If you are over the age of 40 years, you may have noticed that seeing objects up close is more difficult than previously. The degree of this change depends on your age and on your spectacle prescription, among other factors, so you may notice it more or less than others your age.
However, many people are at least somewhat aware of needing to hold objects further away from them with age, until the arms are simply not long enough, in older family members or other friends. Below is explained why this change occurs, what affects it, and what can be done about it.
Infections can occur all over the body, with the eye being one of many organs that has the potential of being affected. Sometimes, the eye can be attacked by a microbe that causes damage and pain to the individual.
An infection of the cornea, the front surface of the eye, is one of the most painful conditions. Below are listed some of the most common infections that can occur in the cornea.
There are a variety of conditions that can hinder learning during childhood. During this important time in life, optimizing a child’s ability to learn is very important and can pave the way for success in the future. In some cases, a learning-related vision problem (LRVP) is one of the reasons a child may be struggling in school.
There are two main categories of learning-related vision problems: visual efficiency and visual information processing. Visual efficiency refers to one’s ability to see clearly and comfortably.
Visual information processing (VIP) refers to the way the brain processes visual information and uses it to understand the child’s world. This article focuses mainly on the latter and the 4 subtypes of VIP problems. Consult with our optometrist if you think your child may have a deficiency in these skills.
OCT, or ocular coherence tomography, is an increasingly important advanced technology used in eye care to examine both the fronts and backs of the eyes. It can help detect changes in your eyes long before they are noticeable through other means or symptomatic to you and provide more detailed information to our eye doctor. Read on to learn about what OCT exactly does, how it helps maintain your eye health, and how the scan works in your eye examination with us.
The eyes serve an important role in your healthcare beyond allowing you to see: they show changes going on in deeper areas of the body and are often the first place these systemic diseases are noticed. Most vital of all, the eyes are the windows to the brain, and can tell our eye doctor important information about how pathways in your brain are working. One of the main ways they do this is through the pupils, the dark hole in the middle of the colored portion of the eye, the iris. Read on to learn about how the pupils work and what information they can provide about your health.
Many seek contact lens wear for convenience, appearance, or performance in physical activities. While they are extremely useful on all of these fronts, the initial introduction to contact lenses can be overwhelming with how many types of lenses are available and what exactly is necessary in order to take proper care of your eyes when wearing them. This article outlines the types of soft contact lenses that our eye doctors may recommend to you.
Many people struggle with migraines throughout their lives. These are painful headaches with associated symptoms of fatigue and malaise throughout the body, and they often have visual symptoms as well. Read on to learn about migraines and how they affect the eyes.
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is not an ocular condition, it is a skin condition, and it must be diagnosed, treated, and managed by a dermatologist. It causes chronic symptoms that most commonly includes facial redness, and may also include highly visible blood vessels (also known as telangiectasia), pus-filled bumps on the facial skin, and even a large bulbous appearance to the nose. The exact underlying cause of rosacea is still unknown, but doctors do know that certain triggers can be responsible for flare-ups or worsening of symptoms. Common triggers include stress, sun exposure or warm temperatures, exercise, certain foods (especially spicy cuisine), alcohol, or even some medications or lotions. Avoiding triggers is an important aspect of living with rosacea. It can also be controlled with topical or prescription medications.
How does Rosacea Cause Dry Eyes?
Rosacea results in chronic inflammation of the eyelids and surrounding tissue. As we know, the eyelids play a pivotal role in the health of the ocular surface. When rosacea results in inflamed eyelids, it can cause additional eye problems like blepharitis and Meibomian gland dysfunction. Both of these eyelid conditions cause or worsen symptoms of dry eye disease. Those who are affected by ocular rosacea are more likely to suffer from dry eyes, and typically experience a more severe degree of dry eye symptoms. Some people affected by rosacea will have red and puffy eyelids, but for others the condition is much less noticeable. At a routine eye examination, your doctor can closely review your medical history and the health of your eyes to see if an underlying condition, such as rosacea, is causing or worsening your symptoms of dry eye disease.
How is Ocular Rosacea Treated?
Treating ocular rosacea is a long-term process. The most important aspect of controlling the symptoms is to manage the underlying eyelid inflammation. This includes lifestyle modifications like avoiding triggers and taking any medications that are recommended by your dermatologist. It also requires ocular treatments like lid scrubs to keep the eyelids free of bacteria and debris. In many cases of ocular rosacea, prescription medications will be recommended to reduce eye inflammation and improve comfort. This can include topical ointments, eye drops, or oral medications. If you suffer from ocular rosacea, it is likely that you will need to work closely with both your dermatologist and your optometrist in order to control inflammation, improve ocular health, and reduce uncomfortable symptoms of dry eye disease.