Symptoms of Dry Eye

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Dry eye is a syndrome that is estimated to affect over 4.88 million people in the U.S. More women than men have dry eye syndrome, which may be due to factors related to release of estrogen. It’s good to know that treatment for dry eye in Coldwater, MS is available. If you think you may have this condition, book an appointment for a professional diagnosis and treatment plan. In the meantime, here are the most common symptoms of dry eye to be aware of.

Chronically Red Eyes

The whites of the eyes can redden for a number of reasons, including eye strain. This often happens after long hours at a computer, either at work or at home while gaming. They can also get red due to injury or exposure to an irritant. But if you can’t attribute your red eyes to anything recent, and you seem to always have red eyes, it could be that you have dry eye syndrome.

Burning, Stinging Sensation********

Irritated eyes often feel like they are stinging or burning. With dry eye syndrome, the eyes are not getting enough fluid, which causes them to feel uncomfortable and results in a burning or stinging feeling. This is a common symptom that should be reported to your eye doctor in Coldwater, MS.

Sensitivity to Light

Do you find yourself squinting a lot, even when it’s not particularly bright outside, or when others don’t appear to be bothered by the light? If you have excess sensitivity to light, or if you have trouble driving gat night due to other vehicles’ headlights, you could have dry eye syndrome. Light sensitivity is a symptom of other eye conditions, also, so a professional diagnosis is imperative.

Swollen, Irritated Eyelids

If your eyelids are irritated and swollen on a regular basis, know that is another sign of possible dry eye syndrome. The swelling and irritation is caused when the eyelid drops down over the eyes to blink or sleep, and friction is present due to lack of moisture.

Never try to diagnose your dry eye syndrome at home. In particular, don’t start treating dry eyes with over-the-counter eye drops. At-home eye drops can hide or exacerbate a serious eye condition. Contact your eye doctor today for consultation about symptoms of dry eyes.

3 Ways a High-Sodium Diet Affects Your Eye Health

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Do you eat a lot of salty foods? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average American consumes at least 3400 milligrams of sodium every day even though less than 2300 milligrams is the recommendation.

Unfortunately, a high-sodium diet can be detrimental to your health, even your visual health. One thing you may not expect to hear when you go in for an eye exam in Coldwater, MS is that your salt intake could be too high. Check out some of the ways that a lot of salt can negatively affect your visual health.

Heightened risks of cataracts

High sodium intake has been directly linked to cataract formation in the eyes, specifically posterior subscapular cataracts. Salt affects a lot of things about how the eye functions, which may heighten your risks. If you are at risk of cataracts already, it is important to be especially vigilant about monitoring how much salt you consume on a daily basis.

Changes in intraocular pressure

Intraocular pressure is a medical term used to refer to the level of pressure within the eye on the blood vessels. Individuals with glaucoma usually have abnormally high levels of intraocular pressure, which over time affects the quality of eyesight. Unfortunately, consuming a lot of salt may negatively affect intraocular pressure and generate even more risks of glaucoma.

Restricted blood flow to your eyes

Salt changes how fluid is distributed throughout the body, including in your eyes. If you have restricted blood flow to the eyes, this can mean your visual health is at risk. When blood flow is impeded to a great extent, this can actually cause your vision to get blurry. The blood pumped into the eye feeds oxygen to the retina, and without the oxygen, the retina cannot function properly.

Monitor Your Visual Health with the Help of a Coldwater Eye Doctor

So many aspects of your everyday life can have a part to play in your visual health. Be sure to work with a Coldwater, MS eye doctor to form a comprehensive preventative care plan for your eyes. Reach out to us at the Coldwater Vision Center to schedule an appointment.

What Happens to Your Eyes as You Age?

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Many adults begin noticing vision changes around the age of 40. Even if you’ve had perfect vision all your life, the simple process of aging may bring about changes in your ability to see close up or far away. Often, the first symptoms include the inability to focus close-up, such as when reading or working at a computer. This is called presbyopia, and it’s a common condition that affects many adults between the ages of 40 and 60. If you notice recent changes to your vision that could be age-related, schedule an appointment with youreye doctor in Coldwater, MS, right away. There could be various conditions at play.

What Is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is a change in the eyes’ ability to focus that is usually brought on by normal aging. The National Institutes of Health reports that nearly 80 percent of adults in North America, who are between the ages of 45 and 55, have presbyopia. This condition is caused by the hardening of the lenses in your eyes. As the lenses lose flexibility, they’re unable to change shape, or focus, to adjust to close-up objects.

What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, affects your central vision, causing blurriness. It’s a disease that affects the retina, and you may be more at risk if there’s a family history of AMD, if you smoke, and if you’re Caucasian. Early symptoms include:

  • Difficulty seeing well in low light
  • Seeing straight lines as wavy
  • Trouble distinguishing between colors
  • Blurred central vision
  • Blanks spots in your vision

Adults over the age of 55 are at higher risk of developing AMD.

What is Retinopathy?

Retinopathy is a term that describes any disease of the retina. Different factors may cause retinopathy, but the most common is diabetes. Retinopathy may develop slowly, over time. Or, it may happen suddenly, causing partial or complete vision loss. Usually, retinopathy is marked by an abnormality in the blood vessels that support the retina.

Call Coldwater Vision Center Today

If you’re over the age of 40, and you’re experiencingvision changes in Coldwater, CO, call Coldwater Vision Center right away. Early intervention may be key to preserving your vision. Contact our friendly and professional representatives today.

What Is a Dilated Eye Exam? 

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During a dilated eye exam, your eye doctor in Coldwater, MS, uses eyedrops to widen your pupils. This allows them to more clearly see the retina in the back of your eyes. A healthy retina is necessary for good vision, and this test is often part of a routine eye exam, especially if you have existing medical conditions or a family history of glaucoma.

Uses for a Dilated Eye Exam

A dilated eye exam is used to diagnose diseases and conditions that affect the eye. These include:

  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Brain tumor
  • Head injury
  • Glaucoma
  • Cataracts
  • Age-related macular degeneration

Early diagnosis and treatment are key in preventing vision loss. A dilated eye exam can help your eye doctor develop an early treatment plan in the event you have a medical condition that affects your vision.

What to Expect During Your Dilated Eye Exam

A dilated eye exam is relatively routine. First, your eye doctor places drops in your eyes that cause your pupils to dilate, or widen. This allows more light to enter and makes it easier for your vision specialist to see what’s happening inside your eye. It takes around 15 to 20 minutes for the eyedrops to become fully effective. At this point, your eye professional will shine a light into your eyes to examine them.

A dilated eye exam is not painful, though your vision may remain a bit blurry for a few hours afterward. Your eyes may also feel sensitive to bright light for several hours following your exam. Sunglasses will help. If you anticipate a dilated eye exam, bring a friend with you to your appointment, so they can drive you home afterward.

Call Coldwater Vision Center Today

If it’s time to schedule a dilated eye exam in Coldwater, MS, Coldwater Vision Center is happy to help. Call today to schedule an appointment with our friendly and experienced vision specialists, and be sure to inform your eye doctor if you’re worried about glaucoma, retinopathy, or other conditions that affect the eyes. A dilated eye exam is easy enough to perform, and it can help you obtain the early diagnosis you need to begin treatment for common eye disorders.

Does My Little One Need to See the Eye Doctor?

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Should your little one be seeing the eye doctor in Coldwater MS? It depends. Children need to see the eye doctor at various stages of development in order to ensure that they have good eye health.

Don’t wait until your child has noticed symptoms of a problem to bring your child to the eye doctor. Many kids don’t know when they have vision trouble – so by the time your child notices, it could mean their condition is severe or has been going on for a long time. Knowing when to bring your child to the eye doctor is important.

Take Your Child Before First Birthday

Your child should see the eye doctor before age one. Eye doctors know which symptoms to watch for in little ones, and can help detect conditions that could cause developmental delays in your child. Eye exams for babies are relatively simple and don’t take very long, and they’re not uncomfortable at all. Once your baby has had their first pediatric eye exam in Coldwater MS, then you won’t have to take them again until it’s time to go to school.

Schedule a Visit Before Each School Year

Your child should visit the eye doctor before they start school each year. It’s important to see the eye doctor before school begins because your child needs to be able to see the books and the white board at the front of the room in order to perform academically.

Schedule a visit with the eye doctor each year before school starts in the fall. This way, you’ll know if your child needs glasses or contacts in order to get through the academic year.

Contact the Eye Doctor If You’re Seeing Symptoms

One more thing: take your child to see the eye doctor if you’re noticing symptoms of a problem. If you see your child squinting to read or see things in the distance, or if your child starts complaining about headaches, take your child to the eye doctor. Your child may not be complaining about blurry vision – that doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem.

To make an appointment for your little one, call Coldwater Vision Center today. We’re looking forward to seeing you!

How Are Dry Eyes Treated?

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Itching, redness, burning, discomfort—dealing with dry eyes on a regular basis is no joke and can really hinder your plans. Dry eye treatment in Coldwater, MS is one of the most common reasons people seek out an eye doctor for anything outside of vision checkups. A lot of patients assume that dry eyes are easy to treat, but most eye doctors will take a multifaceted approach to help find relief.

Recommended Lifestyle Changes

Things present in your environment and even your daily habits can be a major underlying causation factor of dry eyes. Therefore, this is the first thing an eye doctor will ask you about when you come in for an appointment. You may be dealing with problems due to:

  • Facial cosmetics that you wear on a regular basis
  • Aerosol or fragrant products that you use in your home
  • Pets that you have in your home
  • Chemical irritants that you are exposed to at work
  • Spending a lot of time on a computer or phone

Sometimes, making slight changes in your environment or even the products that you use can drastically reduce the problems you are experiencing.

Medications

The eye doctor may prescribe medications that will help deter issues with dry eyes by combating some of the symptoms. For example, if tear production seems to be lacking, the doctor may prescribe lubricating eye drops. Or, if allergies seem to be causing the problem, the doctor may work with your general practitioner to make sure you are taking the proper allergy medications.

Devices and Other Procedures

In the most severe cases of dry eye, you may need more direct treatments and procedures to control the problem. For example, a procedure may be done to partially plug tear ducts, which will keep moisture from draining out of your eyes as it normally does, to keep the corneal lens lubricated longer. Special-made glasses may also be an option if the eyes need protection from the environment.

Need Dry Eye Treatment in Coldwater?

Dry eyes can bring about so many uncomfortable situations with your eyes. If you have problems with dry eyes but have never obtained a legitimate diagnosis, it may be time to see a Coldwater eye doctor for help. Reach out to us at Coldwater Vision Center to schedule an appointment.

How Often Should My Child See the Eye Doctor?

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Children need to see the eye doctor on a regular basis, even if they don’t exhibit signs of eye trouble. Knowing how often your child should see the eye doctor in Coldwater, MS can help you take care of your child’s eye health. It’s also helpful to know the signs of an eye problem, so you can be sure to get your child to the eye doctor right away when it’s needed.

When To Bring Your Child Into the Eye Doctor

Bring your child to see the eye doctor by the time they’re one, and again before they start school. Once they begin school, take your child to the eye doctor each year – even if they don’t have an eye problem.

Eye problems can develop at any time, and can have a serious impact on your child’s academic and social development. Bringing your child to the eye doctor regularly can catch problems in their early stages, before they have an impact on your child’s reading or academic performance.

You should also bring your child to the eye doctor if you’ve noticed that they’re displaying symptoms of a problem.

Signs of a problem:

  • Sitting close to the television
  • Squinting
  • Must sit at the front of the classroom to see
  • Covering one eye to see
  • Excessive eye rubbing
  • Headaches
  • Difficulty concentrating

Why It’s Important to See the Eye Doctor

Children who don’t get pediatric eye exams in Coldwater, MS or treatment for their eye trouble may suffer from poor confidence in academic settings. Believing it is their fault, they may develop an early fear or aversion to school work.

This can affect children socially as well as academically. Children who believe that they are unable to perform properly in school may assume social roles wherein they are not expected to perform, which could become a permanent part of your child’s identity.

Make Your Child’s Eye Exam Today

Get your child off to the right start in school and in other settings. Call Coldwater Vision Center to make an appointment for your child’s next pediatric eye exam. We’ll check your child’s eye health and make recommendations for glasses if needed.

How Your Vision Care Plan Changes After a Diabetes Diagnosis

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Diabetes affects roughly 10 percent of the population here in the United States. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you can expect your vision care plan to change in a few noteworthy ways.

More Frequent Eye Exams

For most healthy adults, medical professionals agree that getting an eye exam every one or two years will suffice to keep close tabs on eye health. However, if you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is recommended that you have your eyes examined every year, and possibly more if you have vision problems. Because 1 in 5 people with diabetes does develop some kind of issue with their vision or eyes, keeping a closer watch on your eye health will be important. As an adage, anyone who has diabetes and gets pregnant should have their eyes checked during the first three months of pregnancy and then again around 12 months after the baby is born.

In-Depth Examinations to Look for Signs of Vision Problems

Most eye doctors perform a comprehensive eye exam regardless of whether you have diabetes or not. However, if you do have diabetes, the doctor will be looking for signs of certain diseases, retinal changes, and other issues that are prevalent among people with diabetes. For example, you will get a dilated eye exam, which means special drops will be put into your eyes to force pupil dilation, so the eye doctor can examine the back structures of your eye more closely.

Your Eye Doctor Will Be Asking About Diabetes Control

Most general eye exams will involve some discussion of your current health status, as your overall health affects your eye health. However, when you have diabetes, the eye doctor will also be interested in how well your diabetes is being controlled. They may ask questions like:

  • If you are taking medications for diabetes management
  • How often you are checking your blood sugar levels
  • What your latest results were from an A1C blood test

These questions can give the doctor further insight into what problems you may be experiencing with your vision that are related to your blood sugar levels.

Talk to a Coldwater Eye Doctor About Visual Health and Diabetes

The better you take care of your vision with diabetes, the less likely it will be that you develop problems. If you have diabetes and need help with visual health, reach out to us at Coldwater Vision Center in Coldwater, MS to schedule an appointment.