Made up of mucus, fatty oils and water, tears provide your eyes with the lubrication necessary to keep the surface of your eyes smooth and your vision clear. If the natural lubricant becomes unbalanced or too little is produced, you may suffer from chronic dry eyes. Since dry eye can also be an allergy symptom, you may not realize when it is time to see your eye care provider.

Chronic dry eyes can cause discomfort, itching, burning and irritation. Persistent dry eyes often do not lead to serious consequences, however, without adequate lubrication your eyes may be more susceptible to infection since tears are a protective barrier. If not treated, continually dry eyes can lead to scarring on your corneas due to irritation, which can lead to vision problems and affect your daily living.

There are several risk factors that can cause dry eye, many of which are not in your control. Proper nutrition for eye health is one area that you can make changes to limit the risks. Diets rich in vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids, found in foods like carrots, broccoli, fish, walnuts and vegetable oils can be beneficial. Proper rest, sun protection and limiting eye strain will also help. The following are …

At one time or another you have likely suffered a period of dry eye. You may have felt like there was grit in your eye or it may have been uncomfortable just to close your eyelids. Unfortunately for some people, this can become a chronic condition that has to be treated in order to protect their vision. This guide answers what are dry eyes and provides suggestions to help.

What are Dry Eyes?

Chronic dry eyes are caused by a lack of sufficient tear production to keep the eyes lubricated, or an imbalance of the makeup of tears which causes them to evaporate too quickly. In both cases, the eyes are not sufficiently lubricated, causing dry eyes.

While initially dry eyes may not affect your vision, the condition may cause inflammation of the eye surfaces, leaving them vulnerable to infection or damage. If treatment is not received, you may experience pain, corneal ulcers and scarring of the cornea, all of which may affect your ability to see clearly.

Knowing when to Seek Help

While any or all of the following symptoms may occur temporarily, experiencing them on a frequent basis means you should schedule a comprehensive eye exam with …

Largely due to the discomfort and inconvenience of dilation, many people put off visiting their optometrist for regular comprehensive eye exams. The process involves eye drops that dilate the pupils, causing blurred vision and light sensitivity for some time after the exam. The reason for pupil dilation is so the optometrist can see through the eye to the retina to try to detect problems or diseases as early as possible. Fortunately for many, optomap® allows eyecare providers to perform a non-dilated, complementary eye exam has made these critical exams possible without having to dilate the eyes.

In our efforts to be the retina company, Optos has developed ultra-widefield retinal imaging technology that does not require dilation eye exams, but still gives your eye care professional a 200 degree image of your retina. Many eye diseases cause permanent damage before you notice any symptoms and the ability to view 200 degrees of your retina means your doctor can detect, diagnose and treat any findings, earlier.

Hopefully your eye care professional don’t find anything wrong with your retina during your exam, either way your optomap image becomes a part of your patient file, so it can be compared to your future optomap eye exam to see if …

Dr. Todd Brantley collaborates with this patients and other doctors to build stronger relationships. When Dr. Brantley brought Daytona into his practice, he made sure to let other doctors know. “We highlighted the benefits to referring doctors and they were amazed at how much information we could gather,” he says. These doctors have started referring patients to Lone Star Vision specifically to be imaged on the Daytona.

“The optomap® allows us to see and detect clinical signs earlier so that we can manage patients and reassure them that they are getting the best quality eye care. We can evaluate the retina and the structures of the eye in ways we couldn’t before with other technology. It’s 200° v 30°.”, says Dr. Brantley. In addition to building community, clinical decision-making, image quality, and patient education, Dr. Brantley believes that it is never too early to get the Daytona because it will help grow your practice faster.

Practice Information

– Lone Star Vision – TX

– Four doctor, private practice (multiple locations)

Reason for Purchase

– optomap image quality

– Patient education

– Revenue generation

– Higher quality of care

For more information on what Optos and optomap …

For people over 40, diabetic retinopathy (DR), is the number one reason for the development of blindness, and these numbers are expected to triple over the next few decades as the diabetes epidemic continues to grow, according to an article published by Retinal Physician. With the ability of optomap® to capture a high resolution, 200 degree view of the retina in a single scan, ultra-widefield (UWF™) retinal imaging may enable improved diagnosis, better classification, and earlier detection of disease progression, with the potential to guide our treatment strategies in patients with DR.

The traditional retinal imaging practice was to use a fundus camera and pupil dilation to achieve a 30 degree view of the retina. Capturing images from seven different fields to obtain a 100 degree view of the retina required skilled technical ability on behalf of the practitioner, as well as a high level of cooperation from the patient. Once wide-angled angiography entered the market, the viewing area of the retina was increased to between 150-160 degrees. However, the contact lenses required made the system more challenging for the doctor and was more intrusive to the patient than the fundus camera. The advent of Optos technology, which provides a …

An Optos device user since 2011, Dr. Shawn Hollander decided to purchase a Daytona, on the advice of a colleague. Dr. Hollander feels that the rental model suits his practice best, “Optos makes it attractive with the device and service all rolled into one price.” In addition, he is very happy with the more than 90 percent patient acceptance rate for optomap®, adding to his bottom line. Even offering a family discount (and the occasional no-cost image to illustrate to patients how important it is to his clinical decision making), his revenue from patient optomap images is more than double his monthly cost.

Dr. Hollander’s diabetic patients are also sharing their optomap images with their endocrinologists for more complete disease management and he often consults with retinal specialists. “The Daytona is like another employee in the form of equipment. It’s always there, and it’s always reliable.”

Practice Information:

— Safety Harbor Optical – Safety Harbor, FL

— Two doctor, private practice

Reason for Purchase:

— optomap image quality

— Patient education

— Disease management

— Revenue generation

— Higher quality of care

For more information on what Optos …

Fireworks are beautiful and a great addition to large celebrations. Too often, however, people do not take proper precautions and suffer injuries when setting off or viewing the brilliant displays. July has been dedicated as Fireworks Safety Month to remind people that these explosive devices must be handled with safety in mind.

More than 9,000 injuries happen in the United States each year due to fireworks. As many as 6,300 of these injuries occur between June 18 and July 18, 20 percent of which are eye injuries. Another alarming statistic is that one in every six of the eye injuries results in permanent vision loss or blindness. Because injuries can be prevented, observing proper handling and safety rules are critical to protect vision.

All fireworks are dangerous if not properly handled. However, sparklers and bottle rockets that get out of control are among the worst. Most people do not realize that sparklers, which are often handled by children, burn approximately 1,000 degrees hotter than boiling water. A spark that lands in or on an eye can cause immediate and permanent damage. Bottle rockets can cause corneal abrasion, traumatic cataracts and optical nerve damage. The following safety tips should be observed …

According to All About Vision, mounting research is proving that reaching the recommended daily intake of antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and micronutrients can help  prevent the development of symptoms caused by many eye diseases. Some eye care providers are even recommending higher intake of specific eye supplements and vitamins for patients who are at risk for eye disease. While the following guide will provide you with information about the nutrients and recommended daily amounts if applicable, it is essential to discuss these supplements with your eye care provider as complications can arise from taking too much of some, or conflict with medications you may be taking.

Vitamin A

— May aid in preventing dry eyes and night blindness — Sources: liver, milk eggs and butter — Daily recommendation is 55 mcg

Vitamin C

— Thought to reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts — Sources: broccoli, kale, strawberries and oranges — Daily recommendation is 90 mg for men and 70 mg for women

Vitamin D

— Possibly reduces risk of AMD — Sources: sunlight, fortified milk and juices, fatty fish such as salmon or sardines — No daily recommendation offered, but a minimum of 400 IU …

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness throughout the world, according to Prevent Blindness America. With more than 24 million people over 40 suffering from cataracts in the U.S. alone, Prevent Blindness America has declared June as Cataract Awareness Month. Because cataract surgery has a success rate of roughly 95 percent, education on the causes of cataracts, symptoms and treatment options can limit the numbers of people blinded by this affliction.

The lens of the eye is composed of mostly water and protein. A healthy lens is clear and allows light to pass through the eye to the retina where it signals the brain and ultimately translates into familiar images. Cataracts cause the lens to become cloudy, subsequently affecting the clarity of the images, or impairing vision completely.

More than 50 percent of Americans over the age of 80 will have cataracts or will have undergone cataract surgery, making age the most common cause of cataracts. This is because the protein that helps form the lens breaks down over time and begins to affect vision. Other causes of cataracts may include:

— Lifestyle habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol — Exposure to the sun’s harmful rays — Diabetes …

It is no secret that the aging process can affect vision, even in people who have not previously had any issues. You may find yourself squinting to see things in the distance, or holding your reading material closer to your face to see clearly. While you may be hesitant to see your eye care provider, regular comprehensive eye exams are more important at this stage of your life than ever. There are several eye conditions in seniors that can rob you of your sight before you even realize you have a problem.

Independence is critical to leading a full life and your vision plays a large role in sustaining it, especially as you age. While a healthy diet and exercise, as well as not smoking or drinking in excess, contribute to healthy vision, maintaining a schedule for comprehensive eye exams is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. According to the American Optometric Association, there are eye conditions, especially in those 60 and older, in seniors that can permanently affect your vision, and by the time you do feel there is a problem, the damage is often irreversible. Some of these conditions include:

— Age-related macular degeneration …