Common Eye Conditions

(time 01: 24) : Dry Eye: Introduction

Dry Eye is a chronic condition that results from an insufficient production of tears, or excessive evaporation of the tear film. Dry eye affects millions of people worldwide, and is one of the most common reasons that patients visit their eye doctor. Dry Eye is usually associated with dryness, scratchiness or burning of the eyes. Some people experience a “foreign body sensation,” a feeling that something is in the eye. The condition can also produce watery eyes because dryness can stimulate excess tearing as a reflex. In its early stages, dry eye causes mild discomfort, but it may become very uncomfortable as the condition progresses. One of the keys to improving this condition, and avoiding damage to the eyes, is to recognize the symptoms of dry eye early, and to seek treatment for it. Without treatment, chronic dry eye can lead to eye infection, scarring, and possibly impaired vision.Do your eyes itch? Do you suffer from burning, chronic redness, or a grittiness in your eyes? If you do then the chances are that you are one of the ten million americans who suffer from some form of dry eye syndrome. Our tears are made up of 3 important layers. When our tears lack one or more of these components, or when too few tears are produced, the tear film can break down causing dry spots to develop. As a result, the condition known as dry eye occurs. Dry eye cannot be cured, but your eye care professional can prescribe treatment to help alleviate the symptoms, so that your eyes remain healthy and your vision remains unaffected.

(time 1:00) : Dry Eye: Treatment Overview

Millions of people suffer from dry eye syndrome. Fortunately, there are numerous treatments available to relieve the symptoms of dry eye. Artificial tears – which come in liquid, gel and ointment form – are used to temporarily moisten and lubricate the eyes. Another solution is to block the drainage canal that carries tears away from the eye’s surface – allowing the eye to get more use out of the tears available. Some patients are candidates for prescription medications that can increase tear function and production. Prescription steroid drops work in a similar fashion, by reducing inflammation in the tear-producing glands of the eye. Eye care providers are also discovering the benefits of nutraceuticals. These nutrition-based options may help to lessen the symptoms of dry eye and improve tear quality. While dry eye syndrome may be an ongoing condition, the right treatment from your eye care professional can reduce or eliminate symptoms.

(time 1:39) : Computer Lens Overview

Millions of people spend long hours working at their computers — and if you are one of them, your computer monitor could be doing real harm to your eyes. Sore and tired eyes, headaches and blurred vision — even neck and back pain from straining to see your monitor — are all symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS. CVS can affect anyone who works on a computer. While maintaining good posture is an important part of the solution, a prescription for customized computer lenses can significantly reduce many of the symptoms that you may be experiencing. Customized computer lenses are different from regular eyeglass lenses. Regular eyeglass lenses may be good for reading, or driving, but they are not always suitable for computer work. Computer lenses are uniquely designed to make it easier to focus at the distance of your computer monitor, and reduce the glare caused by the lighting in your working environment. These lenses can also be given special tints, and lens coatings, that provide sharper vision, and better protection for your eyes. Computer glasses are not intended to replace your regular eyeglasses. They are recommended as a second pair of glasses, because they are customized to provide enhanced vision specifically for the workplace environment.

(time 0:51): Floaters

Small specks or clouds moving in your field of vision are called floaters. Most floaters are not dangerous and are caused by tiny pieces of tissue inside of the eye. When light hits these pieces of tissue it creates shadows on the retina, that appear to float across your field of vision. It may appear that these specks are on the front surface of your eye, but they are actually inside. In most cases floaters are no cause for alarm and no treatment is necessary, however a sudden increase in new floaters may indicate a problem and an eye examination is recommended if this occurs.