Dry Eyes: Cause and Treatment

The eye depends on the flow of tears to provide constant moisture and lubrication to maintain vision and comfort. Tears are a combination of water, for moisture; oils, for lubrication; mucus, for even spreading; and antibodies and special proteins, for resistance to infection. These components are secreted by special glands located around the eye. When there is an imbalance in this tear system, a person may experience dry eyes.

When tears do not adequately lubricate the eye, a person may experience:

• Pain
• Light sensitivity
• A gritty sensation
• A feeling of a foreign body or sand in the eye
• Itching
• Redness
• Blurring of vision

Sometimes, a person with a dry eye will have excess tears running down the cheeks, which may seem confusing. This happens when the eye isn't getting enough lubrication. The eye sends a distress signal through the nervous system for more lubrication. In response, the eye is flooded with tears to try to compensate for the underlying dryness. However, these tears are mostly water and do not have the lubricating qualities or the rich composition of normal tears. They will wash debris away, but they will not coat the eye surface properly.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

In addition to an imbalance in the tear-flow system of the eye, dry eyes can be caused by situations that dry out the tear film. This can be due to dry air from air conditioning, heat, or other environmental conditions. Other conditions that may cause dry eyes are:

• The natural aging process, especially menopause.
• Side effects of certain drugs such as antihistamines and birth control pills.
• Diseases that affect the ability to make tears, such as Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and collagen vascular diseases.
• Structural problems with the eye lids that don't allow them to close properly.

How Are Dry Eyes Treated?

Though dry eyes cannot be cured, there are a number of steps that can be taken to treat them. You should discuss treatment options with an eye care specialist. Treatments for dry eyes may include:

• Artificial tear drops and ointments. The use of artificial teardrops is the primary treatment for dry eye. Artificial teardrops are available over the counter.
• Temporary punctal occlusion. Plug that can be removed or will dissolve over a few days is inserted into the tear drain of the lower eyelid to determine whether permanent plugs can provide an adequate supply of tears.
• Permanent punctal occlusion. If temporary plugging of the tear drains works well, then longer-lasting plugs may be used. Many patients find that the plugs improve comfort and reduce the need for artificial tears.
• Restasis. Eye drop that helps your eyes increase their own tear production with continued use.
• Other medications. Other medications, including topical steroids, may also be beneficial in some cases.

Read the Original article published on webmd.com.

When was the last time you and your family members had an eye examination? Drop by any 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore location and meet with an Independent Optometrist. Walk-in’s are welcome but we ask that you come at least 20 minutes to your desired appointment time to fill out the required paperwork.  Check out our previous post regarding interesting eye health information for more neat facts about eye care.

We look forward to assisting you regarding your eyeglasses, contact lenses, sunglasses needs and an independent doctor of optometry.  Contact us with any questions you may have.

Eye Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Nearly everyone has eyepain or sore eyes at some point in life. Eye pain may be something that resolves on its own. But it also can be a sign of something more serious.

What Causes Eye Pain?

Discomfort or pain can be caused by a problem in the eye or structures around it, including:

• Cornea: Clear window in the front of the eye that focuses incoming light
• Sclera: White outside wall of the eye
• Conjunctiva: Ultrathin covering of the sclera and inside the eyelid
• Iris: Colored part of the eye, with the pupil in the middle
• Orbit: Bony cave where the eye and eye muscles are
• Extraocular muscles: Muscles that rotate the eye
• Nerves: Carry visual information from the eyes to the brain
• Eyelids: Outside covering of the eye, which protects and continually spreads moisture over the eyes

Eye problems can include:

• Blepharitis: Inflammation or infection of the eyelid that causes irritation or pain.

• Conjunctivitis (commonly called pinkeye): Inflammation of the conjunctiva caused by allergies or infections (viral or bacterial). Blood vessels in the conjunctiva become engorged, and the normally white part of the eye looks red. Other symptoms usually include itchiness and discharge.

• Corneal abrasions. A scratch on the cornea is called an abrasion. It can be very painful. The cornea is vulnerable to injuries from children's flying fingers, errant tree branches, or tennis balls. With antibiotic drops and close monitoring by your doctor, corneal abrasions generally resolve completely without future problems.

• Corneal infections (called keratitis): Inflamed or infected cornea sometimes caused from shingles (herpes zoster) or from wearing contact lenses overnight or without inadequate disinfection.

• Foreign bodies: Something in the eye -- a bit of dirt, plant debris, or a fragment of a contact lens. These are usually just irritating, and tears or water rinse them out. If not removed, foreign bodies can cause corneal abrasions.

• Glaucoma: Eye condition that usually has no early symptoms. In the case of acute angle closure glaucoma, though, pressure inside the eye rises suddenly. Symptoms include severe eye pain, nausea and vomiting, headache, and decreased vision. These symptoms are an emergency and need immediate treatment to prevent blindness.

• Optic neuritis: When the nerve traveling from the back of the eyeball into the brain becomes inflamed. Multiple sclerosis or other autoimmune conditions or infections are often the cause. Symptoms include loss of vision and sometimes pain.

• Stye (also called a hordeolum): An often painful infection or inflammation of the edges of the eyelid caused from the eyelash hair follicles or from oil glands.

What  are Symptoms of Eye Pain?

Eye pain can occur by itself, or there may be various other symptoms present:

• Decreased vision
• Discharge, which can be clear, or thick and colored
• Foreign body sensation -- the feeling that something is in the eye, whether or not anything actually is
• Headache
• Light sensitivity
• Nausea or vomiting
• Red eye or pinkeye
• Tearing
• The eye being crusted shut after sleep due to discharge

How is Eye Pain diagnosed and Treated ?

Just as the causes of eye pain vary widely, so do the treatments.  Visit an independent doctor of optometry who can diagnose you the cause and treatmentof your problem.

·         Conjunctivitis. Antibacterial eye drops can cure bacterial conjunctivitis. Antihistamines -- in the form of eye drops, or a pill or syrup -- can often improve allergic conjunctivitis.

• Corneal abrasions. These can be healed but often are treated with antibiotic ointments and close monitoring.
• Glaucoma. Eye pain is treated urgently with eye drops and occasionally with pills to reduce eye pressure. If these don't work, surgery may be needed.
• Infections of the cornea (called keratitis). These may require antiviral or antibacterial eye drops.
• Optic neuritis. May be treated with intravenous corticosteroids.
• Sty. Are usually cured by applying regular warm compresses at home for a few days.

Read the original article published on at webmd.com

The only way to sort out the various potential causes of eye pain and to get appropriate treatment is to see a doctor. Your vision is precious protects it by taking eye pain seriously.

Visit us at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore or Want to schedule an eye exam at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore? You can schedule an eye exam online here, or call 386-774-5000

What is Cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil.
Cataract is the most common cause of vision loss in people over 40 and is the principal cause of blindness in the world. In fact, there are more cases of cataracts worldwide than there are of glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

Today, cataracts affect more than 22 million Americans age 40 and older. And as the U.S. population ages, more than 30 million Americans are expected to have cataracts by the year 2020, says Prevent Blindness America.

Cataract Symptoms and Signs

A cataract starts out small and at first has little effect on your vision. You may notice that your vision is blurred a little, like looking through a cloudy piece of glass or viewing an impressionist painting.

Hazy or blurred vision may mean you have a cataract.

A cataract may make light from the sun or a lamp seems too bright or glaring. Or you may notice when you drive at night that the oncoming headlights cause more glare than before. Colors may not appear as bright as they once did.

If you think you have a cataract, visit an eye doctor for an exam to any of our 20/20 eyeglass Superstore.

What Causes Cataracts?

Cataract risk factors include:

• Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and other sources
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications
• Statin medicines used to reduce cholesterol
• Previous eye injury or inflammation
• Previous eye surgery
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Significant alcohol consumption
• High myopia
• Family history

Cataract Prevention

High dietary intakes of vitamin E and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin from food and supplements significantly decreased risks of cataract.

Good food sources of vitamin E include sunflower seeds, almonds and spinach. Good sources of lutein and zeaxanthin include spinach, kale and other green, leafy vegetables.

Antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids may reduce cataract risk.

Visit our Nutrition & Eyes section to read more about eye vitamins and how a healthful diet and good nutrition may help prevent cataracts.

Another step you can take to reduce your risk of cataracts is to wear protective sunglasses that block 100 percent of the sun's UV rays when you are outdoors.


Read the original article published on allaboutvision.com, written by Gretchyn Bailey.

20/20 Eyeglass Superstore is encouraging all American to do one thing that could save your loved ones sight: Get an eye health examination from a Doctor of Optometry and reduce the risk of cataract.

Call today to book an eye health examination for yourself and your loved ones! 

Eye Exam For Children

As a parent, you may wonder whether your preschooler has a vision problem or when you should schedule your child's first eye exam.

Eye exams for children are extremely important, because 5 to 10 percent of preschoolers and 25 percent of school-aged children have vision problems.* Early identification of a child's vision problem can be crucial because children often are more responsive to treatment when problems are diagnosed early.

For school-aged children, the American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends an eye exam every two years if no vision correction is required. Children who need eyeglasses or contact lenses should be examined annually or as recommended by their optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Early eye examinations are crucial to make surechildren have normal, healthy vision so they can perform better at schoolwork or play.

To read more about eye exam for children click here.

Early eye exams also are important because children need the following basic skills related to good eyesight for learning:

• Near vision
• Distance vision
• Binocular (two eyes) coordination
• Eye movement skills
• Focusing skills
• Peripheral awareness
• Hand-eye coordination

Signs of Vision Problems in Children

1. Gets headaches when reading or writing

2. Words slide together or get blurry when reading

3. Reads below grade level

4. Loses place while reading

5. Tilts head or closes an eye when reading

6. Hard to copy from the blackboard at school

7. Doesn’t like reading or writing

8. Leaves out small words when reading

9. Hard to write in a straight line

10. Burning, itching, or watery eyes

11. Hard to understand what he/she has read

12. Holds book very close

13. Hard to pay attention when reading

14. Hard to finish assignments on time

15. Gives up easily (says “I can’t” before trying)

16. Bumps into things, knocks things over

17. Homework takes too long

18. Daydreams in class

19. In trouble for being off task at school

20. Seem to have difficulty finding or picking up small objects dropped on the floor (after the age of 12 months)

21. Has difficulty focusing or making eye contact

22. Eyes appear to be crossed or turned

23. Closes one eye when trying to look at distant objects

It’s always a good idea to get your child’s eyes checked on an annual or bi-annual basis, but here are some signs you can look for that may indicate that your child is having vision problems.

If your child is experiencing vision problems, click here to schedule an appointment for an eye exam at through our convenient online scheduling feature or visit us at 20/20Eyeglass Superstore.