Among men and women over fifty, macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness. This degenerative condition causes severe damage and around the retina. Nearly 10% of the population over the age of 65 will suffer from macular degeneration and the probability only increases as they continue to age.
Symptoms of macular degeneration include blurriness and total vision loss in the center the individual’s field of vision. This prevents basic tasks such as facial recognition and reading. Since it is a degenerative disease, a sufferer’s sight will continue to deteriorate over time. Depending on the variety of the condition which has been contracted, there may be medical procedures which will help relieve some of the symptoms of macular degeneration.
There are two different sub-types of macular degeneration, commonly refereed to as “wet” and “dry.” Wet macular degeneration is the result of unrestricted blood vessel growth within the rear portions of the retina. This results in hemorrhaging and scarring which can permanently inhibit eye sight. A type of drug which halts the growth of new blood vessels, called anti-angiogenics, can be injected directly into the eye to prevent further scarring. Although this procedure is considered very painful, regular injections are required to stop further degeneration of the patient’s eye sight.
The “dry” sub-type is the result of the slow atrophy of the retina. This leads to the death of the rods and cones which make up the basis of our ability to perceive color and retain visual acuity. Unfortunately, there are no surefire medical procedures to help those suffering from a dry macular degeneration. However, a battery of drugs and nutritional supplements can be used to help stall the effects of the disease for a period of years.
Patients suffering from early symptoms of macular degeneration such as blurred vision, shadows or blind spots, poor recovery from exposure to bright light, a steady loss in the ability to perceive colors and other chances in their normal vision should immediately consult with a physician. Smokers, overweight individuals, and those suffering from high cholesterol are most at risk for macular degeneration. Although macular degeneration is a very serious condition, with early detection it can become a treatable disease.
Selecting an optician for an eye test is an important decision which everyone must occasionally make. Many people feel that optician appointments are only important for those with impaired vision, but in fact there are many reasons why having an eye test with a reputable optician is important.
The primary reason for selecting a reputable optician for your eye test is to make sure that your eye test uncovers any health issues which may affect your vision or general health. This includes issues like glaucoma, astigmatism, and more. Selecting an optician who has experience in performing a comprehensive eye test can help you discover potential health hazards when they are still at an early stage, and therefore treatable.
A second reason that choosing an optician with experience and a good reputation is that corrective eyewear (glasses, contact lenses, etc) is a significant expense, and a reputable optician can offer sound advice about how the eyes of their patient or client are likely to change. While not ophthalmologists, and therefore unable to make medical judgments about the condition of their patients’ eyes, opticians with good reputations and solid experience over a long period of time can be counted on to recognize when someone is likely to have a prescription which will last a long time (several years) versus someone whose eyes are still in a state of flux. If a client’s eyes are unlikely to change, then spending more on lenses and frames might prove to be an economically justifiable conclusion, while those who find their eyes changing significantly from year to year may want to consider purchasing less expensive vision correction options.
Finally, choosing a reputable optician for your eye test allows you to be sure that your eye test is being performed with superior attention and ability. Too often, individuals pay for eye tests which are ultimately unsatisfactory, resulting in corrective vision alternatives which are inadequate – or worse, unnecessary. By discussing your choice of reputable optician with friends, co-workers, and relatives to find a reputable optician for your eye test, you can receive the prescription your eyes require.
Tags: Where is there an optician in Ogden, Where is there an optometrist in Ogden
Besides the obvious positive effects of fish oil such as: lowered inflammation, improved cardiovascular health, less depressive symptoms, and a stronger heart, fish oil also helps with vision. For example: many nerve tissues behind the retina often worsen over time causing macular degeneration and eventual blindness.
DHA, which is an essential fatty acid found in omega-3 fish oils, collects in nerve cells aiding in their functionality. There have been an abundance of studies comparing elderly that have taken fish oil vs. additional elderly folks that went without it. The conclusion drawn was that those taking the omega-3 oil were far less likely to get degenerative eye diseases that eventually cause blindness.
This was a huge discovery for proponents of fish oil. Another highly common issue that elderly and younger adults deal with alike is dry eyes syndrome; when an individual suffers from this, he or she is rendered unable to produce tears, which causes a scratchy discomfort that can be helped with over-the-counter eye lubricants. What if a person could prevent this from ever happening? Well, it may be impossible to stop it entirely, but fish oil can dramatically reduce symptoms, thereby protecting the cornea from incessant wearing.
Recent studies have shown a direct correlation in regard to extensive omega-3 intake and improved eye health. The best part about fish oil is that it doesn’t have to be taken in a capsule form, it can be consumed by eating fish: tuna, salmon, oysters, shark, and sardines are among those with the most omega-3 content; however, one should heed caution when it comes to consuming large quantities of fish; many of the fish aforementioned contain high amounts of mercury and should be limited or avoided all together. Therefore, it may make the most sense to consume fish oil as a supplement.
Tags: what are the best things to eat for my eye health, what foods help my eyes
The eye chart, many times referred to as The Snellen Eye Chart, is a chart used to tell you how well you see, in comparison to how well other people see. It tells you whether or not you have “normal” vision. It is a standard for knowing whether or not you need glasses, how well you see in general, and can possibly make you aware of potential eye problems.
The eye chart tells you whether or not you have 20/20 vision. The chart tells you if you are twenty feet away from the eye chart, whether or not you can see as well as the average person who stands twenty feet away from the chart. If you can, then you are said to have 20/20 vision. If you have 20/40 vision, then you can see standing twenty feet from the eye chart, what the average person can see standing forty feet away from the eye chart.
Eye charts are used starting at a very young age. When a child is very young and does not yet know his or her alphabet, the eye chart is full of different sized E’s which are pointed in different positions, with some being sideways, others being upside down or backwards, and some being positioned correctly. The child is then asked by the person giving the eye test, to use his or her fingers to point in the direction the lines coming off the E’s are pointing. So, at a very young age, an eye chart is used to tell whether or not a child is having problems seeing normally.
Most people get their eyesight checked at a doctor’s office, or by an optician in a store that sells glasses, but it is possible to buy an eye chart at the store or to download an eye chart off the internet. These charts can be useful for following your vision, especially if you are having problems with your eyes, but they are not a substitute for having your eyes examined regularly by a professional, as professionals can see many things going on in your eyes that an eye chart cannot tell you, some of which can threaten your eyesight.
Although most parents are quite vigilant about taking care of their children’s health and teeth, many are unaware of the importance of proper eye care for children. Many wait until their child is talking or even until they are school age to arrange an eye exam, thinking that testing would be impossible without an ability to speak or read the eye chart.
However, experts in ophthalmology suggest that a child have his first eye exam between the ages of six months and one year. At this time, the doctor can diagnose such conditions as amblyopia, lazy eye, and strabismus, crossed eyes. Early intervention and treatments, such as surgery, patches and glasses, work well to treat these conditions before they have any effect on the child’s development.
If no vision problems are found during the first vision examination, a child should be taken for a comprehensive eye exam every two years. This is not the same as a screening similar to that given at school. While this is an excellent indicator of problems, proper eye care for children involves a check of their ability to focus, their ability to see at both near and far distances, and a check to see if their eyes are in alignment. The doctor will probably also do a measurement of the cornea and take a medical history for use in the future.
It is extremely important that children receive proper eye care at a young age because these developmental years are the foundation for future learning. Parents should watch for and report any sign of vision difficulties to their eye doctor. These might include sitting close the television, pulling a book closer to their face than normal, or leaning in to see a picture. Other signals for needed intervention include headaches, squinting or tearing, and difficulty doing school work.
Early intervention for vision difficulties can keep a child from falling behind his peers on the learning curve. By interceding early enough, parents can assure that proper eye care will keep their children from missing skills due to a lack of visual acuity that will make later leaning more arduous.
If you are a worried parent or just need more advice on proper eye for children then please call us or visit or premises in Ogden.
Tags: eye care for children, Where is there an optician in Ogden
Eyeglasses have been around for almost eight centuries, and the evolution to their modern form is quite fascinating. Although contact lenses are on the forefront of vision correction now, prescription glasses will never become obsolete and thousands of pairs of frames are manufactured daily.
When a pair of prescription glasses are ordered, the first thing that happens is an optometrist determins what strength of corrective lenses are needed. A simple eye test, one where the patient covers one eye and reads letters from a chart at a distance, is usually enough to figure this out. A numerical value of the patient’s sight detriment is calculated, and then sent to a laboratory that will craft the prescription lenses.
At the laboratory, the lens starts off as a plastic disc that is 4 inches wide and up to 1.5 inches thick. The front of the disc is curved, and a technician feeds this disc into a special machine that will grind it down. It is ground into the proper curve dimensions to match the level of correction specified. This process of grinding the disc into an actual prescription strength lens is very meticulous and difficult. It is absolutely imperative that these discs come out of the machine scratch free and at the exact prescription or the lens creation process will have to be started from scratch again.
Next, the lens is fit to the frames that the patient has chosen back at the optometrist’s office. Modern eyeglass frames are usually made from paynus plastic. Then, the lenses are tinted with ultraviolet (UV) protection with a special solution. Usually, grooves are cut into the lenses to ensure the proper fit into the chosen frames.
Once the lenses are inserted into the frames and they fit properly in place, they are heated to make them flexible for easy insertion and removal. A quality check is next, to make sure there are no scratches, dents or other imperfections on either the lenses or the frames. Usually, the patient will also be asked to try the glasses on to make sure they are the precise prescription strength. Finally, they are cleaned a final time and given to the patient!
If you are in Odgen and require prescription glasses please call into our shop today to talk to a professional.
As a leading eye care specialist, based here in Ogden, we care more for your vision than you think. This is why we are bringing you a series of aricles on how you yourselves can maintain your own vision, rather than visiting us when it is too late.
From glaucoma to macular degeneration, many things can go wrong with the human eye. Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to eye health, and luckily, there are many ways to protect eyes from damage. Most people think of sunglasses and carrots when they think of good eye care, but supplements and diet should also play an important role. The eye, just like any other organ, needs to be kept healthy through good nutrition.
The cells of the eye require specific nutrients so diet plays an important role in eye care. Antioxidants, such as; lutein, vitamin C, vitamin A, carotene, and vitamin E help prevent the buildup of free radicals that cause cataracts and macular degeneration. Foods rich in antioxidants include; dark green vegetables, colorful fruits, berries, tea, and whole grains. Omega-3 fatty acids are also an important part of an eye healthy diet and can be found in fish or fish oil. It is important to reduce consumption of foods rich in sodium, sugar, and Trans fats as these can increase a person’s risk for diabetes.
Vitamin supplements are also key elements to eye care. There are a number of good multi-vitamins on the market, many of which are specifically designed to encourage good vision. Macula Complete, Oculair, ICaps, and Ocuvite PreserVision are a few examples of vision-focused multivitamins. A good multivitamin can provide some necessary antioxidants, but cannot provide them all. The antioxidant, Glutathione, which acts as a “mother ship” for other antioxidants, is also important for overall health, but is only manufactured directly in the body’s cells. The building blocks for this antioxidant are cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine and can be found in the supplement, Immunocal. These amino acids can also be found in raw eggs, raw meat, unpasteurized milk and mother’s milk, but these methods are less than appetizing.
Like any organ, the eye needs to be given the proper nutrition in order to stay well maintained. A good diet and the right nutritional supplement are important parts of overall eye health and can help prevent eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.
Tags: what are the best things to eat for my eye health, what foods help my eyes
Most of us do not get regular eye checkups. Until something goes awry, it’s usually not a high priority. The American Optometric Association (AOA) believes having an eye exam just ‘when something goes wrong’ is a bad idea. They advocate annual or bi-annual eye exams for adults forty and older. The association also recommends yearly exams for children and adults alike—regardless of age—who are currently wearing corrective lenses.
A thorough eye exam scrupulously probe for refractive errors in vision that indicate such common vision conditions as myopia and hyperopia, better known as nearsightedness and farsightedness. Courtesy of visiting the eye doctor, millions of people every year see—quite literally—vast improvements in the quality of their lives with new pairs of glasses, contacts, and office laser surgeries.
Comprehensive exams measure eye pressure and the coordination of eye muscles, too. This enables doctors to make early diagnoses of serious eye diseases that frequently develop with age, including cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Eye examinations can detect developing tumors and other potentially life-threatening health issues. In many instances, completely unforeseen eye disorders can be promptly addressed before any lasting damage to your vision occurs.
In addition to advancing age and previously diagnosed vision problems as sound reasons to schedule regular eye exams, a family history of related disorders is yet another. If, for example, you have a parent, grandparent, or both who suffered from glaucoma, you are automatically deemed at higher risk for developing the same eye disease in the future. A prior eye injury also makes you more likely to encounter further vision difficulties with the passage of time.
Moreover, a frequent eye exam is indispensable for those afflicted with diabetes, high blood pressure, and chronic illnesses of any kind. Our eyesight is often impacted by myriad ailments that are not eye-specific. Vision troubles are sometimes symptoms of diseases originating in other parts of the body.
The bottom line is that scheduling regular exams—yearly or otherwise—is a prudent practice to adopt, regardless of your present health circumstances. Catching eye problems in their earliest stages—of any severity—is crucial to effective treatment and recovery. Eye examinations are preventative medicine. And your eyesight is not something that you want to leave to chance.
Please visit our clinic here in Ogden for a comprehensive eye exam with one of our professionals.
Tags: How often do i need an eye exam, where can i get an eye exam in Ogden, Where is there an optician in Ogden
With prescription sunglasses, the wearer can avoid the need for changing glasses frequently as the light and environment changes, and they can do virtually anything from sunbathing to watching television. Available whether your problem is myopia, astigmatism or presbyopia, they are helpful when you are driving in strong sunlight, especially if the road happens to be wet.
If you try to read on the beach and use ordinary reading glasses, the squinting you do in the process can cause some serious wrinkles, and sunlight may damage your eyes as much as your skin if you fail to take the necessary steps to protect them. Children can also use prescription sunglasses, and they will reap the benefits of wearing them later on. Those who wear contact lenses will find that they can use them to refresh their eyes, and even the most style-conscious will find something they like. (They should also note that their contact grade and eyeglass grade may differ.) Polarized sunglasses, which are corrective, filter the light waves that result in glare but allow other types to enter, and the wearer is free to enjoy the scenery without doing any squinting.
Those who are interested in prescription sunglasses should always consult a vision professional and be aware that certain frames may not suit the shape of their face or be impractical because of the thickness of the lens they need. The options available for those interested in prescription sunglasses include the following:
● Fit-overs – These are plain sunglasses that are meant to be worn over your prescription glasses.
● Adapters – These are prescription glasses that you can attach to the bridge of ordinary sunglasses.
● Prescription sunglasses – These will be ground according to your unique specifications.
Prescription sunglasses are popular with athletes, including bikers, joggers, hikers, skiers, race car drivers, and others. Some choose the tight-fitting wraparound style, and others prefer the well-known aviator style from Ray-Ban. They are generally made form regular plastic (CR-39), high-index, and polycarbonate. Above all, whether they are corrective or not, your sunglasses should be 90% effective or more in blocking UVB and UVA rays.
If you are looking for prescription sunglasses please do consider calling into our store in Ogden, where our specialists will take care of you.
Tags: where can I buy fit overs for my glasses in Ogden, Where can I buy prescription sunglasses in Ogden
Different vision clinics offer different services, but there are general roles and services vision clinics can provide to you.
Most vision clinics give complete adult and child eye exams, and are able to tell you whether or not you are having any problems with your vision or your eyes. Complete eye exams include, but are not necessarily limited to, a vision test, a glaucoma test, and an exam to detect cataracts, hypertention, diabetes, and problems with your retina.
Some vision clinics offer emergency treatment for eye injuries and/or will treat your eye if something has gotten into your eye. Most vision clinics will treat eye illnesses such as pinkeye, and are able to prescribe and/or dispense medication for any eye illness you may have.
Some vision clinics are more elaborate and may include treatment of diseases of the eye, as well as refractive eye surgery and it’s aftercare. If they do not actually do the laser surgery at the vision center, the vision center most likely can examine your eyes to see if you are a candidate for the surgery and refer you to a laser surgeon.
Going to a vision clinic regularly, will help detect any problems, diseases, or illnesses of your eyes. Early detection can help you to keep as much vision as possible throughout your life, as well as start treating any illnesses or diseases as quickly as possible. Prevention of blindness is very important, and regular eye exams can help save your sight.
Of course, vision centers are able to tell you whether or not you need glasses or contacts, and can give you a prescription to get your glasses or contacts made. Many vision centers have contacts on site, so you do not need to go somewhere else to get your contacts. Vision clinics can be less expensive than going to a doctor in private practice, but this is not always the case.
It is important that you and your children get regular eye exams to help keep your eyes in good health. Vision clinics are a good way to make sure your eyes stay as healthy as possible.
Our vision clinic is based in Ogden. Give us a ring, or call in, to see how we can help you.
Tags: Do I need to see an optometrist, Where is there an optician in Ogden, Where is there an optometrist in Ogden
