Blog

May 17, 2019 – Jackson, MI

Carmelina Gordon, M.D., a Vitreoretinal Surgeon, has been proudly serving patients at the Lansing and Jackson Specialty Eye Institute offices for over 15 years. Because retinal care is vital to a patient’s health and quality of life, Dr. Gordon maintains a strong focus on the latest technology, to assure that her patients are given the best treatment options to preserve their vision. Her dedication to research and clinical studies for retinal conditions has earned her a prestigious reputation in the medical field.

On behalf of her fellow VISTA and VIVID investigators, Dr. Carmelina Gordon presented a post hoc analysis of these 2 trials to compare the incidence of vision threatening complications due to diabetic retinopathy in patients treated with Eylea versus standard laser. The results of this analysis were presented for the first time during the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada this past week. ARVO meetings are attended by more than 11,000 U.S. and international basic and clinical vision researchers.

The VISTA and VIVID studies are two pivotal, phase 3, randomized, multi center trials performed in the U.S. (VISTA) and the rest of the world (VIVID) that led to the FDA approval of the drug, Eylea, for treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss among working-age adults. This complication affects the retina of the eye and can lead to blindness. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater the chance of developing diabetic retinopathy. People who developed diabetes during childhood are most at risk of being stricken with diabetic retinopathy.

Specialty Eye Institute began in 1978 when Paul H. Ernest, M.D., the company’s founder opened Jackson Eye Center in Jackson, Michigan. Since then, the company has grown into a multi-specialty ophthalmology practice with 23 doctors in 10 locations throughout Michigan and Ohio. We strive to provide the highest level of ophthalmic care at an affordable price.

You know how important your vision is. Imagine navigating the world without it. Did you know that certain foods are good for your eyes?

These Vitamin-Rich Foods are Good for your Eye Health

You probably already know that carrots are good for your eyes, but have you ever thought about what’s in them?

Things like vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 acids all help your eyes’ stay healthy. They can help prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

But, where can you find them?

Spinach and Kale also have antioxidants that protect your eyes from damage. Damage can come from sunlight, cigarette smoke, and even the air around you. They also have lutein and zeaxanthin.

Grapefruit, strawberries, and Brussels are full of vitamin C. Vitamin C is considered the king of antioxidants, so stock up on food that contain this as often as you can!

Seeds, nuts, and wheat germ have vitamins C and E. They work together to keep your tissues healthy.

Turkey, oysters, crab, salmon, sardines, and herring contain zinc and lots of omega-3 fatty acids which may reduce the risk of dry eyes.

Pumpkin and sweet potatoes contain vitamin A, which can help with night vision.

5 Meals to Support a Healthy Vision Diet

Some of the previously mentioned food to support healthy vision isn’t the greatest to eat on their own. It would be better to incorporate the taste of them into some delicious meals.

We’ve put together some of our favorite recipes below – they all include foods and vitamins that will give your eyes a boost.

1.  Cheese & Spinach Stuffed Portobellos

This is a yummy way to create the taste of pizza, but it’s still a really healthy hors d’oeuvre, appetizer, or starter.

This recipe works best with large Portobello caps. Though, if you find smaller ones, buy a couple extra so you can spread the ingredients evenly.

You will need:

• 4 large Portobello mushroom caps
• ¼ of a teaspoon of salt
• ¼ of a teaspoon of freshly ground pepper
• 1 cup of part skim ricotta cheese
• 1 cup of finely chopped fresh spinach
• ½ a cup of finely shredded Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped Kalamata olives
• ½ a teaspoon of Italian seasoning
• ¾ a cup prepared marina sauce.

It will take around 40 minutes from start to finish. Check out the full recipe.

2. Easy Salmon Cakes

This is a simple meal packed with omega-3s. It will work for both fresh and canned salmon.

You will need:

• 3 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 15 ounces canned salmon, or 1 ½ cups of cooked salmon
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 ½ teaspoons of Dijon mustard
• 1 ¾ cups of fresh whole wheat breadcrumbs
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• Creamy dill sauce
• 1 lemon cut into wedges.

It should take around 45 minutes in total to make. Here is the full recipe.

3. Strawberry Blueberry Compote in Red Wine Syrup

This is a fun and colorful meal full of flavorful fruits.

You will need:

• 1 cup of dry red wine
• ¼ cup of sugar
• ½ teaspoon of whole black peppercorns
• 2 (2 ½ inch) orange rind strips
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 cups sliced strawberries
• 1 cup of blueberries

It should only take around a half an hour to make. This is a great recipe for a party, as it serves 8.

4. Rosemary Roasted Almonds

This is a great snack recipe. There’s nothing worse than being hungry in the middle of the day. It will take around 20 minutes to make.

You will need:

• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of Chile powder
• 3.4 teaspoon of kosher salt
• Dash of ground red pepper
• 1 bag of whole almonds

5. Green Eggs and Ham Frittata

Who doesn’t love some classic green eggs and ham. This recipe has leeks, dills, spinach, and Havarti cheese. It will take around an hour to make and bake.

You will need:

• 8 large eggs
• 1 ½ teaspoons of dried dill
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 leeks, white and light green parts only, diced
• 1 5-ounce bag of baby spinach, chopped
• ½ cup of diced ham
• ½ cup of shredded Havarti or muenster cheese.

These meals are both literally and figuratively a feast for your eyes.

Food that’s good for your eyes doesn’t have to taste bad. You can easily find food that’s good for your vision and good to eat.

Bon Appétit!

Here’s a question we get asked pretty frequently – and it’s something important to consider for any of our patients that use eye makeup and mascara products to be aware of.

“Can my use of eye makeup or mascara products affect my vision?”

In short, it’s unlikely that you’ll experience vision problems from using eye makeup – but it is possible. Let’s outline the basics.

Eye Problems from Makeup Use

Since everyone’s eye needs and makeup use routines are different, there’s a lot to be aware of. It boils down to be careful, be clean, and be safe. When it comes to your eyes, you only get one pair, so make sure you take care of them if you use eye makeup!

Here are the top things we think you should be careful about:

Contacts

If you wear contacts, it’s entirely possible that the use of makeup products can get into the contacts and ruin the integrity of the lens, and could also possibly cause an infection.

When you put your contacts in, make sure you put your contacts in before and be extra aware of the sterility of your hands and lenses.

Scratched Cornea

It’s serious and it’s all too common – scratching the corneas happens when people are not careful when applying mascara. Scratching a cornea can lead to dangerous infections, so make sure to be careful when applying mascara or makeup.

Try to avoid applying eye makeup or mascara in the car – that’s one of the most common places where people will scratch a cornea.

Avoid using mascara that uses fibers to thicken and lengthen the lashes. The fibers may fall into the eye, scratching the cornea.

Allergies

If you’re sensitive to certain materials or are known to have allergic reactions, you should always test makeup before putting it on.
Some brands will label their makeup as hypoallergenic or ophthalmologist-approved. If you’re having allergic reactions in your eyes to makeup, you should talk to an eye specialist about your options.

Pink Eye

If you don’t clean your makeup or share your makeup, bacteria can grow on it which can cause a bacterial infection, such as conjunctivitis, or more commonly known as “pink eye”.

Make sure not to share your makeup, especially with people who have been around people with bacterial infections.

Also, make sure to properly conceal your makeup when you’re done using it. If you’re using dry makeup, you may also be able to sanitize it with alcohol wipes. Be warned that some makeups may dissolve in alcohol.

Leaving Makeup On

Some makeups have non-toxic components, like glitter, that could cause an irritation, especially if it gets into your eyes while you’re sleeping.

We cannot stress this enough – remove your makeup at the end of the night before you sleep. Try not to fall asleep with any makeup on – especially anything near your eyes.

Expiration Dates Matter

A lot of people tend to ignore the expiration dates on their makeup – but the reason that they’re in place is that makeup tends to have preservatives in them to keep bacteria from building up inside of them.

The preservatives do not work after the expiration date.

Do not keep expired makeup – the bacterial infections are not worth it!