KNOWLEDGE CENTER
Articles and Resources
WHAT IS FUNDUSÂ PHOTOGRAPHY?
Fundus photography involves photographing the rear of an eye; also known as the fundus. Specialized fundus cameras consisting of an intricate microscope attached to a flash enabled camera are used in fundus photography. For some patients, this can be performed instead of being dilated. Your eye doctor can observe and evaluate the health and condition of the blood vessels in your retina, which are a good predictor of the health of blood vessels throughout your body. Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia all are visible by changes in the appearance of the retinal blood supply and blood vessels. If you are Diabetic or Pre-Diabetic, most insurance companies will require the dilation procedure as it is the standard of care.
SHOULD YOU SLEEP IN YOUR CONTACTS?
If you have ever accidentally gone to sleep with your contact lenses in, you may have experienced the difficulty in trying to remove them from your dried out eyes. Sleeping in your lenses can increase your risk for infections, or at the very least irritation and discomfort. Even though there are lenses approved for overnight wear, many Optometrists recommend giving your eye a chance to breathe without lenses. Daily disposable lenses have made this problem easier to address, because you can simply toss out the old pair every night and put a new pair in every morning.
HOW TO PROPERLY CLEAN YOUR GLASSES
1. Wash hands with lotion free soap to remove oils and dirt from your hands. 2. Rinse your glasses under a stream of warm water to remove debris. 3. Apply a drop of lotion free dish washing soap on each lens and gently rub the soap into both sides of each lens. 4. Rinse both sides of the lenses and the entire frame with warm water until all soap is gone. 5. Gently shake the glasses to remove largest drops of water. 6. Dry with a lint-free cloth. 7. Inspect thoroughly and repeat if needed.
TALKING TO THE DOCTOR
According to after service surveys, a majority of patients have stated that one of their primary concerns is having a doctor that will take time to listen to their concerns and then explain their situation in a manner they can understand in order to be empowered about making decisions about their eye care. Before you get in the exam chair, you will have the opportunity to speak with the technician during your pretesting. Don't hesitate to go in depth about your concerns. The more that we know about your situation, the better care the doctor can provide. When it's time to see the Doctor, reiterate you concerns. Don't be concerned about being technical, just have a conversation and Dr. Smith will find the right answers.
DANGERS OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
Ultraviolet and other forms of radiation can be harmful to your eyes. Extended exposure to the the Sun's Ultraviolet rays has been linked to eye damage, including cataracts. Different forms of UV different types of UV rays have been associated with different conditions of the eye, so it is important that you protect your eyes with sunglasses that are able to block 100 percent of UV rays and absorb certain other rays. If you are not sure if your sunglasses meet these requirements, bring them in to your Optometrists office and let the optician evaluate them. In addition, wearing a hat can help block UV rays from entering the space between your face and your sunglasses. The position of the sun based on time of day and the region you live in all play a role in your level of UV exposure.
UNDERSTANDING DRY EYE SYNDROME
Dry eye is caused by a chronic lack of lubrication and moisture on the surface of the eye. This can cause itchiness and irritation or in severe cases cause scarring of the tissue. There are different terms associated with the specifics of the condition. Symptoms of dye eye include: Burning, Itching, aching, redness and more. I some cases, patients may experience foreign body sensation, basically the feeling that there is something physically in the eye itself. Your optometrist can easily diagnose dry eye, and it is very treatable through the use of artificial tears and giving the eyes more opportunity to rest. Many patients are scheduling visits specifically to diagnose and treat dry eye, as the number of reported cases has been on the increase.