Flashes & Floaters Need Attention

If you experience flashes or light or suddenly start seeing floaters, it’s best not to ignore these events, but rather to quickly schedule an appointment to see us, as although most of the time flashes and floaters are benign, sometimes they can be a sign of a sight threatening problem.

If you have no experienced any trauma to your eye or head, it is often the case that flashes and floaters are due to a Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD). PVD is a very common eye condition. It's caused by natural changes to the vitreous gel which takes up the space inside the eye. Although PVD causes some frustrating symptoms it doesn’t cause pain, harm the eye or cause permanent loss of vision. Sometimes, a PVD can either be accompanied by or a warning sign of retinal tears which can lead to retinal detachment and vision loss. Retinal detachment must be diagnosed and repaired quickly.

If you experience a sudden onset of flashes and floaters please call us immediately and schedule an appointment so we can examine the vitreous and retina and be sure there are no tears or risks of retinal detachment. 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.

Cataract Surgery Astigmatism Lens Implants

Satisfaction with Cataract Surgery Astigmatism Lens Implants

Good news for patients with astigmatism who are having cataract surgery! When your cataract is removed and replaced with a lens implant to correct your vision, patients who have astigmatism will be pleased to know that satisfaction with cataract lens implants for astigmatism is extremely high. A recent study presented in the American Journal of Ophthalmology compared using toric astigmatism correcting lens implants to a manual incisional procedure for correcting astigmatism, called corneal relaxing incisions. Although both methods of astigmatism correction resulted in good vision for the cataract patients, the astigmatism correcting toric lens implants gave patients a better overall satisfaction with their vision as reported in quality of life questionnaire 12 months after their cataract surgery with cataract lens implants that corrected the astigmatism. Patients were particularly pleased to be able to wear non- prescription sunglasses and be independent of eyeglasses for seeing clearly at distance.

If you or some you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants 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.

Can Eyelid Surgery Help Headaches?

What do droopy, saggy eyelids and eyelid surgery have do with headaches? While you might think that eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty is performed for cosmetic reasons to simply to help you look more youthful, droopy, saggy eyelids can often be a source of chronic headaches that can be helped by eyelid surgery. According to a study reported in the journal of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery patients who have droopy saggy eyelids and have interference of their vision often must furrow their brows and forehead to see well. This chronic strain on the forehead muscles can result in chronic headaches. After having the eyelid problems corrected by blepharoplasty eyelid surgery most patients had improved headache symptoms.

If you or someone you know suffers from headaches and has droopy, saggy eyelids as well as experiences blocked vision that requires eyebrow and forehead furrows to lift the eyelids for unobstructed vision, you may be a candidate for blepharoplasty eyelid surgery.  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.

Cataract & Lens Implant Story from NW Indiana

“I can’t believe how amazed I am that I am not wearing glasses at 74 years old. My cataracts had developed over the course of a few years and were finally ready to come out.  Dr. Buck recommended that I have the ReSTOR® Lens put in.  It has allowed me to not have to wear glasses for distance and for reading most of the time.  If I am reading very small print sometimes I have to put cheaters on. But that is no big deal.  I take a water aerobics class at the YMCA and not having to worry about water spotted glasses is glorious!”

If you or someone you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficult night driving and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants 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.

Eye Photos for High Blood Pressure

Eye photos for high blood pressure? Why? When you visit us for your comprehensive eye exam we will perform a very careful examination of the inside of your eye so that we can study the health of the blood vessels and the retina itself, as this is an indication of your overall blood vessel health. Your primary care doctor will also take the time to do a more cursory examination of the retina and blood vessels-especially if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. Recently, a phone based app was developed to help emergency room physicians quickly evaluate the retina and photograph it to help make quicker and more accurate diagnoses of high blood pressure related emergencies. Sometimes high blood pressure can result of narrowing of the retinal blood vessels, blockage of blood vessels and even bleeding or hemorrhages. If you have high blood pressure that causes changes in your retinal blood vessels we may even ask to photograph your when you have an eye exam.

If you or someone you know has high blood pressure it is important to have regular eye exams at the recommended times you doctor requests. Please schedule an eye exam. 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.

Exercise Effect on Eye Health & Physiology

Physical exercise has been known to be one of the most important factors in preventing cardiovascular disorders and may even help prevent some neurodegenerative diseases. A recent review of clinical studies compared the results of various reports regarding the effects of physical exercises on intraocular pressure (IOP), myopia (nearsightedness) and eye circulation and blood flow.

Eye Pressure or Intraocular Pressure (IOP)
Exercises that involve movement, called dynamic exercises, are known to reduce IOP for a brief period after participating. However, certain isometric exercises such a Yoga in “downward” positions may increase IOP.

Myopia or Nearsightedness
There is a solid connection between the time being spent outdoor and reduction in the odds of developing myopia-in fact 2% less odds for every hour spent outdoors!

Eye Circulation
Physical exercises increase retinal blood flow up to 140%, thus providing more blood to retina and stimulating better circulation. The message is clear-staying fit and active throughout life can be of great long-term benefit to your eyes!

If you or someone you know has not had a recent eye exam, 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.

Dry Eye Treatment with Omega 3 Supplements

Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a global problem that affects more than 30 million people in the United States alone. Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease of the tear film and ocular surface that can result in eye pain and impaired vision. The main dry eye treatments are typically supportive rather than therapeutic. Based on current clinical studies in the journal Ophthalmology, today we know that moderate daily dose of Omega 3 Supplements for about 3 months resulted in reduced tear osmolarity and increased tear stability in people with DED and the phospholipid form called Krill Oil is even more therapeutic, reducing DED symptoms.

If you or someone you know suffers from dry eye disease or experiences gritty, sandy, dry red eyes and wishes to explore whether Omega 3 Supplements be helpful, 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.