Improving Your Vision With Eyeglasses

by Administrator 25. March 2013 06:17

Eyeglasses are nothing but corrective lenses that are used to improve the vision. Glass pieces are cut according to the prescription given by the doctor. They are cut in such a way so that when the light enters these glasses, the image that you see on the retina gets focused on the correct place. When the retina comes in contact with this light, it sends the information to the brain and the brain transforms this data into the real image.

Read on to know about the different vision problems, the reason behind them and how eyeglasses can effectively correct them.

There is a problem in the vision when the image focused on the retina is not in the appropriate position; it too far back or too far in. Farsightedness occurs in the former case while nearsightedness happens in the latter. Also, there are many people who suffer from aging vision or astigmatism and they too need the help of an eye specialist. An eye exam will help you determine what exact problem you have and then accordingly you can put on the requisite eyeglasses to correct it.

Eyeglasses are also helpful for people who are having the problem of crossed eyes. In this case, the eyes are unable to focus together. This results in the production of two of the same objects that are seen by the eyes. A person suffering from this condition experiences blurriness while seeing both the objects and none can be seen clearly.

Eyeglasses are used to correct the above mentioned problems by using the right lenses in them. There are basically two types of lenses: the plus lens and the minus lens. In case of farsightedness, a plus lens in convex shape is recommended which focuses the image on the retina. On the other hand, the minus lens in concave shape focuses the image on the retina in case of nearsightedness. The different strengths of these two lenses are utilized to correct the defect of the eyes.

In case you suffer from any vision problems, you must visit an eye specialist immediately before the problem worsens. Get the perfect eyeglasses from your optometrist in Killeen for your vision problems and do not make your eyes suffer any sort of strain. Delaying the visit to your eye care doctor will only worsen the vision and cause further complications in the eye sight.

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Safety Tips For Contact Lens Wearers

by Administrator 12. November 2012 12:59

There are millions of people across the globe who wear contact lenses in order to correct their vision. However, it is important to know safety measures one must adhere to while using contact lenses. You have to wear these lenses in the prescribed way and take care of them so that they provide you maximum benefit. Read on to know what all safety measures should be kept in mind if you wear contact lenses.

  1. The first and the foremost thing is that you must get a contact lens prescription from an eye specialist. Also, make sure that you get to know about all the instructions related to proper lens care.
  2. Make sure you do not wear contact lens while taking a shower or swimming. Organisms in water can cause eye infection, so you must remove your contact lenses before entering a water body. 
  3. Use fresh contact lens solution every time you put back your lenses in their case. Don’t ever re-use the contact lens solution as its disinfectant properties are effective only in the first use.  
  4. Do not clean your contact lenses with saline water as it does not have disinfectant properties.  The saline solution does not make your lenses free from infection.
  5. Remove your contact lenses as soon as you feel irritation in the eyes because this could be a sign of some other eye infection.
  6. Wash your hands properly with soap before handling the contact lenses.
  7. Whenever you remove your lenses, rub each lens with a fresh solution. Then squeeze enough solution for storage so that the lenses remain free from any sort of infection.
  8. You must follow the product directions on the lens solution bottle and accordingly put back your lenses.

Contact lenses are very safe to use. They do not involve the hassle of wearing spectacles all the time. Also, they are worn right on the eyeball and therefore provide natural vision. These lenses are especially very helpful for athletes as well as the people who are driving.  Since the contact lenses do not fog up, they don’t produce unnecessary distractions. These lenses provide a much better view as compared to glasses that might not be too comfortable. 

So, you see there are huge benefits of using contact lenses. But as is the case with everything, these contact lenses also require special care. All you have to do is follow your doctor’s advice and keep in mind the above mentioned tips. Following these measures will help you benefit the most from the contact lenses. 

For more safety tips, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center. We are located at 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254- 634- 7805.

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Solving Vision Problems With Eyeglasses

by Administrator 19. September 2012 13:55

Eyeglasses are one of the most common prescriptions by eye doctors for treating vision problems. With their first usage dating back to 1286, eyeglasses have been in use for centuries now, and find a wide range of application in treating disorders of the eye among all age groups. The four conditions that are most commonly treated with eyeglasses are myopia (nearsightedness), hypermetropia (farsightedness), presbyopia and astigmatism. Since these are refractive errors, eyeglasses work on the principle of modifying the focal length to treat them. By doing so, the focal point on the retina is restored to normalcy, hence correcting vision.

Patients with vision problems can be referred to an eye doctor, or an optometrist, who then prescribe eyeglasses to them after carefully identifying the disorder that they are suffering from. Once the glasses are made as per the prescription, a professional instrument known as the lensmeter is used to evaluate their correctness. While the most important determinant in the efficacy of an eye lens used in glasses is the shape of the lens, factors like the thickness and depth of the curve also determine the strength of the eye glasses.

Enlisted below are the four major vision disorders treated by eyeglasses and how eye glasses correct them-

  • Myopia: The patient can see nearby objects, but distant objects are blurred. Eyeglasses with concave lenses are used to move distant objects further behind into the retina.
  • Hypermetropia: The patient can see distant objects, but close objects aren't clearly visible. These patients are prescribed with eyeglasses with convex lenses, which help to move distant objects forward into the retina.
  • Astigmatism: The disorder is characterized by an uneven curvature in the refractive region of the eye, and can be corrected with the help of eyeglasses with a cylindrical lens.
  • Presbyopia: This disorder mostly affects people after the age of 40, and is characterized by the inability to focus on nearby objects. It is treated with eyeglasses with convex lenses. Patients might need bifocal lenses, or separate eyeglasses for reading.

Eyeglasses can also be prescribed in a variety of other eye disorders. Patients with amblyopia or lazy eye can benefit from eyeglasses in which the lens on the strong eye is blurred, so that the patient is forced to focus with the weak eye. In case of eye allergies, eyeglasses can be useful to protect the eye from allergens while outside. It is important to get the eyeglasses fitted by an optometrist, since OTC or non-prescription eyeglasses can result in eye strain or poor quality vision.

We at Killeen Eyecare Center provide eye examinations and eye glasses for all age groups. You can visit us at 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen or call us at 254-634-7805.

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Effects Of High Blood Pressure On Eyes

by Administrator 5. December 2011 06:40

High blood pressure is associated with several problems that can adversely affect your health and quality of life. Apart from causing minor and major ailments related to the kidneys and the heart, it can also result in hypertension that constricts the blood vessels thus restricting the free flow of blood. This can result in certain organs of the body being deprived of blood in some cases. Even eyes are also not immune to the effects of high blood pressure. Retinal area is the most affected part of the eyes that is popularly known as hypertensive retinopathy in medical circles. There can be permanent damage to the eyes in case this condition is left untreated over a long period of time.

There are different kinds of symptoms that may accompany eye problems caused as a direct result of high blood pressure. Some of them are frequent headaches and loss or reduction of vision. Frequent visits to your eye doctor can help diagnose this condition in its initial stages so that its onset can be prevented. A device known as an ophthalmoscope is generally employed by most doctors to measure the degree of progress of this ailment. Retinopathy is said to be present when any of the following symptoms occur:

  1. Loss of fluids from blood vessels.
  2. Swelling of the optic nerve.
  3. Detection of white spots on the retinal area.
  4. Internal bleeding in the eye.

There are several treatments available for curing this condition. Taking effective steps to bring down the blood pressure helps restore regular vision to a significant extent. The ailment can also be prevented from occurring in the first place by following certain measures to keep hypertension in control. Maintaining a healthy and stress free lifestyle is the key to keeping high blood pressure problems at bay. However, if you are already a patient of high blood pressure, there are several over the counter medications and dietary changes that may be prescribed by your doctor to reduce the effects of blood pressure and gradually eliminate it.

For more information on eye care contact us at Killeen Eyecare Center, 416 North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen or call us at 254-634-7805.

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Smoking- A Threat To Your Eyes

by Administrator 27. September 2011 11:04

Smoking does not limit its hazardous impacts to the internal organs of the human body only but it is a great cause of serious eye problems like Cataract, Glaucoma, Uveilis, Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Dysthyroid. Unfortunately it is not just the smoker who has the chances of getting affected but also the people around him, also known as the passive smoker are at a risk.

The primary reason for the mentioned eye diseases is the smoke that comes out of a cigarette commonly known as the tobacco smoke. The fragile blood vessels of the retina get easily damaged by smoke and hence smoking causing visual impairment.

Further, the obstruction in the blood supply to the macular area of the eye (area that enables us to see the fine details) results in blurring of the vision which gradually keeps increasing with time if smoking is still continued.

The smokers are at a greater risk of developing eye problems than the non-smokers and also have greater possibility of getting poor vision which gradually leads to vision loss.

Children below the adolescence who are usually non smokers still are also at a very high risk of getting affected if any member of the family smokes. They get prone to disorders like Strabismus, allergic conjunctivitis.

Quitting smoking at the earliest is the best way to avoid any damage to the vision and protecting it from various eye problems. Regular eye check up and treatment helps in maintaining the remaining vision for as long as possible.

Remember, it is never too late to give up smoking if you want to live a smoke free and a healthy life.

Killeen Eyecare center is among the good eye care centers across the globe that helps its patients in maintaining a healthy eye and treats various eye diseases using most sophisticated instruments. Get your eyes checked today to experience seeing a clearer and beautiful world.

To know more about various eye problems and treatment, please contact Killeen Eyecare Center, 416 North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen. You can also call at 254-634-7805.

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Eye Neoplasm - Causes, Symptoms, Cure and Prevention

by Administrator 13. September 2011 17:03

Eye neoplasm is another name for eye cancer which can affect all parts of the eyes. There are two types of eye tumor. One which starts from the eye, often referred to as Primary cancer and the other one is known as the Metastatic cancer, which is spread to the eye from other parts of the body. Lung cancer and breast cancer are two forms of cancer, which are seen to spread to the eye.

Signs and symptoms of eye tumor:

  • Melanomas: This symptom is initially not detectable unless the optician views the eye from an ophthalmoscope. However if not detected and cured early enough it can break past the retina causing retinal detachment. With the spread of tumor some common symptoms can be diminished vision, double vision, blurred vision and gradual vision loss.
  • Iris and conjuctival tumors: Eye tumor can be detected if there is any kind of spot in the Iris and the Conjunctiva which is growing gradually.
  • Nevus: Benign, freckle in the eye, these must be checked for melanoma.
  • Retinoblastoma: It can occur in one or both the eyes and can sometimes lead to the eyes becoming red and painful. It is a whitish or yellowish glow through the pupil which results in diminished or loss of vision. This type of tumor is believed to occur in babies or small children.

Cure of eye tumor

  • Can be treated through laser therapy, plaque therapy or radiotherapy.
  • Enucleation of the eye involves removal of the eye where the muscles and the eyelids are intact. This is a treatment to prevent further damage by eye tumor.
  • Evisceration is another treatment of eye cancer in which the eye contents are removed and the sclera or the white parts of the eye are left as such.
  • Exenteration of the eye in which all the orbital contents involving the eyelids can be removed.
  • Iridectomy is yet another treatment of eye tumor. Removal of the affected piece of the iris is termed as Iridectomy.
  • Chemotherapy is another treatment of eye tumor.
  • Eye tumor can be treated by Choroidectomy. Removal of the choroid layer is known as Choroidectomy.
  • Iridocyclectomy is the cure of eye cancer. It is the removal of the iris plus the ciliary body muscle.
  • Eyewall resection is when the eye is cut to remove a tumor e.g. melanoma. This is another cure of cancer.

For any kind of details on eyecare feel free to visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center, 416 North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254 - 634 - 7805

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Ophthalmoparesis Causes, Symptoms And Cure

by Administrator 26. August 2011 04:20

Opthalmoparesis is a serious ailment affecting the eyes that can cause obstruction in free movement of the eyes. There may be partial or complete paralysis of the muscular group that is responsible for controlling the eyes. In certain cases, the disease may only be restricted to a single eye while in others; it may be present in both the eyes. There are several causes that can be identified for the progression of this disease. Some of them have been mentioned below:

  • The most likely cause for this ailment determined by most eye doctors is the deficiency of vitamin B12. This is the most important vitamin required for production of red blood cells in the body. A deficiency of this vitamin means that the body may not be getting sufficient quantities of this vitamin or there may be a failure of the mechanism required for its effective absorption.
  • Another probable cause for the development of this disease is the presence of Aarskog Syndrome which is a hereditary ailment related to abnormalities that may show up in areas like the hands, face or genital parts. There is an indirect and well established relation between this ailment and Ophthalmoparesis.

Some of the symptoms that can help identify Ophthalmoparesis at an early stage include other ailments that are associated with the presence of this disease. Anyone suffering from any of the following afflictions should be prescribed a test for this disease as well as there is a high likelihood of its presence:Brainstem tumors.

  • Supranuclear Palsy
  • Migraine
  • Artery stroke
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Pituitary stroke

There is no known cure for this disease till date although certain things can be done to reduce its intensity. Vitamin E therapy is usually practiced on patients suffering from this disease in order to bring about a reduction in the symptoms of the ailment. There are also different surgeries that may be prescribed in order to correct the drop in the eyelids that is a well known side effect of this disease. There is however no permanent cure that can help root out this disease completely.

For complete information on eyecare, please contact Killeen Eyecare Center. You can contact us at 254-634-7805.

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Chemosis - Symptoms, Causes And Treatment

by Administrator 17. August 2011 12:56

Chemosis is a kind of conjunctivitis infection that also consists of welling up of the eye due to the filling up of fluids in the eye tissues. This ailment is restricted to the eyelids and causes a lot of discomfort in closing and opening of eyes for patients afflicted by it. In most cases, chemosis is caused due to different kinds of allergies or infections transmitted from others. It can also be caused due to excessive rubbing of eyes by people or as a side effect of surgical interventions. Some of the most popular causes observed in patients include allergic reactions, bacterial infections or viral infections.

The symptoms that help determine the presence of this ailment include redness of the eyes, swelling up of the eyelids and irritation or itching. The eyes can also become painful for the patients. These symptoms in some severe cases may also be accompanied by vision problems, passing out and respiratory problems.

There are a variety of treatment options available for those who are suffering from chemosis. The treatment methods are not standardized and tend to differ depending on your particular condition and the medical examiner’s assessment of your disease. The cure prescribed by your eye doctor will be dependent on a variety of things like:

  • The time of commencement of the disease.
  • The time since the swelling started to develop on your eyelids.
  • The degree of severity of the swelling.
  • The medications that seem to make a difference to the swelling.
  • The combination of symptoms that you are suffering from.

There are several over the counter medications, that can be consumed to get rid of the painful symptoms that are a part of this disease. The doctor that you are seeing may prescribe a course for the medicines and patients need to ensure that they consume the tablets at appropriate times in order to be cured of the disease. Other things that can help speed up the recovery process to a significant extent is the use of cold compresses on the eyes. This can significantly help in bringing down the degree of swelling of the eyes thus making it easier and less painful to open and close eyelids.

For complete information on eyecare, please contact Killeen Eyecare Center. You can contact us at 254-634-7805.

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Strabismus - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

by Administrator 10. August 2011 10:27

Strabismus, also known as crossed eyes, can be defined as an eye condition caused due to a misalignment in the visual axis of the eyes. It seems that both the eyes are not looking in the same direction. Basically, there is a problem in the proper focusing of the eyes. From a layman’s pint of view, there are four basic types of strabismus. These are:

  • Exotropia- The eyes are incomprehensibly focused in an outward direction. Also called divergent strabismus.
  • Esotropia- The eyes’ visual axis are inwardly focused. Also called convergent strabismus.
  • Hypertropia and Hypotropia- These are the vertical forms of strabismus in which one eye is moved upwards whereas the other one is moved downwards.

Causes
The most common causes of strabismus are the following:

  • Diabetes
  • One of the family members having strabismus
  • The main reason behind squint is that the eyes are not able to coordinate properly due to which they are unable to focus concurrently on a single thing and point in different directions
  • The cause of strabismus in children is usually unknown
  • Vision loss in one eye due to any reason will gradually cause the other eye to turn outward
  • Injury to the brain or orbit, including strokes and closed head injuries
  • Diabetics may suffer from squint due to their eye muscles not receiving enough blood supply.

Symptoms
Some of the symptoms of strabismus are given below:

  • Eyes appear to be crossed
  • Double vision
  • Lack of coordination in eye movements
  • No depth perception, vision in just one eye
  • Squinting
  • Turned eyes
  • Head turn or tilt

Treatment
There are different treatment options for strabismus depending on the cause.

  • Prescription of contact lenses or glasses to improve vision and the ability to focus.
  • Ointment or eye drops are put in the healthy eye to dilate the pupil and making it unable to focus. This forces the affected eye to focus properly.
  • Surgery may also be done to treat strabismus.

For any information on complete eyecare, please contact Killeen Eyecare Center. You can contact us at 254-634-7805.

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Ocular Albinism- Symptoms And Treatment

by Administrator 3. August 2011 15:25

Ocular albinism can be described as an inherited genetic disorder caused due to the lack of melanin pigment in the eyes. This deficiency reduces the pigmentation of the iris (the colored portion of the eye) as well as the retina (a light sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye). To have a normal vision, eye pigmentation is very necessary.

The most common form of ocular albinism is Nettleship Falls or the ocular albinism type 1 form. However, there are some other forms also, but those are very rare. They are associated with the secondary symptoms of the disease such as loss of hearing.

Symptoms
Ocular albinism is marked by the poor development in the foveal pit of the retina. Apart from the disability to focus correctly, some other symptoms of ocular albinism are:

  • Low visual sharpness
  • Eye shaking or nystagmus
  • Oscillopsia i.e. a condition of disturbed vision in which he person feels the static object to be moving
  • Photophobia or extreme sensitivity to light
  • Strabismus or crossed eyes
  • Unusual eye or head movements to compensate for the vision variation

Treatment
The people who suffer from ocular albinism generally adapt to their visual disability. This condition is not deteriorative. This means that other vision problems that come up later can be caused due to other common eye disorders like hyperopia and myopia. Some of the treatment options for ocular albinism are:

  • Bifocals and eye glasses
  • Prescribed sunglasses
  • Lens replacement
  • Lens implant
  • Magnifiers
  • Contact lenses
  • LASIK surgery

However, all of the above are unable to correct the inherited faults of ocular albinism. Surgical treatment for the muscles which are responsible for controlling the eye movements are a way out to improve the binocular vision and correct strabismus. Nystagmus can also be minimized with the help of a surgery. Bioptic telescope eye glasses and hand held telescopes can be used to settle the issues of distance vision in the people with ocular albinism.

For complete eyecare tips, contact us at Killeen Eyecare Center (254-634-7805). We serve Killeen, Harker Heights and Fort Hood areas.

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