Dry Eye

Causes and Symptoms of Pink Eye

August 25, 2018 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

You find your eyes have become slightly pink and rather itchy. You think nothing of it and simply ignore the situation, blaming your allergies. But what if there was more to your itchy eyes? Your pink or red eyes may be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, more commonly referred to as “pink eye.”

There are several types of pink eye, ranging from the contagious viral or bacterial infection mentioned above, to a common irritation of the conjunctiva – the clear membrane covering the white part of the eye and interior lining of the eyelids.

Your Symptoms can help determine the type of pink eye you have. These symptoms include:

• Allergic conjunctivitis causes itching, redness and excessive tearing in both eyes.

• Bacterial conjunctivitis often spreads to both eyes and causes a heavy discharge, sometimes yellow or greenish. Crusting may appear on eyelids.

• Viral conjunctivitis usually affects only one eye, which has excessive watering and a light discharge. Crusting on eyelids can occur.

• Dry eye causes redness, excessive tearing and a dry sandy feeling.

• Blepharitis is an ocular disease that causes redness, itching and irritation.

Of course, the only way to truly diagnose your condition is to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor at your earliest convenience. Your eye doctor will examine your eyes with a specialized microscope and collect a sample for analysis.

Most types of pink eye are not considered serious and treatment is dependent on the variety of pink eye you have. Antibiotic eye ointments or drops may help bacterial forms of conjunctivitis, while viral conjunctivitis will usually clear up by itself within a week. You should wait until you talk to your eye doctor before trying to self-medicate with any over-the-counter eye drops.

To prevent future outbreaks of pink eye, you should…

• …avoid sharing personal items, including towels, make-up, pillowcases.

• …use tissues and cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.

• …avoid eye rubbing and touching.

• …wash your hands often.

• …wear protective goggles when swimming.

• …dust and vacuum to cut down on allergens.

• …follow all cleaning and handling instructions for your contacts.

• …see your doctor regularly.

In the end, everyone is at risk of pink eye, but you can minimize that risk by following the above advice. Despite all these precautions, you may still develop pink eye. If you do, as with any eye problem, always consult your eye doctor for treatment and care.

If you have any questions about what you have just read, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

A Look at Computer Vision Syndrome

March 9, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

In honor of March being Save Your Vision Month, we are going to take a look at a very real problem that many Americans are unaware that they face – Computer Vision Syndrome.

Prolonged computer use causes an individual to look straight ahead for long periods of time, blink less often, and use specific vision skills, which add further demands to the visual system. All of these factors can lead to several issues, including eye strain, blurred vision, and dry eye.

Each one of the above symptoms contributes to Computer Vision Syndrome, which the American Optometric Association defines as “the complex of eye and vision problems related to near work that are experienced during or related to computer use.”

Factors Leading to Computer Vision Syndrome and How to Correct Them

1. Computer Screen Resolution: Poor resolution means poor clarity, which can lead to eyestrain. Be sure to set your resolution to the highest possible resolution your monitor allows.

2. Computer Screen Contrast: Poor contrast can make text difficult to read, leading to eyestrain. Adjust the contrast between the characters on the monitor and the background so the letters are easily read.

3. Computer Screen Glare and Reflections: Glare can put extra strain on your eyes. To reduce glare, eliminate bright light sources from your peripheral vision and position your monitor perpendicular to windows or other bright light sources.

4. Image Refresh Rates: The images on your screen should not flicker. If this occurs, consider upgrading to a monitor with a higher refresh rate, like an LCD monitor.

5. Distance Computer Sits from You: Be sure to situate your computer at a distance that is comfortable for you.

6. Inadequate Glasses Prescription: Is your current prescription effective? If not, it could be causing putting increased strain on your eyes. Be sure to schedule regular comprehensive eye exams to ensure your eyes are healthy and that you have the correct eyeglass or contact lens prescription

7. Repetitive Tasks: Staring at a computer screen for long periods of time can be very detrimental to your vision. Be sure to take periodic breaks and let your eyes focus on objects far away.

Just like any other muscle in the body, your eyes require regular exercise to keep them healthy.

“Patients are often amazed by the improved visual comfort at their computer by making a few minor adjustments. If that doesn’t do the trick, one may want to look into glasses specifically made to optimize visual clarity at 22 to 24 inches or even consider Gunnar Eyewear,” said Dr. Kevin Johnson of Peepers of Severna Park.

For more information on Gunnar Eyewear, visit http://www.gunnars.com. Click here for Gunner Eyewear Coupons.

If you have any questions about what you have just read or if you would like to learn more about Computer Vision Syndrome, 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.

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.

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!

Sources:

Save Your Vision Month: Healthy Vision at the Computer American Optometric Association

Treating the Common Problem of Dry Eyes

August 5, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem.

As we age, tear production diminishes, leaving most individuals over the age of 65 with at least some symptoms of dry eye. Yet, dry eye is not just a medical condition that affects the elderly. Other causes of the common eye problem include: medications like antihistamines, blood pressure medicine and antidepressants; medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and thyroid problems; inflammation of the eye surface or eyelids as well as abnormal turning of the eyelids; smoke, wind and dry climates; long-term use of contact lenses; and refractive eye surgeries such as LASIK.

Symptoms of dry eye include:

• Stinging

• Burning

• Scratchiness

• Stringy mucus

• Excessive irritation from smoke and wind

• Discomfort when wearing contact lenses

• Watering eyes

If you feel you may be suffering from dry eye, you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor right away. Dry eye can be diagnosed through a comprehensive patient history and eye exam as well as with the help of tests that measure tear production and eye surface dryness.

If you are diagnosed with dry eye, you have several treatment options. You can add tears with over-the-counter artificial tear solutions, conserve tears by temporarily or permanently blocking the tear ducts, increase tear production with prescription eye drops, or you can treat the contributing eyelid or ocular surface inflammation.

You can also attempt to reduce the symptoms of dry eye by…

• Blinking regularly when reading or staring at a computer for long periods of time

• Increasing the level of humidity in the air

• Wearing sunglasses

• Staying hydrated

• Using nutritional supplements containing essential fatty acids

Should your dry eye problem persist or continue to cause discomfort, be sure to contact your eye doctor for more information and treatment. If you have any questions about what you have just read, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

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