UV Eye Injury, Protection & Eyewear

It’s a good time to discuss UV eye injury, protection from the effects of our Alabama sun and the need to use proper eyewear and sunglasses as May marks Ultraviolet (UV) Eye Protection Awareness Month noted the Birmingham eye doctors at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center. “UV protective eyewear and common sense precautions are important for eye health. “As we approach the summer months it’s a great time to be outdoors-walking, hiking, swimming-going to the beach-and just enjoying all that Alabama has to offer,” commented Ophthalmologist & Corneal Specialist Tyler Hall, M.D. “Keep in mind that with more exposure to the sun and ultraviolet or UV rays on a daily basis, we need to use proper UV eye protection”, remarked Dr. Hall.

UV light-especially from the sun-is known to cause damage to the skin. But, UV exposure can also cause significant damage to eye health and vision. “One of the most concerning things about UV eye damage and injury is that it is cumulative and often doesn’t become noticeable to patients for many years,” said Dr. Hall.

Exposure to UV has been linked to many eye problems and in some instances is thought to quicken the onset of eye diseases such as cataract, age related macular degeneration (AMD), certain cancers on the delicate skin around the eye, Pterygia-a growth of white tissue on the surface of the eye-and even Photokeratitis, a type of sunburn of the cornea.

Some precautions regarding UV eye protection include: 

• Always wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Sunglasses without UV protection may shade the eyes but actually cause the pupils to dilate, allowing in even more harmful rays. 
• Wear a brimmed hat along with sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. 
• Choose wrap-around sunglasses to protect the eyes and the skin around the eyes. 
• Be aware that although some contact lenses may offer UV protection, they cannot protect the entire eye and the skin around it. 
• Choose sunglasses made of unbreakable polycarbonate, especially for children and for those who lead active lifestyles. 
• Be sure to ask your doctor about the photosensitizing side effects of any medications that you might take. 
• Always wear eye protection when using a tanning bed. According the American Academy of Ophthalmology, tanning beds can produce UV levels up to 100 times more than the sun, which can cause serious damage to the external and internal structures of the eye and eyelids. 

Today we have wide range of UV protecting eyeglass lenses available to choose from. Eye protection from UV needs to be complete but doesn’t have to be overly expensive. High quality sunglasses should block out 99-100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation. It is also important to have UV protection in everyday eyewear, which is readily available with a number of UV blocking eyeglass lens materials, specialized coatings and photochromic lenses.

Patients visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center can speak with our staff who will be able to provide the proper counseling and fitting of UV protecting lenses and eyewear. These eye care professionals can offer a wide variety of UV blocking lenses, coatings and color changing lenses to keep you safe. 

If you or someone you know has a question or concerns about ultraviolet (UV) eye damage and injury and how to select protective eyewear please feel free to call Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision. 

Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham staffed by a team of specialists including eye doctors who are fellowship trained cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists & Corneal Specialists-as well as Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser eye surgery such as LASIK for laser vision correction, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and fitting of eyeglasses and eyewear.

LASIK & Contact Lens Risk for Swimming

Birmingham LASIK Surgeon & Corneal Specialist Marc Michelson, M.D. commented on the risks and benefits of LASIK vs. contact lenses for swimming. “As a corneal specialist, based on my personal clinical experience as well as the recommendation of the FDA, contact lenses really should not be exposed to any form of water in order to avoid eye health risk,” expressed Dr. Michelson. “Again based on my experience as a corneal specialist and LASIK surgeon, anyone who swims or participates in water sports or activities should give consideration to LASIK as the preferred method of vision correction today,” explained Dr. Michelson. “Contact lenses and swimming are not a good combination. With a careful examination and thorough consultation, we have a good idea and a great deal of confidence in the safety of and what patients can expect from LASIK at Michelson Laser Vision.”

It is generally known that wearing contact lenses for swimming and water sports and activities poses a risk of Acanthamoeba Keratitis, a potentially catastrophic eye infection of the cornea. Acanthamoeba Keratitis is caused by an organism present in all forms of impure water such as swimming pools, tap water, saunas, wells and even showers.

“Contact Lenses are really quite safe to wear if your follow proper care guidelines and instructions. However, if water restrictions such as swimming, bath tubs and showering are part of your daily routine, you do need to keep your lenses out. Many more patients-even very successful contact lens wearers-finds this to be a hassle and are now interested in discussing LASIK as an option,” said Dr. Michelson.

If you or someone you know has questions about swimming with contact lenses or participating in water sports with contact lenses or would like to learn more about LASIK or even schedule a Free LASIK Consultation please feel free to call Michelson Laser Vision at 205-930-0930, visit Michelson Laser Vision or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham staffed by a team of specialists including eye doctors who are fellowship trained cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists & Corneal Specialists-as well as Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser eye surgery such as LASIK for laser vision correction, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and fitting of eyeglasses and eyewear.

Alabama Seniors Eyes Have Better Vision

“Alabama seniors have a reason to be pleased about their vision-their aging eyes have better vision than in the past,” stated Birmingham eye surgeon Marc Michelson, M.D. of Alabama Eye & Cataract Center. Studies presented in Ophthalmology-the official publication of the American Academy of Ophthalmology-show that there has been a significant decrease is vision loss in older Americans. “The prevalence of activity-limiting visual impairment has been and is continuing to decrease- this is really great news for Alabama seniors. I believe that better cataract surgery and lens implants, better diabetes treatment and control and a sharp decrease in smoking all play a role in why seniors now have better overall chances of preserving their eye health and vision,” Dr. Michelson stated. 

Modern cataract surgery-with advanced technology lens implants has become routine and complications are pretty unusual. Years ago, people waited until a cataract was so bad that even a poor surgical result was better than living with a cataract. Today, when the presence of a cataract impairs either the quality of vision or the quality of life, the techniques and procedures allow for safe and effective cataract surgery to be performed.

Today, only 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. smoke cigarettes as compared to 1 in 3 in the 1980s. Smoking is a major risk factor for macular degeneration, which is one of the most common vision impairing eye diseases in seniors.

Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness and age and obesity are leading risk factors for diabetes. Even though diabetes rates in the U.S. continue to climb, better therapies are now available to prevent and treat diabetes-related eye health vision problems. 

To some extent, seniors have helped preserve eye health and vision by taking the step of having regular eye exams which are quite important for everyone as they age, especially people with diabetes and other health conditions that can lead to vision loss. 

If you have questions about aging eyes senior vision care and eye problems and need an eye exam please call Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision. 

Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham staffed by a team of specialists including eye doctors who are fellowship trained cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists & Corneal Specialists-as well as Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser eye surgery such as LASIK for laser vision correction, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and fitting of eyeglasses and eyewear.

Alabama Sports Eye Safety Protection

“In each and every Alabama sports program we need to be sure our athletes are using the best eye protection and protective eyewear to avoid eye injury,” commented Birmingham Ophthalmologist Tyler Hall, M.D. “Sometimes in the pursuit of excellence in sports performance our athletes can be a little lax in taking the necessary steps to avoiding eye injury," expressed Dr. Hall of Alabama Eye & Cataract Center.

April is Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month and the American Academy of Ophthalmology asks eye doctors to remind our community that 40,000 people suffer from eye injuries related to sports every year. These eye injuries from sports can be devastating, and the only way to prevent them is by wearing protective eyewear. Many sports create risk for eye injuries which can include abrasions of the cornea and bruises of the lids, retinal detachments and internal bleeding. The most serious risks involve permanent vision loss along with infection. In addition, patients who have sustained eye injuries are at greater risk for developing glaucoma.

Athletes need to use the eye protection that is available for most sports, including basketball, baseball, hockey, football, lacrosse, fencing, paintball, water polo, golf and others. “I counsel and reassure my patients that wearing properly fitted protective eyewear will not harm your performance, and it may well save your eye health and vision,” said Dr. Hall. “Something to be aware of is that most sporting leagues and program don’t require children to wear eye protection, so parents should take special care to ensure their children wear eye protection.”

Tens of thousands of sports and recreation-related eye injuries occur each year. The good news is that 90 percent of serious eye injuries are preventable through use of appropriate protective eyewear. The risk of eye injury can vary depending on the activity. Make sure the level of eye protection you or others in your family use is appropriate for the type of activity. Regular eyeglasses do not offer proper eye protection. Athletes need to wear appropriate, sport-specific protective eyewear properly fitted by an eye care professional. Lenses made from polycarbonate materials provide the highest level of impact protection; they can withstand a ball or other projectile traveling at 90 miles per hour.

If you or someone you know has questions or would like help in selecting, fitting or choosing sports protective eyeglasses, please call Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham staffed by a team of specialists including eye doctors who are fellowship trained cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists & Corneal Specialists-as well as Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser eye surgery such as LASIK for laser vision correction, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and fitting of eyeglasses and eyewear.

Laser Cataract Surgery at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center

Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham is pleased to announce that Corneal Specialists & Cataract Surgeons Marc Michelson, M.D. & Tyler Hall, M.D are now performing bladeless laser cataract surgery in Birmingham with the Alcon® LensSx® Femtosecond Laser to assist in the cataract surgery and lens implant procedure . “Manual cataract surgery is a technically complex and skill intensive eye surgery procedure,” shared Dr. Michelson.  “By integrating the laser to assist us in cataract surgery we are able consolidate and control  many of the skill intensive steps of cataract removal into a more predictable and more gentle cataract surgery procedure that benefits patients from laser created, surgeon controlled precision resulting in further improved clinical results,” explained Dr. Hall. “Even as a cataract surgeon with more than 30 years of experience, my ability to direct the controlled laser precision to further improve clinical results is amazing,” summarized Dr. Michelson.

You may schedule an appointment for cataracts, bladeless cataract surgery or lens implants by calling Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Alabama Eye & Cataract Center is a leading eye care center in Birmingham staffed by a team of specialists including eye doctors who are fellowship trained cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists & Corneal Specialists-as well as Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and fitting of eyeglasses and eyewear.

Birmingham Contact Lens Specialist: Healthy Vision Tips

Birmingham Contact Lens Specialist Dr. Catherine Murphy, an Optometrist at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center gave us some tips for wearing contact lenses and maintaining healthy vision. “With all the advertising and mail order contact lenses it’s pretty easy to forget that contact lenses are a medical device. Even contacts worn purely for cosmetic purposes, should be prescribed and properly fit by a licensed eye care professional," explained Dr. Murphy. "Too many patients forget this and end up buying and wearing contact lenses without proper medical guidance and a valid prescription. Then, often without even realizing it, they put themselves at risk for serious, even blinding eye infections," stressed Dr. Murphy. 

Following the instructions given to you by your eye doctor-carefully and completely can go a long way to help avoid contact lens problems and complications. "Our experience clearly shows that by not following instructions on proper wear and care, contact lens wearers are more likely to have discomfort and may actually put themselves at greater risk for infection or other serious complications, such as microbial keratitis," said Dr. Murphy. “We often find that improper storage, handling and disinfection of contact lenses really predispose patients to unnecessary risk.” 

Some good contact lens care, handling and disinfection tips to follow include: 

• Always wash your hands with soap before inserting or removing your contact lenses.
• Always empty the storage case of disinfection solution after removing your lenses, and fully refill with fresh solution before storing them. 
• NEVER clean your case with tap water. 
• REGULARLY-even daily- clean your case.
• REGULARLY-at least monthly- replace your case. 

If you or someone you know has questions about contact lens care, handling and disinfection please call Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision. 

Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham staffed by a team of specialists including eye doctors who are fellowship trained cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists & Corneal Specialists-as well as Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser eye surgery such as LASIK for laser vision correction, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and fitting of eyeglasses and eyewear.