If a lens is dropped avoid dragging it along a surface, instead wet your finger with solution and gently touch the lens to lift it.
2. Clean your lens nightly
After removing your lens from your eyes leave them soaking in solution until the morning. Soaking your lens overnight increases the effectiveness of disinfecting chemicals.
3. Never mix and match solutions
You should always use the same care system for disinfecting, soaking and rewetting your lens. Mixing different types of solutions can cause clouding of the lens, leading to eye irritation.
4. Replace your case
Cases become contaminated over time, each time you buy a new solution you should also be replacing your case. Another option would be cleaning the case with a toothbrush and cleaner.
5. If your lenses dry out, soak them
If you leave your lenses out, soak them for at least 4 hours before you re- wear them.
6. Removing lenses with a suction cup
Suction cups need to be cleansed with contact solution before and after each use. Remember to know where the lens is before inserting the suction cup on your eye.
Contact lenses for Keratoconus patients come in many different designs. Here at our Beverly Hills office, we create the best design possible ensuring comfort, vision and eye health. There are six different options for contact lenses.
HydraKone, KeraSoft, FlexLens or Soft KC Toric Lenses– These soft lenses supply improved comfort and is an ideal lens for patients with mild to moderate Keratoconus.
Custom Piggy Back Contact Lens System– This lens system involves wearing two lenses on one eye. The soft lens protects the cornea, while allowing it to hold the RGP lens in place.
Synergeyes-This lens is a highly oxygen permeable rigid material, while the outer skirt is a soft lens. This requires only a single lens to be inserted, and has successfully fit over 90% of patients.
Rose K2 IC– This lense has been one of the longest and most commonly used Keratoconus RGP lense.
Intra-Limbal Dyna-Z- This lens design is based on the topography. The comfort level is excellent due to larger diameter.
Scleral Lenses- These RGP lenses are very comfortable because they do not sit on the cornea, but rest on the eyes white portion. Inserting these lenses may be a little difficult.
The newest len is called the Eye Print Pro lens which increases comfort, enhances vision and decreases red areas.
Eye Print Pro is designed to align over the individual eye allowing a 360 degree view and 26 inches around the eye. The mold then undergoes 3D scanning and is used to make an exact match to the other eye. Eye Print Pro is as unique as a finger print.
While contact lenses can improve vision, they do NOT stop your Keratoconus from getting worse and losing more vision. That’s the reason we recommend the non-invasive Holcomb C3-R procedure to strengthen and stabilize your Keratoconus. Please call our office for more information at 310-860-1900 or click here.
Kelly discusses KERATOCONUS treatments and successful experience with Dr. Brian
INTACS® are tiny, clear, semi- circle inserts that are placed behind your eyes natural lens to improve and support your natural lens. The procedure takes about 15 minutes per eye, and is relatively non-invasive and can be done in combination with other procedures like the Holcomb C3-R® to improve your overall vision.
Pioneered in 1999by Dr. Brian, Intacs® help reshape the cornea’s curve by flattening the bulge. No tissue is removed, as natural optics are enhanced. Some of the benefits of Dr. Brian Intacs procedure include:
Improved night vision/ overall vision
7 minute procedure
Can be combined with multiple procedures
Non- Invasive
Removable and exchangeable
Helps prevent cornea transplant when combined with Holcomb C3-R®
If you wear glasses or prescription contact lenses, Intacs are a great option as well.
To find out more information call our office at 310-594-5209
When it comes to dealing with Keratoconus, there are many factors that may leave you at a loss of confidence, or motivation to be the person you once were. You may be feeling like your life will never be “normal” again. However, every person is different, but depression is something that everyone can agree is a serious matter. If you can relate to any of the following signs below, getting immediate help from a health care professional is advised.
1. Daily Activities Do Not Sound Appealing
You are starting to lose interest in some of the daily activities you were once interested in. You may not care about pervious hobbies, social activities or anything that anything that once brought you joy. This is common to experience when you are in a state of depression.
2. Appetite is Suppressed
All the foods you once loved eating do not satisfy your craving. You may be skipping meals or just feel like you have no appetite at all. If you are noticing that you are losing a significant amount of weight ( 5% of body weight a month) seek immediate help.
3. Little or No energy
You are always tired or feeling sluggish, even after doing little or no physical activity. You do not feel like moving because of how emotionally drained you are. It is common to experience headaches and migraines due to lack of sleep.
4. Anger Levels Rise
Every little thing is bothering you. You are feeling more agitated, short tempered and possibly violent. You may act out in unusual behavior. Dealing with Keratoconus can be upsetting and difficult to cope with.
5. Reckless Behavior
You start to engage in activities that can put you in danger. Substance abuse and gambling are a few examples. If you are turning to these options for relief, you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. There are other positive healthy alternatives.
Purchasing new sunglasses is often something we think of for the beach or summer weather, but they should be something you think about all year round. The stylish fashions and spurts of purchases when it comes to sunglasses flourish every year during warm weather when vacations and beaches are on everyone’s minds.
But the glare, and the protection sunglasses offer, should be on your mind all year. Why? Sunglasses do much more than make a fashion statement. In the winter they can prevent “Snow Blindness”, as well as keep harmful UV rays from the sun from damaging your eyes. Most of you have heard of the protection that sunglasses provide from the Sun’s UV rays but “Snow Blindness” or Photokeratitis, is a serious condition that sunglasses can also protect your eyes from.
Snow Blindness (Photokeratitis):
“Snow Blindness” is an acute condition brought on by too much exposure to the Sun’s UV rays when in the snow. Snow Blindness is when the cornea is burned from exposure to the Sun and Sun’s rays. It’s much like a sunburn of the eyes.
During the winter months many people are active skiing, sledding, Bobsledding, and participating in other outdoor activities. Without the protection of UV 400 sunglasses, you can be exposed to the sun’s rays in Two ways: directly (from exposure to UV rays) and indirectly (from the reflection of the UV rays from the snow). This is very damaging to the cornea and puts you at even more risk of developing this condition than with sun exposure alone. After too much exposure to these rays after a long period of time you can experience partial or complete loss of vision.
Photokeratitis Treatments:
There are many treatments for “Snow Blindness” including Anesthetic eye drops. These are used for a short time only as they can hinder your cornea’s recovery. Also, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drops and cold, wet compresses can also provide relief.
Recovery duration from “Snow Blindness,” or Photokeratits, can vary depending on how long you were exposed and how severe the burn is. It’s best to be examined by your eye care professional if you have pain and/or light sensitivity after being outside for extended periods of time.
Photokeratitis Symptoms:
Sore/Painful eyes
Watery eyes
Light Sensitivity
Eye Lid Twitching
Foreign Body Sensation
Halos and/or Spots in the vision
Photokeratitis, or “Snow Blindness” can be very damaging to your vision. If you have been exposed to the sun or reflection from snow for long periods of time and have any of the above symptoms you should see your eye care professional.
In summary – the best option is to reduce exposure from the beginning by protecting your eyes with wrap-around style, 400+ UV protection sunglasses.These are not necessarily the most expensive glasses, and as a matter of fact inexpensive sunglasses can provide just as much, if not more protection than many ‘designer’ pairs so you don’t have to ‘break the bank’ to protect your eyes.
Click below to hear “TV’s Eye Doctor” Brian Boxer Wachler answer a patient inquiry regarding sun protection during winter.
Are you an avid athlete and it seems your timing is getting a bit off? This is a common problem when it comes to vision and it may be an easy fix for those with a desire to keep playing. Getting regular exams can help diagnose vision problems before they get out of hand. Improving something as small as a slight nearsightedness can improve your game immensely. Injury to the eye is one of the most common sports-related accidents in the US.
Why? It’s simple! When playing hockey for example, you need to see the puck coming before it gets too close. If you have even a slight problem with nearsightedness you may not see it until it’s too late. There are several treatment options that can give you sharper vision without keeping you off the ice for too long.
Below are 3 more reasons you should visit your eye care professional before your next game:
Keratoconus:
One of the more commonly under- and mis-diagnosed eye conditions is Keratoconus. Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition that causes blurry vision, worsening night vision, and even glares/halos. It is important to have your eyes examined if you have a family history are seeing symptoms of Keratoconus. Due to the progressive nature of this disease, early diagnosis and treatment is key!
Farsightedness:
This is a common condition that can cause difficulty because you can’t see the ball, puck, or player quickly enough for you to react. This can put you at major risk for trauma to the eyes or other parts of the body. Imagine you are playing soccer and your teammate tries to pass you the ball – if you can’t react quickly enough, there is a large chance you will miss the play.
As the vision worsens, so does the danger of being injured. It can be treated easily now with advanced technology and improved treatments for vision correction.
Astigmatism:
When playing sports it is important to have good reflexes and excellent peripheral vision. When you have astigmatism your peripheral vision is impaired and can cause you to have unnecessary injury.
These accidents can cause damage to the cornea, detached retinas, and even immediate loss of vision after impact. It is important to get treated for any vision correction especially if you are an athlete before you next game! Watch Matthew’s story by clicking the image below – his dreams of transitioning from an amateur Mixed Martial Arts fighter to a professional came one step closer after his PRK vision correction surgery with Dr. Brian.
Vitamins are important to your vision just as much as they are to your overall health. There are several types of vitamins available but not all contribute specifically to your vision health. Things like fish oil, and antioxidants can be very beneficial to your overall eye health, but other vitamins may not have an effect on your eyes. It is important to understand which vitamins may benefit you and why they work.
Antioxidants:
Antioxidants are free radicals that help improve the entire immune system. They help our bodies fight off colds, flu, and infections that make us sick.
Below are more overall benefits of antioxidants:
Reduces inflammation
Reduces risk of heart attacks/strokes
Hydrates skin
Repairs skin tissues
When it comes to our vision and overall eye health antioxidants support critical functions of the eye, and help to increase our resistance to diseases. Antioxidants also help your body when it comes to age-related eye conditions and reduce your overall risk by 25%. Antioxidant supplements can also help reduce overall vision loss by 19% according to the Nation Eye Institute.
Optimal Eye is a supplemental vitamin that can help you reduce risk of developing cataracts and improve your overall eye function.
Other Supplements: Fish Oil/Flaxseed Oil
Other supplements like Fish and Flaxseed Oils help with conditions like coronary artery disease, reducing chances of cardiac disease, and is a great source of unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. These omega-3 fatty acids can also help protect adults from developing Macular Degeneration, Dry Eye, and even Glaucoma. These supplements when taken daily can protect your overall vision and improve your chances of reduced vision loss.
For those of you who want more information on the Optimal Health products such as Optimal Eye, and Optimal Flax, visit www.ioptimalhealth.com
There are many reasons we fail to see vision problems in our children. With toddlers it is extremely difficult because they are just learning to communicate and don’t always realize that they are having issues. Older children are sometimes embarrassed, or merely think if they sit closer they will be fine. The good news is there are some things that can help you identify when they have problems.
If you or your family members have vision problems the likelihood that your children will is greater. It is wise to get them routine eye exams to be safe and for early detection of eye conditions. Our children can get eye exams as early as 18 months. These eye exams will help your children have a better chance at treatment and ensure that they have a healthy visual experience. Below are a few signs to help detect problems with your child’s vision.
They squint when watching TV
They have to sit more than 4 feet from the TV to see
They get frequent headaches during or after reading
Their eyes water frequently
They frequently rub their eyes
They blink frequently or not enough
For children who are suffering academically, vision issues could be a big part of it. Ensuring that your children are getting correct vision care will help them be confident when answering questions, reading the board, and doing their school work. Education is more important than ever and we want to give children the best advantages possible.
Vision correction can change both your life and the life of your children whether it’s by getting new glasses/contacts or vision correction surgery. Watch how ICL, a vision correction procedure, changed Remy’s life.
Is your Dry Eye effecting your everyday life? Getting tired of using the “No more tears?” or the “Get the red out” drops? LipiFlow® is a great new procedure that can help relieve your dry, itchy, irritated eyes. LipiFlow® helps you improve your Dry Eye by treating the root cause of this issue instead of providing temporary relief like over-the-counter products do. If your Dry Eye is caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) or Blepharitis, you need to look into this amazing treatment.
Benefits of the LipiFlow® Treatment:
Proven Effectiveness: LipiFlow® has been proven to work. More than 70% of patients who received the LipiFlow® treatment have experienced improvements within 4 weeks.
Easy procedure designed by Experts: The LipiFlow® treatment can be done right in your doctor’s office. This treatment is so quick and easy that is can even be performed the same day as your evaluation in some cases. The LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System is used to add heat to the Meibomian gland of the eye which becomes unblocked and allows the glands to start producing oils that lubricate the eye again.
The Experience of TearScience®, the makers of LipiFlow®: The TearScience® Technology is on top in the research of Dry Eye, it has over 10 years of research experience and understands the science behind Dry Eye The company has studied the effects of dry eye on its patients and how it impacts their lives giving them the relief they need with their new LipiFlow® system. This was no easy development – one of the Co-Founders of TearScience® has been researching Dry Eye for over 30 years!
Dry Eye Symptoms:
For those of you who have dealt with Dry Eye, you understand how devastating the symptoms are and how they impact your everyday life. For those who have not been diagnosed with Dry Eye Syndrome, below are a few symptoms to help you identify if Dry Eye is causing your discomfort.
Itching
Watering
Burning
Scratching
Redness
Swelling
Blurred Vision
If you are like Susan, who was seeking relief in traditional methods such as hot compresses, medications, etc. with no relief, you owe it to yourself to look into other options – which may include LipiFlow ®. To hear about her almost 40-year struggle with Dry Eye Blepharitis, click on the image below.
During the change of seasons, many struggle with dry eyes. This can dramatically hinder our everyday activities which can affect us considerably, for some even to the point of avoiding going outside. Dryness is one of the most common complaints reported when talking about the eyes, but most people don’t realize that Dry Eye is a serious condition. There are several different types of treatments for Dry Eye depending on what symptoms you have.
Blurred vision
Irritation
Red Eyes
Excessive tearing
Itchy eyes
Scratchy sensations
Excessive rubbing
Dry Eye causes irritation, redness, and sometimes excessive rubbing of the eyes. In more serious cases it can cause pain for the patient. Dry Eye is caused by either a reduction of the production of tears by your eyes or reduced production of lipids from the glands lining the eyelids. There are several reasons one can develop dry eyes such as:
Medication changes
Other Medical Conditions – Like Keratoconus, Diabetes, Cataracts, etc…
Reduction in the blinking of the eyes (for instance in writers)
Treatments:
There are many treatments for dry eyes, with the most common being over the counter drops, such as artificial tears, and ‘Get The Red Out’ drops. *It is important to remember that ‘Get The Red Out’ drops contain vasoconstrictors which can be harmful to the eyes with long-term use. In more severe cases of dry eyes, prescribed medications -and- artificial tears may e directed by your eye doctor to give the eyes the moisture they need or promote new tear production within the eyes. In cases which the glands are not producing enough lipids, more advanced treatments such LipiFlow and/or topical testosterone cream may be required to ‘clean out’ and ‘jumpstart’ the production of lipids in the glands. A combination of all the above may be required to get relief in extreme cases.
If you are having continued problems with Dry Eye symptoms it is beneficial to contact your eye care professional for a thorough evaluation to determine the best treatment option for your specific case.
Tips To Help Relieve Your Dry Eye:
Increase the amount of breaks you take when staring at the computer screen or TV.
Use artificial tears when working on the computer or spending time outside
Avoid excessive eye rubbing
Get regular eye examinations
Wear protective lenses when going out to reduce UV exposure
Use drops and other medications as prescribed
If you have been suffering from Dry Eye, I urge you to click on the image below to hear how Moniqua found relief from her itchy, dry eyes after 3 years of suffering.
Contact lenses for Keratoconus patients come in many different designs. Here at our Beverly Hills office, we create the best design possible ensuring comfort, vision and eye health. There are six different options for contact lenses.
