When New Year’s rolls around, most people make resolutions to focus on their health. This is a good idea, but you may be making the wrong resolution. If you’re focusing on losing weight or exercising more in the New Year, you may be overlooking a very important part of your health, and that is your vision. This year, in addition to the normal resolutions to get a little trimmer, consider making a resolution to protect your vision by scheduling a routine eye exam.

Screen for Diseases & Prevent Vision Loss

Why should you schedule a routine eye exam in the new year? An eye exam does much more than check your glasses prescription. It helps screen against disease and disorders that could put your vision and your overall health at risk.

One of these is glaucoma. Glaucoma has few symptoms in its early stages, but once it causes vision loss, the results are permanent. This is the second leading causing of blindness around the globe, and the best way to prevent it is to have your routine screening. If caught early, glaucoma’s effects can be reduced, helping to preserve your vision.

Though glaucoma is the most common problem that leads to vision loss, it is just one in a long list of potential diseases that could rob you of your vision. Many of these have few symptoms early on, and some can be treated if detected early. If you want to protect your vision, you need to start with your eye exam.

Protect Overall Health With Vision

Not only does your vision screening test for diseases that could cause you to lose your vision, but it also screens for vision problems that can be connected to other health problems, like hypertension and diabetes. Sometimes, the eye doctor is the first one to notice these problems, giving you the chance to get help from your medical doctor for these serious health concerns. By keeping your eye exam this year, you may get insight into things you can do to protect your overall health.

Schedule Your Eye Exam Today

If you want to schedule your eye exam for the new year, Visionary Eye Doctors is here to help. We offer eye exams to patients throughout Maryland and Washington, DC, DC. Our eye doctors are passionate about helping you protect your health, and this starts with routine eye exams.

Visit our Maryland or DC offices to have your eye exam. Schedule it now by calling (301) 591-1763. You can also contact us online for more information about our vision services. With the help of Visionary Eye Doctors, you can take the next step in protecting your vision, and your health, with routine eye examinations.

Keep an eye out, firework-related eye injuries in the U.S. have doubled!

It’s almost the 4^th of July and time to fire up the barbie, enjoy some cold drinks, and make sure your eyes are protected from the UV rays of the sun during the day and the fireworks that are sure to be part of your celebration that night.

While most of us love the fireworks with the bright lights, colorful sparks and huge sounds that go BOOM, please keep in mind that fireworks are still explosives. The statistics surrounding fireworks-related eye injuries are alarming. In 2017 alone, emergency rooms across the country treated an estimated 12,900 injuries from fireworks, and nearly 2000 of those were eye injuries. Over a third of these injuries were sustained by children under the age of 15, often because of sparklers or bottle rockets.

To help prevent these injuries, here are four myths about consumer fireworks risk:

1. Small doesn’t equal safe. A common perpetrator of fireworks injuries is one that is often handed to small children — the popular sparkler. Many people mistakenly believe sparklers are harmless due to their size. However, they can reach temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees — hot enough to melt gold. Yes, melt gold!
2. Even though it looks like a dud, it may not act like one. Injury and serious eye trauma can occur when people mistakenly think that a firework is no longer active or hot. Never touch unexploded fireworks and you may want to call your local fire or police department to properly handle it.
3. Just because you’re not lighting or throwing it doesn’t mean you’re out of the firing line. An international study of fireworks-related eye injuries showed that nearly half of the people injured by fireworks are bystanders. The research also found that one in six of these injuries caused severe vision loss.
4. The holiday can be complete without using consumer fireworks.  While legal in many states, they can be extremely dangerous and can cause significant injury, one of the more common injuries is to your eyes. Best to leave the lighting of fireworks to the professionals.

Please see the below safety tips for a safe and happy 4th:

• Never let children play with any type of firework, including sparklers. They are the number one cause of fireworks injuries.

• People who handle fireworks and all bystanders should wear protective eyewear that meets the parameters set by the American National Standards Institute. Avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket.  The friction could actually set them off, and that wouldn’t be pleasant.
• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Keep a bucket of water nearby, just in case if lighting fireworks.
• Keep an eye on your pets.  If your pooch isn’t cowering indoors, make sure he’s not in the line of fire either.
• When viewing a professional firework display, view fireworks from at least 500 feet away and respect all safety barriers.

If you or a friend or family member experience a fireworks-related eye injury:

• Seek medical attention immediately.
• Avoid rubbing or rinsing the eyes or applying pressure.
• Do not remove any object from the eye, apply ointments or take any pain medication before seeking medical help.

We wish you a wonderful and safe 4^th of July holiday! VED is closed on the 4^th and will open again on July 5^th with regular hours. We hope this information was helpful to you and If you need some fashionable sunglasses or safety glasses – you know where to find us. Happy 4th!

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month and the perfect time to spread information and awareness about this sight-stealing disease. More than 3 million people in the United States suffer from glaucoma, a number predicted to continue to increase significantly over the next several years. This disease is not preventable but, if left untreated, can cause as much as 40% of vision loss without any noticeable symptoms.

What are the Risk Factors for Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is acknowledged as the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Its impact, however, is unevenly distributed across different ethnic groups, with a notably higher prevalence in African American and Latino populations. Specifically, glaucoma is found to be 6 to 8 times more common in African Americans compared to Caucasians.

Other high-risk groups include people over 60, family members of those already diagnosed, diabetics, and severely nearsighted people. Regular eye exams are especially important for those at higher risk for glaucoma and may help to prevent unnecessary vision loss.

What Causes Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is often hereditary but it can also be caused by medications, prior eye surgeries, or an injury to the eye. The most common type of glaucoma is called open-angle glaucoma. The first symptoms of this condition are often patchy blind spots in your peripheral vision. In an advanced stage of this type of glaucoma, you might experience tunnel vision. A less common form of the disease called, acute angle-closure glaucoma, often has a more rapid onset. You should seek immediate medical care if you experiencing a combination of some of the following symptoms:

• Severe Headache: The rapid increase in intraocular pressure can cause intense headaches. The pain is often severe because the pressure inside the eye transmits to surrounding tissues, affecting the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for facial sensation and motor functions such as biting and chewing.
• Eye Pain: This symptom directly results from the dramatic rise in eye pressure pressing on the optic nerve and other structures within the eye. The pain is often described as deep, throbbing, and unbearable, signaling that the eye is distressed.
• Nausea/Vomiting: These symptoms may seem unrelated to eye conditions but occur because severe eye pain and elevated pressure can trigger a vagal response. When stimulated excessively, the vagus nerve can lead to a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure, causing nausea and vomiting as a reflex action.
• Blurred Vision: The increased pressure inside the eye can affect the shape and clarity of the eye’s lens and cornea, distorting vision. Fluid buildup can also lead to swelling and clouding in the eye’s structures, further impairing vision.
• Haloes Around Lights: This symptom arises because the elevated eye pressure causes corneal edema, where fluid builds up in the cornea, leading to visual disturbances. Patients might notice rings or haloes around lights due to light scattering as it passes through the swollen cornea.
• Eye Redness: The eyes may appear red due to the dilated blood vessels in the sclera (the white part of the eye). The pressure increase can cause blood vessel congestion, making the eyes look bloodshot and inflamed.

With a diagnosis of glaucoma, it’s best to follow up with an ophthalmologist who specializes in glaucoma at regular intervals to determine the best course of treatment and ensure that your treatments are working effectively. All glaucoma treatments are aimed at protecting the patient from further, irreversible vision loss. Daily eye drops that help reduce eye pressure are typically the early treatment followed by laser treatment and incisional surgical procedures.

How Visionary Eye Doctors Treat Glaucoma

At Visionary Eye Doctors, we prioritize the health of your eyes through our comprehensive eye exams, which play a crucial role in the early detection of various eye diseases, including glaucoma. These exams are thorough and cover multiple aspects of eye health.

• Glaucoma Testing: As part of our routine eye exams, we include specific tests for glaucoma – a group of eye conditions that can cause blindness. This includes a simple and painless procedure to measure the intraocular pressure (IOP) of your eye, which is a key indicator of glaucoma. Elevated IOP can lead to damage to the optic nerve, which is vital for good vision.
• Optic Nerve Assessment: During the exam, your doctor will closely examine your optic nerve for any signs of damage. This is crucial as glaucoma often causes no symptoms in its early stages and can only be detected through a comprehensive eye exam. Detecting optic nerve damage early is vital for preventing irreversible vision loss.
• Field of Vision Measurement: Glaucoma can affect your peripheral (side) vision without you noticing. We conduct field of vision tests to check for any blind spots or areas of impaired vision, which might suggest the presence of glaucoma or other eye problems.
• Dilated Eye Exam: A key part of our comprehensive dilated eye exam is pupil dilation. By using special drops to widen your pupils, your eye doctor can get a better view of the inside of your eyes. This allows for a more detailed examination of the retina and optic nerve for signs of damage from diseases like glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.
• Regular Monitoring: If any signs of glaucoma or other eye conditions are detected, we will recommend a suitable treatment plan and regular monitoring. Early detection and treatment can help control conditions like glaucoma, reducing the risk of total vision loss.

Remember, regular comprehensive eye exams are vital, even if you aren’t experiencing any vision problems. Early detection of eye conditions like glaucoma can save your sight. We recommend adults have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years, or more frequently if recommended by their eye doctor.

Meet Our Glaucoma Specialists

Our glaucoma specialists, Dr. Reena Garg and Dr. Georgina Medina are board-certified, fellowship-trained in both glaucoma and cataract and refractive surgery and utilize the latest in glaucoma research, treatment, and surgical options. 

Schedule Your Glaucoma Screening

The significance of glaucoma screenings cannot be overstated, especially when considering the nature of glaucoma as a potentially devastating eye condition that can lead to irreversible vision loss. While it’s true that there is currently no cure for glaucoma, early detection, and timely treatment can significantly alter the course of the disease. Treatment options available today are highly effective in managing eye pressure, the primary risk factor for glaucoma, thereby slowing the disease’s progression and helping to prevent further vision loss. This proactive approach is crucial in reducing the likelihood of significant visual disability that can accrue over a patient’s lifetime.

Glaucoma often progresses silently, sometimes without noticeable symptoms until significant vision has been lost. This stealthy nature of glaucoma underscores the importance of regular screenings, especially for those at higher risk due to factors like age, family history, or underlying health conditions. Screenings are simple, non-invasive, and can be the first line of defense in safeguarding your vision.

Making a resolution to schedule a glaucoma screening with Dr. Reena Garg  & Dr. Georgina Medina is a step toward prioritizing your eye health. By calling (301) 591-1763 or requesting to schedule online, you’re taking a proactive stance in preventing glaucoma’s silent threat to your vision. These screenings are an essential component of eye care, serving not just as a preventative measure but as a peace of mind for those at risk. Remember, preserving your vision starts with taking action—don’t wait until it’s too late to address the health of your eyes.

Pterygium, also known as “surfer’s eye,” is a non-cancerous thickening of the outer coating (conjunctiva) of the eye that grows onto the cornea. Normally the conjunctiva is a thin clear membrane over the ‘whites’ of the eye (sclera) and extends to the inner surface of the eyelids.

In most cases, pterygium must be surgically removed to relieve discomfort and restore the cosmetic appearance to the eye. Pterygium removal is a safe procedure and can be performed in our state-of-the-art office surgical suite.

How can you lower the chance of recurrence or regrowth?

The best way to lower the chance of recurrence or regrowth of a pterygium is to ensure you choose the best surgeon based on his or her experience and one that specializes in that procedure, has developed and continually improving a surgical technique, and has performed a large volume or large number of surgeries. When surgeons perform certain procedures with regularity and they specialize in those procedures, they continually improve and perfect their technique and are better equipped to deal with any complication.

Why Pterygium | Carnosidad Regrowth Occurs

Recurrence rates vary widely among current studies on pterygium regrowth. While some studies have reported rates as high as almost 40 percent, others report rates as low as 5 percent. Other studies have found that recurrence is higher among individuals who had their pterygium removed during the summer months, possibly because overexposure to the sun has been linked to pterygium development. Wearing polarized sunglasses is a must. Other factors that can increase the risk of recurrence include dusty and windy conditions.

One of the Lowest Documented Recurrence Rates in the World – The EyeWhite Institute at Visionary Eye Doctors

Dr. J. Alberto Martinez, Founder of Visionary Eye Doctors and one of the most sought after Pterygium surgeons in the world, has many years of collective experience, training and has developed The ASAP™ (Advanced Sutureless Amniotic Membrane Pterygiectomy procedure – providing a superior cosmetic outcome. Dr. Martinez, founder of The EyeWhite Pterygium and Pinguecula Research Institute has conducted numerous clinical research studies and has published in prestigious ophthalmology journals. He is on the cutting edge of the latest and most advanced surgical methods to reduce the possibility of recurrence, including using a special no stitch, amniotic membrane technique.

Studies have shown this technique can lower pterygium recurrence rate to less than 5 percent. Dr. Martinez has one of the lowest recurrence rates in the world – less than 0.1%. Following your procedure, our team will schedule follow-up appointments with you to monitor your progress. We will also make recommendations on medications or steps you can take to minimize the chances of recurrence.

To learn more about the ASAP™ procedure, please click here.

LEARN MORE FROM VISIONARY EYE DOCTORS

To learn more about pterygium surgery or to schedule a FREE consultation, please request to schedule a surgical consult online today here, or call 301.896.0890 and a member of our team will gladly assist you.