In a recent survey by The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), 81% of more than 3,500 U.S. adults said they’re knowledgeable about vision health. However, only 19% knew the three main causes of blindness in the United States (glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease), less than half were aware that vision loss and blindness don’t affect all people...
When it comes to vision professionals, we usually put optometrists at the top, and understandably so. They’re the ones with the medical degree, the primary physician for our eyes. However, eye care wouldn’t be possible without the optician. This specialist ensures your prescription is filled correctly and provides lenses that meet your needs and lifestyle. And then you need frames...
2020 is the year to think about 20/20 vision. However, according to Dr. Chris Marquardt, former president of the Wisconsin Optometric Association, good vision doesn’t necessarily equal good health. “There are a lot of conditions that can be detected in regular exam,” he points out. “You may go years without seeing any sorts of signs or symptoms. Glaucoma, macular...
Eyelid myokymia, or twitching, is caused by involuntary contractions triggered by tiny bundles of nerve fibers in the orbicularis oculi, the muscle that surrounds your eye socket and closes the lids. As irritating as twitching can get, let’s all be thankful that typically only one eye is affected, and the lower lid. A tic is different because you can suppress it. There’s not much you...
When you think eye exam, do you wince at the inconvenience of those dilation drops that last 4-24 hours? Fortunately, most optometrists these days offer the option of imaging technology, which, while not covered by all insurance companies, is noninvasive, typically inexpensive and actually really cool. It’s not every day you get to see your own optic nerve on a full-color monitor. And...
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41.7% of men and 28.7% of women believe they have no need for eye care. As for the men, maybe it’s a guy thing, as in: I don’t need no stinkin’ eye care! Or maybe women are just plain smarter, which even the most macho of men might admit, at least silently to themselves. Actually, both of these...
If you have intermediate or advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the AREDS 2 dietary supplement might help. In fact, many doctors are recommending it. AREDS stands for Age-Related Eye Disease Study, conducted by the National Eye Institute after scientists began noticing that diets high in certain vitamins and minerals appeared to stop AMD from worsening. “Observational studies...
While humans have gazed lovingly into each other’s eyes for centuries, rarely do we realize how remarkable our eyes actually are. Here are a few facts to inspire awe and appreciation: • The eye’s complexity as an organ is second only to the brain. • Your eyes can distinguish about 10 million colors and 500 shades of grey. • Your eyes can detect a candle flame more than a...
According to a recent report, a 14-year-old boy in the U.K. has suffered vision loss after years of a diet consisting mainly of potato chips, French fries, white bread and processed pork snacks. “This case highlights the impact of diet on visual health,” says Dr. Denize Atan, a lecturer in Ophthalmology at Bristol Medical School. Allen Taylor, director of the Nutrition and...
Everyone has a vision. For Dr. Rohit Varma, it’s a world where preventable blindness is a thing of the past. The world-renowned eye care specialist oversees the CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center’s Southern California Eyecare and Vision Research Institute, which brings eye care to underdiagnosed and undertreated individuals with visual impairment throughout Los Angeles County and...
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