Just like any other organ in the body, the health of our eyes also deteriorates with age, and we need to make an extra effort to keep them healthy, and protect our vision. The following tips will guide you on the do’s and don’ts of keeping your eyes healthy as you age-

• Don’t ignore the symptoms- If you witness any changes in your vision, such as blurred vision, dark spots, redness, intolerance of bright light, watery eyes, pain, etc., you must not overlook them. These could be signs of underlying disorders like glaucoma or a cataract, which can be cured much faster with an early diagnosis.
• Give your eyes a break- The eyes, are after all, a muscle, and after being strained all day long, they require a break. Just sitting down for a few minutes every hour can be therapeutic for your eyes. Also, make sure that you get enough sleep. If your work involves staring at a computer screen for long periods, be sure to look away for around 10 seconds at short intervals.
• Blind out the sun- The damage caused by UV rays to the eyes is just as bad as it is to the skin, even though the effects might not be quite as visible in the former case. Make every effort to protect your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses with UV filters that completely cover the eyes, including the sides. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat when stepping out can also help.
• Watch what you eat- Our diet affect our eyes. Eat food rich in antioxidants, such as colored fruits and dark, green vegetables. This will help prevent the degeneration of your eye’s cells. Also make sure that you are getting enough of Vitamin A, C, E, and zinc, all of which are essential for the health of our eyes. Taking a multivitamin supplement is a good idea. Stay away from smoking, as it can accelerate disorders like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
• Get regular eye examinations- Even if you aren’t experiencing any abnormality in your vision, it is important that you arrange regular visits to your eye doctor after the age of 40, to get your vision and general eye condition tested. Ask your doctor for an appropriate screening interval, and stay regular with it.

We at Killeen Eyecare Center, conduct comprehensive eye examinations for all age groups. This examination includes diagnosis of various eye disorders, visual functioning, evaluation of internal and external health of the eyes and prescription for eye glasses or contact lenses (if required). For more information, visit us at 416 North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen or call us at 254-634-7805.

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Contact lenses are very liberating for those who are used to wearing spectacles, but one has to pay a price for this option. Not taking proper care of your lenses might prove detrimental for your eyes more than you can imagine. Enlisted below are some simple instructions and tips that will help you take care of your contact lenses.

• Before handling your contact lenses, make sure that your hands are clean, as you don’t want to transfer germs on to the lenses. Use a mild soap or just plain water. Then dry your hands with a lint-free cloth/ towel.
• The next step is to take the lens in the palm of your hand, and pour a few drops of the contact lens solution on to it. Now gently rub with your index finger. Take care not to handle the lenses with sharp nails, as this might damage them.
• Now rinse the debris, and place the lens in a cleaned case, filled with fresh solution. Remember not to reuse the solution, as that gets contaminated with germs.
• You do not need to fill the case till the brim, just half way through will do. The aim is to cover the lens completely in the solution, and to ensure that the solution is fresh each time.
• It is advisable to remove and insert your lenses on top of a wash basin, so that you can easily spot the lens if it slips down and falls.
• Take special care of the tip of the bottle containing the solution, ensuring that you do not touch it with your fingertips, and keep it covered at all times to avoid contamination.
• Do not splash your eyes with tap water while wearing contact lenses, as the microorganism called Acanthamoeba present in this water can cause serious eye infections.
• Try to remove the contact lenses as soon as possible, like when you get back home, as this gives your eyes the much-needed time for aeration.
• Do not sleep with your contact lenses on, since while sleeping you do not blink. It dehydrates the lenses, which hardens them.  It then becomes harmful for the delicate membrane of your eyes.
• Wash the contact lens case thoroughly with warm, soapy water every day, or at least every alternate day. 
• Follow the instructions indicated on the lens package carefully and do not exceed the time recommended by your optometrist, in case of disposable lenses.

Contact us at Killeen Eyecare Center for eye sight check up and for procuring correct vision lenses for your eyes. We are located at 416 North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen. We can also be contacted at 254-634-7805.

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Retinal hemorrhage occurs when the blood vessels in the retina get damaged or ruptured, leading to abnormal bleeding. The retina, which is composed of rods and cones is the region of the eye responsible for sensitivity to light, and vision. The retinal vein and artery, along with a dense network of capillaries, are responsible for transmitting the blood supply to the retina. When these blood vessels are damaged, due to any reason, this affects the blood supply to the retina, which in turn leads to a decrease in visual acuity.  Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in people aged between 20 and 65.

The dense network of cells in the retina is extremely sensitive, and can be damaged with even a slight trauma.

The causes due to which this damage might occur include:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Forceful blows in the head region
• Accidents
• Falls
• Child abuse in infants
• Improper development of blood vessels in infants born prematurely

Symptoms:

• Blurred vision
• Spotted vision
• Lines in the field of vision
• Blind spots
• Distorted vision
• Progressive vision loss

Diagnosis:

• The disease is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist, who uses an opthalmoscope to examine the internal structure of the eye.
• Another method that is commonly used to detect the abnormalities in the blood vessels is a fluorescein angiography test, in which a fluorescent dye is injected into the patient’s bloodstream, after which photographs are clicked to view the blood vessels.
• In some cases, the physician might also order for a blood test to be performed.

Treatment

• The disorder is self-limiting in most patients, with more than 85% cases healing on their own.
• The most common treatment for retinal hemorrhages is laser treatment, in which a laser beam is used to remove the affected blood vessels.
•  If the disease is caused by some underlying medical condition like diabetes or hypertension, the treatment focuses on eliminating that disorder.
• Injection of anti-VEGF drugs like Avestin has been found to be effective in the treatment of hemorrhages associated with the growth of new vessels.
• The administration of various nutritional and herbal supplements like antioxidants, omega-3-rich foods, antioxidant vitamins, zinc, lutein, pine bark extract, grape seed extract, etc. has also been found to be effective in improving the symptoms of the disease.

We at Killeen Eyecare center are renowned throughout Killeen for providing the highest quality eye care to all our patients. We help them maintain healthy eyes and treat various eye diseases using most sophisticated instruments. For more details, you can visit us at 416 North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen or call at 254-634-7805.

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Cytomegalovirus retinitis is a condition of the eye in which the retina is inflamed, mainly due to infection by the Cytomegalovirus (CMV). This is a herpes virus, which is present in almost everyone, but is usually made dormant by a healthy immune system. It is thus present in patients who have a compromised immune system, for whatever reason. The disease is commonly seen in late-stage AIDS, and can result in complete blindness in severe cases.

The risk factors for the disease include:

• Diseases that affect the immune system
• Weak immune response due to organ transplant/ bone marrow transplant
• Chemotherapy
• Low CD4 cell count in AIDS patients
• The systemic use of corticosteroids in patients with AIDS is believed to increase CMV risk in patients.

Symptoms:

• Blurred vision
• Pain in the eye
• Redness in the eye
• Blind spots
• Floaters
• Swelling
• Photophobia (Insensitivity to light)
• Progressive loss of vision- If left untreated, the disease can cause complete blindness in 4-6 months. Blindness might also occur in patients taking regular medication, if the immune system becomes even weaker, or the virus becomes resistant to the drugs.
• Retinal detachment
• “Owl’s eye effect”- This refers to the large cells with nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions produced by the virus.

Some patients exhibit none of these symptoms. The disease usually starts in one eye, and gradually progresses to the other.

Diagnosis:

• A standard ophthalmologic exam is conducted to diagnose the disease- This includes pupil dilation, use of an ophthalmoscope, vision testing, and a slit lamp exam.
• Various advanced tests like an MRI scan of the brain and orbits, a CT scan of the orbits, and a Fluorescein angiogram of the retina are used for further evaluation of the disease.
• Blood/ urine tests can also be used to detect a systemic CMV infection.
• In rare cases, a tissue biopsy might be performed.

Treatment:

• Due to its sensitive nature, a uveitis and ocular immunology specialist and a vitreo-retinal surgeon are responsible for treating the infection.
• Antivirals such as Ganciclovir or Foscarnet are administered to the patient.
• These medications can either be administered orally, intravenously, by an intravitreal injection (injected into the eye), or an intravitreal implant.
• Fomivirsen is an FDA-approved antisense drug (the first of its kind), administered via an intraocular injection for the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis.

To know more about the various eye diseases and for seeking quality eye care, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254- 634- 7805.

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