LASIK Patient Story: Best Money Ever Spent

A note from a patient about having LASIK, “I was always under the impression that I was too old to have lasik done and it wouldn’t work for me. I am 50 years old and have worn glasses my entire life. I just didn’t want to deal with them anymore so I came in for a consultation. Dr Buck and Kelley were great! Dr. Buck gave me all of the information I needed and helped me make the decision to have lasik. Now I am only wearing reading glasses and loving it. I love to run and deer hunt now. I don’t have to worry about sweaty and foggy glasses. Best money I have ever spent!”

If you or someone you know has a question LASIK or would like to schedule a Free LASIK Consultation, please 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.

Eat a Mediterranean Diet for Dry Eye Help?

Eating a Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, as well as a reducing the incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. There is an ongoing question about the traditional Mediterranean diet might be helpful for certain eye problems, conditions and diseases such as dry eyes.

Research on Dry Eyes & Mediterranean Diet
Recently, researchers tried to determine whether eating a Mediterranean diet could provide help for dry eyes. Reporting a study in the journal Cornea, the researchers had patients fill out the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire and the Dry Eye Questionnaire 5 and then studied their tear film and measured quality and quantity as well as the serum level of Vitamin D for each patient. The final results suggested that eating a Mediterranean diet was not associated with an improvement in dry eye symptoms and complaints but higher vitamin D levels had a small but favorable effect on dry eye syndrome symptoms. So, while the Mediterranean diet itself doesn’t directly reduce dry eye symptoms, it does seem to be an eating plan that can help promote health and prevent disease for your whole family.

If you or someone you know has a question about dry eyes and diet or needs help for dry eyes, please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser to schedule an appointment.

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

Decorative Halloween Contact Lenses: Tips for Safety

Decorative contact lenses and Halloween really seem to go together in October as people prepare interesting costumes and “looks’ for various celebrations. Decorative or “fashion” contacts let you change your “look” by changing eye color, giving you a “ghoulish” appearance or even creating patterns or logos on your eyes. BUT-contact lens safety is not to be taken for granted when it comes to decorative contact lenses and you need to have a clear understanding of how to use them safely.

Tips for Halloween Contact Lens Eye Safety

• Decorative contact lenses are not cosmetics or “over the counter” merchandise. They are medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Places that advertise them as cosmetics or sell them without a prescription are breaking the law.
• They are not “one size fits all.” An eye doctor, either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist, must measure each eye to properly fit the lenses and evaluate how your eye responds to contact lens wear. A poor fit can cause serious eye damage, including;

1. a scratched cornea
2. a corneal infection
3. pink eye conjunctivitis
4. decreased vision
5. blindness

• Places that sell decorative lenses without a prescription may give you few or no instructions on how to clean and care for your lenses. Failure to use the proper solution and care regimen to keep contact lenses clean and moist can lead to infections.

Where NOT to Buy Decorative Contact Lenses

• street vendors
• salons or beauty supply stores
• boutiques
• flea markets
• novelty stores
• Halloween stores
• record or video stores
• convenience stores
• beach shops
• Internet (unless the site requires a prescription)

These are not authorized distributors of contact lenses, which are prescription devices by federal law.

How to Buy Decorative Contact Lenses Safely. Get an eye exam from a licensed eye doctor, either an ophthalmologist or optometrist, even if you feel your vision is perfect to make sure your eyes are healthy enough to wear contacts. Get a valid prescription that includes the brand name, lens measurements, and an expiration date. But don’t expect your eye doctor to prescribe anime, or circle, lenses. These bigger-than-normal lenses that give the wearer a wide-eyed, doll-like look have not been approved by FDA. Buy the lenses from a seller that requires you to provide a prescription, whether you go in person or shop online. Follow directions for cleaning, disinfecting, and wearing the lenses, and visit your eye doctor for follow-up eye exams. See your eye doctor right away if you have signs of possible eye infection including:

• redness
• eye pain that doesn’t go away after a short time
• decrease in vision

The safe and effective use of contact lenses-whether decorative or not-requires proper fitting and education about their care to prevent the potential for serious eye problems from becoming a reality. If you or someone you know wishes to learn more or be fit with any type of contact lenses-including decorative contacts, please 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.

Computer Screens Cause Dry Eye Problems

Dry eyes and dry eye problems can be caused by many different things including certain medications, problems with the tiny glands in the eyelids, systemic diseases such as types of arthritis and inflammatory problems, hormone deficiencies or just not making enough of your own tears. Also, dry eye can be caused by environmental factors like dry, dusty surroundings, But, did you know that dry eyes can also be caused by looking at computer screens for long periods of time?

Research on Dry Eyes & Computer Screens
According to researchers publishing in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, users of video display screens or computer terminals are at greater risk for symptoms of dry eyes and dry eye disease (DED). A study was conducted in which a group of 672 young and middle-aged office workers who used video display terminals (VDT) completed questionnaires and underwent dry eye testing. Of the 672 workers, 76.5% had definite dry or probable dry eye disease with the percentage being higher in woman than men and higher in office workers over 30 years of age especially if they used computers more than 8 hours per day. Thus, DED is common among young to middle-aged VDT or computer screen users. It is recommended that anyone using VDT or computer screens of any type for moderate to long periods of time or even those who notice increased dryness or grittiness should take measure to try and keep the eye surface moist and intact such as the use of lubricants, artificial tears or even more aggressive measures if the extensive use of the VDT or computer screens is a daily event.

If you or someone you know has a question about dry eyes or needs help for dry eye please 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.