The following are 10 little secrets to keep your eyes in top form:

1. Turn down the heat in your house and make use of a humidifier.
2. Don't sleep or work with a fan directed toward you.
3. Drink more water! (Coffee, tea, & soft drinks do not count!)
4. Make sure not to over wear your contacts. Better yet, take a "vacation" from your contact lenses and wear your glasses at least one day a week.
5. Eyelash "shampooing" with a gentle face soap morning and night.
6. Make sure you regularly take Vitamins A, C, E, lutein, zinc, and omega fatty acid complex.
7. Replace mascara and eyeliner frequently.
8. Don't use anti-wrinkle or anti-acne creams above the cheek or below the brow unless they are a lotion made specifically for the eyelid.
9. Use gentle artificial tears to keep eyes moist. DO NOT use eye drops that say, "Get the red out".
10. Wear sunglasses when you go outdoors. Believe it or not, eyes get sunburned, too. Also, UV light has been linked to early cataract formation, macular degeneration, skin cancers, and even wrinkles!

If you have symptoms that are not taken care of by the above 10 tips, please make an appointment to come in and see one of our doctors.

As more people use computers in the workplace, complaints of eye fatigue, difficulty focusing and discomfort have increased. This has come to be known as Computer Vision Syndrome.

Computer screens won't damage your vision, but you may experience eye strain. Modern Anti-Reflective lenses work wonderfully to reduce glare from computer screens and fluorescent lighting.

Rearranging your computer workstation, changing screen settings, and getting a prescription for "computer" glasses can all help to relieve eye fatigue. You should sit approximately 24-28 inches from your computer monitor (a little further than you would for reading distance) with the top of the screen at or below eye level.

Task concentration and decreased blinking rates can also increase problems with dry eyes, especially during the winter. Usual symptoms include stinging or burning eyes, scratchiness, excessive tearing or difficulty wearing contact lenses. Make sure that you take frequent rest breaks and that you are drinking plenty of water. Non-preserved artificial tears are handy to keep near your workstation when eyes become too dry.

If any of these describe how you are feeling, call our office today and schedule an appointment. We can customize a solution to fit your needs!

It's time to re-open those book bags and fill them with all of your child's school supplies! Your child will be heading out every morning to get back to their classes and start learning again... But wait!!! Do they have all that they need to succeed in school this year?

"Does my child need an eye exam?" Every year we get asked this question by parents who have concerns about their child's vision; and with good reason. Did you know that 80% of learning is done visually? While vision screenings at school are helpful, they are not always accurate and do not consider all aspects of the visual process. Remember that most often your child will not tell you that they are having vision problems. Many times they believe that this is how everyone else sees. Here are some important signs indicating that your child may be having difficulty:

-Rubbing their eyes or squinting
-Moving their head instead of eyes when reading
-Frequently losing their place when reading
-Complaints of double vision or headaches
-Difficulty maintaining concentration when reading
-Avoiding activities that require visual attentiveness
-Aching around the eyes
-Lag time when changing focus from near to far

Because we consider you and your children a part of our family here at Vision Park, we want your child to get the most out of their education. School is difficult enough even with terrific vision. Make sure you give your child every advantage to succeed this year! If you are noticing any of the above signs in your child or if you just want to make sure that they are seeing at their optimal level, please call us to schedule an appointment.

Have you ever wondered about laser eye surgery and whether it would really work for you? That's a frequent question we hear from many of our patients.

LASIK can be very successful when performed on the right patients, but it is not for everyone. Your eye doctor can answer this question very specifically for you. But, if your curiosity won't let you wait until your next appointment, this test can help you determine if you're a good candidate.

Here is a link to a 2-minute screening to answer your question. It's from allaboutvision.com which is one of our most trusted websites for non-biased eye-related information. Here's how it works:

- Answer 12-14 questions about your eyes and health.
- A personalized report is generated in your browser window.
- The information you supply is completely confidential.

Goodluck and don't forget to schedule your pre-op LASIK evaluation with our office. We are a great informational resource on LASIK and LASIK eye surgeons.

- Feet should be flat on the floor (or on a slightly angled foot rest) with knees bent close to or greater than 90 degrees.
- Chair seat should support the legs without excessive pressure on the back of the thighs.
- The back should be snug against the seat to fit your spinal contour.
- Thigh-to-trunk angle should be 90 degrees or greater.
-Wrists and hands should extend nearly straight from the elbow to the home row of the keyboard.
- A commonly preferred work surface height for keyboard use is about 26" as opposed to the conventional 29" of most tables or desks.
- Place the monitor 24"-28" from your eyes, depending on the size of the monitor and individual vision conditions.
- The monitor and keyboard should be straight ahead.
- The top of the monitor should be slightly below horizontal eye level. Tilt the top of the monitor away from you at a 10 degree to 20 degree angle. The center of the monitor should be 10 degrees to 20 degrees below your eyes. This is 4"-9" below your eyes at a distance of 24"
-Keep the monitor free of fingerprints and dust. Both can reduce clarity.
- Place document holders close to the screen within the same viewing distance. Keep the keyboard and monitor in line.
- Adjust the keyboard tilt angle so that wrists are straight.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases where intraocular pressure is too high for the optic nerve and retinal nerve fibers to handle. It has come to be nicknamed "the sneak theif of eyesight" because the most common form of glaucoma has no symptoms at all until it is too late. If left untreated, glaucoma will cause slow peripheral vision loss and eventually total blindness. Early detection is the best defense. Progression may be haulted, but vision that is lost can never be restored.

The diagnosis of glaucoma is made from the results of several different tests and risk factors. Glaucoma treatment usually consists of medicines delivered through an eye drop. This is the best way to deliver the maximum dose to the eye without affecting other areas of the body. In some types of glaucoma laser or traditional surgery is necessary.

In addition to determining your visual needs, screenings for glaucoma are conducted during "routine eye exams". This is one of the most important reasons for having regular checkups, even if you do not need contacts or glasses.

At some point in our lives, we may see floating spots that appear in different shapes, such as specks, clouds, dots, circles, lines, or cobwebs. You can often see them when looking at a plain background, like a blank wall or blue sky. They actually come from clumps and strands within the gel of the eye which cast shadows on the retina (the part of the eye that senses light and allows you to see).

You may also see flashes of light. Floaters with flashes are more common when people reach middle age. As we age, the vitreous gel may start to thicken or shrink, forming clumps or strands inside the eye. The vitreous gel pulls away from the back wall of the eye, causing a posterior vitreous detachment.

Most floaters are harmless and fade over time or become less bothersome, requiring no treatment. Surgery to remove floaters is almost never required. However, the sudden appearance of a significant number of floaters (especially when they are accompanied by flashes) may be a symptom of a tear in the retina, which is a serious problem. If a retinal tear is not treated, the retina may detach from the back of the eye. If you suddenly see new floaters, call our office to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. We have a doctor on call at all times to assist with emergencies.

Age-Related Macular Degeneraton (AMD) is a disease that breaks down the macula - the portion of the retina which is responsible for fine-detail vision. This is the vision required for activities such as reading or driving.

The causes of AMD are still unknown. Early symptoms include blurred vision or dark spots in the center of your vision. AMD is painless and usually very gradual. Early detection is of paramount importance in having a "fighting chance" against this disease. Early-stage AMD can be detected only through a dilated eye exam and retinal imaging.

Risk factors for AMD include: smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and family history. Treatment begins with anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals. Rx drug therapy and laser surgery are solutions for more advanced cases. Polarized lenses are recommended as sun protection for patients who have or are at risk for AMD.

Everyone experiences the symptoms from time to time: burning, irritable eyes, sometime even a feeling that something is actually in the eye, but for some 3 million American women (and 1 million men), these symptoms are chronic, because they suffer from Dry Eye Syndrome.

Tears are essential to good vision. They lubricate your eye, protect it from infections and wash away allergens and debris. With Dry Eye Syndrome, the eye produces too few tears, or tears of very poor quality. Ironically, some people with Dry Eye Syndrome may actually experience tears running down their cheeks as a result of "reflex" tearing.

It is normal for everyone to experience reduced tear production as they age. However, there are many other chemical and environmental factors which contribute to the problem. Dryness can be caused by a dusty or windy climate, heat or air-conditioning vents, as well as extended computer use. Dehydration and lack of sleep may also play a part. Dryness is also a side-effect of other medicines such as birth control pills, blood pressure medicines, antihistamines, over-the-counter eye drops and certain anti-depressants. On occasion, allergies or bacterial infections can even masquerade as or contribute to dry eye problems.

Help is available! Your eye doctor can offer several options, including prescription medications, for managing Dry Eye Syndrome. If you experience symptoms that are not eleviated by artificial tears alone, call our office for an appointment. We can help!!

A cataract is a clouding of the natural internal lens of the eye. This lens is responsible for focus. It is contained in a sealed bag or capsule that sits immediately behind the iris and the pupil. For most people, cataracts are a natural result of aging. In fact, they are the leading cause of visual loss among adults 55 and older. Thank goodness this vision loss is almost always completely correctable! Other causes of cataracts include eye injuries, certain medications, UV exposure and diseases such as diabetes and alcoholism.

When the visual decrease caused by cataracts is significant, out-patient surgery becomes necessary. The lens with the cataract is removed and a new artificial lens is implanted in the same capsular bag. Pre- and post-operative follow-up visits can be accomplished at our office for your convenience. We can also assist you in getting new lenses for your glasses after cataract surgery, and with using your Medicare benefits for this purpose.

Blepharitis refers to inflammation of the eyelids, particularly at the lid margins. It's a common disorder and is usually associated with a low-grade bacterial infection or a generalized skin condition. 90% of the cases come from staph bacteria.

Blepharitis causes symptoms such as eye irritation, burning, tearing, foreign body sensation, dryness, red eyelid margins, and crusty debris (in the lashes, in the corner of the eyes, or on the lids).

A hordeolum (stye) is a localized infection or inflammation of the eyelid margin involving hair follicles of the eyelashes (external hordeolum) or meibomian glands (internal hordeolum). A hordeolum usually is painful, red, and localized. Both types can arise as a secondary complication of blepharitis.

If left untreated, the hordeolum may spontaneously resolve or it may progress to form a painless mass known as a chalazion. Chalazia can be quite large and can cause visual disturbance by pressing on the cornea. On occasion a more serious infection called a cellulitis of the eyelid may occur if an internal hordeolum is left untreated.

Blepharitis and styes can be difficult to manage because they tend to recurr. Treatment is two-fold. The initial phase of the treatment is designed to get the immediate infection under control. This includes applying warm compresses to the eyelids, cleansing them, as well as using a prescription antibiotic ointment or pill. The second part of the treatment is to prevent the blepharitis from recurring. (And it ALWAYS recurrs.) Eyelash cleansing or "shampooing" with a gentle face soap should be done every morning and night.

If you feel like you have an eye infection, discontinue using your contacts (switch to glasses), avoid touching or rubbing the eye area,and wash your hands frequently. Call our office to scedule a visit--this can often be filed as a "medical visit" on your regular health insurance. We will make every effort to see you as soon as possible. If you do have an eye infection, the doctor will prescribe medications to get your eyes back to health as quickly as possible.

Allergies occur when the body overreacts to something it believes to be harmful, even though it may not be. For example, pollen or dust that is harmless to most people can cause a myriad of symptoms in overly sensitive, allergic individuals. Common signs of allergies include: red, swollen, tearing or itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, itchy nose, mouth or throat, and headache from sinus congestion.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, most of the more than 22 million Americans who suffer from allergies also have allergic conjunctivitis (one type of pink eye). Contact lens wear can significantly magnify these allergy symptoms. Many options are available for coping during this difficult time. These include discontinuation of contact lens wear, switching to daily wear disposable contacts, or utilization of one of several new prescription and non-prescription medications. These medications can be taken orally or topically in the form of drops.

Remember. The doctors and staff at Vision Park are your partners in the battle against ocular allergies.