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5 Tips To Find Relief For Itchy Eyes & Allergies

Types of Remedies For Itchy Eyes

If you’re suffering from eye allergies, you’re not alone.

An estimated 1 in 5 Americans deals with the annoyance of eye allergies, or ocular allergies also known as allergic conjunctivitis. While the symptoms caused by eye allergies can be bothersome, they almost never present a permanent threat to eyesight.

However, it’s important to note that itching, redness, burning sensations and puffiness can also be signs of infection. In cases of infection, see your doctor if the symptoms don’t improve with time or with treatment such as over-the-counter remedies.

If you think you may have eye allergies, here are some helpful tips on how to get relief from your red, itchy, and watery eyes.

1.) Avoiding Allergens

Keep an eye on pollen count forecasts. If the count is going to be high, consider staying indoors. A remedy to combat itchy eyes is to replace the filters in your air conditioner and/or furnace. This will help trap allergens while creating a more comfortable environment.

2.) Resist the Temptation to Rub Itchy Eyes!

While rubbing itchy eyes may feel natural, the contact to the eyes will actually release more histamine and aggravate the symptoms. In other words, rubbing itchy eyes may make the problem worse.

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3.) Remove Your Contacts

Did you know that the surface of contact lenses can attract and accumulate airborne allergens? If you are looking for ways to find relief for itchy or irritated eyes, you may want to consider wearing glasses during the allergy season. Also, consider switching to disposable lenses. This way, your contacts aren’t accumulating allergens over a period of days.

4.) Over-the-Counter Eye Drops

Your local pharmacy has many types of over-the-counter eye drops and remedies that may provide relief for your red, watery, and itchy eyes. This approach isn’t only convenient, but also budget friendly. Your doctor can help you find the best brand for your symptoms.

5.) Prescription Medications

If eye drops are not providing relief for moderate to severe, symptoms, it may be a good time to talk to your doctor about what prescription options are available.

Eye Care Solutions

If you need assistance with a vision or eye problem, give our staff of ophthalmologists a call by phone at (877) 852-8463 to book an appointment. We offer eye care solutions to clients such as LASIK eye surgery, glaucoma treatments, cataract surgery, and macular degeneration solutions. Our staff is committed to offering new and innovative treatments to patients.

Tips & Insights: What Are The Differences Between Dry & Wet Macular Degeneration?

Dry Vs Wet Macular Degeneration: Risk Factors & Treatments

The leading cause of vision loss among Americans 60 years of age and older is macular degeneration. It affects 11 million people in the United States, and that number is expected to double by 2050. The disease affects the small central portion of your retina, known as the macula. This portion of your eye is responsible for our sharp, central vision. It helps us read, recognize faces, drive, and more. In macular degeneration, this spot deteriorates and leads to irreversible destruction that could dramatically change your life as you age.

Two Forms of Macular Degeneration: Dry & Wet

Dr. Carmelina Gordon, of Specialty Eye Institute, says the dry form of macular degeneration is the more stable form of the disease while the wet form is the more aggressive one. There is a 10% chance of converting to the wet form from the dry stage. If you are comparing the differences between dry vs wet macular degeneration, ninety percent of legal blindness from macular degeneration is due to the wet form. The dry form is characterized by the presence of yellow deposits in the macula, while the wet form is characterized by leaking abnormal blood vessels growing underneath the macula.

Risks for Macular Degeneration

While age and family history are the most prominent factors, there are other factors that make you more susceptible to macular degeneration. They include:

Smoking doubles the risk of developing the disease
Diets that lack vegetables & fruits
Women are more likely to develop the disease
Macular degeneration is more common among whites
High blood pressure & cholesterol

Are There Early Stage Symptoms of Macular Eye Degeneration?

The early stages of wet and dry macular degeneration can be bereft of symptoms. Hence, a complete exam including a yearly dilated eye exam is recommended for people above 50 years of age. Diagnostic tools such as an Amsler Grid test can also help detect changes in the retina.

Treating Macular Degeneration

Once diagnosed, Dr. Gordon says there are various treatment options. Vitamins containing a high dose of antioxidants and zinc are recommended for intermediate stage dry AMD. Your eye care professional will determine whether your macular degeneration is in the intermediate stage, and will make the recommendation to use these vitamins. The wet form of macular degeneration is treated using intravitreal injection of anti VEGF drugs that are given every 4-8 weeks for an average of 2 years or more. These anti VEGF meds include an off label drug called Avastin, and 2 FDA approved drugs namely, Lucentis and Eylea. Numerous research studies are underway for new drugs to treat wet and dry macular degeneration. “We are constantly looking for more efficacious and permanent treatment regimen,” states Dr. Gordon, who oversees and directs the macular degeneration studies at Specialty Eye Institute.

While rarely resulting in total blindness, the potential significant visual disability caused by macular degeneration can be life altering. Its negative effect on our central vision (crucial for everyday activities), further showcases the importance of regular exams especially as we age. Our team of ophthalmologists offer innovative macular degeneration treatments to help preserve or improve your vision. In addition, our staff of doctors provide other types of eye care solutions such as cataract eye surgery, refractive lens exchange treatments, and LASIK surgery. Give our team of ophthalmologists and optometrists a call by phone at (877) 852-8463 to book an appointment. Our doctors may perform a variety of tests to diagnose macular degeneration.

Will Diabetes Negatively Impact My Eyes & Vision?

True or False: The Longer You’ve had Diabetes, the Higher the Chance of Developing Trouble in the Back of the Eyes

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of vision loss and eye issues in the working age population in our country.

The answer is true: The key thing to remember about Diabetic Eye Disease is the longer you’ve had Diabetes, the higher the chance of developing trouble in the back of the eyes. Diabetes causes trouble in the retina and eyesight issues through a number of ways. Primarily, when you’ve had Diabetes for many years, this results in damage to the small blood vessels in the back of our eyes.

So when these blood vessels are damaged, the eye is not getting enough Oxygen and that leads to a series of events that can cause loss of eyesight. For example, you can get fluid build up in the macula, which is the very center part of the retina. That can cause trouble with reading, driving, and normal activities.

In addition, abnormal blood vessels can grow in the back of the eyes. These blood vessels can proliferate, they’re very fragile, they can cause bleeding and scarring, and even a detached retina, which can cause patients to go blind. The key with Diabetic Retinopathy is to watch your blood sugar.

Controlling your blood sugar will reduce the risk of severe vision loss by more than 50%. Now once you have Diabetic Retinopathy, it’s very important to see a retina specialist because we have excellent treatments now that can stabilize the vision and in many patients, improve vision. If you are having vision issues at night or during the day, give our team a cal by phone at (877) 852-8463 to book an appointment. Our ophthalmologists and optometrists offer various types of vision care solutions such as diabetic retinopathy treatments, LASIK eye surgery, keratoconus treatments, and cataract surgery. Do you have diabetes? Our doctors will work with you to develop a vision care strategy to improve your sight and life.

Author

Surendar Purohit, M.D.
Vitreoretinal Specialist

What Supplements Slow the Progression of Macular Degeneration?

Our eyesight is a precious function that many of us take for granted and while sitting in the doctor’s office may not be something you enjoy doing, a yearly visit with your ophthalmologist is a great way to protect your vision from degenerative eye disease. Supplements are utilized to slow or stop the progression of macular degeneration in older adults. Macular degeneration is the most common eye disease. If you are 55 years or older, your ophthalmologist should examine your eyes every year as early diagnosis is the key to a successful treatment plan.

What Causes Macular Degeneration?

There are many risk factors for macular degeneration such as heredity and age, smoking, high blood pressure, and vitamin deficient diets.

The two types of macular degeneration are wet and dry. Both will lead to loss of vision if they are not diagnosed and treated aggressively. For more information on risk levels and the types of macular degeneration, contact your ophthalmologist.

If you have been diagnosed with macular degeneration, you are not alone, and while macular degeneration is a leading cause of blindness, it is also treatable. Depending on your level of degeneration and your adherence to a treatment plan, you can slow the development of macular degeneration for many years.

Supplements for Macular Degeneration

There are many treatments available for macular degeneration patients, and your specific treatment options will depend on the type, stage, and your personal medical history.

Remember, your ophthalmologist is a trained professional, so regardless of the treatment recommended, following it closely is imperative to maintaining your vision. The first step to stopping or slowing the spread of macular degeneration is adjusting your diet to include supplements to improve your health. Here is a list of the most common changes for your diet:

1. Zinc and Antioxidants

After years of research, studies have shown that taking supplements with high levels of zinc and antioxidants may help slow the progression of macular degeneration. Your ophthalmologist will recommend the right type and dosage of these supplements, but if you are at risk of developing macular degeneration or are concerned about this condition, ensure your daily multi-vitamin contains these vital nutrients.

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2. Other Vitamins and Minerals

In addition to zinc and antioxidants, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a daily supplement with high doses of vitamins C and E, copper, and zeaxanthin. This regimen is based on recent findings that suggest these supplements may stop or slow the progression of intermediate dry macular degeneration from advancing to wet macular degeneration, the stage when loss of vision occurs.

3. Eye-Healthy Foods

While supplements are the most common treatment for macular degeneration, remember that simply taking a daily vitamin will not prevent or slow the progression of this destructive disease.

Ophthalmologists also recommend, in addition to daily supplements, eating a diet rich in nutrients that promote healthy eye function and slow the advancement of macular degeneration. When choosing fruits and vegetables, choose colorful vegetables, particularly dark leafy greens like spinach and kale.

Preventing Macular Degeneration

Your best defense against developing a degenerative eye disease is to practice preventative measures, so macular degeneration will not be a threat to your eyesight. Regular eye exams and tools like the Amsler Grid test can help detect any changes in the retina and macula. Our staff of ophthalmologists provide dependable eye care solutions such. as macular degeneration treatments, cataract surgery, dry eye treatments, and LASIK eye surgery. Yearly examinations with our team of ophthalmologists will verify that your eyes are healthy and if not, allows for early detection of eye degeneration, so you can utilize the many treatments and supplements for macular degeneration. Our team of ophthalmologists offers eye treatment options in areas of Michigan and Ohio such as Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Bryan, and Toledo. Schedule an appointment online or call us at (877) 852-8463.

How to Prevent Glaucoma: Risk Factors, Diet, & Tips

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in people who are 60 years old and over. A fairly common condition, glaucoma causes damage to the eye’s optic nerve. Our optic nerve is vital for healthy vision and damage caused by glaucoma is mostly irreversible.

While it’s most common in older adults, glaucoma can also occur at any age. Sadly, many forms of glaucoma have little or no warning signs. This means that the damage is often so gradual that people do not notice a change in vision until the condition is quite advanced. If you are looking for ways to prevent glaucoma, we have created an outline of the risk factors for the condition.

What Causes Glaucoma?

Generally, glaucoma is caused by abnormally high pressure in the eyes. However, there are other risk factors that can cause the onset of this condition such as family history, thin corneas, and ethnicity.

The three types of glaucoma include open-angle glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma, and normal-tension glaucoma. We have created a list of the most the most common glaucoma risk factors and ways to reduce your risk of developing the condition.

Risk Factors For Glaucoma Include:

High eye pressure
Family history of glaucoma
Age 40 and older for African Americans
Age 60 and older for the general population
Thin corneas
Suspicious optic nerve appearance with increased cupping (the space at the center of the optic nerve, is larger than normal)

Risk Factors For Open-Angle Glaucoma Include:

High myopia (very severe nearsightedness)
Diabetes
Eye surgery or injury
High blood pressure
Use of corticosteroids (for example, eye drops, pills, inhalers, and creams)

Risk Factors For Angle-Closure Glaucoma Include:

Age 40 and older
Family history of glaucoma
Poor short-distance vision
Eye injury or eye surgery
East Asian and Inuit ethnicity
Risk Factors for normal-tension glaucoma
Cardiovascular disease
Family history of glaucoma
Low eye pressure
Japanese ethnicity

Ways To Prevent Glaucoma

Since vision loss due to glaucoma can’t be recovered, it’s important to take a large number of precautions to reduce your risk or prevent this condition. Most importantly, try to have regular eye exams where an optometrist will measure your eye pressure. This way, if there is a problem, a diagnosis can be made in the early stages and treated appropriately to prevent glaucoma. If glaucoma is recognized early, vision loss can be slowed or even prevented.

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To prevent or lower your risk of developing glaucoma, medical experts recommend a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a nutritious diet to improve your overall physical and mental well-being. Take note of the following tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle:

Tips For a Lowering Glaucoma Risk

Maintain a healthy weight
Keep your blood pressure at a normal level
Don’t smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol
Limit caffeine intake to moderate levels, because some evidence suggests that high amounts of caffeine may increase eye pressure
Try to exercise daily by doing physical activities such as walking, swimming, or working in the yard
Prevent over exposure to sunlight by wearing sunglasses and hats when you’re outdoors
Get regular, comprehensive eye exams, and consult your doctor if you notice changes in your vision
If you are African American, taking prescription eye drops could cut your risk of getting glaucoma in half

Did you know including certain foods in your diet can help reduce your total amount of risk factors for glaucoma?Here is a list of vision-boosting foods to eat:

Types of Foods That Can Reduce Your Exposure to Risk Factors for Glaucoma

Foods That Contain Carotenoids

Foods containing carotenoids may help reduce your risk or prevent several types of medical conductions such as glaucoma. Research indicates that carotenoids may help protect your eyes from the damaging effects of blue light and reduce your risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) later in life. Carotenoids are found mostly in carrots and dark, leafy greens such as spinach, collard greens, and kale. Carotenoids are also found in yellow corn, okra, broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, mango, green beans, sweet potatoes, lima beans, squash, bell peppers, and egg yolks.

Foods High In Vitamin C

Vitamin C is good for the blood vessels in your eyes, and science suggests it could lower your risk of getting glaucoma and cataracts. Foods that are high in vitamin C include peppers, citrus fruits, tomatoes, broccoli, strawberries, sweet and white potatoes, leafy greens and cantaloupe.

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Foods High in Vitamin E

A large study found that vitamin E, together with other nutrients, can help slow age-related macular degeneration from getting worse. These foods include eggs, fortified cereals, fruit, wheat germ, green leafy vegetables, nuts, nut oils, vegetable oils, and whole grains.

Foods Containing Vitamin A

Plant-based forms of Vitamin A, such as sweet potatoes and mango have proven to lower your risk of long-term eye diseases, including AMD and cataracts. It is thought that most western diets don’t get nearly enough Vitamin A, so be sure to make an effort to include Vitamin A rich foods in your diet.

Foods Containing Zinc

Zinc brings Vitamin A from your liver to your retina. Here it is used to make a protective pigment called melanin. If you are looking for ways to decrease your risk factors for glaucoma, oysters have more zinc per serving than any other food. In addition, foods such as chickpeas, black-eyed peas, kidney beans, and lentils are a good source of zinc.

Foods With Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3s have also been shown to protect your eyes from AMD and glaucoma. Low levels of these fatty acids have also been linked to dry eyes. So be sure to fill your diet with salmon, sardines, walnuts, flax seeds, and chia seeds to up your fatty acid intake to help protect your eyes.

What Foods to Avoid

While a healthy diet that is low in processed foods and sugar is beneficial for your all-round health, there are no specific foods to avoid when it comes to how to prevent glaucoma. However, there is a link between excessive caffeine consumption and a rise in eye pressure. While a few cups of coffee won’t cause harm, moderation is key. So if you do drink a lot of coffee, think of switching to something else or at least swap a portion of your daily cups of coffee to decaf.

Our team of glaucoma specialists offer innovative glaucoma treatments to clients in areas such as Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Toledo, Lansing, and Jackson. In addition, we offer other types of eye care solutions such as LASIK surgery, blepharoplasty treatments, cataract eye surgery, and refractive lens exchange treatments. Make an appointment with an eye care specialist today to learn more about glaucoma and treatment options.

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