Category Archives: Uncategorized

Online Eye Exams: What to Consider Before Hopping on the Bandwagon

Doing anything and everything electronically seems to be all the rage these days—even most of your doctors have probably hopped on board. Some things can be quite convenient, such as rescheduling an appointment online through your physician’s portal, or renewing a prescription through your pharmacy’s app. Others may seem convenient, but may not exactly be in your best interest. Something that seems to have popped up on the radar recently are online eye exams. While an automated application on your computer screen has nowhere near the experience and knowledge of an individual that went through four to eight years of schooling (or more!), there are other downsides you may not have considered.

Sure, it may be convenient not to take time off work to renew your prescription. However, many insurances do not cover an online exam, thus the charge becomes an out-of-pocket expense. A typical copay for an in-office eye exam can range from $0-20 with vision insurance. Obtaining a prescription through an online service could cost $40-60, making it even more costly. You may be willing to take this risk, as the convenience may be worth it to you. But what if this new prescription isn’t quite right, or must be tweaked? You’re then stuck taking time off to see your doctor to fix the problem, and paying yet another copay. Typically, when you pay a copay to your doctor for an eye exam, prescription rechecks are included in that original copay.

Keep in mind that when you head to the eye doctor’s office for an eye exam, your doctor is checking more than the current prescription of glasses you’re wearing. They are performing a series of measurements to ensure that your eyes are healthy. Your eye pressures are tested for signs of glaucoma, your tear film is examined for dryness, and your eyelids are evaluated for symptoms of infection from contact lenses (if you wear them). Your retinas are examined for early signs of disease, such as macular degeneration, and the natural lens in your eye is checked for cloudiness, often a symptom of beginning cataracts.

Many diseases of the body have symptoms that first appear with the eyes. For example, damage to the blood vessels in the back of your eye could indicate diabetes or high blood pressure. “These two conditions are so easy to diagnose with an eye exam, and so many people just aren’t getting routine physicals so eye doctors are often the first to notice them,” says Emily Graubart, MD, an ophthalmology professor in Georgia. You may assume your dry eyes are due to allergies or dry air, but dry eye can result from certain autoimmune disorders. Your eye doctor can perform specific measurements to determine what is causing your dry eye, and if it stems from something serious, can help you treat it.

Now, as I work at an eye doctor’s office, I may be biased; however, I’m here to help weigh the pros and cons! Take these things into consideration next time you see that ad on your computer screen for an online eye exam. The convenience may be tempting—but remember that without healthy eyes, a renewed prescription may not help improve your vision after all!

Resources:
http://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-exam/online-eye-test.htm http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/17/what-your-eyes-reveal-about-your-health_n_7487472.html

Women’s Eye Health Awareness

women's eye health

Did you know that women are more likely than men to develop certain eye-related health problems? There are a number of reasons for this difference, and I’d like to tell you why!

Firstly, women tend to live longer than men, thus the likelihood that they will develop an eye-related issue is higher simply because of time. Secondly, believe it or not, hormonal changes due to menopause can affect the eyes as well. These hormonal changes can cause women to produce less tears on their own, leading to dry eye syndrome. Research has shown that, in adults age 50 and over, about 3.2 million women and 1.7 million men are affected by dry eye. As you can see from these statistics, the number of women estimated dealing with dry eye is about TWICE the number of men.

While men and women tend to be affected equally by the most common type of glaucoma, open-angle glaucoma, women are 2-4 times more likely to be affected by angle-closure glaucoma, which can potentially be more dangerous due to its sudden onset. This difference may be due to the shape of male and female eyes; according to Dr. Ruth D. Williams, MD, “the front chamber between the iris and cornea is shallower in women than men,” thus the pressure in our eyes can increase due to fluid buildup. Angle-closure glaucoma is a true eye emergency—if this type of glaucoma is not treated quickly, vision loss may be result, and damage is typically irreversible.

Of course, this is not to say men cannot experience angle-closure glaucoma as well! Anyone who has sudden onset of blurry vision, nausea, eye pain, or severe headaches should consult their optometrist or ophthalmologist to be sure. There are other genetic predispositions that can link to higher risks of glaucoma as well: African-Americans and Hispanics are also more likely to be affected.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts are two of the eye conditions that women are more likely to develop as they tend to live longer than men, as mentioned previously. Cataracts are a natural clouding of the eye’s lens. This can lead to overall blurry vision, problems with glare and halos, and trouble seeing fine detail. AMD can destroy your central vision, leading to a haziness or “black spot” in the vision when looking straight ahead.

Now, there are eye conditions men are more likely to develop than women, such as color blindness. About 8% of men and 0.5% of women are affected with color blindness, with the most common form being unable to see shades of red or green. Needless to say, eye health is important for EVERYONE, regardless of age, gender, race, or genetic predisposition. Give Kelly Eye Center a call today at (919)282-1100 and we would be happy to set up your next eye exam!

Resources:

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/dry-eye-causes
https://www.aao.org/newsroom/eye-health-statistics
http://www.lifescript.com/health/centers/vision/articles/
http://www.vision-and-eye-health.com/glaucoma-types.html

What’s New at Kelly Eye Center

Here at Kelly Eye Center there have been some new and exciting things happening. We are now offering two new procedures to our patients: iStent and AmbioDisk. Also, we have finished redecorating our Wake Forest office.

The iStent is a trabecular micro-bypass implant that is used to help treat mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma. The procedure is done in conjunction with cataract surgery. It works to lower the pressure in your eye by improving the outflow of fluid from the eye. The iStent implant is incredibly small, and you won’t be able to see or feel it once it’s in place. If you have both cataracts and open-angle glaucoma, ask our doctors if this may be a good option for you.

The AmbioDisk is an amniotic tissue graft that is used to treat disorders on the surface of the eyes. It is a very thin graft that is placed on the eye to help it heal. While the AmbioDisk is semi-opaque at first, it will become translucent. The AmbioDisk can be used to treat disorders such as non-healing epithelial defects, corneal erosions, and post-infectious keratitis, as well as others.

Lastly, if you are one of our patients who comes to the Wake Forest office, you will probably notice a few changes at your next visit. We have recently finished redecorating the office. Upon entering the office, you will notice new paint on the walls, new flooring, new upholstery on the chairs, and some new décor. We hope you like the changes as much as we do!
Resources:
http://www.glaukos.com/istent
http://www.iopinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/AmbioDisk_DS_FNL3-1.pdf

Fireworks Safety

The 4th of July is rapidly approaching, and for many people that means enjoying fireworks with friends and family. Fireworks are certainly beautiful, but they can also be dangerous. While enjoying the holiday, it’s important to remember that fireworks are explosives and should be treated as such.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission(1), there were an estimated 7,000 fireworks related injuries treated in emergency departments across the US between June 20th and July 20th, 2014. Of these 7,000 injuries, about 19% were injuries to the eyes. The most common eye injuries were contusions, lacerations, and foreign bodies in the eyes.

Fireworks should always be treated with caution, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy them! The safest way to enjoy fireworks is by leaving the show to the professionals and going to see a public fireworks display.

To learn about firework laws in your state, the American Pyrotechnics Association has a directory on their website: http://www.americanpyro.com/state-law-directory.

If you do choose to set off fireworks, there are precautions you can take to help keep everyone safe. The following tips are from the National Council on Fireworks Safety(2):

•    Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks.
•    Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
•    A responsible adult SHOULD supervise all firework activities.  Never give fireworks to children.
•    Alcohol and fireworks do not mix.  Save your alcohol for after the show.
•    Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
•    Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
•    Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a clear area; away from buildings and vehicles.
•    Never relight a “dud” firework.  Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
•    Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.
•    Never carry fireworks in your POCKET or shoot them into METAL or GLASS containers.
•    Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
•    Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.
•    FAA regulations PROHIBIT the possession and transportation of fireworks in your checked baggage or carry-on luggage.
•    Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fire or police department.

Even when you’re being careful, it’s still possible for an accident to occur. If you or anyone else is injured by a firework, seek medical attention immediately. For eye injuries, make sure you follow these guidelines from the American Academy of Ophthalmology(3) to prevent further damage to the eye:

•    Do not rub your eyes.
•    Do not rinse your eyes.
•    Do not apply pressure.
•    Do not remove any objects that are stuck in the eye.
•    Do not apply ointments or take any blood-thinning pain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

We hope you enjoy a safe and fun 4th of July!
Resources:
1- http://www.cpsc.gov//Global/Research-and-Statistics/Injury-Statistics/Fuel-Lighters-and-Fireworks/Fireworks_Report_2014.pdf
2- http://www.fireworkssafety.org/
3- http://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries-fireworks-eye-safety

June Is Cataract Awareness Month

What is a cataract?

A cataract forms when the natural lens inside the eye becomes cloudy. For most people, this naturally happens as we age. However, cataracts can also form as the result of trauma (ex. car accident, sports injury, etc.), prolonged steroid use, diabetes, previous eye surgery, or other factors. Cataract surgery is the most effective treatment.

What are some symptoms of cataracts?

The most common symptom people notice is cloudy vision, which is typically compared to looking through a dirty or foggy window. Some people notice that colors look dull or faded. It may also become more difficult to drive at night, or you may need to be closer to road signs to see them clearly. Some people start to have trouble reading, painting, threading a needle, or doing other fine detail work. It’s common for people to need more, or brighter, light in order to see better. Increased glare can make it difficult for you to see past the headlights of an oncoming car, or it may be difficult to follow a golf ball after you hit it. Changing your glasses prescription may do little to improve your vision. You may also notice a lack of clarity through contact lenses.

What should you do if you think you have cataracts? When should you consider having surgery?

The only way to know for certain if your vision is being affected by cataracts is to be seen by an eye doctor. If you’ve never been diagnosed with cataracts, your first step would be to have a comprehensive eye exam. If you’ve already been diagnosed and were told that surgery may be an option, your next step is to have a cataract evaluation with an ophthalmologist. If your daily activities are being affected by cataracts, it may be time to consider surgery.

What should you expect during a cataract evaluation?

At the Kelly Eye Center, a cataract evaluation is about a 2-hour long appointment. Your eyes will be dilated as part of this exam. First, you will meet with two of our technicians who will obtain a series of measurements. These measurements are used to determine the overall health of your eyes, and are used in our calculations for the surgery itself. Next, Dr. Kelly will perform an exam and discuss the different surgical options that are available to you. Lastly, you will meet with our surgical coordinator who will help schedule your surgery, and go over any financial estimates we have.

Want to know more?

In observance of Cataract Awareness Month, the Kelly Eye Center will be offering complimentary cataract screenings with our technicians from June 20th-24th. These screenings will be available to patients over 50 years old. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment for a cataract screening, please contact Kara by phone at (919)282-1115 or by email at kara@kellyeyecenter.com. Space is limited.