Eye emergencies happen. Our first instinct may be to get to an emergency room or an urgent care for help, however that might not always be the best plan of action when dealing with the eyes. Oftentimes ERs are able to treat a wound, but they don’t always have the correct equipment to do a proper comprehensive eye examination; staff who specialize in eye care; and/or could potentially misdiagnose you resulting in permanent vision loss. Visiting your optometrist could be the best answer when dealing with an eye-related emergency. 

Nearly 25% of eye-related ER visits were determined to be non-emergencies and could have been treated by an optometrist in-office.¹ Unnecessary ER visits can be costly to the patient and even slow down care for others experiencing an emergency, too. There are many reasons to choose to visit an optometrist, but specifically in an eye emergency because they can treat six common eye care emergencies.   

• Blunt Eye Trauma 
• Eye Cut, Puncture or Foreign Body to the Eye or Eyelid 
• Chemical Burn of the Eye 
• Sudden Vision Changes or Loss 
• Red Eye 
• Pupils are Different Sizes (pupil anisocoria) 

Leaving these symptoms untreated for a long amount of time can lead to permanent damage, vision loss or blindness. Not to mention, these symptoms can be very irritating. Most eye doctors have emergency/urgent care hours for their office as they are experts in treating these types of problems and can help to keep your eyes and vision safe and healthy. Eye doctors want to help by providing convenient and quick care, so utilizing their urgent care after-hours for emergencies could be beneficial.   

Having consistent interactions with an eye care professional can help you determine if what you are experiencing is an actual emergency or something that is completely common and benign. Getting an annual comprehensive eye exam can help you to understand any eye conditions you might experience, for instance, a puffy eyelid; pink eye; or eye floaters. Eye doctors are also able to help diagnose many underlying health conditions that you might have through an eye exam which can illuminate paths for treatment. 

Optometrists are specialists of the eyes, and they know the best route to keep you healthy and seeing your best. Reach out to your optometrist to help you determine what options there are within their office for emergency care. If you don’t have an optometrist, click here to find one near you! An eye doctor should be the primary line of defense for your eye health and working with them will help you to be prepared if an eye emergency happens.  

References: 

1. https://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(16)31631-1/fulltext

A comprehensive eye exam for your child should be one of the items on your back-to-school list! An annual exam can help your child keep seeing clearly and help to diagnose any underlying health or learning issues. Keeping our kids’ bodies and vision in tip-top shape is important for not only their health, but also their academic success. 

Children’s vision can frequently change throughout the year, so ensuring that they receive an annual eye exam will help them to see their best! If a child has other eye health concerns, more visits to your optometrist might be necessary. Did you know that optometrists can screen for over 270 diseases? It’s true that your eyes are the window to your health. During the comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor will screen for any potential health issues. 

It certainly is important for annual check-ups even when there are no significant symptoms, however, there are tell-tale signs that your child needs to see an eye doctor for corrective lenses and other vision correction. 

Signs of eye and vision problems 

• Complaints of discomfort and fatigue. 
• Frequent eye rubbing or blinking. 
• Short attention span. 
• Avoiding reading and other close activities. 
• Frequent headaches. 
• Covering one eye. 
• Tilting the head to one side. 
• Holding reading materials close to the face. 
• An eye turning in or out. 
• Seeing double. 
• Losing place when reading. 
• Difficulty remembering what they read.¹

These symptoms can hinder the success your child could achieve in school and extracurricular activities due to lack of confidence or poor binocularity. Vision-related learning problems can lead to feelings of inadequacy compared to their peers which could result in them falling behind in their foundational knowledge. The good news is that your eye doctor can put a stop to these issues simply by correcting your child’s vision!² 

You might be thinking, “my kid gets a vision test every year at school or at the pediatrician’s office”. This may be true; however, typically these are vision screenings and not complete examinations.  Parents and educators should not rely solely on school or vision screenings. Just because a child has 20/20 vision, doesn’t mean that they couldn’t still have vision problems relating to eye focusing, eye tracking and eye coordination which can easily be diagnosed by an optometrist during a comprehensive eye exam. To ensure your child is seeing their absolute best, you can find an optometrist near you, here! 

References:

1. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/back-to-school?sso=y&ct=74de599596b8f0625ecee7e73b9075748b40b67c7483063398c240812d9cc25103a8fe3cdf4730eaa60a156eb827cb7e3ce2c9ffd0bf6feed002d659bd886416#:~:text=Why%20back%2Dto%2Dschool%20eye,if%20recommended%20by%20an%20optometrist.https://iconeyecare.com/eye-care-blog/10-cataract-facts-cataract-awareness-month/
2. https://evansandpiggotteyecare.com/four-ways-poor-vision-can-affect-learning-children/

June is Cataract Awareness Month! The Optometrists of Colorado want to make you aware of this common and natural part of aging. Did you know, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world? It’s true! In fact, in the U.S.,  nearly 70% of people over the age of 75 have cataracts or have undergone cataract surgery¹. You might be wondering “what is a cataract?” A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye that can affect one or both eyes resulting in reduced clarity. To keep your vision healthy and clear, it is important to get an annual comprehensive eye exam, especially if you are over the age of 55! 

Risk Factors 

Certain lifestyles and genetics can play a factor in your risk of cataract development. 

• Family history of cataracts 
• Excessive exposure to sunlight 
• Smoking 
• High blood pressure 
• Diabetes 
• Obesity 

Thankfully, you can combat some of the risk factors by wearing UV-blocking sunglasses to avoid excess sunlight exposure. Also, eating a balanced diet with foods high in Vitamin C while also partaking in a healthy and balanced lifestyle! 

Diagnosis 

To determine whether you have a cataract, your doctor will review your medical history and symptoms, and perform an eye examination. Your doctor may conduct several tests, including: 

• Visual acuity test: A visual acuity test uses an eye chart to measure how well you can read a series of letters. Using a chart or a viewing device with progressively smaller letters, your eye doctor determines if you have 20/20 vision or if your vision shows signs of impairment. 
• Slit-lamp examination: A slit lamp allows your eye doctor to see the structures at the front of your eye under magnification. The microscope is called a slit lamp because it uses an intense line of light, a slit, to illuminate your cornea, iris, lens, and the space between your iris and cornea. The slit allows your doctor to view these structures in small sections, which makes it easier to detect any tiny abnormalities. 
• Retinal exam: To prepare for a retinal exam, your eye doctor puts drops in your eyes to dilate your pupils. This makes it easier to examine the back of your eyes, otherwise known as the retina. Using a slit lamp or a special device called an ophthalmoscope, your eye doctor can examine your lens for signs of a cataract². 
• Glare testing: This test re-creates the effects of headlights to see if that kind of light reduces your best corrected vision. 

If you notice clouding in your eye and blurring in your vision, make an appointment with an eye doctor. 

Treatment 

Cataract surgery is quick and nearly painless. The surgery can be done in around 30 minutes and is one of the most common surgeries performed in the United States. During the surgery, your doctor will remove your natural lens and replace it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), this will significantly improve your blurred vision! There is a very high success rate for this surgery, leaving patients with improved quality of life. The good news is that cataract surgery with basic lens replacement is often covered by Medicare and other insurance companies.  

Ultimately, cataracts are natural and very common! It’s important to keep your eyes healthy and vision clear for the best possible quality of life, and eye doctors are able to help with this. Find a doctor near you, so you can ensure you’re seeing your best!

References:

1. https://iconeyecare.com/eye-care-blog/10-cataract-facts-cataract-awareness-month/
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cataracts/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353795https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/uv-protection?sso=y