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.

High Dose Vitamins & Cataracts

Patients ask us all the time about ways to prevent or slow down cataract formation. Sometimes we hear that patients having been taking high doses of vitamins to prevent cataracts because they read about “megavitamins” helping cataracts. So, are vitamins good or bad for affecting your risk of developing cataracts?

Research on Cataracts & High Dose Vitamin Supplements
Researchers reporting in the American Journal of Epidemiology evaluated the risks and benefits of taking high dose supplements of vitamins C and E and low-dose multivitamins with the risk of developing age related cataract. Their study looked at any associations of high-dose supplements of vitamins C and E and low dose multivitamins with the risk of age related cataract in a group of 31,120 men who ranged in age from 45–79 years of age. Their results suggest that the use of high dose-but not low dose-single vitamin C or E supplements may increase the risk of age-related cataract. The risk may be even higher among older men, corticosteroid users, and long-term users.

If you or someone you know takes high doses of vitamins or is concerned about their risk of cataracts 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.

Vision Problems & ADHD

For any parent of a child with ADHD there is always the need to keep abreast of information that may be helpful in addressing how best to help your children. We are often asked about whether eye problems such as with visual acuity or eye movement problems might contribute to hyperactivity or ADHD type behaviors-and could in fact eye problems be a cause of ADHD?

Research on ADHD & Eye Problems
Researchers conducted a study and reported the results in the journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (AAPOS). They discussed the possibility that there was an association between ADHD/ADD, uncorrected refractive-errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism-and visual acuity. They performed a case matched controlled study that included ADD/ADHD children diagnosed according to criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-TR), along with an age-matched control group of non ADD/ADHD children and then examined both groups for uncorrected visual acuity for distance and near, cycloplegic refraction-an eye test to measure uncorrected refractive error with eye drops, ocular motility or eye movements and binocular function-how well the children used their eyes together. Their results showed that ADD/ADHD children had similar visual acuity at distance and near and refractive errors as normal subjects. Eye movement and the ability to use both eyes together as well as focusing ability were also found to be similar in both groups and thus might not contribute to ADD/ADHD. Thus, from this study there does not appear to be an association between ADHD/ADD and vision problems nor do children with ADHD/ADD seem to have a greater incidence of eye problems.

If you or someone you know has ADHD and is concerned about any effects of vision problems, refractive errors or decreased visual acuity 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.

Estrogen Therapy Reduces Glaucoma Risk

There are many well known factors that increase your risk of glaucoma including diabetes, family history and smoking. Some other less familiar glaucoma risk factors include having sleep apnea and the early onset of menopause. But, the role of estrogen may be more important than was recognized in that it appears that estrogen postmenopausal hormone therapy may actually reduce your risk of glaucoma.

Research on Glaucoma & Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy
According to researchers publishing in JAMA Ophthalmology taking estrogen only postmenopausal hormone (PMH) treatment may help reduce the risk for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). By reviewing data from 152,163 women 50 years or older the researchers found that 1.9 percent of enrollees developed POAG. Each additional month of use of PMH containing estrogen only was associated with a 0.4 percent reduced risk for POAG whereas each additional month of use of estrogen + progesterone or estrogen + androgen hormones did not affect risk for POAG. This is interesting information and will require further prospective clinical studies to understand fully but may offer some novel treatments for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), an insidious sight threatening eye diseases and the most common type of glaucoma.

If you or someone you know has a question about glaucoma risk factors and postmenopausal hormone therapy or needs an eye exam with glaucoma testing 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.