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What is pink eye?

The term “pink eye” is commonly used to describe any red eyes. It should be used to describe a viral conjunctivitis but is often confused for bacterial conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, or other common causes of red eyes. Causes of pink or red eyes: Viral conjunctivitis: a viral infection in or around your eyes is causing your eyes to try to fight the virus Common symptoms include redness, tearing, irritation, fever, runny nose, sinus congestion, and sore throat. Bacterial conjunctivitis: your body is trying to fight a bacterial infection in your eyes. Common symptoms include redness, thick discharge, irritation, and tearing. Uveitis, Iritis, […]

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How can you help your child have healthy eyes and clear vision?

How can you help your child have healthy eyes and clear vision? As parents, we all want the best for our children including clear vision and healthy eyes. Oftentimes in the office, parents ask what they can do at home to help prevent worsening vision. Regular Eye Exams:  Yearly exams are necessary to examine the clarity of vision or changes in prescription and the health of the eyes Children should have their eyes examined at 6 months, 3 years, and every year afterwards. The most critical time to start annual exams is just before starting schooling at around 5 years […]

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My Eye Doctor is a Disease Detective: High Blood Pressure and Diabetes

High blood pressure (hypertension) and Diabetes are diseases that affect the blood vessels in your body. These diseases are very common and can affect many organs including the eyes. Since the eye is the only place we can view the blood vessels directly (without surgery), an eye examination can provide a small glimpse into your overall health and identify signs of hypertension and diabetes. Patient symptoms and signs: Fluctuating vision – If the blood pressure or blood sugar spike due to diet or not taking medication as directed, the lens inside the eye can swell or fluid in the retina can […]

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How the pandemic made children’s vision worse

This year has been a challenging one for many. Besides all of the impacts on healthcare, jobs, and the economy, children have been significantly impacted by the pandemic. With the conversion to online learning, many kids have been spending more time than ever on computers and tablets causing worsening myopia or nearsightedness. Why is this year so different for children’s eyes? Normally children learn in a classroom, using their distance vision to see the teacher and the board. This allows the eyes to be fully relaxed which can reduce the stimulus for the eye to grow and the prescription to […]

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My eye doctor is a Disease Detective: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory diseases

Inflammation is your body’s appropriate response to an injury or infection in order to heal. This normal process becomes a problem when an overreaction of the immune system produces excessive inflammation without a specific cause leading to chronic inflammatory diseases. Some of these diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and lupus. While often these conditions have other symptoms, occasionally signs in the eye could be the first clue to systemic inflammation throughout the body. Possible symptoms related to inflammation: Repeated red eyes Sensitivity to light (photophobia) Blurred vision Pain in the eyes What does your […]

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How young is too young for Contact lenses?

How young is too young for Contact lenses? Contact lenses are a medical device regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which are regularly used by eyecare professionals to correct vision. Many parents inquire as to what age children can start wearing contact lenses, and there is no exact answer to this question. The doctor, parent and child can discuss the following considerations Reasons to consider contact lenses: Is the child responsible enough? – because contacts are a medical device, they need careful cleaning and care. Will someone be available to help the child? Cosmetics of contacts vs. glasses – some […]