Eye Care | Anne Arundel Eye Center- Part 2

October is Eye Injury Prevention Month :: Anne Arundel Eye Center

October 7, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center Leave a Comment

More than 1 million people suffer from eye injuries every year in the United States, most of which could have been avoided. For this reason, October was named Eye Injury Prevention Month. The hope is that organizations will help spread awareness and individuals will begin to take the necessary precautions – wearing protective eyewear – when performing tasks that have any likelihood of eye-related injury, injuries that could lead to more serious medical conditions like red eye, traumatic cataract or traumatic glaucoma. Such everyday activities include: mowing the lawn, using household chemicals, working on your car, etc.

Prevention is the most important step in protecting your eyes from injury. Upwards of 90% of all reported eye injuries could have been avoided if proper eyewear was utilized. Yet, according to a national survey by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, only 35 percent of respondents said they always wear protective eyewear when performing home repairs or maintenance; even fewer do so while playing sports.

So take the necessary precautions and wear protective eyewear when performing a task that has any likelihood of eye-related injury. However, if you still do experience an eye injury, even if it seems minor, call your eye doctor immediately to schedule an eye exam or visit the emergency room. Eye injuries are serious and require prompt medical attention from your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Eye Injury Facts:

Men are more likely to sustain an eye injury than women.
Each day, about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment, yet nearly half (44.7 percent) of all eye injuries occur in the home.
More than 40 percent of eye injuries reported were caused by projects and activities such as home repairs, yard work, cleaning and cooking.
More than a third (34.2 percent) of injuries in the home occurred in living areas such as the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living or family room.
More than 40 percent of eye injuries every year are related to sports or recreational activities.

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!

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

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

Sources:

Preventing Eye Injuries GetEyeSmart.org

Eye Safety Fact Sheet ModernEye.com

October is Eye Injury Prevention Month EyeBoston.com

August is National Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month

August 25, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center Leave a Comment

One in four children, roughly 12.1 million children worldwide, have a vision impairment. Of children ages three to five, one in 20 have a problem that could result in permanent vision loss if left untreated. Most of these issues, however, can be corrected if caught early enough and treated properly.

You should have your child’s eyes examined shortly after birth, before each school year, and as any problems arise. As parents, it is important to be aware of the warning signs your child might be experiencing impaired vision. These include:

•Blurred or double vision
•Headaches or pain in the eyes
•Difficulty copying from board at school
•Holding books close to read or sitting close to the T.V.
•Squinting
•Sensitivity to light
•Burning, itching, watery or redness in eyes that is not explainable

If you suspect your child is suffering from any of the above conditions, do not hesitate to schedule an eye exam with your regular eye doctor. An eye care professional can rule out various eye diseases, recommend treatment, and prescribe corrective lenses if appropriate.

The most common types of eye problems seen in children are:

•Myopia (nearsightedness)
•Stabismus (crossed eyes)
•Amblyopia (lazy eye)

In order to increase awareness of childhood vision problems, August has been named National Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. And with the school year right around the corner, now is the perfect time to schedule your child’s next eye exam.

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!

Sources:

1) August is National Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month: Foods your whole family can eat for healthy vision DiscoverBulk.com

2) August in National Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month LAReaders.com

3) Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month NewEngland.HealthCHarities.org

4)August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month KISBYTO.Blogspot.com

Dr. Boles Explains How to Choose Your Eye Doctor in Maryland Women’s Journal

August 11, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center 1 Comment

In April, 2010 in the Maryland Women’s Journal there was an excellent piece about choosing your eye doctor written by Anne Arundel Eye Center’s own, Dr. Samuel Boles. He penned an insightful and informative article to help with this decision.

He explains: “ When you think of seeing an Eye Doctor, it is easy to get confused as to the differences between optometrists and ophthalmologists. While they provide some of the same services, there are also several major differences. Once you understand these differences, it’s easy to determine when you need to see an optometrist and when a visit to the ophthalmologist is in order.”

What is an Optometrist?

An optometrist is a Doctor of Optometry, also known as an O.D. To be an optometrist, one must complete four years of college or undergraduate education followed by four years in a college of optometry. All optometrists must pass a series of rigorous nationally-administered exams to earn their license. Some optometrists will also complete a one-year post-graduate residency to gain more specialized expertise in a particular area.

Optometrists are licensed to do the following:

Examine and diagnose eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts and retinal diseases.
Diagnose systemic conditions that may affect the eyes, including diabetes and hypertension.
Examine, diagnose and treat visual conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia.
Prescribe contact lenses and glasses, vision therapy and medications such as antibiotics.
Perform minor surgical procedures such as the removal of a foreign body.

What is an Ophthalmologist?

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (an M.D.) who specializes in the medical treatment of the eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are trained to provide the full spectrum of eye care, from prescribing glasses to eye surgery. They may also be involved in medical research of the eye structure as well as diseases of the eye.

After medical school, every ophthalmologist completes a three-year residency in general ophthalmology. During residency, they receive special training in all aspects of eye care, including prevention, diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of eye conditions and diseases. Some ophthalmologists spend an additional year or two training in a specific area of eye care to become a specialist.

While the routine care provided by ophthalmologists and optometrists is now very similar, there are several major differences. They are:

Optometrists spend additional time and attention to contact lens fitting and care.
Optometrists are uniquely positioned to fit and prescribe glasses and care for refractive disorders.
Ophthalmologists are trained to perform surgery, including Lasik vision correction, removal of cataracts, retinal detachment surgery eye reconstructive surgery and more.
Ophthalmologists have additional specialized training in diagnosing and treating more complex medical eye conditions.
Ophthalmologists can prescribe a wider range of prescription drugs for specific eye problems and diseases unlike optometrists.
Exams by Ophthalmologists are more likely to be covered by general medical insurance rather than Vision Insurance.”

Dr Boles gives a very clear distinction between the different types of care here. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center to meet with cataracts and glaucoma specialist Dr. Samuel Boles, or if you simply have a 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!

Dr. Nathan T. Frank Joins Anne Arundel Eye Center

July 27, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center Leave a Comment

Dr. Samuel F. Boles and the rest of the Anne Arundel Eye Center staff are happy to welcome board certified Optometrist Dr. Nathan T. Frank to their ever-growing practice.

“We are an established practice that continuously welcomes new patients and we are very excited to have a physician with Dr. Frank’s background and specialty experience join our staff, to help us continue to provide the utmost care and education within the community,” Dr. Boles said.

That care and education that Dr. Boles mentions is the reason that Anne Arundel Eye Center is proud of its growth over the past five years, now serving over 6,000 patients. The state-of-the-art treatment center, which specializes in glaucoma and cataracts diagnosis and treatment, hired Dr. Frank to support that increased patient base.

Dr. Frank completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Wyoming in 2004 and received his doctorate in Optometry at Pacific University in 2008. As part of his training, Dr. Frank held clinical externships at Alaska Eye Care Center, Arizona; Pacific University College of Optometry, Oregon; Fort Washakie Indian Health Services, Wyoming; Alaska Eye Center, Alaska; and attended weekly grand round lectures at the Wilmer Eye Center at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Frank completed his residency with the Maryland-based eye care center Seidenberg and Protzko Eye Associates with an emphasis on ocular disease, pediatrics and refractive surgery.

Before relocating to Annapolis, Maryland with his wife Lesleigh, a pediatric occupational therapist at Kennedy Krieger, Dr. Frank was owner and optometric physician at DV Eyecare LLC in La Grande, Oregon – a practice providing primary care, contact lens services, and medical optometry. Dr. Frank is a former member of the Oregon Optometric Association and current member of the American Optometric Association, the Maryland Optometric Association, and the Optometric Nutrition Society. He has recently published two Posters – “Bilateral Acute Retinal Necrosis Secondary to HSV-2” and “Bleb Associated Pseudomonal Endophthalmitis.”

Anne Arundel Eye center is delighted to welcome such a highly qualified Optometrist to its practice. Dr. Frank was brought in to help the center handle its increased patient base, while furthering Anne Arundel Eye Center’s commitment to providing comprehensive eye care services, specializing in cataract and glaucoma diagnosis and treatment.

Anne Arundel Eye Center is located at 127 Lubrano Drive, Suite 301, Annapolis, MD, 21401 across from Annapolis Mall. For patient appointment information, please call (410) 224-2010 or visit them at www.AnneArundelEyeCenter.com.

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

Education on Glaucoma and Cataracts Detection and Treatment

July 7, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center Leave a Comment

More than 3 million Americans have glaucoma, yet half are unaware that they have it, while cataracts, the leading cause of visual loss in people 65 and older, will affect half of adults by age 80. These are two very different diseases that have one big thing in common; they are both treatable if caught early.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma refers to a group of diseases that can affect your sight without warning and, if left untreated, can lead to blindness.

Everyone is at risk for glaucoma, however, certain factors may increase this risk including: if you are over 60 years of age, if you are African American, if you have high myopia (nearsightedness), diabetes, hypertension, or if you are a steroid user.

The bad news is that there is currently no cure for glaucoma. The good news is that early detection and treatment (medication and surgery) have been proven to slow down or even prevent further vision loss due to glaucoma, which is why regular eye exams are so important.

Cataracts

A cataract, or clouding of the eye’s natural lens, is a disease usually brought on by age – affecting half of adults by age 80. After years of natural wear and tear, the lens becomes clouded, much like a clear plastic window on a convertible car that turns yellow after years of exposure to sun and weather.

Cataracts symptoms include: blurry sight and sometimes double vision; halos and glare—the eyes become dazzled by bright light, making night driving difficult; colors may become faded; and frequent changes in glasses prescription.

Whether you are experiencing symptoms of cataracts or you fear you may have glaucoma, the earlier you are diagnosed by a certified ophthalmologist, the more a doctor will be able to help you without major intervention/surgery. If you feel you may be at risk, schedule an eye appointment right away.

At Anne Arundel Eye Center, a state-of-the-art treatment center offering complete ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic surgical eye care, the staff works to not only treat you, the patient, but also educate you about your diagnosis.

“When you give people that knowledge and power, it gives them the ability to take part in their care,” Dr. Samuel Boles told What’s Up Magazine “Patients are more likely to comply with their therapy if they know what you’re asking them to do and why you’re asking them to do it. It’s important to me to help my patients understand the importance of taking care of themselves.”

Anne Arundel Eye Center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone. If you have any questions, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

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