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Eye Health Blog
Our eye health blog answers your most pressing questions about eye care, vision and common eye ailments.
You might suffer from dry eye — and wonder how you can prevent it. Maybe you’re planning to get cataract surgery and want to know what to expect. Or you might just be looking to change up your diet to include more types of food that promote eye health.
Whatever your needs, our eye health blog can empower you with insights to inform your decisions.
The eye doctor is “in.”
What is a Pinguecula?
A pinguecula is a growth on the conjunctiva (the white part of your eye) that looks like a yellow spot or bump. Experts think it is caused by a combination of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, wind, or dust and dry eyes. Pinguecula Symptoms How can you tell if you’re experiencing pinguecula? Your symptoms might include: Redness or swelling of the conjunctiva A yellow spot or bump on the conjunctiva Dry or itchy eyes, as though you have sand stuck in them Blurred vision Left [...]
Pink Eye Symptoms
Content is being used for illustrative purposes only. Stock photo. Posed by model. Your eyes are burning and you feel like something is stuck in one of them. You head to the bathroom mirror to check it out and notice they look red, puffy and have discharge coming from them. What’s going on? Pink eye (also known as “conjunctivitis”) occurs when the conjunctiva is irritated by an infection or allergies. You can get pink eye in just one eye or both and — [...]
Signs of Glaucoma
Content is being used for illustrative purposes only. Stock photo. Posed by model. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in people older than age 60, according to the Mayo Clinic. It’s a group of eye conditions that cause damage to the optic nerve, which is vital to your vision. The signs of glaucoma will differ, depending on the type. In some instances, there may be no signs at all, which is why glaucoma is often referred to as the “silent thief of [...]
Vision vs. Medical Insurance: What’s the Difference?
There are a few different types of insurance plans that may come into play at your next ophthalmologist visit — medical, vision, and Medicare / Medicaid. But the two that often cause the most confusion is vision vs. medical insurance. What’s the difference between the two? Essentially, medical insurance is for the health of your eyes, vision insurance is for your glasses and contact lenses. Read on to better understand what may be covered under vision vs. medical insurance. Vision Insurance Your annual eye exam, [...]
What is ‘Blepharoplasty’?
Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is typically done to either remove “bags” from underneath the eyes or to remove excess skin from the upper eye lid that’s blocking your field of vision. Here are some common questions patients have about the surgery — and the personal concerns that might lead up to it. What causes droopy eyelids? As you age, your skin begins to lose elasticity. Gravity is also constantly pulling us down. Both of these factors contribute to excessive skin collecting on the [...]
Four Types of Intraocular Lenses
A cataract can cause your eye’s lens to become “cloudy,” like looking through a foggy windshield. During cataract surgery, your clouded eye lens is removed and replaced with a clear, intraocular lens. Similar to the function of your eye’s natural lens, the intraocular lens bends light rays entering the eye, which helps you to see. Most intraocular lenses are made out of either silicone or acrylic. They are typically coated with a protective material to help safeguard your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays. There are [...]
When to Have Cataract Surgery
By our 80th birthday, half of us will have cataracts, according to Harvard Health. Cataracts are a condition that causes your eye’s own lens to slowly change from clear to cloudy. It typically occurs over time, but you don’t have to be in your senior years to be susceptible to it. In fact, it could start as early as your 40s or 50s. At that time, the cataract may be small — so you might not notice any impact to your vision. But once you [...]
Five Foods That Are Good For Your Eyes
As we kick off the New Year, we reexamine our lives and look for small ways to make meaningful changes. The food we fill our plate with is a good place to start. It has the ability to affect our minds and our bodies, including our eyes. Certain foods can decrease your risk of cataracts, while others can slow down age-related macular degeneration. Consider adding these five foods into your diet to boost your eye — and overall — health this year. Red Peppers Red [...]
Four Ways to Rest Your Eyes & Mind This Holiday Season
You’re in non-stop holiday mode, decking the halls, cleaning the house to prepare for guests, and shopping online, in search of the perfect gift. The lack of sleep, increased screen time, and never ending to-do list can start to weigh heavy on your mind and body, unless you give both a break. Here are four ways to rest your eyes and mind, in order to bring greater joy to your holiday season. Go Outside Exposure to nature can boost your mental health and learning capacity [...]
How Often Should You Get an Eye Exam?
Our eyes, along with the rest of our bodies, changes as we age. Maybe it gets harder to read a favorite book or family recipe. Or you have trouble distinguishing certain colors. For those older than age 40, these can all be common signs of aging. However, scheduling regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist can help you maximize your vision, as well as look out for potential health risks. Here’s what we look for during eye exams — and how frequently you should consider getting [...]
What Causes Dry Eyes & What You Can Do About It
You wake up in the morning and feel a stinging sensation in your eyes. As you make your way to the bathroom mirror for a closer look, you notice that your eyes look bloodshot. Then your eyes start to water. All of these symptoms, including excessive tears, are associated with dry eye. Although it may seem odd, watery eyes are the body’s response to irritation from dry eyes. And it’s actually quite common. Dry eye affects millions of adults in the U.S., according to the [...]
All About Eye Floaters
Eye floaters are tiny, cloudy-looking specks appearing in your field of vision. If you have ever struggled with eye floaters yourself, you'll know they tend to be most prominent when you look at the sky, a white computer screen, or anything that has a solid, light color. They also tend to disappear when you try to focus on them and often appear as if they're drifting around. What are Eye Floaters? These small specks are not caused by anything uncommon, in fact, it's actually quite [...]