Archive for August 2012
Understanding Cataracts
Cataracts are a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. While they are most commonly age-related changes, some may occur in younger patients as a result of trauma, diabetes, and other causes. Once a cataract has developed, your eye care provider will likely recommend cataract surgery once your vision limits or hinders your activities.…
Read MoreThinking of the Eye like a camera
If you think of the eye like a film-based camera, it helps to understand how the eye works. Light travels through the cornea (clear front surface) and lens and is then focused on the retina. The cornea and lens provide the focusing power of the eye, just as a lens does for a camera. The…
Read MoreMedical Marijuana and Glaucoma
Patients often ask us if medical marijuana is an acceptable treatment for glaucoma. This notion arises from studies in the 1970’s sponsored by the National Eye Institute (division of the NIH) that showed that THC, the active ingredient in marijuana could lower intraocular pressure (IOP). However, the effect of the IOP lowering is short-lived, and…
Read MoreContact Lenses and Eye Health
Contact Lenses are an excellent way to improve vision in patients who would otherwise need glasses. While generally very safe, there are some things all contact lens wearers should keep in mind. 1) Always get your prescription from an eye care provider (optometrist or ophthalmologist), 2) Visit your eye care provider once a year, 3)…
Read MoreCataract Surgery reduces rate of hip fractures
In a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), cataract surgery reduced the rate of hip fractures in patients who had cataract surgery within the last year. The study compared 400,000 Medicare patients who had cataract surgery with a matched group of patients who did not have their cataracts removed. The reduction…
Read MoreCoffee and Glaucoma
Caffeine consumption is widespread, with 80% of the US population older than 45 consuming caffeine daily. The most common source is coffee, of which the average American consumes 2-3 cups daily. A recent study has shown that caffeine consumption increases intraocular pressure (IOP), but also increases ocular perfusion pressure (OPP – or the flow of…
Read MoreCataract surgery – improving outcomes
As cataract surgeons, we are always striving to improve our outcomes for our patients. During cataract surgery, measurements of the anatomy of the eye, allow us to decide what power intraocular lens to place in the eye after the cataract has been removed. The use of the Lenstar LS900 has allowed us to improve our…
Read MoreCataracts and Art
Even a person with a trained eye and an unsurpassed artistic skill can be limited by cataracts. Monet suffered from cataracts prior to the development of modern techniques for cataract removal and lens replacement. Learn more about cataracts and their effect on some famous artists. Learn more about cataract surgery.
Read MoreEating your way to healthy eyes
Patients always ask me how they can change their diet to improve their eye health. While there hasn’t been any research to show that any particular foods improve vision, there are some foods that reduce the oxidant stress to the eye, and consequently may reduce the risk of developing long term eye issues, such as…
Read MoreSpending time outside!
Spending time outside is always fun. Great way to get some exercise, spend time with friends, and soak up some heat. Turns out, with the appropriate UV protection, it is also may be beneficial for your vision and your natural body rhythms. Some research has shown it might reduce your chance of become nearsighted. Also,…
Read More