What are Floaters?

Many of us see “floaters” or spots in our vision, but do you know what actually causes them?

As we age, the part of the eye called the vitreous changes from a gel-like to a liquefied form.  Some of the undissolved gel particles will float around in the liquid, which are the “floaters.”  Although the floaters can be bothersome and annoying, there is usually no cause for concern.

However, if floaters appear suddenly and are accompanied by flashes of light, a more serious condition may be present.  Sometimes when the vitreous liquefies, it may pull away from the retina, which causes the sensation of light flashes .  In a small percentage of cases, the retina may tear or detach.  A retinal detachment is a serious eye emergency and can result in the loss of vision.

Make sure that you are receiving an annual eye examination so your doctor can determine whether the floaters you are experiencing are harmless, or a cause of concern.  If you do experience a sudden onset of floaters along with flashing lights, be sure to see your doctor immediately so that further vision threatening complications can be prevented.

7 Reasons to Buy Your Eyeglasses at Family Eye Care of Elmwood Park

1)    Quality

Unlike other items people purchase, it can be difficult to judge the quality in a pair of prescription eyeglasses.  We use high quality frames, lenses, and lens coatings to ensure that your glasses are dependable and your vision is as clear as possible.

2)  Value

Good value in eyewear is receiving high quality glasses at a fair price.  Our fees reflect the quality of our lens materials and frames.  We offer very high quality lenses and frames for those patients that want the best.  If you are on a budget, we also offer frame and lens packages starting at $99.

3)  Expert Staff

Our competent and caring staff of trained professionals give you personalized care to suit your needs from frame selection to explanations of lens options.  We will do all we can to make sure you are happy with your eyewear.

4)  Frame Selection

Our optical features over 400 frames and sunglasses.  We handpick our frames for their excellent quality and unique styles.  We are proud that many of our frames are one of a kind and won’t be found at the “chain opticals.”

5) Lens Options

We want our patients to have the best possible vision, which is why we offer the highest quality lens materials including  Varilux digital progressive lenses and Crizal No-Glare Lenses.

6) 2-Year Warranty

All eyewear made in our optical laboratory carries an unmatched 2 year warranty!

7) Support Small Businesses

By supporting local businesses like us, you are helping to support your local community.  We bank locally and do much of our own business locally.  In fact, studies show that for every $100 spent at a local small business, $68 returns to the community.  For every $100 spent at a national chain, only $43 returns to the community.

 

 

2012 Vision Checklist

 

 

As we start a new year, here are some important eye care tips for you and your family in 2012:

• Get an annual comprehensive eye exam.  Everybody should receive a comprehensive eye exam every year.  This is especially true for children, who may have undiagnosed vision problems that affect their school performance.  Seniors also need regular eye care, since the risk of most eye diseases increases with age.
• Wear sunglasses outdoors.  Wearing sunglasses is extremely important in protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays, which can damage the eyes and increase the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.  Even on cloudy days, the sun’s rays still can damage the eyes, so protective sunwear is recommended any time you are outside during daylight hours.  Not all sunglasses are created equal, however, so make sure your sunglasses block 100% of UV light.  At Family Eye Care of Elmwood Park, we recommend polarized sunglasses for all of our patients, which not only block 100% of UV light, but also eliminate glare and improve visual clarity.
• Stop smoking.  If you are are a smoker, quitting is the single most important thing you can do to improve your eye health.  Smoking increases the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.  Smoking also increases the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes, conditions which can lead to vision loss.
• Improve your nutrition.  Eating fruits and vegetables will help keep your eyes healthy and reduce the risk of serious eye diseases.  Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, collard greens, and kale have high levels of lutein, an important antioxidant that has been shown to slow the progression of Macular Degeneration.  Omega-3 supplements also have been proven to be beneficial in treating Dry Eye Syndrome.
• Clean your contact lenses and replace them regularly.  Properly cleaning your contact lenses and replacing them when your doctor recommends will help reduce the risk of serious eye infection.
• Wear safety eyewear.  Experts say that 90% of eye injuries could be prevented if proper saftey eyewear was used.  Whether you are playing sports or work in an environment that puts your eyes at risk, make sure you are protecting your eyes.

Hopefully you have found these tips helpful and educational.  Feel free to leave any comments or suggestions for future topics.

To schedule a comprehensive eye exam, call our office at 708-456-3232, or visit our website, www.familyeyecareonline.com

 

Eye Care Tip # 3: Many medical conditions can affect the health of the eyes

Many people think that getting an exam just involves having your vision checked, and getting a prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses.  However,  while measuring your visual clarity is an important aspect of your eye examination,  evaluating the health of your eyes is just as important.  This is especially important if you have certain medical conditions.  I’m going to highlight three of the most common systemic medical conditions that have associated ocular complications:

• Diabetes:  If you have diabetes, getting an annual comprehensive dilated eye examination is absolutely mandatory.  Unfortunately, many diabetics are not getting eye exams, which is a major reason why diabetes is the leading cause of blindness for people under the age of 65.  When blood sugar levels are high, blood vessels in the retina may become damaged and leak blood and fluid.  Over time, damage to these blood vessels may cause permanent loss of vision.  Because there are no signs or symptoms in the early stages of diabetic eye disease, proper maintenance of blood sugar levels as well as annual eye exams are essential in preventing vision loss.
• Hypertension:  Hypertension, or high blood pressure,  also affects the blood vessels in the retina.  The arteries in the retina may become constricted and tortuous (corkscrew appearance), indicating hypertensive retinopathy.  Studies have shown that people with hypertensive retinopathy have a much greater risk for strokes and heart attacks.
• Auto-immune diseases:  Auto-immune diseases include conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, and Thyroid Disease, among others.  Common associated ocular conditions include Dry Eye Syndrome, Uveitis (painful inflammation of the eyes), and retinopathy.  Multiple Sclerosis, in particular, commonly causes optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve), which may result in a sudden loss of vision.

While these three systemic conditions are some of the most common, numerous other medical conditions can affect the health of the eyes.  That’s why I recommend annual comprehensive eye examinations for all of my patients.

Dr. Frame

Eye Care Tip # 2: Punctal Plugs are an effective treatment option for Dry Eye Syndrome

If you suffer from dry, burning, red eyes, then there is a good chance that you may have Dry Eye Syndrome.  For many people, over-the-counter lubricating eye drops or prescription anti-inflammatory eye drops may help relieve symptoms.  For other people, however, further treatment such as Punctal Plugs may be needed.  Punctal Plugs are small devices inserted into a patient’s tear ducts (or puncta) to block drainage of the tears.  By blocking the tears from draining into the ducts, tears are able to stay on the eyes longer, which increases the tear film and moisture level of the eyes.  Inserting the plugs is a simple and painless procedure.  Typically, your optometrist will insert temporary collagen plugs first, which will dissolve in 7-10 days.  These plugs act as a trial to see if your dryness symptoms are improved.  If you do experience substantial improvement of your symptoms, then permanent silicon plugs will be inserted into the tear ducts a few weeks later.  Punctal plugs are very safe, although in rare cases the tear ducts may become inflamed or infected.  If you have any questions about punctal plugs or want to know if you are a good candidate, give us a call at 708-456-3232, or visit our website, www.familyeyecareonline.com.

Family Eye Care Tip of the Week #1

We hope you enjoy our new “Family Eye Care Tip of the Week.”  Here’s post #1:

Are “get the red out” eye drops good or bad for my eyes?

We have all seen the commercials on TV about the eye drops that will “get the red out,” but are these eye drops really effective and safe to use? These eye drops, which are ocular decongestants, constrict blood vessels in the part of the eye called the conjunctiva.  When used in moderation, these drops are not harmful, but they might not actually be treating the condition causing your eyes to be red.

In my experience, the most common condition causing redness of the eyes is Dry Eye Syndrome.  Dry Eye Syndrome is an inflammatory condition in which not enough tears are being produced or the quality of tears being produced is not adequate.  Using decongestant eye drops will temporarily decrease redness in the eyes, but will not treat the underlying dryness.  In fact, these drops can make the eyes even more dry.  Furthermore, if these drops are continuously used on a long-term basis,  a rebound reaction will occur in which the eyes will become even more red.

Many other conditions can cause redness of the eyes, including ocular allergies, viral conjunctivitis, and bacterial infections.  Many of these conditions require prescription medications, so ocular decongestants would not be effective.

The bottom line is that if your eyes are red, seeking care from your eye doctor is your best bet.  They will be able to diagnose the condition causing your symptoms and will recommend the appropriate treatment.

Donate your old eyeglasses and help those in need!

 

Family Eye Care of Elmwood Park has partnered with Eco-Optics to donate used eyeglasses to those in need in developing countries.  Just stop by our office and drop off your old eyeglasses in our donation box.  As a token of our thanks, you will receive $50 off your next purchase of prescription eyewear.

When you stop by, feel free to check out our Eco-Optics collection of frames and sunglasses.  Eco-Optics is the first and only optical company to feature eyewear made from 95% recycled materials.  They have also established a “One Frame, One Tree  Program”, where a tree is planted for every frame sold.

Share the Care Referral Program

Refer your family and friends to Family Eye Care of Elmwood Park and save!

Referrals from our patients are the greatest compliment we can receive.  To express our thanks, we would like offer our patients savings on your next purchase of eyewear or contact lenses.  Here’s how the program works:

 

Refer 1 patient………………………….Save 10%

Refer 2 patients………………………..Save 20%

Refer 3 patients………………………..Save 30%

Refer 4 patients………………………..Save 40%

Refer 5 patients………………………..Save 50%

Refer 6 patients………………………..Save 60%

Refer 7 patients………………………Save 100% (free pair of glasses!)

 

 

*Discount can be used toward prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses,
or annual supplies of contact lenses.

*Cannot be combined with other offers, promotions, or vision plan
discounts.

Top 5 Reasons to Purchase your Contacts from Family Eye Care of Elmwood Park

1)  If you lose or rip a contact lens, we will supply you with a free trial lens.

2)  We offer a contact lens buy-back guarantee, which means you can return any unopened, unexpired boxes of contacts purchased from us.

3)  We guarantee that the contact lenses you order will have the correct prescription and parameters.

4)  We offer free shipping to your home and a 10% discount if you buy an annual supply of contacts.

5)  You will be supporting a local small business, rather than a large faceless corporation.

Are Your Contact Lenses Uncomfortable?

One of the most common complaints I hear from patients is that their contact lenses are uncomfortable.  There can be many reasons for contact lens discomfort, but here are some of the common ones:

• Dry Eyes:  Contact lenses sit on the front surface of the eye, and naturally cause evaporation of the tears on the eye.  Patients that already have dry eye symptoms before wearing contacts, often find that their symptoms are exacerbated with contact lens wear.  Dryness problems can be helped by changing to a contact lens material with a higher water content, using prescription or over-the-counter eye drops, or changing contact lens solutions.
• Ocular Allergies:  Patients with seasonal and environmental allergies often have discomfort while wearing contacts.  Allergens become attracted to the contact lens material and can cause symptoms of redness, itching, and irritation. Often, changing to a daily disposable contact lens or  using allergy eye drops (prescription or over-the-counter) will alleviate symptoms.
• Solution Toxicity:  Some patients may have a sensitivity to certain preservatives in contact lens solutions.  Changing to a daily disposable contact lens (which require no solutions), or switching to a hydrogen peroxide-based solution may help.
• Eye Infections:  More severe discomfort while wearing contact lenses is commonly due to an eye infection.  Bacterial infections and inflammatory responses occur typically when patients sleep in their contacts or do not properly clean them.  Contact lens use should be discontinued immediately and medical care should be sought at your optometrist’s office.  Your optometrist will usually prescribe prescription eyedrops to clear up the condition.

These are just some of the common causes of discomfort among contact lens wearers.  Be sure to see your optometrist so that they can determine the exact cause of the discomfort.

Dr. Frame