Header image

 

We care about your eye care!

   
icon1 Click the Eye Care button to add our site to your Google toolbar for quick reference

   
line decor
   In The News
line decor

SCImage


 
 

Eye Care Tips by Dr. Shawn Cohen
When placing more than one type of eye drop in the eye, it is important to wait at least 5 minutes between drops, or else the second eye drop will wash away the first one.
Consumption of fish three times per week is associated with a lower risk of eyelid and eye irritation from blocked oil glands, a condition that makes the eyes feel "tired" and gritty.
Eye drops can be timed to regular daily activities to help avoid missing them. Examples include meal times, tooth brushing and bedtime routines.
Be sure to carry a list of all medications, including eye drops, nasal sprays, inhalers and vitamins with you so that you can present this at the time of your visit. This piece of paper should be carried with you AT ALL TIMES in your wallet as it speaks for you when you can not and especially when you forget!
Actively search and find every positive means of dealing with your disease and keep the lines of communication open with your doctor. Empower yourself with knowledge and a plan to succeed depite all. Know this: the ultimate outcome rests in your mind and in your hands as much or even more than it does in your doctor's.
Read the label of every eye drop before you use it. Many glues and nail products can look like eye drops. Also, many eye drop medications have similar bottles but not all are used in the same time of day or frequency.
Since the eye can only hold less than one full eye drop at a time, some of the drop may run out of the eye after it is placed. This is normal. It is generally safe to place a second drop if you are unsure whether or not the first drop was well placed.
Every nurse, every secretary, every orderly, and every staff person your doctor works with is essential to your care. Be appreciative and respectful to them as they each contribute, in their own ways, to your care.
There are many types of lasers used in eye care. Some uses include vision correction, prevention of bleeding in the eye, lowering the eye pressure in glaucoma, prevention of an attack of glaucoma in susceptible eyes and cleaning the lens capsule after cataract surgery.
Contrary to popular belief, cataract surgery is performed with ultrasound. The laser cataract extraction machine has not met with great success or popularity. Laser is used to clean the supporting lens capsule should it become cloudy in the months or years following cataract surgery.
Corticosteroid skin creams, nasal sprays, asthma puffers, injections and eye drops can cause cataracts and glaucoma. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor if you are using any form of corticosteroids.
Activity-specific protective eye shields, such as squash goggles or swimming goggles, can be made to incorporate vision correction prescriptions. Protect your vision by wearing appropriate eye protection.
In cataract surgery, the cloudy lens of the eye is replaced with a synthetic lens. The folding type of lens is preferred as it allows for a smaller wound to be used, allows for corneal surgery which heals better than scleral openings, and may have pigments which block harmful light wavelengths from entering the eye.
It is recommended to avoid scuba diving for 2 months following cataract surgery. When the face mask is worn and the diver descends, a negative pressure occurs in the mask due to gas compression and this can open up a fresh wound (face mask barotrauma; Boyle's law of gases).
Any red eye after eye surgery is an emergency and should be examined as soon as possible. Infection inside the eye (endophthalmitis) can lead to permanent loss of vision and even the eye. In its early stages, endophthalmitis may respond well to treatment.
A photograph of the retina is highly recommended to detect and follow over time many different eye diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetes and macular degeneration. After all, a picture is worth 1000 words!
Any surgery, in any body area, carries 4 major risks: anesthesia, bleeding, infection, and damage to the area. Fortunately, these risks are low in eye surgeries and topical anesthesia is very safe.
If you have glaucoma, your doctor will likely set a "target pressure" for your eye. Knowing this number helps you and your doctor monitor if you are responding to therapy.
Some people report losing their balance while attempting to place eye drops when standing. Sitting comfortably in a chair or lying down to place the drops might be safer!
There are many cataract surgery lens implant choices. In general, foldable lenses are the most popular as wound healing is faster than rigid lenses. Multifocal lenses may allow for near and reading vision without glasses. Toric lenses may correct a small astigmatism. No lens is perfect! Discuss the choices with your doctor.
Lifestyle choices can have an impact on vision. Smoking has been linked to macular degeneration and cataracts, as has poor diet. Obesity may lead to diabetes and high blood pressure which can threaten vision. Your doctor may have some solutions or novel ways to help you win these battles!
Halloween Advice! Avoid oversized, non-prescription and unfitted colored contact lenses made for the occasion as they do not allow enough air to get into the eye! They can be very dangerous!
A digital camera or cell phone camera can be an excellent way to capture a problem you are having, like a red eye or a burst blood vessel, in case the problem may no longer be present at the time of your visit to the doctor!
Medication lists should be stored in your wallet or smart phone. For iPhone users, consider storing the list under the notes section of the pharmacy contact where you get your medications! A photo album can also be set up that contains all x-rays, lab results and medications.
 

 

 

 

 

   
  Website design and video editing by Shawn Cohen, MD. © Copyright 2007-2024. All rights reserved.