THE VISIONARY
Dry Eye Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome (or dry eyes) is a
chronic reduction in the normal
amount or quality of tears, causing
insufficient lubrication of the eye. It
can cause mild to severe discomfort
and damage to the tissues of the surface of the eye - the cornea and conjunctiva.
Symptoms of dry eye syndrome
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Eye irritation and redness
A gritty or burning sensation to
the eyes
A foreign body sensation - the
feeling that something is in
your eye
Blurred vision (that may clear
with repeated blinking)
Sensitivity to light
Contact lens discomfort or
intolerance
To reduce your risk of dry eye
syndrome take the following
precautions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Keep your body well hydrated. Drink at least eight large
glasses of water every day.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine. They
have a dehydrating effect.
Run a humidifier in your home
during winter or if you live in a
dry climate.
Moisten your contact lenses routinely with rewetting drops.
Clean your contact lenses daily
and replace them as directed.
Wear close-fitting sunglasses
when outdoors (particularly on
7.
Volume 1, Issue 4
April-June 2011
windy days).
Eat salmon once a week or consider taking a daily supplement of
omega-3 fatty acids.
Inside this issue:
Treatment of dry eye syndrome
There are a number of ways to treat dry
eyes depending on the type and severity of your condition.
 Artificial Tears: Mild cases of dry
eye syndrome can be treated with
non-prescription artificial tears.
 Lubricating Ointments: In some
cases, your eye doctor will recommend that you supplement daytime
use of artificial tears with bedtime
use of a lubricating ointment. Ointments stay on your eyes much
longer than artificial tears, but they
will blur your vision. For this reason, ointments should be used only
at bedtime, unless otherwise directed.
 Medicated Eye Drops: In some
cases, dry eye syndrome may be due
to inflammation and a prescription
eye drop designed to treat inflammatory dry eye and increase your
body's ability to produce tears is
recommended.
 Punctal Occlusion: For more significant dry eye problems, your eye
doctor may recommend a procedure
called punctal occlusion. Punctal
occlusion involves inserting small
plugs in the openings (puncta) of the
tear drainage ducts that are located
on the inner surface of each eyelid,
Get Your
Designer Sunglasses
For Summer
Dry Eye Syndrome
1
Sunglasses: Not Just An Accessory
2
Importance of Protective Sports
Eyewear
2
Fast Fact:
Example of Punctual Occlusion

near the nose. This procedure
keeps more tears on your eyes by
blocking the ducts in your lids
that drain tears away from your
eyes. The plugs may be temporary (made of collagen that dissolves in a week or two) or permanent (made of silicone). If
necessary the permanent plugs
can be removed later. The procedure is painless and takes only a
few minutes, and may eliminate
or significantly reduce your need
for artificial tears. Ask your eye
doctor for details.
Nutritional Therapy: There is
growing evidence that supplements of omega-3 fatty acids may
be effective in treating some cases
of dry eyes. Omega-3s are essential fatty acids - meaning that
because our body cannot produce
them, they are a required part of
a healthy diet.
A Pair of Single
Vision RX
Reading
Glasses in Your Choice
of Marchon Brand
Frames *
* Offer Expires 30 days from purchase
of progressive glasses
Eye damaging ultraviolet (UV)
radiation goes through clouds.
Eye Care Tips:
1. Eye strain on the computer can be
prevented with computer eyeglasses.
2. Titanium metal will not react with
skin oils.
3. Remove contact lenses when
experiencing any eye discomfort.
4. Remove contact lenses when
experiencing any eye redness.
5. Eye drop medications should not
be taken with contact lenses in the
eyes.
and be entered
to win a free
pair of
sunglasses
Office Hours
Mon - Fri
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Walk-ins welcome or
Call to Schedule an appointment
Phone: 615-758-2344
Sunglasses: Not Just An Accessory
Sunglasses are meant for more than just being a
trendy accessory - they protect your eyes from
the sun. No one enjoys squinting while driving
or walking around on a sunny day and having a
good pair of shades on keep your eyes from
harsh glare. If you don’t wear sunglasses often,
it’s important that you start, and if you are an
avid sunglasses wearer, it’s vital that you know if
your shades are giving your eyes proper protection.
Sunglasses have been a staple of style and trends
for decades. From rappers to wealthy socialites,
wearing sunglasses - day or night - has influenced many to buy their own pair. In many
ways this is a good thing because the more people get used to wearing sunglasses, the better
their chances are for protecting their eyesight.
Not only do sunglasses shield
your eyes from the sting of the
sun but like sunscreen,
sunglasses also keep harmful
UV rays from your eyes
The downside
is that many
fail to realize
the important
of sunglasses
and how they
protect their
eyes in the first place.
Not only do sunglasses shield your eyes from
the sting of the sun but like sunscreen, sunglasses also keep harmful UV rays from your
eyes. Cataracts can develop from excessive sun
exposure, which can lead to blurred vision and
other eye problems. Other issues that can be
caused by too much direct sunlight include
photokeratitis (a painful eye condition), snow
blindness (a type of sunburn that occurs within
the eye), and various types of eye cancers.
Eye cancer is not to be taken lightly. There are
various types of eye cancers, with tumors and
painful cysts being the most common. These can
be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant
(cancerous). Even if you have a non-cancerous
growth, these can be very uncomfortable to deal
with and often need to be surgically removed.
As with applying sunscreen during the winter
months, sunglasses should be worn year-round.
If you’re skiing, snowboarding, or doing other
winter related sports, this also calls for appropriate eyewear, which includes sunglasses when
you’re out on the slopes. The sun bounces right
off of the snow or water and can still cause significant damage to the eyes if they aren’t protected. So don’t take any chances, no matter
what the weather looks like (unless it’s raining
or it’s nighttime of course). Children are also
prone to eye damage from the sun so buy your
kids a good pair of sunglasses and teach them to
use them whenever they are outdoors.
When shopping for sunglasses, you should
avoid buying sunglasses from vendors on the
street or anyplace outside of a department store
or regular store. Chances are these sunglasses
aren’t made with quality UV protection or may
not even offer any at all. So don’t be fooled by
the cheap price tag on a fancy frame.
Consult your eye care provider for more information or recommendations.
Importance of Protective Sports Eyewear
Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat more
than 40,000 sports eye injuries. When it comes
to athletics, prescription glasses, sunglasses, and
even safety glasses don’t always provide adequate protection . That is why athletes of all ages
should also have specialized protective sports
eyeguards.
Eye guards can be purchased from your family
eye doctor, who offers a wider variety of quality
protective eyewear.
A few things to look for when selecting your
eyewear are:
1. Make sure the eye protector you select has
been tested for sports use.
2. Check to see if it is made of
polycarbonate material, the
most impact resistant.
3. Make sure the device is
padded around your brow and
bridge of your nose, to prevent
the eyeguard from cutting
your skin.
with a polycarbonate face mask or wire shield.
Sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses and
side shields should be worn when participating
in racquetball, tennis, and soccer.
With the help of your family eye doctor, you
can choose goggles that have been approved by
the American Society of Testing and Materials
(ASTM) or pass the CSA racquet sport standard. Even those who wear prescription glasses
can be fitted with prescription eyeguards.
4. Make sure it is the right
size.
For baseball and lacrosse,
athletes should wear a helmet
Help the less fortunate by donating
glasses you no longer wear
Your donation to our Share the Sight program will help a child see the
blackboard at school, or a senior citizen read a medicine bottle daily
tasks that are impossible without clear vision
As a special thanks for your donation, you’ll receive a
$20
savings certificate
that can be used for any eyewear purchase.
*Not to be combined with insurance benefits/same day as