Over The Counter Eye Drops - Which Are Right for You?

If your eyes are red and irritated it can be a little overwhelming at the pharmacy trying to determine which of the many over the counter eyedrops available are right for you. Dry eyes and eye allergies are common conditions that are sometimes mistaken for one another. This is largely due to similarity in symptoms, as both conditions can cause irritation, redness, and blurry vision. Compounding the confusion is the fact that an allergic episode can aggravate an already dry eye, exacerbating dry eye symptoms that had been mild and tolerable.
Your best bet is to start with an artificial tear to help lubricate the eye and make it more comfortable. If the source of your eye irritation is a dry corneal surface, this should remedy the problem. However, if the discomfort continues then, at worst, the artificial tears helped flush any allergens from the eye and your next step is to try an allergy eye drop.
Unlike artificial tears, which can be used as often as needed, over the counter allergy eyedrops need to be used as directed for frequency and duration of use. Most over-the-counter allergy eye drops contain topical decongestants, like those found in drops that “get the red out”, which should only be used for a few days at a time. When topical decongestants are used long-term, a medical condition called conjunctivitis medicamentosa can develop. Symptoms include an increase in eye redness and irritation, with more dependence on the eye drop for relief. There are over the counter antihistamine eye drops specifically formulated to treat itching due to allergy without using topical decongestants.
If you have questions or concerns regarding your eye health or what eye drops are right for you, contact your eye specialist, or call us at Shanbom Eye Specialist. You may also visit our website at www.shanbomeyespecialist.com for more information.
You can contact Dr. Shanbom at 248-546-2133. His office is located on Woodward, just south of 12 Mile.

Seasonal Allergies Are in Full Bloom

Spring is in the air! Unfortunately that means allergy season is upon us again. With the welcoming sight of green buds on trees comes the unwelcome increased pollen which means that millions of allergy sufferers will be sneezing, sniffling, and rubbing their red, itchy eyes. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you may be looking for a way to relieve the discomfort of irritated eyes. Eye allergies are one of the most common disorders of the eye, affecting an estimated 40 million Americans. There are many types of eye allergies but the most common is seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Approximately 90% of all eye allergy cases are seasonal and usually occurs during the spring and fall. It's triggered by outdoor allergens such as trees, grass and weed pollen. People with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis usually have symptoms which include itchy eyes, burning of the eyes and eye watering. In some cases, people notice light sensitivity and blurred vision. The eyes are usually red, and the eyelids may become swollen. When the inside of the eyelid (the conjunctiva) is also swollen, the eyes may have a watery, gelatinous-like appearance - this finding is called "chemosis". Though these symptoms are stereotypical, your eye care specialist needs to rule out common external disease problems such as dry eye, blepharitis, rosacea, and low-grade bacterial conjunctivitis. Because many of the allergens that trigger eye allergies are airborne, the following steps can be taken to relieve unavoidable seasonal allergy symptoms that pop up: · Use over-the-counter artificial tears to dilute and flush out allergens from the eyes. This will also relieve some of the itching and redness. · Apply a cool compress to the eyes to ease discomfort and reduce puffiness. · Over-the-counter antihistamines that are designed to help nasal allergies can also help treat eye allergies. · For more severe seasonal allergic conjunctivitis cases, an ophthalmologist can prescribe eye drops to offer relief. To learn more about eye allergies and possible treatment options, contact your eye specialist, or call us at Shanbom Eye Specialist. You may also visit our website at www.shanbomeyespecialist.com for more information. You can contact Dr. Shanbom of Shanbom Eye Specialist at 248-546-2133. His office is located on Woodward, just south of 12 Mile.

Most of the focusing power in the eye occurs along the front surface of the eye, at the cornea (the clear 'window' in the front of the eyeball). The human eye is usually shaped in a sphere, like a ball, but with astigmatism, the cornea of the eye is curved instead into an oval shape, more like a football. When the eye has these inconsistent curves, light will not travel in and out of the eye normally. The uneven shape of the cornea causes the light entering the eye to scatter in different directions. This can make objects appear blurry and distorted.
In addition to skewed vision, some of the signs or symptoms of astigmatism are:
• Headaches • Eye strain
• Squinting • Difficulty driving at night
Glasses or contact lenses can be prescribed to treat astigmatism, but they generally do not correct the condition. Astigmatism can occur alone as the sole optical error, or may occur together with either myopia or hyperopia. Often, two different lenses will help the eyes focus together, thus offsetting the uneven focusing caused by astigmatism. Astigmatism, however, can be corrected with surgery. Lasik vision correction is the surgery lenses are available that can be used to eliminate astigmatism.
Astigmatism can affect a child's ability to see well in school and during sports but children may be even more unaware of the condition than adults. As they are unlikely to complain about blurred or distorted vision, it's important that eye exams be scheduled at regular intervals to detect any astigmatism early on.

Droopy eyelids may be more than you think.

Ptosis refers to drooping of an upper eyelid of one or both eyes. The droop may be barely noticeable, or the lid can descend over the entire pupil. Ptosis happens in both children and adults, but usually occurs because of aging. Often patients choose to correct ptosis for cosmetic reasons, however in most cases, the drooping upper eyelid results in a reduction in the field of vision. Depending on how severely the lid droops, people with ptosis may have difficulty seeing. Sometimes people tilt their heads back to try to see under the lid or raise their eyebrows repeatedly to try to lift the eyelids. A furrowed forehead or a chin-up head position may indicate that someone is trying to see under their drooping lids. Eyelid drooping can make someone appear sleepy or tired as well as making the eyes fatigue easily, especially when reading.

I can see clearly now...Isn’t that how the song goes? Well, that may not be the case if you have cataracts.
Cataracts affect the lens of the eye resulting in cloudy or filmy vision, dulled color vision, and difficulty with glare, particularly when driving at night. Cataracts are a normal event of aging and more than 90% of people of the age of 75 have cataracts. Once you start to notice the symptoms of cataracts, changing glasses will only help minimally in improving your vision. The best option to optimize your sight is to have cataract surgery.
With cataract surgery, the cloudy natural lens must be removed from the eye. It is than replaced with a permanent new lens implant that not only clears your cloudy vision; it can eliminate or reduce your need for glasses.
Determining the right implant lens for you can be based on many factors. You may be given the choice of a specialty lens that can correct astigmatism or one that could restore your ability to see at all distances such as a multifocal or accommodating lens.
If your functional vision is impaired and it is beginning to affect your lifestyle; reading, sports, driving, etc. then it may be time to consider cataract surgery.

Itchy, red eyes? - It may not be what you think.

One of the most common eye problems in older adults is a skin condition called blepharitis . This condition tends to become more noticeable or markedly worsen with the onset of cold weather and drier air conditions. It is often caused by bacteria (usually staphylococcus) or related to a chronic skin condition, such as dandruff, skin allergies, rosacea, or eczema.

Symptoms of blepharitis include a foreign body or burning sensation, excessive tearing, itching, sensitivity to light (photophobia), red and swollen eyelids, redness of the eye, blurred vision, frothy tears, dry eye, or crusting of the eyelashes on awakening. In severe cases, there can be loss of eyelashes or corneal problems. Complications like an eye sty, chalazion, or dry eye syndrome can also be associated with blepharitis.

Blepharitis can be very bothersome and , although it may be very unattractive, it is a common eye condition that usually does not affect vision. In some cases, this condition can become chronic and may never go away completely. Luckily, with good hygiene and the proper treatment, blepharitis can be kept under control.

Treatment of blepharitis involves keeping the lids clean and free of crust. Warm compresses should be applied to the lid to loosen the crusts, followed by a light scrubbing of the eyelid with a cotton swab and a mixture of water and baby shampoo. There are also commercially prepared lid scrubs available over the counter or through your eye doctor. The use of artificial tears or lubricating eyedrops can also offer some relief of the discomfort associated with this condition. If the blepharitis is severe, an eye care professional may also prescribe antibiotics or steroid eyedrops. Because blepharitis rarely goes away completely, most patients must maintain an eyelid hygiene routine for life.

To learn more about blepharitis and what treatment may be right for you, contact your eye specialist, or call us at Shanbom Eye Specialist. You may also visit our website at www.shanbomeyespecialist.com for more information.

You can contact Dr. Shanbom of Shanbom Eye Specialist at 248-546-2133. His office is located on Woodward, just south of 12 Mile.

Laser Cataract Surgery Update

The dream of laser cataract surgery is finally here. The first commercial laser was delivered to a doctor in Texas this month. The first real cases should be done shortly. The laser will allow the surgeon to perform 80% of the surgery with the precision of the laser. There are 3 companies competing in the market. LenSx with Alcon, LensAr, and Optimedica. So far LenSx has the early lead with FDA approval. It's still too early to tell who has the best platform. We have learned with other technologies that the first to market isn't always the best. Many doctors feel this could revolutionize cataract surgery the way phacoemulsification did in the 1970s.