Eye Doctor Annapolis Maryland

Aspirin and your Eyes: Could Aspirin be causing your Eye Problems?

January 4, 2013 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

According to new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the regular use of aspirin could put users at a slightly increased risk of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD damages the central part of the retina, known as the macula, and could potentially permanently distort a person’s central vision.

According to researcher Barbara E.K. Klein, MD, MPH, someone would need to take aspirin at least twice a week for more than three months straight for the drug to negatively affect their vision. Still, even with the regular use of aspirin, the risk of developing wet AMD is extremely low, with only about 1% of people 40 years of age or older contracting the eye disease.

For 20 years, Klein followed nearly 5,000 men and women, ages 43 and older. By the end of the study, 512 people were diagnosed with early AMD and 117 with late AMD.

“This study is suggestive that there may be a relationship but it is by no means definitive,” said George Williams, MD, professor and chair of the department of ophthalmology at Oakland University’s William Beaumont School of Medicine in Rochester, Michigan.

Additional Risk Factors for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

1. Family history

2. Light eyes

3. Tobacco use

Symptoms of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Gradual loss of ability to see objects clearly
Objects appear distorted in shape.
Straight lines look wavy or crooked.
Loss of clear color vision
A dark or empty area appears in the center of vision.

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.

To learn more about Age-Related Macular Degeration, 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!

Source: Regular Aspirin Use May Boost Risk of Eye Problem WebMD

The Benefits of Comprehensive Eye Exams told by an Annapolis Eye Doctor

December 21, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

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, yet 30% don’t have their eyes checked by an eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist. Another survey, this one conducted by the Center for Disease Control in 2011, found that 40% of adults over the age of 40 avoided the eye doctor in 2010. 35% of these respondents said they skipped their visit with their eye doctor because they had “healthy vision.”

Now what if I told you that an individual with glaucoma can lose as much as 40% of their vision before even noticing any vision loss? Scary, isn’t it? In fact, this is why more than half of the 2.2 million Americans affected by glaucoma are unaware that they even have the eye disease.

What’s even scarier is that once a person begins to lose their vision, the damage is irreversible. This is why 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.

Comprehensive Eye Exams at Anne Arundel Eye Center in Annapolis, Maryland

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. Not only does AAEC offer a wide range of advanced procedures to improve and preserve your vision, but board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles is passionate about further educating patients and their families about the eye disease they are afflicted with.

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

To learn more about Glaucoma and Comprehensive Eye Exams, 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: Many Adults Fuzzy on Eye Health WebMD

Presbyopia & the Natural Aging Eye explained by your Annapolis Eye Doctor

November 16, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Similar to farsightedness, Presbyopia results in a person’s inability to focus to see objects that are near. However, that is where the similarities end. While farsightedness occurs as a result of the shape of the eyeball, which causes the light entering the eye to focus incorrectly, Presbyopia is the blurring of one’s vision as the result of the normal aging of the eye’s lens.

As the eye ages, its lens begins to lose its flexibility and the ability to focus to see objects that are near.

Symptoms of Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process and will affect everyone at some point in life. Symptoms of Presbyopia generally begin to appear around the age 40 and include:

1. The inability to read materials at normal distance. Because of this, those suffering from Presbyopia can often be seen holding reading materials at arm’s length in order to see them more clearly.

2. Those with Presbyopia are also likely to suffer from headaches or fatigue as the result of doing close work.

If you are experiencing the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – Ophthalmologist or Optometrist – at your earliest convenience. He or she will inspect your eyes for common eye diseases and other problems affecting your vision, such as Presbyopia.

Presbyopia Treatment

While there is no cure for Presbyopia, the effects of the eye disease are easily manageable using prescription glasses, contact lenses, reading glasses, progressive addition lenses, or bifocals. And now, there is even a surgical procedure, called keratoplasty, to treat Presbyopia. This FDA approved surgery, utilizes radio waves to reshape the cornea and thus improve vision.

Talk to your eye doctor to find out which treatment method is right for you.

To learn more about Presbyopia, 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!

Source: Presbyopia and your Eyes WebMD

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Living with Macular Degeneration: Tips from your Annapolis Eye Doctor

October 26, 2012 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

The leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 60, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a deterioration of the small central portion of the retina, known as the macula. Currently, about 1.75 million U.S. residents have advanced AMD with that number expected to grow to almost 3 million by 2020.

AMD can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks, such as reading and driving. But the disease is manageable. Although there is currently no cure for AMD, there are several methods designed to slow or even stop the eye disease from progressing.

Home Remedies to Slow the Progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

1. Eating Green, Leafy Vegetables: A diet rich in vitamins, like those found in green, leafy vegetables, may help slow the progression of AMD.

2. Taking Supplements: Similar to the above recommendation, taking supplements like antioxidant vitamins and zinc cab help delay vision loss. But check with your doctor before taking any supplements.

3. Eating Fish: A good source of omega-3 fatty acids, fish may lower your chances of getting AMD.

4. Limiting Fat Intake: An abundance of saturated fats could actually increase your risk of developing AMD.

5. Getting Regular Exercise: Maintaining a healthy weight could help lower the risk of developing wet AMD, one of the two forms of AMD.

6. Using an Amsler Grid: If you have AMD, you should check the vision in both eyes daily using an Amsler Grid. And if you notice your vision worsening, it is important to call your eye doctor as soon as possible.

7. Regular Visits with the Eye Doctor: AMD can advance so slowly that individuals initially notice little change in their vision. Other times, AMD progresses more rapidly and may even lead to vision loss in both eyes. This is why regular eye exams are so important.

Living with AMD and the resulting vision loss doesn’t have to be debilitating. There are several ways you can adjust your lifestyle to keep your quality of life as much as possible. Work with your eye doctor to find ways to best use your remaining vision.

To learn more about Age-Related Macular Degeneration, 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!