Protect Eyes from UV Damage

Birmingham Ophthalmologist Marc Michelson, M.D. commented on the need to us proper UV eye protection to prevent damage from the intense sunlight we experience this time of year.  “May marks Ultraviolet (UV) Eye Protection Awareness Month and is a good time to remind our community of the need to wear UV protective eyewear and sunglasses as well as how to avoid UV eye damage by taking some simple precautions,” commented Dr. Michelson.

It is easy to forget the damage that UV from sunlight can cause to one’s eyes. Unlike the damage that can be caused to your skin which shows up as a sunburn, wrinkles and/or sun spots, UV eye injury can happen over a long period of time and can cause significant damage to eye health and vision. What kind of damage occurs? Without protection, exposure to UV has been linked to many eye problems. In some cases, it is thought to speed up such 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. “One of the most concerning aspects of UV eye damage and injury is that it is cumulative and often doesn’t become noticeable to patients for many years,” noted Dr. Michelson.

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.

In our optical shop, we have a wide range of sunglasses with UV protection lenses for your selection. Effective UV protection should block out about 99-100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation and it doesn’t have to be expensive. In addition, your everyday eyewear should have UV protection as well. Our optical shop uses a number of UV blocking eyeglass lens materials, photochromic lenses and specialized coatings. 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. Our 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 at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Michelson Laser Vision is a leading Birmingham eye care practice with offices located with Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, at the UAB Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S., Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205.

Genetic Testing for AMD Macular Degeneration

How much health information is too much and when? Many eye disorders, like age related macular degeneration (AMD) are now detectable with genetic testing prior to their causing symptoms, problems and complaints about vision.  So, should you get genetic testing in order to be aware of your likelihood of developing AMD? Or, should you avoid the genetic testing as it can cause anxiety and potentially impact your insurability and/or employability? Consider the fact that while your genes may reflect a greater chance of developing macular degeneration, your genes can’t predict how you will respond to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Inhibitor injections, which treat AMD.

If you or someone you know wishes to learn more about genetic testing for age related macular degeneration (AMD) they are encouraged to  schedule an eye examination at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205

Glaucoma Risk with Early Menopause

The ophthalmologists at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center want women to know that unfortunately, early menopause can also expose them to a greater risk of developing glaucoma. This is according to a study of more than 3,000 women at the Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute in Amsterdam that identified women who go through menopause early to be at greater risk of developing. Going through menopause is considered early if it occurs before the age of 45 and those women were two times more likely to develop open-angle glaucoma as those who experienced menopause at age 50 or later. What does this mean for women? The findings reveal that female hormones may be protective against open-angle glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness.  Interestingly, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is thought to reduce fluid pressure inside the eye due to the fact that as hormone levels rise during pregnancy, fluid pressure inside the eye decreases significantly, the researchers noted. This is the first study to examine the relationship between female sex hormones, as indicated by age of menopause, and open-angle glaucoma.

Please schedule an eye examination with us if you, or someone you know, is concerned about the risk of glaucoma and need a glaucoma eye exam. You can reach us at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930, or visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or http://www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Michelson Laser Vision is a leading Birmingham eye care practice with offices located with Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, at the UAB Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S., Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205.

Sleep Apnea & Glaucoma Risk

Did you know that there is a significant relationship between glaucoma and sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that blocks breathing during sleep for more than 100 million people worldwide. In obstructive sleep apnea, the airway becomes blocked, causing breathing to stop for up to two minutes. Symptoms include loud snoring and persistent daytime sleepiness. Glaucoma affects nearly 60 million worldwide.  If untreated, glaucoma reduces peripheral vision and eventually may cause blindness by damaging the optic nerve. Only half of the people who have glaucoma are aware of it because the disease is painless and vision loss is typically gradual.

Researchers, reporting in the journal Ophthalmology, the official publication of the American Academy of Ophthalmology found that obstructive sleep apnea is not simply a marker for poor health, but is actually an independent risk factor for open-angle glaucoma. Based on this finding, we want to alert obstructive sleep apnea patients of the associations between obstructive sleep apnea and open-angle glaucoma to raise the issue and encouraging treatment of those who need it.

If you or someone you know has sleep apnea and they are concerned about the risk of glaucoma and need a glaucoma eye exam they are encouraged to  schedule an eye examination at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Michelson Laser Vision is a leading Birmingham eye care practice with offices located with Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, at the UAB Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S., Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205.

Aspirin & Macular Degeneration (AMD) Risk

Regular use of aspirin may increase your risk of developing age related macular degeneration (AMD). Aspirin is an often used over-the-counter medication due to its anticoagulant properties, it is effectiveness for headaches, body aches, fever, and reducing high risk of heart attack.  

However, in a 20 year long study of 5,000 patients published in December 2012 (Beaver Dam Eye Study), researchers gave participants eye examinations every five years. Results showed:

·         512 cases of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

·         117 cases of late AMD

Researchers found that regular aspirin-2 or more times per week-use 10 years prior to eye examination was associated with late AMD, with estimated incidence of 1.76 percent, compared to 1.03 percent in non-aspirin users. Researchers concluded that these associations, though small, were statistically significant. Interestingly, regular aspirin use 10 years prior to eye examination was significantly associated with the “wet” form of AMD, which accounts for the majority of functional blindness attributed to the disease. Further, in a more recent Australian study 24.5 percent, regular aspirin users developed wet AMD—even after adjusting for other risk factors like age, sex, smoking, history of heart disease and body mass index, regular aspirin users still had a higher risk of developing wet AMD. Researchers concluded, “Regular aspirin use is associated with increased risk of incident neovascular [Wet] AMD, independent of history of cardiovascular disease and smoking.”

Alternatives to Aspirin

You should determine your AMD status as soon as possible through a complete eye exam, particularly if you are a regular aspirin user. To schedule an eye examination at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by call 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Michelson Laser Vision is a leading Birmingham eye care practice with offices located with Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, at the UAB Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S., Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205.

Cataract & Vision Correction Laser Eye Care at UAB Highlands

Laser eye care for cataract surgery and vision correction is now available under one roof at UAB Hospital-Highlands.  Michelson Laser Vision, Inc. and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, P.C. are now located together at UAB Hospital-Highlands in the medical center district in Birmingham. “We brought these two practices together under one roof in order to give patients more convenient access to the full range of advanced laser eye surgery technology and procedures available for vision correction in one location. That includes the laser vision correction procedures such as LASIK for common vision problems such as nearsightedness and astigmatism, but also laser cataract surgery,” explained Marc Michelson, M.D.  “Today, our patients want the precision and reproducibility of surgeon controlled laser eye surgery whether it be for cataracts or nearsightedness,” noted Tyler Hall, M.D. “World class eye care requires being able to deliver the gentle precision achieved with lasers whether it be for common vision problems or age related problems such as for cataract surgery and lens implants,” further explained Dr. Hall.

Dr. Michelson of Michelson Laser Vision, Inc. has been a pioneer in laser eye surgery, and was the first surgeon in the state of Alabama to provide laser vision correction in Birmingham in 1991. Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, P.C. has been providing routine and complex cataract surgery and lens implants in Birmingham since 1999. “By combining the collective 38 years of surgeon and organizational expertise, experience and reputation into one clinical operation we are working to highlight that patients can have the confidence and trust that they have world class laser eye care for their vision correction needs-right here in Birmingham,” said Dr. Michelson.

Michelson Laser Vision, Inc. and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, Inc. are located at UAB Hospital-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue South, Suite #501, Birmingham, AL 35205.

To learn more about Michelson Laser Vision or Alabama Eye & Cataract Center visit www.michelsonvision.com or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.

Michelson Laser Vision at UAB Highlands Campus

LASIK at UAB is now available at Michelson Laser Vision, Inc., located on the UAB campus at UAB Hospital-Highlands in the medical center district in Birmingham. “The UAB campus and in particular the Birmingham medical center district is a real hub of activity and development. Having been an ophthalmology resident at UAB and having a clinical appointment as an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the UAB School of Medicine for many years, this consolidation offers a unique opportunity for our patients as well as facilitating resident teaching, research, and implementation of new and innovative technologies,” explained Marc Michelson, M.D. “Relocating Michelson Laser Vision to UAB Highlands on the UAB campus is an exciting endeavor,” further commented Dr. Michelson.  “We will now be able to offer both LASIK refractive surgery as well as other types of laser eye surgery including laser cataract surgery at one location.”

“Free consultations are available to determine if you may be a candidate for LASIK and if LASIK is the right choice for you,” noted Aundriano Capers, Refractive Surgery Coordinator at Michelson Laser Vision. “Our location at 1201 11th Avenue South, Suite #501, in Birmingham is convenient with plenty of free parking adjacent to the building.  We are easy to find and it’s easy to park.” 

To learn more about Michelson Laser Vision or schedule a Free LASIK Consultation, please call 205-969-8100, visit www.michelsonvision.com or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.