Eyedrops For Cataract Surgery

Dr. White is our cataract surgeon at Skyvision Centers. He is one of the most experienced cataract surgeons in Cleveland, and indeed in the entire country! He, along with Drs. Schlegel and Kaye, form our cataract team of doctors. They choose which eyedrops are the best available for use before and after cataract surgery. In addition the doctors have chosen a group of medicines that are easier to take (most times you only need to use the drops twice per day), and eyedrops that are comfortable so you don't avoid using them!


There are typically three types of eyedrops used around the time of your cataract surgery. An antibiotic is prescribed which is to be used starting 5 days BEFORE cataract surgery. The antibiotic typically is continued for a week after the surgery. The doctors have chosen an antibiotic drop from the strongest class of antibiotics now in existence in order to prevent infections. There are three choices in this class of medicines, two of which can be used twice per day.

A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drop (NSAID), kind of like Motrin in a drop form, is also prescribed to start 5 days prior to the surgery. This medicine is then continued for 4 weeks after the surgery. It is used to prevent a type of swelling in the back of the eye. The doctors have chosen a medicine that is easy to take (twice per day), doesn't hurt when you put it in, and doesn't have any dangerous side effects. There are NO TRUE GENERIC EQUIVALENTS for this medicine. The generic medicines on the market must be used 4 times per day. They can be very uncomfortable; most people complain bitterly that they sting. Most importantly, the generic option has a 30% complication rate. That's right, 3 out of 10 people have swelling and inflammation in their cornea caused by this drop and this causes pain and a big drop in vision.

Finally, a steroid eyedrop is prescribed to be used after the surgery, beginning on the 1st day after the surgery. This drop treats the normal post-op inflammation in the eye. Like the other eyedrops it is used twice per day, and you continue to use it for 4 weeks after the surgery. There are NO TRUE GENERIC EQUIVALENTS for this medicine. The generic medicines must all be used at least 4 times per day and they are not as strong or as effective.

We understand that medicines can be expensive, especially when an important medicine is not fully covered by your health insurance. But we are talking about YOUR EYES and eye surgery. Your Skyvision doctors have chosen what they feel are the best medicines possible to do every thing possible for you to have a great surgical result.

What could be more important?!

Using Eye Makeup

Follow these tips to keep your eyes healthy as well as beautiful:

• Throw away eye makeup after three months. Infection-causing bacteria grow easily in creamy or liquid eye makeup. If you develop an eye infection, immediately toss all of your eye makeup.
• Never share eye makeup, and when sampling makeup in stores use only fresh applicators and samples that have not been contaminated by multiple users. (The safest choice is to avoid store samples altogether.)
• If you tend to be allergic, introduce only one new eye makeup or care product at a time. If there is no reaction, add another new product, and so on. If you notice an allergic reaction, find out what the ingredients are and let your doctor know. Avoid products that contain untested or harmful chemicals.
• Before applying makeup, be sure your face and eyelids are very clean. Always apply makeup outside the lash line, away from the eye, to avoid blocking the oil glands of the upper or lower eyelid. These glands secrete oil that protects the eye’s surface. Never apply makeup while in a moving vehicle.
• Do not separate your mascara-clumped lashes with sharp items.
• If you tend to have dry eyes, avoid metallic/glitter, powder or other makeup that flakes. Flakes can get into the tear film and increase your eyes’ irritation. Glitter eye makeup is a common cause of corneal irritation or infection, especially in contact lens users.
• Remove all eye makeup at night before sleeping, especially mascara that can stick to the lashes. Brush a clean cotton swab along the base of the eyelashes to remove all makeup remnants. If you use eye makeup remover, avoid getting it in your eyes and thoroughly rinse remover off your eyelids.

If you have eye surgery, do not wear makeup around the eye until your ophthalmologist tells you it is safe to do so, and then use only fresh, new makeup.

Spring Means Baseball Season for Kids too . . . . Expert Pitches Safety Tips for Young Baseball Players

It's a great youth sport, but beware the possible injuries, doctor advises

 -- Baseball is one of the safest sports for children, but even so there are potential risks that can result in serious injury, an expert warns.

"All kids should be involved in physical activity, and baseball is a great, safe way to get kids exercising, help them develop eye/hand coordination, deepen concentration skills and learn how to work as a team," Dr. Jerold Stirling, a pediatric sports medicine specialist at Loyola University Health System, said in a Loyola news release.

"Still, parents and coaches need to be attentive to ensure all players and fans are safe during the game," added Stirling, who is also chair of the department of pediatrics at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

Eye injuries are a common hazard. Baseball is one of the leading causes of the nearly 40,000 eye injuries that occur from sports and recreational activities each year in the United States, according to background information in the news release.

"Children are especially vulnerable to eye injury because they don't have the same depth perception," Stirling explained. "Be especially careful if your child wears glasses. Make sure they wear protective lenses and consider a face shield for the batting helmet."

Eye injuries are most likely to occur when a batter is hit by a wild pitch, Stirling pointed out. He said coaches and parents should teach batters to turn their backs toward the ball and their heads away from the ball. This is especially important at younger ages, when pitching is more erratic.

Age 5 is the ideal time for a child to start playing baseball as part of a T-ball team, he noted.

"A child's hand/eye coordination and ability to concentrate really start to develop at age 5, and that can play a role in keeping kids safe while playing a game," Stirling said.

He also noted that pitchers and catchers are the players most likely to suffer injuries. "Pitchers tend to have more shoulder and elbow injuries due to overuse. Catchers tend to encounter the most traumas with foul balls being hit off their body and painful collisions at home plate," Stirling said.

In order to prevent injuries in young pitchers, it's important to teach them proper technique and to keep an eye on their pitch count, Stirling said. Children younger than 14 should not throw curve balls, and sliders should not be thrown until a pitcher is 16 or older, he advised.

More information

The Nemours Foundation offers safety tips for young baseball players.

Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Invest in Protective Eyewear for Sports

Health Tip: 

Make sure they fit and work properly

SkyVision Centers docs are big into fitness and sports.   They concur with all recommendations regarding eye injury prevention . . . .

(HealthDay News) -- Wearing protective eye gear when playing sports can help prevent serious eye injuries.

Guidelines when selecting protective eyewear:

• Buy your eye guards at an optical store or sports store, and make sure someone familiar with your eyes and the sport you play fits you for the guards.
• Make sure your eyewear comes with the correct lenses, which should be held securely in place.
• Purchase eye guards that offer cushion or padding along the bridge of the nose and eyebrows to avoid cuts or damage to the face.

SkyVision Docs can help you and any family members pick out the right protective eyewear for your best protection.

Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Protect Your Eyes Around the Home

Believe it or not, better weather here in the Cleveland area is just around the corner!   With more good weather more activity outside will take place and this is another chance to remind you of your eye safety.

What do a bungee cord, a pan of frying bacon and lawn-care chemicals have in common? 

They are just a few of the common items around the house that can cause eye injuries, which are
increasingly occurring at home. In fact, nearly half of the 2.5 million eye injuries that Americans
suffer annually now happen in and around the home in common places like the lawn, garden,
kitchen or garage.

“People need to be aware of the everyday dangers to their eyesight that lurk in the home,” said
Tamara Fountain, MD, an ophthalmologist and spokesperson for the American Academy of
Ophthalmology. “It is far easier to prevent an eye injury than to treat it. Ninety percent of all eye 
injuries can be prevented by simply wearing protective eyewear.” 

The Academy and the American Society of Ocular Trauma (ASOT) recommend that every
household in America have at least one pair of ANSI-approved protective eyewear to be worn
when doing projects and activities at home to safeguard against eye injuries. ANSI-approved
protective eyewear is manufactured to meet the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
eye protection standard. ANSI-approved protective eyewear can be easily purchased from most
hardware stores nationwide and can be identified by the mark "Z87" placed on the eyewear.

“Slipping on a pair of safety glasses is quick and easy,” Dr. Fountain says. “People should use 
protective eyewear during any potentially hazardous tasks around the house, from cleaning your 
oven with a chemical cleaner to using bungee cords to hold items in place. In the event that you 
do suffer an eye injury, have an ophthalmologist examine the injury as soon as possible, even if 
the injury seems minor at first.” 

This article reprinted with permission from the American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart 
Campaign (www.geteyesmart.org).

SkyVision doctors and optical department can help you with a pair of safety glasses for whatever your needs are.  Just give a call and see what your options may be.

A Patient-Centered Approach To Eye Emergencies

                                 

We all have an occasional medical emergency. What happens in Cleveland when you have an eye emergency? What does "same day appointments" mean, the ones that you see on the big billboards around our town? Well, here's what it means if you are a Skyvision Centers patient: you are seen by a Skyvision Centers doctor in the Skyvision Center office you know and love RIGHT AWAY!


                               
It's very hard to know as a patient what is and what really isn't a true emergency. The staff members who answer our phones have been trained to ask you important questions to determine if you have the kind of emergency that requires you to come in on the day you have called. Curtains or shades coming over your vision? Come right in. Pain in the eye that is new and just won't go away? How fast can you get here?

How about nights and weekends? Yup...then too! Dr. White was out of town this weekend and he received a call on his personal cell phone from a patient with a family eye emergency. They were told to come right in. If you have an eye emergency at night or on the weekend a Skyvision Center eye doctor will see you even then.

If it seems like your problem is urgent but not an emergency our staff will discuss the timing of your visit, especially if we or you are very busy that day and we are trying to avoid a big wait for you. But in the end, a patient-centered approach to eye emergencies, the SKYVISION CENTERS APPROACH, is that if you are very concerned about your new eye problem we will find a way to see you that day. That's what Patient-Centered Medicine means at Skyvision.

Do you think that's what they mean on all those billboards around Cleveland?

Treating Astigmatism In Patients With Cataracts

Modern cataract surgery is not your grandfather's surgery! If you have asigmatism we can not only make you see better over-all, but we can also treat your astigmatism. Dr. Darrell White is an expert in using Intra-Ocular Lenses (IOL's) that correct astigmatism.

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. The lens sits in back of your pupil. As we get older the lens becomes harder, making it harder to focus. This is why we need reading glasses in our 40's. As we get even older (and sometimes in younger people, too), part or all of the crystalline lens becomes cloudy, sometimes yello-brown, too. This makes our vision blurry even with glasses or contact lenses. When that happens the only treatment is to take the cataract out.

If you have astigmatism you can choose to NOT HAVE TO WEAR GLASSES for most (maybe all!) of your far-away vision. You can choose to have Dr. White put in a Toric IOL, an implanted lens to give you clear vision AND correct your astigmatism. Imagine...after a life of glasses and contact lense for astigmatism...after cataract surgery you could choose not to have to wear glasses for lots of your far-away vision!

If you live in the Cleveland area Dr. Darrell White and Skyvision Centers in Westlake are the people and the place for expert treatment of astigmatism when you have cataract surgery!

SkyVision's Demandforce in now in Passbook!

Do you have an iPhone? Are you using Passbook to store appointment information?  If not, make sure to read this . . . . . 

Demandforce is now in Passbook!

What is Passbook?

Passbook is one of the cool new features from Apple for the iPhone iOS 6 that gives consumers an easy way to organize movie tickets, gift cards, coupons, boarding passes and more. The days of rummaging through your email or wallet for print outs is over.  Think of Passbook just like a mobile wallet.

Passbook also uses your calendar and location intelligently, so your boarding pass automatically appears when you arrive at the airport and your coffee rewards card will open when you enter your favorite coffee shop. Plus, Passbook updates you with relevant information or alerts, such as a gate or departure time change at the airport. Now that’s pretty awesome.

How does Demandforce work with Passbook?

When a SkyVision patient receives an email confirmation on their iPhone they now have the option to add it to Passbook with one click, just like the new digital boarding passes or movie tickets. Now, the appointment details are stored in their phone, are always easy to find, and you’re always right in the customer’s pocket!

How to use Passbook

First things first, start by adjusting the settings on your iPhone to turn on the location services.

Passbook is installed on the iPhone and iPod Touch with iOS 6, but the app is not available on the iPad. The app itself doesn’t include any passes, or the ability to create new passes. The store, airline, or movie theater has to start offering the ability to add passes to Passbook.

To use a “pass” or “card”, select it in the Passbook app, and then point your phone at the scanner or barcode reader at the counter - then you’re all set!

Currently there are only a handful of apps that work with Passbook, but the list is always changing. These apps are located in the App Store. You might also start to notice an “Add to Passbook” link on a website, email, attachment, or message when you are on your mobile phone — which you can select and add to Passbook.  It’s that easy.

Visual Impairment and Reading

We take care of may people who have various degrees of visual impairment. The most common of these is Age-Related Macular Degeneration, or AMD. People with AMD typically have more difficulty with their distance vision than they do up close, but as it gets worse it can start to affect their ability to read. In the earlier stages of AMD the best visual aid for reading is a very good reading light! We still like Halogen lamps because they have a very bright, flat white light. Some of the newer LED lights are also very good (we do NOT like any of the mini-fluorescent bulbs for reading at all).

The introduction of all of the electronic readers has been simply marvelous for all kinds of visually-related reading problems. You no longer have to seek out large print versions of books, magazines, or newspapers. Now you just increase the size of the print on your Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, or iPad. Most of the e-Readers still require a good light source. If you are using a Kindle or Sony Reader, for example, you should still try to find a nice Halogen lamp to use when you are reading.

There is now some very good research that shows that an e-Reader that is BACKLIT allows people who have a visual impairment like AMD to read faster and more accurately. The Apple iPad is the best known. and probably most versatile of the backlit readers. We have had great feedback from those patients who have taken our advice and tried the iPad. Over the next several months the SkyVision staff will be test-driving the iPad apps that are designed to help folks with AMD read better.

Patient Education Comes in Many Forms at Skyvision

We are committed to our patients here at Skyvision and part of that committment includes their education.   Education here at Skyvision comes in many forms.   In could be through face to face communication with one or more of our experienced staff members, or it could be through some take home literature we feel will help give you more information or help you share with a family member.   Another way we communicate is through the use of educational videos.  

Skyvision also uses videos in several ways. We show videos to our patients in our exam rooms through the use of LUMA by Eyemaginations. We also send home videos by Eyemaginations via email so patients and family members can view them together in the comfort of their own home.  This type of visual education has proven extremely effective.

Let's take a disease such as Macular Degeneration. If a patient needs to be started on supplements or see our retina specialist, it is much easier for the patient to understand after viewing the animation that explains the disease process. This creates a big “wow” factor for patients because it shows that we are technologically savvy while at the same time making it easier for them to understand their disease.

Our very own Dr. Darrell White has made many, many educational videos in a casual and entertaining setting titled The Doctor Whiteboard. His very latest videos "just out" from The Doctor Whiteboard are a series of 6 videos about Macular Degeneration. The Doctor Whiteboard videos are frequently posted to Skyvision Centers on facebook or are available on SkyvisionCenters105 - YouTube .

We are always striving to provide our patients with the latest information regarding their eye conditions or interests in a variety of ways!

■ Cataract surgery and hip fractures.

      A major study of Medicare beneficiaries has suggested that cataract surgery is a key contributor to improved quality of life for seniors, with fewer accidents and falls among the key factors that significantly reduced their risk of hip fractures compared to patients who have not had cataract surgery.

      Researchers tracked the incidence of hip fracture occurring within one year of cataract surgery in 400,000 Medicare patients from 2002 to 2009. They then compared the data with hip fracture incidence in a matched group of patients who had cataracts but did not have them removed. Researchers attributed the 16% decrease in patients’ adjusted odds of experiencing a hip fracture to improved vision that enabled them to avoid falling.

      The study was published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Detection and Treatment of Refractive Errors

Your eye doctor determines the type and degree of refractive error you have by performing a test called a refraction.

This can be be done with a computerized instrument (automated refraction) or with a mechanical instrument called a phoropter that allows your eye doctor to show you one lens at a time (manual refraction).

Often, an automated refraction will be performed by a member of the doctor's staff, and then the eye care practitioner will refine and verify the results with a manual refraction.

An eye care practitioner performs a manual refraction. Your refraction may reveal that you have more than one type of refractive error. For example, your blurred vision may be due to both nearsighted and astigmatism.

Your eye doctor will use the results of your refraction to determine your eyeglasses prescription. A refraction, however, does not provide sufficient information to write a contact lens prescription, which requires a contact lens fitting.

Eyeglass lenses and contact lenses are fabricated with precise curves to refract light to the degree necessary to compensate for refractive errors and bring light to a sharp focus on the retina.

Vision correction surgeries such as LASIK aim to correct refractive errors by changing the shape of the cornea, so that light rays are bent into a more accurate point of focus.

by Gary Heiting, OD

Vision Tests

Have You Wondered What All The Different Vision Tests Are For?

Vision tests check many different functions of the eye. The tests measure your ability to see details at near and far distances, check for gaps or defects in your field of vision, and evaluate your ability to see different colors.

Visual acuity tests are the most common tests used to evaluate eyesight. They measure the eye's ability to see details at near and far distances. The tests usually involve reading letters or looking at symbols of different sizes on an eye chart. Usually, each eye is tested by itself. And then both eyes may be tested together, with and without corrective lenses (if you wear them). Several types of visual acuity tests may be used.

Refraction is a test that measures the eyes' need for corrective lenses (refractive error). It is usually done after a visual acuity test. Refractive errors, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, occur when light rays entering the eye can't focus exactly on the nerve layer (retina) at the back of the eye. This causes blurred vision. Refraction is done as a routine part of an eye examination for people who already wear glasses or contact lenses, but it will also be done if the results of the other visual acuity tests show that your eyesight is below normal and can be corrected by glasses.

Visual field tests are used to check for gaps in your side (peripheral) vision. Your complete visual field is the entire area seen when your gaze is fixed in one direction. The complete visual field is seen by both eyes at the same time, and it includes the central visual field-which detects the highest degree of detail-and the peripheral visual fields.

Color vision tests check your ability to distinguish colors. It is used to screen for color blindness in people with suspected retinal or optic nerve disease or who have a family history of color blindness. The color vision test is also used to screen applicants for jobs in fields where color perception is essential, such as law enforcement, the military, or electronics. Color vision tests only detect a problem-further testing is needed to identify what is causing the problem.

More information regarding these different tests to come . . . .

I Have Flashing Lights And I See Bugs!

 One of the most common symptoms patients share with us usually go something like this: "HELP! I'm seeing black things flying around in front of me and no one else can see them." Or "there's lightening in my house!" Flashing lights and dark floaters are things that bring patients in to see us every day.

The most common cause of "Flashes and Floaters" is changes in the vitreous jelly, the jell that fills the center of the eye. The vitreous is very important for the development of the eye until we reach the age of 2. After that it's just there to cause mischief! One of the mischievious things it does is shrink. In the beginning stages of this shrinking the microcsopic protein skeleton that makes the vitreous a jell collapses on itself and you get bits of protein debris...FLOATERS!

In time the vitreous shrinks to the point where it starts to separate from the inside of the eye. When this happens the vitreous tugs on the retina. It doesn't matter what you do to the retina it will give off a sensation of light. So, when the vitreous contracts and puts some pulling on the retina you get a FLASH!

The danger, of course, is that when the vitreous pulls itself off the retina it can take a piece of the retina with it, causing a hole or a tear. That's why it's important to call your Skyvision Centers eye doctor and come in for a visit if you have new FLASHES AND FLOATERS!

What are Styes and Chalazia?

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

What are styes and chalazia?

Styes and chalazia are lumps in or along the edge of an eyelid. They may be painful or annoying, but they are rarely serious. Most will go away on their own without treatment.

A stye is an infection that causes a tender red lump on the eyelid. Most styes occur along the edge of the eyelid. When a stye occurs inside the eyelid, it is called an internal hordeolum (say "hor-dee-OH-lum").

A chalazion (say "kuh-LAY-zee-on") is a lump in the eyelid. Chalazia (plural) may look like styes, but they are usually larger and may not hurt.

Styes and chalazia may be related to blepharitis, a common problem that causes inflammation of the eyelids.

What causes a stye or chalazion?

Styes are caused by a bacterial infection. Usually the bacteria grow in the root (follicle) of an eyelash. An internal hordeolum is caused by infection in one of the tiny oil glands inside the eyelid.

A chalazion forms when an oil gland in the eyelid becomes blocked. If an internal hordeolum doesn't drain and heal, it can turn into a chalazion.

What are the symptoms?

A stye usually starts as a red bump that looks like a pimple along the edge of the eyelid.

As the stye grows, the eyelid becomes swollen and painful, and the eye may water.

Most styes swell for about 3 days before they break open and drain.

Styes usually heal in about a week.

A chalazion starts as a firm lump or cyst under the skin of the eyelid.

Unlike styes, chalazia often don't hurt.

Chalazia grow more slowly than styes. If a chalazion gets large enough, it may affect your vision.

The inflammation and swelling may spread to the area surrounding the eye.

Chalazia often go away in a few months without treatment.

How is a stye or chalazion diagnosed?

The SkyVision doctors can diagnose these problems by closely examining the eyelid. It may be hard to tell the difference between a stye and a chalazion. If there is a hard lump inside the eyelid, the doctor will probably diagnose it as a chalazion.

How are they treated?

Home treatment is all that is needed for most styes and chalazia.

Apply warm, wet compresses for 5 to 10 minutes, 3 to 6 times a day. This usually helps the area heal faster. It may also help open a blocked pore so that it can drain and start to heal.

Use an over-the-counter treatment. Try an ointment, solution, or medicated pads.

Let the stye or chalazion open on its own. Don't squeeze or open it.

Don't wear eye makeup or contact lenses until the area has healed.

If a stye is not getting better with home treatment, talk to one of the SkyVision docs. You may need a prescription for antibiotic eye ointment or eyedrops. You may need to take antibiotic pills if infection has spread to the eyelid or eye.
If a stye or chalazion gets very large, the doctor may need to pierce (lance) it so it can drain and heal. Do not try to lance it yourself.

How can you prevent styes and chalazia?

Don't rub your eyes. This can irritate your eyes and let in bacteria. If you need to touch your eyes, wash your hands first.

Protect your eyes from dust and air pollution when you can. For example, wear safety glasses when you do dusty chores like raking or mowing the lawn.

Replace eye makeup, especially mascara, at least every 6 months. Bacteria can grow in makeup.

If you get styes or chalazia often, wash your eyelids regularly with a little bit of baby shampoo mixed in warm water.

Treat any inflammation or infection of the eyelid promptly.     This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.

© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

The Continuing Education Tailgate!

SkyVision Centers had a Tailgate last night at The Surgery Center! 45 local eye doctors came out, some of them dressed in their finest Browns and Buckeye gear for our fourth Continuing Education seminar presentation. Connie and the Surgery Center staff had classic football tailgate fare on hand to feed our guests.

Our invited speaker was Jeff Peres, President and CEO of the patient education company Eyemaginations. Jeff laid out the rationale for going the extra mile to make sure that your patients are as well-informed as possible. Not only does this make their care better and keep their eyes healthier, but Eyemaginations has some research that shows a higher degree of loyalty of doctors of all kinds who make special efforts to educate their patients. SkyVision Centers has used the entire collection of Eyemagination videos in our office and as part of our "at home" educational program since our founding. We are excited to offer the latest iPad programs in the first quarter of 2013!

Dr. White presented part 2 of his series on developing a protocol for seeing patients who have Glaucoma.  The SkyVision protocol puts the interests of the patient first in an attempt to simultaneously provide the best possible outcomes in the most efficient and cost-conscious way. After showing the attendees how Drs. White, Schlegel, and Kaye take care of Glaucoma Dr. White asked for a voluteer from the audience to develpop a protocol for their office. Dr. Jim Kershaw raised his hand and Dr. White offered a couple of pearls for Dr. Kershaw to consider!

We are already planning our Winter Symposium, dreaming about what kind of surprise we will serve up for the local community of eye docs!

BMO Harris Vice President Justine Fedak loves her glasses

October 2012


Justine Fedak shows off a few of her 30 pairs of glasses.

A Few of her Glasses - A Gallery

So, I wear glasses. All the time.

I started wearing them 20 years ago. I distinctly remember my eye doctor suggesting that I wear them to drive, and to “try and get used to them.” At first, they were uncomfortable and I felt a little queasy. My father jokingly called me “four eyes.” I briefly investigated switching to contacts.

But then, I began to embrace my bespectacled self. The glasses were my shield. My armor. My look. Now, my glasses define me wherever I go.

My name really isn’t something anyone remembers. I find myself having to repeat “Justine” after I’m called Julie, Joanne, Jennifer, Jasmine or Christine. But nobody ever forgets my glasses. I always hear the same thing, “oh, I remember meeting you” and “those” glasses.

Yes, those glasses.

Those glasses are actually 30 different pairs. Looking back, it’s hard to believe that I wore the same pair for 10 years. But I really did; I didn’t think about them as a possible accessory, because people didn’t accessorize with glasses in the ’90s. They were actually a functional tool to improve your vision. Imagine that.

Now that they are more popular, people’s comments have evolved: “Do you really need those glasses to see?” Or, “Are those lenses real?” as they move their faces closer to mine. These days, glasses aren’t really for seeing. They’re a hipster accessory; a proclamation of coolness.

But my love of glasses is about more than fashion. They actually help me meet people — you can’t imagine how many comments I get from strangers. It typically starts with a compliment like, “I really love your glasses.” I say thank you and smile, and the follow-up varies from asking about the brand and where I bought them and goes as far as, “Can I try them on?” (For the record, I’m happy to hand them to strangers, give my opinion about how they look and often take their picture with their phone so they can see for themselves.)

Another unexpected benefit of my glasses is they are a fountain of youth. With all the twenty-somethings wearing glasses because they’re trendy, my oversized glasses (which I always thought made me look like Candice Bergen in the late ’70s) are now a youthful statement.

I’m sometimes still asked why I don’t try contacts — typically by people who are a little older. They tell me I’d be more comfortable and look better. I defend my glasses with fervor. “I love my glasses,” I say. “They are me.”

My glasses create connections. They invite friendships. They’re more than an accessory — they change people’s perceptions of themselves. They offer wearers the chance to reinvent themselves. They build confidence. They protect me.

The glasses that made me “four eyes” 20 years ago are now my unmistakable personal brand. When they slide down my nose and I push them up, touching them reminds me they are there and what they mean to me. I feel good.

And now that I’m in my 40s, when I’m reading I’ve noticed I sometimes see better with them off. I recall laughing at my grandfather taking his glasses off to read. And I think of how many special moments my glasses provide me and how — in a world where we are all striving to be perfect — I’m grateful my eyes aren’t perfect. Except when I wear my glasses.

Justine Fedak donated her fee for writing this column to the Noah’s Arc Foundation

Skyvision Centers has an extensive collection of eyeglasses for all ages and personalities!

Makeup and Pink Eye

Can I wear makeup if I have Pink Eye? Do I have to throw out my old makeup? And HEY, just what IS pinkeye, anyway?

Pink Eye, or Conjunctivitis, is one of the most frequent caused of emergency visits at Skyvision Centers. Dr. White, Dr. Schlegel, and Dr. Kaye are all experts in treating all of the causes of conjunctivitis. True Pink Eye is an infection caused by either a bacteria or a virus. A majority of Pink Eye in young children is caused by bacteria, but as we get older most of it is actually from viruses. You catch viral Pink Eye like you catch a cold through coughing, sneezing, or coming in contact with tears. Bacterial Pink Eye is usually from contact with tears. Both are VERY contagious.

What to do about your makeup if you have Pink Eye? Well, there's actually not a whole lot of very good research here so our advice is good, solid, Cleveland medical common sense! Don't wear makeup until your eyes look and feel better, and YES, you should throw away your mascara and your eyeliner.

And don't forget, your cousin's or your neighbor's or your BFF's eyedrops for THEIR Pink Eye may not be right for YOU.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Are you getting yours? Omega-3 fatty acids, that is. It turns out that almost everyone doesn't get enough of these essential fatty acids in their diet.

Omega-3 fatty acids can be obtained most easily through dietary supplements. Fish oil capsule and Flax Seed oil capsules are probably the most accessible options. Omega-3 fatty acids can help to prevent heart disease and stroke, especially in men. They have been shown to decrease joint and muscle pain in people who suffer from diseases like Fibromyalgia.

In the eye world Omega-3 fatty acids are important in the care of Dry Eye of all kinds, especially EVAPORATIVE Dry Eye caused by problems with the glands in your eyelids that produce the oil in your tears. Also, there is lots of research that suggests that increasing the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids you take in can reduce the severity of Macular Degeneration. Taking Fish Oil, Flax Seed Oil, or a specialty formulation like Doctor's Advantage products can do the trick!

Does it matter what kind you take? What brand or what form of Omega-3 fatty acids you use? Of course it does! Purity of the Omega-3 sources is important, and some forms simply work better than others. The Skyvision Centers doctors have done their homework and we offer the Doctor's Advantage forms of nutritional supplements right here in the office.  You can also opt to have your Omega-3's delivered right to your home!

There are some healthy things that are pretty easy, like making sure you are getting Omega-3 fatty acids every day!

Glaucoma 101

Glaucoma is one of the "silent blindness" disease of older folks all over the world. Most glaucoma has no symptoms at all, no warning that there is a problem. The only way to know that you have glaucoma is to have a complete eye examination performed by an eye doctor. Even then addtional testing might be necessary.

Glaucoma is damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that carries "light" from the eye to the brain. It usually comes with high eye pressure, but not always. There are lots of people who have glaucoma who have eye pressure that seems normal, and there are even more people who have high pressure who will never get glaucoma. The "normal" pressure in the eye is 11-21. Most people who get glaucoma are older, usually older than 60.

There are several ways to measure pressure in the eye. The two most common methods are Non-Contact Tonometry--the air puff-- and Contact Tonometry--the blue light. The "blue light" technique is much more accurate and is necessary to treat glaucoma. The "air puff" is a great screening test for glaucoma because it's easy to do, and easy to have done.

There's lots to talk about with Glaucoma so we'll try to teach you as much as we can here on the Skyvision Blog. All of our Doctors, Dr. White, Dr. Kaye, and Dr. Schlegel have lots of experience in treating people with glaucoma here in Cleveland. Stay tuned!