Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Prevent Eye Injury with Facts & Information

Believe it or not, by knowing some facts and using some important information it is possible to prevent many eye injuries. Preventing eye injury is one way YOU can work to preserve eye health and vision. The most important fact to know is that by wearing proper protective eyewear it is possible to prevent 90 percent of those injuries! What is troubling is that according to a survey by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, only 35 percent of people say that they always wear protective eyewear when performing home repairs or maintenance and even less wear protective eyewear while playing sports.

Eye Injury Facts and Myths
·         Who is more likely to have an eye injury-men or women? Men!
·         Are eye injuries more common on the job or at home? Nearly half of all eye injuries occurred in the home! In fact more than 40 percent of eye injuries were caused by projects and activities such as home repairs, yard work, cleaning and cooking. More than a third of injuries in the home occurred in living areas such as the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living or family room.
·         More than 40 percent of eye injuries every year are related to sports or recreational activities.
·         Eyes can be damaged by sun exposure, not just chemicals, dust or objects.
·         Among people who have had eye injuries, more than 78 percent of people were not wearing eyewear at the time of injury!

If you or someone you know is concerned about eye injury and wants to learn more about preventing eye injuries and protective eyewear, please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354. 

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Symptoms of Ocular or Ophthalmic Migraine

While Ocular or Ophthalmic Migraine is not overly common, they can be of concern and a source of confusion for patients. Generally, when we think of the word “migraine”, we immediately think “headaches”. But that may not actually be the case.

About Eye Migraine
At Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center otherwise healthy patients sometimes tell us that about once or twice a month they see these strange pulsing images in both eyes-both with their eyes open and closed! They tell us that the images may start out small lasting for 10-20 minutes and cause their vision to become blurry. These episodes actually describe what we know to be an Ocular Migraine-a migraine without a headache! What patients are experiencing is the aura that many sufferers have before the onset of a classic migraine headache.

Symptoms of Ocular or Ophthalmic Migraine
Symptoms of an Ocular or Ophthalmic Migraine may include “zigzag lines”, “colored lights” or “flashes of light” that can expand to one side of your vision over perhaps 10 to 30 minutes. If you experience these symptoms, in order to be sure that this is not a sign of a more serious problem, you need to schedule an eye exam and evaluation so that we can rule out any other problems and work in concert with your primary care physician or a neurologist to make sure that other testing is not needed.

If you or someone you know has a question about any of the symptoms mentioned or is concerned about having Ocular or Ophthalmic Migraine please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354. 

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Be Aware of Cataract Night Driving Problems

Seniors with night driving problems or difficulty should be aware of how much cataracts can disturb night vision. In fact for many active patients who wish to drive at dusk or in dim light, the challenges of cataract night driving problems can be quite troubling.

Night Driving Problems

Driving at night can be difficult even for even those seniors with healthy eyes and normal vision. Dim or reduced lighting can cause you to misjudge distances and boundaries like the edge of the road, the entrance to a ramp or even the time needed to stop when a car in front of you engages their brakes. Night driving coupled with the cloudiness and night glare created by a cataract further diminishes your vision. If you are at a point where you are fearful of night driving or feel unsafe when driving at night, and been told that you have the beginning of a cataract it might well be time to consider whether cataract surgery might be a good option to help you regain your night driving comfort level and safety.

If you or someone you know feels they have night driving problems that might be related to cataracts or has a question about cataracts, cataract surgery or lens implants please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Transitions® Color Changing Lenses

Transitions® Lenses are color changing, adaptive lenses are lenses that fit into different areas of your life. There are different types of Transitions® Lenses to enhance your vision no matter what activity you are doing.  With original Transitions® Lenses there is an impeccable balance between outdoor darkness and indoor clarity. When you are indoors the lenses are quite clear and they inhibit the fastest fade to black speed upon walking outdoors.   Transitions® XTRactive offer superior darkness outdoors and are able to activate behind the windshield of a car.  Transitions® Vantage are virtually clear indoors and the only everyday lenses with polarization for crisper, sharper vision when outside. Also a Performance Sunwear line is available for outdoor activities such as boating, cycling, hunting, golf, hiking, and driving-and as always Transitions® Lenses block 100% UVA/UVB light.

If you or someone you know has a question about Transitions® Lenses, please feel free to call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center offices are located at 502 Marquette Street, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 and 1001 South Edgewood Drive, Knox, Indiana 46354.