Eye Care FAQS

Did you know that the cornea is the only organ in the body that doesn’t have blood vessels? Our ‘peepers’ are quite fascinating. They’re also crucial to your overall health and well-being. We only get two, so it’s important to take good care of them! Read on as a local Marysville, WA eye doctor answers some FAQs about the eye. 

How Do I Prevent Vision Loss?

There’s no magic cure-all that will protect you from every possible cause of vision loss. Many, of course, are age-related. Some of the conditions that can lead to vision loss are hereditary. In other cases, people lose their vision due to accidents or infections. That said, there are many things you can do to help keep your eyes healthy.

Here are a few of the CDC’s top recommendations:

• Find Out About Your Family’s Health History
• Stay At A Healthy Weight
• Get Regular Eye Exams
• Monitor Your Blood Sugar
• Wear Safety Glasses
• Don’t Smoke
• Give Your Eye Screen Breaks
• Take Care Of Your Contacts
• Eat A Good, Nutritious Diet

How Does My Weight Affect My Eye Health?

Your weight is closely linked to your health in many ways: it affects your bones, your cardiovascular system, your liver, and other organs and systems. Your eyes are no exception.

The link between blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and eye health is crucial here. High blood pressure is inextricably linked with heart disease. Blood sugar levels are closely connected to diabetes. The eye depends on blood flow to function properly. Anything that interferes with that, such as high blood pressure, can be extremely dangerous to both your eye health and your overall health. Ask your Marysville, WA optometrist for more information! 

Why Is Wearing Sunglasses Important?

Sunglasses can definitely be a great fashion accessory, but the main reason to wear them is eye protection. Shades block out damaging UV-A and UV-B radiation from the sun. Ideally, you want to get a pair that blocks out between 99 to 100 percent of those rays.

There are secondary benefits as well. Sunglasses also help reduce glare, and can increase contrast, especially on sunny days. That helps you see better, which can in turn make driving safer. 

There are of course many options available. If you wear glasses or contacts, you may want to get  yourself some prescription shades. Ask your eye doctor for Marysville, WA recommendations. 

What Is The 20/20/20 Rule?

This is a simple habit to work into your health and eye care regimen. In a nutshell, the aim is that every 20 minutes, you’ll want to take 20 seconds and look at something that is 20 feet away. This just gives your eyes a break and lets them refocus. This is really important for anyone who works on a computer or does any other type of close work. There are also variations, such as the 10/10/10 and 30/30/30 rule. The main point is to give your eyes those rests.

What Are Some Common Eye Diseases? 

The eyes can be susceptible to many different diseases and infections. Some are very common, while others are quite rare. 

Here are some of the more common ones: 

• Age-Related Macular Degeneration
• Amblyopia
• Cataract
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Glaucoma
• Refractive Errors
• Strabismus

Ask your eye doctor for more information. 

What Are Some Warning Signs Of Vision Loss?

While some eye issues happen gradually, others can come on very rapidly. If you notice new symptoms, it’s important to go to your Marysville, WA vision care center right away. Many issues can be best treated if addressed early on. It’s unfortunately all too common for people to delay coming in, and miss that window of opportunity.  In some cases, it may be too late to do anything.

That said, here are some symptoms to be on the ‘lookout’ for:

• Red eyes
• Blurry vision
• Cloudy vision
• Swelling
• Crossed eyes
• Excessive tearing
• Halos around lights
• Discharge
• Droopy eyelid (sudden onset)
• Straight lines appear wavy
• Bulging eyes
• Change in iris color
• Double vision
• Cloudy vision
• Night Blindness
• Floaters
• Flashers
• Light sensitivity
• Eye pain
• Headaches
• Growing bump on the eyelid
• Tunnel Vision
• Burning sensation
• Fluctuating vision
• ‘Veil’ over vision
• Vision loss
• Dark Spots In Center Of Your Vision

These can be indicative of some very serious problems, such as a torn retina or glaucoma, which is the leading cause of blindness. Contact your eye care clinic right away if you notice any of these.

Why Are Regular Eye Exams So Important?

There are a few reasons for this. The big one, of course, is evaluating your vision, and determining if you need corrective eyewear. If you are already wearing glasses or contacts, then we’ll need to see if you need an adjustment to your prescription.

It’s important to realize that many eye issues are asymptomatic at first. That means these issues can only be detected through tests. That means taking the time to visit your eye doctor could reveal something early on, when treatment is most successful.

The eyes offer a unique ‘window’ into your body. In fact, they are the only part of the body in which your veins and arteries can be viewed without the use of surgery or cameras. Eye doctors are often able to detect signs of other health problems developing. That includes stroke, diabetes, tumors, cardiovascular disease, and multiple sclerosis and more.

What Is The Difference Between An Ophthalmologist, An Optometrist And An Optician?

One could think of these three fields as different branches on the eye care tree. Many people get them confused, and it isn’t hard to see why!

Here’s the breakdown:

Ophthalmologist

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors. They are required to complete college as well as at least eight years of postgraduate medical training. They can perform anything an optometrist can, but are typically focused on eye problems, rather than overall vision checks and correction. They are allowed to not only diagnose vision problems, but prescribe corrective eyewear. They may also perform surgeries, such as LASIK. Some specialize in specific conditions, such as pediatrics, for instance.

Optometrists 

To become an optometrist, one must have a doctor of optometry degree. That requires at least three years of college and four years of optometry school. Optometrists are not medical doctors (MDs), as they are specifically trained in eye health and care.  An optometrist can perform vision tests and eye exams. They can also prescribe and fit corrective eyewear, as well as write prescriptions for certain conditions.

Optometrists often refer patients to ophthalmologists. If you have a complex eye issue, you may need to see the latter.

Optician

Opticians do not deal with the eye directly: their focus is on corrective eyewear. They can fit and design glasses and contact lenses. They may be able to advise you on the pros and cons of different options, but cannot prescribe glasses, perform vision tests, or diagnose eye problems.

Of course, many vision care centers have all three on staff. 

How Often Should I See My Eye Doctor?

This will vary a bit, depending on your age and eye health. That said, the general rule of thumb is to come in every year or two, until you get to be about 64 or so. At that point, you may need to come in every year.

However, if anything changes, or if you notice any of the symptoms we’ve listed above, then you’ll want to make an appointment right away.

Do you have questions about your eye health or care? Are you due—or overdue—to have your eyes checked? Contact us, your Marysville, WA vision care center, today!