Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to control blood sugar. Too much blood sugar in the body can affect many parts of the body, such as the eyes, heart, kidneys, and blood vessels. The Center of Disease Control (CDC) claims that 90% of vision loss from diabetes can be prevented. Therefore, it is critical that if you or a loved one has diabetes, that they come for an annual eye exam.

How does diabetes affect your sight? Uncontrolled blood sugar can make shifts in your glasses prescription, cause cataracts, cause diabetic retinopathy with or without macula edema, and possibly cause glaucoma. The endpoint is blindness if not monitored or controlled. If there are signs of diabetes in the eye, the severity of damage will determine whether you will be monitored more closely or referred to a retinal specialist.

You can expect the doctor will recommend dilation of the eyes with drops to get better views of the retina.

You may not know it, but when you see an optometrist or an ophthalmologist, we are not only measuring the prescription of your eyes, but we are also checking the health of your eyes. Many times, the health of the eyes tells us about your health too. There are a variety of eye diseases that are both silent but could cause harm to your vision over time. The following is just an overview of diseases that can be unnoticed.

• Glaucoma- Glaucoma is a progressive eye disease that does not have any symptoms most of the time. A person with glaucoma will lose vision mostly peripherally. As eye care professionals, we take a look at risk factors, such as your eye pressures, family history, medical history, and the appearance of your optic nerves and retinal fiber layers to assess if you are at risk for glaucoma. Without a proper complete eye exam, you won’t be able to detect glaucoma. Additional testing is needed to determine the loss of vision, and treatments can include eye drops and possibly other surgical procedures to lower the pressure of the eyes.
• Diabetes- If you have diabetes, it is recommended that you have a complete eye examination with dilation once a year to ensure you do not have diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness with greater risk when blood sugar is uncontrolled. Eat healthy, stay fit, and come see us for an annual eye examination.
• Hypertension- High blood pressure can also be seen in the eyes. Many times, patients will come in for a routine check, only to find out their vessels have signs of hypertension that needs to be monitored by their PCP. If hypertension stays uncontrolled for awhile, there is risk of stroke and sometimes vision problems can also be seen.
• Retinal holes, tears, or detachments- Having two eyes gives us depth perception but also two chances to see. If one eye is unable to see due to disease or a congenital anomaly, the brain may shut off the unclear vision and favor your mind to see through the good seeing eye. Because we have two eyes, eye diseases can also go unnoticed. A dilated eye exam or a retinal wide-view image map can help us detect these anomalies that may be unmatched by your own naked eye.

Come see us at Eyecare Boulevard. Dr. My Dinh is devoted to take care of your eyes, whether you have disease or if you need an annual check-up to make sure your eyes are healthy. We will check your glasses and/or contact lens prescription, too, to ensure you have obtain the healthiest and best vision possible.

Conjunctivitis, also called pink eye, is one of the most frequently seen eye diseases, especially in kids. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria or even allergies to pollen, chlorine in swimming pools, and ingredients in cosmetics, or other irritants, which touch the eyes. Some forms of conjunctivitis might be quite transmittable and quickly spread in school and at the office.

Conjunctivitis is seen when the conjunctiva, or thin transparent layer of tissue covering the white part of the eye, becomes inflamed. You can identify conjunctivitis if you notice eye redness, discharge, itching or swollen eyelids and a crusty discharge surrounding the eyes early in the day. Pink eye infections can be divided into three main types: viral, allergic and bacterial conjunctivitis.

The viral type is usually a result of a similar virus to that which produces the recognizable red, watery eyes, sore throat and runny nose of the common cold. The red, itchy, watery eyes caused by viral pink eye are likely to last from a week to two and then will clear up on their own. You may however, be able to reduce some of the discomfort by using soothing drops or compresses. Viral pink eye is transmittable until it is completely cleared up, so in the meantime maintain excellent hygiene, remove eye discharge and try to avoid using communal pillowcases or towels. If your son or daughter has viral conjunctivitis, he or she will have to be kept home from school for three days to a week until symptoms disappear.

A bacterial infection such as Staphylococcus or Streptococcus is usually treated with antibiotic eye drops or cream. One should notice an improvement within just a few days of antibiotic drops, but be sure to adhere to the full prescription dosage to prevent pink eye from recurring.

Allergic pink eye is not contagious. It is usually a result of a known allergy such as hay fever or pet allergies that sets off an allergic reaction in their eyes. First of all, to treat allergic pink eye, you should eliminate the irritant. Use cool compresses and artificial tears to relieve discomfort in mild cases. When the infection is more severe, your eye doctor might prescribe a medication such as an anti-inflammatory or antihistamine. In cases of chronic allergic pink eye, topical steroid eye drops could be used.

Pink eye should always be diagnosed by a qualified eye doctor in order to identify the type and best course of treatment. Never treat yourself! Keep in mind the sooner you begin treatment, the lower chance you have of giving pink eye to loved ones or prolonging your discomfort.

 

We invite you to take a look around our new site to get to know our practice and learn about eye and vision health. You will find a wealth of information about our optometrists, our staff and our services, as well as facts and advice about how to take care of your eyes and protect your vision.

Learn about our Practice specialties including comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fittings and the treatment of eye diseases. Our website also offers you a convenient way to find our hours, address and map, schedule an appointment online, order contact lenses or contact us to ask us any questions you have about eye care and our Practice.

Have a look around our online office and schedule a visit to meet us in person. We are here to partner with you and your family for a lifetime of healthy eyes and vision. We look forward to seeing you!