blockage of the eyelid’s oil glands, and occasionally allergies.

Symptoms of Blepharitis Include:

Burning
Sensitivity to light
Redness
Swelling
Blurry vision
Dry eyes
Excessive Tearing
Crusty Debris
Feeling like something is in your eye
Styes, bumps on the eyelid that are raised and painful to the touch

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor at your earliest convenience. While Blepharitis cannot be cured, it can be treated and controlled with simple eyelid hygiene techniques that are easy to learn and follow.

If left untreated, Blepharitis can lead to more serious issues, such as scarring or injury to the eye’s tissue.

Blepharitis Treatment

Wet a clean washcloth with very warm water and place it over the closed eyelid for five minutes to help soften the clogged oil glands and loosen crusty debris that has collected on the lashes.
Using the washcloth, apply a diluted solution of 50% baby shampoo or mild soap to the affected area.
Use the washcloth with baby shampoo or Ocusoft Lid scrub pads to clean the eyelid margin. You want to scrub from side to side, not up and down. Make sure you get the lid margin (where your lashes are) while being careful not the scratch the eye itself.
Rinse the affected area with a clean, warm, wet washcloth and pat dry.
Take your fingertip and ‘roll’ your finger from the cheekbone up to the lid margin, and from the brow down to the lid margin. This should be done multiple times in order to cover the whole margin of both eyes. Please ensure the pressure is firm. Don’t hurt yourself, but don’t be afraid to apply a firm, gentle pressure.

If you are in the early stages of Blepharitis treatment, avoid using eye makeup. This may help prevent further irritation.

To learn more about the Blepharitis, please contact Board Certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com. Staffed by caring and knowledgeable professionals, our state-of-the-art treatment center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

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

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

Source:

Eye Health and Blepharitis WebMD

What Can You Say When You Learn You Have Glaucoma And Your Sight Is At Risk?

April 3, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Jan B. explained the various thoughts that popped into her mind when she first learned she had sustained damage from glaucoma.

“How will I feel when I can no longer see the people I love?” she wondered. “Will I miss glimpsing next spring’s tulips and fall’s coloring oaks? How will I read books and letters? How long before I can no longer watch movies and television? Where can I turn for help?”

Luckily, Jan had an answer to her last question. She turned to Anne Arundel Eye Center.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC) is a regional leader in both the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and cataracts. Not only does AAEC Offer a wide range of advanced procedures to improve and preserve your vision, but Board Certified Dr. Samuel Boles and the rest of the staff are also passionate about educating patients and their families about the various eye diseases or eye conditions they may be afflicted with.

“From my experience, I would urge you to ask for an appointment with Dr. Sam Boles at the Eye Center in Annapolis,” said Jan. “When I learned I had already suffered damage from glaucoma, I was anxious to know what I could do now and what I might expect in the future. Dr. Sam Boles calmly and thoroughly explained my condition. He was confident that he could help me, and he gave me hope that I could get through this.”

Dr. Samuel Boles is both a board-certified ophthalmologist and AAEC’s founder. Dr. Boles received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed his post-doctoral training including (1) an internship at a Yale affiliated hospital, (2) a cornea research fellowship at a Harvard affiliated laboratory, (3) ophthalmology residency at George Washington Universities, and (4) glaucoma fellowship at The University of California San Diego (UCSD).

“Dr. Boles recommended a course of treatment and explained what that treatment could and could not do for my vision,” explained Jan. “In the four years I have been under his care, I have found those predictions accurate and his care impeccable. My vision has stabilized; I have lost no additional range of sight.”

If you’re seeking treatment for glaucoma or cataracts, AAEC’s state-of-the-art treatment center can meet all your eye care needs. From office consultations to pre-op testing and post-op care, you can be assured you’re in expert hands.

“Meticulous testing and measuring of my vision at each appointment, reassures me that, under the care of Dr. Boles and his staff at the Eye Center, we can protect my eyesight and deal with any future vision problems,” said Jan.

Glaucoma and Cataracts may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

To learn more about Glaucoma Treatment, please contact Dr. Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today!

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.

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

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter,Google+, and YouTube as well!

Cataracts Overview: Causes Symptoms, and Treatment

February 22, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. That crystal clear lens slowly clouds over time as part of the natural aging process. We should all be so lucky to develop cataracts in our lifetime, as this would mean we have lived a long and healthy life.

Cataracts will gradually worsen over time and will eventually interfere with normal vision. This can make every day tasks, like driving (especially at night) and reading, incredibly difficult.

Causes of Cataracts

There are several causes of cataracts. They develop primarilybecause of normal aging, but also due to eye injuries and genetic disorders. These varying causes lead to different types of cataracts, which include:

• Nuclear Cataracts: This refers to cataracts that affect the center of the eyes lens.

• Cortical Cataracts: This refers to cataracts that affect the edges of the lens.

• Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts: This refers to cataracts that affect the back of the lens.

• Congenital Cataracts: This refers to cataracts you were born with.

For additional information on any specific form of cataracts, consult your eye doctor.

Signs and Symptoms of Cataracts

• Blurred or blurry vision

• Yellowing or clouding of the lens

• Difficulty with night vision

• Sensitivity to light and glare

• Seeing “halos” around lights

• Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription

• Fading or yellowing of colors

• Double vision in a single eye

If you feel you may be experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible. Any sudden change in your vision is a serious medical condition that requires prompt medical attention from your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Cataracts Treatment in Maryland

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC) is a regional leader in both the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts. Not only does AAEC Offer a wide range of advanced procedures to improve and preserve your vision, but Board Certified Dr. Samuel Boles and the rest of the staff are also passionate about educating patients and their families about the various eye diseases or eye conditions they may be afflicted with.

“I’m seeing things that I have never seen before.”

– William D.

“I didn’t expect to see this well.”

– Austin B.

“I’m seeing better, and feeling a lot better about it.”

– Robert M.

If you’re seeking treatment for cataracts, AAEC’s state-of-the-art treatment center can meet all your eye care needs. From office consultations to pre-op testing and post-op care, you can be assured you’re in expert hands.

If you have any questions about what you have just read or if you would like to learn more about Maryland Cataracts Treatment, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today!

Cast your vote now for Anne Arundel Eye Center, Dr. Boles and Dr. Frank in Chesapeake Family Magazine’s Favorite Docs 2012! Voting ends on March 15th.

Dr. Boles and everyone else at the Anne Arundel Eye Center proudly support the efforts of The Polakoff Foundation and their role in the ongoing fight against glaucoma. Click here to purchase tickets online for the Polakoff Foundation’s Mardi Gras Celebration to help raise money to aid the fight against blindness.

Glaucoma and Cataracts may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.

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

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter,Google+, and YouTube as well!

Prevent an Eye Emergency Around Chemicals and Construction by Wearing Goggles

November 17, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Eye injuries in the workplace are much more common than you may think. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports about 2,000 job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment every day. That is just in the United States, alone. And of those 2,000 occupational eye injuries, eye doctors believe that an incredible 90% could have been prevented with the use of proper eye protection. Because of this, the Occupational and Health Administration (OSHA) requires the use of protective eyewear – goggles, face shields, safety glasses, or full-face respirators – whenever there is a reasonable probability of eye injury.

Proper eye protection differs depending on the specific situation and eye hazards present.

• Safety glasses with side shields should be worn in situations where foreign objects – dust, dirt, sawdust, etc. – will be flying around.

• Goggles should be worn whenever you are working with chemicals

• Specially made safety glasses, goggles, face shields, or helmets should be worn near hazardous radiation

If you have any questions about eyewear, consult your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist. They should be able to help you determine what type of eye protection you need. You should always wear appropriate eye protection wherever and whenever there is any sort of threat of eye injury, especially at work.

High-risk occupations for eye injuries include:

• Construction

• Manufacturing

• Carpentry

• Auto Repair

• Electrical Work

• Plumbing

• Welding

• Maintenance

If you experience any eye injury, even if it seems minor, call your eye doctor immediately to schedule an eye exam or have a friend or family member drive you to the emergency room. Eye injuries are serious and require prompt medical attention from your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

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 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today!

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.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Protecting Your Eyes at Work