SCREENS, PHONES, TABLETS AND MORE: reducing digital eye strain.

Few tips from the recent report by the Vision Council:

ADJUST EXTERNAL FACTORS
• Reduce glare. Adjust the brightness of your screen by checking the control settings on your digital
device. Consider changing your background color from bright white to a cooler gray. Glare reduction
filters are also available and can easily attach to computer screens.

• Clean your screen. Frequently dust and wipe digital screens to help reduce glare.

• Dim your surrounding lighting. Lessen the amount of overhead and surrounding light that is competing with your device’s screen. Dim inside lights and try to avoid outside areas of intense brightness. This can help to reduce glare and strain.

• Keep your distance. Position your device so there is sufficient distance between your eyes and the screen.  For computers, try sitting in your chair and extending your arm. Your palm should be able to rest comfortably on the monitor (as if you’re high-fiving the screen).  For hand-held devices, try to keep the device a safe distance from your eyes and hold it just below eye level.

• Adjust your screen. Digital screens should always be directly in front of your face and slightly below eye level. Do not tilt a computer monitor.

• Increase text size. Bump up text size to help better define the content on your screen. Use the settings control to make adjustments that feel comfortable to your eyes.

REMEMBER THE INTERNAL FACTORS:
• Blink more often. Starring at a digital screen can affect the amount of times you blink, causing eyes to dry. Remind yourself to blink more often, which will also help to refocus your eyes.

• Take a 20-20-20 break. Even short breaks can make a huge difference. Every 20 minutes, take a
20-second break and look at something 20 feet away.

For a full report visit http://www.thevisioncouncil.org/consumers//media/VCDigitalEyeStrainReport2012FINAL.pdf

Scholarship to be awarded for 'most beautiful eyes'

A $10,000 educational scholarship is up for grabs in Prevent Blindness America’s (PBA’s) 2012 Most Beautiful Eyes Contest.  Through July 31, parents of children aged up to 17 years can enter their children in the contest by submitting a photo at www.facebook.com/preventblindness. The first 50 entrants will receive a free pair of children’s sunglasses (Real Kids Shades [RKS]).
“Keeping our children’s eyes healthy has been a top priority since our organization was founded in 1908,” said Hugh R. Parry, PBA president and chief executive officer. “Through the Most Beautiful Eyes Contest, we hope to remind parents of the important role that healthy vision has in a child’s development and potential performance in school.”
The public will be able to vote online Aug. 1 to 31. One contestant from each state will advance to the second round of voting. All state winners will receive a free pair of children’s sunglasses (Eagle Eyes Optics Rock-It, including a children’s Fisher Space Pen).
Broadcaster Larry King, “Fox NFL Sunday” host Curt Menefee, and actress Barbara Eden will serve on the celebrity panel of judges selecting the national winner. The national winner and two family members will be invited to PBA’s annual awards banquet Nov. 2 in Chicago, where the scholarship will be awarded.
Marchon Eyewear, Eagle Eyes Optics, RKS, and Walters Golf are sponsoring the contest. For more information, visit the PBA Web site, www.preventblindness.org, or call 800/331-2020.

AIR POLLUTION AND URBAN EYE ALLERGY SYNDROME

Pollution & Conjunctivitis

Air pollution irritates the eye. Although this makes intuitive sense, few studies have been published on the topic. Now a team of researchers reports that pollutants increased demand in Taiwan for outpatient care for nonspecific conjunctivitis.¹

The team, which includes an ophthalmologist, a biochemist, and an environmental engineer, measured the impact of air pollution on ocular health by coupling national health insurance data for outpatient visits between 2007 and 2009 with daily ambient air quality data tracked by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration. 

Unlike other conditions affected by air pollution—asthma, for example—the effect on the eye from exposure to pollutants is immediate. 

The researchers found that ozone (O₃) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) produced the strongest effects. Large-diameter particulate matter (PM) had an adverse effect, although fine PM did not. 

The authors report that conjunctivitis accountsfor more than 40 percent of ophthalmologic outpatient visits annually in Taiwan.

The study’s conclusion did not surprise Susan M. MacDonald, MD, who noted that the term “urban eye allergy syndrome” is already part of the medical lexicon. “Poor air quality can exacerbate allergic conjunctivitis and dry eye,” said the director of comprehensive ophthalmology, Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington, Mass.

But Dr. MacDonald said that it is easy to overlook air quality when evaluating patients. She called the study “a good reminder that air quality does affect our patients’ eyes and should be considered when we are evaluating patients with ocular irritation.”

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1 Chang C et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53(1):429-433.
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April is Sports Eye Safety Month

During Sports Eye Safety Month in April, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), through its EyeSmart program, is reminding athletes to wear appropriate, sport-specific protective eyewear, properly fitted by an eye-care professional, to prevent a sports-related eye injury.
“As an ophthalmologist, I strongly encourage all athletes to use the appropriate protective eyewear for their sports, because eye injuries can be devastating,” said Aaron Weingeist, MD, a clinical correspondent for the AAO. “In fact, some athletes suffer permanent vision loss and blindness from sports-related injuries.”
The AAO recommends lenses made from polycarbonate materials because they can withstand the impact of a ball or other projectile traveling at 90 miles per hour. The organization also recommends purchasing only eye protection that has been tested to meet the American Society of Testing and Materials standards.
“Unfortunately, most youth sporting leagues don’t require children to wear eye protection,” said Dr. Weingeist. “That’s why we’re trying to raise awareness and arming parents and athletes with the information they need to take care of their eyes during sports.”

SAY GOOD BYE TO ASTIGMATISM!

June of this summer heralded the advent of an unprecedented solution to corneal astigmatism correction beyond glasses and contact lenses.  Although laser vision correction such as LASIK is an excellent choice for younger patients seeking to free themselves from glasses, the older patient who has a growing cataract now has a choice of astigmatism correcting intraocular lens implant that will serve him well for the rest of his life.  High order corneal astigmatism has been beyond reach of correction until the TORIC intraocular lens was approved by FDA earlier this summer.  Now patient with high degrees of astigmatism of 2 diopters and above can select to have a TORIC implant placement as a part of clear lens extraction or a routine cataract surgery .  Generally these patients can be fitted with soft contact lenses or possible some rigid gas permeable contacts for visual clarity.  Glasses with correction of high degrees of astigmatism make one dizzy as if one looks through a fish bowl.  If you or someone you know is tired of wearing contact lenses, then make an appointment at our office regarding a consultation for TORIC intraocular lens placement.  After a careful examination and testing  if a decision is made to proceed with cataract surgery a Toric implant may take up to two weeks to be ordered.    If you have any further questions about this revolutionary technology, please call our office (949) 650-1863 ask to speak to Dr. Kurteeva. 

There has never been a better time to get your LASIK done!

With summer on our doorstep, you are probably hitting the beach with hopes to catch some waves, playing golf and tennis or chasing your kids around sprinklers.  Contacts and prescription glasses can be in the way of your hobbies. I am here to tell you that the newly redesigned and redefined laser vision correction and femtosecond technology has arrived in Orange County!  Our office is excited to offer laser vision correction to patients who have been looking to ditch glasses and contact lenses.  We now offer the most advanced excimer laser Allegretto Wavelight 200 Hz that has been used by the leading refractive centers since 2008.  The wider set of features that comes with this technology helped thousands of patients who have not been able to get laser vision correction before.  Patients with farsightedness, high order astigmatism and high myopia have been achieving most satisfaction after Allegretto treatment.
Ziemer Z Lasik is the newest in femtosecond laser technology applications in ophthalmic and refractive surgery.  The new FEMTO LDV Crystal Line for Z-Lasik and corneal surgery offers the patient the precision, speed and safety that only femtosecond laser can do.  Creation of the corneal flap used to take minutes to complete, now it is done in seconds using less energy thus, leaving more untouched virgin cornea behind and speeding post refractive surgery healing.  The femtosecond laser has a much safer profile as well compare to a manual keratome blade that has been used in the last fifteen years.  Ziemer Z Lasik will get you back on your feet faster and enable you to gain your glasses free vision within a few days of surgery.
The schedule a free LASIK consultation please call (949) 650-1863 today or visit www.drkurteeva.com

Summer time calls for sunglasses!

The range of energy that makes up visible light is just a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum so integral to modern life. Ultraviolet radiation comprises invisible rays that can damage the eyes, burn the
skin and cause skin cancer. UV radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface is made up of two types of rays -- ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB). UVA is weaker than UVB but passe further into the body’s tissue than UVB. It is now generally accepted that both UVA and UVB cause skin cancer and can damage the eyes.  For this reason, eye protection and sunscreens are recommended that block both kinds of radiation.

Sunglasses should be worn year-round for protection and performance. Whether they're wraparounds, rimless or studded with rhinestones, sunglasses are vital for shielding eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and diminishing glare that can cause distractions while driving, working and playing.
As a baseline, all sunglass lenses should filter UVA and UVB rays. Other lens options are also available based on personal preference, like polarized lenses, to prevent glare or tints that offer more comfortable vision.

Alternatives to traditional sunglasses are also available, including larger frames that fit over prescription glasses, clip-on sunglasses, flip-up lenses and photochromic lenses which change from dark outdoors to clear indoors.

CHECK OUT THE COMPLETE REPORT ON UV INDEX ACROSS OUR NATION AT
http://www.thevisioncouncil.org/sunglasses/