This past couple of weeks, I have been focusing on the risks of computer use in your eyes.  The first article covered the 7 ways to alleviate digital eye strain.  The second one talked about blinking and how important it is for our vision and to prevent long term dry eye.  And, the third article talked about digital devices causing sleep disruption and how that has long term effects.

In this article, I will cover the effects of prolonged computer use on the clarity of your vision in general.  Increases in nearsightedness have long been a concern (and a topic of research) amongst eye doctors.

I know this is a detour from my usual topics of all things related to dry eye.  Screen time does have significant effects on dry eyes.  But, I thought it would be...

Kids have been experiencing at-home learning for the last couple of months. Maybe your kiddos have spent more time on digital devices than they would have if they had been in the traditional classroom setting.

Now, school is out. The kids want to enjoy themselves again. Hopefully, they are spending more time outdoors and enjoying playtime and nature. However, these days, kids are spending more and more time on digital devices.  Download a Parent’s Guide to Screen Time here. 

Kids are spending time on their computers and iPads because they are using these devices for socializing, learning, and recreation.  Communication apps like FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp,  and Zoom have become more popular.  And, many video games are multi-player...

Blinking Keeps Vision Clear...

Springtime is a beautiful time of year with the birds chirping and flowers beginning to bloom.  However, it can be the worst time of year for dry eye sufferers.  Allergens on top of eyes that are already red and sore can be a nightmare.  

Eye allergy symptoms include itching, watering, redness, and swelling.  Those symptoms would be piled on top of the dry eye symptoms you are already feeling like irritation and fluctuating vision.  Use these tips to soothe your allergy symptoms this spring.

Eliminate the Pollen

Keeping the pollen out of your clothes, hair, skin, and eyes is a great first step in helping your symptoms.  I wrote a blog about this subject recently.  Review it here for some best practices to keep the pollen out of your home, your...

For many of us, Spring not only brings sunshine, warmer weather, and beautiful new flowers, it also brings pollen.  This pollen can cause tons of symptoms like sneezing as well as red, watery, itchy eyes.  Allergens can make us feel miserable.  Here are 3 tips to alleviate your allergy symptoms this spring.

Tip 1: Keep the pollen out

Eliminating the amount of pollen indoors is important in controlling your allergy symptoms.  The fewer irritants you have around your eyes, the less irritated your eyes will be.  When there is so much pollen that it coats our cars with a yellow frost, how do we keep it out:

Wear an outer layer of clothes like a raincoat with a hood.  Leave it in the garage or laundry room.  Don't bring the pollen into your home.

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Spending extra time on our digital devices seems like a lifestyle we all share right now.  The technology that we have today to work remotely and even socialize remotely is incredible.  But, all this extra screen time can cause problems with both dry eyes and eye strain.  

Utilize this downloadable resource guide to alleviate your digital eye strain.  Download it now and follow along with the blog.

#1) Set up your work station to reduce visual strain

Adjust your chair, desk, and monitor for the optimal distances and settings. Use the Workstation Set-Up Guide on page 7 to customize your workstation for your needs. Also, keep preservative-free tears handy, and utilize a small humidifier to keep your eyes from drying out during extended screen time.

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The national day of unplugging was Friday, March 6.  This was a time for us to take a break from our electronic devices.  In this case, I'm referring to cell phones, tablets, computers, televisions, and anything else that has a screen. 

 

Why Do We Need to Unplug?

I am often asked whether or not a patient's eyes are too dry for contact lens wear.  Sometimes the answer is yes, but this is rarer than you might think.

There have been so many advancements in contact lens technology in the past decade that lenses have become more and more comfortable.  And, more powers of prescriptions are available in contact lens form.  Often, I can fit most patients (even those with dry eyes) in a contact lens for part-time wear.

Contact lenses offer a great way to correct vision.  In some cases, people see better with their contact lenses than they do their glasses.  This is often the case in people with high prescriptions.  Glasses will often restrict a patient's peripheral vision when the lenses are very thick or have a lot of...

Platelet Rish Plasma 

Platelet Rich Plasma (also known as PRP) is a therapy that has been used in different aspects of medicine for over 20 years.  The use of PRP is gaining popularity because the platelets release enzymes to promote healing and tissue responses including attracting stem cells and growth factors to repair damaged tissue and cause regeneration and rejuvenation.  

To harvest the plasma, a sample of your own blood is spun-down and separated to collect a high concentration of growth factors. These factors accelerate healing due to rapidly duplicating cells, as well as, other healing factors migrating to the area of damaged tissue. In addition to quick healing, scarring is also minimized. 

PRP is used extensively in orthopedics, dentistry, and...