Friday, February 24, 2012

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Your Eyesight


Omega-3 fatty acids are definitely a plus in your diet. They are known as a ‘good fat’ for your diet – one that protects the cell membrane and is reported to protect you from certain health issues. One of these health issues, as reported by NPR (National Public Radio), is age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration generally occurs in older adults. This condition results in vision loss in the middle of your line of sight, due to retina damage. According to the article, “Women who ate fish, a prime source of omega-3s, at least once a week were less likely to get age-related macular degeneration compared with women who ate fish just once a month, a new study finds.”

While all of this information is interesting to look at, the article also points out that the study is not complete.
There are always studies being done on vitamins and minerals. It’s important to know what is fact and what is fiction. Doing your homework is essential in preventative medicines, but the most important thing is having a complete eye examination. You eyesight is like a fingerprint – it is unique to you, and what may work for 5 or 10 other people may not necessarily be the best thing for you. If you think you may have an eye disease or your family has history of eye diseases, you should schedule regular eye exams for the best way to keep on top of it.

If you would like to read the article, you can find it here.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Eye Floaters and Flashes

Did you know that floaters and flashes that you experience in your eyesight are real?
Did you also know that they are really serious?

We all experience it one time or another. If you look directly into a light and then look away, you might see black spots in your vision for a few seconds. Experiencing floaters and flashes can sometimes be like that. You see spots that you know aren’t really there, but they are in your line of vision. Or you may see flashes of light off to the side of your vision, but there is no one taking your picture or shining a flash light at you.

Eye floaters and flashes can be the result of trauma to the eye. If you have ever been hit in the eye or have something poke you, you may notice these symptoms for a few minutes. For more serious injuries, the floaters and flashes may not go away.

You should see your ophthalmologist as soon as possible if:
  • One new, large floater or "showers" of floaters appear suddenly
  • You see sudden flashes of light
  • You notice other symptoms, such as the loss of side vision
Your eye is filled with vitreous gel, and as you age, this gel can thicken or shrink. This may cause floaters within your eye. If the vitreous gel rubs against your retina or causes a tear in your retina, you may notice flashes.

It’s important not to ignore these symptoms. There is usually pain associated with a torn retina, but even if you do not experience pain, you should still call right away to have your vision checked.

Early treatment is the key to preserving your vision.

Friday, February 10, 2012

WHY OVER 10,000 PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN CHARLESTON CORNEA & REFRACTIVE SURGERY

Welcome


Thanks for stopping by.

The purpose of this blog is to inform, update, and at times to entertain you about your eyesight and the happenings around Charleston Cornea and Refractive Surgery.

We hope you enjoy - please check back for new posts often.