All Categories - academy of eye care

allergy "season"

3/4/2013

We refer to it as allergy "season", but for the last few years it has seemed that the seasons all just run together. So many patients are suffering from eye allergies year round-- red, itchy, watery eyes. In the midst of the worst allergy season ever, it is important to know what works best for you.

There are tons of home-remedies and over-the-counter products based around allergies. Lubricating your eyes with artificial tears helps to dilute accumulated allergens and prevent them from sticking to the conjunctiva. Unfortunately, these drops have no impact on swelling or redness.

For the best relief for your eyes, call our office at 850.769.1404 for an evaluation of your eyes. There are a variety of decongestant eye, antihistamine, and steroid drops that can stop the suffering.

Here are a few tips to remember:

Avoid staying outdoors when pollen levels are high
Allergies dry your eyes and dryness keeps more allergens on the surface-- break the cycle!
Cold compresses soothe allergy swollen eyes
Refrigerate eye drops for a soothing sensation during application
DO NOT RUB your eyes as this spreads histamines and causes more itching

love is in the air

2/14/2013

The mechanism of pupil constriction and dilation is regulated by the autonomic nervous system, which is also responsible for other uncontrollable reactions like goose bumps and heart rates. Inside the eye, the dilator and the sphincter muscles play the iris tissue like an accordion to the tune of light. Then again, the sun isn't the only thing orchestrating when the pupils open and shut. Humans' inborn fight or flight response, triggered by the parasympathetic nervous system -- a subset of the autonomic nervous system -- also manifests in our irises. When fear strikes, the pupils expand to heightened attention and focus.

Pupils will also pop when we experience emotions on the sunnier end of the spectrum like love or happiness. It has been shown that men even translate that response into viewing larger pupils as more attractive or beautiful.
Italian women in the Middle Ages recognized the beauty endowed by wide-open pupils, they would dilate their own eyes with belladonna. Unfortunately, the plant secreted not only the chemical atropine, which draws back the irises, but also a toxin that would deteriorate these women's eyesight and possibly poison them. Since atropine has long been identified as a toxin, optometrists use a synthetic derivative to dilate patients before examining their eyes.

combating winter dry eyes

12/15/2012

In Florida, we are accustomed to humidity in the air that so thick you can slice it with a knife. But when winter months approach, the atmosphere here gets very dry. Dry eyes that burn and ache are a common side effect of the cold winter winds outside and the dry, heated air of our homes inside. Our tears evaporate off the surface of our eyes, and our tear glands simply cannot produce fluid quick enough to maintain the protective, moist coating that our eyes require to stay hydrated. The result is dry eyes that may cause blurred vision or a scratchy, burning sensation.

Luckily, there are several simple ways that you can combat dry eyes during the winter months. Here are our tips for keeping your vision clear and your eyes moisturized during the cold winter season ahead:

Sunglasses to shield your eyes from the drying elements and decrease the evaporation of your tear film.
Humidifier to maintain a healthy level of moisture in your home.
Lubricating eye drops help to supplement your tear film and heal damaged tissue. Because there are so many over-the-counter artificial tear brands to choose from, make sure that you ask Dr. Byers to ensure that you are using drops that are suitable for your condition.

The winter season can be a great time to get outside and soak up the smells and sights of the season. However, make sure that you follow these simple steps for combating dry eyes to make sure that you do not fall victim to the hazards of the cold, dry winter weather.

our holiday hours

12/3/2012

We are trying to keep convenient hours for you and your family during this holiday season, while still letting our staff enjoy some time with theirs. Click the calendar to the right for a larger view of our hours.

Don't forget to stop by to empty out your flex accounts or call to schedule an appointment if your insurance is expiring or renewing soon.

november is diabetic eye disease awareness month-- be aware!

11/7/2012

In November, we acknowledge American Diabetes Month and with it the serious toll the disease can take on your eyes. Prevent Blindness America attempts to raise awareness on the damage to the small blood vessels that nourish the retina when your blood sugar is not under control.
The numbers for this disease speak for themselves:

24 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes.
7.7 million Americans suffer from diabetic retinopathy.
25,000 people go blind from diabetic retinopathy every year.
25x more likely to lose your sight from retinopathy, glaucoma or cataracts if you have diabetes.

What are the symptoms?
Often, there are no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. Vision may seem unchanged until the disease becomes severe. Eventually, the vision of a person with diabetic retinopathy may become blurred or blocked entirely. But even in more advanced cases the disease may progress without symptoms for a long time. That is why regular eye exams are so important for people with diabetes.

See an Eye Doctor at Least Once a Year!!!
Early treatment of serious diabetic retinopathy can improve the chance of saving your sight. For some people, diabetic retinopathy may be one of the first signs that they have diabetes. Adults and children who have diabetes should have a dilated eye exam at least once a year.

At Academy of Eye Care, Dr. Byers always dilates your eyes as part of your eye examination. Eye drops are used to widen your pupils to allow a close look at the inside of the eye. We even have advanced technology of the Topcon 3D OCT to exam the layers of the retina and macular tissue in detail.

[Source: Prevent Blindness America]

use it or lose it! (FSA/HSA spending)

11/4/2012

Starting around this time of year, we seem to get a lot of questions from people about their Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA). In most cases, FSA / HSA must be used by the end of the calendar year, or you lose it. Here are a few answers to our most Frequently Asked Questions!

1. Can I use my FSA/HSA for prescription sunglasses? Yes! For lenses or frames!

2.  Can I use my FSA/HSA to pay for my husband’s / wife’s / child’s / grandmother’s eye care?   Yes! It can be used for anyone you claim on your taxes as a dependant.

3.  Can I use my FSA/HSA for contacts?   Yes! You may use it for contacts and any other expenses incurred in the maintainence of contacts, including cases, solution, rewetting drops, etc.

4. Do I need a receipt to send in to the administrators of my FSA/HSA?   It varies widely by plan. Some plans see that the expense is from a doctor’s office, and so do not question it. Other plans want an extremely detailed receipt. We are happy to give you a detailed copy of your receipt with the insurance CPT codes on it if your FSA / HSA needs it. We can give this to you when we dispense your glasses or contacts to you, at the time of the exam, or can mail or fax the receipt to wherever you need it to go.

at what age can kids wear contact lenses?

10/15/2012

Dr. Byers generally leaves this decision up to the parents. The most important factor is the level of responsibility demonstrated by the child. Contacts can contribute to eye infections and vision damage when they are not handled and cared for properly. Daily disposable contact lenses are a healthy option as they minimize these risks.

If you feel that your child is able to handle the responsibilities associated with contact lenses, then Dr. Byers is more than happy to fit them with lenses. Her staff will carefully go through insertion, removal, and care instructions. For reminders and tips, refer to our contact lens section of our website.

we only have 2 eyes! call us for emergencies!

10/1/2012

If you smash your finger with a hammer – it’s not that big of a deal. If you get hit in the eye or get something in your eye, that can be a big deal. You have ten fingers and toes BUT only two eyes. And to date – we can put a new finger on your hand; we can’t put a new eye in your head. Some eye injuries can cause serious vision loss. It is important to understand when these injuries are considered emergent and how to appropriately respond to it. DO NOT attempt to treat a serious eye injury yourself!

CALL US RIGHT AWAY IF YOU HAVE:

Eye pain
Something in the eye or under the eyelid that can’t be rinsed away
Sudden onset of floaters, flashes of light, or a "curtain" blocking your vision
Sudden blurred, distorted , or double vision
A torn or cut eyelid
An eye that does not move or protrudes
An odd shaped or sized pupil
Blood behind the clear part of the eye (cornea)

There is a time to be tough and to suck it up, but that time should never come to your eyes! Come see us and don't play with your vision!

how do we perceive color?

9/21/2012

In this back to school time, we are seeing may kids for comprehensive exams. We always check for color deficiencies in these kids. Our visual system is amazing and this is a great illustration of the science behind color perception. Click here for full illustration.

back to school soon, can your kids see clearly?

8/6/2012

It's that time again; going to bed early and getting into the routine for the new school year. Soon after the year begins, many parents bring their children in for an examination because their teacher noticed a problem with them seeing the board. Vision problems can develop quickly as kids are growing and changing. Some visual conditions are obvious and some are much more subtle. Our children may be experiencing symptoms that are not always attributed to the eyes like slow reading speed, inability to read for long periods, drowsiness when reading, and difficulty sustaining concentration on the task. Children and parents alike don't always see these symptoms as visual problems--often they are looked at as behavioral issues. Be sure your child receives a vision evaluation with Dr. Byers and make sure your child is performing to their full potential for the new school year.