EYE CARE IN BOULDER: COMMON EYE PROBLEMS AND THEIR SYMPTOMS

Although eye problems are generally associated with aging, they can affect anyone at any age. Eye care specialists in Boulder can treat these problems, but people should know what to look for. Here is a list of common eye problems and their symptoms.

Presbyopia

This eye problem occurs when a person is unable to clearly see small print and close objects. It is a normal process associated with age, with most people not noticing any changes until after the age of 40. This problem can be made better or improved with reading glasses, LASIK, and a number of other procedures.

Dry Eyes

This occurs when the tear glands make poor quality tears or an insufficient amount of tears. Symptoms include uncomfortable, painful, stinging, burning or itching eyes, blurry vision, and redness of the eye. Dry eye syndrome may leave a person vulnerable to bacterial infections. If left untreated, it can lead to scarring of the cornea, and in severe cases can lead to loss of vision.

Cataracts

The lens of the eye is supposed to be clear. However, with age, sometimes the lens turns cloudy due to proteins inside the lens clumping together. This may be caused by not wearing eye protection when out in the sun, high blood sugar, smoking, high blood pressure, steroid medications or hormone replacement therapy. Symptoms include:

·         Blurry vision which gets worse over time

·         Poor night vision

·         Light sensitivity

·         Seeing ‘halos’ around lights

·         Frequent need for stronger glasses

·         Seeing through a yellow tint

·         Seeing double

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a result of pressure buildup in the eye and can lead to the optic nerve being damaged. It is often caused by eye injuries, eye infection, inflammatory conditions of the eye, and blocked blood vessels. Symptoms include eye pain, redness of the eye, sudden blurred vision, sudden disturbances in vision, and seeing colored ‘halos’ around lights.

Conjunctivitis

Also known as ‘pink eye’ or ‘red eye.’ Conjunctivitis occurs when the tissue lining the eyelids and cornea becomes inflamed. This is often caused by infection, allergies or exposure to irritants and chemicals. Frequent hand-washing before eating significantly reduces a person’s chances of getting ‘pink eye.’

Night Blindness

People with night blindness have poor vision in dimly lit areas or at night. The only symptom of night blindness is problems seeing in the dark. It can have many causes including cataracts or nearsightedness. Treatment will depend on the underlying cause.

These are just some of the common eye problems many people experience. If a person is experiencing these symptoms it is important that they see an eye doctor immediately. Treatment is often simple and may not require surgery. But if these conditions are left untreated, they can lead to more serious problems such as loss of vision.

General eye care Boulder is essential. Frequent eye checks should be done by a doctor and people can also help prevent eye problems by eating a balanced diet, wearing sunglasses and not smoking.

EYE CARE IN BOULDER: COMMON EYE PROBLEMS AND THEIR SYMPTOMS

Although eye problems are generally associated with aging, they can affect anyone at any age. Eye care specialists in Boulder can treat these problems, but people should know what to look for. Here is a list of common eye problems and their symptoms.

Presbyopia

This eye problem occurs when a person is unable to clearly see small print and close objects. It is a normal process associated with age, with most people not noticing any changes until after the age of 40. This problem can be made better or improved with reading glasses, LASIK, and a number of other procedures.

Dry Eyes

This occurs when the tear glands make poor quality tears or an insufficient amount of tears. Symptoms include uncomfortable, painful, stinging, burning or itching eyes, blurry vision, and redness of the eye. Dry eye syndrome may leave a person vulnerable to bacterial infections. If left untreated, it can lead to scarring of the cornea, and in severe cases can lead to loss of vision.

Cataracts

The lens of the eye is supposed to be clear. However, with age, sometimes the lens turns cloudy due to proteins inside the lens clumping together. This may be caused by not wearing eye protection when out in the sun, high blood sugar, smoking, high blood pressure, steroid medications or hormone replacement therapy. Symptoms include:

·         Blurry vision which gets worse over time

·         Poor night vision

·         Light sensitivity

·         Seeing ‘halos’ around lights

·         Frequent need for stronger glasses

·         Seeing through a yellow tint

·         Seeing double

3    

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a result of pressure buildup in the eye and can lead to the optic nerve being damaged. It is often caused by eye injuries, eye infection, inflammatory conditions of the eye, and blocked blood vessels. Symptoms include eye pain, redness of the eye, sudden blurred vision, sudden disturbances in vision, and seeing colored ‘halos’ around lights.

Conjunctivitis

Also known as ‘pink eye’ or ‘red eye.’ Conjunctivitis occurs when the tissue lining the eyelids and cornea becomes inflamed. This is often caused by infection, allergies or exposure to irritants and chemicals. Frequent hand-washing before eating significantly reduces a person’s chances of getting ‘pink eye.’

Night Blindness

People with night blindness have poor vision in dimly lit areas or at night. The only symptom of night blindness is problems seeing in the dark. It can have many causes including cataracts or nearsightedness. Treatment will depend on the underlying cause.

These are just some of the common eye problems many people experience. If a person is experiencing these symptoms it is important that they see an eye doctor immediately. Treatment is often simple and may not require surgery. But if these conditions are left untreated, they can lead to more serious problems such as loss of vision.

General eye care Boulder is essential. Frequent eye checks should be done by a doctor and people can also help prevent eye problems by eating a balanced diet, wearing sunglasses and not smoking.

How to Get the Best Eye Care in Boulder

It can be difficult to find the right eye doctor, especially in a large city where there are many options. In this case, it’s important to look at a number of factors to determine if an eye doctor or practice is the best for a person’s particular needs – whether they are a senior citizen dealing with cataracts, or a school-age child who needs glasses for the first time. Whatever the concern, the most important criteria for the best eye care boulder are included below.

Experience When it comes to choosing an eye doctor, looking at their experience, education, and credentials is necessary. Find out where they received their degrees and any other relevant education. Look at how many years they have been in practice. Experience alone is not the best indicator, however. Make sure to take other factors into consideration along with experience to find the best eye doctor and the best eye care. Services Offered Does the practice or office specialize in certain types of eye care? Do they offer care for the kind of treatment or exam needed? Potential patients should also check to see if their insurance is accepted at the eye care center of their choice.

Facilities Going to any kind of doctor can be nerve-wracking for some people. An eye care center’s facilities can help put people at ease and make them feel comfortable. They should be clean and tidy as well as cater to patients’ well-being. The facilities should also be in a convenient location for ease of access. Recommendations Recommendations from family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and other acquaintances can be a great source for finding the right eye care. Trusted contacts can give the name of their own eye doctor or eye care center where they feel the service and quality of care are high. These recommendations and excellent to take into consideration along with the other factors such as services, facilities, and years of experience.

Reviews In many cases eye care centers and eye doctors will have reviews from past and current patients online. Attention should not be paid to angry, one-line reviews, however, because these are subjective and not totally reliable. It’s also clear that not everyone can be pleased and sometimes circumstances are out of the control of the provider. Prospective eye care patients should look for honest, in-depth reviews that avoid subjective opinions. Conclusion Finding the best eye care in Boulder is not too tough if one carefully considers important factors when choosing between a few different options. These include the doctors’ years of experience/education, the location and comfort of the facilities, specializations or services offered, recommendations from friends/family, and non-biased online reviews of the eye care center or eye doctor. Prospective patients looking for eye care should be able to get the best service available to them, but this is far less likely to happen if one first doesn’t do careful research and weigh the pros and cons. Choosing smartly is what will result in the best choice.

Getting Quality Eye Care in Boulder

While general health practitioners can help detect a variety of health issues, sometimes a specialist is necessary to give individuals the quality check-ups and treatments they need. This is especially true when it comes to a very important, sensitive, and vulnerable part of the body like the eyes. Everyone wants to get quality eye care boulder, and finding the right facility means getting the most advanced treatment at a comfortable rate. There are specific conditions which can affect the eyes, and finding the right facility allows individuals to get the best treatment for these ailments from field specialists.

Getting Basic Exams and Check-Ups While a family doctor or standard physician can provide insight for basic conditions that a person’s eyes may be exhibiting, optometrists can provide a much more thorough and detailed diagnosis. Quality eye care in Boulder can be found at a number of facilities. Not only are professionals licensed and trained according to the best methods in the industry, but they continue their studies in order to learn more advanced techniques and better treatments for common conditions. And while becoming a regular patient can give individuals a reliable resource for making sure their eyes remain healthy, many facilities are also welcoming to out of town patients who need one-time or spur of the moment treatment.

Treatment for Out of Town Patients Patients who need quick and immediate eye care can often be accommodated at one of the facilities in the area. Most can help streamline the preliminary paperwork and get newcomers in quickly. In addition, many eye offices provide an online guide to hotels in the area as well as other valuable information that visitors may find useful. And while basic exams and treatment are the most common reasons that patients visit an optometrist’s office, many of these facilities can provide treatment for serious eye conditions.

Getting Treatment for Glaucoma and Other Illnesses There are a number of serious illnesses that affect the eyes. Getting these treated in a timely manner by a qualified protection is vital for making sure that the problem is resolved effectively. While not all standard optometry facilities provide care for ailments like glaucoma, many are certified in the most state-of-the-art methods for treating such diseases. And while modern methods are helpful in producing good results for patients, oftentimes proper habits are enough to help anyone keep their eyes in good health. Though serious conditions like this require professional assistance, optometrists can provide valuable insight about ways patients can protect their eyes in day to day life. Helping to Spread Awareness about Eye Conditions One of the best ways to avoid eye conditions is to be knowledgeable about what causes them and how they can be prevented. Many professionals within the industry have joined together to create high-quality information centers both online and in print to help people further their awareness about eye health. Facilities that participate in this type of program can also provide guidance to other specialists as needed to help patients.

Eye Exercises to Assist with Boulder Eye Care

Just like any other muscle in the human body, eyes need regular exercise in order for them to stay healthy. While eye exercises cannot alter the eye’s basic anatomy, they can help the eyes to continue to do intense eye usage tasks such as computer work and television watching. For any other problems, there is always good eye care Boulder.

Exercises for the eyes help with eye care in Boulder

Comedienne W. C. Fields was once quoted as saying that whenever he thought of exercise, he laid down and waited for the thought to pass. Exercise is not always a welcome topic, but these eye exercises are simple and do not require a lot of time to perform:

1. Blinking the eyes

When people blink, their eyes segue into a brief phase of darkness that refreshes their eyes, encourages moisture in the eyes, reduces eyestrain, relaxes the focus, and soothes the eyes. Blinking every three to four seconds for a period of two minutes can help computer-strained eyes be ready for more work.

Blinking or not blinking is also helpful in interpersonal relations because a blink-less stare is a sign of aggression. Blinking can defuse a super-charged atmosphere and ensure that the other party doesn’t feel under attack.

2. Palming the eyes

Palming the eyes is as simple an exercise as blinking, but it can make a huge difference in the way the eyes feel and it can positively impact a person’s working day. It is done by taking a few deep breaths, then placing the cup of the palm of both hands over the eyes. The fingers rest on the cheekbone and the heel of the hands rests on the cheekbone. Done properly, a person is still able to blink when the eyes are palmed.

As a yoga exercise, it is done by:

• Sitting quietly with eyes closed, taking deep breaths to relax completely.

• Rubbing the palms together vigorously until they become warm, and then lacing them over the eyes so that the warmth from the palms can be felt.

• Allowing the warmth to be transferred onto the eyes to relax the eye muscles while the eyes are encased in darkness.

• Holding this position until the heat from the palms has dissipated.

• Keeping the eyes closed, repeating the process at least three full times.

3. Tracing the figure eights

This exercise is first done by imagining an upright figure eight approximately ten feet in front, and then tracing the figure eight with the eyes for a few minutes. Next the figure eight is turned on its side horizontally but still facing forward, and a repeat of the tracing is performed.

4. Focusing near and far

With the person in a seated position and taking deep breaths, the thumb is placed approximately 10 inches in front of the person’s face, becoming a focal point. The person alternates focusing on the thumb and something 10-20 feet away with each intake of breath, doing this for two to three minutes.

5. Zooming is similar to focusing

From a seated position, the arm is extended in front with the thumb upraised to a fully stretched out position, and then moved to about 3 inches from the face. The focus remains on the thumb while the thumb moves from near to far and back again for approximately 3 minutes.

These eye exercises will not change the shape of a person’s eye or change the need for eye care in Boulder, but they will help the eyes on a day-to-day basis.

5 Main Health-Related Aspects Emphasized by Reliable Eye Care in Boulder

Having good vision is an important asset at any age. This is precisely why a good eye doctor in Boulder will always strive to offer their patients the best guidelines on how to protect their eyes and minimize threats that could lead to excessive fatigue, redness, low vision and several other health concerns impacting people’s ability to work, as well as their health and overall well-being.

Key Aspects Highlighted by Professional Eye Care in Boulder during Routine Check-ups

Aside from creating and implementing treatment plans tailored to the nature and extent of each medical issue reported by patients, the experts employed by eye care centers will also highlight the importance of the five key aspects listed below. These contribute a great deal to improved eye health and better vision.

1. A Good Diet Supports Better Vision. To begin with, many professionals recommend dietary changes supporting an improved vision. Recent studies indicate that better eye health can be achieved and maintained by eating certain categories of foods, such as oily fish, citrus fruits, beans, nuts, eggs and green leafy vegetables, on a regular basis.

2. A New Lifestyle as a Non-Smoker. Moreover, each appointment scheduled by a patient is a good opportunity for a provider in Boulder to remind individuals just how important it is to avoid smoking. Statistics show that smokers are more likely to develop one or more medical concerns linked to eye health, such as optic nerve damage, cataracts or macular degeneration. A good eye doctor could even help the patient select and implement the best personalized strategies to give up smoking.

3. The Importance of Wearing the Right Type of Glasses. Also, a specialist will allow patients to identify, buy and wear the best type of sunglasses designed to protect the eyes from UV rays. Extensive UV exposure may increase the likelihood of getting macular degeneration and cataracts, so it is extremely important for patients to invest in quality sunglasses that manage to block anywhere from 99% to 100% of the UVB and UVA rays that they are exposed to on a daily basis. A good eye doctor can recommend the best sunglasses for each individual based on his or her unique needs. For instance, drivers may require polarized lenses to minimize glare, while people requiring the highest level of protection against UVA/UVB rays may need wraparound lenses, which safeguard the eyes from side to side.

4. The Importance of Using the Most Suitable Eyewear at Work. Furthermore, a specialist can guide patients towards the simplest and most effective ways to shield their eyes in their working environment. For example, people handling potentially hazardous materials should wear protective goggles at work. Individuals playing certain sports, such as lacrosse or rugby, should wear quality protective equipment. These can include helmets featuring protective face masks or durable, solid sports goggles that come with sturdy polycarbonate lenses to avoid injuries during daily activities.

5. Expert Advice on How to Cope with Daily Stressors. Last but not least, during a first consultation, professional eye care Boulder will also provide personalized advice to his or her patients, aiming to prevent or address concerns associated with daily stressors, such as staring at computer screens for long periods of time. This issue can lead to several negative effects, including eyestrain, blurry vision, headaches and difficulties focusing at a greater distance. Fortunately, all these complications can be avoided through a sequel of steps, including repositioning the computer, avoiding glare on the screen from light sources and windows, and wearing the most suitable type of contact lenses or glasses.

Sight Defenders: Bilberry and Lutein for Great Eye Care in Boulder

Although neither of them appears with a cape or a mask, both Bilberry and Lutein are major sight defenders. They are not faster than a speeding bullet or able to leap tall buildings with a single bound, but they can quickly restore one’s vision to near normalcy when macular degeneration begins to creep in.

The Benefits of Lutein

When it comes to eye care Boulder, lutein is a major sight defender. Lutein (pronounced LOO-teen) is a pigment that is one of the over 600 known carotenoids occurring in nature. Lutein is in egg yolks, corn, spinach, broccoli, kale, turnip greens, collards, lettuce, okra, and carrots.

It can also be found in eye tissues such as the retina’s pigment and parts of the lens. Lutein appears to have a role in slowing age-related degeneration of these tissues. Research indicates that there is a direct correlation between lutein ingestion and eye pigmentation. Furthermore, lutein may absorb blue light and cause a 90 percent reduction in blue light intensity.

Supplementation with lutein helps when:

●     Allergies to lutein-rich foods preclude a person’s being able to eat sufficient amounts of it

●     Illness, age, or genetic predisposition cause a person’s digestive system to be functioning sub-optimally

●     People consume foods grown in poor soil that is pesticide-laden and chemically fertilized, as these foods are nutrient-depleted.

Lutein has become popular as a supplement either alone or in combination with bilberry and zeaxanthin for daily eye support and for the improvement and prevention of visual problems such as macular degeneration. Humans eat about 1 to 3 mg of lutein per day.

Benefits of Bilberry

Bilberry is another antioxidant that is very helpful for eye care. It is known by many names: fraughan, myrtle blueberry, whortleberry, whinberry, blueberry, and winberry. It grows as a shrub in temperate climates and produces a fruit that can be eaten fresh or used in preserves or desserts. There is also a drink that is made from it: bilberry liqueur. In addition to helping with eye care, the leaves from bilberry are also used to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, typhoid fever, and kidney stones.

The anthocyanosides in bilberry have been demonstrated to strengthen blood vessels and the walls of capillaries, improve the flexibility of red blood cells allowing them to better deliver oxygen, and cause a stabilization in collagen tissues such as tendons, cartilage, and ligaments. These anthocyanosides also lower cholesterol. 

Within the eyes, the anthocyanosides in bilberry increase pigments of the retina, which allows light to be more tolerable to the eye. It is thought that the ability of bilberry to improve eyesight and night vision is due to the fact that there is a high concentration of capillaries in the eye that can receive more oxygen and other nutrients thanks to the increased flexibility of the red blood cells and the vasodilating (opening) effect of bilberry on the capillaries.

Bilberry, Lutein and Zeaxanthin: the Triple Threat for Eye Care in Boulder

Bilberry and lutein together make the perfect caped defenders of one’s eyesight. They work even better when they are joined by zeaxanthin. This threesome is a great additive to a regimen of eye care in Boulder.