Driving Safety & Vision

For many people, driving is an important part of each and every day. Doing so safely is even more important. If you have any difficulty seeing when you drive you need to be aware that there are some things you can do to maximize your vision and your safety.

 

Regular Eye Examinations

If you are between the ages of 40 and 65 we recommend that you have your eyes examined every two years-and more frequently if you have any family members that have sight-threatening eye conditions or problems. If you are over 65, we suggest a complete exam every 1-2 years depending on your overall health. As we get older, it is important to check for eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts and age related macular degeneration at more frequent intervals. Should you experience any sudden changes in your vision or begin experiencing driving problems, especially at night, then it is important to schedule an eye exam right away.

 

Consider Your Eyewear

Your eyewear is an important part of driving safely! Sometimes our eyeglasses get a great deal of wear and tear. Your ability to get the best vision from your eyeglass prescription depends on having eyeglasses that are clean, fit well, and are free of scuffs and scratches. Scuffs and scratches cause light to be scattered making it difficult to see, especially at night. When getting a new pair of eyeglasses, you may want to consider antireflective and scratch resistant lenses, which help to decrease glare at night and have good longevity because of their special coatings. If you are driving during particularly bright daylight hours, consider prescription sunglasses and even polarized lenses if you drive near reflected sunlight from snow or water.

 

Automobile Maintenance

Be sure to keep your windshield clean, your washer full and your headlights and taillights in good working order. During a routine service ask to have your headlight alignment checked to be sure they are pointing at the correct position on the road. You may want to consider carrying an extra pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses in the glove box just in case you have an emergency.

Personal Judgment

If you are driving on a long trip, take a break and give your eyes a rest. Also, the use of artificial tears at regular intervals can soothe and comfort your eyes during long car trips.  Driving can be taxing. If you are venturing on a new route it may be worth avoiding traveling at dusk, night, dawn or in poor weather conditions. Let your comfort be your guide. When you visit us for your regular eye exam, please ask us about the medications you are taking and whether they can cause any difficulties with your vision. We are happy to take the time to answer your questions.

If you are having difficulty driving or feel uncomfortable with your vision for driving, please schedule an appointment by calling 800-495-3937.

Driving Safety & Vision

For many people, driving is an important part of each and every day. Doing so safely is even more important. If you have any difficulty seeing when you drive you need to be aware that there are some things you can do to maximize your vision and your safety.

 

Regular Eye Examinations

If you are between the ages of 40 and 65 we recommend that you have your eyes examined every two years-and more frequently if you have any family members that have sight-threatening eye conditions or problems. If you are over 65, we suggest a complete exam every 1-2 years depending on your overall health. As we get older, it is important to check for eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts and age related macular degeneration at more frequent intervals. Should you experience any sudden changes in your vision or begin experiencing driving problems, especially at night, then it is important to schedule an eye exam right away.

 

Consider Your Eyewear

Your eyewear is an important part of driving safely! Sometimes our eyeglasses get a great deal of wear and tear. Your ability to get the best vision from your eyeglass prescription depends on having eyeglasses that are clean, fit well, and are free of scuffs and scratches. Scuffs and scratches cause light to be scattered making it difficult to see, especially at night. When getting a new pair of eyeglasses, you may want to consider antireflective and scratch resistant lenses, which help to decrease glare at night and have good longevity because of their special coatings. If you are driving during particularly bright daylight hours, consider prescription sunglasses and even polarized lenses if you drive near reflected sunlight from snow or water.

 

Automobile Maintenance

Be sure to keep your windshield clean, your washer full and your headlights and taillights in good working order. During a routine service ask to have your headlight alignment checked to be sure they are pointing at the correct position on the road. You may want to consider carrying an extra pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses in the glove box just in case you have an emergency.

Personal Judgment

If you are driving on a long trip, take a break and give your eyes a rest. Also, the use of artificial tears at regular intervals can soothe and comfort your eyes during long car trips.  Driving can be taxing. If you are venturing on a new route it may be worth avoiding traveling at dusk, night, dawn or in poor weather conditions. Let your comfort be your guide. When you visit us for your regular eye exam, please ask us about the medications you are taking and whether they can cause any difficulties with your vision. We are happy to take the time to answer your questions.

If you are having difficulty driving or feel uncomfortable with your vision for driving, please schedule an appointment by calling 800-495-3937.

Kids and Eye Injuries

A study looking at pediatric eye injuries reveals that most of these injuries occur in the spring and summer  to kids between the ages of 15 and 17. Corneal abrasion was the most common diagnosis. The most frequent cause of injury was being struck by or against an object. Interestingly, if not surprisingly, the injuries were most likely to occur at home. It is always a good idea to remind teens of the need to protect their eyes, even if they are just playing around the house.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/g4rmp6806t486tx1/



 

Finding the Best Cataract Surgeons in Baltimore

To find the best Cataract Surgeons requires a little bit of work and investigation but is always worth it. Finding an eye surgeon who is a Cataract Specialist can help you to be confident that you are getting the most current information, thoughts and techniques to deal with your cataracts.

Ask People You Trust for a recommendation. Ask your friends, co-workers and family-but most importantly ask you primary care physician who they would go to or who they would send a parent to for cataract surgery.

Don’t Limit Yourself to Insurance Lists. Just because a Cataract Surgeon is “in network” isn’t a reason to use them if you are able to identify a top cataract surgeon you wish to go to who isn’t listed. Paying a slightly higher co-pay or deductible may be very worthwhile to get the Cataract Surgeon of your choice. If the best Cataract Surgeon in your area happens to be in the insurance list then you are all set.

Use the Power of the Internet. Take a minute to search “cataract surgeons in (insert your town/city/state)” or “best cataract surgeon in (insert your town/city/state)”. This will at least give you a starting place to begin creating a list of eye surgeons to investigate further.

Visit the Cataract Surgeon’s Web Site. Once you have compiled a list, visit their web sites

And get a feel for their practice culture and philosophy. While a web site by itself can’t tell you much about surgical skills, it can tell you about how well he or she presents information and explains detail to patients. This is important in how comfortable you may feel in that practice.

Schedule a Consultation and Meet the Cataract Surgeon. The only sure fire way to find out if you are comfortable and get a sense of trust from a cataract surgeon is to schedule a consultation and meet the surgeon personally. They should be able to clearly explain your eye health and vision as well as the cataract procedure and answer any questions you have in understandable language and terms. Whether or not you find the right cataract surgeon right off the bat it is never inappropriate to………

Get a Second Opinion. Making a decision about eye surgery is a big deal. Getting to a place where you feel confident, relaxed and comfortable is important.  

If you or someone you know has a Cataract or wishes to learn more about Cataract Surgery please call Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937.

The next time your having difficulty putting in your contacts, think about this:
http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/amsterdam-elephant-gets-contact-lens.  

Just a little twist on something we do practically everyday in our clinic; using a contact lens as a bandage when a patient (usually of the human kind), suffers a scratched cornea. Just placed one yesterday on a poor guy who's cat went bonkers and attacked his face. Fortunately, he'll recover and hopefully this pachyderm will as well.

Placing contact lens on elephant's scratched eye

Preventing Eye Injuries

More than 1 million people suffer from eye injuries each year in the United States. Ninety percent of these injuries could have been prevented if the individual had been wearing appropriate protective eyewear. Protecting your eyes from injury is one of the most basic things you can do to keep your vision healthy throughout your life.  “Most people are aware of the possible risk of eye injuries, according to Brad Spagnolo, M.D. of the Baltimore Washington Eye Center. “However,” he says, “Many don’t take the easiest step of all to prevent 90% of those injuries, which is wearing the proper protective eyewear”.

 

If you are not, then you are not alone. According to a recent nationwide survey by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, only 35% of respondents said they always wear protective eyewear when performing home repairs or maintenance. Even fewer do when playing sports. Of the injuries reported in the survey, almost half (44.7%) occurred in the home. More than 40% of the injuries were caused by activities such as home repairs, yard work, cleaning and cooking. Over a third of the injuries in the home occurred in the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, or family room.

More than 40% of eye injuries each year are related to sports or recreational activities.

In this survey of eye injuries, 78% of the people were not wearing eye wear of any kind. Of those reported to be wearing some form of eye wear (glasses or contacts) only a little over 5% were wearing safety or sports spectacles. For most repair projects and activities around the home, basic ANSI-approved (American National Standards Institute) protective eyewear will be sufficient. Sports eye protection should meet that sport’s specific requirements. These are usually established and certified by the sport’s governing body and/or the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Tips to Prevent Eye Injuries

In the house: when using household chemicals, read instructions and labels carefully, work in a well-ventilated area, and make sure to point spray nozzles away from you. Many chemicals are extremely hazardous and can permanently destroy the surface of your eyes, resulting in blindness.

In the workshop: think about the work you will be doing and wear protective eyewear to shield your eyes from flying fragments, fumes, dust particles, sparks, ultraviolet and infrared radiation, and splashing chemicals. Many objects or substances can fly into your eyes unexpectedly and cause injury.

In the garden: put on protective eyewear before you use a lawn mower, power trimmer or edger and be sure to check for rocks and stones as they can become dangerous projectiles if picked up in these machines. Don’t forget the risk to bystanders (including children and pets) when using these machines.

In the workplace: wear appropriate safety eyewear for your job. Many who suffer eye injuries each day don’t think that they need eye protection so they don’t have appropriate eyewear for the job.

Around the car: battery acid, sparks and debris from damaged or improperly jumpstarted auto batteries can severely damage your eyes. Keep protective goggles in the trunk of your car to use for those emergencies as well as everyday repairs.

Dr. Spagnolo reiterates, “Prevention is the first and most important step in protecting your eyes from injuries, so be sure to protect your eyes with appropriate protective eyewear.” If you do experience an eye injury, seek medical attention promptly. For more on what to do and what not to do if you experience an eye injury, please check out the following link:   http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/living/eye-injuries-care-treatment.cfm

Got Grapes?

An interesting study has shown that eating grapes might help prevent age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. AMD is the leading cause of blindness among people 65 and older in the United States. A study published last month in Free Radical Biology and Medicine supports the notion that antioxidants, such as those in grapes, appear to be directly beneficial for retinal health and function, which should offer protection against developing AMD. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891584911012081