Strabismus (Crossed Eyes): Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment Options

What is Strabismus?

Strabismus, also called wall eye, squint, or crossed eyes, is a condition in which the two eyes are not properly aligned and fail to work as a team when looking at an object. According to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, approximately 4% of the US population has strabismus.

Types of Strabismus

There are many different types of strabismus, but they can be broadly divided as follows:

• Exotropia

This type of strabismus is also called as wall-eyed. In Exotropia, one eye views at the object directly, and the other eye turns outward away from the nose.

• Esotropia

This type of strabismus is also referred to as crossed eyes or cross-eyed. In Esotropia, one eye looks at the object directly, and the other turns inward toward the nose.

• Hypotropia

Hypotropia is a type of strabismus, where one eye looks directly at the object while the other turns vertically downward.

• Hypertropia

Hypertropia is a type of strabismus, where one eye looks directly at the object while the other turns vertically upward.

Causes of Crossed Eyes (Strabismus)

What causes strabismus?
Each eye is made up of six external muscles (known as the extraocular muscles). These muscles control the eye position and its movement. In a normal binocular vision, these muscles of both the eyes must be coordinated perfectly.

Certain anatomical or neurological problems can interfere with the proper functioning of the extraocular muscles, thus causing strabismus. These problems can originate in the nerves or in the muscles itself. They can also occur in the vision centers in the brain that control the binocular vision.

Strabismus can also occur due to eye injuries or general health conditions.

Risk Factors of Strabismus

Family history: People whose parents or siblings have strabismus are at risk of developing it.
Medical conditions: People suffering from conditions such as cerebral palsy and Down syndrome or have had a head injury or a stroke are more likely to develop strabismus.

Refractive error: People who have uncorrected farsightedness or hyperopia may develop strabismus.

Signs and Symptoms of Strabismus

If you have strabismus, your eyes point outward or inward or focus in different directions. Other symptoms may include:

• Impaired vision
• Eyes that do not move together
• Decreased depth perception
• Unsymmetrical points of reflection in each eye
• Double vision
• Squinting with only one eye
• Eyestrain or headache
• Tilting the head to one side

Diagnosis of Strabismus:

A doctor of optometry conducts a comprehensive eye exam to diagnose strabismus. The diagnosis may involve the following steps:

The eye doctor will ask you about the symptoms. The doctor will also take a note of your general health problems, medications, family history, and other environmental factors that could contribute to the symptoms.

The ophthalmologist may use various testing procedures to observe the internal and external structures of your eyes to rule out any eye disease that could contribute to strabismus. The testing will help determine how the eyes respond under normal conditions.

The eye doctor will measure visual acuity to determine how much vision is affected. The doctor may ask you to read letters (placed near and far) on the reading charts. Visual acuity is written as a fraction. A person with a normal vision has a visual acuity as 20/20.

The ophthalmologist may conduct refraction to find out the lens power needed to correct any refractive error (farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism). The doctor uses an instrument called a phoropter and places a series of lenses in front of your eyes. How your eyes focus to the light is measured using a handheld lighted instrument called a retinoscope.

Your doctor of optometry may assess how well your eyes work together as a team to view an object. This test will help determine the problem that prevents your eyes from focusing effectively.

Your eye doctor will diagnose whether you have strabismus after evaluating the information obtained from the tests mentioned above. If you have strabismus, the ophthalmologist will discuss the treatment options with you.

Strabismus Treatment Options

There are several treatment options for crossed eyes. They include:

For some people, contact lenses and eyeglasses may be the only treatment needed.

In prism lenses, one is thicker than the other. The prisms reduce the turning of the eye to view an object by altering the light entering it. Prisms can sometimes eliminate eye turning completely.

Your eye doctor may prescribe a series of visual activities that can improve your eye coordination and eye focusing. These eye exercises reduce the problems with eye focusing, eye movement, and improve the eye-brain connection for effective eye teaming. These eye exercises can also be done at home.

The length or position of the eye muscles can be made to appear straight through eye muscle surgery. Usually, vision therapy is prescribed for patients after the surgery to prevent the eyes from becoming misaligned again and to improve eye coordination.

The doctors at Insight Vision Center are the most experienced ophthalmologists in California that provide the best services and treatment options for strabismus and other eye problems. Get the eye examination done as soon as possible at our eye clinic in Fresno, CA.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com

How Poor Eyesight Can Be Corrected with Good Habits

Bad vision can be caused by astigmatism, nearsightedness & farsightedness. These can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or some surgeries. These conditions are genetic to a certain extent, but may also be influenced by your environment. Globally, about 80% of vision impairment cases are avoidable (Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment). But here’s what science has to say.

Environment over Genetics

If two people are nearsighted, it’s more likely their children will be nearsighted. However, if a child spends a lot of time reading or working up close, and not much time outside, they may actually need reading glasses. But if kids are brought up in the right environment, they can maintain good eyesight without experiencing headaches and perform well at school and other activities.

How Can You Treat Bad Eyesight?

1. Inculcate Good Habits

There are plenty of good habits you can inculcate in your child to prevent them from struggling with poor eyesight. Most kids these days carry digital devices with them wherever they travel.

We’ve seen kids with phones and iPads on the trains, outside a movie theatre, and of course at home. You need to limit the amount of time your kids spend on these devices. These gadgets also shouldn’t be easily accessible. And instead, it should act as a reward.

Kids should also be encouraged to spend more time outdoors rather than simply gaming or sitting in front of a television. Motivate them to play with the neighbor’s kids or find time to play a ball game with them. Make sure they’re active for a major part of the day.

2. Provide Vitamins for Eyesight

Providing vitamins for eyesight is another way for you to make sure that you encourage healthy eating habits and an overall improved lifestyle. This includes eating the right foods that give your kids’ eyesight a big boost. But healthy foods don’t necessarily have to be boring.

Your kids are simply not going to eat an entire bowl of salad. But if you try to include green vegetables in an omlette, sandwich, or pasta, they will consume all the right vitamins. Encourage your kids to also eat citrus fruits, fish, eggs, and nuts. These foods contain plenty of nutrients and help your child maintain a well-balanced diet.

3. Get an Early Eye Exam

While good habits and a healthy diet are important to maintain eyesight, it’s also crucial for you to take your kids for an early eye exam. Many kids may suffer from poor eyesight without even realizing it.

A healthy set of eyes is essential in the growing years. It helps kids understand the world around, familiarizes them with their immediate environment and people. Good eyesight also helps your child concentrate in the classroom without experiencing mild headaches and blurred vision.

Taking your kids to an eye doctor will help detect any early eye conditions that can be easily corrected with glasses. In the growing years, kids should get a yearly eye exam done to help them succeed in the classroom, in sports, and in other activities.

Poor vision may be hereditary to an extent but doesn’t affect your kids’ eyesight if a healthy routine is put into place. If you’re looking for an experienced eye doctor in Fresno, CA, book an appointment with Insight Vision Centre today for a comprehensive eye assessment of your kids’ vision. Book an eye exam today.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com

How To Put in Contacts for the First Time?

Are you fed up of all the hassles that come with spectacles? Are you keen on trying contact lenses but have a lot of doubts regarding them? For instance – how to wear them correctly? How to clean them? Can they be worn for longer periods of time continually? Will you get dry and irritated eyes with their prolonged use? Such questions are obvious if you are trying on contact lenses for the first time. However, with proper precaution and care, you can enjoy all the benefits of contacts without any hassles.

The 5 helpful tips listed below are all you need to know in case you are a first-time wearer of contact lenses:

1. It is extremely important that you clean your contact lenses every time before putting them on. Even your ophthalmologist will stress the importance of sticking to a strict lens care regime. Use a good quality contact lens solution to rinse and clean your lenses. Ensure that the solution is fresh in the lens case. For instance, when you put on your lens in the morning, drain the case, rinse it with fresh solution and leave it upside down to dry. Once it is completely dry, refill it with fresh contact lens solution.
2. If you are wearing contact lenses for the first time, the very first challenge you will probably face is – how to put the lenses on. First, you need to wash your hands thoroughly. Next, you need to put the lens on your fingertip. It should be placed in a way that the contact should look like a little cup when held up against the light. Then, pull the upper eyelid upwards and bottom eyelid downwards to prevent blinking reaction. Look upwards and place the lens in your eye. Release the eyelids and close the eyes to allow the contact lens to settle. Repeat the same process with the other eye.
3. Make sure that you keep the contacts hydrated at both times – when in use and when stored in the case. If the contacts turn dry they can irritate your eyes. In case you use lenses for extended periods of time they are more prone to becoming dry. An ideal solution would be to always carry the contact lens solution wherever you go. This will keep you better prepared to hydrate the lenses so they are comfortable to wear and use.
4. First time wearers may experience problems like irritation or blurry vision due to contact lenses. It might be due to certain reasons such as poor contact lens hygiene, accumulation of debris etc. If such problems persist for a longer period of time even after taking the right precautions, its best to consult your eye doctor immediately.
5. It is important that you strictly follow your ophthalmologist’s instructions regarding the use and maintenance of your contact lenses. For instance the wearing and replacement schedule, follow-up appointments, solution prescribed for your lens etc.

The above-listed tips are sure to help first time contact lens wearers get used to and handle their contact lenses appropriately. It is important to go for regular eye check-ups to ensure that you enjoy a healthy and perfect vision especially if you are wearing contact lenses. Our team of experts at Insight Vision Center can guide you on how best to use contact lenses for a perfect vision. Get in touch with us today.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com

What Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Tells You about Your Vision

An estimated 836,000 to 2.5 million Americans suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome each year. Most people do not get this illness diagnosed and have to live with the symptoms for a major part of their lives. While there is no single test to confirm the onset of the illness, there is a series of other tests to rule out other problems that have symptoms similar to chronic fatigue syndrome.

Some common symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Sore Throat
• Extreme exhaustion due to physical or mental exercise
• Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or armpits
• Poor concentration or loss of memory
• Chronic insomnia

There are also a number of other symptoms that patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome may experience. These may include dizziness or fainting, food or medication allergies, anxiety, irritability or depression, and patients may also experience visual disturbances such as blurry vision and sensitivity to light.

The Connection between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Vision

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome usually complain of itchy or watery eyes. While rubbing your eyes may seem like a harmless thing to do, chronic eye rubbing can lead to poor vision. Itchy eyes can feel like a foreign body stuck in your eye and the most natural instinct is to remove the object. However, this is not a good idea because rubbing against the object or the spot where your eyes itch can very easily scratch the cornea. This most often results in blurry vision which can affect your ability to perform day-to-day activities. Here are 3 daily activities that can be affected by poor vision:

1. Reading
   We rely majorly on our vision to read everything from small fonts on our computer screens to street signs. It is difficult to get through the day with poor vision and simply wearing your glasses may not be enough to correct your vision.
2. Driving
   Being able to drive requires maximum attention to detail, but most of us take this ability for granted. If you have blurry vision, you may lose some of your independence and driving in the daylight may be your only option.
3. Household Chores
   Keeping the house clean requires a good amount of time. But when your vision is compromised, household chores take a longer time to finish.

Problems Due to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The most common problem that patients of chronic fatigue syndrome report is periods of blurred or foggy vision. This happens mostly when they stand up and feel lightheaded. However, chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with a few other problems such as:

1. Slowness or difficulty in focusing on objects, especially the ones that are closer
2. Tunnel vision i.e. not being able to see objects in peripheral (side) vision
3. Feeling dizzy looking at moving objects
4. Seeing flashes of light
5. Being uncomfortable in sunlight or brightly lit rooms
6. Having a itchy, dry, or burning sensation in eyes

Treatment Options

1. For temporary and instant relief, artificial tears can soothe dry or irritated eyes.
2. Apply a warm washcloth over your eyes three to four times a day to relieve itchy and sensitive eyes.
3. Prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications can also provide relief from dizziness and fatigue.

Lifestyle Changes

1. Eliminate caffeine from your diet and consume beverages like green tea, chrysanthemum tea, and lemon water.
2. Limit your alcohol and nicotine intake.
3. Follow a sleep schedule and sleep at the same time every night.
4. Incorporate yoga and tai chi to your morning routine.

While these tips can improve your vision, it is important to consult a doctor before altering your routine or consuming medicines. If you have been suffering from this condition and are looking for experienced Ophthalmologists in Fresno, visit Insight Vision today.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com

An Early Eye Test can Unearth Alzheimer’s Eyes

In the journal of clinical insight, researchers have found that performing retinal scans can pick up amyloid plaques which cause Alzheimer’s in the brain. Getting a yearly eye test can be a way to pick up early stages of Alzheimer’s and early intervention will be helpful to caregivers and family members. Researchers may have brought up a step closer that can detect a hallmark of the disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, affecting more than 40 million people worldwide. And yet, finding a cure is something that still eludes researchers today. It includes difficulty sleeping, disturbed memory, drastic mood changes and an increase in confusion.

The Connection between Alzheimer’s and Eyesight

Your eyes may give doctors a window into one of the most difficult diseases to diagnose and doctors may have a peek at what the retina reveals about the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Eye tests may soon become the simplest and cheapest way to establish a precise diagnosis of Alzheimer’s eyes. Our eyes, because of their neurons are in some way an extension of the brain. One of the first detectable signs of Alzheimer’s is the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein aggregates in the brain. These aggregates begin to form 15 to 20 years prior to the onset of the first symptoms of the disease. And they can be detected through brain imaging, which is a costly method. A retina examination is simpler to perform and several research groups worldwide are currently testing this approach. Some researchers evaluated the thickness of the retina. They discovered that people who have memory problems had a thinner retina, compared to those without memory problem.

5 Areas of Visual Deficit

Alzheimer’s effect on eyes reveals five main areas of visual deficit that result in inaccurate perception.

1. Lesser Potential to Detect MotionSome patients with Alzheimer’s eyes are incompetent to detect movement. They don’t see the world as an ongoing video like most people do and instead see them as still photos. This perception of the world can cause patients with Alzheimer’s eyes feel even more lost even in familiar surroundings. They may face difficulty following a moving object which can impact the ability to comfortably watch television or perform an activity that requires fast motion.
2. Loss of Depth PerceptionPatients have trouble judging how far they are from an object. For example, this comes into play when someone is trying to sit down on a chair behind them and they can’t figure out how far they are from the object and they miss the chair and fall. And that can be a serious injury. They also have trouble of understanding whether or not an object is part of a surface or a separate object.
3. Loss of Peripheral visionPeople by mid Alzheimer’s disease have a 12-inch field of vision where they have lost everything on the top and on the sides, as well as the bottom.
4. Need for High Color ContrastPatients with Alzheimer’s eyes need objects of high color contrast. In order to pick out one object from another, they need to be of strongly different colors. For example, a white plate on a dark blue background on a table. A cup that has a strong color and is different from the liquid that’s in it would really help patients be more independent for longer.

Schedule an appointment with a trusted Ophthalmologist in Fresno today, to pick up early signs of Alzheimer’s eyes in your loved one.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com

Do Online Eye Tests Work?

The easier access to the internet has significantly improved our lives, and with more services being made available on our mobile device, the multitasking smartphone does even more today. You can do a lot on your smartphone today that include shopping, watching television, checking the weather, and now even an online eye test that determines the vision and potential problems in your eye. A study reveals that 75% of Americans use some kind of corrective lenses. Getting the perfect pair of glasses can be time-consuming, which is why a new breed of vision test promises quick results. But can an online eye test replace your eye doctor?

What can an Online Eye Test do?

So it happened again. You misplaced your only pair of glasses or maybe you’ve run out of your last box of contacts. In order to get them replaced, you need a new prescription which means an appointment with your eye doctor. But now companies are offering to check your vision online, without having to step into a doctor’s office. They even send your eye test results to an ophthalmologist who can review the results with a prior prescription and issue a new prescription for glasses, contact lenses or both. However, online vision tests may detect visual acuity but are not designed to replace comprehensive eye exams. In fact, many eye care professionals question whether they are reliable as these tests cannot spot early signs of eye conditions. If you have medical concerns stemming from these tests, you should seek assistance from an eye care professional immediately.

What can an Online Eye Test not Check?

Online eye tests cannot effectively detect what an eye doctor can examine in person. For instance, your medical case history, color blindness, retinoscopy, dry eye syndrome, glaucoma, cataracts and pupil dilation, amongst many other vision problems. In-person eye tests even diagnose conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and even tumors. 92% of surveyed Americans would rather complete a comprehensive eye exam that is guaranteed to be accurate. The same survey showed that 86% of people preferred face-to-face interactions with their eye doctor compared to online eye tests.

Risks of Online Eye Tests

Don’t cut corners when it comes to your eye health. Online eye tests aim to assess your vision correction needs but they may not be very accurate. Additionally, these online eye exams don’t replace other important aspects of regular eye examinations. Your doctor assesses your eye health, spotting early signs of eye conditions. You’re also at a greater risk of an inaccurate prescription for your eyeglasses or contact lenses with these self-administered vision tests. Moreover, if your eye test isn’t done correctly, you may not be able to see as clearly as you should while driving and may experience headaches and eye strains with your new corrective lenses.

Schedule an appointment with a trusted Ophthalmologist in Fresno today for a comprehensive eye exam and any updates to your contact lenses prescription.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com

What Are Eye Floaters and How to Treat Them?

You have probably already noticed that small dark spots sometimes seem to follow the movement of your eyes. These curious black floats that question us are, in fact, an integral part of our ocular system. These shadows, which can manifest in many forms and move in our eye, obscuring part of our visual field, are called eye floaters. Observed in more than 70% of people, they appear as lines or black dots, sometimes gray.

What Are Eye Floaters?

These are dark spots in the form of dots, circles, lines or cobwebs that seem to move in the visual field. They are particularly noticeable when you look at a background with little colors such as a clear sky or a white wall. Eye floaters can appear in multiple shapes or numbers and they seem to move when looking in different directions.

Floating bodies are in principle, simple proteins from the gel-like substance in the eye called vitreous. This threadlike group of proteins blocks the arrival of the external light to the retina, causing a shadow in front of the latter. So, the dark shapes that you see and move in your field of view are actually the floating bodies themselves.

Symptoms

Eye floaters can be uncomfortable, but they usually do not interfere with your eyesight. However, here are some symptoms that help you identify if you are observing eye floaters or some other ocular problems:

• Black or gray dots
• Squiggly lines
• Threadlike strands, which can be bumpy and semi-transparent
• Cobwebs
• Profiled rings

Once you develop eye floaters usually they do not go away, but they tend to improve over time.

What Causes Eye Floaters?

The inside of the eye is filled with a transparent and gelatinous substance called the vitreous. The vitreous helps maintain the shape of the eye and allows light to penetrate through the retina – the thin, light-sensitive tunic that lines the back of the eye and works much like a film in a camera. Floating bodies are small gelatinous masses that form in the vitreous. Even if one has the impression that they are on the anterior part of the eye, they actually float in the vitreous and are perceived as shadows by the retina.

Other causes include:

1. Age-related eye changes: With aging, vitreous shrinks and often separates from the retina. In fact, between the ages of 50-70 years, the vitreous is separated from the retina in about 50% of people and this causes the appearance of vitreous floaters. These can be very annoying at first, but the brain gradually learns not to pay attention and after a few months, you barely notice them. Visit your ophthalmologist to keep a check on age-related eye diseases.
2. Inflammation in the back of the eye: Seeing floaters can sometimes result from internal inflammation or crystalline deposits that form in the vitreous.
3. Torn retina: Most of the time, the vitreous separates from the retina without causing any problem. In some people, there are adhesions between the retina and the vitreous and tearing of the retina can occur when the vitreous detaches, causing in the eye a slight bleeding that may look like a group of new bodies floating.
4. Other causes: Rare causes include tumors and the presence of intraocular foreign bodies. In some cases, the moving organs may be associated with diabetes, the results of ocular surgery or advanced cataract.

Eye Floaters Treatment

Benign eye floaters almost never need medical treatment. If they are unpleasant, you can move them away from your field of vision by moving your eyes. This maneuver moves the fluid in your eyes. Looking up and down is generally more effective than looking from side to side.

If eye floaters are so dense and numerous that they affect your vision, your ophthalmologist may consider a surgery called vitrectomy. During this procedure, a part or all of the vitreous body and its floating debris are removed and replaced with saline solution. Vitrectomy can have complications, such as retinal detachment, retinal tears or cataract. The risks of these complications are low, but if they occur, vision can be damaged permanently. Because of this, most surgeons will not recommend vitrectomy unless eye floaters are causing an extraordinary visual impairment.

Another option is laser vitreolysis wherein a laser beam is focused on large seeing floaters to break or vaporize them. However, you will need a good ophthalmologist to determine if you can benefit from this treatment. If you are in Fresno, you can find qualified and experienced ophthalmologists in Fresno for treatment of your eye floaters.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com

What Causes Eye Twitching?

Eye twitching is a pretty common phenomena that involves an involuntary spasm of the muscles
in the eyelid. It typically lasts for a few seconds or minutes. It can come and go over a few days
or weeks.

Here are 7 reasons for an eye twitch:

1. Stress, Fatigue and Lack of Sleep
   Our bodies react differently to stress and can result in eye strain. Fatigue and lack of
   sleep again can result in a twitching eye.
2. Alcohol
   Alcohol consumption can take a toll on your health and can result in muscle exhaustion
   making your eye twitch at times.
3. Dry Eye
   People, who wear contact lenses and take medication are more prone to dry eyesyndrome. Dry eyes often result in eye twitching.
4. Eye Strain
   Spending a lot of time in front of computer screens and continuous use of technology can
   lead to an eye twitch. You should schedule an eye exam as you may need to get an eye
   check up done, especially for those of you who wear glasses.
5. Blepharospasm
   Middle-aged women may experience eye twitching due to a nerve disorder which
   involves frequent muscle contraction.
6. Allergies and Irritation
   Foreign particles such as dust, smoke and chemicals can result in swelling, itching and
   watery eyes and all of those can make your eye twitch at times.
7. Nutritional Imbalance
   There is a possibility of getting an eye twitch due to lack of magnesium in your diet.

Tips to Get Relief

1. Sleep properly for 6-8 hours
2. Ditch the coffee and avoid caffeine
3. Massage your eyelids
4. Put an ice pack with a few drops of chamomile or rose oil on to get some releif from your
   eye twitch
5. Drinking chamomile or lavender tea can help alleviate stress and relax your eye twitch

When is it Time to Consult a Doctor?

A twitching eyelid may not require immediate medical attention. However, persistent spasms
may indicate a brain or nervous system disorder. If you have any of the following symptoms, you
should consult your doctor:

• Swollen red eye that may have some uncommon discharge
• Drooping upper eyelid
• Every time your eyelid twitches, your eyelid completely closes
• Twitching for several days
• Twitching infects other body parts

Eye health is a vital part of your well-being. If you want to ditch the twitch and are looking for a
trusted eye doctor in Fresno, call us on 559-449-5050.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com

Dedicate This February to Learning about Low Vision and Spreading Awareness

According to recent studies funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the number of Americans who are visually impaired—including those with low vision— is expected to double to more than 8 million by 2050. With the increasing life expectancy rates, these numbers are extremely concerning as this goes to show that an increasing amount of people are at a risk of developing a visual impairment. Therefore, it is extremely important to spread awareness about such vision impairment tendencies and ensure that people receive the necessary help. But in order to spread awareness about this, take a moment to understand more about low vision, its symptoms and its impact.

What is low vision?

When low vision occurs, people find it difficult to read or see even with regular glasses, contact lenses and medicine or surgery. Tasks like watching TV, cooking, driving and even writing can seem extremely challenging. People aged 65 or older are most likely to be impacted by low-vision. The leading cause of low vision is due to improper treatment or delay in the detection of eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, cataract and glaucoma. In case of younger adults, low-vision is usually caused by genetic tendencies or the prevalence of an undetected eye disease. Take a look at some facts related to low-vision and its widespread impact.

According to National Federation of The Blind:

• It is estimated that about 1.3 million people in the U.S. are legally blind.
• It is estimated that as many as 10 million Americans are blind or visually impaired.
• There are 5.5 million seniors in the United States who are either blind or visually impaired.
• Studies show that over the next 30 years, aging baby boomers will double the current number of blind or visually impaired Americans.
• Just 1% of the blind population is born without sight. The vast majority of blind people lose their vision later in life because of macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetes.
• With macular degeneration, central vision deteriorates, resulting in blurred vision and eventually leads to blindness. While there are treatments to delay these conditions, there is no cure.
• Macular degeneration is known to affect about 13 million Americans.

What Can You Do If You or Someone You Know is Suffering from Low-Vision?

Low vision can be extremely tough to deal with, and may leave people feeling helpless, and anxious, that is why it is necessary to remind them that they can get help.
First and foremost, it is extremely important to schedule regular visits to your ophthalmologist in order to supervise your eye health regularly. In case of those affected by low-vision, you must speak to your ophthalmologist about your treatment options to help reduce its impact and slow down the process. Your eye doctor will also be able to provide low vision aids to help improve the transition.

As for those of you who are at a risk of low-vision or AMD, it is best to visit your eye doctor regularly and get dilated eye exams regularly to ensure optimum eye health. If you are looking for an Ophthalmologist in Fresno, we at Insight Vision Center, have a talented team of eye care specialists to address any of your vision related queries or eye health issues. So, if you have noticed any changes in your vision, don’t ignore the signs and book an appointment with us today, to know more about how you can protect your vision and keep it healthy.

Aaron Barriga

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK.

www.insightvisioncenter.com