Public News & Information

Are Your Child's Eyes Ready for School?

Healthy eyes and vision are necessary for school success and an enjoyable life.  Parents naturally want to help their children learn and succeed in school and enjoy life.  Vision and eye health care key to students' ability to do well in the classroom, on the playground, in sports and when studying at home.  Since children usually don't complain about subtle problems with their eyesight or eyes, it's important that they receive vision screening and eye health check-ups with a primary care doctor, pediatrician or other qualified health professional during well child exams, when they enter school or whenever a vision or eye health problem is suspected.  If a vision or eye program is detected, your healthcare professional should refer you to an Eye M.D. (ophthalmologist).  For more information on eye health, visit:  www.geteyesmart.org. 

Did you Know?

A yellowish casete over the white part of the eye may occur when the clear membrane (called the bulbar conjunctiva) covering the outer eye begins to thicken and degrade.  A major cause of this is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light rays, especially sunlight.  Wearing UV-absorbing sunglasses when outdoors will protect the eyes from this.  Once the membrane becomes yellowish, there is no way to reverse the change, but some people find that decongestant drops that contain naphazoline may help by reducing eye redness.  These non-precsription drops are sold in drugstores.

Early Treatment of ROP Helps Kids Achieve Their Best Possible Vision

People who care about the vision of kids born prematurely will be encouratgeged by the new results from the Early Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity Study (ETROPS).  This nationwide study followed children born prematurely through age 6.  It confirmed the effectiveness of the screening tools pediatric ophthalmologists use to identify the preemies most likely to benefit from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treatment.  These diagnosis and treatment methods help kids achieve their best possible vision.  ROP can damage visual development and, in the worst case, lead to blindness.  Babies born very prematurely and/or with very low birth weight are at highest risk of vision damage.  So, doctors monitor preemies' eyes carefully for signs of ROP.  Treatment provided at the right time can make a significant difference in some preemies' changes for good vision.

This study showed that babies with "type 1 eyes" (and other specific symptoms) were most likely to benefit from early ROP treatment:  at age 6 their risk of severe vision loss (20/200 or worse) was reduced and their eyes were less likely to have structural disorders.  Still, more than 65 percent of children treated early had 20/40 or worse at age 6.  THe ultimate goal is to find the causes of ROP and prevent it, says lead researcher William V. Good, MD.  Learn more about ROP and ETROPS, and meet a family who benefitted from early treatment.

In the News:  Pink Eye

According to a recent article in U.S. News and World Report, a study conducted in mice concludes that scientists now know what part of the pink eye virus causess the eye to exude discharge and spread the disease.  As a result of this study, scientists can now work on a treatment that could make pink eye much less infections.  When scientists tested mice with pink eye, they found that the protein coat of the virus induces inflammation.  They also determined that inflammation could be blocked by a peptide containing components of the same protein coal.  This study could lead to a better treatment for pink eye, which is highly contagious and now keeps children and adults home, away from others, for up to two weeks.  Inflammation causes red, irritated eyes, blurry vision and uncomfortable discharge.  And unfortunately, there is no known effective treatment for it.  Now that scientists have figured out what causes the inflmmation, there's hope that they may find a way to block it.

Did you Know?

If your child's pediatrician says that his/her "eyes are out of line" this means the physician sees a misalignment of the child's eyes.  If this is true the eyes will not be working together.  This problem is called strabismus.  Most often the cause is unknown but sometimes it can be controlled with glasses or treatment of reduced vision in one of the eyes with patching or eye drops.  Your child should be seen for a complete eye examinations by a pediatric ophthalmologist as soon as it can be performed.

Who should I see to get my annual eye examination, an ophthalmologist or an optometrist?

An ophthalmologist is an Eye M.D., either a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.).  Eye M.D.s have finished at least four years of college, at least four years of medical school, and at least four years of additional postgraduate training after medical school.  An optometrist has had college education and then an O.D. (doctor of optometry) degree granted after four years of study in an optometry college, but an optometrist has not attended a medical school nor has he or she received postgraduate medical training.  (Be careful not to confuse the D.O. and O.D. degrees.)  If you have no visual complains and are in good general health, either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist could be a good choice.  If you have medical problems, or if you are at risk for, suspect or have been told that you have an eye disease, examination by an ophthalmologist may be a better choice.

How Diabetes Affects Your Eyes

As a result, if you have diabetes you run the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, in which damage occurs to the delicate blood vessels inside the retina at the back of the eye.  You are also at increase risk for developing cataracts (clouding of the normally clear lens in the eye), or glaucoma (a disease that results in damage to the optic nerve).

Diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetic eye disease, is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina.  Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is the earliest stage of diabetic retinopathy.  With this condition, damaged blood vessels in the retina begin to leak extra fluid and small amounts of blood into the eye.  Sometimes, deposits of cholesterol or other fats from the blood may leak into the retina.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) occurs when abnormal blood vessels begin to grow on the surface of the retina or optic nerve.  The new blood vessels are abnormal and do not supply the retina with normal blood flow.  The new vessels are also often accompanied by scar tissue that may cause the retina to wrinkle or detach.

November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month.  Learn more about diabetic eye disease and the EyeSmart EyeCommitted effort to encourage people with diabetes to get regular eye exams at www.geteyesmart.org/eyecommitted.

Senior Eye Safety Includes Preventing Slips and Trips

Simple steps around the home can prevent eye injuries among seniors and other household members.

The most common fear for family members when an elderly relative falls is broken bones.  But eye injuries can be just as serious and debilitating.  Home is where most eye injuries occur, and slips and falls are among the most common type of home injuries.  Slippery stairs, loose railings, or sharp edges on furniture can lead to painful falls and devastating eye injuries for seniors, as well as children and other household members.

October is Eye Injury Prevention Month and the Missouri Society of Eye Physicians & Surgeons (MoSEPS) wants to remind seniors and their caregivers to be especially aware of their home environment and take preventive steps to lessen their risk of eye injury.  "Family members are often concerned about their elderly relatives falling," said Executive Director Jill Hancock.  "The most unexpected falls can cause the worst injuries.  For the sake of your loved ones, you should take the proper precautions to help prevent dangerous and potentially blinding accidents in the home."

Approximately 2.5 eye injuries occur every year.  According to this year's Eye Injury Snapshot, an annual clinical survey of eye injuries across the U.S., of the more than 1 million eye injuries estimated to take place in and around the home, 11 percent of all eye injuries are caused by slips and falls.

Consider taking these safety steps around the home to diminish the risks of injuring your eyes:

• Make sure that rugs and shower/bath/tub mats are slip-proof
• Secure railings so that they are not loose
• Cushion sharp corners and edges of furnishings and home fixtures

IN the event you do suffer an eye injury, have an ophthalmologist examine the injury as soon as possible, even if the injury seems minor at first.  Eye injuries can lead to long-term eye health problems, including the development of glaucoma and cataracts.  Additional information regarding eye injury prevention and treatment can be found at www.geteyesmart.org. 

Is it Pink Eye?

The kids have returned to school and so have eye infections.  If you or your child wakes up with itchy, red, and swollen eyes, it's possible you have an eye infection.  Conjunctivitis, more commonly known as "pink eye" irritates the thin, clear layer covering the eyeball and part of the eyelid (the conjunctive).  "Pink eye" is very common and can be quite contagious.  It is often cased by a virus or bacteria and can also be caused by allergies or environmental irritants.  Many people want to know how long pink eye is contagious.  Unfortunately, there is no certain answer.  The infectious state may last from a couple of days to More than a week.  One rule of thumb is that if there is any discharge coming from the eye, then there is a rick of transmission.

Here are some symptoms to look with conjunctivitis:

• Inflammation of the eye
• Increased tearing
• Soreness of the eye
• Foreign body sensation
• Itchiness of the eye
• Hazy or blurred vision due to mucous or pus
• Excess mucous (pus)
• Crusting of the eyelashes in the morning

Regardless of the cause, conjunctivitis should not disrupt your vision.  More serious conditions, such as damage to the cornea, very severe glaucoma or inflammation inside the eye can also cause the conjunctiva to become inflamed and pink.  If your case of "pink eye" affects your vision or you experience eye pain, you should see an ophthalmologist. 

Did you Know?

When you receive a new eyeglass prescription, it is normal to feel mild dizziness after putting on the glasses the first few times.  This should not be an ongoing problem.  Slight dizziness is most common in patients who receive their first pair of eyeglasses with astigmatism (out-of-roundness of the eyes) lens corrections or with progressive (invisible bifocal) lens corrections; however, the dizziness should not be persistent.  If the dizziness continues for more than a few days, ask the prescribing doctor to recheck the eyeglass prescription that he or she gave you.

Medical Myth Exposed

Wearing contacts will make astigmatism worse.

False.  Astigmatism happens when the cornea (the clear front window of the eye) curves more in one direction than in the other - like a football.  A normal cornea is round and smooth, like a basketball.  Soft contact lenses, including those made to correct astigmatism, usually do not cause any change in the astigmatism of any eye.  Rigid contact lenses may occasionally mold the cornea (the clear front window of the eye) with a resulting change (usually a reduction) in astigmatism, but this molding is not permanent, and the eye returns to its original state if contact lens wear is discontinued.  A severe change in astigmatism could signal an underlying corneal disease.  If you experience a severe change in astigmatism, you should consult an Eye M.D. for an evaluation of the corneas of your eyes.

Did you Know?  Why Some Eye Drops Need to be Refrigerated?

Evidence suggests that some ophthalmic medications, such as certain glaucoma medications, may degrade or breakdown if they get too warm or are kept too long at room temperature.  This is generally not a major concern, however, if the medications are used as instructed and not exposed to extremely high temperatures (like being left in a hot car).  Some individuals also prefer to refrigerate their drops so that they can more easily determine if they put the drop in the eye properly or because the drop may feel more comfortable to the eye when cool.

Taking Flomax May Cause Cataract Complications

A new study confirms the link between patients taking Flomax and complications when undergoing cataract surgery.  Men taking Flomax to treat an enlarged prostate face more than double the risk for serious complications should they need cataract surgery.  In this new study, 7.5 percent of the men who had taken Flomax in the two weeks before cataract surgery had a serious complication, compared with 2.7 percent of those who had not taken the drug.  That makes it a 2.3 times greater risk.  This study strengthens an existing study from 2005 about risks associated with taking Flomax before cataract surgery.  The 2005 study found that men taking Flomax or other alpha-blockers before cataract surgery had complications during and immediately after the procedure.

Flomax is often prescribed to treat an enlarged prostate, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, which affects almost three of four men 70 and older.  Women are also prescribed Flomax, for urinary problems.  Anyone who is taking or has ever taken Flomax or a similar alpha-blocker should tell his or her ophthalmologist prior to cataract surgery.  If you have cataracts and know you will need cataract surgery you should consult with your prescribing physician before starting to take any alpha-blocker.  Do not discontinue taking an alpha-blocker without talking to your doctor.

Patients Won't Lose Sleep Over Blue-Light-Blocking Lens Implants

A new Australian study looked at whether blue-light-blocking intraocular lenses (IOLs) would disrupt sleep patterns in patients who had this type of lens implanted after cataract removal.  Blue-light-blocking IOLs are often prescribed as part of risk-reduction for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) for susceptible patients.  However, blocking blue-spectrum light had the potential to affect production of melatonin, which is important for sleep regulation.  The researchers followed 49 patients, 18 with blue-light-blocking IOLs, comparing them to the 31 patients who received conventional IOLs, at six months after surgery.  The final results showed no affect on people's sleep patterns or sleep quality in the patients with blue-light-blocking lenses.

Summer Safety for Children

Spring is upon us and summer is right around the corner, which means children spend more time outdoors - trips to the beach, outside sporting leagues and playing in the yard.  Research shows that children's eyes can be damaged from sun exposure, just like their skin.  This damage may put them at increased risk of developing debilitating eye diseases such as cataracts or macular degeneration as adults.  It is important to make sure your children are wearing 100 percent UV blocking sunglasses.  Whenever you are outside with children, remember to put a hat and/or sunglasses on them just as you would yourself.  Children should be taught at a young age to wear sunglasses  and hats to protect their eyes from the sun, so they will grow up with healthy sun protection habits.  Keep children out of the sun between peak times - 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - when the sun's UV rays are the strongest.

Here are some summertime safety suggestions for children.

Make sure your kids wear sunglasses - Sunglasses for children may be purchased inexpensively.  Check for 100 percent UV protection when buying sunglasses:  Make sure your sunglasses block 100 percent of UV rays and UV-B rays.  Don't focus on the color or darkness of sunglass lenses:  Select sunglasses that block UV rays.  The ability to block UV light is not dependent on the price tag.  Look for glasses with a polycarbonate lens; children under six may need a pair with straps to keep them in place.

Wear protective eyewear when playing sports.  Tens of thousands of sports and recreation-related eye injuries occur each year.  The good news is that 90 percent of serious eye injuries are preventable through use of protective eyewear.  While helmets are required for many organized sports like baseball, protective eyewear unfortunately is not.  For all age groups, sports-related eye injuries occur most frequently in baseball, basketball and racquet sports.  Sports eye protection should meet the specific requirements of that sport; these requirements are usually established and certified by the sport's governing body and/or the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

If sand gets in your child's eyes, no rubbing.  If a child gets sand blown or thrown into his eyes, an adult should immediately take him to a sink with running water.  You should restrain the child from rubbing his eyes, as this can irritate the thin corneal tissue and make symptoms worse.  Encourage the child to blink; also crying will help as the tears remove eye irritants.  If the child's eye still bothers him, it is important to seek medical attention from an Eye M.D.

Eating Healthy Prevents Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

A new study confirms the importance of eating healthy to help protect our eyes from age-related macular degeneration (AMD).  Researchers found that people whose diets have higher levels of certain nutrients -- vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA--and had high levels of low-glycemic index (low GI) foods, were less likely to develop early and advanced AMD.  Although the researchers say clinical studies are needed before physicians can begin recommending specific nutrient doses or dietary patterns to AMD patients, there's no need for people to delay adding healthy food to their shopping carts.  Sources of AMD-protective nutrients include citrus fruits, vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables and cold water fish.  The GI value is based on how fast a food's carbohydrates raise the body's blood sugar levels; low GI foods have less impact on blood sugar fluctuations.

AMD affects the retina, light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.  Advanced AMD can destroy the central, detailed vision that we need to read, drive, and enjoy daily life.  Although the "wet" form of advanced AMD is often treatable, there's no effective treatment for the much more common "dry" form.  Eating well is a practical way to reduce AMD risk while enjoying better health.  To learn more about AMD, visit the EyeSmart website.

Steroid Use May Raise Cataract Risks

People who use both inhaled and oral steroids (corticosteroids) may be at increased risk for cataracts, according to a recent study.  Many people with asthma rely on inhaled, and sometimes oral, steroids, as do people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  The study assessed the inhaled and/or oral steroid use and cataract status of more than 3,600 people, following them for up to ten years.  Increased cataract risks were found only in patients who, at the start of the study had ever used inhaled steroids, had used oral steroids for at least one month, and had no cataracts.  Although only a small number of patients met these criteria, nearly all of them--seven of 10--were found to have cataracts in follow-up exams.  You should talk with your doctor if you are prescribed both oral and inhaled steroids because of the potential for increased cataract risk.  More information on cataracts may be found on the EyeSmart website.

Seasonal Allergies Attack the Eye!

Seasonal allergies affect more than 35 million Americans each year and can have a tremendously negative impact on an individual's quality of life.  Tree pollens in April and May, grass pollens in June and July and mold spores and weed pollens in July and August equal a five-month attack of eye-irritating allergens.

The combination of reproducing flowers and fungi with human antibodies makes for some awful allergy attacks each spring.  Plant pollen and mold spores initiate the allergic response when they come in contact with the mucous membranes in the eyes, nose and lungs.  Antibodies called immunoglobulin react by activating mast cell, which release chemicals, including histamine, to attack what it believes is a threat to the body.  Thus, allergy symptoms appear.  Spring and summer allergy episodes can be a bigger problem than chronic varieties.  Drier air and exploding springtime pollen counts wreak havoc on the itchy, inflamed ocular surface.  Seasonal allergic sufferers usually endure a combination of ocular itching, inflammation, watering and redness of they eyes.  Ocular itching is the most distinguishing feature when seasonal allergic episodes occur.  Some symptoms of seasonal allergies are also quite similar to dry eye symptoms.  If you have seasonal allergy symptoms it is important to see your Eye M.D. for a visual examination to help rule out dry eye.

All articles are reprinted with permission from the American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart campaign (www.geteyesmart.org).