6 Ways Triangle College Students Can Maintain Eye Health

As the new school year and autumn quickly approach, Triangle area parents are helping their college-bound sons and daughters get ready for the big move to dormitory or apartment life and the exciting opportunity of higher education.

The staff at Park Ophthalmology and Beth R. Friedland M.D. offer six important ways students can maintain their eye health while away from home:

• Keep contact lenses out of water: Although it is tempting to leave contacts in place for showering or swimming, the time saved isn’t worth the risk. Exposure to water makes contacts more susceptible to transmitting an eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis. Always use contact lens solution for cleaning, and never use tap water.
• Enjoy some time outside: Studies have found that scholars grow increasingly nearsighted as they spend more years in school. A study presented to the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2011 concluded that as young people increase their time outdoors, they reduce their risk of nearsightedness.
• Wash hands: Everyone knows that hand washing is an effective way to prevent the spread of colds and flu. This simple habit also can prevent the spread of conjunctivitis, or pink eye.
• Practice the 20-20-20 rule: Prevent eye strain by resting the eyes every 20 minutes while reading or working on the computer. Look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Use a smart phone’s timer to set a reminder to look up from the books or the computer screen or device.
• Toss old makeup: Bacteria can grow in creams and liquids, including those liquid eye-liners and mascaras. Don’t share makeup with others and throw out makeup after three months or if diagnosed with an eye infection.
• Use sports glasses: Many sports, including baseball, hockey, basketball and lacrosse, put players at risk for injuries, including scratches to the eye or broken bones around the eye. Players can find polycarbonate sports glasses to cut down the risk of injury from other players and equipment.

If your college-bound student needs an eye exam and check-up, call the office of Park Ophthalmology today to schedule an appointment. Our staff and Dr. Friedland are always happy to share tips on eye health with our patients.

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Park Ophthalmology welcomes patients from all areas of the Triangle and offers a wide variety of specialized services including surgery for diseases of the eye, vision examinations, eye safety information, sports medicine protective eyewear and counseling, contact lenses and evaluation, and all types of ocular diagnosis and treatment. Many types of surgery are available, including cataract and laser surgery. We are here for you and your eye and overall health. Give us a call today!

This article about the vision care is brought to you by the professional team at Park Ophthalmology located in the Triangle Region of North Carolina.

The information contained in this blog article is intended solely for informational purposes and is not intended to be offered as medical advice.

Photo: nenetus, freedigitalphotos.net

Locations:

Park Ophthalmology

5306 NC Highway 55, Suite 102 (adjacent to the RTP/ Research Triangle Park)

Durham, NC 27713

Office: 919 544 5375

Fax: 919 544 5829

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Park Ophthalmology North

6512 Six Forks Road, Suite 105

Raleigh, NC 27615

919 846 6915

Office Manager Jenny Whitman, e-mail: jenny.brfeyecare@ncrrbiz.com.

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Tags: Park Ophthalmology, Apex, Raleigh, Durham, Beth R. Friedland M.D., college, university, nearsightedness, myopia, studying, eye strain, sports vision, makeup, eye infections, contact lenses

 

Track Astigmatism with Regular Park Ophthalmology Appointments

Blurry vision may be more than just nearsightedness or farsightedness. For some Park Ophthalmology patients, vision problems at any distance may be the result of astigmatism. Astigmatism is a natural condition, occurring in about one of every three people in the United States. The front surface of the eye, the cornea, is normally a sphere shape, like a basketball. This smooth surface refracts incoming light so we can see. People with astigmatism have a cornea shaped more like a football, protruding outward. This uneven shape distorts light rays as they enter the eye, causing blurry vision.

Astigmatism may occur in combination with near- and farsightedness, but it isn’t caused or made worse by sitting too close to the television or computer, squinting or reading in poor light. While astigmatism is not a harmful condition, people often notice blurriness while reading, driving, looking at a computer or doing other activities.

There are two ways Beth R. Friedland M.D. can correct astigmatism:

• Glasses or contact lenses: People with slight astigmatism may not require corrective lenses, but most people require some correction to see properly, especially those with another vision problem. Those with an astigmatism can wear special contact lenses called toric lenses, which are able to bend light in one direction or another. People can also opt for gas permeable contact lenses. Dr. Beth Friedland can determine which option will work best.
• Refractive surgery: Laser eye surgery can correct the shape of the cornea, making it more spherical. People with healthy eyes, free from disease, scars, or other retinal problems may have surgery. There are multiple types of surgeries to correct the corneal shape; Park Ophthalmology will decide which one is right based on the patient’s medical history and eye shape.

Astigmatism may increase slowly over time, making it more difficult to observe as years pass. That’s why annual eye exams are an important part of tracking eye health and vision changes. Those experiencing eye strain or blurry vision should contact Dr. Beth Friedland at Park Ophthalmology for an eye exam.

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Park Ophthalmology welcomes patients from all areas of the Triangle and offers a wide variety of specialized services including surgery for diseases of the eye, vision examinations, eye safety information, sports medicine protective eyewear and counseling, contact lenses and evaluation, and all types of ocular diagnosis and treatment. Many types of surgery are available, including cataract and laser surgery. We are here for you and your eye and overall health. Give us a call today!

This article about astigmatism is brought to you by the professional team atPark Ophthalmology located in the Triangle Region of North Carolina.

The information contained in this blog article is intended solely for informational purposes and is not intended to be offered as medical advice.

Locations:

Park Ophthalmology

5306 NC Highway 55, Suite 102 (adjacent to the RTP/ Research Triangle Park)

Durham, NC 27713

Office: 919 544 5375

Fax: 919 544 5829

**

Park Ophthalmology North

6512 Six Forks Road, Suite 105

Raleigh, NC 27615

919 846 6915

Photo: Arztsamui, freedigitalphotos.net

5 Things Park Ophthalmologists Assess in an Annual Eye Exam

Vision is the most important of the five senses, yet not everyone in the Triangle heads to Park Opthalmology each year for an annual eye exam.

Eye exams aren’t just for keeping up eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions. Getting a complete eye exam each year is part of keeping patients healthy. March is National Save Your Vision Month, and it’s a great time to get an eye exam, whether it’s the first time or you are a regular at exams.

Eye exams cover more than just the big “E” at the top of the chart. Adults and children should have their eyes checked each year for changes in health. During an eye exam, our ophthalmologist will look at how the eyes work together, check for eye diseases, and evaluate the eyes as part of the patient’s overall health.

Here is what Beth R. Friedland M.D. is looking for when checking the eyes:

• Strabismus – More commonly known as crossed eyes, Dr. Friedland will make sure the eyes are aligned.
• Eye teaming problems – The eyes usually work together as a team, but sometimes they don’t, even if they appear aligned. We check to make sure the teamwork is on par.
• Refractive error – Most people refer to a refractive error as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. These can all be corrected by eyeglasses, contacts or surgery.
• Eye diseases – Glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases are quite common. Some have no symptoms except inside the eyes. Catching such problems early can reduce the risk of permanent vision loss.
• Other health problems – The blood vessels in the eyes often tell the story of a person’s overall health, and can often indicate other problems. If Dr. Beth Friedland sees something abnormal, she can alert a patient to visit a doctor.

It’s never too early to make an appointment for an annual eye exam. Make March the month to have it done. The last thing anyone wants is to be too late. Find out more about getting an eye exam at Park Ophthalmology.

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Photo: ponsulak, freedigitalphotos.net

Park Ophthalmology welcomes patients from all areas of the Triangle and offers a wide variety of specialized services including surgery for diseases of the eye, vision examinations, eye safety information, sports medicine protective eyewear and counseling, contact lenses and evaluation, and all types of ocular diagnosis and treatment. Many types of surgery are available, including cataract and laser surgery. We are here for you and your eye and overall health. Give us a call today!

This article about eye exams is brought to you by the professional team atPark Ophthalmology located in the Triangle Region of North Carolina.

The information contained in this blog article is intended solely for informational purposes and is not intended to be offered as medical advice.

Locations:

Park Ophthalmology

5306 NC Highway 55, Suite 102 (adjacent to the RTP/ Research Triangle Park)

Durham, NC 27713

Office: 919 544 5375

Fax: 919 544 5829

**

Park Ophthalmology North

6512 Six Forks Road, Suite 105

Raleigh, NC 27615

919 846 6915