Inspirational Story

We found this story very inspirational. It is about a young man who lost his vision to a rare eye cancer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6joBu_vBdmQ

Birth Control Pills and Glaucoma

A study presented today at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology found that long-term use of birth control pills was associated with a higher risk of being diagnosed with glaucoma.  The study examined data from over 3000 women who took any oral birth control for three or more years.  They found that these women were twice as likely to have glaucoma.  Thankfully, glaucoma is a rare condition so even at double the risk any individual woman is still unlikely to be affected.  The researchers recommend that women who have taken birth control pills have a screening for glaucoma.  We do this at every eye exam, so if you have been through our office you have it covered.  If you haven't been in and have used oral birth control, this study recommends an eye exam.

End of Year Planning

If you have a flex/medical savings account or vision insurance benefits that you want to use in 2013, this is a great time to schedule your appointment. We have many openings now, however the schedule will fill up fast!

If you have any questions about your end of the year eye care planning or would like to schedule an appointment, please call. We look forward to seeing you.

Shingles Vaccine

We have posted about shingles before, but we just saw another mid-50's patient with an outbreak on her face. Our heart breaks for her because she is completely miserable. The rash is very painful and involves her eye. Her vision is very reduced, and may not recover even with treatment depending on the severity of the scarring. Her message - "tell everyone to get the vaccine!" The shingles vaccine is FDA approved for age 50 and older and is available from your PCP or pharmacist. Here is a link to find locations -  Zostavax.com

Fish Oil Supplements

We see patients every day with red, itchy, irritated eyes. Many self treat with allergy eyedrops. In most cases, allergy is not the cause. It is usually poor tear volume and poor tear quality. We need the tears to protect the eye surface, and often the tears are just not getting the job done. Omega-3 fatty acids can really help tear quality, and most of us do not get enough in our diet. The best foods for omega-3s are oily fish like salmon, anchovies and sardines. That was your last meal, right?! Supplements help. We see very good results from two 500 mg fish oil capsules daily. Some brands are very "fishy" so we started carrying Nordic Naturals which is high quality and "lemony".  Please stop by the office if you would like a sample.

New Macular Degeneration Test

The macula is the area of photosensitive cells responsible for central vision.  If this area breaks down, it is called macular degeneration and is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S.  There are pigmented cells in the macula that have a supportive and protective role.  If an eye has low amounts of this pigment, it is at higher risk.  We now have an instrument that can measure this macular pigment.  If it is low, we can change our diet or add a supplement to increase these cells.  Prevention is key because once the macula breaks down, there is little that can be done.  We are offering this test at no charge to our patients.  If you are interested, simply stop by and the staff can administer the test.  It is quick and easy!

Eye Allergies

Spring allergy season is here, and many struggle with itchy eyes.  Ketotifen was a very successful prescription eyedrop and is now over the counter.  It is the best OTC choice.  Common brand names include Alaway and Zaditor.  We joke that we like the OTC allergy drops because we get a big bottle for little money.  The prescription drops are big money for a little bottle, but they really do work the best.  If you try the OTC drops and still have symptoms, please call the office and we can help.

Cipro and Retinal Detachment

A recent large study suggests a link between a commonly prescribed antibiotic and retinal detachment.  If the photosensitive cells inside the eye pull loose, it is called a retinal detachment and is a true eye emergency.  Patients often describe seeing large flashes of light and a black veil or curtain in their field of view.  Oral fluoroquinolone use (Cipro is the most common) has been associated with tendon rupture.  It is thought there is interference with collagen synthesis and repair.  There appears to be a similar effect on collagen in the eye.  Patients using fluoroquinolones should be aware of the symptoms of retinal detachment, and those already at high risk might be best served with an alternate antibiotic.  High risk eyes are those that have already had a detachment in the other eye, and highly myopic or nearsighted eyes.

Best of 2012

A big thank you to everyone who voted for us!  Towne Lake Eye Associates was named a Best of 2012 winner on Kudzu, a leading source of local business information and consumer reviews. Over 5 million businesses competed across 30 categories, and winners were awarded based on the highest number of votes received on Kudzu.com.