Cataracts are one of the more common vision problems, and occur when a clouding of the eye lenses prevent light from being properly focused onto the retina. When this happens, vision can be highly impaired or rendered virtually non-existent. Blurry or hazy vision, difficulty seeing at night and sensitivity to light are just a few common cataract symptoms.

So, what causes cataracts in the first place?

Aging

Most cataracts develop as a result of age. As we get older, proteins in the eye lenses degrade, creating thicker and less transparent lenses. By age 80, more than 50% of people have some degree of cataract. By 95, cataracts affect nearly 100% of people.

Injury

There’s a good reason closing your eyes is a reflex when you’re at immediate risk of injury. Eyes are delicate. Blunt trauma injuries can cause lens tissues to thicken and whiten. In severe injuries, tissues around the lens can be damaged, allowing fluids from other parts of the eye obstruct vision.

Genetics

Genetics impact nearly every area of health, including our risk for cataracts. It’s even possible for children to develop cataracts as a result of genes passed down from their parents. Genes that produce early-life cataracts often result in other health conditions as well.

Sunlight

Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can damage your eyes in multiple ways, including cataracts. Studies show that wearing UV-blocking sunglasses when you’re young helps reduce the risks of developing cataracts as you age.

Medications and Alcohol

Research indicates that medications including corticosteroids, miotics and triparanol can induce or increase the risk of cataract development. Heavy alcohol intake may also play a role in the formation of cataracts, but studies have yet to determine to what extent.

Smoking

As if you needed another reason to kick the habit, smoking cigarettes has been shown to make people twice as likely to develop one type of cataracts (nuclear sclerotic) and three times as likely to develop another form (subscapular).

A few months ago, we were approached by the team at Gainesville Television Network (GTN) with a concept they called “Health Connections.” They were producing a TV show highlighting the best healthcare professionals in the Gainesville area, and we gladly agreed to take part.

What we like about the concept is it gives members of our community the opportunity to learn more about healthcare options available to them, from audiology to dentistry to weight management and, of course, eye care. At Gainesville Eye Physicians and Optical, we believe an informed patient is a happy patient, so we take every opportunity to educate people about eye health and vision care.

In Gainesville, you can watch “Health Connections” Sundays at 9:00am on WNBW NBC9 and at 11:30am on WGFL CBS4. In this clip from the show, Dr. Snodgrass explains Gainesville Eye Physicians’ unique approach to patient care and delivering results.

Transcript

Host: The eyes are considered to be the windows to a person’s soul. So, to project healthy eyes to the world, you’ll want to work with an eye care practice with modern facilities, cutting-edge technology and a highly-skilled and friendly staff. In the greater Gainesville area, that practice is Gainesville Eye Physicians.

Dr. Snodgrass: Gainesville Eye Physicians is very comprehensive, from general eye exams to cataract surgery to everything in between, treatment of glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes, from pediatrics to people who are 102-years old.

Our society is in a preventative mode. As the healthcare industry changes, we’re all talking about prevention. What can I do to prevent problems? One of the things we can do is to get an eye exam. Even if you think you’re doing okay, you may have a problem that’s undiagnosed that we could treat ahead of time and prevent problems down the road.

Host: With over 20,000 cataract surgeries performed, and an additional 1000 eye surgeries under his belt, Dr. Snodgrass is one of the area’s premier eye surgeons.

Dr. Snodgrass: When a patient comes to us with cataracts, many times they also where glasses and we’re able to offer that patient not only removal of the cataract, but spectacle freedom, not having to wear glasses after the surgery.

There are various implants that we have. When we take the cloudy cataract out, we implant a new artificial lens into their eye that will be in their eye for the rest of their life. Depending on what type of eye that patient has, whether they’re near-sighted, far-sighted, astigmatism, the need to wear glasses for reading, we can solve those problems at the same time we do the cataract surgery.

Once the patient is ready for surgery, we take them to our laser outpatient surgery center, where we have staff that are totally focused and dedicated to providing cataract care to these patients. Typically, the experience is two to two-and-a-half-hour experience. The surgery itself takes 10-15 minutes. The patients many times see better on the way home.

We are now basically going to be doing what we call laser-assisted cataract surgery. We are acquiring the LenSx femtosecond laser. This will allow us to take cataract surgery to a new level. Everybody’s eyes are a little different. Just like our fingerprints are different, everyone’s eyes are different, and we’re able to get a real-time image of the patient’s eye and to customize a bladeless surgical procedure to that patient.

Patient: As I got older, my vision started getting blurry and just not as clear and not as crisp, and so when I met with Dr. Snodgrass and he told me I had cataracts, and after having the surgery, everything was so bright and clear and, honestly, for the first time since I was a small child, I could see everything clear and crisp and it’s amazing. I feel like I have brand new eyes, like I was a new baby being born. It was great.

Host: One of the best reasons to come to Gainesville Eye Physicians are their convenient on-site optical centers with hundreds of name brand glasses to choose from, like this beautiful pair right here from Judith Leiber. What do you think?

Dr. Snodgrass: We take great pride in being able to offer patients a prescription for glasses that they can have filled right in our optical shops connected with our practice so they don’t have to go elsewhere. We now have two optical centers affiliated with our practice, where we can send patients and know that when they go there, they’re going to get great customer service, they’re going to get a great product and they can leave with a pair of glasses they can be proud of and see really well out of.

Brands that we have are Dita, Fred, Tag Heuer. We have Maui Jim sunglasses. We have Costa Del Mar sunglasses. So, we have all price points available for our patients.

Licensed opticians are part of our practice and part of our opticals, and it’s very difficult to become licensed. That’s why they are not in every installation out there. So, our opticians are very well trained. Sometimes patients go to outside opticals and they don’t understand that they may not be working with somebody who’s not licensed, and there’s expertise involved in fitting a pair of glasses on patients.

Host: For total eye care for you and your family, be sure to visit Dr. Snodgrass at Gainesville Eye Physicians. Contact them today at GainesvilleEyeDocs.com.

Gainesville Eye Physicians and Optical now uses the LenSx^® Laser System to produce amazing results and quicker recovery times for cataract patients in North Central Florida. We’re the first practice in the area to offer this state-of-the-art technology.

LenSx^® delivers completely bladeless and pain-free cataract surgeries with significantly more accuracy than manual procedures. Traditional surgical blades are replaced by a computer-guided laser, producing more precise incisions. The system also captures high-resolution images of the eye and provides detailed measurements and other data Dr. Snodgrass uses to plan and perform the cataract surgery. 

For patients, the LenSx^® Laser System means better vision and faster healing. The laser uses half the ultrasonic energy once needed to remove cataracts. That translates to less risk and inflammation. In most cases, the patient’s vision improves almost immediately after surgery.

Cataracts are cloudy areas in the lens of the eye that prevent light from passing, making the patient’s vision similar to looking through frosted glass. There are several warning signs for cataracts that should prompt individuals to get an eye exam including cloudy vision and lens discoloration.

Surgery is the only way a cataract can be removed. The surgeon cuts an incision in the eye, removes the natural cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens implant.

Dr. Snodgrass, who has performed more than 20,000 such surgeries, uses this remarkable new tool to make more precise incisions than even the steadiest, most experienced hand could hope to accomplish. With LenSx^®, it’s exactly right every time.

Mom was right, eating carrots is good for your eyesight, but they’re certainly not the only food that promotes good eye health. The eyes are complex organs that require a mix of the right nutrients to perform their best and last a lifetime. Regularly eating foods from the list below will put you on the right path to vision-sustaining nutrition.

Carrots

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Carrots owe their orange coloring to a type of vitamin A called Beta-carotene. This antioxidant helps the retina and other parts of the eye work properly. Beta-carotene may also reduce your risks for cataracts and macular degeneration

Leafy Greens

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Spinach, kale and collard greens are great sources for the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. These substances increase pigment density in the macular tissue of the retina and absorb up to 90% percent of blue light, shielding the tissue from damage.

Fatty Fish

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Don’t worry, eating “fatty fish” won’t necessarily add pounds. It will, however, provide a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish including tuna, salmon, mackerel, anchovies and trout are rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which help prevent dry eye syndrome.

Citrus Fruits and Berries

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Found in high concentrations in citrus fruits and most berries, vitamin C produces multiple benefits for eye health. Besides reducing risks for age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, vitamin C also helps keep ocular blood vessels healthy. Our bodies don’t naturally produce vitamin C, so dietary intake is essential.

Almonds and Peanuts

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Almonds and peanuts are filled with vitamin E, believed to fight off damage from free-radicals. Research also shows this nutrient plays a key role in slowing macular degeneration. Just a couple handfuls provide enough vitamin E for your whole day.

Kidney Beans

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Kidney beans are an excellent source of zinc, a mineral that helps transport the vitamin A from other foods (like carrots and leafy greens) from the kidneys to the retinas. Zinc also plays a role in improving night vision.

Apricots

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Apricots are eye health dynamos. They contain just about every nutrient a healthy eye needs, from Beta-carotene and vitamin C to lutein and zeaxanthin. Apricots also provide significant levels of calcium, potassium and iron.

Ostrich

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If you’ve never tried ostrich, here’s a great excuse to give it a shot. Ostrich is rich in zinc, which promotes healthy functioning for several enzymes that benefit the eyes. For those with less exotic tastes, you can get similar levels of zinc from turkey.

Nobody likes allergies. Depending on your sensitivity, they can cause discomfort and watering, limit vision and generally disrupt your day. If you wear contact lenses, allergies can be especially troublesome. Eye allergies are some of the most frustrating allergies to have.

Photo Credit: Dabe Murphy via Compfight cc 

Eye allergies are usually accompanied by other allergies such as eczema and hay fever. Environmental conditions can also cause allergic reactions or irritation. If you find yourself with red, puffy eyes, it’s likely you’re experiencing an allergic reaction of the eye. Here are other symptoms:

• Itchy Eyes
• Blurred Vision
• Burning sensation
• Eyelid swelling
• Tearing
• Light sensitivity

When experiencing any of these symptoms, the first thing to remember is DON’T RUB YOUR EYES. You might have the urge to do so for temporary relief, but you’re just making the situation worse. Allergic reactions in the eyes occur when mast cells in the eye release histamines in response to allergy triggers. These histamines cause the itchy redness and puffiness most associated with eye allergies. When you rub your eyes, you further irritate the mast cells, causing them to release more histamines; resulting in more discomfort.

The best way to relieve eye allergy discomfort is to apply a cold compress or wet washcloth over your eyes, which will help stop the discomfort temporarily. In addition, if you have an antihistamine, like Benadryl, you should take one. Your eye doctor can recommend an over the counter allergy drop, or for more severe symptoms, he may need to prescribe a mild anti-inflammatory drop.

Finally, avoid allergen-rich environments, keep your hands clean and avoid touching your eyes. Even the tiniest allergen can cause discomfort if you’re not careful.

There are basically two non-surgical options for correcting your vision. Either, wear glasses or try contacts. Even with thousands of choices in designer eyeglass frames, some people still prefer the look and benefits of wearing contacts.

Benefits of Contacts

• Less likely to be obstructed by accumulated debris or smudges since they rest directly on your eyes and are cleared each time you blink
• Greater field of view
• Less likely to interfere with performance during sports and games
• Resist fogging up due to extreme temperature changes

What do you need to do in order to wear contacts?

First, you need to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor for a routine eye exam and contact lens fitting. If you haven’t had your routine eye exam yet, we recommend you do so soon. It’s one of the first things most people should have on their lists for the New Year.

Since contacts lie directly on the eye, your eye doctor must measure your eye in order to prescribe the correct contact lenses. This is a quick and painless procedure.

Following these exams, the doctor will sit down with you and go over the basics of wearing and cleaning your contact lenses. This is important. If you neglect proper cleaning or otherwise fail to take care of your contacts, you could end up with complications.

There are different methods for putting in your contacts; it all depends on your muscle reactions and how well you can keep your eye open when inserting contact lenses. This fun video below gives a general guide on how to put in and take out your contacts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNcQf-aDNP0

It’s important to use a good contact solution to clean your contacts. Your eye doctor can recommend a solution that matches the type of contacts you wear.

The doctor will give you a pair of trial contact lenses to test out over the course of a week so you can get a feel for them. After that week, you’ll come back and he’ll check your eyes for any irritation or damage. If he finds no complications and you’re comfortable wearing contacts; he will ask you if you want one-day, weekly, monthly or continuous wear contacts.

The most comfortable contacts are often the one-day disposables, since you have a fresh pair each day, but they also tend to be more expensive. Ask your eye doctor what he recommends and you’re sure to enjoy a clearer outlook on the world.

If your eyesight isn’t up to snuff, it’s likely you have some form of corrective lenses. However, for some careers, contact lenses or glasses may not be practical or even acceptable. Photographers, for example, find glasses to be intrusive as they are unable to hold the camera right up to their eye. But, these high danger and high-risk jobs actually require 20/20 vision in order to get the position.

Firefighters

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Firefighters need to be able to spot victims in burning buildings instantly, as well as spot dangers from fire damage when arriving at the scene of a fire, making fantastic eyesight a must. In addition, you must be able to quickly scan fire codes on buildings or structures in order to understand what method should be used to resolve the situation.

The exposure to smoke and other debris can make contact lenses dangerous, and rule them out as options.

Police Officers

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Having bad eye sight as a police officer is going to do more harm than good in the long run. If the officer is unable to identify a criminal within a crowd or properly judge a situation quickly due to vision that isn’t up to par, he may be putting himself and others at risk. Ideally, officers should have 20/20 vision in order to help them in the event of danger, to aid in criminal investigations or to be a witness in court.

Life Guards

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Often seen at the local pool or at the beach, lifeguards can be found seated on high tower chairs or in high tower posts overlooking the area. As they are inherently far away from any situation, it is imperative they have 20/20 vision so they can spot people who are in danger and can react as quickly as possible.

First Responders / Paramedics

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First responders only have moments to assess a situation. If they don’t notice everything within a few seconds of arriving on the scene, the life of the person they came to rescue could be at risk. Needless to say, 20/20 eyesight is a must for paramedics to quickly respond, identify injuries or read medical alert bracelets.

If you find yourself with subpar vision and traveling down one of these career paths, you may need to consider laser eye surgery. And while 20/20 eyesight is a must for these careers, it remains important to have healthy vision for everyone else. Our eyes are windows to our world; if you can’t see clearly, you’ll miss out on the little things. If you haven’t already, it’s best to schedule your yearly eye exam as soon as possible.

Spending time outdoors on a beautiful and sunny Gainesville day can be enjoyable, but without sunglasses it can be dangerous to your eye health. The right sunglasses can protect your eyes, and help reduce glare and brightness, both of which can cause discomfort. 

While most sunglasses are strong enough to protect your eyes, there are many options and people sometimes have a hard time picking the right ones. Here are some tips to help you choose the right pair of sunglasses for your favorite outdoor activity.

If you enjoy fishing, you want to make sure to protect your eyes from hooks and sinkers. Fishing sunglasses should be wraparound if possible and the lenses made of sturdy polycarbonate or trivex.

Fishing is the most common outdoor activity that relates to eye injuries. About 38% of fishing eye injuries involve getting a hook caught in the eye – 44% come from getting hit in the eye by a sinker or lure.

Regular sunglasses do not provide enough protection. Instead, try to find a pair of sunglasses specifically designed for fishing. These lenses usually have a brown tint and provide better coverage for your eyes.

If you are cycling, kayaking or hiking, protecting your eyes from glare and ultraviolet rays is the most important thing you’ll want to take into consideration.

Always choose sunglasses with 100% UV protection. While a pair of glasses may look fashionable, it’s likely that they do little protect to your eyes from the sun. So it may be best to choose function over fashion.

Lens colors make a difference

Gray or green colored lenses are a good choice for runners, cyclists and golfers. These lenses help your eyes see true color, and allow you to better appreciate your surroundings, the way they were meant to be seen.

Amber or brown lenses are great for cloudy days. Both colors enhance the contrast in your vision. Brown lenses are wonderful for boating, fishing and skiing. Amber lenses, though they distort colors, reduce eye strain, and are thus better suited for pilots, hunters, skiers and others engaged in all-day outdoor activities.

Yellow lenses are effective in low-light environments, especially on those partly cloudy days, when the sun isn't strong but the day is still bright. Yellow lenses are also a great choice for skiing.

Use sunglasses with red lenses if you need an optimal contrast between objects and green or blue backgrounds. Red lenses are useful when sailing, boating, hiking and hunting.

Should I consider polarization?

Most people may not be familiar with polarization. It allows sunglass lenses to absorb light from angles, and is optimal for blocking glare. Definitely pay attention to the availability of a polarized filter when purchasing the right pair of sunglasses.

Try them on before you buy

Choose a pair of glasses that sit high on your nose. This will allow you to easily keep the lenses close to your eyes, and block light from the sides.

The sunglasses should fit your face well. If they have a nose pad, make sure the pad fits your nose properly. If they don’t have one, the sunglasses should fit the bridge of your nose snugly, but not tightly.

The most important thing is comfort, so keep trying them on until you find the pair that is just right.

If you are unsure which sunglasses may be right for you, come on in! Our optical department will be able to assist you and find the pair that suits all of your needs.

With January 1st fast approaching, many of us think about New Year’s resolutions. Typical ones like resolving to lose five-to-10 pounds, read more or travel the country are all great additions to your resolutions list. This year, however, we have another resolution you should consider…making an appointment for your annual eye exam.

Your eyes are important and fragile parts of your body. If you don’t take good care of them, you’ll have a harder time seeing the world. It’s important to have a comprehensive eye exam every year to keep your eyes in good health. In addition, this is a chance for your eye doctor to see if you’re at risk for developing any eye diseases or vision degradation. It’s best to maintain and prevent any diseases; if found, before they get out of hand. Routine yearly eye exams help achieve this and it should be a part of everyone’s New Year’s resolution.

What Is the Doctor Examining?                       

Your eye doctor will do an initial sight measurement to determine your overall visual health. This primarily looks at “refractive error” which is classified into three vision impairments:

• Myopic or nearsightedness – difficulty seeing objects in the distance.
• Hyperopia or farsightedness – difficult seeing objects up close.
• Astigmatism – Blurred vision due to irregular formation of your eye’s lens or cornea.

Usually, these 3 vision impairments are corrected by prescription glasses or contacts. While having those items will give you a clear picture, it’s recommended to maintain your yearly exams to ensure your vision isn’t getting worse.

Added to the sight measurement, eye physicians test if you’re at risk for certain eye diseases. Most of the time, catching these diseases early and treating them right away will alleviate any risk of vision loss.

Don’t put of this exam until it’s too late. It only takes a few minutes and you’ll be out the door happy you got your eyes examined.

At Gainesville Eye Physicians and Optical we are committed to delivering the highest quality of healthcare. That’s why we hire licensed opticians to treat patients in our optical department. Not every optical shop can claim that. In fact, most retail eyeglass outlets don’t employ licensed opticians. So, why is that important for your eye health?

Let’s begin with a definition. An optician is someone who interprets the prescriptions created by ophthalmologists or optometrists to produce contact lenses or eyeglasses. They often use a series of tests and technologies to determine how a patient can best benefit from the lenses and frames they select. These evaluations take into consideration both vision needs and lifestyle preferences.

Accurately translating the physician’s prescription into a set of lenses that address your vision needs is, of course, a critical step. It’s not uncommon for a patient to complain that an eye doctor inaccurately diagnosed their condition, when the breakdown actually occurred in the creation of the lenses.

Becoming a licensed optician requires a great deal of education, apprenticeship and testing. The State of Florida requires an optician to apprentice for 6250 hours before they can take the necessary tests to be licensed, some of these hours can be accounted for through a formal post-secondary educational program. Following this training, they take multiple board examinations to ensure their expertise.

Many retail optical shops put responsibility for your lenses in the hands of lesser-trained individuals. In fact, they may have no formal training beyond the company’s in-house instruction. This can result in glasses that fail to correct your vision problems and may even make them worse.

Gainesville Eye Physicians and Optical is blessed to have two of the best trained and best liked opticians in all of Florida, Mindy Tillman and Fagan Arouh, and they are both licensed. That means their education and skills surpass many others in our area.

When selecting someone to fill your eyeglass or contact lens prescription, remember to ask if he or she is a licensed optician. At Gainesville Eye Physicians and Optical, the answer will be yes.