LIVING WITH AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

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February is National Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) awareness month. We want to make sure that you know what side effects to be on the lookout for. While there is not cure for Macular Degeneration early detection is key to slowing down vision loss and keeping your sight.

Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss. It is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina. The central portion of the retina, known as the macula, is responsible for focusing vision for the eye, allowing us to read, recognize faces or colors, drive and do many day-to-day activities.

While there is no cure for this disease, there are treatments to help slow it down. It is important to maintain yearly eye exams for early detection. AMD is very difficult to notice until you have already lost a large portion of your vision.

Lifestyle changes can help lower your risk of developing AMD. Some lifestyle changes might include proper exercise and diet, avoiding smoking, and protecting your eyes from the UV rays of the sun. People that run a higher risk of developing AMD are people who have a family history, race, Caucasians are more likely to develop the disease than African American or Hispanic heritage, and smokers.

There are three stages of AMD:

  1. Early AMD: At this stage most people do not experience vision loss. The presence of medium-sized drusen (yellow deposits beneath the retina), is usually an early sign you eye doctor looks for.
  2. Intermediate AMD: This is where vision loss may start to be noticed, however it may not be enough to be noticeable. Specific tests will look for pigment changes in the retina and larger drusen deposits.
  3. Late AMD: At this stage vision loss has become noticeable.

Remember that early detection and treatment is key to help save your vision. Be sure to tell your eye doctor if anyone in your family has or had Macular Degeneration. Take charge of your health and see clearly with routine eye exams.

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.

WINTER WONDERLAND!

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Man and woman in warm clothing and ski goggles

It is easy to make sure that you have the essentials; warm gloves, hats, a warm coat, good snow boots and even hand warmers for many of us. There is one piece of winter clothing that many people tend to overlook – eye gear. Having the proper eye gear can help to reduce the chances of snow blindness.

Snow blindness, also known as Photo keratitis, is when the cornea becomes inflamed from exposure to the harmful UV rays of the sun. The reason this condition is referred to as snow blindness is due to the reflection of the sun’s rays off of the snow. It is most common in people partaking in snow sports such as skiing, snowboarding or mountain climbing. Snow blindness can also be experienced by people enjoying the beautiful winter scenery with the lack the proper eye protection or use no eye protection at all.

Some of the symptoms include bloodshot eyes, uncontrollable eyelid twitching, eye pain and increased tearing or watering of the eyes. Many times these symptoms will not immediately present themselves. Like your skin becoming burned by the sun on that summer vacation at the beach, you will often begin to experience symptoms of snow blindness hours after the damage has been done. If you find that you experience these symptoms, get out of the sunlight. The best course of action to help speed up the recovery is to stay inside in a darker environment, cover your eyes with a cloth or material to block out light from getting to your eyes, and, most importantly, remove your contacts. Full recovery can take anywhere from 1-3 days depending on the severity of damage done. If symptoms persist, it is important to seek medical treatment to help reduce the chances of permanent damage. Repeated suffering from snow blindness can also increase your risk of permanent damage to your eyes and can reduce your ability to see.

PREVENTION! The best way to reduce the chances of suffering from snow blindness is to make sure that you have the proper sunglasses, snow goggles, or glacier goggles.

Sunglasses: If you choose to use sunglasses make sure that they have high UV protection. Wrap around style with full eye coverage are the best to prevent light from getting around the glasses to your eyes. Also be sure to get polarized, dark, mirror-coated sunglasses for best protection.

Glacier Goggles: Glacier goggles or glacier glasses are specifically designed for people who partake in the outdoor activities that would lead to snow blindness. They are usually darker than most sunglasses or goggles and come with mirrored and polarized lenses. The glacier sunglasses often have added plastic or other material that helps to block the sun from getting around the glasses to your face.

Snow Goggles: While many snow goggles help to keep snow out of your eyes and do help block out the sunlight, most often they do not provide great protection from the sun. While we all look for the best deal and go with a cheaper product, this is one of those things that you might want to consider spending a little more to get a pair of goggles that will properly protect your eyes.

So this year as you slide your feet into the warm boots, throw on your winter jacket, and get dressed to go outdoors, don’t forget to grab the eye gear that you need to keep your eyes protected.

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

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new years resolutions

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. By educating people of what this disease is, how it can negatively affect your everyday way of life, and how early detection is key to slowing or even stopping the progression, we can help to reduce the number of people who will lose their vision from it.

There are over 3 million people in the United States alone who have Glaucoma with roughly 50% unaware that they have the disease. It is the leading cause of preventable blindness, without early detection any damage done is permanent, and cannot be reversed.

At this point you may be asking yourself, what does this disease do? Or what are the signs so I can help to better protect myself? Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve. This nerve is like the cable that runs from your digital cable or satellite box to your TV. It takes what the eye is seeing and gives that information to the brain effectively allowing you to see.

Glaucoma is often referred to as “the sneak thief of sight”. There is no pain associated with the disease. Because people are not experiencing any symptoms, the disease will slowly degrade your vision. As this happens, your vision is degraded and the optic nerve is permanently damaged. A person can often experience as much as a 40% vision loss before they even begin to notice that their vision is degrading.

Those that are highest risk for developing Glaucoma are individuals over the age of 60, people who are severely nearsighted, and those who have family members that have already been diagnosed. If you are diagnosed with Glaucoma, it is important for your family to know, as it increases their risk of developing the disease. Also, people of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent are at a higher risk than those of Caucasian descent.

Early detection is essential for this disease. I’m sure that by now, you have picked up on our urges to maintain annual eye exams in our past blogs, and this disease is one of the reasons why. By detecting this disease early you can take steps can slow or even stop the progression of vision loss. Having an annual eye exam is one New Year’s Resolution you’ll want to keep.

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.

EYE SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE

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Portrait Of Auto Mechanic Working Underneath Car In Garage

October is eye injury prevention month. Could your job land you in the doctor’s office or the ER with an eye injury? With over 1,000 work-related eye injuries a day, it is fair to say that there are many professions in which workers can put their health and safety at risk.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that nearly three out of every five workers injured were not wearing eye protection at the time of an accident. While you may believe it unnecessary to wear protective glasses at your job, consider the alternative of losing eye sight in one or both eyes.

Hands-on craft work and industrial equipment operators top the list for the most eye injuries. While potential eye hazards can be found in nearly every industry, it is reported that more than 40% of injuries studied have occurred among craft workers, machinists, carpenters and plumbers. Almost half of the injured workers were employed in manufacturing, and slightly more than 20% were in construction.

How can you protect yourself you may ask? While it is important to wear safety glasses, are you wearing the right type of safety glasses? Flat front safety glasses such as reading glasses will offer some protection, but they do not prevent debris or particles from entering the eye from the top, bottom or sides of your face where the glasses do not cover. Furthermore, flat front glasses are not as resistant to breaking if they come in contact with a hard object.

It is important to allow air to circulate between your eye and the glasses. However, you do not want to have so much space that would allow particles to enter the eye. When using your protective glasses, keep in mind that you also need to be able to see clearly. In too many cases, it is found that safety glasses that are to be worn to protect the eye, are so scratched or damaged that it prevents the worker from seeing clearly. While scratched safety glasses are protecting the eye being injured, the lack of clear vision may lead to other mistakes that could cause other workplace injuries.

Small business owners and independent contractors, you aren’t immune. How often do you work a “side job” without the proper eye protection? Whether you work for a large manufacturing company or are an independent business owner, you are subject to injury. For the small business owner, it could mean the loss of work, wages and career with no safety net to ensure your financial future.

To help prevent eye injuries and to make your work place safer and take steps to protect your eyesight, follow the OSHA rules regulations and guidelines. Knowledge is power, keep your safety record going strong through proper eye safety protection.

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.

TECHNOLOGY OFFERS HOPE TO LOW VISION PATIENTS

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Staying abreast of breakthroughs in technologies present a lifeline for those diagnosed as having low vision. Many people ask “what now” when they are first diagnosed with a low vision causing disease. What is considered low vision? Low vision describes significant visual impairment that cannot be corrected fully with glasses, contact lenses, medication or eye surgery.

While there are several different causes for low vision, having an annual eye exam may help to prevent some types of progressive diseases. Breakthroughs in technology continue to offer hope to restore sight to people who suffer from the diseases that cause low vision. We previously shared information on implants and prescription telescopic glasses. eSight is one of those companies that is helping to bring vision back to people who suffer from low vision.

eSight is eyewear that is made up of 2 different components. The headset houses a high-definition camera, OLED screens, and technologies used to simultaneously capture and display real-time video feeds. The controller is the brains of the eSight eyewear. It is responsible for processing the video that is being taken by the headset and simultaneously converting it pixel by pixel into a real time video that is displayed on the OLED screens that are kept in the headset. It is also where the batteries are contained that power this new cutting edge technology.

While it may look like a 3D game of the future, these glasses work by capturing the video, processing it and then displaying the video on the screens contained in the headset. They are designed to fit over and work with your current prescription glasses, and help by magnifying everything that is seen by the camera and projecting it onto the two screens located in the headset.

Creativity throughout the development process has allowed the user the ability to adjust the headset lenses tint level depending on the light setting in which you are using the eSight glasses.

The cost of the eSight component is around $15,000 and is available in Canada and the US. There are fundraising programs available that the company can help you with. eSight does not raise funds for their patients, but guides them in the steps to tell their particular story and ask for financial support to purchase the glasses.

While these glasses will not make everything crystal clear, or completely overcome the side effects of having a low vision causing disease, they do help to make life just that much easier by allowing the user the ability to better see the world. The technologies in this device may be enough to make a major difference in a person’s life allowing them the gift of independence.

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.

TIME TO GIVE BACK!

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As a small business owner I have always looked at Bissell Eye Care and wondered how I could make my practice better as well as serve my patients to the best of my abilities.  As Bissell Eye Care has grown to two locations over the years, I have looked for ways to give back.  We are an eye wear collection center for the local Lion’s Club.

Recently I became aware of an eye wear brand that gives back and wanted to introduce the Modo and Eco brands in our offices.  Bissell Eye Care has paired up with MODO, a company that was founded in 1990 in New York.  Modo was founded on the principals of helping those who need it most.  Click here to learn about the “buy a frame give a frame” and the “buy a frame plant a tree” programs.  These are a couple of ways we will continue to be a community partner in helping those in need.

The slogan for Modo is “Buy a Frame-Give a Frame.”  When a pair of Modo’s are purchased the company donates a free pair of spectacles to someone in need.  They have paired with an organization called the SEVA Foundation to have the best possible outreach.

The Eco slogan of “One Frame – One Tree”, where the company along with help from the organization called Trees for the Future, will plant a tree for every frame purchased.  These frames are also build out of recycled or bio based materials.  The goal is to help create a cleaner world for everyone by using materials that otherwise may be discarded or left unused.

As a business owner I see true value in companies that not only look out for their own well-being but also contribute to society.  As my practice has grown I have always looked for ways to give back and help those in need.  By carrying the Modo and Eco frames we look to give back and say thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way! 

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.

THROUGH A CHILD’S EYES

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Being a parent myself I understand the joy of seeing your child grow and having all of their firsts.  Their first crawl, walk, words, real food etc.  For Baby Piper’s parents, having had their child fit for glasses allows her to see them clearly for the first time.  They will always remember the way their child’s face lit up as she saw them clearly for the first time EVER!

As parents we want the best for our children.  We record every moment we can and cherish the memories we will make with them.  With all of these memories and “firsts” many parents find it difficult to take their children for routine eye exams until their children are in grade school.  Being proactive can help your child see better which can lead to better overall development and growth.

There are over 23 million children who experience vision problems.  As a parents you know how important it is to have routine doctor’s appointments as your child grows to ensure proper health and development.  Eye doctor’s appointments are often over looked leaving over 86% of children not have their first eye exam until they enter the first grade.  Taking into account that 10% of children between ages 0 and 4 have vision problems this leaves many children with difficulty seeing throughout the early years of their lives.

Another benefit to routine eye doctor’s appointments as your children grow up is that 7-12% of children have eye problems that can lead to permanent loss of vision if not detected early.  Did you know that 95% of those problems are completely correctable with early detection?

Remember as your experience all of your “firsts” with your young ones that you remember the importance of eye health.  Having a yearly checkup can change the way that your child looks at the world and can help them to see their “firsts” as clearly as you do!

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS & EYE SAFETY!

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We’d like to take a moment and recognize our service men and women as well as their families for the sacrifices they’ve made in protecting our freedom.

As we celebrate the 4th of July, families are planning their picnics, vacations and fireworks celebrations. When you begin your search for fireworks you look for the best deals, the most spectacular displays, and the biggest bang for your buck. Many people tend to overlook safety, which can result in your holiday being much less spectacular that expected.

Did you know on average 9,000 injuries a year result from fireworks with 1 in 8 of those injuries being eye injuries according to the fireworks injury report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission? Nearly half of those injuries are bystanders with 30% of the total injuries being age 15 and under.

Some of the most commonly experienced eye injuries from fireworks are: burns, lacerations, abrasions, retinal detachment, ruptured eyeballs and optic nerve damage. An important misconception is that once the firework explodes it is no longer dangerous. However the sparks that produce the amazing glow often burn at temperatures over 1000 degrees and Fireworks release shrapnel as they explode.

As you prepare to celebrate and light off your own fireworks or watch a spectacular show put on by professionals, be sure to consider these safety tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe this year:

  • Contact your local fire department if a firework does not explode to properly handle it.
  • Never let children play with fireworks. Even sparklers can be very dangerous to young children.
  • ALWAYS wear approved protective eyewear if you plan on detonating fireworks.
  • Abide by ALL safety barricades and give yourself extra room well behind them at least 500-1000 feet away!
  • Leave building and launching professional grade fireworks to the professionals.

If you are injured from fireworks be sure to seek medical attention immediately. Be sure to follow these safety tips to help prevent making the injure worse.

  • Do not remove any objects that are stuck in or protruding from your eye.
  • Do not rinse or add solution to your eye.
  • Do not rub your eyes.
  • If any foreign objects enter the eye do not take any pain killers that will cause your blood to thin such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

Remember this year as you venture out to celebrate our nation’s freedom and independence that it’s important to respect fireworks. They are not a toy and can cause serious damage to not only your eyes but also to other parts of your body. Have a safe and happy holiday.

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.

DITCHING YOUR PRESCRIPTION GLASSES FOR GOOD!

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Perhaps now is the time to look into laser eye surgery. While it is not a perfect solution 100% of the time it is pretty close and continues to get safer and more accurate as technology improves. Next time you have your annual eye exam ask about the benefits of laser eye surgery and how it could help to improve the quality of your life.

When a patient decides that they may want to look into laser surgery one of the first questions I receive is, “is it safe” followed by “will I ever need glasses again”? Like any surgery there are some risks involved. While there are very few major problems that result from the surgery it is important to talk both your optometrist and your eye surgeon about all risks and the how complications can be handled.

On to the question about glasses. While most corrective eye surgeries bring your eyes to better than 20/20 vision there is still the chance that you could need glasses after surgery or later down the road. It is impossible for the surgeon to be 100% accurate in predicting how your eyes will react to the surgery. There is the chance that following the surgery you still may need glasses to assist in seeing clearly. Most people however choose to have additional surgeries to get the errors corrected. Also as we age our prescription will change and you may find that years down the road you may either need to have surgery again or may find the need to wear glasses for either distance or close up.

While there are many different types of surgeries, talking with your optometrist can help determine the proper procedure for you. They also, being in the industry, can best recommend a surgeon who has a good reputation and specialize in the surgery you wish to move forward with. Remember, they are your eyes and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If your surgeon doesn’t answer your questions or avoids them, it may be time to move on and find someone who can.

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.

DIDN’T SEE IT COMING ON SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY

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As we move into the summer season many people are excited to finally put away those winter coats and head outdoors. Spring yardwork is in full force and we’re busy cleaning up the yard so it looks nice and is ready to enjoy for summer entertaining. 

It happens all too often that I receive a call from a frantic patient that needs to be seen ASAP. They have been poked or jabbed in the eye by a stray branch, caught by a pesky rock in the face while doing some much needed weed whacking or have scratched their eye with flying dust from the leaf blower.

By being proactive about eye health, you can help prevent eye injuries. These injuries can hinder your ability to enjoy the warm summer days playing golf and nights that could be spent around a campfire. There are simple steps that can be taken to avoid those accidents that you just didn’t see coming.

One misconception that people have is that you must wear safety glasses to protect your eyes which many people find bulky and cumbersome or unfashionable. While it is important to wear safety glasses or goggles for some outdoor activities it is not always necessary for everything. By simply wearing a pair of sunglasses you protect your eyes in several ways.

First the sunglasses help with just general yard work to prevent foreign objects such as a stray branch from entering the eye. They also help to prevent eye damage from the sun. Even on days when it is overcast or not extremely bright you still receive ultraviolet rays from the sun. By wearing sunglasses you help to prevent these rays from doing damage to the eye in the same way that sunscreen helps to prevent your skin from being burned.

As you move on to the heavier yard work such as mowing the grass, weed whacking, or cutting and splitting logs for your campfires it is a good idea to switch to safety glasses. The biggest different between regular eye glasses or even sun glasses and safety glasses is that regular glasses are not rated for high impact object as safety glasses are.

When I recommend safety glasses to my patients they usually look at me and roll their eyes as they think that I am referring to those biology goggles that I’m sure you (like many others) had when you were in high school. Many of them however are surprised to learn that many safety goggles or glasses today are modeled after fashionable sunglasses being tinted so they also help to block out the sun. Often, you are unable to tell the difference between safety sunglasses and regular sunglasses.

So next time you head out the door to do some yard work make sure to grab the sunscreen and reach those sunglasses or even a pair of safety sunglasses to help protect your eyes. You will be glad you did when that stray branch appears out of nowhere and bounces off of your glasses only giving you a momentary sting but doesn’t send you running for the optometrist’s chair.

About the author: John D. Bissell, owner of Bissell Eye Care and Tri-State Low Vision Services, offers comprehensive eye examinations for the entire family, ocular disease detection and treatment, eye glasses, sun glasses, active wear, contact lenses, and low vision examinations for those with significant vision loss. He has undergone specialized training for treatment of low vision by the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists utilizing customized telescopic eyeglasses, prisms and telescopic implants for patients who qualify. The practice accepts most types of vision and health insurance plans.