Dry Eyes in Winter: 6 Ways To Prevent Them

It comes as no surprise that the winter season transforms the outside world. It also makes us switch up our daily routines to prepare for the necessary changes that winter brings in.

However, when the chilling effects of the colder months are in full swing, your wardrobe is not the only change you need to make to prepare for the winters. Winters affect our bodies and health too. You need to be prepared for this change too.

From chapped lips, runny nose to frozen fingers, there is no escape to the inconvenience that you may experience in your day-to-day life. However, if there is one part of your body that receives the worst of the winter weather, it is your eyes.

The exposure to harsh winter winds can delay the production of fluids required to support the protective, liquid coating that our eyes require to stay hydrated. Result: Itchy eyes and dry eyes.

Your eyes may burn, you may suffer from blurry vision or even watery eyes to compensate for the dryness. While it may be difficult to resolve dry eyes completely, here are 6 tips to improve your eye health.

Tips to Prevent Dry Eyes in Winter time

1. 1. Keep your sunglasses on

If you are prone to dry eyes in winter, a great way to protect your eyes from winter dryness is to keep your sunglasses on. Keep them with you wherever you go.

2. 2. Keep your eyes moisturized

Winter dryness makes your eyes feel uncomfortable and dry. Many patients resort to over-the-counter eye drops for instant relief, but with a lot of products to choose from, you might damage your eyes even more.

To help your tear film work effectively, it is important to visit an ophthalmologist who can recommend the right eye drops best suited to your eye condition.

3. 3. Keep yourself hydrated

Keeping yourself hydrated is important to maintain healthy eyes. While coffee and tea are beverages that keep you going through the cold winter day, consuming too much caffeine may be dangerous.

Switch your habits up a little and consume healthy fluids such as green tea, earl grey tea, and lemon water that will prevent your body from dehydration. Along with being caffeine-free, these fluids will encourage you to consume more water.

4. 4. Soothe your eyes with a warm washcloth

Patients with dry eyes commonly experience tear secretion. Apply a warm washcloth on both your eyes to restore the right amount of moisture in your eyes. This also soothes irritated, itchy and swollen eyes.

Regular use of a warm washcloth will ease away the symptoms of dry eyes to significantly improve your vision.

5. 5. Follow a nutrition-rich diet

While we take care of our eyes externally, it is also important to keep yourself healthy from within. Consuming a nutrition-rich diet will protect your eyes from eye conditions like dry eyes and macular degeneration.

 Foods you should eat:

Omega-3 rich foods

5. 5. • Chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds
      • Flour, pasta, oatmeal
      • Kale, parsley, spinach
      • Salmon, tuna, trout, halibut
      • Palm oil, Soyabean oil

Potassium

5. 5. • Yogurt
      • Bananas
      • Soybeans
      • Sweet potatoes & potatoes

Quick fix for Dry Eyes

5. • Carrot & beet salad
   • Turmeric almond milk
   • Flourless banana pecan pancakes
   • Chicken chopped salad

6. 6. Take a break from screens

While it is inevitable to completely stay away from your computer screen, it is ideal to take breaks every hour to prevent dry eye syndrome.

Make sure you completely stay away from digital devices while taking a break. To start off, look outside the window and locate green objects. This will soothe your eyes.

If you are looking for experienced ophthalmologists in Fresno, visit Insight Vision to effectively treat your dry eyes.

All You Need to Know About Eye Problems Associated with Eye Makeup

“A woman without paint is like food without salt.”
– PlatusFor centuries, cosmetics have played a crucial role in beautifying women. One of the features that women love to enhance is their eyes. In ancient times, Egyptian women applied dark green color to their under lid and soot or antimony to darken their lashes and upper eyelid. Times have changed and so are the makeup trends. Although modern women still use cosmetics to enhance their eyes, the styles and colors have changed. If used correctly eye makeup can maintain your eye health and make your eyes sparkle, but if used incorrectly, it can ruin your eye health and make your eyes susceptible to eye infections.

Eye Health: Eye Problems Associated with Eye Makeup

The eye health problems that arise due to eye makeup:

1. Scratched CorneaYou can accidentally damage your cornea while applying mascara or eyeliner. The damage can seriously infect the eye.
2. ConjunctivitisIf the product is expired or not properly concealed, there are high chances of bacterial growth, thereby contaminating the product. When this product is applied, an eye infection can occur.
3. Allergic ReactionsSome chemicals or ingredients present in the product can cause an allergic reaction in you. The allergic reaction can manifest in the form of irritation, redness, swelling, or infection.

10 Ways To Avoid Eye Makeup Related Eye Problems

1. Never share. You wouldn’t want another person’s bacteria to get into your eyes. Your eye makeup is just yours to use.
2. Avoid applying eyeliner on the inside of the lash line.
3. Always use a sharpened eyeliner pencil to be precise in your application.
4. Avoid expired product. It is easy for bacteria and fungi to grow on creamy or liquid eye makeup after the product has reached its expiry. If your eye makeup is changing color and texture or smelling weird, then it’s time to toss them away. Each eye makeup product you use has an expiry date.
   When should you toss your eye makeup

   Eye Makeup	Expiry
   Mascara	3-6 months
   Brow Pencil	2 years
   Cream Eyeshadow	6-8 months
   Liquid/Gel Eyeliner	3-4 months
   Kohl	6 months

5. Replace all your eye makeup products after an eye infection in order to avoid bacteria from spreading.
6. Refrain from applying eye makeup while driving or in a moving vehicle. You wouldn’t want to cause eye injuries with a wrong stroke of an applicator.
7. Remove eye makeup before you go to bed because even a tiny speck of eyeliner, eyeshadow, or mascara left in or around your eye can be the cause of an eye infection.
8. If you tend to have a lot of skin allergies, it is a good idea to introduce new makeup products one at a time. So, if an allergy occurs, you can pinpoint the product. Avoid using products that contain harmful chemicals or ingredients that have not been tested yet.
9. If you have had an eye surgery, it is best not to wear any makeup. Consult your ophthalmologist in Fresno, CA before using makeup on your eyes. If it’s safe to use, discard the old makeup and wear only fresh new makeup.

If you believe you are suffering from any symptoms that could be as a result of makeup use, getting it treated is important to maintain eye health and avoid further complications. Make an appointment with Insight Vision Center today.

7 Eye Safety Tips for Protection against Home Hazards

Every year, almost 50% of the estimated 2.5 million eye injuries occur at home, with the most common sites being the garage or the yard

Source:  American Academy of Ophthalmology

Most people wear safety glasses at work and when playing sports but the same people won’t think about eye safety at home when cooking, cleaning the yard or doing work in the garage. All too often, when people are doing household chores, they tend to forget about the risks they take by not wearing protective eyewear. A split-second is all it takes to impair your vision for life so reduce the risk of potential eye injuries at home by following these 7 simple tips during daily tasks in and around your home.
 

1. Wear Safety Goggles to Protect Your Eyes When Working Outdoors

Almost 90% of all eye injuries can be avoided by wearing safety eyewear

Source:  American Academy of Ophthalmology

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that normal glasses are efficient at protecting your eyes because they may shatter if struck, causing even more damage than you can imagine. Most home renovation projects involve the use of hazardous chemicals and sharp tools that can cause irreparable damage to your eyes in case of accident. So, make sure you wear specially designed polycarbonate safety goggles that provide excellent protection during yard work, spring cleaning and home improvements.

2. Follow Manufacturer’s Instructions for Safe Handling of Chemicals

Household chemicals like lime dust, detergents, cleaners or bleach cause 125,000 eye injuries every year. When using these hazardous solvents and chemicals at home, make sure the area is well-ventilated and wear chemical safety goggles. Also, never make the mistake of mixing caustic substances or chemicals agents and always follow the manufacturer guidelines and warnings. Sometimes eye injuries still occur so, in the event of an eye injury, flush your eyes with water for 20 minutes to wash away the chemicals and seek medical attention at the earliest.

3. Ensure Safety on the Stairs to and Install Sufficient Lighting in Every Corner

Ensure safety on the stairs and walkways, install gates, secure rugs and remove all tripping hazards to avert potential eye injuries. Also install sufficient lighting and handrails, especially if you have toddlers or senior citizens in your home.
 

4. Inspect the Yard Prior to Undertaking any Project

Before undertaking any yard work like mowing the lawn or trimming the weeds, remove all the dirt and debris including branches, twigs and thorns to prevent potential eye injuries and wear safety glasses.

5. Maintain Safety in the Kitchen with Eye Shield

Cooking food can splatter hot oil or grease in your eyes. Use an eye safety shield to prevent hot oils from splashing on your face and damaging your vision.

6. Wash Hands Thoroughly after Completing a Task

Always remember to wash your hands after you have completed any work and before you touch your face or eyes.

7. Maintain Power Tools and Store them Safely When not in Use

Be sure to stack all power tools and chemicals out of the reach of small children. All screws, nails, and sharp hand tools can shoot off accidentally while power tools can propel dirt and debris into the air, resulting in serious eye injuries that invite a medical emergency. So make sure they are in good working condition and store them carefully.

 If you experience any eye injury, do not touch the eye or rub it. Also, do not apply any medication and don’t attempt to remove any foreign object from the eye yourself. Whether you have suffered an eye injury due to a flying object or a hazardous chemical, cover the eye with a shield or tape a cup over it and seek medical attention immediately. Visit your nearest Ophthalmologist for immediate assistance.

The Threat is Real: Air Pollution in California Can Affect Your Vision

In the recent “State of the Air” report released by The American Lung Association, eight of the USA’s 10 most-polluted cities are in California. Bakersfield, Visalia, Fresno, Sacramento, Modesto, and Redding are a few cities in California reported for being highly ozone-polluted.

The rise in ozone pollution

Ozone pollution increases in warmer temperatures. Smog that is formed on warm, sunny days is a mix of toxic chemicals and gases emitted from vehicles and industrial plants. The pollution level has risen to such a high level that it is affecting millions of Americans. Some of the health concerns reported are asthma, lung cancer, premature death, cardiovascular disease, developmental and reproductive damage. And due to the constant change in temperature and climate, it has become harder to reduce ozone pollution and protect human health. There are 3 main factors that contribute to unhealthy levels of air pollution in California:

• The activities of 33 million people generate large amounts of pollutants in the air.
• The terrain or topography of California traps pollution.
• The warm temperature and sunny climate help in the formation of ozone and other pollutants.

Living in these polluted cities increases the risk for dry eye syndrome.

Pollution can cause dry eyes leading to dry eye syndrome.

Adequate and consistent production of tears is essential to keep your eyes healthy. Pollutants in the air can damage the normal production of tear leading to dry eye syndrome. This deficiency in tear production hampers a person’s quality of life. The condition affects up to 4 million Americans aged 50 and older. With the rise in pollution levels, more and more people are diagnosed with dry eye syndrome.

Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome

• Excessive tearing
• Discomfort wearing contact lenses
• Stinging and burning in the eyes
• Dryness of eye
• Eye soreness
• Blurry vision
• Sticky eyelids
• Itchy eyes
• Red eyes
• Photophobia
• Fatigue eyes

Protect Your Eyes From Air Pollution

1. Stay hydrated

   The easiest way to protect your eyes from air pollution is by staying hydrated. Drink at least eight glasses of water. It is essential to keep your body hydrated if you want your eyes to produce adequate amount of tears.

2. Wear sunglasses

   When outdoors, sunglasses are great for providing the required protection to your eyes. They save your eyes from dust, debris or any harmful particles present in the air.

3. Increase indoor humidity

   Increasing the humidity levels indoor is an ideal way to protect your eyes. The air outside is dry but you can keep the air in your home moist. The humidity will not only keep your eyes moist but will also help in clearing your sinuses.

4. Food for dry eyes

   Many people overlook the effect of proper nutrition on health. A daily intake of foods rich in fish oil, antioxidants, and foods omega-3s is a super effective prevention method.

5. Stay indoors when pollution levels are at their peak

   If there is high level of particulate matter in the air, limit your exposure to outdoors. Stay indoors. Even if you have to get outside, protect your eyes with spectacles and/or masks.

While it is extremely important to protect your internal organs from air pollution by wearing a mask, it is equally important to protect your eyes too. If you are living in Fresno, California, which is one of the cities reported as highly ozone-polluted, it is recommended to get your eyes examined by an experienced Ophthalmologist in Fresno, CA. Give a call on (559) 449-5050 to Insight Vision Center today.

Emergency Eye Care: How to Handle the Situation

A do-it-yourself morning, a game of squash, a simple champagne cap, or cleaning agents… every day our eyes are exposed to many dangers. Although its curved shape protects the eye, it can also be the target of trauma. The front part remains exposed to aggression despite the blinking of the eyelids. A moment of inattention is enough for the eye to be injured.

What Is an Eye Emergency?

Whether it is a shock, a foreign body or a toxic product, the trauma of the eye is always to be taken seriously. A consultation at an emergency eye clinic is always necessary, since the pain is not always sufficient to assess the urgency.

Causes of an Eye Emergency

1. Chemical injury to the eye: Chemicals powders, aerosol, liquids, gases or vapors can enter the eye during daily activities at work or home and if not treated can affect vision.
2. A foreign object in the eye: The eye is exposed to foreign bodies at the workplace or outdoors. Sharp particles such as dust, wood or metal chips, splinters, or fragments of a tool can enter the eye and cause an eye emergency.
3. Cuts and scratches: Rubbing the eye when a foreign body is present, getting poked in the eye with a pointed object results in cuts or scratches and bleeding thereafter.
4. Trauma: Blood vessels in your eye may also burst due to vomiting, sneezing, or rubbing your eyes causing a dark patch. A sudden accident, sports-related eye injury can lead to bleeding under the skin which causes a black eye effect and demands immediate care to save the cornea from damage.

First Aid

Don’t panic and try to calm the person affected. While it is important to rush the person for emergency eye care immediately, a few precautionary steps before you reach out to the clinic can save from potential damage. Here are few steps you can take:

Chemical injury to the eye:

1. Tilt the person’s face such that the eye is facing down and sideways. Flush it with fresh
   water.
2. You can hold the persons face under a tap or shower, if both the eyes are affected.
3. Allow the running water to rinse the affected eye for 15-20 minutes.
4. If the person is wearing contact lenses which do not get flushed out, try removing them after rinsing the chemical out from the eye.
5. Seek immediate medical attention.

A foreign object in the eye:

1. Do not attempt to remove the object or press the eye.
2. Clean your hands with water and soap.
3. Bandage both eyes to prevent any kind of movement of the eyelids. If the foreign object is large, tape a clean paper cup on the eye to prevent any pressure from the bandage.
4. Visit emergency eye care without any delay.

Cuts and scratches:

1. In case of bleeding, wipe it with a clean and soft cloth without applying pressure.
2. Apply a cold compress to control bleeding and avoid swelling.
3. If bleeding continues, cover the eye with a cloth and rush to nearest eye care facility.

Trauma:

1. In case of a black eye or rupturing of blood vessels in the eye, apply a cold compress to
   reduce pain and further swelling or blackening of the eye.
2. Emergency consultation is necessary thereafter.

Although it may be a reflex, you should not under any circumstances force to open an eye, or rub your eyes with your hands. This would scratch the cornea. In the case of a foreign body, even visible, the use of tweezers to try to remove it is prohibited.

When to Contact an Eye Surgeon?

An immediate consultation with an eye surgeon is required when:

• there is a visible eye injury;
• there has been contact with a chemical product;
• the pain remains very strong even after an eye rinse;
• the vision is disturbed or in case of sensitivity to bear the light;
• there is a trauma such as a blow or shock with a small object, even in the absence of disturbing symptoms.

The watchword is caution, it is better to consult an emergency eye care specialist and find that there is no anomaly rather than missing a serious problem. If you are in Fresno, you can just search for ‘emergency eye care near me’ and contact an ophthalmologist in Fresno without much hassle.

Benefits of Eye Yoga

Our fast-paced life calls for a little bit of exercise to improve our health. Hours of full-body workouts at the gym often make us neglect our eye health and the prolonged use of digital displays could be doing more damage to our eyes than we imagine.

Today, Yoga is being practiced by people the world over and an exercise that was once practiced by a few is now gravitating towards becoming a fitness mantra. Regular practice of yoga helps in maintaining good health and improves the functioning of the organs. But did you know Yoga poses include exercises for your eyes as well? These are exercises that you could do right at your desk without having to move around and only requires a few minutes from your busy routine.

These 5 easy-to-do exercises can bring you so much comfort in the mid-afternoons when your
eyes feel sore and gritty:

1. Palming
   The energy created from rubbing your palms vigorously and placing them on your eyes
   brings some much needed comfort to your tired eyes. Regular practice will gradually
   reduce your dark circles.
2. Rotate Your Eyes
   Follow your breath while rotating your eyes. Sitting in a peaceful place, rotating your
   eyes while breathing in a rhythmic pattern will restore balance in your eye muscles.
3. Figure of Eight
   Imagining a giant figure 8 on the floor and tracing it both clockwise and anti-clockwise
   will improve your eye’s flexibility and control the physical movements of your eyes.
4. Stretch Your Eyes
   Diagonally moving your eyes right and left while focusing on what you see will keep your
   eye muscles strong and active.
5. Blinking
   Blinking 10-15 times and repeating the exercise 3 times can relieve you of dry eyes and
   nourish your eyes. This exercise in particular is important since we often forget to blink
   enough when we’re focused on digital screens.

Make a conscious effort to improve your eye health this Yoga Day, as doing the 5 exercises
mentioned above, will help improve your concentration, relieve you from an eye strain, calm
your mind, provide you comfort from dry eyes and lesser the chances of eye diseases.
Furthermore, paying a yearly visit to an Ophthalmologist will help you to discover and improve your eye conditions. If you are looking for a trusted eye doctor in Fresno, book an appointment with Insight Vision today.

How Often To Get Eye Exam?

According to recent reports by the CDC, approximately 14 million Americans aged 12 years and older have self-reported visual impairment defined as distance visual acuity of 20/50 or worse. That’s not all! Out of the estimated 61 million adults in the United States classified as being at high risk for serious vision loss, only half of them actually visited an ophthalmologist in the past 12 months! The reports also pointed out that more than 11 million Americans could have improved their vision with refractive correction had they visited an eye doctor on time!

Did You Know?

• Approximately 11% of Americans aged 20 years and older with diabetes had some form of visual impairment. Among those without diabetes, 5.9% had some form of Visual Impairment (VI).
• 3.4 million Americans aged 40 years and older are either blind or visually impaired.
• 1,600,000 Americans aged 50 years and older have age related macular degeneration.
• 5.3 million people aged 18 years and older have diabetic retinopathy.
• 20.5 million people have cataracts among Americans aged 40 years and older.
• 2.2 million people have glaucoma among Americans aged 40 years and older.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/

This only goes to show the importance of undergoing comprehensive eye exams regularly and how essential they are when it comes to preventing vision related problems! During a comprehensive eye exam, your ophthalmologist will not only check your eyes to determine if you need eyeglasses or contacts, but will also check your eyes for common eye diseases, assess how your eyes work together and evaluate the condition of your eyes as per your age to test their overall health.

Such comprehensive eye exams include a number of tests and procedures to help your eye doctor examine and evaluate the health of your eyes and your vision quality. There are a variety of tests that can be performed to help your eye doctor make the right analysis. Tests range from simple ones, like reading an eye chart, to complex tests, such as using a high-powered lens to examine the health of the tissues inside your eyes.

Frequency of Eye Exams

While the frequency of undergoing eye-exams depends on an individual’s personal health, you must schedule an eye-exam every one to three years. Take a look at the recommended frequency levels of eye exams among children and adults of various age groups:

• Eye Exams for Children

  While most kids have their first eye exam around the time they start school or start to face vision problems, ophthalmologists recommend getting your babies eye checked after they’ve crossed the 6month mark, so if there are any persisting vision problems, they can be corrected well in time. This of course is highly dependent on the child’s personal health condition and vision problems. If the child’s eyes are in top shape, the ophthalmologist will automatically recommend a larger interval between all follow-up eye exams.

• Eye Exams for Adults

  In case of adults, the American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends an annual eye exam for any adult who wears eyeglasses or contacts. If not, you can extend the interval up to 2-3 years. Adults suffering with conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure are required to undergo eye exams more frequently as such conditions are capable of seriously affecting your vision. After crossing the 40-year mark, it is best to get your eyes checked every 2-3 years to check for age related eye problems like presbyopia, cataracts and macular degeneration.

Here is a table outlining the preferred frequency of eye exams as you age:

Patient’s Age	Eye-Examination Frequency
Birth to 24 months	At 6 months of age
2 to 5 years	At 3 years of age
6 to 18 years	Every 2-3 years
18 to 40 years	Every two years
40 to 60 years	Every two years
61 and older	Annually

While these are the recommended frequencies for eye exams, it is best to visit your eye doctor and get a first-hand opinion on how to plan your eye exams. Your ophthalmologist will also be able to better guide you about the type of eye exams available, their costs and other details related to health conditions which require regular eye-checkups. For those of you located in and around Fresno can contact Insight Vision Centre to learn more about the importance of eye-exams and ascertain what eye exam frequency works best for you!

6 Eye Relaxation Exercises That Actually Work to Improve Your Vision

With every passing year, the number of people suffering from vision problems is increasing exponentially due to different reasons that range from loss of flexibility of distance vision to aging vision. While the culprit is partly aging, a major reason is modern, sedentary lifestyle. Constant working on computers, binge-watching TV series, use of fluorescent lighting, air conditioning, and lack of exercising – all of these habits exert additional strain on your eyes and cause blurry vision. So break your poor vision habits and start exercising for overall health because that will not only help you stay fit but also keep a number of eye diseases away.

Whether you want to prevent your eyesight from getting worse or don’t want to wear glasses in near future, following these 6 eye exercises will dramatically improve your vision:

1. Blink Your Eyes More Often
   Continued exposure to the TV screen and prolonged use of computer lead to dry eyes and dry eyes cause headaches, eye strain and blurry vision. When the eyes are absorbed in the screen, the blink rate drops from 20bpm to 6-8bpm. So the next time you feel the strain, start blinking and it will lubricate the eyes while refreshing your brain to process new visual data more efficiently.
2. Palm for Relaxed Vision
   This is a highly effective eye relaxation technique that you can use every time your eyes feel tired and worn. All you need to do is cup your hands over the socket of your eyes to create gentle pressure.
   Keep your eyes closed and stare into the dark space while staying focused on the distance. Hold the pressure till you see all the residual tones fade to black. This exercise will work to reset your vision, lubricate your eyes and allow your eyes to rest and relax. Do this exercise for at least 30 seconds and relieve the stress around your eyes.
3. Trace an Eight
   This eye exercise will increase the flexibility of your eye muscles and improve your vision. Visualize a gigantic 8 almost 10 feet away from you and turn it on its side. Now sketch it with your eyes slowly for a few minutes – first clockwise and then anticlockwise. Be perseverant with this and it will help maintain clear vision.
4. Roll Your Eyes
   Roll your eyes to the right and then slowly shift your gaze to the left. Keep doing the same thing but in opposite directions. Then move your gaze in different directions by looking from right to left and then up and down. You can also draw geometric figures with your gaze. Repeat the process for five to ten times.
5. Follow the 20-20-20 rule
   To keep your eyes from getting tired at work, take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and focus on something that is located at least 20 feet away from you. This exercise helps prevent digital eye strain and eye damage in the long run.
6. Focus on Objects Near and Far
   People with glasses often get lethargic at gazing and this is a major reason they fail to maintain healthy vision. To do this exercise you need to take off your glasses and hold one of your thumbs close up and the other at your arm’s length. Start by focusing on your thumb held close up, followed by the one that’s at your arm’s length, then focus on something that is sitting across the room and finally on an object that is really far away like across the road. While you do this exercise make sure, all the four points are situated along the same line of sight so the change in focus in subtle. Spend 2 seconds on every object and try to obtain a clear image of every item.

Doing these eye exercises for several minutes every day will strengthen your eye muscles and improve your vision naturally but the best way to be really sure that your eyes stay healthy, is to visit an ophthalmologist regularly. Book an appointment with an ophthalmologist in Fresno today to find eye diseases early on and prevent long-term vision problems.

Are Women At Greater Risk of Age-Related Eye Health Problems?

It’s crucial to take care of your eyes at any point in life, but more so as you get older. It’s common knowledge that men and women are prone to developing common eye disorders and diseases with advancing age. However, research shows that the latter group may be at higher risk.

Let’s look at how age affects your eyes, how to maintain healthy vision for women, and why regularly visiting an ophthalmologist in Fresno (or your local area) is so important.

Women and Eye Health: What the Research Says

According to a study by Prevent Blindness, AMD or age-related macular degeneration is more common among women than men, as are glaucoma and cataracts. There are also more cases of visual impairment or blindness in American women over the age of 40 than men in the same age group.

However, women generally seem to be unaware of the threat:

• Fewer than 10% of women in America know that they are at a higher risk of developing vision loss than men.
• A whopping 86% of them believe the risk of permanent vision loss is equal for both men and women.
• In addition, 5% of women believe the risk is higher for men than it is for women.

Top 5 Reasons for Early Vision Loss in Women

Here’s why women could develop low vision earlier than men:

• Longevity – According to the statistics, women usually have a longer lifespan than men. Many eye diseases, including AMD, glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy, are related to advancing age.
• Hormones – Women experience serious hormonal fluctuations more frequently than men, especially during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. Hormonal changes have been linked to dry eye and other vision problems.
• Lifestyle – Eye health is affected by lifestyle choices such as obesity, nutrition, exercise and smoking. While these factors are not limited to women, obesity and poor diets are on the rise among the adult female population.
• Socio-Economic Factors – Early detection and treatment of eye problems are often key to preventing vision loss, but various social or economic factors affect access to quality eye health care for women.
• Medication – Women generally take more prescription and non-prescription drugs than men. Many of these can lead to vision changes, e.g. birth control pills and medication for hormone replacement.

Precautions and Tips to Prevent Eye Conditions

Here are some eye care tips to help you maintain better vision and eye health:

• Eye Tests – Visit an ophthalmologist for regular checkups, especially during pregnancy. Get a full dilated eye exam if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes and are pregnant or planning a baby.
• Quit Smoking – Smoking seriously damages your health, and it can double the risk of AMD. It also makes you more prone to developing cataracts, which can only be corrected with eye surgery.
• Use Protection – Eye protection, that is. Sunglasses with 100% UV protection and wide-brimmed hats can reduce sun damage, but also use protective eyewear while swimming, using tools or playing sports.
• Cosmetic Safety – Make sure your face, hands and brushes are clean while applying eye makeup, and don’t ever share makeup or use expired products. Also ensure your hands are clean while putting in or removing contact lenses.
• Healthy Food & Exercise – Eat a balanced diet with plenty of antioxidant and Omega-3 rich foods for healthy eyes. Regular exercise will also help you maintain eye health and reduce the risk of diabetes-related vision loss.

We want you to enjoy healthy vision all your life, so follow our tips above and make an appointment with InSight Vision Center for a dilated eye exam today!

Eyes: A Crucial Window to Your Physical Health

Did you know that your eye health is a crucial indicator of your overall health? Ophthalmologists can through a comprehensive eye examination reveal a lot more about your physical health than just vision problems. Read here to know how.

• Cloudy Eye
  Cloudy eyes are symptoms of cataracts which causes clouding of the lens inside the eye. This condition can be corrected with a cataract surgery. Generally, older people develop cataracts. However, if young people develop cataracts it may be an indication of either diabetes, tumors or any side effects of certain medications.
• Blurred Vision
  Blurred or unclear vision may be a sign of diabetes. If it isn’t controlled well, it may further result in diabetic retinopathy – a condition in which tiny blood vessels in your eyes leak certain fluids and blood.
• Abnormal Blood Vessels in Retina
  If you suffer from high blood pressure, the minute blood vessels in the retina twist and kink. In a condition called as A-V nicking, the retinal veins develop dents in their normal shape. This indicates a high risk of a deadly stroke.
• Sudden Instances of Blurry Vision
  Abrupt loss of vision may be a sign of irregular blood flow to your eye or your brain. Even if your vision goes back to normal quickly, it might still be a warning sign of the initial phase of a migraine or a stroke. Immediate medical attention is advisable in such cases so as to prevent any serious damage to your health.
• Yellowish Eyes
  Yellowish eyes and skin are indicative of jaundice. This means you may have liver problems caused by increased levels of bilirubin produced by your liver when it is damaged or inflamed. Chronic alcohol abuse, infection, cancer, improper dietary habits are some of the common reasons for liver damage.
• Night Blindness
  If you are experiencing difficulty in seeing in low light like at night, you may be suffering from night blindness. It may be indicative of cataracts or poor vision which may be corrected with the help of prescription glasses. It may also indicate a deficiency of Vitamin A in your body. Add superfoods that are rich in Vitamin A to your diet such as carrots, spinach, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, etc.
• Dry Eyes
  Various factors are responsible for causing dry eyes – hormonal changes, environment or the amount of time you spend staring at digital screens. If you spend hours staring at your laptop, smartphone or any other kind of digital screens, your eyes are at a greater risk of developing digital eye strain. Your eyes become dry, irritated and red if you don’t blink for a long time. Certain forms of arthritis are also linked with dry eyes.
• White Spots on Cornea
  Those who wear contact lenses are at a greater risk of developing corneal ulcers. White spots on the cornea are one of the most prominent symptoms. As a contact lens wearer, your risk of developing white spots on your cornea increases if you often sleep with your contacts on. Ask our vision experts about Lasik eye surgery. It is an almost painless vision correction surgery which will help you see your best without the hassles of prescription glasses or contact lenses.

Your eye doctor can help you determine more about your physical well-being than just the right set of prescription glasses or contacts. Most symptoms which affect your eyes and physical health may be visible to you, but there are some which can only be identified by an eye doctor. In a nutshell, your eyes reveal a lot about your overall physical well being. Hence, it is crucial that you get your eyes checked periodically.

We at InSight Vision Center in Fresno, CA are more than happy to help you with any eye health-related problems or queries. Give us a call to schedule an appointment for a comprehensive eye check up today.