What is Presbyopia? (Fast Facts)

March 15, 2023/in Eye Conditions, Eye Health, Presbyopia /by EMG

What is Presbyopia? (Fast Facts)

Our eyes are complicated, highly evolved organs. They also happen to be one of the most fragile parts of our bodies, especially because much of our eye is external. For these reasons, eye conditions are a normal part of life; most are mild and can be treated and/or prevented.

One such eye condition which is commonplace is known as “presbyopia.” With such a lofty name, you would think the condition was rare or severe. We thought we’d cover the basics of presbyopia to put your mind at ease.

Presbyopia in a Nutshell

Presbyopia is Greek for “old eye.” This etymological fact might tell you all you need to know about the condition. To put it simply, presbyopia is the extremely common condition of not seeing objects close up, which occurs in middle or old age.

The cause of presbyopia is due to how our eyes function. If you’ve ever worn contact lenses, then you might be surprised to know that the inside of your eye has a natural lens that functions in much the same way. It’s a flexible, clear membrane that bends to bring objects into focus whether they are close or far away.

If you’ve ever left a contact lens out, or overused a lens, then you might also understand that this material can grow rigid. So, too, does the lens in your eye. As you age, the flexible properties of your lens decrease, making it harder for it to change shape and focus on objects close up. For this reason, presbyopia happens to everyone but impacts some more than others.

Symptoms of Presbyopia

The symptoms of presbyopia are so common that they are often simply considered to be symptoms of old age:

Inability to see objects up close
Needing to hold things far away to see them (like books or restaurant menus)
Chronic headaches
Eye fatigue

Ways to Prevent Presbyopia

We hate to disappoint you, but there is no way to prevent or even proactively minimize presbyopia. Presbyopia affects nearly 90% of the middle age and older population. Genetics plays a major role in just how much presbyopia impacts you.

Treatment for Presbyopia

While you can’t do anything to prevent presbyopia, you can certainly be on the lookout for its symptoms and act accordingly with a treatment plan. Yes, it’s possible to correct presbyopia, just as how it’s possible to correct most other problems with your vision:

Eye drops – drops containing pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution can be used daily to reduce the size of your pupils, which makes it easier for your more-rigid lens to focus. These drops will typically work for 6 hours, so it’s a viable option for seeing through the day.
Bifocal lenses – bifocal lenses are glasses (or contacts, thanks to advancements in technology) that have two different focal ranges in the lens. The top portion of the lens is for correcting your normal vision and the bottom portion corrects your presbyopia, allowing you to focus on objects close up when you look through the bottom portion of your glasses.
Refractive surgery – surgeries like LASIK and PRK can change the shape of your cornea, thus correcting the shape of the lens in your eye and improving your day-to-day vision to correct or minimize your presbyopia.

Do you suffer from presbyopia? A good book or a restaurant menu shouldn’t be an obstacle in your old age. Reach out to us today to explore options for correcting your close-up vision.

6 Most Common Eye & Vision Myths

March 15, 2023/in Eye Health /by EMG

6 Most Common Eye & Vision Myths

There are a lot of myths surrounding our eyesight. From old wives’ tales, simple misconceptions, and even wartime secrecy, we thought we’d dispel some of the most common eye and vision myths.

Reading in Low Light Will Damage Your Eyes

You might have heard this from one (or both of your parents) when reading in a dark room as a child. Maybe you prefer to read in the dark or simply continually forget to turn that overhead light on. Whatever the case, we can assure you that reading or working in low light does not cause damage to your eyes. It will, however, cause eye fatigue, which is short-term.

Not Wearing Glasses Will Further Degrade Vision

There are a few outlying exceptions, but in a general sense, not wearing your prescription lenses does not affect the quality of your vision. While someone might nag at you to put your glasses on, remember that not wearing your glasses all the time should have zero impact on your vision.

Vision Loss is Inevitable

While it’s true that degenerative vision is normal as you age, do not discount the power of regular vision exams to minimize your vision loss. Beyond that, don’t forget to practice eye safety while working or even doing yard work. While a slight loss of vision is inevitable, you can protect much of your vision through due diligence.

Carrots Improve Your Eyesight

This one is a doozy! There is a pervasive myth that the large amounts of Vitamin A in carrots will enhance your vision, specifically your ability to see at night. You might be surprised to learn that this myth largely came from the invention of radar by the British in World War 2. They spread the myth that a diet high in Vitamin A (aka carrots) allowed their soldiers to see exceptionally well at night when, in fact, they were using their secret and newly invented radar!

Eye Exams Are Only Necessary if You Encounter Eye Problems

By all means, if you notice a change in your vision, then please schedule an eye exam as soon as you can. However, many eye diseases and vision problems start slowly and are undetectable until they grow into larger problems. Regular eye exams are a proactive measure to detect eye problems well before they impact your life.

Sitting Too Close to the TV Will Damage Your Eyes

We correct our children enough as it is. Believe it or not, the distance in which they sit in front of the television has no impact on their vision. Children prefer to be close to the television because they like to see the detail of what they are looking at—their brains absorb much more sensory information than adults, so they have a predilection to get up close and personal with the source.

Are you interested in an eye exam? Whether you notice a change in your vision or not, we recommend annual exams for all our patients. Reach out to us today!

Tis the Season (for Dry Eyes)

January 12, 2023/in Eye Conditions, Eye Health /by EMG

‘Tis the Season (for Dry Eyes)

The winter season brings with it plenty of cheer. However, winter can be notoriously hard on your eyes. You might think how it can be worse than the summer and its constant barrage of sunlight. The number one cause of eye discomfort is dry eyes, which can be exasperated by winter weather. We thought we’d explore this subject and how you can minimize the problem this season.

What Are Our Tears Made of?

Tears serve a few purposes, and the contents of your tears all work together to accomplish their goals. Tears are mostly water, which is used to moisten your eyes. With that are natural oils for the lubrication of your eyes. Mucus ensures an even distribution of your tears across the entire eye. Finally, antibodies fight incoming bacteria.

Why Do My Eyes Get Dry in the Winter?

You might think of winter as wet. After all, all that snow and ice is made of water, right? While that’s true, the air itself is extremely dry. Dry air does a number on your body, from your skin to your eyes. Dry eyes are irritating at best and can cause bigger problems at worst.

How to Thwart Dry Eyes this Winter

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to minimize or cure the effect of dry eyes. Let’s explore these options.

Invest in a Quality Humidifier – If you do not have a humidifier in your office and home during the winter, then you’re probably experiencing extremely dry air. A humidifier introduces moisture into the air, either through sonic vibrations or evaporation. We suggest that you invest in a humidifier that is rated for the square footage of your space.

Keep Warm Air Away – As tempting as space heaters are in the winter, we recommend keeping them away from your face, especially when you are sleeping. All of that dry, hot air will quickly dry out your eyes. Furthermore, if you have a heating vent positioned over your bed, then you might want to consider moving your bed away from it in the winter.

Use Artificial Tears – There are several products on the market known as “artificial tears.” These are over-the-counter and can be found at any pharmacy or supermarket. Artificial tears are specially formulated to lubricate and moisturize your eyes when your tears can’t keep up. We recommend you ensure you’re buying artificial tears and NOT a red-eye product, which can dry you out further.

Wear Sunglasses – The sun in the winter can sneak up on you. A sunny winter day can be just as destructive to your eyes as one in the summer. Just because the weather has changed doesn’t mean you should put the sunglasses away. Exposure to sunlight can dry out your eyes and cause other vision problems.

Are you feeling eye discomfort? If you’ve experienced any changes in your vision, then reach out to us today for an evaluation.