According to the American Foundation for the Blind [1], vision loss impairs not only activities like your ability to read, write, and drive, but also in some cases your ability to live independently, raise a family, maintain or start a career, and enjoy a normal social life or recreational activities. Luckily, it has been proven that regular visits to your eye care professional greatly decreases your chances of such vision loss. Especially for individuals over the age of 40, the need for annual eye exams becomes even more significant as age related disorders such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration amongst many other types of complications can gradually lead to complete blindness.
Studies conducted by the University of Washington Department of Opthamalogy [2] found that 5,500,000 individuals in the United States suffer some type of visual impairment due to cataracts. Possible causes for this disease are long term ultraviolet or radiation exposure, diabetes, hypertension, and aging amongst others. Studies have found that wearing sunglasses regularly can actually help reduce your chances of developing cataracts by protecting your eyes from prolonged ultraviolet exposure. The most distinct symptom of cataracts is a cloudiness of the eye, which is the result of changes in the eye’s proteins. Although cataracts currently holds the reputation of the number one cause of blindness in the world [3], extremely effective treatment methods for cataracts exist such as the surgical removal of the cloudy lens. However, if left completely untreated, cataracts can progress and eventually lead to blindness.
Almost as common is age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the leading cause of vision loss amongst Americans age 60 and over [4]. According to the National Eye Instute [4], factors that increase your risk of developing AMD are: family history of AMD; age; smoking; obesity; race–caucasions have a higher affinity of developing AMD than other races; and gender–females are a higher risk than males. AMD is characterized by blurred vision, specifically in your central vision. The central vision is needed to focus in clearly on objects during activities like driving or reading. This occurs when blood vessels grow beneath the macula, the part of the eye used for sharp vision, or when the macula starts to break down. Since AMD often progresses slowly with no associated pain and such gradual vision loss that many individuals do not even realize that they are developing AMD, it is important to visit your eye care professional regularly to diagnose and slow the progression of the disease before it reaches its advanced stages, at which point some types of AMD are untreatable. Especially if straight lines are appearing wavy or curved, or faces are becoming blurry, schedule an appointment soon to have these symptoms evaluated.
Doctors Ralph Gebert and Anthony Prate at the Eye Works, Ltd. are trained and skilled in diagnosing not only these types of diseases, but many others that impair the vision of thousands of individuals each year. We have two locations in Barrington and Lake Zurich, and have been providing vision services to the public for 30 years. Whether or not you are already experiencing vision loss, be sure to schedule an appointment today at the Eye Works, Ltd. to protect not only the health of your eyes, but also those activities that you enjoy on a daily basis.
2 The University of Washington Department of Opthalmalogy, “Statistics on Blindness and Blinding Diseases in the United States; available from http://depts.washington.edu/ophthweb/statistics.html ; Internet accessed 05 April 2008.
3 National Eye Institute, “Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment and Blindness Among Adults 40 Years and Older in the United States”; available from http://www.nei.nih.gov/news/pressreleases/032002.asp; Internet accessed 05 April 2008.
4 National Eye Institute, “Age-Related Macular Degeneration”; available from http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts.asp; Internet accessed 05 April 2008.
A recent survey conducted by the Vision Council of America[1]found that only 50% of children today own or wear sunglasses. What most parents do not realize is that it is more important for children than adults to have some sort of sun protection for their eyes from ultra violet (UV) exposure. There are two reasons for this: first, the lenses of children’s eyes are more transparent, which means that a larger percentage of harmful UV rays pass through into the eye, leaving kids more vulnerable to the effects of sun damage than adults; the second reason is that 80% of an individual’s exposure to UV in their lifetime occurs before the age of 18.
The facts are clear: because of the decreased ability of children’s eyes to block out the harmful UV rays and because of the increased amount of exposure to UV during childhood, you should always ensure that your child has some kind of protection for their eyes before heading outside. Studies conducted by the Glaucoma Research Foundation[2] found that by reducing your child’s chronic UV exposure today, you can significantly reduce their risk of developing premature aging or wrinkles, cataracts, skin cancer, burns on the eye itself (also called photokeratitis), sun burns around the eyes, macular degeneration, glaucoma, abnormal growths on the eye (also called apterygial), and other diseases later on during their adult years–many of which can lead to blurred vision or blindness.
Children are not the only ones, however, that benefit from wearing sunglasses. If you are an adult, wearing sun protection regularly can also protect you from the harmful effects of UV listed above. According to the Vision Council of America[3] individuals who spend many hours outdoors for recreation, who take such prescription medications such as tetracycline, birth control pills, diuretics, and sulfa drugs, who have had cataract or lasik surgery, or who have certain retinal disorders are at a higher risk for UV damage than others. By wearing sunglasses or hats, adults can protect their eyes in the same way that sunblock protects their skin.
Stop by or contact The Eye Works, Ltd., located on 126 W. Main Street in Barrington and 820 W. Rte. 22 in Lake Zurich. The optometrists at The Eye Works, Dr. Ralph Gebert and Dr. Anthony Prate, are not only trained in diagnosing many of the common complications caused by prolonged UV exposure, but are also knowledgeable sources about the many different types of sun protection available today. The Eye Works carries both prescription and non-prescription sunglasses for adults and children.
Remember: UV rays are present during all seasons, rain or shine, and are invisible to the eye. Therefore, most of the time you do not even realize that harmful rays from the sun are passing into your eye. So do not wait until this summer to stop by the Eye Works to get your child or yourself some sun protection. Call (847)381-0391 or (847)540-1144 for a consultation today.
[1]Vision Council of America, “UV Protection.” http://www.checkyearly.com/eye...
(accessed April 30, 2008).
[2]Glaucoma Research Foundation, “A Guide to Sunglasses.” http://www.glaucoma.org/living..
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(accessed April 30, 2008).
[3]Vision Council of America, “UV Protection.” http://www.checkyearly.com/eye...
(accessed April 30, 2008).
More than half of all Americans (54%) test positive to at least one of the top 10 allergens. While some of these allergens, such as cats, dogs, mites and exhaust fumes haunt their victims year-round, other common allergens such as grass pollen and ragweed pollen thrive in the transitory spring and fall seasons. As fall rapidly approaches, you may notice that your eyes, now a permeating red color, tear more often and frequently itch. Or your eyes may be conversely dry and bothered by a grainy, burning sensation. These symptoms are the result of allergens. While you cannot rid the Midwest of these allergy-provoking elements, however, there are several ways to lessen the presence of allergens in your home and various methods available to help relieve the discomfort of your fall allergy symptoms.
Make your home allergen-free
Mold, ranked at number two on our list of top 10 allergens, feeds on the damp climate of your backyard’s unraked leaves. Though braving the cold seems like a feat in itself, get the leaves out of your yard before fall rains turn them into an allergy nightmare.
Dust mites, ranked at the very top of our list of top 10 allergens, have a tendency to collect in comforters and pillows made of natural materials, such as down feathers or cotton. Covering your bedding in allergy-proof encasings will minimize the presence of dust mites—and allergy symptoms—in your home.
Allergen filters for the HVAC system of your home can also help to minimize the presence of air-born allergens such as ragweed. Dust circulation can be lessened by the use of a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filter or double bag, since using a standard or water-filtered vacuum cleaner stirs dust into the air.
Further treating your allergy symptoms
If raking your leaves and covering your comforters still does not relieve your eyes of their redness and itching sensation, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor to discuss the various optical treatments available for allergy patients.
As fall’s dry climate is particularly hard on contact lens wearers (50% of contact lens wearers report dry eye symptoms), contact lens patients who are experiencing continued discomfort should also ask their doctor about appropriate rewetting and soothing drops, as well as about the recent development of contact lenses designed to improve the comfort of wearers in dry environments.
To learn more about the cause and treatment of allergy symptoms or to inquire after comfort lenses for dry eyes, please call to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ralph Gebert or Dr. Anthony Prate with The Eye Works Ltd. at (847) 381-0391 in Barrington or (847) 540-1144 in Lake Zurich.
Rouge, rojo, red…In any language it’s the color can be associated with emotions of anger, passion and of course love. Imagine not being able to distinguish these vibrant colors. Some people are unable to, which makes them color deficient. Color deficiency is often referred to as “color blindness”. Many people think anyone who is “color blind” only sees black and white. This is a big misconception. There are many different types of “color blindness”. Color deficiency may vary from not being able to tell certain colors apart to not being able to identify any color. When our eyes are viewing, the retina is responsible for our viewing. It is made up of Rods and Cones. The Rods give us our night vision. The Cones make up our daytime color viewing. A person becomes color deficient when any of the three cone pigments are missing. An estimated 8% of males and 1% of females have a defective gene which give the wrong information to our brain, thus resulting in seeing our world in the wrong colors.
Our Dr. Gebert and Dr. Prate are optometrists who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases and disorders of the eye and visual system. During a comprehensive examination, all aspects of your vision needs are addressed. Whether you woke up in the morning with an eye irritation or you simply need to update your prescription, we can help. At The Eye Works our doctors have been providing quality eye care for 30 years. Along with a staff of board certified opticians, we continue to provide outstanding care and service. We are providers for major vision insurances like VSP, EyeMed, Davis Vision and Avesis. And we now accept Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, for medical visits. We have two convenient locations-Barrington and Lake Zurich. Please do not hesitate to call our office with any questions or concerns. We want to work with you to ensure good vision and healthy eyes.
Your eye are itchy, red and irritated. You have what has been termed as “pink eye“. “Pink Eye” is of course in layman’s term for either viral, bacterial or even allergic conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis happens when the conjunctiva, which is a thin membrane that lines the eyelid and part of the eyeball, gets inflamed and irritated then causes a pink or red color to appear on the normally white part of the eye. Because conjunctivitis can be caused by a number of different factors, it is necessary to be seen by an optometrist. Only an optometrist can test for which type of “pink eye” you suffer from and ultimately provide proper treatment.
Even if someone in your house had “pink eye” in the past, never use drops or solutions that were not prescribed for you. Just because the symptoms are the same that doesn’t mean the treatment will be. You could be making your condition worse by self medicating. Also don’t try to grin and bear it. Left untreated conjunctivitis could lead to keratitus, an infection of the cornea that can result in vision loss.
At The Eye Works, Dr. Ralph Gebert and Dr. Anthony Prate treat hundreds of patients each year for conjunctivitis. We make same day appointments at both our locations- Lake Zurich and Barrington. And we now accept Blue Cross Blue Shield for payment. PPO members can make their appointments for anytime. HMO members must get a referal from their primary care physician before a visit with our doctor. We also accept VSP, Davis Vision, EyeMed and Avesis for annual visits and material benefits. Don’t let “pink eye” go untreated. Get the best care for your eyes at The Eye Works. Call today. In Barrington (847) 381-0391 or Lake Zurich (847)540-1144.
The risk of developing such conditions can be reduced, however, by eating high sources of vitamin A like liver, carrots, spinach, broccoli leaves, sweet potatoes, and kale among others. An equally important vitamin in terms of our ocular health is vitamin C. Vitamin C is found in very high concentrations in the clear gel layer of our eye, also known as the vitreous humor. Recent studies have posited a connection between vitamin C deficiency and the development of cataracts and glaucoma, both of which blur our vision. Good sources of vitamin C include: citrus fruits such as grape fruit or oranges, brussels sprouts, strawberries, cantaloupe, and cauliflower.
Other nutrients to look out for are minerals like lutein and zeavanthin. Lutein and zeavanthin are found in the eyes, where they act like antioxidants protecting us from harmful particles. Some studies even state that one of the two minerals acts as a natural pair of sunglasses, guarding our eyes from the damaging effects of sun exposure. These minerals can be found in dark fruits and vegetables such as spinach, dark green lettuce, prunes, grapes, peppers, kiwi, melon, and others.
To learn more about other ways to keep your eyes in sight at your next grocery store visit stop by the Eye Works, located in Barrington and Lake Zurich. Dr. Ralph Gebert and Anthony Prate are not only extremely knowledgeable about the different methods for living an eye healthy lifestyle, but have also diagnosed and treated the types of eye diseases that compromise vision for the past 30 years. Call (847) 381-0391 or (847) 540-1144 to set up an appointment today.
