The LASIK Blog

Eye MakeUp Allergies

If the skin around your eyes becomes itchy, red, puffy or scaly after using makeup, you have probably developed an allergy or sensitivity to one of your cosmetics. The whites of your eyes may also become red and swollen. Depending on the offending material, the reaction may continue to get worsen, or may clear up spontaneously. The allergic reaction usually involves both eyes, but one side may be more affected than the other.

The eyelid and surrounding areas is especially vulnerable because its skin is extremely thin and loose, allowing chemicals to penetrate more easily. This may cause the skin to swell more readily than on other parts of the face.

An allergy is your body’s reaction to “foreign” substances. The basic ingredients of all cosmetics are waxes, oils, detergents, dyes, perfumes, lanolin, and preservatives. Any of these can cause an allergic reaction in the delicate skin around your eyes.

It might seem strange to suddenly become allergic to a makeup you have been using for years. Actually, your body has probably been slowly building up a sensitivity to the makeup. Once an allergic response to a substance occurs, the reaction usually gets worse every time you use that substance.

The first step in treatment is to stop using the offending material. Since you usually can’t identify the specific culprit, all cosmetics should be stopped until the reaction clears up. A steroid ointment may be prescribed to aid in clearing the allergic reaction.

To prevent recurrences, it is important to find the exact cause of the problem. This will equire some detective work. After your skin has cleared, start using one makeup product at a time. After one week, if there is no reaction, add another product. Continue adding one product each week until your skin gets red and itchy again. Then eliminate the last product that caused the reaction.

You may also need to use hypo-allergic cosmetics, which tend to cause fewer and less severe allergic reactions. This is because they contain fewer allergy-causing substances. Some cosmetics that are labeled hypo-allergenic really aren’t.  It is important to read the label. Don’t use any product that contains lanolin and perfume, the most common causes of skin reactions.

If your skin can’t even tolerate hypo-allergenic products, you may be able to use non-allergenic cosmetics. They do not contain any chemicals that can cause allergies.

December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month. Be Sure To Select Age Appropriate And Eye-Friendly Toys For A Safe Holiday

The holidays are filled with anticipation of gifts and new toys. When making decisions for selecting new toys, parents need to tell Santa and loved ones to pick eye-safe and age appropriate toys for children.

Many times an accident can happen when a toy is not age or developmentally appropriate. We want to avoid eye injuries by suggesting to parents that they be careful in selecting toys with this in mind.

So, in general, what toys should parents avoid? Toys with pointed, sharp or rough edges or pieces. Blocks are great for almost any age as long as corners and edges are blunted to reduce the risk of eye injury. Also, to avoid eye injuries, beware of long-handled toys, like mops, brooms, pony sticks and rakes. Check to make sure that they have rounded handles and watch closely children under 2 with such toys.

Be careful to avoid toys that may be age appropriate for an older child but could be dangerous for a younger child. Always supervise children in situations when they might share an inappropriate toy with a younger sibling.

Avoid slingshots, dart guns and arrows for children under 6. The best suggestion is to avoid these toys completely, especially if you have younger children in the house. Second best suggestion is to supervise any child with these toys – they have the potential to be harmful.

Great toys for children are those that stimulate visual development, improve hand-eye coordination and demonstrate spatial relationships.

Toys for children under age 2 include: brightly colored mobiles, stuffed animals, activity gyms, blocks, balls, stacking and nesting toys, buckets and measuring cups, puzzles, shape sorters, and musical toys. Appropriate and eye-friendly toys for children over age 2 include: child-sized household items like brooms, vacuums, rakes, lawn mowers, refrigerator and stove sets and outside toys like sandboxes, kiddie pools, riding toys and backyard gyms and swings. Magnetic letters, stringing beads, toy cash registers are great for fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Some toys are simply not safe and may be recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). For a list of toy recalls, call (800) 638-2772.

Are Your Arms Getting Too Short?

 

Most people between 40 and 50 begin to notice that they are losing their ability to see things close to their eyes. At the same time, distance vision remains unchanged. They often complain, “My arms are getting too short.”

Presbyopia is a loss of focusing ability that comes with getting older. It is certainly a nuisance, but is not dangerous. It is normal, inevitable part of reaching middle age, and is no more abnormal than a gray hair.

In early stages of presbyopia, your eyes will become tired after a long period of close work. When you read, the print may become blurry. It may be difficult to shift your focus from near and far. When you look up from reading, your distance vision may remain blurred for several seconds or minutes until it clears. You may even start to fall asleep while reading for any length of time. Symptoms usually worsen later in the day. They can be reduced by using a good reading light.

Eventually, your zone of clear close-up vision moves so far from your eyes that you can no longer read comfortably. This is when your arms are too short!

The lens within the eye is soft and flexible in young people. This allows it to change its shape, which changes focusing power. This is called accommodation. Presbyopia is caused by a gradual loss in flexibility of the lens that occurs with age, decreasing the ability to accommodate.

When your eyes can no longer accommodate to focus up close, it is time for reading glasses. These glasses  will do the focusing for you. People sometimes notice that their prescription gets “worse” after they start to wear their reading glasses, and they believe the glasses are responsible. Actually, the presbyopia will “worsen” with age, whether or not you wear your glasses, and prescription change will be necessary over the years. Putting off the use of reading glasses will not slow down the progression of presbyopia, it  will only make it difficult to enjoy your reading.

Note from CMS:  I came across the following video which explains presbyopia from my Twitter friend @CareFlash.  CareFlash.com is also an excellent site to visit!

 

Presbyopia

In a future post I will discuss options to correct presbyopia other than spectacles, including contact lenses and surgical options.

Mitchell Squash Announces this Year's EyeCare 20/20 Squash Torney

Geoff Mitchell, head squash pro at the Chatham Club in Chatham, NJ announced the date of this year's EyeCare 20/20 squash tournamentt.  The date of this event is December 6 and 7 at the Chatham Club.  As an avid squash player, I have sponsored this event for the past 7 years.  This is the first squash tournament of the season in the Northern NJ area and is sanctioned by the NNJSRA.  Geoff runs an excellent tournament, with the highlight being a Sunday brunch prepared by my good friend, James Laird, chef/owner of the acclaimed restaurant, Serenade, also in Chatham (my all time favorite restaurant).  Following the brunch, the finals of the pro event begins.

Its a great way for any squash player to spend the weekend and I encourage you to enter.  Hope to see you there!

2008 Princeton Sports Symposium

 

EyeCare 20/20is proud to be a corporate sponsor of this year's Princeton Sports Symposium.  The symposium will be held on Friday, December 5 at the Friend Center on the Princeton University Campus.  The symposium is run by Princeton's Career Services Department, and will address such topics as Sports Management, Sports Brands in the Global Economy, The Business of Sports, and Post College Athletics.

The Princeton Sports Symposium 2008 provides an opportunity for students (and sports enthusiasts) to get an insight into the sports business and network with some of the top professionals in the field while providing a forum for industry professionals to attract potential future leaders. The symposium features numerous Princeton alumni, many of whom former student-athletes, along with other esteemed sports business professionals.

So why does EyeCare 20/20, an LASIK provider in Northern NJ sponsor a sports symposium in Central NJ? Eyecare 20/20 has a old relationship with many sports figures from the Princeton community.  I have performed LASIK on many Princeton athletes including:

• Keith Elias:  1994 grad.  Played for NY Giants and Indianapolis Colts.  Number 20 on Princeton's all time athlete list.
• Jesse Hubbard:  1998 grad.  Hall of fame lacrosse player.  Went on to play for the NJ Pride professional LAX team.  Number 11 on Princeton's all time athlete list. 
• Trevor Tierney:  2001 grad.  All American goalie and member of US National team.  Member of All World Team in 2002 ILF World Championships.  Played professional LAX with Baltimore and Denver.
• Christian Cook:  1998 grad.  All American Defenseman.  Member of US National LAX team.  Played professionally for Baltimore and Denver. 
• Bill Tierney: Legendary coach of Princeton LAX.   Inducted into the National LAX Hall of Fame as one of the sports most successful coaches.   

If you are planning on attending the symposium, stop by our booth and say "hello" .  We will be there to answer any questions you may have concerning LASIK and athletics.

Safe Holiday Driving Tips

Holiday driving often means spending several hours behind the wheel, and after many miles on the road, spotty and blurry vision should be a concern. Long journeys can be tiring and driver fatigue is a serious problem, contributing to many fatal crashes each year. Here are ways to avoid fatigue and improve alertness:

•  When the eyes begin to feel strained and dry from long hours on the road, artificial tears can help smooth and refresh and contribute to clear vision.
•  Get plenty of sleep before your journey, and try to drive at times of the day when you are normally awake.
• Take your time and plan for rest breaks every couple of hours. Get out of your vehicle and take a short walk or do some other exercise to get your blood flowing and improve alertness. If you feel tired, take a short nap (less than 40 minutes.
•  If possible, share the driving.
•  Don’t drink and drive, and don’t speed. Many fatigue-related crashes also involve these two factors.
•  Use air conditioning if your vehicle has it. Cool air will keep you more alert and will help avoid frustration and stress, which is a major cause of fatigue.

The holidays are the worst possible time of the year for the car to break down on the highway. Unfortunately, this frequently happens in the winter because the stress of cranking a cold engine with thickened motor oil requires a lot of energy.  The towing companies will be busy towing other cars so who knows how long someone might have to wait in the cold when they would rather be celebrating?

 The first source of help in such a situation is “jump”-starting your car with cables attached to their functional running car and good battery. But most people are not aware that this procedure can be hazardous. Every year, hundred of injuries result from car batteries that explode while they are being jump-started. An exploding car battery is like a bomb that sprays chucks of plastic casing and sulfuric acid into the face. The most vulnerable part of the body in such an accident are the eyes. The best way to avoid this type of injury is to wear eye protection and do no lean over the battery. It is also very important to have a qualified mechanic check your car’s brakes, battery, fluid levels, tire pressure, light bulbs, and any parts that need regular maintenance before you leave.

New Online Patient Resource for Cataract Patients Announced

Alcon is the world wide manufacturing leader of ophthalmic equipment, pharmaceuticals, and devices.  Alcon makes everything from the equipment I use in cataract surgery, the IOLs I implant during cataract surgery including the Restor and Toric lenses, the Wavelight laser I use for LASIK surgery, to the drops I prescribe for anything from allergic conjunctivitis to glaucoma to infections. 

Alcon announced the sponsorship of a new web site, CataractSurgery.com.  Acording to their press release:  "The Alcon-sponsored educational website provides information on cataracts, cataract surgery and intraocular lens options. In addition, CataractSurgery.com includes details on preparing for an eye exam and features videos, cataract illustrations, patient testimonials and a cataract resource library."

CataractSurgery.com is an excellent resource for patients faced with the diagnosis of cataracts and need of treatment options!  I urge these patients to take advantage of this free on-line resource.

ESPN Radio Interview: Free LASIK for Refs

I was interviewed today on ESPN radio (1470 AM) in Tampa on the Brantley and the Babe Show.  We talked about my offer to provide free LASIK to professional sports umpires and referees.  Here is a copy of the interview:

Download RefsLASIKwhbo2Edit.mov

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

 

Diabetes is becoming an epidemic because of the obesity crisis in the United States. In fact, 17 million Americans suffer from diabetes. Of these people, one-third are unaware that they have the disease.

With a dilated, comprehensive eye examination, an eye care professional can detect and diagnose diabetes and start you on the road to treatment for the disease. So consider having a comprehensive eye examination as part of National Diabetes Month this November.

 

Through a comprehensive dilated eye exam, an eye care professional can look inside the eye and examine blood vessels directly, and detect signs and symptoms of vascular diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.  Uundiagnosed, diabetes can result in vision impairment, a frequent complication of both Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes, and blindness. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults 20-74 years old. Other vision problems caused by diabetes include: vision changes, glaucoma, cataracts and retinopathy.

 

Part of living with diabetes and successful eye care is having a dilated eye examination on at least an annual basis – more often if you have existing eye issues or more serious retinopathy. Certainly, if you experience any change in vision, you should immediately see your eye care specialist.

For someone who has been diagnosed with diabetes, the annual dilated exam is important. When an eye physician does an examination, they’re looking at the retina for early signs of diabetic retinopathy,such as leaking blood vessels, retinal swelling (macular edema) and deposits on the retina – all of which are signs of leaking or damaged blood vessels.

 

 

An ophthalmologist is an important member of your health care team – particularly if you have been diagnosed with diabetes. Type-2 diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, medical history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, physical inactivity and race/ethnicity. The rising incidence of diabetes in the United States is a result of a dramatic increase in obesity, as well as the aging of the population. If you have risk factors associated with diabetes, consider having a dilated eye examination to control the disease and lower the risk of complications.

WITH RASH OF BAD CALLS, FREE LASIK OFFERED TO PROFESSIONAL OFFICIALS

 

Bad calls have been plaguing professional sporting events of late:

·        In Game 4 of this years World Series, Jimmy Rollins was obviously tagged out in a third base rundown.  Umpire Tim Welke missed the call, saying Evan Longoria missed the tag.  Rollins went on to score the first run of the game.

·        In Game 3 of the World Series, Carl Crawford was called safe by first base umpire Tom Hallion on a bunt single in the seventh inning.  Replays showed that Crawford was out.

·        Edward Hochuli, one of the most respected referees in the NFL, blew a call last month that cost the San Diego Chargers the game.  In an interview, he discussed that he couldn't decide if he should wear his glasses or contact lenses because of the wind. 

·        Last years playoff series between the San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames was plagued with many non calls including the huge hit Cory Sarich put on the Shark’s Patrick Marleau, which led to a cut over Marleau’s left eye and a bloody nose.

·        The non-call after Derek Fisher bumped Brett Barry at the end of last year’s game 4 playoff game between the Lakers and Spurs gave the Lakers the win by keeping the game from going into overtime.

Unfortunately, instant replay is not always available to correct bad calls.  In an effort to improve the incidence of bad calls, ophthalmologist Cary M. Silverman, MD, Medical Director of EyeCare 20/20 has offered his services to professional officials.  EyeCare 20/20 will be offering free LASIK surgery to any official of the NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL who is a good candidate for the procedure.  “Being a sports fan, I would like to increase the likelihood that the game is won on the field, and not decided by the officiating. Improving the vision of the officials is a step in the right direction”, said Dr. Silverman.  Dr. Silverman has previously made the free LASIK offer to Ed Hochuli following his missed call earlier this season.

In a letter written to the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL official’s union, Dr. Silverman writes:

 

Dear Sir:

 

With the recent rash of missed calls adversely affecting games, you’re probably sick and tired of hearing fans and sports announcers complaining about officials making bad calls.

We all know that instant replay is not always going to correct all bad calls.  I feel strongly that we should minimize the chance of officiating errors in the first place. Correcting an official’s vision is certainly a step in the right direction. 

 

Why not consider LASIK for your officiating members? If there’s any segment of the population who can benefit from LASIK, its referees and umpires. Let’s let the players determine the outcome of the game!

 

We all make mistakes, it’s true. Powerful vision and redemption is a phone call away.  EyeCare 20/20 is offering free LASIK to any official of your union who officiates regular and post season games for the NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL.

 

Come and get it. Call my Practice Administrator, Keri Muli at (973) 560-1500. Or visit my website: www.eyecare2020.com.