Vision Service Plan -VSP | Dr Kisling-Fort Collins Eye Doctors

Eyes Pseudotumor Cerebri

June 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Pseudotumor cerebri is an eye condition that can be confused with a brain tumor due to swelling of the optic nerve. Like a brain tumor, the fluid inside the skull that cushions the brain and flows around the spinal column develops elevated pressure. It is also referred to as Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension or Benign Intracranial Hypertension. It is more prevalent in women between the ages of 20 and 50. Symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri are usually an undiagnosed chronic headache, and in more severe cases there may be visual symptoms such as double vision. Also nausea and vomiting may occur. There is an unusual effect of pulsating sounds within the head that are synchronous with the heart rate referred to as Pulse-synchronous tinnitus.

A routine eye exam is where the initial diagnosis of mild cases of pseudotumor cerebri is often first made. The optic nerve that enters the back of the eye appears elevated in both eyes, a condition referred to as papilledema. Because the nerve is an extension of the brain and enclosed by the same tissues and fluid that cushion the brain, elevation in the pressure inside the brain also cause the nerve to swell. Since most cases occur in young to middle age overweight females, an elevated nerve with a history of chronic headaches and otherwise healthy is often indicative of pseudotumour cerebri. Other visual symptoms include double vision, brief periods of blurred vision or dim vision, and occasionally patient will have temporary episodes of blindness in one or both eyes. Changes in posture such as suddenly standing up or bending over may elicit symptoms, as may coughing or sneezing.

Double vision may occur when looking to the side. This is caused by a defect in abduction or the ability of an eye to turn out. due to a restriction in the capacity for one or both eyes to turn out. This presents a confusing picture when taken out of context because it is not due to damage to the abducens nerve (6th Cranial Nerve) that controls the eyes outward motion. In this case, the double vision is called a false localizing sign. Pain can occasionally be associated with eye movements.

Rarely, the pressure can become very high and cause severe problems with vision and alterations in levels of awareness. Most of the time truly is benign idiopathic intracranial hypertension and is managed by weight loss and occasionally medications. Sometimes discontinuation of certain medication may resolve the problems. The most severe cases may require a shunt to drain the increased fluid from the ventricles in the brain into the abdominal cavity.

Filed Under: double vision, Eye Diseases, Eye Symptoms, Fort Collins Eye Doctor, Fort Collins Optometrist, Headaches, Pseudotumor Cerebri, Vision Conditions, Vision Service Plan -VSP Tagged With: abducens nerve, abduction, age, awareness, benign intracranial hypertension, blindness, blurred vision, brain, brain tumor, cavity, chronic headache, chronic headaches, context, cranial nerve, cushion, damage, dim vision, discontinuation, double vision, elevation, Exam, eye, eye condition, eyes, fluid, head, health, heart rate, history, Hypertension, initial diagnosis, Intracranial, loss, medication, mild cases, overweight females, papilledema, periods, post, posture, Pseudotumor, Pseudotumor Cerebri, pseudotumour, Pulse-synchronous, routine eye exam, shunt, skull, spinal column, swelling of the optic nerve, Symptoms, Vision, vomiting

Eye Age Problems-Fort Collins Eye Doctors

May 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

As we age so do our eyes so it is important to take precautions to avoid certain eye problems. A common eye problem that accompanies aging is macular degeneration. This eye problem is caused by deterioration of the retinal tissues lining the back of the eye. This is a chronic eye disease with a multitude of evolving forms of treatment. It can give a person blurry vision and blind spots, and involves the central area of vision only. Unfortunately, this small area called the macula is vital for all detailed vision functions including reading. Since most of the retina remains healthy magnification aids can often be used to extend reading images onto the remaining healthy tissue. There are two different kinds of macular degeneration, the dry form and the wet form. The dry form of macular degeneration is less sight threatening and precedes development of wet macular degeneration.

Once macular degeneration transforms into the wet variety it can progress rapidly and cause serious vision complications. This can give you visual distortions such as seeing straight lines being crooked or wavy in appearance. You may notice objects looking very small or being farther away then they really are. You may notice loss of your central vision with blurry spots.

Evidence for nutritional intervention in preventing and treating macular degeneration continues to grow. Low dietary intake of the carotenids lutein and zeaxanthin are associated with an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration and may retard the development and progression of macular degeneration. Lutein and zeaxanthin have high levels in Broccoli, corn, squash,peas, and green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale. Foods with a high glycemic index (sugar rich simple carbohydrate foods that raise blood sugar rapidly) also increase the risk of macular degeneration -eating oatmeal may be good for more than just your heart. Vitamin deficiencies of E,D,and C seem to increase the risk of macular degeneration but vitamin A, especially in smokers may increase your risk for macular degeneration. Omega-3 fatty acids found in cold water fish contain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and may act in a preventative manner for macular degeneration.Coenzyme Q10 and acetyl-L-carnitine supplementation is a potential early intervention. UV and blue light increase risk for macular degeneration so sunwear should start early for children.

If you have dry macular degeneration you may notice blurriness in the words that you read, less color in certain objects and have a harder time recognizing peoples faces. Your vision may start to seem hazy and you will have the need for brighter light. With both kinds of macular degeneration, it may only effect one of the eyes. Sometimes people don’t realize that they have it with the eye that does not have it making up for the eye that is effected.

Another problem with your eyes as you age is cataracts. Cataracts cloud the eye and are a common type of eye problem. There are three basic types of cataracts that you should be aware of which are nuclear sclerosis, cortical and sub-capsular. The nuclear sclerosis cataract forms throughout the lens as a gradual darkening and discoloration. A sub-capsular cataract is at the back of the lens close to the line of sight and may cause vision loss much faster than other types of cataracts. Cortical cataracts start in the cortex of the lens. If you have a cataract you should not be overly concerned, they can be successfully removed by having outpatient surgery and are one of the most successful surgical procedures done today. Artificial lenses are implanted, often with no stitches involved in an outpatient procedure.

Another eye problem you may encounter as you grow older is called dry eye syndrome. As we age, we do not produce as many tears as before. It is known to cause discomfort and pain and can result in serious vision loss in more extreme cases. Treatment is available with a multitude of options. You do not have to suffer from the chronic burning and stinging that accompanies dry eyes. If should have your eyes dilated every one to two years by your optometrist to check for these eye problems and other diseases that can compromise your vision irreversibly. Prevention is the best gift you can give your family and yourself.

David H. Kisling, O.D., A.B.D.A.
Fort Collins Eye Doctors

Fort Collins Contact Lens

Vision Service Plan Provider

Filed Under: Contact Lenses For Astigmatism, Dry Eye Syndrome, Dry Eyes, Eye Nutrition, Eye Vitamins, Fort Collins Optometrist, Retina, Vision Service Plan -VSP Tagged With: age, age related macular degeneration, blind spot, blurry vision, burning, cataracts, central vision, check, child, chronic eye disease, color, corn squash, cortex, dha, diet, Dietary, dietary intake, Dry, dry eye syndrome, Dry Eyes, EPA, eye, Eye Doctor, eye doctors, eye problem, eye problems, eyes, Family, fatty, Fort Collins, Fort Collins Eye Doctors, green leafy vegetables, health, high glycemic index, lens, lining, loss, lutein and zeaxanthin, macula, macular, Macular Degeneration, magnification aids, nutritional intervention, omega, Read, reading, reading images, Retina, risk, treatment, Vision, Vision Service Plan, visual distortions, vitamin deficiencies, wet macular degeneration

Bleeding Eyes Aren’t All Bad But See Your Eye Doctor!

May 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

The sudden appearance of a red spot on the white of your eye can be very unnerving as it appears that the eye is bleeding. When it materializes without a history of trauma or other health problems, there is usually not a serious problem. Still, is hard to imagine anything more disturbing to look at than a blood red eye.

The Front of your eye has a mucous membrane layer called the conjunctiva. This thin transparent tissue forms a loose covering over the white part of the eye, the sclera, and extends under the eyelids. It has a thin layer of surface cells called the epithelium and a layer of connective tissue below this where small blood vessels,nerves, goblet cells (that secrete mucous) are located. The conjunctiva is extremely sensitive to inflammation because of a large number of mast cells(the cells that release histamine when you are exposed to an allergen).

Since the conjunctiva is loosely bound to the underlying sclera there is a potential space for blood to accumulate in. The small blood vessels in the tissue are capillaries, and they have fenestration to allow fluid exchange. Because they are so small and are subject to more movement and subsequent shearing forces in the loose conjunctiva tissue, it is not uncommon for a vessel to break and bleed. This blood spreads out in the space underneath the conjunctiva and appears to be a much larger volume than it is due to the thinness of the film of blood.

A number of events can trigger a hemorrhage under the conjunctiva. Coughing, vomiting, sneezing, straining for a bowel movement all increase blood pressure temporarily and can cause a sub-conjunctiva hemorrhage. Some activities such as rides at amusement parks with rapid acceleration and deceleration increase the blood pressure in the thoracic cavity and the head, which has been shown to cause hemorrhages. Merry go rounds can have the same effect. Rubbing your eyes may also mechanically burst a capillary as can any form of trauma to the eye.

Conjunctiva hemorrhages are not painful and do not lead to sight loss. They are equivalent to a bruise and undergo color changes over several weeks as they resolve and gradually reabsorb.

Any bleeding seen on the eye needs a thorough eye examination by your eye doctor to rule out other serious problems. Trauma could cause an unknown eye perforation that results in blindness if not treated. Any recurrent episodes warrant evaluation for underlying problems and diseases that make you more susceptible to having fragile blood vessels.

High blood pressure, arteriosclerosis (accumulation of cholesterol on your blood vessels), some types of blood cancers,diabetes,HIV and other diseases increase the frequency of conjunctiva hemorrhages. Drugs can cause hemorrhages including blood thinners (Coumadin), aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), and even Birth Control Pills in rare instances. Some systemic diseases; flu,measles, malaria, and rare viruses similar to Ebola are factors.
Conjunctival hemorrhage has been reported as a result of embolism from breoken bones and different types of surgery.

Some viral eye infections can cause hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis is a specific viral disease seen more commonly in lessor developed countries and is characterized by large outbreaks of eye infections with conjuctival hemorrhages.

One other rare cause of conjunctiva hemorrhage is referred to as Vicarious Menstruation. Little or no uterine bleeding occurs but bleeding occurs monthly and can occur almost anywhere on the body, though it is more common in the respiratory track,noes, gums, and conjunctiva. There have been patients who have eye hemorrhages every month at the time of their menstrual cycle.

Relax, Call the office and let us take a look at your eye. The odds are overwhelming it is an innocuous event that will causes you no problems other than a slightly scary looking eye. Although occasionally a torn contact lenses edge can cause the problem, it is often not necessary to stop wearing contact lenses for the eye to heal. If you have teenagers tell them “Twilight” wasn’t really fictions after all!

The conjunctiva tissue is small but vital to keeping mucous on your eye surface for a healthy tear film, allows the eyelid to smoothly resurface the cornea on and keep your vision clear, while preventing dry eyes. It is very active in the eyes own immuine system. Make sure you keep it healthy with routine eye check ups. Most vision insurance plans like Vision Service Plan (VSP) provide well coverage visits.

Filed Under: Common Eye Questions for Your Optometrist, Contact Lenses, Dry Eyes, Eye Symptoms, Fort Collins Eye Doctor, Fort Collins Optometrist, Vision Service Plan -VSP, vision therapy Tagged With: acceleration and deceleration, bowel movement, check, color, conjunctivitis, Contact Lenses, cornea, diabetes, drugs, Dry, Dry Eyes, Exam, eye, Eye Doctor, eye exam, eye examination, eye infections, eyes, fluid, fluid exchange, goblet cells, health, hemorrhages, histamine, history of trauma, insurance, lens, mast cells, merry go rounds, mucous membrane, outbreak, rapid acceleration, sclera, Service, shearing forces, sudden appearance, surface cells, thinness, thoracic cavity, transparent tissue, virus, Vision, Vision Insurance, Vision Service Plan, VSP

Contact Lens Advances You Should Ask You Eye Doctor About

May 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

If you wear glasses and have never considered contact lenses there are several reasons why you might want to re-consider the option of contact lenses. The range of prescriptions that can now be corrected with contact lenses has expanded over the years to the point that there are very few eyes that can’t be corrected with today’s technology. The automation of manufacturing techniques allows for contact lenses that can correct high amounts of astigmatism and they can be supplied in disposable formats for healthier eyes. Bifocal wearers now have a number of contact lens options. If you have a prescription that makes you think you cannot wear contacts or have been told you are not a candidate in the past, ask a Fort Collins Eye Doctor who specializes in contact lenses if it is a possibility. We have fit hundreds of patients who have been told by their prior eye doctor that contact lenses were not an option. Since the lens fits right against your eye peripheral vision is enhanced, and many people report marked improvement in eyesight with contact lenses. This is especially true with children (and adults) who are active in sports. Because everyone has a different prescription and variations in their eye anatomy and tear chemistry there is no one best type or brand of contact lens. Contact lens fittings need to be individualized for your personal needs. To choose the best options for your eyes communicate your occupational and recreational needs to your optometrist and participate in your health care decisions. Follow your eye doctors advice and allow time to adjust to the lenses.

Your lifestyle will play a part in what type of contact lens is best suited to your needs. If you work indoors at a computer all day, considerations for decreased blinking and subsequent dehydration of the contact lens will have to be taken under consideration. This can result in intermittent blurring and discomfort. In our Fort Collins Contact Lens Practice, dry eyes are a common problem we see that have caused patients to discontinue wearing lenses in the past. You may benefit from one of the low dehydrating contact lens materials available today. There are also soft contact lenses that have had plasma treatments on the surface to make them retain moisture better. Dry Eye therapy may need to be initiated if you have a borderline dry eye condition.

Patients needing bifocals can benefit from the rapidly advancing science of multifocal contact lenses. Soft bifocal contact lenses are usually simultaneous designs, with the central zone focused for distance and a surrounding zone for near. Often they come with a second design where the near is in the center and the distance zone encircles it. The Most common fitting we do is a modification with your dominant eye having distance in the center and adjusting the prescription for maximizing driving visual needs. The non dominant eye is then fit with a near center lens for best reading vision. Bifocal contact lenses require time and patience. They are not perfect, but usually you can expect to be able to function well for most of your vision needs.

Astigmatism is an eye condition where you need two different corrections. Often it is compared to an eye shaped like a football instead of a basketball. Soft contact lenses that correct for astigmatism have two different prescriptions and need to be aligned in the correct orientation with your eyes prescription. This is achieved with various techniques, including small amounts of material added as ballast, zones of thinning, or other methods. They still rotate off alignment occasionally and cause brief periods of blurring. A well fit lens should only have short periods of misalignment and the blurring should become almost imperceptible after adaptation. With extremely high amounts of astigmatism you can expect a little more fluctuation.

Lifestyle differences may come into play with your lens choice. Many people have been unable to wear contact lenses in the past due to occupations that prevented them from removing their lenses every day. Breakthroughs in material technology now allows lenses to transmit 400% to 1000% more oxygen than just a few years ago. The addition of silicone and plasma treatments mean these lenses may be an option you should consider. Children have been unable to wear contacts due to their maturity levels and inadequate hygiene and lens care. Contact lenses that are replaced daily have changed the age that children can start wearing lenses. With a daily disposable contact lens, there are no cleaning requirements or need for solutions.

If you have tried contact lenses before and could not adapt to them, you may want to give them another chance since there have been so many improvements in the recent past. Modern contact lenses are designed for enhanced comfort and eye health and cause less eye irritation. In terms of overall health, the daily disposable types are the least likely to lead to an eye infection since they are never reused. Monthly lenses do need to be properly cleaned and disinfected every night. Complications can occur if you don’t comply with the care instructions. As the result of advances in the technology of contact lenses, they are more comfortable to wear, most types can be worn all day and many types can be slept in. There are some types that can be worn for thirty days at a time before they need replacement which is an ideal option for those that are on call or have requirements to be on the go at a moments notice. Call for a consultation today if you would like to reconsider contact lenses. Many vision insurance plans like Vision Service Plan include coverage for contact lenses in a number of their policies.

Filed Under: Dry Eyes, Fort Collins Eye Doctor, Fort Collins Optometrist, Uncategorized, Vision Service Plan -VSP Tagged With: age, anatomy, astigmatism, automation, benefit, blink, Center, child, circles, computer, condition, contact lens practice, Contact Lenses, dehydration, doctor who, Dry, Dry Eyes, eye, eye anatomy, Eye Doctor, eye doctors, eye health, eyes, eyesight, Fort Collins, health, health care decisions, insurance, lens, lens fittings, lens material, lens options, lifestyle, moist, Optometrist, periods, peripheral vision, personal needs, plasma treatment, prescription, reading, shape, soft contact lenses, variations, Vision, Vision Insurance, Vision Service Plan

Happy Memorial Day-Keep Your Eyes Safe

May 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Traumatic Brain Injuries are common causes of undiagnosed vision symptoms. The brain is cushioned in a compartment but sudden changes in velocity can cause it to move slightly and cause axonal shearing (minute tearing of the nerves in the brain). People who have been in accidents, especially car accidents, often find their visual system seems disjointed days to weeks after the accident. They may have double vision, light sensitivity, poor focusing skills, difficulty reading, dry eyes, and a number of other eye problems. Even very low velocity accidents can result in trauma under the right circumstances.

Treatment is available. There are multiple modalities to treat dry eyes, special tints to reduce the photophobia (light sensitivity), special eyeglass corrections with prism to relieve double vision, and vision therapy (eye exercises) that can help alleviate other eye symptoms.

One of the outcomes of the war in Afghanistan and Iraq has been a large increase in eye injuries. Somewhere between 15-20% of evacuations have been due to eye injuries. Improved Body armor has led to survival of wounds that would have been lethal in the past but has left more veterans living with sight loss. There is currently increasing awareness in our military hospitals of traumatic brain injury eye problems.

Seat belts, helmets, and protective eyewear save lives and eyesight. Don’t be remiss in making sure your family is safe.

And this Memorial Day Holiday, consider a donation to the Veteran’s Plaza being planned for Spring Canyon Community in Fort Collins. Captain Diggs Brown is the visionary, planner, and fundraiser-see Veterans Plaza or Ray Martinez’s Commentary for more information on the Veterans Plaza in Sprng Canyon Park.

Be safe and see safe this holiday weekend!

Filed Under: binocular vision, double vision, Fort Collins Eye Doctor, Fort Collins Optometrist, Uncategorized, Vision Service Plan -VSP Tagged With: accidents, Afghanistan, awareness, axonal, body armor, brain, Brown, canyon park, Captain Diggs, car accidents, Commentary, Community, difficulty, donation, double vision, Dry, Dry Eyes, eye, eye exercises, eye injuries, eye problems, Eye Symptoms, eyes, eyesight, Family, Fort Collins, information, Iraq, light sensitivity, loss, Martinez, Memorial, military hospitals, nerves in the brain, photophobia, Plaza, prism, ray martinez, Read, reading, seat belts, spring canyon, sprng, tint, Traumatic, traumatic brain injuries, Traumatic Brain Injury, treatment, Veterans, Vision, vision therapy, war in afghanistan, weekend

Cataracts

May 18, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

A cataract is a clouding, opacification, yellowing, or accumulation of fluid in the lens of the eye that results in a loss of vision that interferes with your lifestyle. Most cataracts are related to aging, and by the time you reach the age of 70 it is almost universal to have some early signs of cataracts.

Age related cataract may occur in one eye first but with time will usually be present in both.

The lens is a clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that is lined with the photoreceptor cells registering light.

A healthy lens is transparent and passes most of the light to the retina, filtering out some UV. The retinal photoreceptor cells change light into nerve signals that are sent to the brain area in the back of the head.

When the lens becomes cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurred.

Most cataracts are related to aging, but some are have other causes such as trauma, eye diseases,and developmental abnormalities. Eye surgery for glaucoma and other conditions can lead to cataract formation. Certain health conditions like diabetes can also cause cataracts, occasionally very rapidly and in some instances reversible. Prescription steroid medications used long term can result in cataract development. Traumatic cataracts result after serious eye injuries but usually will not progress over time like age related cataracts. Infants occasionally are born with cataracts or develop them in early childhood, often in both eyes. These cataracts may be so small that they do not affect vision. While technically a cataract, I feel opacities need to cause lifestyle interruptions before they should be labeled as a cataract. If they do, the lenses may need to be removed. Radiation exposure can result in cataracts if the dose is high enough or accumulates over repeated exposure.

The lens lies behind the iris and the pupil, the black opening you see in the eyes. The lens adjusts the eye’s focus like the zoom on a camera, allowing us to see things clearly both up close and far away. The lens is made of mostly water with small amounts of protein and other substances. The protein is arranged in precise layers that keep the lens clear and lets light pass through it. When this pattern is disrupted vision becomes hazy and blurry.

There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing cataracts. Smoking is a major risk factor for cataract development as well as most causes of blindness. Reducing your UV sun exposure by wearing quality sunglases that meet A.N.S.I. standards is helpful. Sunwear that wraps and blocks sun exposure from the side is even more helpful.

Although research studies have given mixed results, time will probably bear out a protective effect of antioxidants on the lens tissue. Supplementation with vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin E likely will be shown to reduce cataract development. Eating foods that are complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and less refined foods with a lower glycemic index are associated with a decreased risk of cataract formation. Leafy green leafy vegetables, fruit, and other foods with antioxidants are always the best source of supplements.

Annual comprehensive dilated eye health exams are vital to monitor for cataracts and allow your optometrist to check for signs of macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other eye diseases. Early treatment and detection of eye disease may save your sight and life!

The most common symptoms of a cataract are:

Cloudy or blurry vision.
Colors seem faded.
Glare. Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright. A halo may appear around lights.
Poor night vision.
Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses as your eyes become more nearsighted.

Cataracts do not require surgery until they interfere with your lifestyle. In rare cases, the lens can rupture causing serious problems. This is almost unheard of today as eye doctors are widely accessible in all areas of the United States. A new eyeglasses prescription, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses can all be used to help in the interim period. Cataract surgery has a success rate over 95% today and replaces the lens with an artificial implant. Frequently your prescription for distance will be significantly reduced after surgery. Many patients find they have only occasional need for glasses for distance. Some lens implants available today provide some reading capacity also. Most of the time delaying cataract surgery will not cause long-term damage to your eye so you should not feel a need to rush into surgery.

Cataract removal may become essential when other eye diseases in the eye such as macular degeneration or diabetic related complications need to be visualized well to be followed. Even if your eye doctor tells you you have a cataract, your cataract may never develop to the point where surgery is required.

If you have cataracts in both eyes, the surgery may be necessary on one eye only for good vision. If surgery is required on both eyes it will be done at separate times several months apart. This is a much safer approach should complications occur, and allows for refinement of procedure if the first outcome is slightly off.

As with any surgery, cataract surgery does have some risks. Infection inside the eye is the most serious, but rare complication. Lenses may be displaced, cause damage to other tissues in the eye, and the retina tissue in the back of the eye may have swelling or detachments. Some prescription medications predispose you to problems during surgery so be sure to discuss all of your prescriptions with your eye doctor well in advance of eye surgery. Flomax, a prescription used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has been associated with Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome (IFIS). IFIS can cause problems during cataract surgery so you should be sure to inform your eye doctor if you are any prostate medications. Before cataract surgery, your doctor may ask you to temporarily stop taking certain medications that increase the risk of bleeding during surgery. Over the counter drugs like aspirin and advil may fall in this category. After surgery, you must keep your eye clean, wash your hands before touching your eye, and use the prescribed medications to help minimize the risk of infection. Serious infection can result in loss of vision.

Cataract surgery slightly increases your risk of retinal detachment. Other eye disorders, such as high myopia (nearsightedness), can further increase your risk of retinal detachment after cataract surgery. One sign of a retinal detachment is a sudden increase in flashes or floaters. Floaters are little “cobwebs” or specks that seem to float about in your field of vision. If you notice a sudden increase in floaters or flashes, call your optometrist immediately. A retinal detachment is a medical emergency. If necessary, go to an emergency service or hospital. Early treatment for retinal detachment often can prevent permanent loss of vision.

For a few days after surgery, your eye doctor may ask you to use several eyedrops to help healing and decrease the risk of infection. You will need to wear an eye shield or eyeglasses to help protect your eye. Avoid rubbing or pressing on your eye. Sun glasses will be needed to protect your eyes from the bright glare we have in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado.

When you are home, try not to bend from the waist to pick up objects on the floor. Do not lift any heavy objects. You can walk, climb stairs, and do light household chores.

In most cases, healing will be complete within eight weeks. Your doctor will schedule exams to check on your progress.

Problems after surgery are rare, but they can occur. These problems can include infection, bleeding, inflammation (pain, redness, swelling), loss of vision, double vision, and high or low eye pressure. With prompt medical attention, these problems can usually be treated successfully.

Months or years after cataract surgery cell growth can occur on the artificial lens obscuring vision. This is frequently referred to as after cataracts. A simple, brief laser procedure done in the office quickly resolves this problem.

Cataracts surgery is one of the most successful procedures done today. While you don’t want to rush into any surgery you can rest assured knowing if your vision does become problematic you have a good treatment option available. Medicare will cover cataract surgery when your eyesight has degraded to a designated level. Many types of vision insurance, including Vision Service Plan, provide coverage of cataract surgery under some of their policies. You will need to check with your provider to find out what is covered under your plan. Some types of lens implants are usually excluded.

Filed Under: Cataracts, Common Eye Questions for Your Optometrist, Eye Symptoms, Eye Vitamins, Flashes, Floaters, Fort Collins Eye Doctor, Fort Collins Optometrist, glaucoma, Pinkeye, Retina, Vision Service Plan -VSP Tagged With: age, cataracts, causes of blindness, check, child, cobwebs, color, Colorado, condition, damage, detection, diabetes, double vision, drugs, Exam, eye, eye disease, Eye Diseases, Eye Doctor, eye doctors, eye health, eye pressure, eyeglasses, eyes, eyesight, Flashes, floater, Floaters, fluid, Fort Collins, glaucoma, health, insurance, lifestyle, list, loss, loss of vision, Macular Degeneration, medication, nearsightedness, Northern Colorado, Optometrist, prescription, quality, reading, Retina, Retinal Detachment, risk, sunglasses, Supplements, treatment, Vision, Vision Insurance, Vision Service Plan

Posterior Vitreous Detachment

May 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

What is Posterior Vitreous Detachment?

Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) is a common condition which occurs in about 75 per cent of people over the age of 65. As people get older the vitreous, a jelly-like substance inside the eye changes. This can cause Posterior Vitreous Detachment.

What is the Vitreous?

The vitreous is a clear jelly-like substance within the eye which takes up the space behind the lens and in front of the retina, the light sensitive layer at the back of the eye. It is 99 per cent water. The other 1 per cent consists of substances which are important in maintaining the shape of the vitreous. The outer part of the vitreous (the cortex) has the highest concentration of collagen. The vitreous is attached to the retina, more strongly in some places than others. When a PVD starts the jelly comes away from the retina.

Why does the vitreous detach?

The firm jelly-like substance of the vitreous changes with age. The central part of the vitreous becomes more liquid and the outer part (cortex) peels away from the retina. As it comes away from the retina it can cause the symptoms of posterior vitreous detachment.

What are the symptoms of PVD?

Many people are not aware that they have developed PVD but some notice symptoms such as floaters or flashing lights. Floaters can take many forms from little dots, circles, lines, to clouds or cobwebs. Sometimes people experience one large floater which can be distracting and make things difficult to read.

The flashing lights that occur are also caused by the PVD. As the outer part of the vitreous detaches from the retina it can pull on this light sensitive membrane, especially where the vitreous is attached quite strongly to the retina. The pull of the vitreous in these areas stimulates the retina. This stimulation causes the sensation of flashing lights since the brain interprets all stimulation signals from the retina as light. In Fort Collins with all of the outdoor activities and sports we participate in sudden head movements are common causes to elicit flashes as the gel inside the eye moves.

Can anything be done to help with the PVD?

Unfortunately at the moment nothing can be done medically for this condition, usually people find that the symptoms calm down after about six months and people do eventually get used to living with the floaters. The brain tends to adapt to the floaters and eventually is able to ignore them, so they then only become a problem in very bright light.

Will I lose any sight?

Posterior vitreous detachment does not in itself cause any permanent loss of vision. Your visual acuity should remain the same that is you will be able to see just as you could before the posterior vitreous detachment started. You may have some difficulties to begin with because of the floaters and flashing lights though these do not cause permanent sight loss.

The only threat to vision is the small chance of a retinal tear leading to a retinal detachment.

It is important to stress that retinal tears and detachments are much rarer conditions and that very few people with PVD go on to develop either of these problems

Are retinal tears serious?

Sometimes the vitreous is so firmly attached to the surface of the retina that as the jelly collapses it pulls quite strongly on the retina. In a few people this may lead to the retina tearing which in turn could lead to a loss of vision because of a retinal detachment.

Warning signs of a retinal tear or detachment could be an increase in size and number of your floaters, a change / increase in the flashing lights you experience or a blurring of vision. If you experience any of these symptoms you should seek medical advice within 24 hours. This is particularly important if you notice a dark “curtain” falling across your vision, as this may mean that the retina has already partially detached. Early intervention may allow treatment of a tear before it becomes a detachment and increase the chances of a good recovery from a retinal detachment which has already occurred.

It is important to remember that PVD has been estimated to have occurred in over 75 per cent of the population over 65, that PVD is essentially a harmless condition although with some disturbing symptoms and that it does not normally threaten sight.

Will I need to keep seeing my doctor?

Your optometrist will give you a thorough examination during your first visit. They will pay special attention to whether or not the retina is in any danger. If it isn’t then they may not need to see you again for another year. However, if you have ongoing symptoms of light flashes you will need to be monitored every 1-2 months until the symptoms stop. Symptoms warning of a possible retinal detachment, such as sudden increase or definite change in floaters, more severe flashing lights and / or a ‘curtain’ falling over your vision are reason to call the eye doctor immediately. Unfortunately, even a few days delay can result in blindness from a retinal detachment.

Is there anything I can do to cope with these annoying symptoms?

Floaters can be particularly annoying. They get in the way of seeing things and can make some things difficult, for example reading a book. There is a way of trying to cope with this that some people find useful. If you move your eyes around you can create currents in the jelly within your eyes this can sometimes move the floater out of your direct field of vision.

This works best if you have one large floater rather than lots of small ones. Making things bigger can also help while you have floaters so that you are able to see things around the blank spots the floaters cause. Using tinted lenses, especially some of the blue blocker colors may help reduce the awareness of floaters. Altering contrast levels may help, white backgrounds are particularly annoying with floaters, changes in illumination or even a lightly colored transparency over reading material may help. However most people find that with time the floaters become less and less of a problem.

Don’t delay in seeking a diagnosis for any new episode of floaters. Most vision insurance plans like Vision Service Plan and EyeMed provide annual eye visits. Don’t hesitate to use them for preventative care.

Filed Under: Common Eye Questions for Your Optometrist, Eye Symptoms, Flashes, Floaters, Fort Collins Eye Doctor, Fort Collins Optometrist, Retina, Vision Service Plan -VSP Tagged With: age, circles, clouds, cobwebs, collagen, concentration, condition, cortex, diagnosis, Exam, eye, eye changes, Eye Doctor, eyes, Flashes, flashing lights, floater, Floaters, Fort Collins, insurance, lens, little dots, loss, loss of vision, Optometrist, posterior vitreous detachment, PVD, reading, Retina, Retinal Detachment, retinal tear, retinal tears, sensation, sensitive layer, Service, shape, tint, treatment, Vision, Vision Insurance, Vision Service Plan

Glaucoma,LASIK,Fort Collins Eye Doctor

May 9, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Should LASIK be performed on patients with pre-exsisting glaucoma? The answer is not clear to this Fort Collins Eye Doctor. Most Optometrists would have a hard time committing to a single answer. Read my post at “http://lasikfortcollins.com/”>LASIK Fort Collins.

Filed Under: Common Eye Questions for Your Optometrist, Fort Collins Eye Doctor, Fort Collins Optometrist, Fort Collins-Fun Things To Do, glaucoma, Vision Service Plan -VSP Tagged With: answer, eye, Eye Doctor, Fort Collins, glaucoma, hard time, Optometrist, Optometrists, post, Read

Hysterical Amblyopia

April 29, 2009 By admin 3 Comments

Hysterical Amblyopia is a syndrome that is characterized by reduced visual acuity not caused by any type of eye disease. It is 4 times more prevalent in girls and shows a peak in incidence between the ages of 11 to 14. A number of symptoms cluster together, with vision changes noticed first at near distances when reading, often with a sudden onset. In some children there may be no complaints about vision even with marked reductions in vision. Accompanying the reduced vision there is frequently a lowering of depth perception as tested by stereoscopic methods, a reduction in color vision test scores, and tunnel vision. When tunnel vision is present it is in a form that is not possible from a physiological perspective, and there is no corresponding loss of peripheral mobility (the child is not bumping into objects as they walk. It can be a result of stress in the child’s environment. Other symptoms may be present such as headaches and light sensitivity.

Streff Syndrome is used to describe similar problems that are thought to be caused by the visual stress of near work. Some Eye Doctors make a sharp distinction between the two conditions, I feel they are the same, caused by stress whether it is in the family environment, related to intense near work, or both.

Treatment opinions vary greatly. Visiting a therapist to rule out any serious psychological issues in a good step. Various forms of lenses and tints may be used. Some Optometrist believe low prescriptions to help the eye focus are useful. I believe these are usually placebo effects but fall in the category of active placebos. A school of thought exists that not all placebos are equal and choosing the correct placebo can aid in healing a number of health problems. Frequently the lens and tint options we use can resolve the problem in a matter of weeks or months. Sometimes eye exercises are used. Occasionally drops are used. Other alternative therapies can be used, the most well known being the Irlen System. However, I have found the tints we use to be just as effective.

Malingering occurs when a child wants glasses and feigns vision loss. It is difficult for a child to be successful malingering with the eye exams we utilize today. Hysterical Amblyobia is not malingering, it is a true psychologically related vision loss. Left untreated hysterical amblyopia may continue throughout life. It may also spontaneously disaapear as stress reduces.

It is vitally important to follow up with appoinments and make sure the condition is not getting worse. I have seen one case of hysterical ambyopia tha occurred at the same time a pituitary tumor was developing. Follow up visits allow us to make sure that no rare cases of co-exsisting serious conditions exsist. Although it is normally done only at research centers, electrophysiological testing can help in the definitive diagnosis of hysterical amblyopia.

Filed Under: Common Eye Questions for Your Optometrist, Eye Diseases, Eye Symptoms, Fort Collins Eye Doctor, Fort Collins Optometrist, Vision Service Plan -VSP Tagged With: ambyopia, child, color, condition, depth perception, diagnosis, eye, eye disease, Eye Doctor, eye doctors, eye exercises, eye focus, family environment, Fort Collins Eye Doctors, Fort Collins Optometrist, health, Hysterical Amblyopia, Irlen, lens, light sensitivity, Optometrist, other alternative therapies, physiological perspective, placebo effects, placebos, psychological issues, reading, reduced visual acuity, school of thought, Streff, streff syndrome, sudden onset, therapist, tint, tunnel vision, vision changes, visual stress

Eye Doctors Pinkeye Recommendations to Prevent Spreading Eye Infections and Alternative Treatments

April 24, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

A number of years ago an outbreak of pink eye in a elementary school had all the moms frantic and half of the school would be missing in action shortly after the announcement was sent home. Those days were prior to the education parents and health care providers have been receiving in current times about preventive measures to help in ceasing the spread of pink eye. In the past if one child was infected by pinkeye it was not long before half the class ended up with it too. Now that personal hygiene is taught more extensively in the schools at an earlier age parents are becoming more aware of how to prevent further infection of pink eye at home. This has helped seclude outbreaks so they occur less frequently than previously. It is still not unheard of to occasionally see a major outbreak spread rapidly through a school. Pink eye can cause any parent concern when they see their child come home from school with a pink to extremely red eye. Hemorrhagic forms of pinkeye cause small amounts of blood to spread out over the white part of the eye and the appearance exceeds their actual capacity to damage eyesight. The first scare is eye damage. Thankfully, pink eye rarely causes any long-term eye vision damage and some types of pink eye can resolve without any treatment in a week or so.

Pinkeye, otherwise known as conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva that can be caused by infections, allergies, viruses, colds, bacteria, or a substance that irritated the eye leading to an infection. Just because some pink eye types will fade away without intervention, never risk a your childrens sight with that thought process; always seek out medical eyecare from your family Optometrist immediately. Some forms of pinkeye can be debilitating for up to a year. Other more serious eye diseases may look like pinkeye but indeed may be a very serious type of eye disease. Most schools will not let your child return to school unless you can show proof that you have seen one of the Eye Doctors in your area. Your Optometrist can give your child a clean bill of health when they feel like they are no longer contagious. Unfortunately, this is not an exact science but a reasonable enough guess to significantly reduce the spread of pinkeye today. Typically a child will need to be out of school for 3-4 days.

Newborns born with pink eye is generally due to the mother passing on an STD (sexually transmitted disease) to the infant through the birth canal and can be serious if not caught at onset. Doctors have become more then vigil in checking birth mothers prior to birth for STDs that can cause serious side effects in their newborn well prior to delivery and treat those conditions during her term. Pinkeye presents with symptoms of eye discomfort, commonly relayed as feeling as if sand is in the eye. It can commonly cause the child to wake in the morning with a thick crust that seals the lids together resulting in the need of a warm towel to soften the mucus to be able to open the eye comfortably. Other common symptoms are sensitivity to light, itchiness, and excessive tearing. Pinkeye caused by bacteria or a virus are highly contagious and can be passed through touching an infected child, touching something an infected child has touched, coughing, and sneezing.

To prevent the spread of pink eye keep your child out of school or daycare until your doctor or Optometrist give the go ahead for them to return. Teach your children to wash their hands frequently and explain to them why it is so important. Washing hands while singing the happy birthday song twice to themselves is a good way to teach them correctly. Also, teach your children not to share personal care items with another student or child as well as if they are aware that another child is ill or has a case of pink eye. Do not use or touch anything belonging to that child until they have been given a clean bill of health. This is especially true in young contact lens wearers; your child should never try on another persons lenses or borrow their case or contact lens solutions. In your home, wash pillowcases regularly, especially anytime your child is ill as well as other bedding and linens. If your child has a case of the pink eye, separate their towels and washcloths items from the rest of the families and wash their items in hot water. If your child is at risks of coming down with pinkeye due to allergies, limit their pollen contact by keeping your child inside on heavy pollen days, keep your home closed up during them periods, dust and vacuum daily, and avoid subjecting your child to any other free radicals in the air such as cigarette smoke, smog, car exhaust, etc. If you suspect your child may have a case of the pinkeye or a school nurse has sent your child home, contact a qualified Optometrist to get treatment as needed for your child.

Alternative treatments for pinkeye in under developed countries include topical povidone-iodine (betadine) which is effective against most bacterial conjunctivitis at a fraction of the cost of standard antibiotic prescription eye drops. Povidone is sometimes used by optometrists to treat EKC, a special severe from of viral conjunctivitis. However, it does not appear to be a treatment for most viral forms of conjunctivitis. Homeopathic remedies include Similasan Pink Eye Relief eye drops. Similasan 2 Allergy Eye Drops have had one small study showing effectiveness and they do seem to work well for some patients with milder forms of allergic conjunctivitis. Any over the counter eye drop treatments should be used under medical supervision as some drops can induce angle closure glaucoma in susceptible patients. There have been cases where individuals have gone blind from self treating with over the counter eye drops. Chronic dry eyes can make you susceptible to recurring bouts of conjunctivitis. Treatment of dry eyes may be a very good preventative measure for chronic pinkeye

Filed Under: Corneal Infections, Dry Eyes, Eye Diseases, Eye Symptoms, Eye Vitamins, Fort Collins Eye Doctor, Fort Collins Optometrist, glaucoma, Pinkeye, Stinging Eyes, Vision Service Plan -VSP Tagged With: Eye Clinic, eye infections, Eye Nutrition, Ocular Health

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