Uncategorized Blog Archive | North Suburban Eye Associates

Exercise and Your Eye Health

ariana.dorado — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 22:54:09 +0000

There are many reasons that people exercise – increased energy, weight loss, and several additional benefits. But have you ever heard how regular exercise can keep your eyes on their A game? Here is how regular exercise is helping your vision!

Living a sedentary lifestyle can put you at risk of developing conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. By increasing the amount of exercise, you are doing daily it will help increase your health and avoid falling victim to conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure that can put your overall health and vision at risk.

Here are some tips on how to increase your physical activity throughout the week:

Give yourself a step goal:

Life gets busy and usually exercising becomes less of a priority then it should be. By giving yourself a realistic goal of how many steps you should take in a single day it can really help you get moving more and increase your activity level! Walking more throughout the day will have an impact on decreasing your chances developing age-related macular degeneration.

Give yourself rewards:

People are easy to become discouraged and give up on exercising completely. By setting goals that are followed up with rewards you can motivate yourself to stay on track and not fall behind!

By increasing the amount of activity in your life it will help you keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check and decrease your chances of developing glaucoma, cataracts, or age-related macular degeneration!

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3 Tips That Can Help You Decrease Your Risk Of Spring Allergies

ariana.dorado — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 22:52:40 +0000

With the long months of Winter coming to an end – we are all ready for it to be spring. But the rising temperatures also come with an increase of pollen and with that comes the negative side effects of spring allergies. You have probably found yourself, a victim, to spring allergies and the annoying side effects. A runny nose, and the dreaded red, itchy, watery eyes. Here are 3 tips you can use to decrease your risk of getting spring allergies this year.

Avoid Allergens

When the pollen level in your area is high it is important to avoid allergens as much as possible. A good way to reduce the amount of pollen you are encountering is by keeping your windows shut during high pollen periods and use a fan or air conditioning as an alternative in your home as well as your car. If you are using an air conditioning unit it is also important to make sure that you are replacing and cleaning the filters frequently.

Wear Sunglasses

When spring rolls around you can’t avoid going outside and facing the pollen forever, so when you do go outside it is important to keep your eyes protected. By wearing sunglasses you can shield your eyes and decrease the risk of getting pollen directly into your eyes causing irritation.

Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands frequently is important to do for a number of reasons but becomes increasingly important as the pollen levels increase. If you come in contact with pollen it is easy to forget to wash your hands – also making it easier to rub your eyes and unknowingly introduce it to your body. This will cause them to become irritated and leave you dealing with the annoying side effects of spring allergies.

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What Is Macular Degeneration?

ariana.dorado — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 22:51:20 +0000

You have probably heard of a number of eye conditions ranging from pink eye, nearsightedness to cataracts but what do you know about macular degeneration? One important thing to know about macular degeneration is that it is currently the leading cause of vision loss in the United States. It affects the lives of over 10 million people. Do you want to know more about this eye condition? Here is everything you need to know about macular degeneration!

Macular degeneration is the condition where part of your retina becomes damaged. When the central portion of your retina undergoes this damage it leads to vision loss and will make it hard to do everyday tasks that include your central vision. Some tasks that would normally be easy that become difficult include reading, driving a car, and even recognizing objects.

There are some risk factors associated with macular degeneration. As you increase in age your chances of developing macular degeneration will increase. Also, studies have shown that your genetics, race, and smoking status can increase your chance of developing this vision altering condition. If someone in your family has been diagnosed with macular degeneration then you are at a higher risk of developing it. If you are caucasian you are also more likely to develop this condition.

As of right now, there is no cure for macular degeneration but don’t lose hope! There are many things you can do to reduce your risk and slow the development of macular degeneration once you have been diagnosed with it!

To learn more about Macular Degeneration contact one of our offices at 781-245-5200.

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Everything You Need To Know About Cataracts

ariana.dorado — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 22:49:53 +0000

By the age of 80, you have a 50 percent chance of developing cataracts. If you are unaware of how cataracts can affect your vision, it is when your lens that is normally clear becomes clouded. When you are dealing with cataracts it will cause your vision to blur, making it difficult to complete your daily activities. If you are experiencing this it is important to get it checked out right away because if left untreated cataracts can lead to blindness. Those are the basics facts about cataracts, but what are some facts you haven’t heard before? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Here is everything that you need to know about cataracts!

When you first start developing cataracts, they may only affect a small portion of your lens, making you unaware of the vision loss that you are incurring. As the cataract increases in size, so will your vision impairment. As the cataract continues to grow and disrupt your vision you may start to experience some of the following symptoms:

• The blurring of vision.

• Glare, or sensitivity to light.

• Double vision in one eye.

• Frequent changes in eyeglass prescription.

• Difficulty in reading in low light.

• Declining night vision.

• Fading or yellowing of colors.

As always – If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, it is important to take the first step and schedule an appointment to get your eyes and vision checked out.

Currently, cataracts is very common and affects 22 million people in the United States that are above the age of 40. As you continue to age, your chances of developing cataracts continue to rise, with no known way to prevent their formation it is important to make sure that you are getting your eyes check regularly. Worldwide, there are more cases of cataracts than there are cases of macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy combined – according to Prevent Blindness America (PBA).

To learn more about cataracts and how you can treat it, contact one of our offices at 781-245-5200.

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These 4 Habits Are Damaging Your Eyes

ariana.dorado — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 22:46:09 +0000

We all have a couple of bad habits that we can’t seem to kick – whether it is biting your fingernails or skipping flossing we are all guilty of something. But what if you found out your bad habits were affecting your eye health? We are here to help! Here are 4 bad habits that could be negatively impacting your eyes.

Constantly Being Behind A Screen

Whether it’s your cell phone, computer, or TV most people spent a lot of their time behind a screen. This can be harmful to your eyes because of the blue light that is emitted from these screens that can cause an increase in your eye strain. It is important to take breaks from looking at these screens throughout the day to ensure you are giving your eyes a rest.

Rubbing Your Eyes

Rubbing your eyes can have a negative impact on your eye health for multiple reasons. Firstly, your hands are covered in germs and bacteria and by rubbing your eyes with them you are exposing your eyes to these germs. In addition to this, you can end up damaging your cornea from the constant rubbing motion which can result in loss of vision. Your eyes will naturally use tears to wash away debris that may be in your eyes, so trust your eyes and try to keep your hands away from them as much as possible.

Sleeping In Cosmetics

If you wear makeup you have had this experience before – you are already in bed and realize you forgot to wash your makeup off. What next? Some will peel themselves out of bed to remove the day’s makeup but others will shrug it off and go to bed. When you sleep in makeup you are also sleeping in all the collected bacteria throughout the day. To protect your eyes make sure you are removing away your makeup before falling asleep at night to reduce your risk of an eye infection.

Not Wearing Sunglasses

It is important to take preventative steps to protect your vision. By wearing sunglasses outside you not only will protect your eyes from damaging UV rays but you will reduce your exposure to the wind and direct sunlight that can dry out your eyes. The longer that your unprotected eyes are exposed to UV rays the higher your chances of developing cataracts or macular degeneration later in your life are. Next time you are headed outside don’t forget to grab your sunglasses on the way out!

Contact Us

To learn more about habits that are damaging your eyes contact one of our offices at 781-245-5200.

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Your Eye Health and Your Diet

ariana.dorado — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:42:38 +0000

It is important to ensure that you are eating foods that are good for your overall health as well as your eye health! I’m sure you’ve heard to eat more carrots if you want strong eyes or fill your diet with leafy greens but what are you eating that could be harming your eye health? Since your eyes are vascular it is important to have a diet that is heart healthy in order to keep them on their A game! Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered – here are 3 things in your diet that are damaging your eye health!

Sweetened Drinks

The first thing in your diet that will contribute to negative eye health is sweetened drinks. These sweetened drinks are unhealthy for your eyes because they have a negative impact on your blood pressure level. The source of these sugars commonly comes from additives such as high fructose corn syrup, which raises your blood pressure. In addition to an effect on your blood pressure level, these sugary drinks also increase your triglyceride level making them a poor choice for a heart-healthy and eye-friendly diet.

Processed Foods

Consuming a diet that is high in processed foods has a negative impact on multiple aspects of your health, including your vision. These foods are full of additives that negatively impact your overall health and take a toll on your cardiovascular health. By limiting the number of processed foods, you consume you can help keep your eyes healthy and prevent many eye diseases such as macular degeneration.

Margarine

Nutritionists have stated that margarine is a source of unhealthy trans fatty acids which increases your chance of developing a cardiovascular disease. The processing and chemicals that are used to make margarine can lead to clogged arteries putting your eyes, heart, and whole body at risk.

By cutting back or cutting these 3 things out of your diet you can decrease your chances of developing an eye disease such as macular degeneration, cataracts and many more!

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Everything You Need to Know About Open-Angle Glaucoma

ariana.dorado — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 22:41:22 +0000

As we get older we start thinking more and more about health and conditions we may be prone to getting. This is something you think about a lot when thinking about your eye health in particular. One condition that can start to develop as you get older is Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma. This is the most common type of glaucoma and it occurs gradually over time. When you have this condition, your eye does not drain fluid as well as it should, similar to a clogged drain. Because of this the eye pressure continuously builds up and this starts to cause damage to your optic nerve. This type of glaucoma is painless and causes no vision changes at first which is why it is commonly overlooked and not detected immediately.

Since Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma starts out with minimal to no warning signs or symptoms it is vital that you are having your eyes regularly examined. Eye exams are always important but become increasingly important as you age and could start developing these sometimes silent conditions. A regular eye exam will allow you to detect Glaucoma sooner and give you time to protect your vision. This is important to keep in mind because in the United States alone Glaucoma has left 120,000 blind.

Now that you know what Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma is and how severe it can be if it goes unrecognized it is important to take the next steps to protect yourself from this condition that could leave you blind. You can do this by scheduling an eye exam regularly to detect any warning signs of this condition as well as numerous other conditions that can negatively impact your eye health.

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4 Easy Steps To Take To Protect Your Vision

ariana.dorado — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 22:39:36 +0000

There are many steps you can take to keep your body healthy, including your eye health and vision. There are many factors that contribute to your eye health and these are a couple ways you can protect your vision!

Eat Healthy: It is no secret that what we fuel our body with has an effect on every aspect of our health. To keep your eyes on their A game it is important to keep your diet rich in many things including Lutein, Zinc, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Vitamins C and E.

Some examples of food you can eat to fill your diet with these nutrients are:

Fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel)
Nuts & Seeds (walnuts, flaxseed, chia seeds)
Whole Grains (brown rice, whole wheat pasta, quinoa)
Leafy Greens (kale, spinach, collards)
Citrus Fruits & Vegetables

Stay Hydrated: It is important to keep your body not only fueled with the right food but plenty of water. Your eyes can only properly function when they have plenty of fluid that is keeping them hydrated. When you become dehydrated you can run into issues with tear production which will result in dry eyes. Drinking at least eight ounces of water every few hours is an easy way to keep hydration at the front of your mind. One way to make sure you are drinking water throughout the day is to keep a water bottle handy, filling it up whenever it may be getting low.

Wear Sunglasses: Wearing sunglasses outside helps protect your eyes from the damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays that come from the sun. The longer that your unprotected eyes are exposed to UV rays the higher your chances of developing cataracts or macular degeneration later in your life are. When buying a new pair of sunglasses, it is important to make sure that they block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Quit Smoking: It is well known that smoking is the leading cause of serious health conditions that affect your lungs, heart, and much more. What most people don’t know is how smoking negatively impacts your eyes and puts you at an increased risk of developing cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and dry eye syndrome. It is important to know the risks that are associated with smoking when it comes to your total health, including your eyes. By quitting smoking, you can help reduce your risks of developing one of these eye conditions!

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Common Eye Injuries: What Are They And How Can You Prevent Them

ariana.dorado — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 22:38:18 +0000

There are many scenarios you may find yourself in where you are at risk for an eye injury. Whether you are playing a sport, handling chemicals, or in the way of any foreign objects you could find yourself dealing with an eye injury. Don’t worry – they are common and with the right information and care they are usually manageable and easily taken care of. Here are 4 of the most common eye injuries and how you can prevent them!

Scratched Eye:

There are many things that occur that can leave you with an irritated, scratched eye. Whether its dirt particles that got into your eye, an accidental slip of a makeup brush to your eye or even a paper cut there are endless possibilities of what’s to blame for your irritated eye. To prevent scratching your eye it is important to be extremely careful when handling anything around your eye and to protect yourself from an object that can cause damage to your eyes. If you think something may have gotten in your eye it is important not to rub or dig at your eyes. Instead try blinking or washing your eye with saline solution or clean water in an effort to get out what is scratching your eye. If you have scratched your eye it is important to call your eye doctor to get it taken care of safely and quickly.

Chemical Exposure:

The next common eye injury involves substances or chemicals getting into your eyes and causing discomfort and damage. When you are surrounded by chemicals there is a chance that some of the substance could get splashed or sprayed in your eyes. It is important to protect yourself from chemicals and be cautious but if find yourself in this situation don’t panic. You should immediately rest your head under a stream of water (slightly warm) to try and wash the chemicals away from your eye. It is also very important to call your eye doctor or an urgent care center to see what they recommend as the next steps, make sure to tell them as much detail about the incident as possible including what chemical you’ve been exposed, how it entered your eye and how long ago it occurred.

Sports-Related Injuries:

When playing sports, you are putting yourself at risk on many injuries. Especially injuries related to your eyes. It is important to take steps to reduce your chances of an injury by wearing the protective gear necessary. It is estimated that 90% of sports-related eye injuries can be avoided by wearing the correct protective gear. If you do find yourself in a situation where you have injured your eyes while playing a sport it is important to call your eye doctor to get an over the phone evaluation and figure out what the next steps are to treating your injury. Each sports-related eye injury is going to vary in steps to take and seriousness that’s why it is very important to treat every eye injury as an emergency at first.

Now that you have learned more about different types of common eye injuries we hope that this will help you further protect your eyes and vision down the road. Some injuries are unavoidable and when you do find yourself in a situation like that give us a call so we can help you take the next steps towards healthy eyes!

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Foods That Will Help Keep Your Eyes Healthy!

ariana.dorado — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 22:35:58 +0000

We fuel our body with foods for our overall health but have you ever put in any thought about which foods have the best impact on our eye health? We are here to help! Check out which food groups will help keep you and your eyes healthy!

Fish, Nuts & Seeds: The first suggestion we have for you is to consume foods that contain omega 3 fatty acids! It is important to get a general intake of omega 3 fatty acid because of the overall health benefits you get. These benefits include maintaining cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. Not only are omega 3 fatty acids good for the rest of your body they are also great for your eyes. It is proven that they can help with dry eyes, macular degeneration, and cataracts. Some foods that you can eat to ensure you are getting this nutrient are Fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel as well as nuts and seeds like walnuts, flaxseed, and chia seeds.

Whole Grains: Keeping your diet rich in whole grains can be beneficial to your overall health as well as your eye health! By substituting white flour products with whole grain options such as brown rice, whole wheat pasta, quinoa you can help reduce your risk of age-related macular degeneration.

Leafy Greens: It is vital to your eyesight that you have a diet that is rich in Lutein and Zeaxanthin. These nutrients help keep your eyes on their A game. Some foods that would fall under this category and give you the nutrients you need would be kale, spinach, collards, as well as a number of other greens.

Citrus Fruits and Veggies: Keep your diet rich by fueling your body with an assortment of citrus fruits and berries! This gives your body the Vitamin A and C that it needs and helps keep your eyes in the best shape. Vitamin A and C have proven to be very beneficial for your eye health and by keeping your diet full of them your eyes will thank you! Some examples of common foods you could eat to get your fix of Vitamin A and C are oranges, grapefruit, apricots, plums, carrots, peppers, and many others.

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