Protect Your Eye Health When Over 40

Birmingham eye doctor Tyler Hall, M.D. counseled that efforts to protect eye health needs to be a priority as we enter or 40’s. Dr. Hall explained, “As we enter our 40’s and beyond, middle age is a time when symptoms of many eye diseases may begin to emerge and when other diseases can develop without any symptoms at all. It is crucial for adults even without symptoms or known risk factors for eye disease to get a baseline eye examination at 40 for early detection, diagnosis and treatment of eye problems, conditions & diseases.”

Starting early will help to preserve eye health and vision. Some things to consider as we enter our 40’s:

Eye Health & Exercise

Our eyes need good blood circulation and oxygen intake, and both are stimulated by regular exercise. Regular exercise also helps keep our weight in the normal range, which reduces the risk of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. Remember to use sun safety and protective eyewear when enjoying sports and recreation.

Eye Health & Smoking

Avoiding smoking, or quitting, is one of the best investments you can make in your long-term overall and eye health. Even though as you enter your 40’s old age seems a long way off, smoking can increase your risks for cataracts and macular degeneration (AMD) as well as for cardiovascular diseases that indirectly influence our eyes’ health. Smoking increases the risk of severe vision loss for people with other eye diseases, such as glaucoma, as well. 

Eye Health & Sleep

As we sleep, our eyes enjoy continuous lubrication. Also during sleep the eyes clear out irritants such as dust, allergens, or smoke that may have accumulated during the day. Some research suggests that light-sensitive cells in the eye are important to our ability to regulate our wake-sleep cycles. This becomes more crucial as we age, when more people have problems with insomnia. While it's important that we protect our eyes from over-exposure to UV light, our eyes also need exposure to some natural light every day to help maintain normal sleep-wake cycles.

Eye Health & Systemic Health Problems

Systemic health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes that may be diagnosed or become more problematic in midlife can also affect eye health. One warning sign of both high blood pressure and diabetes is when the ability to see clearly changes frequently. Be sure to keep your eye doctor informed about your health conditions and use of medications and nutritional supplements, as well as your exercise, eating, sleeping and other lifestyle choices.

Eye Health & Dry Eye

This uncomfortable condition becomes more common as people age. Women are more susceptible after menopause due to hormonal changes, but incidence also increases for men as they grow older. It is usually treated with over-the-counter or prescription eye lubricants. If dry eye is severe, surgery to reduce tear drainage may be needed. If you have contact lenses, follow the use guidelines and avoid wearing lenses longer than recommended. If dry eye persists, talk to your eye doctor about possible treatments. Definitely discuss dry eye treatment with your eye doctor if you are thinking about or planning to have LASIK or other refractive surgery. Some medications increase dry eye. If you are taking pain relievers, antidepressants, antihistamines, or have questions about your medications, please bring this to our attention during your eye exam. You may wish to consider following a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) as it may reduce or help prevent dry eye.

If you or someone you know is entering their 40’s, it is time to schedule regular eye exams to preserve eye health and vision. 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, 327 Summit Boulevard, Birmingham, Alabama 35243 and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 are leading eye care centers in Birmingham. 

Diabetic Macular Edema Vision Loss & Lucentis® Injections

For Birmingham patients with diabetes who are at risk for diabetic macular edema, a significant cause of vision loss and an associated complication of diabetic retinopathy, Lucentis® eye injections work to treat diabetic macular edema, or swelling of the macula. Diabetic macular edema is a leading cause of vision loss associated with diabetes. Lucentis® has been used for some time to treat “wet” age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Lucentis® is the first drug FDA approved to treat diabetic macular edema. More than 500,000 people in the U.S. have diabetic eye disease and before Lucentis® had to have laser treatment to address this complication of diabetic retinopathy. “The use of Lucentis® to treat diabetic macular edema gives ophthalmologists a great tool and a significant advantage in managing vision loss from diabetes,” commented Tyler Hall, M.D of Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham, AL.

If you or someone you know has questions or needs an eye exam to learn about diabetic eye disease or the problems from diabetic retinopathy such as diabetic macular edema 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, 327 Summit Boulevard, Birmingham, Alabama 35243 and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 are leading eye care centers in Birmingham. 

Birmingham Eye Exams for Diabetes Problems

“Birmingham patients should strongly consider having regular eye exams as this is the best way to prevent vision loss from diabetic retinopathy,” said Alabama Eye & Cataract Center Ophthalmologist Marc Michelson, M.D “The diabetic  eye examinations for diabetic retinopathy need to be thorough and when necessary include advanced testing such as retinal photography, fluorescein angiography and ocular coherence tomography in order to really document how the retina and it’s blood vessels are functioning,” Dr. Michelson further explained. “Depending on the severity and the risk of progression of each patient’s diabetic retinopathy we will advise them of the frequency and intervals for their exams. But, patients with diabetes need to know that it is terribly important to keep their appointments.”

Vision loss from diabetes and especially catastrophic vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented with early detection, diagnosis and treatment. If you or someone you know has diabetes or even elevated blood sugar levels they should work to prevent diabetic eye disease and problems with regular eye exams by calling Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Michelson Laser Vision, 327 Summit Boulevard, Birmingham, Alabama 35243 and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 are leading eye care centers in Birmingham.

Cataracts & Night Driving Problems

“Night driving problems without cataracts can be challenging,” commented Birmingham Cataract Specialist Marc Michelson, M.D. of Alabama Eye & Cataract Center. “With cataracts, night driving problems are even more troubling because reduced lighting can cause you to misjudge distances and boundaries like the edge of the road as well as cataracts simply causing an overall dimming of your vision,” Dr. Michelson explained. “Patients who have been told that they have the beginning of a cataract and who are becoming fearful or uncomfortable driving at night should consider whether cataract surgery might be a good option to help regain their night driving comfort and safety level,” Dr. Michelson recommended.

If you or someone you know feels they have night driving problems that might be related to cataracts or has a question about cataracts, cataract surgery or lens implants please feel free to schedule an eye exam by calling Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Michelson Laser Vision, 327 Summit Boulevard, Birmingham, Alabama 35243 and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 are leading eye care centers in Birmingham. 

Alabama Diabetic Eye Disease & Problems: Help to Avoid Them

“We have to work especially hard this year to help patients with diabetes avoid diabetic eye disease and problems,” stressed Alabama Eye & Cataract Center Ophthalmologist Tyler Hall, M.D. “Current data suggests there are some 26 million people with diabetes in the U.S. and almost 8 million people over 40 years of age with diabetic retinopathy. While we can’t cure diabetic eye disease, annual eye exams for diabetes patients can help slow the progression of the disease and diabetic eye problems,” said Dr. Hall.

The vision loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented if it's caught early and treated in time. More than one third of those diagnosed with diabetes do not adhere to vision care guidelines recommending a dilated eye exam every year. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater his or her risk for developing diabetic retinopathy.

In addition to having regular eye examinations and testing at the direction of your eye doctor, patients can help to reduce the risk of developing diabetic eye disease  by not smoking, controlling their cholesterol and lipid profile and blood pressure, as well as working to eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fish, fruit and green leafy vegetables and exercising. 

If you or someone you know has diabetes or even elevated blood sugar levels they should work to prevent diabetic eye disease and problems with regular eye exams by calling Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Michelson Laser Vision, 327 Summit Boulevard, Birmingham, Alabama 35243 and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 are leading eye care centers in Birmingham. 

Avoid Halloween Contact Lens Problems

“Birmingham Halloween celebrants should use avoid contact lens and eye health problems by remembering that contact lenses are a medical device and require proper prescription and fitting-even decorative non corrective contact lenses,” stressed Corneal Specialist Tyler Hall, M.D. Dr. Hall further explained, “Even someone with perfect vision would still require an eye exam and a prescription in order to wear any kind of contacts, including cosmetic lenses. Unfortunately each year we see the result of the Halloween participants who wish to change their eye color or make their eyes look devilish by using over-the-counter, decorative contact lenses. While this can be a good source of Halloween fun, it can also lead to serious vision-threatening problems.”

According to the Food and Drug Administration, all contact lenses are regulated medical devices that require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye-care professional. Some websites advertise decorative contacts as if they were fashion accessories or toys with fanciful, playful packaging in order to attract teens and young adults, especially girls. The problem is not that people use decorative, noncorrective lenses-sometimes called Plano-or zero-powered lenses, but that they buy the devices without a prescription through unlicensed vendors on the Internet or at flea markets and specialty shops.

The buyer of these over-the-counter contact lenses faces a huge risk including scratched corneas, pink eye and more serious types of blinding infection as a result of a corneal ulcer.

In 2005, a federal law was passed that classified all contact lenses as medical devices and restricted their distribution to licensed eye-care professionals. Illegal sale of contacts can result in civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation.

The safe and effective use of contact lenses-whether decorative or not-requires proper fitting and education about their care to prevent the potential for serious eye  problems from becoming a reality. If you or a friend would like to learn more about contact lenses of any type including decorative contacts please call Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye& Cataract Center or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Michelson Laser Vision are leading Birmingham eye care practices with offices at 327 Summit Boulevard, Birmingham, Alabama 35243, and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, 1201 11th Avenue S., Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205.

LASIK: Hidden Costs at Birmingham Discount Centers

Birmingham LASIK patients are often surprised by the hidden costs they find when seeking LASIK at discount centers. “LASIK costs are affordable for almost anyone who wishes to minimize their dependence on or even eliminate the need for eyeglasses and contact lenses to see at distance. BUT-there are many patients who shop for the best price for LASIK and end up getting an unpleasant surprise,” noted Melindi Morton of Michelson Laser Vision.  “The most reputable, trusted and best LASIK surgeons quote LASIK prices that are comprehensive fees-that is they include everything you need to get the best results. Typically these fees include all evaluations, examinations, consultations and follow up care-regardless of your prescription,” continued Ms. Morton.

Some discount LASIK centers in and around Birmingham will offer the lure of the best price for LASIK and often quote a price for LASIK that is right on the edge of being deceptive. Often they use the lowest price to draw you in for an evaluation and get you excited about the possibility of having LASIK. Then they start including “add ons” and present you with hidden costs and fees. These hidden costs and fees add on an additional fee for your prescription that was not within the advertised range. The low LASIK price can add an extra hidden cost of LASIK for astigmatism. The best LASIK price they present to get you in may require an add on additional hidden cost for follow up care. It may include an extra hidden cost for custom wavefront LASIK or hidden cost for enhancements-and on and on. Hidden costs and fees for LASIK are somewhat typical of the sales and marketing practices of certain discount centers. LASIK is surgery. “You should choose a LASIK surgeon based on their reputation as recommended by friends and relatives and NOT based on the best price. Choosing a LASIK surgeon based on the best price alone could set you up for a number of hidden costs you can’t even understand and end up costing you more in the long run,” summarized Ms. Morton.

If you or someone you know has a question about LASIK or would like to schedule a Free LASIK Consultation please feel free to call Michelson Laser Vision at 205-969-8100, visit Michelson Laser Vision or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision to schedule an appointment.

Michelson Laser Vision are leading Birmingham eye care practices with offices at 327 Summit Boulevard, Birmingham, Alabama 35243, and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, 1201 11th Avenue S., Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205.