An Eye Exam Can Save Your Vision from Glaucoma

Its estimated that about four million people in the United States have glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve and silently destroy eyesight. Nearly half of those with glaucoma are not even aware that they have it. So waht about you? The number of cases that loose vision is unfortunate considering there are some high technology offices like Facchiano & Associates who maintain eye care offices with technology that can detect early signs of glaucoma long before that damage threatens vision. You owe it to yourself to find out your relative risk of lossing vision to glaucoma by getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam that includes having drops put in your eye and if the eye doctor orders extra diagnostics tests, an OCT optic nerve scan and threashold visual fields. With its painless and gradual loss of vision, glaucoma may have no early warning signs, but it can be detected during a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the National Institutes of Health, said, "NEI-funded research has shown that treatment during the early stages of glaucoma can control the disease and prevent future vision loss and blindness. This is why NEI encourages people at higher risk for glaucoma to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years."

Anyone can develop glaucoma, but those at higher risk for developing the disease include:
African Americans over age 40
Everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans
People with a family history of the disease

During a comprehensive dilated eye exam, an eye care professional can see inside the eye to detect signs of glaucoma, such as subtle changes to the optic nerve, before any symptoms appear. This allows the eye care professional to determine if you have glaucoma or are at risk for it, to monitor your condition, to treat glaucoma as early as possible, and to look for other vision problems. Once symptoms appear, it may be too late to prevent vision loss and the progression to blindness.

If glaucoma is detected early, treatments such as eye drops or surgery can slow or stop vision loss. High pressure inside the eye, which may be associated with glaucoma, does not by itself mean that you have glaucoma. Only a comprehensive dilated eye exam and evaluation of the optic nerve by an eye care professional can tell you that.

If you know someone at risk for glaucoma, let them know you care - schedule an eye exam with your eye care professional today.

Tto your eye health,

Dr Vince Facchiano

Photoker-what?

Photokeratitis. This is the “sunburn” of the cornea. During the past 4th of July holiday were you out playing yard games with the family? Boating on the lake? Sunbathing on a beach? More importantly, were you wearing eye protection?



Sunglasses are beneficial to help prevent Photokeratitis. Symptoms may include discomfort, blurred vision, and light sensitivity. Many times the sunburn is not usually noticed until several hours after exposure. The temporary vision loss that may result from Photokeratitis is called “snow blindness.” Ultraviolet (UV) rays and excessive sunlight, especially the type of rays which bounce off of snow and ice may lead to this painful sunburn. Being knowledgeable in regards to UV light is important to protect your eyes.

Outdoor risk factors including geographic location, altitude, the time of day, setting, and medications all determine the risk of damage. UV levels are greater when the sun is high in the sky, typically from 10am to 2pm. Also UV levels are greater in wide open spaces, especially when highly reflective surfaces are present such as sand. Always be aware of your medications, birth control pills, sulfa drugs, and tranquilizers are a few of the medications that may increase your body’s sensitivity to UV radiation.

This “sunburn” of the eye is preventable by understanding what Photokeratitis is, how UV rays are harmful, and wearing sun protection. Sunglasses or eye protection that transmits 5-10% of visible light and absorbs almost all UV rays are most beneficial. Look for sun protection that has large lenses and side shields to avoid incidental exposure from light as well. Call your optician in Lenscrafters at (815) 332-3233 to discuss more options.

If you feel that you or a family member may have symptoms of Photokeratitis, please call Dr. Facchiano and Associates at (815) 332-2223 to schedule an appointment.

Please read more information here: http://www.allaboutvision.com/parents/protective.htm#ixzz1RRvNN8SN

Allergy Season Is Here - Ask Your Eye Doctor For Help.

If you are experiencing red eyes, itchy eyes or watery eyes you may be suffering from spring eye allergies. For some, spring is pollen season, marking the onset of uncomfortable symptoms such as red eyes, itchy eyes, stinging, burning and watery eyes. Spring eye allergies are caused by an influx of tree and flower pollen into the atmosphere and can cause a severe impact on quality of life for those that experience them

How can you defend your eyes during allergy season? If at all feasible, try to reduce exposure to pollen by staying indoors, especially when the pollen count is high. Closing windows, cooling off with air conditioning and wearing full-coverage shades when going outside can also help to protect your eyes from allergens in the air. A HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter can be used clear irritants from the air inside your home or office.

Since most of us have to go outside on occasion, there are medications that can treat symptoms such as red eyes, watery eyes or itchy eyes. It's possible that a basic over-the-counter lubricating eye drop is all that's needed to moisturize and alleviate itchy eyes or red eyes and remove allergens. Products containing antihistamines, decongestants or mast cell stabilizers will reduce irritation of the eyes as well as other symptoms such as stuffed or runny nose and sneezing. Drops often work more quickly and effectively than oral products to treat eye problems.

Approximately 54 million people have allergies, almost 50% of which are eye allergies. Eye allergies often run in families and result from an over-sensitivity to a substance in the eye regardless of whether is it harmful. The eye releases histamines and other immune mediators which result in excessive tears, itching, burning, redness and irritation.

Most importantly, don't rub red, itchy. This will only exacerbate the inflammation. Due to the fact that often products that work to alleviate symptoms do require a prescription, if over-the-counter solutions do not help, see your optometrist.

Dr Facchiano and Dr Phelps are certified to evaluate and treat allergic ocular disease. Don't suffer through another season with itchy eyes or let allergy eye complications interfere with your contact lens wear .

Annual Eye Exams - Best Defense Against Glaucoma

[caption id="attachment_916" align="alignnone" width="285" caption="Ray Charles----The great Ray Charles, singer/songwriter had lost his vision to congenital glaucoma"][/caption] />[/caption][caption id="attachment_902" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Special eye pressure testing called Goldman Tonometry"][/caption]Nearly 4 million Americans and 70 million people worldwide are losing their sight to glaucoma, and many of them are not even aware they have the disease, which has no symptoms as it silently steals sight. Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve and vision loss begins with peripheral vision. Here are some of insights on risk factors and treatment for the disease as we wrap up Glaucoma Awareness Month from our Doctors of Optometry.

Here are some risk factors for the disease:
Elevated intraocular pressure ( pressures over 22-25 are considered high but may not indicate glaucoma alone)
Age (those over 40 have a higher risk)
Ethnic background (persons of African descent are five times more likely to develop glaucoma) Hispanics have a higher predilection also.
Other medical conditions (diabetes, hypertension, and other vascular disorders)
Family history (particularly maternal family members)
Patients with myopia ( nearsightedness)

There are no presenting symptoms of the most common form of glaucoma -- primary open angle glaucoma,” Dr Facchiano indicated. “That’s why an annual eye exam is so important

There is no cure for glaucoma. Currently, glaucoma is usually treated pharmacologically through eye drops, . Other methods like laser and/or surgical treatments may be implemented if the eye drops are not effective. Each treatment is designed to reduce eye pressure and the resulting damage to the optic nerve.

Eye pressure testing is required by most states but that is not the only test needed to evaluate an eyes relative risk of loosing vision to glaucoma. Now more is known about diagnosis and new technologies have emerged that are essential in the diagnoses. In addition to eye pressures other tests are essential to correctly diagnos and treat glaucoma. These include images of the optic nerve over time and corneal thickness measurements. Also gonioscopy is a special test that views the angle anatomy dictating the eye fluid drainage of the eye. Very important to note is that loss of visual field is not noticed by patients. So unless a very sensitive threshold visual field analysis tests for subtle reduction and blind spots in the field of vision are preformed no one will know you have a loss until the disease is very advanced. Finally eye pressures are in flux throughout the day so eye pressures measured at different times of day are often required.

Such tests take time and extra technology and are offered in addition to the standard eye exam. Major medical insurance often covers such testing for a glaucoma suspect patient. No one at risk should deny themselves the full panel of diagnostic tests. Yet few receive this level of care because much of the public still considers eye pressure checks as all they need. The fact is more than half of glaucoma cases have normal pressures of 15-20 at the time of their eye examination.

At Dr Facchiano's office very sensitive and specific laser image tests are preformed on patients who are at risk. These tests aide the optometrist or your eye care provider in determining a relative risk of vision loss due to glaucoma and can result in early detection before loss of vision. Since most who suffer from glaucoma have the open angle glaucoma type, changes that do occur will do so slowly at a rate estimated about 3% each year. Such early changes in the optic nerve are impossible to detect visually until the disease is well established and visual damage is measurable. Yet such subtle changes that escape the human eye can be measured 5-8 years in advance of visual field loss with the new laser imaging tests called OCT, GDX-VCC or HRT-III laser scans . These sensitive tests give optometrists, or your eye care provider ,advanced notice of optic nerve change over time and that will indicate relative risk for glaucoma damage that allow timely medical intervention before vision is lost if necessary. Eminent loss of vision is determined through reduction in nerve fiber layer thickness and ganglion cell complex long before vision is lost.

This is one more reason that patients should take their eye care seriously and it is important to get a through annual eye exam from providers that specialize in complete eye care. For those who know they are at risk be sure to insist on a full evaluation that includes new image tests or ask to be referred for such testing.

At Dr's Facchiano & Associates we take the matter seriously and have the latest in technology to diagnose and treat glaucoma. Our web page has a number of great informational links about glaucoma. Please find Glaucoma Research info @ http://www.glaucoma.org/ and from All About Vision @ http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/glaucoma.htm.

How To Enhance Your Vision

Age-related macular degeneration is a very common and dreaded disease of our senior years which may lead to irreparable vision loss. This acquired retinal disease affects millions of elderly adults. It can cause loss of the ability to see details, causing blurry vision and possibly legal blindness. Despite the social costs that include depression and loss of interest in activities, and the societal health costs including retina eye surgery, many people are unaware that new research has proven that vitamin supplements for macular degeneration can halt the progress of this disease, and in some cases, actually improve vision.

 

Over 90% of macular degeneration cases are diagnosed as dry non bleeding macular degeneration. Seen most commonly in those aged 50 and older and its prevalence gets worse with age. A healthy central retina or macula is necessary for all accurate vision. Degeneration of this important aspect of the retina causes permanent reduction in vision. The fact is dry macular degeneration starts slowly and as a result many people attribute their vision loss to the natural aging process. Early detection and treatment is key to slowing its effects. There is no cure, but studies show that macular degeneration supplements work to help slow the loss due to macular degeneration. There have been many causes identified such as age, heredity, nutrition, smoking, and sunlight. Sufferers report seeing blind spots, which affect their driving and reading abilities. Failure to treat dry macular degeneration can result in permanent blind spots and chronic eye irritation.

As America's baby boomers age, dry macular degeneration has been in the news quite a bit lately. It's difficult to find the true facts on but our info links from AOA and all about vision include more on this topic.The retina is known to be particularly susceptible to oxidative stress as its need for oxygen is large, it is exposed to high levels of light and its membranes have high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids which are readily oxidized. Consequently, much interest has centered on studying the effects of antioxidants as a possible means of preventing the development of age-related macular degeneration.

The National Institutes of Health recently published the Age Related Eye Disease Study, or (AREDS-2). The AREDS-2 found that taking eye vitamins containing high doses of anti-oxidants and zinc minimized the progression of macular degeneration by 25%. AREDS-2 new formula included 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin (1 tablet) 350 mg DHA and 650 mg EPA (2 soft-gel capsules). In addition the June 2008 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology indicated long-chain omega-3 essential fatty acids were shown in a study performed by researchers in Australia and Singapore to prevent the development of macular degeneration in people age 49 years or older. Since then it has been recommended that 1000mg of omega three oils or krill oil be added to the daily diet.

While sadly there is no cure for dry macular degeneration studies have shown that the specific vitamins and supplements can slow the effects of dry macular degeneration. It starts with a detailed evaluation of your retina. Dr Vincent Facchiano OD FAAO recommends that you ask your optometrist to do a dilated eye exam each year and evaluate the central retina area with HD digital images. In some cases specialized visual fields will be ordered and special laser OCT scans will be used to detect the cause of early macular vision loss. Early detection is important. For healthy eyes Dr Facchiano recommends that you protect your eyes from damaging ultraviolet light with sunglasses when outdoors and ask your optometrist if there is a vitamin and supplement program that is right for you.

Digital Retinal Photos Are a Great Tool for Optometrists

There are many parts to an eye exam that assess the overall health of the eyes. One of the most helpful parts is the digital retinal photography. It is essentially a digital camera that has been developed to take a clear image of the back of the eye. The pictures are so detailed that not only can optometrists diagnose eye diseases such as Glaucoma, Cataracts and Macular Degeneration but they can spot signs of diabetes, high blood pressure and eye cancers. Since the resulting image is digital, it can act as a "snapshot in time" of your eye health. Each year, the optometrist will be able to look for any small changes to the health of the eye and catch any potential abnormalities at early stages.



The photos are defiantly something you don't see everyday. I've even had a few patients during the eye exam prescreening half-jokingly ask if they could have the photo as their Facebook profile picture. Kidding aside, these photos are incredibly helpful when it comes to catching eye diseases as it gives optometrists time to successfully manage and control those problems. The digital retinal photos are just one of the many aspects we look at during our eye exams, but one that is vitally important.

Going Blind: Coming Out of the Dark About Vision Loss

If you were told that you were going blind, what would you do? One film maker, when faced with that question, decided to document the entire experience.

The director, Joseph Lovett, has worked on many TV and films in his career but now he is the subject in a documentary about helping people understand vision loss. Lovett isn't the only person highlighted, there are people suffering from eye disease, complications from diabetes and an Iraq War veteran who lost his sight during his service. These personal accounts are extremely touching as each person has dealt with the issue of losing vision in different ways that show the power of human determination.

On the official movie website, there are tons of images and video clips from the documentary that show people talking about their conditions and what vision means to them.

Find more information on the Going Blind Twitter account at @GoingBlindMovie

Lutein

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 55. The number of cases is expected to triple by the year 2025. This information comes right from the American Optometric Association (AOA). If you are wondering what age-related macular degeneration is, you aren't alone. For as prevalent as the disease is, there isn't much talk about it. In the simplest of terms, age-related macular degeneration creates blind spots in the central vision. It can cause images to look "wavy" or have dark spots.

Proper nutrition is one of the keys to fighting it off. Studies have shown that taking vitamin and mineral supplements or a healthy change in diet reduced the risk of advanced stage age-related macular degeneration by 25% in some subjects. It's an encouraging number and doesn't hurt to eat extra vegetables or swallow a pill if the situation calls for it.

However, a proper balanced diet will help prevent age-related macular degeneration in the first place. One of the essential nutrients in warding it off is called lutein. The body doesn't naturally make lutein, so it has to come from other sources, namely leafy green vegetables. It is increasingly becoming true that we are what we eat, if it looks healthy its bound to be good for the body somewhere. One of the best sources for lutein is, strangely enough, kale.



Usually the left over garnish for many burgers and fries, cooked kale provides 23.8mg of lutein per serving. If the hardy cousin to cabbage isn't all that appetizing, spinach, collards, turnip greens, corn, green peas, broccoli, lettuce and other foods all contain lutein. Some of the benefits of lutein intake is that it is an antioxidant to keep cells healthy, it acts as a filter to block out harmful high-energy blue wavelengths, increased tolerance and recovery from light glare and may promote low light sight.

After an eye exam, optometrists might give out some Lutein supplements. There have been a number of studies done that show adding Lutein is good for eye health and companies who are involved in eye care are running as fast as they can to manufacture these new pills. People at risk for age-related macular degeneration should talk to their optometrist if they should be adding more lutein to their diet. Just be sure to always talk with your eye doctor first before taking any sort of medicine or supplement for  your eyes.