DOCTORS EYE CENTER

KERATOCONUS:

Keratoconus is a vision disorder that occurs when the normal smooth cornea (the front part of the eye) becomes thin and irregular (cone shaped). This abnormal shape prevents the light entering the eye from being focused correctly on the retina and causes distortion of vision.
In its earliest stages, keratoconus causes slight blurring and distortion of vision and increased sensitivity to glare and light. Often the eyes feel itchy, almost like an allergy. These symptoms usually appear in the person’s late teens or late twenties.
Keratoconus does not lead to permanent vision loss or blindness.

Keratoconus may progress for 10-20 years and then slow in its progression. Each eye may be affected differently. As keratoconus progresses, the cornea bulges more and vision becomes more distorted. In a small number of cases, the cornea will swell and cause a sudden and significant decrease in vision. The swelling may last for weeks or months as the corneal lesion heals and is gradually replaced by scar tissue. If this sudden swelling does occur, Dr Loucopoulos can prescribe eye-drops for temporary relief.

In the early stages of keratoconus eyeglasses or soft contact lenses may be used to correct the nearsightedness and astigmatism that is caused by the corneal cone. As the disorder progresses and cornea continues to thin and change shape, rigid gas permeable contact lenses can be prescribed to correct vision adequately. In most cases, this is adequate for clear and comfortable vision. Dr Loucopoulos must carefully fit these specialized contact lenses and frequent checkups and lens changes may be needed to achieve and maintain good vision. It is not uncommon to require new rigid gas permeable contact lenses every year to keep up with the changes in the shape of the cornea. 

In some patients, it becomes necessary to use Hybrid contacts (soft edges and hard center) that help to give clear and comfortable vision. In rare cases where contact lenses do not give clear and comfortable vision, a corneal transplant may be necessary.
Now there is a medical procedure that has been used since 2006 where Vitamin A eye drops in conjunction with blue light hardens the cornea and prevents it from changing further, effectively ‘curing’ Keratoconus. This procedure is called Corneal Cross Linking. We have seen good results from this procedure in patients from early to advanced Keratoconus.

For more information, go to website:  www.nkcf.org 

COMPUTERS AND YOUR EYES:

HOW TO MAKE COMPUTER USE EASIER ON YOUR EYES

Computers are everywhere today and so are complaints from computer users about headaches, dry eyes, blurred vision and other symptoms of eyestrain.
Almost everybody has noticed that their eyes have changed or weakened from the time they started working with computers. Eyestrain has become common to most people who spend time on computers.

Eyestrain symptoms can affect your productivity and leave your eyes feeling tired, dry, and miserable at the end of the day.
The good news is that computer eyestrain can be eliminated.

Dr Loucopoulos offers the following suggestions:
- Even if you don't need glasses for driving or reading, you may find instant relief from tired eyes, headaches, and eyestrain with the use of prescribed computer glasses. Having a comprehensive eye exam every year for computer users is highly recommended.
- Be sure your glasses meet the demands of your job. If you wear glasses for distance vision, reading, or both, they probably won’t give you the most efficient vision for viewing your computer screen, which is about 20 to 30 inches from your eyes. Tell your optometrist about your job tasks and measure your on-the-job seeing distances. You may benefit from one of the new lens designs made specifically for computer work.
- Take alternative task breaks throughout the day. Do anything that doesn't require your eyes to focus on something up close for approximately 10 minutes per hour.
- Reduce room lighting to half office levels. An easy way to do this is to remove half the tubes/bulbs from ceiling fixtures. Use lamps that shine upwards towards the ceiling to reduce glare.
- Minimize glare on your computer screen with a glare reduction filter or by repositioning your screen. Using drapes, shades or blinds may also help. You can also ask your optometrist about eyeglass tints and anti glare / reflection free coatings that can reduce glare. Get a pair of computer glasses made specifically for your computer working distance.
- Adjust your work area and your computer for your comfort. Place your computer screen 16 to 30 inches from your eyes. The top of the screen should be slightly below horizontal eye level.
- Tilt the top of the screen away from you at a 10 to 20 degree angle.

Clean your computer screen frequently. Dust and fingerprints can reduce clarity and can cause eyestrain.

Following these steps can enhance a person's comfort and productivity when using a computer.

HYDRATION, ASTHMA, AND ALLERGY:

Proper Hydration is Essential for Good Health

The health benefits from proper hydration are numerous. Consequently, dehydration can have many negative implications on your health.
The average person’s body consists of about 70 percent water. This decreases to approximately 50 percent among the elderly – which may be a hallmark of decreased health and aging.
Unlike camels, people require constant hydration throughout the day to help maintain optimal health and energy. By drinking water every hour, your body will maintain adequate levels of hydration and optimize your physiological function.
Just how much water should you drink daily? A better guideline than the eight glasses a day is that you should drink at least half your body weight in ounces. That means a 150-pound man should consume 75 ounces. This minimum amount increases if exercise is involved.
Dehydration is a serious medical condition that must not be taken lightly. Women are at greater risk for dehydration because they have less muscle mass and lower body water content than men. Signs of dehydration include: Asthma, Allergies, Blocked Sinuses, Dry Eyes, Skin Wrinkles and Acne.

Asthma + Allergies – The cure is in our water

The ranks of allergy/ asthma sufferers are growing rapidly. Internists, allergists and pulmonary specialists are very busy trying to control these disorders, pharmaceutical companies are producing new and more powerful agents to reduce symptoms and provide some relief. Yet despite these massive efforts, the problem of allergies and asthma continues to expand.
Water deficiency in the membranes lining our respiratory passages causes the tissue to become more saturated with cellular debris and waste products, which attracts water from local capillaries into these tissues causing water accumulation & tissue edema (swelling). These events also release histamine from the mucus membranes, worsening the problem. An increase in water consumption decreases histamine release and therefore will reduce asthma and allergy symptoms.

Exercise-Induced Asthma

Recent studies in Europe and Australia have shown that exercise induced asthma is a response to airway dehydration. Airway narrowing (asthma) occurs mainly from smooth muscle contraction due to dehydration. Mucus production and airway edema make conditions worse. Healthy people can get airway narrowing (asthma) after intense exercise and long periods of time breathing cold air, dry air, or both.
In addition to water, vitamin B12, Omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, homeopathic medicines and sometimes pharmaceuticals are needed to control allergies and asthma.
Many people find it difficult to remember to drink enough water during the course of an average day.

Dr John Loucopoulos has devised a simple system that may help you remember to drink the water your body needs!

COLORVISION DEFICIENCY:

Color vision deficiency or Color Blind means that your ability to distinguish some colors and hues is less than normal. It occurs when the color-sensitive cone cells in your eyes do not properly pick up or send the proper color signals to your brain. About eight percent of men and less than one percent of women are color deficient.

Red-green deficiency is by far the most common form and it results in the inability to distinguish certain shades of red or green. Most color deficient people are able to see the primary colors but have difficulty when the colors are mixed.
Those with a less common type have difficulty distinguishing blue and yellow.

Since many learning materials are color-coded, it is important to diagnose color vision deficiency early in life. This is why Dr Loucopoulos recommends a comprehensive optometric examination before a child begins school.

Color vision deficiency is usually inherited and cannot be cured. Genetically, a son inherits the color deficiency from his mother who is a carrier of the gene but is usually not affected herself. Any daughters from that same mother will probably not have color deficiency either but could be carriers of the gene to their sons.
Those affected can often be taught to adapt to this inability to distinguish colors. In certain occupations that involve electric wiring and other such color-coded work it can be a limitation to the color deficient person.

 There are some studies that have shown that by using colored filters, it could help color blind people to distinguish colors better. These filters do not correct or cure color blindness.

CONTACT LENSES - The Facts:

Over the past 50 years of patients wearing soft contact lenses, we have learnt many things about contact lenses. Some good and some bad. We now have ways to heal the damage caused by contact lens over-wear and we can prevent damage from ever occurring.

Fact: We know that the cornea, (the part of the eye where the contact lens sits), breaths for itself. It does not get any oxygen from your lungs.
Fact: We know that every time you blink, the contact lenses move up and down on your corneas and gently rub off a tiny bit of your epithelial layer with each blink.
Fact: We know that contact lenses attract dirt and deposits on them while you wear them. This is the perfect food for growth of bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Fact: We know that sleeping with contact lenses creates a perfect moist and warm environment for bacterial, viral and fungal growth and can cause corneal ulcers, scarring, and loss of vision.

The amazing thing is that there are people who still believe that it is safe to sleep with dirty lenses full of germs in eyes that have lost part of their protective epithelial skin layer.

If you have plans on doing laser eye correction in the future, blood vessel growth on your corneas from contact lens over-wear and abuse may prevent you from having laser done.

Fact: Not all contact lens cleaning Solutions are made equal.
Fact: A solution that burns your eyes, makes your eyes red or makes you itch, is not right for you.

In the same way as shampoo or eye make-up, there are good products and bad products. The good products are usually a little more expensive but definitely worth the slightly extra cost. Over the past 30 years we have known that there are solutions out there that can damage your eyes. We have had proof for over 25 years that some solutions actually break down the cilia (fine hair on the cornea) that keeps your tears healthy and stable. Without the cilia, you get dry eye and gritty sensation with contact lens wear. We saw a number of people who lost some of their vision permanently during the ‘Renu ™ with Moistureloc’ solution scare in 2006. Not all contact lens solutions are made equal!

Fact: Doctor Loucopoulos always keeps up to date with the latest products and prescribes only the best.

It is very important to know that new and advanced contact lenses are available. Dr Loucopoulos has almost exclusively used these materials since 2000.

Healthy contact lens wear and healthy eyes can only be achieved if some simple rules are followed:
- Always wash your hands before handling contact lenses.
- Avoid sleeping with your contact lenses.
- Get fitted with the newest designs of contact lenses for better eye health.
- Replace your contacts within the recommended time so as to avoid infections.
- Choose the better storage solutions to avoid damage to your eyes.
- Drink lots of water, this will keep you healthy and will allow more tear formation and better lens comfort.
- Visit your Optometrist annually.

* Dr John Loucopoulos O.D. is not directly or indirectly affiliated with any contact lens manufacturer or contact lens solution manufacturer. The information above has been compiled from selected data in multiple published articles and from the undisputable book of personal experience.

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