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Chances are that you have a friend, family member or co-worker who has undergone laser eye surgery and had tremendous results that they rave about! With hundreds of thousands of Lasik surgeries conducted every year, many people wonder if they, too, are a good candidate for this surgery.

LASIK or Laser in-Situ Keratornileusis treats refractive errors by removing corneal tissue beneath the surface of the cornea. This procedure combines the accuracy of the excimer laser with the benefits of Lamellar Keratoplasty (LK). LK has been performed on a limited basis since 1949 to correct higher levels of nearsightedness and moderate amounts of farsightedness. Here are some factors to consider for your fit as a candidate for Lasik surgery.

• General Health – Candidates should generally be in good health and over the age of 18. Certain conditions such as heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes, and autoimmune diseases may call into question the safety of such a procedure so discuss your complete medical history with our staff prior to deciding on whether this is right for you.

• Eye Conditions – Before considering a candidate for Lasik, one of our experienced ophthalmologists will confirm the health of your eyes. For example, people considering Lasik should be free of eye diseases such as: keratoconus, glaucoma, cataracts, corneal disease and certain retinal and optic nerve diseases. They should also have no current eye infections or herpes of the eyes. In addition, an eye doctor will evaluate a candidate for diseases that may impact the healing process.

• Other Considerations – Women who are pregnant or nursing should wait until after they have begun menstruating again (3 month cycle) and after they have completed nursing. The hormone level can impact the prescription strength. All candidates should be able to lay on their back for the procedure. In addition, people who suffer from claustrophobia may find the procedure difficult and should consider whether they are mentally able to undergo the procedure. Contact wearers will also need to follow specific guidelines on how long before the procedure they should avoid wearing contacts.

While Lasik surgery does not guarantee 20/20 vision after the procedure it can greatly reduce a patient’s dependency on glasses or contact lenses. Contact Boston Eye Physicians and Surgeons at 617-232-9600 or visit our website at BEPSEye to find out if you are a good match for Lasik.

After a long day of work looking at the computer or reading the small print, do you ever experience spots or floating black dots, or possibly even shadows in your field of vision? Do you think you are going crazy or possibly have a vision issue? Chances are that these spots, called floaters, are not harmful but should be mentioned to your eye doctor if they are happening more regularly or are accompanied by light flashes. Let’s take a closer look at floaters and what you should know to tell your doctor during your visit.

Noticing Floaters, Specks, And Dots

Floaters come in all shapes and sizes. They may appear as black dots, cobwebs, cloud-shaped, or just tiny specks. They may move or be stationary in your line of vision. They may seem to be grey or black but are hard to tell as when you look to figure out what these are, they may move or disappear altogether. Floaters become more common as people age and are usually harmless, if not a little bit annoying.

Spots May Increase As We Age

Floaters are caused when the “gel-like” vitreous part of the eye breaks free within the inner back portion of the eye itself. As we age this vitreous gel naturally begins to dissolve and become less “gel-like”. This, in turn, causes specks or flecks to break off and “float” into our field of vision. Most people will notice eye floaters are particularly pronounced if gazing at a clear or overcast sky or a computer screen with a white or light-colored background.

Are Floaters A Medical Emergency?

While floaters are not usually a cause for concern, there are times that they should be considered a medical emergency. If floaters come pouring in, or if they are accompanied by flashes of light, you should seek medical attention immediately from an eye care professional. The sudden appearance of these symptoms could mean that the vitreous is pulling away from your retina, a condition called posterior vitreous detachment. Or it could mean that the retina itself is becoming dislodged from the back of the eye’s inner lining, called a retinal detachment. Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms or if your floaters have changed from random to more common. Call Boston Eye Physicians and Surgeons at 617-232-9600 if you have questions about your vision, or visit our website here.

Now that it’s 2019, we can reflect on all of the glasses and frame trends of 2018. We can talk about which trends we really liked, and which ones we’re excited to leave in the past. Most importantly, we can discuss what we expect to see people wearing in 2019 for frames and style expression. Read this blog to learn about glasses trends, seasonal frames, and all things that may help you choose your next set of frames.

Trends

Gone are the traditional black frames with clear lenses. We’re now seeing so many funky shades of frames and shapes of lenses. The tortoiseshell print used to be just about the funkiest we’ve seen, along with stripes and polka dots. In 2018, we took a turn with our trends to incorporate all types of colors and designs, even translucent frames were in. Even the shapes of the lenses are changing from the classic square or oval. Now we’re seeing the perfect circle lens resurfacing, along with shaped lenses like octagons and triangles.

Holidays

The holidays are always a reason for people to spring for some fun, untraditional frames. Use the holidays to get used to wearing new, fun and funky frames that you’ve always wanted to wear. When you have a few frames to choose from, you may find yourself liking the fact that you can change the glasses you wear and coordinate your frames upon the season and holiday. Christmas, Valentines Day, and St. Patrick’s Day allow you to wear bright red or green frames. New Year’s Eve calls for sparkly and fun frames.

Seasons, Outfits, and Accessories

Match your frames of the day with your outfit and the season. If you’re going somewhere special, put on your special frames. Having a great variety of all different colors and designed frames can make wearing glasses much more of a fun accessory than a necessity. Having multiple pairs is awesome for fashion purposes and helpful for safety purposes. You always have the ability to change your frames.

Switching up your frames and matching your glasses with your favorite trends can be a great way to have some fun. If you don’t wear contacts, and they’re simply not for you, we understand that your glasses are important to you. You must keep them safe and in good condition. This is easy when you’re rotating pairs, and constantly keeping your frames fresh and ready.

These trends and changing of frames have been a hit in 2018, and we can only expect to see more funky frames and designs for 2019. What are your current frames like? Do you have multiple pairs? Consider having two or three for leisure and for emergencies.

If you have questions about your eye health or the frames you’ve been wearing, contact Boston Eye Physicians and Surgeons at (617) 232-9600. Boston Eye Physicians & Surgeons has served patients in New England and around the world for nearly 75 years. We have been a destination for patients seeking high-quality eye care from a team composed of the area’s leading vision professionals.

We love our eyes. We dress them up with makeup, adorn them with sunglasses, and even wear certain color clothing to bring out the unique shades of our eyes. But how many of us can claim that we are protecting our eyesight on a daily basis? Sure, we eat our carrots but what else can we do to protect our vision that we cherish so dearly? Let’s take a closer look at some simple things that we all can do to protect our eyesight for years to come.

• Wear Sunglasses, a Visor, or a Hat – Ultraviolet light can damage the eyes. The reflective power of snow, sand, and water can exacerbate these effects. The right sunglasses, visor or hat should block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB (two bands of ultraviolet light).

• Exercise Regularly – Regular physical activity such as walking, gardening, swimming, or any other aerobic exercise can help stave off cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, which are two risk factors for chronic eye diseases.

• Eat for your Eyes – A variety of fruits and veggies can help protect your eyes from disease and eye disorders. Green, leafy veggies provide fiber, which slows the absorption of cholesterol and sugar. In addition, berries are potent antioxidants and blood-vessel strengtheners. The omega-3s in fish may decrease the risk of developing macular degeneration in those at high genetic risk.

• Avoid Smoke – The chemicals in smoking products can damage the eyes as well as escalate the risk of arterial disease. Steer clear of second hand smoke or, if you smoke, stay away from family members and loved ones.

• Regular Exams – Whether you are having eye issues or not, everyone should have regular eye exams for early diagnosis.

• Know Family History – Since many eye disorders run in families it is important to understand family history. Talk to relatives about eye issues that they have experienced.

Protect those peepers daily with a few of these suggestions. Call Boston Eye Physicians and Surgeons at 617-232-9600 if you have questions about your vision or visit our website here.

In a normal functioning eye, the brain and the eye work in coordination with each other. The retina, along the back wall of the eye, works to send nerve signals to the optic nerve, which in turn communicates with the brain to translate what the eye is seeing. When one eye does not work correctly with the other, it is called Amblyopia, or sometimes Lazy Eye. This is a fairly common condition in children, occurring in 2 to 3 out of every 100 children.

What are the Causes of Amblyopia?

According to the National Eye Institute, “A common cause of amblyopia is the inability of one eye to focus as well as the other one. Amblyopia can occur when one eye is more nearsighted, more farsighted, or has more astigmatism. These terms refer to the ability of the eye to focus light on the retina.”

Are there any Treatment Options for Amblyopia?

For many children, treatment consists of physically patching or through medical intervention in the form of a drug called Atropine. Patching an eye helps train the weaker eye to work with the brain and allows vision to develop more completely. The results from a nationwide clinical trial3 showed that many children from ages 7 to 17 years old benefited from this form of treatment for amblyopia. Another form of treatment includes Atropine eye drops. This form of treatment can produce similar improvements. The drug temporarily blurs the child’s vision so that the he/she will use the eye with amblyopia, thus improving vision.

For more information on amblyopia contact Boston Eye Physicians and Surgeon at at 671-232-9600 or visit our website.

At some time or other all of us have had an eye twitch, whether it lasted for a few minutes, a few days, or unfortunately even longer.  It can be annoying, cause minor pain, and mostly it can be a distraction from what you are really trying to focus on. Almost always this sudden onset condition is not serious nor a sign of an underlying medical condition. It is mostly just an irritation for the person experiencing the twitch. What is causing this condition and are there things you can do to avoid a twitch? Let’s take a closer look.

Main Causes of an Eye Twitch

• Eye Strain – For too many of us we spend many hours a day staring at a computer screen or mobile device. Making your eyes work too hard can cause an eye twitch. It is always best to take planned breaks from studying, reading or computer work every 20 minutes or so to avoid eye strain. For those with undiagnosed or even diagnosed vision problems, eye strain can happen if you are in need of glasses or a change in a prescription as well. A lack of sleep can also cause eye strain leading to an eye twitch, so try to get some extra sleep to avoid or remedy eye twitches that occur often.

• Coffee and Alcohol – Both caffeinated coffee and alcohol can trigger an eye twitch, usually due to dehydration or too much caffeine in one’s system. Try abstaining from alcohol if a twitch continues or cutting back on coffee (or better yet switch to decaf for a few days.)

• Dry Eyes – As we age our eyes are not able to lubricate as well as they did in our younger years. As a result, many adults experience dry eye that can trigger a twitching condition. If your eyes feel dry or gritty, you may want to see your eye doctor as the spasms of your eyelid may be caused by the dry eye condition and exacerbated by eye strain and/or coffee or alcohol.

• Allergies – For those of us with seasonal or indoor allergies, we know how miserable our eyes, nose, and throat can feel when irritated by the allergen. People with eye allergies can have itching, swelling and watery eyes. When eyes are rubbed, this releases histamine into the lid tissues and the tears. Some research evidence indicates that histamine can cause eyelid twitching.

If you have questions about your vision or eyelid twitching, call Boston Eye Physicians and Surgeons at (617) 232 9600 to find out more.

Macular Degeneration or Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a common eye condition that affects over 10 million Americans. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss among seniors, especially people over the age of 50. The disease causes damage to the macula, a small spot near the center of the retina and the part of the eye needed for sharp, central vision, which lets us see objects that are straight ahead. What warning signs should you be looking for, and what if you notice a change in your vision? Let’s take a closer look.

Important Facts about AMD – Signs Symptoms and Risk Factors

Regular eye exams are critical to catch AMD since most people do not experience vision loss in the early stages of the disease. If you have more than one risk factor, you should have regular eye exams. Some of the risk factors include:

• Genetics – People with a family history of AMD are at a higher risk.

• Race – Caucasians are more likely to develop the disease than African-Americans or Hispanics/Latinos.
• Smoking – Smoking doubles the risk of AMD.

As the disease progresses into the intermediate and late stages there may be vision loss as well as yellow deposits beneath the retina called drusen. A comprehensive eye exam with specific tests will look for larger drusen and/or pigment changes in the retina.While there is currently no known cure for Macular Degeneration, there are things you can do to reduce your risk and possibly slow the progression once you’ve been diagnosed. For example, one can pursue lifestyle changes like dieting, exercise, avoiding smoking, and protecting your eyes from ultraviolet light.

Contact Boston Eye Physicians and Surgeons if you have questions about your vision or would like to set up an appointment. 617-232-9600.

Refractive surgery is the term used to describe surgical procedures that correct common vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia, with the goal of reducing dependence on prescription eyeglasses and/or contact lenses. LASIK is the most common and well known of the refractive surgeries. Let’s look at the basics of refractive surgeries and see if you are a candidate for improving your vision through any of them.

For several centuries, glasses were the only way to correct vision problems. That is, until contact lenses came into use in the 1950s. Today, there are surgical options that can improve vision and allow for people who typically wear eyeglasses and/or contact lenses to be free of them. Modern options range from laser reshaping of the eye’s surface in procedures such as LASIK and PRK, to surgical insertion of artificial lenses to correct eyesight.

Choosing to have refractive surgery should be a decision that you and your eye specialist can discuss. Here are some of the characteristics that would make you an excellent candidate for refractive surgery.

• Candidates must be in good general health, and should not have certain health problems, including uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune or collagen vascular disease, take any medication, or have any condition that compromises the immune response.
• Candidates should not have active eye infections or injuries. In addition, patients should not continuously suffer from dry eyes.
• Candidates should be at least 18 years of age.
• Candidates should have stable vision over at least the past year.
• Patients considering refractive surgery should not be pregnant or nursing.

The decision to have refractive surgery should be weighed with the knowledge of your surgeon and doctor. As with any procedure, there are risks and potential side effects.

Color blindness is a common and well known condition. However, many don’t know where it comes from, how it works, or even if it can be treated.

What is Color Blindness?

To start with, color blindness is a genetic condition, meaning you are born with it. The gene responsible for the condition is carried by the X chromosome, which is why it affects men more than women. Specifically, color blindness means you have trouble seeing red, green, blue, or a mix of these colors. The eye normally has three types of cone cells, and each type sense either red, green or blue light. Inherited color blindness occurs when you don’t have one of these types of cone cells or they won’t work correctly. Instead, you either don’t see the basic colors, or you may see a different shade of the color or just a different color altogether.

A color deficiency isn’t always inherited, it can also be caused by:

• Aging
• Injury to an eye
• Side effects of some medicines
• Eye problems such as macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma

Being affected by color deficiency can range from mild, moderate to severe, all depending upon the defect. If it is inherited, your condition will stay the same throughout your life, rather than getting better or worse. Being affected can be a big change in your life. It may make it harder to read, learn, as well as limiting career choices.

Eye Exam Test For Colorblindness

It is important to detect the problem as soon as possible as it can affect various aspects on someone’s life. Most experts recommend eye exams for children between ages 3 and 5. Tests include:

• Seeing a set of colored dots and trying to find a pattern in them, such as numbers or letters. With the patterns you see, it helps your doctor determine which colors you have trouble with.
• The second test involves arranging colored chips in order according to how similar the colors are. Those with color vision problems, cannot arrange the colored chips correctly.

Color blindness cannot be treated or corrected. For the most common type of colorblindness, red-green, treatment is not needed because you are still able to function normally. You simply may not be aware that you do not see colors the way they are seen by others. There are several ways to help such as:

• Wearing colored contact lens allows you to see differences between colors.
• Wearing glasses that block glare can help those with more severe to better determine the difference between colors when there is glare and brightness.
• Looking for cues like brightness or location instead of colors. Learning the order of the three colored lights on a traffic signal can help make up for the lack of color seen.

Ever looked in the mirror and wondered why your eyes look so red? Eye redness can happen to anyone, however, it is important to know what the cause is and how to treat it in order to prevent it from getting worse or even happening again.

Eye redness is also known as bloodshot eyes. Eye redness occurs when the vessels in your eyes are swollen or irritated. It can indicate the presence of different health problems, whether they are light to very serious that may require emergency medical attention.

Common causes of eye redness include:

• Inflamed vessels on the surface of the eye
• Dry air
• Colds
• Coughing
• Dust
• Exposure to the sun
• Allergic reactions
• Bacteria or viruses

Many don’t realize that coughing can cause a specific condition of eye redness called Subconjunctival Hemorrhage. With this condition, a blood blotch may appear in one eye. If it is not accompanied by pain, it will then clear up in 7 to 10 days. Aside from your standard conditions such as trauma or injury to the eye, an increase in eye pressure or scratches on the cornea can be caused by overuse of contact lenses. Infections can also be a cause of eye redness which include:

• Blepharitis – Inflammation of the follicles of the eyelashes
• Pinkeye – Inflammation of the membrane that coats the eye
• Corneal Ulcers – Ulcers that cover the eye
• Uveitis – Inflammation of the uvea

The best way, however, to prevent eye redness is by using proper hygiene and avoiding irritants that can easily cause redness. These include:

• Avoid activities that can cause eyestrain
• Remove makeup from your eyes everyday
• Wash your hands if exposed to someone who has an eye infection
• Clean your contact lenses regularly