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Question and Answer June14 large graphic“I have red, itchy eyes all through the Spring and Fall. I take an anti-allergy pill, but it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference with my eye symptoms. Do your eye doctors have any recommendations to help me get some relief?” – Pam via email

That is a great question Pam, and one that we encounter all of the time. While systemic anti-histamine medications can help with a runny nose and clogged sinuses, they often aren’t specific enough to address ocular allergies. Over-the-counter topical anti-histamines are available, but they often have to be used 3-4 times per day, and don’t offer the same level of allergy relief that prescription-strength topical medications can. The mucus membrane lining the eyelids is the location of the allergic ocular reaction. Mast cells, a type of cell filled with compounds called histamines, fall apart when exposed to allergens (such as dust, pollen, and animal dander), releasing the histamines they store which then go on to cause the allergic reaction. If you are only using an anti-histamine, then you are only treating part of the problem. Our optometrists can prescribe cutting-edge anti-allergy medications that have both mast-cell stabilizing properties, as well as anti-histamine properties. With this type of medication, you can essentially stop an allergic reaction before it even starts, rather than just addressing the symptoms after they have already started bothering you. Be sure to speak with our optometrists at your annual check-up about your eye allergies, or feel free to call us to be seen specifically for your allergies –we can even bill your medical insurance for an allergy-related visit.

“I have a family history of macular degeneration, so I have seen first hand how terrible this eye disease is. What can I be doing to make sure that I don’t get the same disease?” – Claire via email

Claire you definitely have the right frame of mind –eye care is not just about dealing with eye issues as they arise and threaten your sense of vision. Proper eye care should be preventative, that is, preventing eye disease and vision loss that hasn’t already occurred. Macular degeneration is among the leading causes of blindness in the United States. This disease is related to long-term tissue oxidation caused by a lifetime of exposure to ultraviolet and short wavelength (blue light) radiation. If you have a high-risk job, such as working outdoors or working at a computer screen, you may be exposed to more harmful light than most patients. Proper eye protection is a necessity including sunglasses for outdoor use and blue-blocking computer glasses for office work. To determine just how much risk a patient has for getting macular degeneration, our office uses a special instrument to determine your macular pigment density (MPOD). Your MPOD score tells us how much pigmentation you have at your macula – the higher the score, the more natural protection you have against the harmful light that leads to disease. If your score is low, our practice offers a fantastic dietary supplement which is guaranteed to raise your MPOD score in as little as 6 months. With a higher MPOD score, your chances of getting macular degeneration decrease. Of course, regular eye care is a great way to be sure that no changes occur to your eye health and vision. Early diagnosis helps assure the best prognosis for any disease. If you need to schedule your annual comprehensive eye and vision examination, feel free to call us at (303) 450-2020, or use the button below to schedule your exam online.

“Is it okay to sleep in contact lenses? I wear a brand of contact lenses that say they are okay to wear overnight, but is that really a good idea?” – James via email

Are you ready for the short answer James? NO! Sleeping in contact lenses can loosen the epithelium (the skin) of your cornea and make you more vulnerable to terrible eye infections called corneal ulcers. Unlike a “pink eye” -type infection which is largely superficial, a corneal ulcer is a potentially blinding eye disease where bacteria infect the inner layers of the cornea. If scarring results from a corneal ulcer, vision loss may inhibit your day-to-day function. If you are looking for convenience in a contact lens, try Acuvue 1-day Moist daily disposable contact lenses which offer great comfort without needing to clean or store your lenses. These lenses are also available in a toric design for those patients with astigmatism, and a multifocal design for those patients that need help with their reading distance. With Acuvue 1-day Moist, you can get the convenience of easy contact lens wear without taking the unnecessary health risks associated with sleeping in your lenses.

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