These tips will help you to protect your eye health and vision while still being able to rock your costume and amaze your friends and family: 

1. Read the directions carefully before applying any product to your skin and beware that many costume makeup products are not intended for use around the eyes.
2. Do not apply any makeup products or face paint directly to your eyes or the skin around your eyes— stay above your eyebrow bone and at the level of your cheek bones.
3. Avoid costume eye makeup products like stick on eyelashes and heavy paints. Instead, use your eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara that you use all year long.
4. Look for products that say “hypoallergenic” on the label to reduce your risk of an allergic reaction.
5. Test the product on a small area of your skin before using it on Halloween day to be sure that it will not cause any skin irritation.
6. Avoid eye glitter at all costs. If your costume calls for some sparkle around your eyes, opt for a shimmery eye shadow instead, as glitter can easily get into your eyes and scratch and irritate your eyes and even lead to an infection.
7. Beware of fluorescent colored makeup or additives in face paint which have not been FDA approved.
8. Never use fluorescent colored makeup near your eyes.
9. Do not share eye makeup, or use any makeup products or face paint from previous years— this can significantly increase your risk of eye infection.
10. If the product contains a strange smell, throw it out— it could be expired or contaminated.
11. Remove your makeup at the end of the night according to the instructions on the package— never sleep in face paint or makeup.

What to do in an eye emergency

If you experience any pain, redness, itchiness, or swelling after applying face paint or Halloween makeup, contact your eye doctor immediately. 

These are signs that can indicate an allergic reaction, chemical irritation, or eye infection and must be treated promptly to avoid complications.

The post How to Protect Your Eyes From Halloween Makeup appeared first on Optometrists.org.

For many decades, it has been thought that only children under the age of 10 could be successfully treated for amblyopia (lazy eye). In other words, lazy eye treatment was usually not provided to children older than nine.

However, the National Eye Institute (NEI) recently funded a study that found that lazy eye can be successfully treated at least up to age 17 and even adults!

Now, lazy eye can be effectively treated in high school and college student and even adults!

What is lazy eye?

Lazy eye, also known as amblyopia, is a neuro-developmental vision condition that is caused when one eye is unable to achieve normal visual acuity or does not allow the full development of 3D vision.

A lazy eye typically affects the vision or visual function of the affected eye, causing blurred vision which contributes to poor depth perception and binocular vision.

Amblyopia may develop due to other vision conditions such as a wandering or crossed eye (strabismus), or unequal vision in the two eyes caused by nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

Contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and treat your lazy eye.

Symptoms of lazy eye

Common symptoms of lazy eye:

• One or both eyes may wander inward or outward
• Both eyes may not seem to be working together
• Poor depth perception
• Squinting or shutting one eye in order to see
• Tilting one’s head in order to see
• Frequent eye strain, eye fatigue, or headaches

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact an eye doctor near you who diagnoses and treats lazy eye.

Schedule an appointment with a vision therapy eye doctor to help improve your visual skills.

SEE RELATED: New Research for Adults with Lazy Eye

Are eye exams important?

Yes, frequent eye exams are essential as the earlier a lazy eye is detected, the higher the chances of successful treatment.

In many cases, amblyopia is detectable during a comprehensive eye exam. In addition, if there is a family history of lazy eye, it is crucial that your eyes be examined regularly, as lazy eye can be an inherited condition.

Specific tests are used during eye exams to assess both the visual acuity and the visual skills of each eye. This enables your eye doctor to diagnose a condition such as lazy eye.

Adult lazy eye treatment

For many years it was believed that amblyopia was only treatable in children, often those who are 10 years of age or younger. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. While every patient is different, many adults can see results from amblyopia treatment.

The visual system which consists of the brain, eyes, and visual pathways, can be retrained due to the brain’s plasticity.

For amblyopia, specifically, binocular vision needs to be retrained, as this is the root cause behind a lazy eye. 

With poor binocular vision the two images that the eyes see cannot be combined into one single image, but due to the plasticity of the brain, this does not have to be permanent.

While treatment is most effective when it’s given at an early age, it is still possible at any age to retrain the visual system, restore binocular vision, and correct amblyopia.

Lazy eye and vision therapy

Vision therapy is an effective treatment method for amblyopia. It has been shown to greatly improve the visual skills of the lazy eye by re-training the visual system.

Through vision therapy, the two eyes will be trained to work together to achieve clear and comfortable binocular vision.

Some vision therapy programs that treat amblyopia work to improve these visual skills:

• Accommodation (focusing)
• Fixation (visual gaze)
• Pursuits (eye tracking)
• Saccades (switching eye focus, “eye jumps”)
• Spatial skills (eye-hand coordination)
• Stereopsis (3-D vision)

LEARN MORE: Guide to Vision Therapy for Adults

Schedule an eye exam and vision evaluation for a proper diagnosis of lazy eye and to discuss whether a vision therapy program is the appropriate treatment for you.

The post 2021 Update: Lazy Eye and Adults appeared first on Optometrists.org.

U2’s Bono is not alone, at least 3 million North Americans have glaucoma, but only 50% know they have it!

In 95% of glaucoma cases, it starts off asymptomatic and by the time the condition is noticed, the vision loss is irreversible. That’s why regular eye exams are so crucial, even if you don’t suspect a problem.

Schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor near you who knows the latest treatments for glaucoma to ensure the best possible outcome.

SEE RELATED: Glaucoma: What are the Signs?

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve – the only connection between the eyes and the brain.

Most cases are caused by a buildup of pressure within the eye. The longer the pressure builds, the more damage it causes to the optic nerve. Left untreated, the optic nerve will continually deteriorate, resulting in permanent vision loss or blindness.

Glaucoma: ‘The Silent Thief of Sight’

There are almost no obvious symptoms during the early stages of glaucoma – even as the optic nerve is suffering damage – for this reason glaucoma is known as the ‘Silent Thief of Sight’.

As the condition progresses patients will experience tunnel vision or notice patchy spots in their peripheral vision.

The more severe type of glaucoma (acute closed angle glaucoma) may cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headaches, severe eye pain, red eyes and blurred vision.

If there is any glaucoma history in your family it is important to contact an eye doctor near you.

How is glaucoma detected? 

Glaucoma can only be detected through a comprehensive eye examination.

During an exam the eye doctor will assess a patient’s visual field, examine the optic nerve and test eye pressure, among other things.

Yearly eye exams, or as often as recommended, are necessary to diagnose and treat glaucoma, as early detection is key.

There are a range of tests used by an eye doctor for glaucoma. These tests include:

1. IntraOcular Pressure Tests (IOP)

• Air Puff Test – During this test a puff of air is used to gently bounce off the front of your eye. The device used calculates how much resistance the eye displayed to the air puff, revealing the amount of internal eye pressure.
• Blue Light Test (Goldmann tonometry) – After inserting numbing drops, an eye doctor will use a device called a slit lamp biomicroscopy to slowly move a flat-tipped probe until it gently touches the cornea.
• Tonometer – After applying some numbing drops to the eyes, the eye doctor will gently touch the eye with a small device that measures the eye’s internal pressure and resistance.

While the Goldman method may be considered the gold-standard for measuring eye pressure, all methods mentioned above are accurate, comfortable and, most importantly, safe.

2. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan 

This is a non-invasive, computer-based diagnostic device that provides color-coded, cross sectional images of the retina, allowing for early detection and treatment of glaucoma, and other ocular diseases.

The OCT scan uses a laser (without radiation) to obtain high resolution images of the layers of the retina and optic nerve to locate any changes or ocular damage.

3. Visual Field Test

This is a diagnostic test that produces a computerized map of your visual field. It enables your doctor to measure the range of your peripheral vision, and detect any abnormalities in your visual field.

How is glaucoma treated?

While there is no way to prevent glaucoma, there are several treatment options that can help prevent or slow down damage to the eye and vision loss.

Eye drops

Prescription eye drops are usually the first treatment option used for early stages of glaucoma. These drops are used to help improve how fluid drains from the eye or helps decrease eye pressure by limiting the amount of fluid the eye produces.

Oral medications

When eye drops alone are ineffective, the eye doctor will likely prescribe oral medications to lower eye pressure.

Surgery and other therapies

Aside from eye drops and oral medications, the other glaucoma treatments eye doctors may recommend include:

• Drainage tubes – a small tube shunt is placed into the eye and acts as a ‘pipe’ to drain excess fluid.
• Filtering surgery – this surgical procedure decreases eye pressure by allowing fluid to drain from the eye.
• Laser therapy – Laser trabeculoplasty helps the fluid easily drain from the eye and is used to treat open-angle glaucoma.
• Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) – This option tends to cause fewer side effects and complications than standard glaucoma surgeries.

Since glaucoma is the silent thief of sight, make sure to catch it early — with a yearly eye exam.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Conditions

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you who can provide effective treatments and glaucoma management to preserve your vision as long as possible.

The post Glaucoma: ‘The Silent Thief of Sight’ appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Here are the top 5 myths and facts about cataracts.

Cataracts result from the buildup of protein on the eye’s normally clear  lens, they cause cloudy, blurry vision, decreased color perception and eventually vision loss.

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness, affecting 20 million people worldwide. While most people have heard of cataracts,  misconceptions abound.

If you suspect you have cataracts, contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and manage this very common and sight-threatening eye condition.

SEE RELATED: When Should I Have Cataract Surgery?

Myth 1: Only older people get cataracts

Fact: People of all ages, even newborns, can have cataracts.

Cataracts are a natural part of the aging process, and therefore affect the elderly more often than younger people. However, eye trauma and certain medications can also lead to cataracts. Some babies may be born with cataracts.

Myth 2: Cataracts are growths within the eye

Fact: Cataracts aren’t growths; rather, they’re changes in the eye’s natural lens. 

Cataracts occur when the protein cells in the lens start to clump together and deteriorate, resulting in cloudiness. A person with cataracts will typically have cloudy vision with a yellow or brown tint.

Other symptoms associated with cataracts include:

• Double vision
• Halos around lights
• Colors are perceived as faded or yellowed
• Frequent changes in one’s lens prescription

If you have experienced any of the following symptoms, contact an eye doctor near you.

Myth 3: To treat or reverse cataracts, change your lifestyle 

Fact: The only way to cure a cataract is with surgery. 

The surgery removes the cataract and implants a new clear lens. While healthy lifestyle choices such as regularly exercising, getting enough sleep and eating well can impact eye health and your overall health, it cannot cure cataracts.

Myth 4: There is no way to prevent cataracts

Fact: While there is no clear cut way to prevent cataracts, wearing 100% UV blocking sunglasses outdoors can help. 

Another way to delay the onset of cataracts is to incorporate eye-healthy foods into your diet, like colorful vegetables and leafy greens.

Myth 5: If you have cataracts you need surgery right away 

Fact: You only need to have cataract surgery if your cataracts are interfering with your vision and impacting your lifestyle. 

If you are able to safely perform activities, such as driving at night, you don’t necessarily need surgery right away. Have your eye doctor monitor your cataracts to determine if there is any cataract-related vision loss.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Conditions

The best way to manage cataracts is to schedule regular eye exams with an eye doctor who has experience diagnosing and managing cataracts.

The doctor will give you all the information you need to help you decide which treatment options are best for you.

The post Cataracts: Top 5 Myths and Facts  appeared first on Optometrists.org.

More than 1 billion people worldwide smoke cigarettes, even though it is known to have serious consequences for our general health.

While most people are aware that smoking can cause pulmonary disease and cancer, far fewer realize that smoking can harm our eyes as well.

Smoking can increase the risk of developing several sight-threatening eye diseases.

Contact an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and manage eye conditions and diseases that may be a result of smoking.

SEE RELATED: Glaucoma: Myths and Facts

How is glaucoma related to smoking?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases primarily caused by increased pressure inside the eye. The increase is usually due to the buildup of excess fluid inside the eye.

The major concern with the increased pressure is the damage it causes to the optic nerve, which is the only connection between the eye and the brain.

The increase in eye pressure leads to glaucoma, a sight threatening condition, resulting in permanent ‘tunnel vision’ and eventually blindness.

A retrospective study published in 2018, found that the more packs of cigarettes regular smokers smoked, among regular smokers, the greater their odds are of developing glaucoma.

The study found that the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) is significantly affected by smoking. The RNFL is responsible for collecting visual data from the eye’s retinal nerves, which direct it to the optic nerve, taking the visual signals to the brain.

Smokers in the study had a significantly thinner RNFL than non-smokers. A thinning RNFL is a symptom associated with glaucoma as well as some other eye conditions.

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you who can diagnose and treat glaucoma so that you can prevent vision loss.

Other eye conditions linked to smoking

Glaucoma isn’t the only eye condition linked to smoking. There are other serious eye conditions as well.

Cataracts

Cataracts cause the eye’s lens to become cloudy, leading to blurry vision. Once cataracts develop, they grow progressively worse and must be surgically removed to eliminate the cloudiness and restore vision.

Smokers are  at double the risk of developing cataracts, compared to non-smokers.

Age-related macular degeneration

Another eye condition that smokers are at a high risk of developing is age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Smokers are 3 times more likely to develop AMD, which causes blind spots in the central vision. 

People with macular generation can find it difficult to watch TV, read a book, drive and recognize faces.  AMD sometimes leads to total blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy and dry eye syndrome are among other eye conditions that smokers are at a higher risk of developing.

Eye Exams are Essential

Regular eye examinations are vital to catch any eye disease and conditions early, these will allow your eye doctor to take action and ensure you maintain good eye health.

One of the best courses of action that any smoker can take is to quit smoking. This will not only improve their general health but their eye health as well.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Conditions

Schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor near you. If any eye problems are found, they will recommend the best treatment options for each type of eye condition, including glaucoma, allowing you to enjoy your clear vision.

The post Smoking and Glaucoma appeared first on Optometrists.org.

An athlete can improve their visual skills and boost their performance on the field with the help of sports vision training.

Binocular vision is the eyes’ ability to focus on an object to  create a single image, this is critical for achieving on the sports field.

Binocular vision allows us to perceive three-dimensional relationships and depth between objects or people, such as a ball or another player, making it an essential visual skill, especially for athletes.

Our two eyes sometimes fail to merge visual information into one cohesive image, a condition called binocular dysfunction.

As each eye is in a different position in relation to any object, the eyes communicate slightly different spatial information and send these varying images to the brain. The brain then uses the differences between the signals from the two eyes to accurately judge speed, distance and depth.

When binocular vision isn’t operating at maximum capacity, it impacts an athlete’s speed and the accuracy of their movement along with their reaction time.

Contact an eye doctor near you to start a vision training program to improve your visual skills.

SEE RELATED: Vision Therapy for Eye-Hand Coordination: Success Stories

If an athlete has reduced binocular vision it doesn’t mean that they are constantly fumbling or falling over. It just means that they may collide more often with other players, or misjudge the direction or velocity of a ball.

Sports vision training for athletes

Sports vision training is a customized program that improves the communication between a person’s eyes, brain and body.

Sports vision training helps athletes to react faster and process information more accurately, dramatically improving their game.

Athletes need to have exceptional visual skills, as sports are visually demanding. Athletes need to be able to focus, move fast and react quickly. Sports vision training can help improve all the visual skills an athlete needs to not only make a difference between winning and losing, but between staying safe and incurring an injury.

Even if an athlete has ‘20/20 eyesight’ they may still have reduced binocular vision. Sports vision therapy can help improve visual skills that already exist.

The ability to enhance an athlete’s sports vision skills is a proven way to improve performance.

Reduced binocular vision affects athletes

When our eyes and brain don’t work accurately together, particularly while playing sports, it can affect our reactions, accuracy, depth perception, speed, and timing.

Visual deficits slow down a player’s ability to process  and respond to what they see, and this may make it more difficult for them to catch a fly ball or judge the distance between them and the basketball hoop or goal post.

Visual skills needed for sports

Athletes need many visual skills to perform their best.

Binocular Vision – the ability to maintain focus on an object, creating a single image with both eyes. Without binocular vision, athletes cannot accurately measure depth and distance.

Saccades – rapid, quick, simultaneous eye movements between two or more stationary objects in the same direction. For athletes it’s important to be able to see stationary objects, such as a hoop at the end of the court.

Peripheral Vision – the ability to see movement and objects outside of your direct line of vision. This is important for athletes, especially when running down a field and being able to see other players coming at them from all directions.

Accommodation – the eyes’ ability to change their focus from near to distant objects and vice versa. For example, when a football player looks at other players coming toward them, then shifts focus to the ball on the field.

Smooth Pursuits – is the eyes’ ability to move smoothly, instead of the eye moving in jumps. It is a reflexive eye movement that is required when tracking an object through an environment, such as a flying ball.

Dynamic Visual Acuity – the ability to see when an object is still and the athlete is in motion or see a moving object when a player is stationary. It allows a player to visually discern detail in a moving object, such as a player’s number on a jersey.

Depth Perception – is the ability to distinguish the distance to, or between, objects. This is important for athletes when they need to interact with a moving object or hit an object.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Sports Vision

Schedule an appointment with a vision therapy eye doctor to help you reach your sports goals.

The post Is Binocular Vision Important for Sports? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Most patients enjoy their visit to the eye doctor, there are always new frames to look at and the staff and eye doctors are usually a friendly bunch working in a relaxed office.

Are eye exams important?

Yes! Many eye conditions, in their early stages, have no obvious signs or symptoms, so the annual exam is often the only way to detect eye conditions early.

This can leave people believing there is nothing wrong with their eyes. However, since there are no signs or symptoms, regular comprehensive eye exams are key to maintaining good vision and healthy eyes.

A yearly eye exam allows your eye doctor to monitor your vision and eye health over the long-term, and can help detect signs of medical conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure.

When was the last time you went for an eye exam? Schedule an exam today!

SEE RELATED: What to Do Before an Eye Exam?

What does an eye exam include?

Some tests that your eye doctor may perform during your eye exam include:

• Preliminary Tests – this may include evaluations of peripheral vision, depth perception, color vision, eye muscle movements, and how your pupils react to light.

• Visual Acuity – this evaluates how clearly each eye sees. A reading chart is frequently used during this test. Visual acuity is measured as ‘20/X’, e.g. 20/30 or 20/40. 20/20 is considered perfect vision, but some people have such clear sight, their visual acuities are recorded at 20/15 or even 20/10.

• Optical prescription – the eye doctor will provide an evaluation of your optical prescription, to see if there are any updates that can deliver clearer eyesight.

• Eye Focusing – this test determines how well your eyes move, focus, and work together. Your doctor will be able to see problems that prevent your eyes from focusing effectively or working well together.

• Digital Retinal Image – this test is a digital recording of retinal health achieved by taking an image of the retina. These photographs can be used for accurate diagnosis and stored and used to compare to any future images.

• Eye pressure test (IOP) – this is usually done with a puff of air. Sometimes the eye doctor will gently touch the front surface of your eye with a device that glows with a blue light. IOP is vitally important for eye conditions including glaucoma and corneal disease.

• Slit-lamp – this exam gives your eye doctor a magnified view of the many different structures at the front of the eye and inside, such as the cornea, pupil, iris, tear ducts, lens and retina. The area surrounding the eyes can also be examined, such as the eyelids and the adjacent periorbital skin.

• Ophthalmoscopy – this test uses a bright hand-held light to assess the health of the back of the eyes, and can detect cataracts, retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Importance of eye exams

A yearly eye exam is recommended for everyone, especially those over the age of 50, to ensure you have clear vision as well as good eye health.

Don’t wait until you can’t read a street sign a few feet away or the computer screen seems fuzzy.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Exams

Schedule an eye exam to help keep you and your eyes healthy.

The post Why Are Eye Exams Important? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

You may benefit with vision therapy!

Vision therapy is a customized, personalized treatment program designed to strengthen and improve visual skills to achieve clearer and more comfortable vision.

Strengthening the visual skills boosts your ability to focus, read, concentrate and all other aspects required for work performance.

Vision therapy can treat problems that glasses cannot, such as eye teaming, eye tracking, and visual perceptual deficits. With vision therapy, the brain and eyes learn to communicate better— facilitating a permanent change in your vision.

The Find an Eye Doctor directory lists eye doctors near you that are experienced in vision therapy.

SEE RELATED: 2021 Update: Vision Therapy for Adults

Which physical symptoms can benefit from a vision therapy program?

• Frequent squinting/head tilting
• Blurry vision
• Double vision
• Eye strain or fatigue
• Headaches or tiredness
• Motion sickness or dizziness
• Poor eye-hand coordination
• Poor posture
• Tendency to cover or close one eye
• Turning of an eye in or out, up or down
• Using finger-pointing when reading

Can someone who wears glasses benefit from vision therapy?

Yes, while eyeglasses and contact lenses can correct blurry vision, vision therapy might be needed to treat the symptoms above.

For some vision conditions, reading or computer glasses, combined with a vision therapy program, have been found to be even more effective than just glasses alone.

Eyeglasses and contact lenses offer improved clarity of vision, but vision therapy actually treats the underlying problem by retraining the visual skills needed for clear and comfortable vision.

Each vision therapy program is individually designed for you and your visual needs.

LEARN MORE: Guide to Vision Therapy for Adults

If you think you can benefit from vision therapy, schedule a comprehensive vision evaluation with a developmental optometrist near you.

The post What Are the Signs You Need Vision Therapy? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Vision therapy may just be the solution you have been searching for.

What is vision therapy?

Vision therapy is an effective customized program that improves vision skills to achieve clearer and more comfortable vision.

Vision therapy can be effective for adults too!

Through a series of progressive therapeutic eye exercises, patients improve their visual skills by enhancing the communication between their  eyes and brain.

Vision therapy is designed as an individual and personalized treatment program, often used in conjunction with eyeglasses or eye surgery.

If you are experiencing fatigue or eye strain at work, an eye doctor experienced in vision therapy will be able to conduct an functional eye exam and provide you with a range of solutions.

SEE RELATED: What is Computer Vision Syndrome?

What visual conditions does vision therapy treat?

Vision therapy can help treat a variety of eye conditions. Even if you have been told you have ‘dyslexia’, vision therapy could be the solution you are seeking.

However, convergence insufficiency (the eyes’ inability to work together as a team) has been found to be a major cause of eye strain and fatigue, resulting in poor work performance.

How does convergence insufficiency affect my vision?

Convergence insufficiency (CI) affects near vision and eye muscle coordination. 

Convergence of the eyes occurs when the two eyes need to focus on a close object, such as a computer, book, or smartphone. Convergence insufficiency means the eyes struggle to focus for near tasks, affecting work performance and many other aspects of life.

As the eyes struggle to focus, they experience eye strain and fatigue.

Why do adults develop convergence insufficiency (CI)?

An increase in visual demands, such as starting a new job that involves hours of computer work, can be a reason why adults develop CI.

Convergence Insufficiency can impact performance at work and lead to feelings of frustration and stress.

In some cases, CI symptoms can appear during stressful time periods, such as working overtime, or after the loss of a job.

While vision problems that develop as a result of stress are usually temporary, they can be quite uncomfortable and lead to an increase in stress levels.

How does vision therapy treat adults with CI?

Vision therapy is the most effective treatment for CI. 

Standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, medications, and surgery will not be effective in treating this condition.

A multisite randomized clinical trial by the National Eye Institute showed that the best treatment for CI is supervised vision therapy in a clinical office with home reinforcement, 15 minutes of prescribed vision exercises done at home five days per week.

To decrease some of the symptoms of CI your eye doctor may also prescribe prismatic (prism) eyeglasses. These are not meant to treat or cure the condition, but rather relieve the symptoms.

In many cases, prisms are prescribed in combination with vision therapy.

Vision therapy focuses on training the eyes to work together to improve your focusing, 3-D vision, depth perception, and binocular vision.

LEARN MORE: Guide to Vision Therapy for Adults

If you are concerned about eye strain or fatigue, an eye doctor near you may be the answer you are looking for.

Vision problems associated with convergence insufficiency can be effectively treated with proper optometric care, including vision therapy.

The post Could Eye Strain Impact your Work Performance? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

More than three million Americans are living with glaucoma, 2.7 million are aged 40 and older.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, leading to vision loss and, in some cases, blindness. While there is a lot of information out there, much of it is misleading.

If you think you may have glaucoma visit your eye doctor for an eye exam. 

MYTH 1: Glaucoma is a single disease

FACT

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases. The most common ones are open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and angle-closure glaucoma (ACG).

Open-angle glaucoma: the drainage structure in your eye – called the trabecular meshwork – is open but there is still resistance to the outflow of fluid.

The resistance causes the fluid inside the eye not to drain correctly causing an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) that damages the optic nerve.

OAG develops slowly and without any obvious pain or symptoms. By the time people notice symptoms, such as peripheral vision loss, their optic nerve has already sustained damage.

Angle-closure glaucoma: the drainage flow is blocked so the eye can’t drain fluid as it should.

The most common cause of ACG is when the drainage channel between the iris and cornea becomes too narrow, causing an increase in eye pressure. 

This pressure damages the optic nerve, leading to vision loss. ACG can occur gradually or suddenly. Symptoms include eye pain, nausea and vomiting, a severe headache, and seeing halos around lights.

MYTH 2: Glaucoma shows obvious symptoms

FACT

Open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of glaucoma, shows virtually no symptoms or signs until its later stages when its too late and vision has already been lost.

The increased eye pressure causes no pain, despite what people may think. Patients with glaucoma may not recognize vision loss until their vision has become significantly impaired, especially since peripheral vision is the first to go.

The only way to detect glaucoma is to undergo a comprehensive eye exam.

Contact an eye doctor near you that can conduct eye exams and can help detect glaucoma and discuss treatment options for you.

SEE RELATED: Glaucoma: ‘The Silent Thief of Sight’

MYTH 3: Glaucoma only affects the elderly

FACT

While it is true that people over 60 are at a greater risk of developing open-angle glaucoma compared to people in their 40s, there are other types of glaucoma that can affect people aged 20 to 50.

Even young infants, due to irregular ocular development, can be at risk of developing glaucoma.

In addition to age, those with a higher risk of developing glaucoma include:

• People with a family history of glaucoma
• African Americans and Hispanics
• Those who have previously sustained an eye injury
• People taking steroid medications over the long term
• People with diabetes, sickle cell anemia, and cardiovascular disease

MYTH 4: Glaucoma testing is painful

FACT

Actually, testing for glaucoma is practically painless. 

One of the tests includes a device that blows a gentle puff of air into each eye to test the intraocular pressure. While the sound of the puff may be startling, it’s over in a second and is painless.

The Goldmann applanation tonometry test uses an anesthetic eye drop that is inserted into each eye. These drops may cause a stinging sensation for only a few seconds. Afterwards an eye doctor will use a blue light to gently and quickly touch the cornea to get a precise measurement of intraocular pressure.

The most accurate of all are OCT (optical coherence tomography) and visual field testing which are non-invasive imaging and painless.

MYTH 5: Once you have glaucoma, nothing can be done

FACT

While currently there’s no cure for glaucoma, many effective treatment options exist: oral medications, eye drops, as well as surgical and laser procedures that can help stop or slow glaucoma progression.

Each treatment option is used to get the fluid to flow properly out of the eye, decreasing damage to the optic nerve by reducing pressure inside the eye.

MYTH 6: Glaucoma can’t be prevented

FACT

Undergoing regular eye exams are the only way to prevent glaucoma, as significant vision loss or blindness can be prevented if glaucoma is diagnosed and treated in its early stages.

That’s why routine comprehensive eye exams including glaucoma testing are so important.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Conditions

If you suspect you may have glaucoma, contact an eye doctor near you to schedule an appointment, they will provide you with information about glaucoma and ways to treat it.

The post Glaucoma: Myths and Facts appeared first on Optometrists.org.