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Home > Archives for Eye Care

Corneal Disease: Explanation, Symptoms, and Treatment

October 10, 2017 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Your cornea – the clear, protective outer layer of the eye – not only protects your eye from dirt and germs, but also plays a key role in your vision. As light enters the eye, it is focused or refracted by the shape of the cornea. If your cornea sustains damage through disease, infection or injury, the resulting scar tissue can interfere with your vision by blocking or distorting light as it enters your eye.

There are several different conditions including infections, degenerations and other disorders that affect the cornea. These include:

Astigmatism: Caused by an irregularly shaped cornea, astigmatism is a refractive error in which the eye has trouble focusing light. Astigmatism is the most common form of corneal problem. Treatment typically involves the use of glasses or contacts.

 Corneal Abrasion: Caused by trauma to the eye, a corneal abrasion refers to a scratch on the outer layer of the eye. It is the second most common form of corneal distress. Treatment traditionally involves patching of the eye, though newer bandage contact lenses are beginning to see more use. These allow people to stay functional during the healing process.

Keratits: This form of corneal disease is an inflammation of the cornea that occurs with viral, bacteria or fungal infection. Symptoms of keratitis include severe eye pain, reduced visual clarity, and discharge.

Ocular Herpes (Herpes of the Eye): Similar to cold sores on the lip, this reoccurring viral infection produces sores on the surface of the cornea that, in time, can spread deeper into the cornea and eye. There is no cure for ocular herpes, but it can often be controlled with the use of antiviral drugs. You can also try using Valtrex. Valtrex (Valacyclovir) is an antiviral medication used to treat infections caused by certain viruses. It helps the body fight infection by slowing the growth and spread of the herpes virus. It is used to treat shingles (caused by herpes zoster), genital herpes, and cold sores around the mouth. Valtrex is also a treatment for cold sores in children over the age of 12 years old and as a chickenpox medication in children who are over the age of 2 years. Read the full article here: anti-viral-meds.com

Herpes Zoster (Shingles): This is actually a recurrence of the chickenpox virus, since most of us have already had the disease. Symptoms of Herpes Zoster include blisters or lesions on the cornea, fever, and pain from inflamed nerve fibers.

Corneal Dystrophies

There are over 20 of these diseases that cause structural problems with the cornea. The most common forms include:

Keratoconus: This is a progressive disease in which the cornea thins and even changes shape, creating either mild or severe distortion (astigmatism) and nearsightedness (myopia).

Map-Dot-Fingerprint Dystrophy: As the basement membrane of the epithelium of the cornea grows irregularly, abnormalities resembling maps, dots and fingerprints form in the cornea. While this form of corneal disease is mostly painless and causes no vision loss, epithelial erosion may occur, exposing the nerves lining the cornea and causing severe eye pain.

Fuchs’ Dystrophy: Seemingly happening for no apparent reason – although you may have a genetic predisposition to the disease – Fuch’s Dystrophy involves the gradual deterioration of endothelial cells. As these cells thin, they can no longer remove water from the corneal stroma. This causes the stroma to swell and distort vision.

Lattice Dystrophy: This disease is characterized by the presence of abnormal protein fibers throughout the stroma. This can result in the clouding of the cornea and reduced vision and in rare cases, epithelial erosion.

Symptoms of Corneal Disease

 The cornea has the ability to quickly repair itself after most injuries or diseases. However, more serious situations may result in a much more prolonged healing process. If this is the case, the following symptoms should serve as an immediate indicator of a deeper medical issue:

  • Eye pain
  • Blurred/blurry vision
  • Tearing
  • Redness
  • Extreme sensitivity to light
  • Corneal scarring

If you feel you may be experiencing any of these 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.

Although corneal disease resulting from hereditary factors cannot be prevented, infectious corneal disease caused from bacteria and viruses can be avoided. You should never share eye makeup, contact solution, lens cases, and eye drops with anyone as this may increase the risk of infection.

However, if you do contract some form of corneal disease, vision can be preserved through early detection and treatment. This is just another reason why regular eye exams are so important.

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.

Led by Dr. Boles, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers complete 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:

Your Cornea: Conditions, Symptoms and Treatments

Filed Under: Corneal Disease, Eye Care, Eye Disease, Increased Risk Tagged With: abnormal protein fivers, abnormalities, abrasion, Anne Arundel Eye Center, annearundeleyecenter.com, antiviral drugs, Appointment, Astigmatism, bacteria, basement membrane, blisters, blurred, blurry vision, cases, Cataracts, causing severe eye pain, cells, certified ophthhalmologist, characterized, chickenpox, clouding, cold sores, common form, contact lenses, contact solution, contacts, cornea, cornea thins, corneal, corneal abrasion, corneal disease, corneal distress, corneal dystrophies, corneal scarring, corneal stroma, Damage, deeper, deeper medical issue, degenerations, detection, diagnostic, dirt, discharge, Disease, Disorder, distort vision, distorting light, dots, Dr. Boles, endothelial cells, epithelial erosion, epithelium, extreme sensitivity to light, Eye, Eye Care, eye care specialists, Eye Doctor, eye drops, Eye Exams, eye pain, facebook, fever, fingerprints, focusing light, form of corneal, forms, fuchs' dystrophy, functional, fungal infection, genetic predisposition to the disease, germs, glasses, Glaucoma, gradual deterioration, grows, healing, healing process, hereditary factors, herpes of the eye, herpes zoster, immediate indicator, infection or injury, infections, infectious corneal disease, inflamed nerve fibers, inflammation, injuries, interfere, keratits, lattice dystrophy, Lens, lesions, light enters, lip, map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy, maps, medical condition, mild, Myopia, nearsightedness, nerves lining, newer bandage, no cure, no vision loss, ocular herpes, Ophthalmologist, Optometrist, outer layer, pain, painless, patching of the eye, patients vision, post surgical, preserve, prevented, progressive disease, prolonged, prompt medical attention, protective outer layer, rare cases, redness, reduced vision, reduced visual clarity, refers, refracted, refractive error, reocurring, repair, restore, resulting scar tissue, risk of infection, Samuel Boles, schedule, scratch, serious situations, severe distoration, severe eye pain, shape, shape changes, shaped cornea, share eye makeup, shingles, stroma, structural problems, swell, Symptoms, tearing, the eye, trauma, Treatment, twitter, viral, viral infection, virus, viruses, Vision, water, youtube

Are you skipping Eye Care? Many Americans are, according to the CDC

September 5, 2013 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Last week, we explained that non-refractive vision problems are on the rise in the United States. We also posed you a simple question; when was the last time you had an eye exam? If it has been a while, you are not alone. According to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey of 11,503 adults aged 40 or over with moderate-to-severe visual impairment, 39.8% skip eye care each year because of the cost or a lack of insurance, while 35% believe they don’t need professional eye care. 4.5%, meanwhile, said they could not get an appointment.

Of those who said they had not received eye care in the past year, those 65 and over (43.8%) were more likely to claim they had no need to go to an eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – than those 40-60 years old (32.9%)

Eye Care

“The large proportion of persons aged 65 and over reporting no need as their main reason for not seeking care is of concern because this population has the highest prevalence of visual impairment,” the CDC report says. “A possible reason for this is that older adults might regard impairment as a normal part of aging.”

Are you skipping Eye Care?

According to a 2007 survey of 1,000 adults conducted by the American Optometric Association (AOA), nearly half of all adults (47%) worry about vision loss. So why don’t more people seek regular eye care? It could be the difference between healthy vision and severe vision loss. Remember, just because you have not noticed any issues with your sight does not mean there aren’t any issues present. An individual with glaucoma can lose as much as 40% of their vision before even noticing any vision loss. Scary, isn’t it? This is why more than half of the 2.2 million Americans affected by glaucoma are unaware that they even have the eye disease.

The AOA recommends that adults, ages 18-60, have their eyes examined every two years, while adults older than 60 have their eyes examined annually. When was your last eye exam?

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC) is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, cataracts and other eye diseases. Board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at AAEC have helped preserve thousands of patients’ vision. We can help you too. We offer comprehensive ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care.

“I treat my patients the way I want to be treated when I see a doctor,” said Dr. Boles.

If you have any questions about Eye Care and wish to schedule an appointment with the Anne Arundel Eye Center, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrists Dr. Nathan Frank and Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

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

Source:

CDC: Many Americans are skipping Eye Care WebMD

Filed Under: Eye Care Tagged With: Eye Care, eye exam

Diagnosing & Treating Styes :: Eye Care Tips from your Annapolis Eye Doctor

October 11, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Styes are painful and annoying lumps found along the edge of the eyelid, caused by a bacterial infection of an eyelash follicle. A stye is rarely serious and typically goes away on its own, without treatment. Most styes heal in about a week.

Signs and Symptoms of Styes

  • A red, pimple-like bump along the edge of the eyelid
  • Most styes will swell for about three days before breaking open and draining.

Sometimes, however, styes become persistent and last for weeks or even months unless actively treated.

Treating Styes

Click here to view our simple, three-step home stye remedy. It is one of the best and easiest ways to treat a stye at home.

If the above remedy does not help alleviate your problem, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – ophthalmologist or optometrist – at your earliest convenience. Eye pain and vision impairment are serious situations that require prompt medical attention.

Preventing Styes

Stye prevention really comes down to hygiene. The cleaner you keep your face, especially the area around your eyes, the less likely styes are to develop. Below, you will find several tips to help prevent styes from forming.

1. Eye Protection: It is important to wear safety glasses when performing any tasks that may bring irritants, such as dirt and dust, into contact with your eyes.

2. Remove Makeup: For starters, you should never go to bed without first removing your makeup, especially eye makeup. Secondly, it is important to replace your makeup at least every 6 months, as bacteria tend to grow in makeup.

3. Wash your Face: It is important to keep your face clean, especially if you are prone to styes.

4. Lid Massage: While it is true that rubbing your eyes frequently can lead to irritation and introduce bacteria to the eye, lid massage can actually be very beneficial. This will open the glands along the eyelid to better express stagnate oils to allow bacterial growth. For more on cleansing the lid please take a look at our blog on blepharitis.

Differences between Styes, Chalazion, and Hordeolum

  • Chalazion: A chalazion is a lump in the eyelid, similar to a stye. However, a chalazion is usually larger than a stye and may not hurt.
  • Hordeolum: When a stye occurs inside the eyelid, it is called an internal hordeolum.

To learn more about Styes, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel 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!

Sources:

Styes and Chalazia – Topic Overview

Image Source

Filed Under: Eye Care, Stye, Symptoms, Treatment Tagged With: Anne Arundel Eye Center, bacterial infection of eyelash follicle, causes of styes, chalazion, diagnosing styes, Eye Care, eye doctor anne arundel county, eyelid bump, hordeolum, how to get rid of a stye, Opthalmologist annapolis, optometrist annapolis, preventing styes, styes on eyelid, treating styes, what is a chalazion?, what is a hordeolum?

Treating Dry Eyes: Eye Care Information from Anne Arundel Eye Center

July 24, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Your eyes rely on the flow of tears – a combination of water; oils, mucus, antibodies, and special proteins. These tears provide moisture and lubrication to not only maintain comfort, but also proper vision. When tears are not being consistently produced, a person may experience Dry Eyes.

Dry eyes can be caused by several different scenarios, including:

  1. An imbalance in the tear-flow system of the eye
  2. A structural problem with the eyelid, which doesn’t allow it to close properly
  3. Natural aging
  4. Side effects of certain drugs
  5. Diseases that affect the eye, such as Blepharitis, Mebomian Gland Disease, Dysfunctional Tear Syndrome, Sjögren’s Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Collagen Vascular Diseases

Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eyes

  • Pain
  • Sensitivity to light
  • A gritty sensation
  • Feeling like ‘something’ is in the eye
  • Itching
  • Redness
  • Blurred vision / Blurry vision
  • Varying vision clarity.

If you feel you may be experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible. While there is no cure for dry eyes, there are several treatment methods that can be taken to alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes.

Dry Eyes Treatment

  • Artificial Tears: Available over-the-counter, tear drops are one of the easiest and most popular treatment methods for dry eyes.
  • Punctal Occlusion (Temporary and Permanent): Temporary punctual occlusion involves the temporary plugging of the ducts that drain tears out of the eye. If this proves to be successful in providing an adequate supply of tears, permanent punctual occlusion may be an option. And, as you may have guessed, permanent punctual occlusion is the permanent plugging of the tear drains (though plugs can be removed by your eye doctor).
  • Medication: Medications, such as daily doses of Restasis can greatly improve the quality of life for a patient with Dry Eye. In cases of uncontrolled Dry Eye, topical steroids may be used temporarily to bring the tear film to a healthy and stable state.
  • Surgery: The ducts that drain tears into the nose can be permanently closed to allow more tears to remain around the eye.

To learn more about Dry Eyes or Proper Eye Health, 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.

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.

Vision problems 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:

Dry Eyes

 

 

Filed Under: Eye Care Tagged With: Anne Arundel Eye Center, artificial tears, Blurred Vision, dry eye treatment, Dry Eyes, Dysfunctional Tear Syndrome, Eye Care, eye surgery, punctal occlusion, sensitivity to light, tear production

June is Cataract Awareness Month :: Cataracts Symptoms and Treatment

May 31, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

As we age, our eyes undergo natural wear and tear, resulting in the clouding of the eye’s natural lens. This clouding is known as cataracts. This is a normal part of the aging process. If we live long enough, we will all develop cataracts at some point in our lives.

“I like to compare it to the clear plastic window in the back of a convertible car,” said board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles, M.D. “After years of exposure to sun and weather, the plastic becomes yellow and cloudy.”

Interesting Facts about Cataracts

  • Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss among adults 55 and older.
  • Nearly half of all adults will develop cataracts by age 80.
  • Acquired cataracts account for over 99% of all cataracts. Congenital cataracts account for less than 1%.
  • Cataracts surgery is the most frequently performed surgery in the United States.

 

Types of Cataracts

  • Subcapsular Cataracts: This type of cataract begins at the back of the lens.
  • Nuclear Cataracts: This type of cataract forms in the nucleus, the center of the lens, and develops due to natural aging changes.
  • Cortical Cataracts: This type of cataract forms in the lens cortex and gradually extends its spokes from the outside of the lens to the center.

The type of cataract you have will affect exactly which signs and symptoms you experience and how soon they will occur. Still, there is no need to worry; cataracts are very treatable and can be detected long before the lens becomes cloudy.

Signs and Symptoms of Cataracts

  • Blurry sight, and occasionally, double vision
  • ‘Halos’ — the eyes become dazzled by bright light, making night driving difficult
  • Colors may become faded
  • Eyeglasses prescription changes frequently

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.

Cataract Treatment

If the symptoms of cataracts persist and become bothersome, surgery is an excellent option for most people.

Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and, in most cases, replacing it with a clear, intraocular lens implant (IOL). Cataract surgery is a painless outpatient procedure and has the highest success rate of any surgery practiced today. Most patients can resume their normal, everyday function in very little time and can even drive a few days after surgery.

More Information on Intraocular Lenses (IOL)

Previously, Intraocular lenses (IOL) only allowed for vision at one distance (mono-focal lenses), meaning cataract patients still benefit from glasses after surgery. Newer advanced technology IOLs, however, allow for a much greater range of vision, further decreasing the patient’s dependence on glasses.

Advanced technology lenses, also referred to as Premium IOLs, available include: Multi-focal, Accommodating, and Dual-Optic Accommodating. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, including some out of pocket expenses. To find out which lens makes the most sense for you, consult your eye doctor.

A consultation with an experienced and knowledgeable Ophthalmologist will help guide you through your decision. You may find out that a particular lens suits your needs very well.

To learn more about Cataracts, Intraocular Lenses, and Proper Eye Health, 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.

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.

Vision problems 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:

Learn About Cataracts: Facts, Stats, and FAQs

Filed Under: Cataracts, Eye Disease Tagged With: aaeyes, Anne Arundel Eye Center, annearundeleye center, annearundeleyecenter.com, Cataract symptoms, Cataract treatment, Eye Care, Ophthalmologist, Optometrist, Samuel Boles

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