Dan’s Cataract Story

“My eye surgery  procedure has been the most liberating event for me. My vision without glasses was count fingers at three feet(I could not even read the big "E" on the chart) before. Before and on the day of the (laser cataract) surgery, everyone on staff was so supportive, and during the procedure, Dr. Betancourt would tell me what was happening so I knew where to look and what to expect. The actual laser time was just seconds per eye....INCREDIBLE! When I sat up after, I could actually see the faces in the room with me and read the clock on the wall! The very next day I was able to read the 20/25 line on the chart! Thank you, BWEYE!”-Dan B

If you or some you know is experiencing cataract symptoms such as cloudy foggy vision, glare or difficulty driving at night and would like to learn more about cataract surgery & lens implants please call Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061 and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061, serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Preventing Vision Loss From Diabetes

 

Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults. This is a growing problem since as the number of people living with diabetes increases, so does the number of people with impaired vision. Diabetes can cause a disease of the eye called diabetic retinopathy (DR). In its early stages, you may not notice any symptoms or changes to your eyesight, and you cannot tell that this condition is damaging your eyes. If it is not detected and treated in a timely manner, your vision can be damaged permanently. A recent study, conducted at Centers for Disease Control found that the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was high, affecting almost one-third of adults over age 40 years with diabetes, and more than one-third of African-Americans and Mexican Americans.

If you or someone you know has diabetes there are important steps you can take to prevent vision loss including a) maintain good control of your blood sugar and blood pressure with diet, exercise, and medications prescribed by your physician, b) having regular eye exams as recommended by your eye doctor. Depending on how long you have had diabetes and the health of your retina, your eye doctor may recommend specialized testing including scans and pictures in order to monitor changes that occur from diabetic retinopathy. Be sure to follow up on appointments and testing.

The key to preventing vision loss from diabetes and diabetic retinopathy is early detection, diagnosis, and treatment, if necessary. If you or someone you know needs a diabetic eye exam or would like to learn more about diabetic eye disease, please schedule an appointment with the eye doctors at Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061, serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

Ian’s and Mike’s LASIK Experiences

 "As a professional who relies on having 20/20 or better vision the results I have had from having my LASIK procedure done by BWEye are nothing short of amazing.  Going from a vision ability of 20/count fingers to 20/10 (but I think it’s better than that) was worth every penny!  Thanks again BWEye.  I just wish I had had my procedure done sooner!”-Ian

“Very professional and thorough, they took far more time explaining and preparing me for the process than the actual operation itself.  At no point before, during, or after my treatment have I had the slightest doubt that the doctor and his staff care about me and the results that I receive.   They took as much time reassuring my wife as they did me; a great experience.  I highly recommend them."-Mike H.

If you or some you know is tired of the hassle of glasses or contact lenses for seeing at distance and would like to find out if LASIK might be a good vision correction option, please call Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061 and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061, serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

TRANSITIONS® SIGNATURE® GEN 8™ LENSES

This lens is the newest generation of Transitions and replaces Transitions® Signature® VII lenses. With nine out of 10 eyeglass wearers declaring they are light sensitive, rely on a lens that is proven to reduce how often wearers experience light sensitivity. In fact, after wearing Transitions Signature GEN 8™ lenses, eight out of 10 wearers were less bothered by bright light and changing light.

The breakthrough technology of Transitions Signature GEN 8™ lenses provides a 30% faster activation rate, fades to clear three minutes faster, and is darker than Transitions Signature VII lenses. Just as important, these lenses also block 100% UVA and UVB rays and help filter 87% of harmful blue light outdoors and at least 20% indoor; in so doing, GEN 8™ lenses provide the ultimate eye protection from the sunlight.

To learn more about Transitions Signature GEN 8™ visit us in person at Baltimore Washington Eye Center in Glen Burnie or Gambrills, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter so that we can help you select fashionable, comfortable and durable eyeglasses and eyewear for your entire family. 

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061, and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061, serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

About Plaquenil, Your Retina & Side Effects

 

Plaquenil is a medication that was originally used to prevent or treat malaria, a serious but rare disease caused by bites from infected mosquitoes. It turns out that this drug is helpful in treating certain types of autoimmune inflammatory disease. Autoimmune disease occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own healthy tissue. Some diseases treated with Plaquenil include:

·        Lupus, which causes fever, rashes, skin problems, and other symptoms.

·        Rheumatoid Arthritis, a condition that causes pain and swelling in the joints of your hands and feet.

·        Sjogren’s Syndrome, which causes dry eyes and dry mouth.

Plaquenil lowers your immune system’s ability to cause inflammation. This can help control symptoms like rashes, skin and mouth sores and joint pain. However, Plaquenil has side effects that can affect your eyes. A rare side effect of Plaquenil is damage to the eye's retina, which is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Using Plaquenil for a long period of time may harm the retina, causing serious vision loss. People with retinal damage from Plaquenil are not aware at first that they are losing vision. Unfortunately, once they lose a severe amount of vision, it is permanent.

If you take Plaquenil, it is very important to see an eye doctor who can examine your retina and provide any other testing and imaging, to check your retina for problems before serious damage occurs. Please schedule an eye exam with the eye doctors at Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter.

Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061 and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061, serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

About Eyelid Twitches

If you have ever had an eyelid twitch for an extended period of time, you know how annoying it can be. An eyelid twitch (or tic) is when you have a spasm or slight movement of your upper or lower eyelid. It comes on suddenly, and can last for a minute, hours, days or even longer. While it may feel as if everyone can see the twitch, most twitches are slight enough that they can’t be seen by someone simply looking at your face. Most common eyelid twitches are harmless, and do not affect your vision. However, there are some neurological problems that can make eyelid muscles contract, such as blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm. These less common conditions generally tend to cause the eyelids to close more fully and for longer periods of time, limiting or completely blocking vision. Other muscles in the face may be affected as well. For the majority of us, the common eyelid twitch is a brief and minor annoyance. But when it lasts longer or occurs more frequently than usual, there are some steps you can take to make it go away:

 

Get Some Sleep!

Eyelid twitches often happen to people when they are overly tired. Get some restorative sleep.

 

Step Back From Stress!

Being under stress can lead to a twitch. If you can’t eliminate something causing you stress, find

stress-reducing activities to help get rid of the twitch.

 

Cut Back On Caffeine!

As a stimulant, caffeine can cause eyelid spasms. Limiting your coffee, tea, or soda intake may help to reduce eyelid twitching.

 

Moisturize Your Eyes!

In some cases, having irritated or dry eyes can lead to eyelid spasms. Get a dry eye exam if necessary or if you are bothered by dry eye problems.

 

If you or someone you know has ongoing eyelid twitching and gritty, uncomfortable eyes please schedule an eye exam at Baltimore Washington Eye Center at 800-495-3937, or visit Baltimore Washington Eye Center or facebook.com/baltimorewashingtoneyecenter. Baltimore Washington Eye Center is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 200 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061 and 2391 Brandermill Blvd., Suite 200, Gambrills, Maryland 21061, serving the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

About Diabetes & Diabetic Eye Disease

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce or use insulin effectively to control blood sugar (glucose) levels. Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause damage in many parts of the body. Diabetes can damage the heart, kidneys and blood vessels. It damages small blood vessels in the eye as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that about 90% of vision loss from diabetes can be prevented; BUT, early detection of diabetic eye disease is the key! It is critical that people with diabetes get annual eye exams even before they have signs of vision loss. Studies show that sixty percent of diabetics are not getting the exams their doctors recommend.

What Is Diabetic Eye Disease?

Diabetic eye disease is a term for several eye problems that can all result from diabetes. Diabetic eye disease includes:

· diabetic retinopathy

· diabetic macular edema

· cataract

· glaucoma

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is when blood vessels in the retina swell, leak or close off completely. Abnormal new blood vessels can also grow on the surface of the retina.

People who have diabetes or poor blood sugar control are at risk for diabetic retinopathy. The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy increases the longer you have diabetes.

Diabetic Macular Edema

Macular edema happens when fluid builds up in the retina and causes swelling and blurry vision. Diabetes can cause macular edema. Diabetic macular edema can lead to permanent vision loss.

Diabetes and Cataracts

Excess blood sugar from diabetes can cause cataracts. You may need cataract surgery to remove lenses that are clouded by the effects of diabetes. Maintaining good control of your blood sugar helps prevent permanent clouding of the lens and the need for surgery.

Diabetes and Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that cause damage to your eye's optic nerve. This damage leads to irreversible loss of vision. Having diabetes doubles your chance of getting glaucoma.

Other Eye Problems Can Be Related to Diabetes!

Diabetes can cause vision problems even if you do not have a form of diabetic eye disease.

If your blood sugar levels change quickly, it can affect the shape of your eye’s lens, causing blurry vision. Your vision goes back to normal after your blood sugar stabilizes. Have your blood sugar controlled before

getting your eyeglasses prescription checked. This ensures you receive the correct prescription.