Eye Pressure Lowered by Cataract Surgery

There is good news for patients who have glaucoma or even a high eye pressure or intraocular pressure (IOP) who also have cataracts. Researchers reporting in Current Opinion in Ophthalmology reviewed the effect that cataract surgery had on eye pressure and found that cataract surgery provides a lowering effect on IOP in the long term and the amount of the lowering is proportional to the preoperative IOP. That is, eyes with higher preoperative IOP have the greatest average lowering, whereas eyes with IOP in the lower range of statistically normal tend to have an IOP that is unchanged from before cataract surgery, or even higher following cataract surgery.

 If you or someone you know has cataracts and is thinking about cataract surgery, please share this information and ask them to call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google+ 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. 

Cataract Risk & Body Mass Index (BMI)

Being overweight or obese with a high Body Mass Index (BMI) is a known risk factor for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, orthopedic and joint problems as well as a number of eye problems. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a normal weight with a body mass index (BMI) as18.5-<25 kg/m², excess body weight as BMI of 25-<30 kg/m², and obesity as BMI of ≥3 kg/m^2.. The relationship between Body Mass Index or BMI and risk of cataracts has been controversial and not easily evaluated.
 

Research on Cataract Risk & Body Mass Index (BMI)By using powerful statistical tools and Meta Analysis, researchers found that being overweight or obese were significantly associated with an increased risk of cataracts, especially those called “posterior subcapsular cataracts” which typically cause the greatest vision decline. This relationship was independent of sex, alcohol intake, diabetes and hypertension. 

If you or someone you know is concerned about cataracts and weight or body mass index (BMI) please share this information with them and ask them to call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google+ 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. 

Children’s Sunglasses and Eyewear

Even when it’s cloudy outside sunglasses are important, especially for children.  Many adults will wear them so that they can drive or do other activities throughout the year without being blinded by the sun. Did you know that it’s important for children to wear them regularly as well?  Whether, your children wear prescription glasses or not, it’s important that they wear sunglasses all year long.

First off, your child’s eyes are always developing and changing. Because of that, you want to make sure that they are able to do so without getting damaged. The rays from the sun can be damaging to your child’s eyes, and if you aren’t careful, they could inadvertently end up with vision issues later in life because of not wearing sunglasses in their youth.

Another reason is because the sun is always beaming its rays down, even on days when it seems completely hidden. That means that your child should be wearing their sunglasses, even during the winter time, especially if they’re out playing in the snow, snowboarding, skiing, or doing any other sort. The glare from the snow can make the sun’s rays that much worse. Always make sure the lenses in your child’s sunglasses are 100% UVA and UVB protected.

If you or someone you know has a question about children’s sunglasses, please feel free to call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google+ 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. 

Schedule Kids Eye Exams Before School By Scott Buck, M.D.

It is tough to believe that we are winding up another summer and the kids and their parents are gearing up to begin the school year once again. As we prepare the “back to school checklist” to get the kids ready, remember that eye exams for kids going back to school are an important part of back to school “readiness” tasks.  Children today live in a visually intense and demanding environment whether in the classroom, reading, writing, studying, using computers and even for after school activities like sports. Most important to keep in mind is that children use their eyes and vision as critical tools in their learning process, no matter what the activity.  We need to make sure their eye health and vision are right each year as childrens’ vision frequently changes during their school years.
 

Regular eye exams can detect these changes or any eye problems that might hinder their overall well being and academic performance.

 If you or someone you know has a question about childrens vision or needs to schedule a back to school kids eye exam please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google+ 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.