The Difference Between an Optometrist and...

There are a lot of "O" words when it comes to eye care. There are optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians. Most people confuse the terminology as the "Three O's" have one major thing in common, they all care about the eyes.

Optometrists are the first line of defense for primary eye care. They adminsiter eye exams, prescribe glasses, treat some eye diseases, diagnose diseases like Cataracts and Glaucoma, fit contact lenses and preform a few other services related to eye health and vision. You can tell if a doctor is an Optometrist if their title is "OD." Our Optometrists in Madison and our Optometrists in Rockford are "ODs."

If there are serious finding during an eye exam, an Optometrists will refer a patient out. Ophthalmologists typically specialize in a portion of the eye and will preform surgery when it necessary. Many Ophthalmologists have the title "MD" but some carry the title "DO." A lot of times Optometrists and Ophthalmologists will co-manage patients together.

Opticians are the remaining piece of the puzzle. They are the people that fit patients with glasses. They take face measurements, make lenses, inform people about lens choices and help people pick out frames. They fill the prescription given by an eye doctor.

To simplify the definitions-

Optometrist = primary eye care doctors

Ophthalmologists = eye specialists

Opticians = fill the prescriptions given by a doctor

Madison Ranked One of the Best Places to Move to in America

(Image from Yahoo! Real Estate)

CNBC.com has ranked some of the best places to move to in the United States. Their criteria was based on a number of different factors, but new to this year is what the job landscape looks like. Madison clocked in at number 7 thanks to free cultural activities like Concerts on the Square and the Henry Vilas Zoo, access to education, low crime rates and a low unemployment rate  of 5.2%, which is nearly half the national average right now. Madison is a great city to explore as it is a perfect blend of city living with nature surrounding everything. Just make sure you don't miss the beauty by not getting  your eyes checked.

We Want to Know How We Did

The fact that so many people have trusted us for caring for their eyes means the world to us. Since our patients our our number one focus, want to find the things we do well, and not so well. That way, we can deliver an exceptional eye care experience each and every time.

If you have been one of our patients, please consider writing about your experience on one of the many websites that allow for people to review businesses, restaurants and health care providers. I've included some links here that will make finding us a snap.

Rockford, IL patients who have received an eye exam or contact lens fitting-

Yelp.com

CitySearch

Google Places

Madison, WI patients who have received an eye exam or contact lens fitting-

Yelp.com

CitySearch

Google Places

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There are plenty of other places out there to submit reviews so if you don't see your favorite, just head to the place you are most comfortable with and type your thoughts.

Thank you in advance! The feedback from patients is incredibly helpful as it allows us to examine what is working and where we can improve.

Famous People and Goggles

Glasses make a fashion statement. Contacts can make a fashion statement. Protective eye wear can also make a statement. Take a look at the following famous faces and how goggles were able to steal a bit of the spotlight as these stars sported specs that kept their eyes safe.

I'm sure there are a ton more famous people who have worn goggles. Make sure to comment and add to the list!

Kareem Abdul-Jabar - Former NBA Basketball Player



Charles Lindbergh - First man to fly across the Atlantic Ocean nonstop



Shaun White - Champion snow and skate boarder



Michael Phelps - Olympic swimmer who broke nearly every swimming record



Snoopy as the Red Baron - Classic cartoon dog made famous with Charlie Brown

FDA Issues Warning on Chelation Therapy

The FDA recently issued a warning on Chelation products that are being marketed as dietary supplements. Chelation is the process of removing heavy metals from the body. The claim is that it can cure diseases such as Alzheimers, Autism, Parkinson's, Macular Degeneration and others using nasal sprays, clay baths, IVs, suppositories, capsules or  liquid drops. They are sold as a dietary supplement to get around any sort of FDA regulations, which is why only a warning is issued. As you may have guessed, we get concerned when a warning goes out that involves the eyes.

The danger here is that chelation is FDA approved when used someone comes into contact with dangerous levels of copper, lead and arsenic - the heavy metals - and administered by a doctor. This leads to mass confusion and misleading claims. Chelation used for purpose or "cures" other than to remove heavy metal could be dangerous and deadly.

There has only been one death reported of an Autistic boy dying after receiving an intravenous Chelation therapy. Other than that, there haven't been any problems reported making this warning more preventative. It should be stated that Chelation therapy is not scientifically proven to cure any Macular Degeneration or other diseases mentioned above. Evidence points to that Chelation doesn't improve any chronic conditions like the ones listed.

Here is the list of products that got a letter from the FDA-

World Health Products LLC: Detoxamin Oral, Detoxamin Suppositories, and the Metal Detector test kit

Hormonal Health LLC: Kelatox Suppositories

Evenbetternow LLC: Kids Chelat Heavy Metal Chelator, Bio-Chelat Heavy Metal Chelator, Behavior Balance DMG Liquid, AlkaLife Alkaline Drops, NutriBiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract, Natur-Leaf, Kids Clear Detoxifying Clay Baths, EBN Detoxifying Bentonite Clay, and the Heavy Metal Screen Test

Source: ABC News

Common Vision Myths

I've been on the hunt for other vision care blogs around the net because I want to see who is also covering the eye. There are a lot of great ones out there! Just today, I stumbled across a really well written post that dispels some of the common myths people have about vision. Here is a tiny little bit from the original article-

2.  If I lose a contact lens in my eye, can it roll back in to my head behind my eye? Anatomically impossible.  No worries on this one.

If you want to read the rest, head over to Keene's Eye & Vision Care Blog. Make sure to read the story about carrots and eye sight - it is my favorite of the bunch.

The Brief History of Eye Glasses

I've realized that contact lenses have been getting a lot of blog love lately. To balance out the coverage, here is the (brief) history of eye glasses.

In the history of the world, glasses are relatively a new invention for something that feels so important now. About a 1,000 years ago, the first corrective vision tool called a "reading stone" was used by polishing glass that was in the shape of a sphere. Essentially, it was the first magnifying glass. The reason it took so long for a corrective vision aid of any sort to be created was simple due to the fact that not many people knew how to read. It wasn't until monks suffered from age related vision problems in the 1200's and wanted to read that a need for eye glasses was created.



Fast forward another 200 years, an Italian is credited for making the first pair of wearable eye glasses. They were made from all sorts of materials that sound ridiculous now considering optical lenses and plastic dominate most eye ware fashion. Quartz, leather, bone and metal were common materials used. It also wasn't until the 1700's did eye glasses have a standard method of attaching to people's faces with the ear pieces. Solutions involved looping string around the ears, it wasn't until about another 100 years until ear pieces were added.

Around the same time as ear pieces, Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals. Reportedly, he hated switching between glasses for distance and up close vision. I'd imagine it was like how the Snuggie was invented, someone was tired of having to switch between being in a blanket and not. Franklin's invention of putting two lenses of two different powers on top of each other paved the way of other advances like correcting astigmatisms. One common thread throughout the history of eye is that people have been embarrassed or self conscious of wearing them since the beginning. The upper classes and royalty in Europe would only wear glasses in private.



I'll leave the history here. From the time Ben Franklin invented bifocals, the biggest innovation since then is the ear pieces that help balance glasses, the kind that is ubiquitous now. There are a few other things, and the advancements in the Optometry profession but the point was to explain the genesis of eye glasses.

Halloween Contact Lenses

Our eye clinics phones have been ringing with a lot of calls lately (Madison in particular) about "monster" contact lenses. With Halloween approaching, people are scrambling to throw together the perfect costume. With the popularity of sparkly vampires, Lady Gaga and all sorts of imaginative things specialty contacts are in high demand. However, there are some things people need to know first before placing an order.

The first thing people forget is that contact lenses are actually a medical device. To legally buy contacts, a person needs to have a current prescription from an optometrist. Alarm bells should go off if they are looking at contacts that don't require prescription information. This is why it is incredibly important to talk with an eye doctor and get a proper prescription before getting any sort of contacts. A contact that doesn't fit correctly can do so many harmful things to the eye, even if it is worn "just for a night."



The vast majority of Halloween lenses are not FDA approved. Those contacts that make the eyes look bigger and the craziest types of eye changing contacts come from other countries and are actually "contraband" because they are sold without a prescription. The good news is there are FDA approved specialty contacts and, with the help of a doctor, can be worn safely. One brand that comes to mind that is FDA approved is CIBA Vision's WildEyes brand of contacts. CIBA also makes the extremely popular Air Optix normal contact lenses.

If you are still looking to get a pair of FDA approved, doctor prescribed wild contacts for Halloween the window to get them before the big night is rapidly closing. If you are looking for more information about what to avoid, check out this post about Spooky Eyes and this post about the contacts that make the eyes look larger. Both are great resources to spot the types of contacts that will harm the eyes.

If you are looking at these contacts and have any other questions, give us a call and we'll be happy to fill you in on the details.

How Contact Lenses are Made

This video speaks for itself. It's really fascinating to see how contacts are made.

50 Dos and Don'ts for Contact Lenses

I found a sheet of paper in the contact lens room that we give to our contact lens patients. It offers a lot of helpful tips on how to handle the fragile little lenses. Let's just jump right into the list-

1. Do - Follow your eye doctor's instructions and call the clinic if you have any questions

2. Don't - Wear the lenses if they have suddenly or consistently become uncomfortable

3. Do - Schedule follow up visits if you need them

4. Don't - Wear the lenses if you notice a chip or tear in the lens

5. Do - Follow the wearing time schedule as prescribed by the optometrist

6. Don't - Exceed the wearing schedule by over wearing lenses during adjustment periods

7. Do - Throughly wash, rinse and dry hands before handling lenses

8. Don't - Wear lenses all day if you haven't worn contacts in a few days

9. Do - Clean your lenses after wear and before storage to avoid build up of tough protein deposits and oily films that are hard to remove

10. Don't - Roughly handle lenses, they are made from delicate materials



11. Do - Be careful when cleaning lenses as they can easily be damaged

12. Don't - Touch contacts with fingernails (this is the primary reason contacts get damaged)

13. Do - Use fresh solution each night in the storage case

14. Don't - Insert lenses over an open sink. A dropped lens will look exactly like a water droplet

15. Do - Rinse storage case wells out with warm tap water, then with saline after each use and let the case air dry

16. Don't - Move if a lens is dropped. A wet lens can stick to just about anything

17. Do - Sit or stand near a counter when inserting contacts so they won't fall on the floor if dropped

18. Don't - Pick up a dropped lens with a fingernail or push it along a rough surface to lift it. Dampen your finger and the lens will stick to it

19. Do - Re-clean lenses that have dropped on the floor or your clothes

20. Don't - Switch to a heat cleaning system after using a chemical cleaning system (and vise versa)



21. Do - Ask your doctor about how to make the transition between cleaning systems safely, without damaging soft lenses

22. Don't - Use any other kind of solutions other than what is prescribed by your optometrist. Even ask an eye doctor before switching brands

23. Do - Close the drain if near a sink or bathtub

24. Don't - Use different brands of solution at the same time

25. Do - Wear eye protection with contact lenses for sports and activities to avoid serious injury or trauma

26. Don't - Touch the solution bottle tip to the inside of a lens or case. It will contaminate the solution

27. Do - Avoid hairspray or aerosols

28. Don't - Try to wear a soft lens that was left out of the solution or has become brittle. Put the lens back in the solution for at least two hours

29. Do - Apply hairspray or other aerosol products before inserting contact lenses. A lens that gets spray on it is uncomfortable and hard to clean

30. Don't - Wet lenses by putting them in your mouth (this has seriously happened before)



31. Do - Stay away from harmful vapors and fumes

32. Don't - Use tap water on soft lenses. Only use saline or solutions for rinsing

33. Do - Wear eye protection in dusty environments

34. Don't - Overfill storage cases. A lens can float to the top and get stuck where the lid closes or snaps

35. Do - Use caution when adjusting to temperature swings

36. Don't - Put eye drops like Murine or Visine in your eyes while you are wearing contacts

37. Do - Hold back eye lashes when inserting a contact to make it easier to put it in

38. Don't - Force apart a folded contact lens. Put solution or saline and gently massage the lens

39. Do - Keep a kit of essentials (case, solution, saline) with you at all times

40. Don't - Rub lenses with towel, tissue or shirt tail



41. Do - Apply cosmetics after inserting contacts, including lotions, foundation, mascara and eye shadow

42. Don't - Wear lenses if you have a cold of the flu

43. Do - Remove contacts before swimming or showering. Water will flush out the contact

44. Don't - Leave contacts near TVs, in glove compartments, window sills or other areas that can warm up. It will warp the lenses

45. Do - Wear eye protection when riding in a convertible car

46. Don't - Sleep in lenses without doctors approval

47. Do - Use water soluble cosmetics. Waterproof mascara is difficult to remove from contact lenses

48. Don't - Use deodorant or cold creme soaps. they leave greasy residues on hands and lenses

49. Do - Apply eyeliner below the lash line. Otherwise, it will block a tear glad that makes contact wear more comfortable

50. Don't - Use eye lash thickeners or lengthener. They contain additives that contaminate lenses

Join The Conversation

This post comes as bit of a PSA for our blog readers. In effort to bring you great news related to caring for the eyes, eye exams and breaking news dealing with optometry, you can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

You can get a hold of us through these methods if you have any questions for our Optometrists. We'll be sure to reply as quickly as we can with accurate information to help care for your eyes. We also want your feedback of the type of content you want to see or, if you are one of our patients, we want to hear how we did on your last eye exam.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Zinc

Zinc is going to be the last important nutrient talked about in these blog posts for a while. There are other important minerals and nutrients, but this is a good stopping point until a later time. The role of Zinc is  sweet and to-the-point for the role of eye care. It helps carry Vitamin A from the liver up to the retina. This helps the eye produce a protective pigment in the eye called melanin.

Where is Zinc found in foods? Lobster, Oysters, Beef, Pork, Yogurt, Salmon (bonus points for being a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids), Milk and Hardboiled Eggs. Basically, these are all my favorites so I know I'm personally getting enough Zinc to possibly give me x-ray vision. If  you aren't getting enough Zinc, studies have linked a deficiency to things like poor night driving or impaired vision.

When you schedule your next eye exam with an Optometrist and have been eating a balanced diet with eye healthy foods, don't be surprised if the eye doctor gives you a high-five. Many people neglect their eyes, but there are some simple and easy ways to keep them healthy for a long time.

10 Normal Symptoms for New Contact Lens Wearers

When people need vision correction, they usually start out with glasses. Most people usually try contacts at some point in their life and some people get discouraged by some common symptoms of getting used to contacts. Here are 10 normal symptoms for new contact wearers as they adjust to the lenses -

Lens Movement

If it feels like the lenses are moving, that is what is supposed to happen. There is a natural fluid flow in the eye and contacts need to permit it.

Minor Irritation

The first couple of times a new wearer puts the contacts in, they will say they can "feel" the contact. It takes a bit of time for the eye to accept the contact because it is a medical device. Any feelings of discomfort should ease away in 15 minutes.

Tearing

Contact lens wearers will tear up when they put the contact in their eye. It's totally normal and once adapted to the lens, the tears will stop.

Light Sensitivity

New wearers will sometimes note sensitivity to bright lights. Like other symptoms on this list, this should go away with lens adaptation.

Burning

This symptom is cause for concern for a lot of new contact wearers. Rightfully so, a burning sensation in your eye is alarming. What it signals is that the eyes are dry and need moisture. Eye drops will do the trick and re-lubricate the eyes.

Blurring

Contact lenses are supposed to clear up vision, not blur it. If the lens is making a new wearer see things blurry it typically means there are a lot of tears generated or there are oils on the lens. Using solution to clean the lenses and reinserting the contacts will clear up the vision. If the problem persists, call your eye doctor.



Dislodged Lenses

The lens will seldomly either go "off-center" or lift off from the cornea. If this rare occurrence happens, a simple blink will reposition the lens.

Excessive Blinking

This symptom is actually beneficial to new contact wearers. Full, complete blinks when the lenses are first inserted will keep the lens comfortable.

Red Eyes

This symptom is fairly common with the burning. Basically, the eyes are dry if this is a mild case. Some saline solution eye drops should do the trick.

Itchy Eyes

This symptom usually comes paired with red eyes. Eye drops should sooth the eyes.

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It should be noted these are common for soft lenses. If problems persist, contact your eye doctor immediately. Hard lenses are an entirely different animal to tackle and have a whole other set of normal symptoms for lens adaptation. Soft contacts keep improving with more scientific advances so the symptoms of adaptation might not be as severe for new wearers as they were in the past. It all depends on the type of contact and how well it fits with the wearer. There are so many different options for contact lenses that there is bound to be a great fit for anyone.

The World Vision Expo West 2010

I just caught on the 4greatvision Twitter feed that The World Vision Expo is happening right now in Las Vegas. Essentially, it's the who's who in the world of optical fashion and science. Companies from all over the world will be exhibiting the latest designs, procedures and science during the event. There are tons of things to see and do, celebrities will be there to promote lines of eye ware as well. Probably the best way to explain it is by showing a video the Expo put together -



You can find out about the Expo at their website or check the Expo's YouTube channel which will be updating during the show.

A Cautionary Tale: Double Check the Labels

Watch the video below-



Yes, that happens more than it should. When people are given eye drops for an infection, disease or after surgery they may not have perfect vision yet. That is when mix ups occur. The bottles of strong glues look very similar to eye drop prescriptions.  If it needed to be stated, super glue and the eye do not mix. If it happens, seek medical help immediately. If the eye gets glued shut, emergency medical attention is necessary. The woman in the news report is right, it can happen to anyone.

If you are unsure or have questions about what bottle is what there are some steps you can take if you are unable to see the label yourself.

• Call the pharmacy, they'll be able to tell you what the bottle looks like and the colors


• Ask someone to re-read the lable


• Keep medicines and household items of similar shape and size in different rooms or locations


• Always remember to put away materials like super glue in safe places where it will not get confused with other products

It cannot be stressed enough that if you are on prescription medicine, always double check the label.

DHA/EPA

DHA/EPA are docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids, respectively. More commonly, they are referred to as Omega-3 Fatty Acids. They are commonly found in cold-water fishes and have been recently found to be incredibly beneficial for health of the body and eyes. Including DHA/EPA into the daily diet has shown to be important for visual development and retinal functions. If the body is deficient in DHA/EPA, it could lead to chronic problems with dry eyes. Salmon, Tuna, Mackerel, Anchovy, Trout and others are all really great sources for DHA/EPA.



DHA/EPA is definitely one of those  nutrients you must see a doctor before starting a supplemental regimen of Fish Oil. Studies have shown it can have an effect on blood pressure medications and other parts of the body, so there has to be precautions taken before intaking more  DHA/EPA.

Vitamin E

The next healthy nutrient on the series of posts is Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant found in nuts, some breakfast cereals, peanuts and sweet potatoes.

Vitamin E promotes the health of cell membranes. There is an important membrane in the eye called the "conjunctiva," which helps lubricate the eyes. When it gets inflamed, the diagnosis is called conjunctivitis, or, "Pink Eye." So that is why it is important to remember to include Vitamin E in the daily diet. Vitamin E acts along side other nutrients to slow progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

As for the proper dosages for healthy, consult optometrists before taking incorporating more Vitamin E in your diet through select foods or supplement. The reason is because The United States National Library of Medicine suggests dosages over 400 IUs a day can be harmful.

Impress your eye doctor next eye exam and tell them you have been eating healthy foods that are healthy for the eyes. Not only will the Optometrists thank you, your eyes will too.

Vitamin C

I'm on a health kick lately. All the talk about lutien and its ability to help the health of the eye made me look for other possible vitamins and minerals. There are quite a few that have been studied and believed to be very healthy for the eye. It should be no surprise that Vitamin C helps contribute to healthy eyes. That way, you can tell your optometrist during your next eye exam, you've been taking care of your eyes.



Basically, all cells in the body depend on Vitamin C. The eyes have a high concentration of cells in all the tissues that are constantly active. What Vitamin C does exactly is promote healthy ocular blood vessels, help promote healthy capillaries, cartilage and iron absorption across the board and is believed to reduce the risk of cataracts in women by 64 percent if they take sufficient levels for 10 years. Fruits like oranges, grapefruits, strawberries and others are some of the best sources for Vitamin C.

The recommended intake of Vitamin C is 90 mg/day for men and 75 mg/day for women. However, research suggests that for Vitamin C to play a part in eye health, the intake needs to be at about 500 mg/day. The trick is that Vitamin C is water soluble so too much too quickly will be flushed away. One word of caution, megadoses of Vitamin C can have adverse effects. It usually is only a concern when there are supplement pills are taken. Normal, healthy diets will provide all the necessary Vitamin C.

It's becoming the norm for optometrists to talk about nutrition during eye exams. Your eye doctor might give some recommendations if they see fit to help care for the eyes and there is a growing body of research that shows vitamins and minerals play an important role in keeping eyes healthy.