Category: Eye Health

How Do I Treat My Dry Eyes?

Have you been suffering from chronic Dry Eye? Maybe you spend a lot of time behind a computer at work, school, or even at home. If your dry eyes have been causing a problem, you’re probably wondering how you can treat them on your own. In some cases you can get temporary relief from Dry Eye symptoms over the counter, but in other cases a prescribed drop or procedure maybe needed.

Below are a few types of treatments for your chronic Dry Eye:

When you are first diagnosed with Dry Eye, your eye care professional will have you try different treatments, depending on the severity of your Dry Eye. Below are a few treatments you may encounter after diagnosis.

Over the counter drops:

These types of drops are found in your pharmacy and provide temporary relief for your dry eyes. They are helpful if you experience an occasional episode or two. If you have chronic Dry Eye it is likely you will have to continue using these drops multiple times a day, while also using other methods.

Prescribed Eye Drops or topical treatments:

If you continue to have difficulties with Dry Eye, your doctor may prescribe some drops for you to use regularly. These drops are often prescribed for those who have continued Dry Eye or have difficulty producing tears. If you have an issue with the lipid glands, topical creams or ointments may be suggested (such as testosterone cream). Prescribed eye drops and creams can often provide better relief than over the counter eye drops.

Lipiflow® Procedure:

For those who have difficulty with chronic Dry Eye related to a lipid deficiency, Lipiflow® may be a great treatment option for you. Lipiflow® is a painless 12-minute outpatient treatment that heats and massages the eye lids and glands that create the lipids. This action loosens and unclogs the glands, allowing lipid to be produced and excreted more effectively. While the procedure is relatively new, it has been extremely effective in providing relief for those who suffer from chronic Dry Eye that previously had no great treatment options.

Watch Jennifer, a Dry Eye sufferer for over 30 years, discuss how she finally found relief:

Finding Dry Eye Relief with LipiFlow

Thousands of people each year struggle with Dry Eye. Dry eyes are caused by a decrease in tear production or trouble blinking. Many have used over-the-counter drops or artificial tears to help them with some relief, however long-term treatment options for dry eyes was few and far between until LipiFlow.

What is Lipiflow?

LipiFlow is a treatment that opens and cleans out the Mebomian glands allowing them to produce clean lipids. LipiFlow uses a thermal pulsation system and applies controlled heat to the eyelids, warming the glands and liquefying the clogged oil.

Why use LipiFlow?

LipiFlow is a non-invasive procedure to help treat an underlying cause of Dry Eye. It uses new technology to clean and reopen your lipid glands. Other treatments such as over-the-counter drops and artificial tears only provide temporary relief but the LipiFlow treatment can provide a more lasting effect.

Symptoms of Dry Eye:

 Foreign body sensation
 Itching
 Burning
 Frequently watery eyes
 Frequent eye rubbing
 Red eyes
 Eye pain

About Dry Eye:

Dry Eye is a common condition that can cause pain and irritation of the eyes. It can also interrupt a patient’s life considerably.
Learn more about dry eyes with the LipiFlow treatment clink on the video below.

Two Common Eye Problems & Their Treatments

There are several eye conditions that are treated regularly every year. Most patients experience at least one of these common conditions in their lifetime. We often forget to take care of our eyes as we become adults. The old saying “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” often plays its part when it comes to the eyes.
Those who play sports may have a greater likelihood of getting common eye injuries like detached retina or snow blindness if they are actively outdoors. Viral and bacterial infections like pink eye are also common. Below are a few more common eye conditions and their treatment options.
1) Dry Eyes: Dry Eye is a very common condition that can be a problem for many patients. Whether it’s mild or severe it can stop or reduce your daily activities.
Treatments: Some known treatments for Dry Eye are over the counter drops. Artificial tears or even a new non-invasive procedure called LipiFlow.
Watch Susan’s story about her experience with LipiFlow after seeing a number of doctors who never provide hope for her dry eyes

2) Cataracts: Cataracts quite often affect those who are increased in age. Cataracts are a cloud that forms over the eyes lens. It progresses over time and decreases vision of the patient who has it.
Treatment: Treatment for advanced Cataracts is most often surgery where the natural lens is removed and replaced with a clear, artificial lens. Cataracts often develop more rapidly and deteriorate the vision more quickly in those who suffer with other medical conditions like Type 2 diabetes.
Watch Allen’s story about his experience with Cataract surgery and how he know sees like a teenager:

Experiencing Dry Eye Relief with LipiFlow®

Benefits Vs. Risk Factors

For those who suffer from Dry Eye, the notion that there is a treatment that works for them is something they seldom consider.

Often patients with Keratoconus find improved comfort in contact lenses if they had their dry eyes properly assessed and treated.

Most have grown tired of using warm compresses and artificial tears, with no hope in sight. Lipiflow® is bringing new hope to sufferers of Dry Eye everywhere. LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System is a new treatment for MGD Dry Eye that is non-invasive and addresses the root of the problem, the glands, by cleaning out the clogged lipids and getting the glands to produce clean lipids on their own.

Below are a few benefits & risk factors for the new Lipiflow® system:

Risk Factors:

There are very few risk factors from the LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System at this time. It is true that some people may not be a good candidate for the LipiFlow® System, and as with all procedures there are a few risk factors.

Red eye
Burning sensation
Sensitivity to light

These risks are very minimal and are typically experienced only for a short time after the procedure.

Benefits of LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System:

Helps Red Eye (related to Dry Eye)
Helps your body create clean and plentiful lipids
Short treatment length
Little to no discomfort
Faster Recovery time

The Lipiflow® Thermal Pulsation System’s benefits far out way its risks. Many Keratoconus patients are experiencing freedom from Dry Eye after years of suffering. Keratoconus and dry eye are treatable, talking to your eye care professional to determine candidacy is best.

Dr. Brian discusses the LipiFlow® treatment and how it is performed:

Optimal Eye Health with Flaxseed Oil

Did you know that your eyes need vitamins just as much as the rest of your body? Yes, it is important for your eye health to get the right vitamin balance for your eyes as well as your whole body. Optimal Flax can help you achieve this and helps with Dry Eye. Below are a few additional benefits to flaxseed oil.

Benefits of Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed oil is used in many various health applications. It has been shown to:

Reduce inflammation from several types of Arthritis
Treat Dry Eye
Help regulate high blood pressure
Treat for heart disease
Help control Diabetes
Assist digestive health as a laxative for constipation

Even more important that the above benefits, research has revealed that free radicals can damage corneas and increase the progressive nature of Keratoconus. Anti-oxidants vitamins should be an essential part of your Keratoconus treatment. In addition, Keratoconus contacts lenses can be more comfortable when dry eye is treated. Flaxseed oil vitamin capsules have been effective for alleviated dry eyes in Keratoconus patients.

Several vitamin supplements that can support good vision care, as well as overall health, for yourself and your family. Vitamins can provide longevity and improved health.

As with any medications or supplements, there are a few interactions to watch out for including medications that help slow clotting of the blood. It is important to check with your physician or eye care professional before starting any new treatments to ensure there are no interactions.

Optimal Flax is a supplement that naturally increases the lubrication of the body, including the eyes and skin. This is an effective product for helping reduce Dry Eyes.

Flaxseed oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids which help with several health problems and offer many daily health benefits. If you are looking for a daily vitamin that will assist you with Dry Eye symptoms, Optimal Flax may be the ideal vitamin product.

For those of you who want more information on the Optimal Health products such as Optimal Flaxseed and Optimal Eye (antioxidants) visit www.ioptimalhealth.com

Top 3 Reasons to Get Your Annual Eye Exam

For many of us, the thought of getting an annual eye exam slips our mind. However as we get older and our vision changes, we often realize how important it is to have this exam. Many times the eye care professionals will do a series of tests to ensure your vision health. But your eye care professional can also help with prevention of many other conditions by testing you each year. There are other conditions such as diabetes, and heart disease that can be detected through a simple eye exam.

Below are 3 reasons you should get your annual eye exam:

1) An annual eye exam scans for eye conditions – There are several eye conditions that, when they are found early, can be prevented, slowed, or even stopped with early intervention. One of most common missed diagnosed conditions is Keratoconus. The sooner Keratoconus diagnosis is determined, the better your treatment results will be.

2) An annual eye exam can catch other health conditions- Having your eye examined regularly can help catch conditions like Adult onset Diabetes (AKA Type 2 Diabetes), high blood pressure, as well as several heart conditions.

3) An annual eye exam can reduce the severity and length of treatments for vision health- It is best to get early treatments for your eye conditions. The sooner you treat, the more options you will have available to benefit your condition. Especially for glaucoma or cataracts.

Remember that early detection is the best way to get proper treatment of all conditions, including those in your eyes.

Dr. Brian shares the top 3 reasons for eye exam on Dr. Phil’s The Doctors Show:

What Are the Most Common Eye Injuries During Baseball Season?

Not only is Baseball America’s pastime, but it is a large cause of eye injury during the summer season. Over 90% of eye related injuries can be prevented; many times with simple safety measures. If you are active in sports, especially in Baseball, your vision is needed often to measure your swing or even pitch the ball. The longer players play baseball, the more chance of damage to the eye. It is very important to keep your vision in excellent shape when it comes to playing sports.

Most victims of eye related conditions are between 15-25 years of age, often in an athlete’s prime years. As a player, it is important to have yourself checked annually for eye damage or progressive eye conditions. As a coach, it is equally important to ensure your players are getting their checkups. Near and far vision is required to properly play the game. Below are some of the most common sports related eye injuries:

  • Detached Retina’s
  • Corneal Lacerations
  • Hemorrhages
  • Loss of eye

Most of these injuries are due to direct ocular contact with the ball. While baseball is the sport we love, we must protect ourselves at all times. Several athletes have neglected their vision and have waited to get their checkups until their vision was so bad that they could barely make it through the day. St. Louis Cardinals’ Aaron Luna recently had vision correction surgery to improve his vision. The Visian ICL, which is a tiny implantable contact lens, is placed in the eye to improve your natural lens vision. With the Visian ICL, you can experience life without contact lenses or glasses in most cases.

Aaron remembers what it was like before the Visian ICL and now is grateful he had the procedure done. The Visian ICL takes only about 20 minutes per eye and the recovery time is generally around a week. You should ask your eye care professional about the Visian ICL – it could benefit you in your next Baseball season!

The Visian ICL has been gaining popularity for individuals with Keratoconus. Keratoconus can lead to high levels of myopia (nearsightedness). The Visian ICL as a Keratoconus treatment can help reduce the high levels of myopia, so patients with Keratoconus might be able to wear glasses or less powerful contacts. In some cases, Keratoconus patients might be able to reduce their need for contacts or glasses after Visian ICL.

For more information on the Visian ICL visit: www.visianinfo.com

12 year old, Nicey, had her life changed by Visian ICl for Keratoconus, watch her story here: http://youtu.be/j4BNj6pnzvU

LipiFlow®: A New Alternative for Dry Eye Relief

Dry Eye is a common condition. Often Dry Eye gets worse during the summer months. If you have struggled with Dry Eye and it seems you are getting little relief, LipiFlow® may be able to help. Lipiflow® is a 10-minute treatment that cleans out the glands that are blocked by dust and debris.

Those who are active during the summer, have a job that requires hours on the computer, or even those who work around flying dust or debris have difficulty with Dry Eye. It can cause pain and irritation, reducing your quality of vision and interrupting your daily activities. Below are a few signs of Dry Eye:

  • Itchiness
  • Redness
  • Blurred vision
  • Discomfort
  • Gritty sensations
  • Scratchy eyes
  • Sensitivity to light

Overall Benefits of LipiFlow®:

There are several benefits to getting the LipiFlow® treatment. For those who have been suffering for several years, you can have significant improvement within 4 weeks. LipiFlow® allows the glands to be cleaned and increase the patient’s natural lipid production. This gradually helps with relief from your symptoms and can allow for a better quality of vision overall. If you have been dealing with Dry Eye without relief for a long period of time, you understand the need for treatment to help the underlying problem. LipiFlow® goes right to the gland that is blocked allowing true relief.

Some of the overall benefits of using the LipiFlow® treatment are:

  • Improved quality of vision
  • Improved lipid production
  • Less irritation during work or personal activities
  • little to no pain
  • 86% improvement rate

Current over the counter artificial tears, “Get the red out” eye drops, and other treatments will only provide you with temporary relief. After a while these products may not work the same. LipiFlow® can be a true treatment for your Dry Eye symptoms. Getting a checkup annually and asking your eye care professionals about LipiFlow® can give you a better idea if it may be right for you. Get relief for your chronic Dry Eye and improve your quality of vision with LipiFlow®.

To hear Barbara’s first-hand results, click the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbx-CXBuZTY

How the Holcomb C3-R ® can Help Your Keratoconus – A Career in Auto Racing

While Keratoconus is an often debilitating condition there is hope in having a successful career in Auto Racing regardless of having Keratoconus. There are several new treatments that are not only improving patients Keratoconus but also bringing back the eyesight of many patients.

The Holcomb C3-R ® is a treatment that uses natural vitamin solution in the eye, and in combination with special UV lights the solution is activated. The solution will strengthen the fibers of the cornea which will improve the distortion in the eye over time.

Australian Race car driver Mark Skarife has had Keratoconus for over 10 years. His current treatments allow him to switch from contact lenses to glasses for his Keratoconus. However with the Holcomb C3-R ® Mark may have the ability to drive without any additional aids such as glasses or contact lenses. In an article in “All About Eyes” Mark stated “Contact lenses do not fog up like glasses tend to do”.

The truth is no matter what treatment you try it is up to you and your eye care professional to decide what works best for you. Can you have a career in Auto Racing and have Keratoconus, Yes. The trick is with any condition you have to monitor your condition, report and new symptoms, and understand how it can affect you in your future.

There are several treatments that can benefit you and your chosen career including Holcomb C3-R ® which can strengthen your vision naturally. INTACS which are inserted lenses that help support your natural lens.

Below are some symptoms of Keratoconus:

For those who are not familiar with Keratoconus, it is a progressive eye condition that causes thinning of your cornea changing it to a cone shape. The progression of the condition varies from person to person but the symptoms are generally the same.

  • Blurred vision
  • Frequent Changes in Prescription
  • Frequent rubbing of the eyes
  • Dry eyes
  • Increased blinking of the eyes

There have been a great deal of advancements in the improvement of vision for those suffering from Keratoconus. Checking out the latest in treatments could save you a great deal of time and symptoms. Treatments like Holcomb C3-R ®, INTACS, and CK can help you regain your life a little faster. For more information on how to treat your Keratoconus visit www.AmKC.org

Learn how Olympic Bobsled Driver’s Life was changed by Keratoconus Treatments: http://youtu.be/P8CWqVTnIp0

The Anatomy of the Eye

There are five main senses, all of which work together to allow the body to “sense” the surrounding world. All of these senses send information to the brain. In turn, the brain interprets the information as needed. Although all of these senses are important, eyesight stands out as the most important.

What Makes Sight Possible?

There are many factors that work together to make sight possible. Although different muscles and nerves are needed to send images, the main organs dedicated to this sense are the brain and the eye itself. Without one of these vital parts, the world around us would be dark.

The eye is considered one of the most complex parts of the body. This is due to all of the different parts of the organ, numbering in the billions. This organ is held in place by the surrounding muscles, which also serve to move the eye as needed. Images are seen by the eye and projected towards the retina. The retina then converts the images into electrical impulses that can travel through the optic nerve to the brain.

The Anatomy of the Eye

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