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multicade

June 17, 2013
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Bags Under Your Eyes?

By | Blog, Eye Care, Health and Nutrition

Do you feel old and tired because of your eyes? It is really hard to feel fresh and alert when your eyes are tired and droopy, because of those annoying bags under them. Bags are a sign of stress and fatigue.

Here are some handy and effective tips to get rid of under eye bags and dark circles:

1. Go Potato: Slice a raw potato (after refrigerating for a couple of minutes) into two and place the halves over your closed eyes so that it also covers the puffed areas under your eyes.  Leave it like that for 15-20 minutes. You’ll notice a tremendous change as the bags diminish in size.

2. Got Milk: If you have extremely puffed up eyes, this is the regular regime to follow. Dip cotton pads in chilled milk, place on your eyelids, and relax for 20-30 minutes. The cold milk will cool your eyes and help with water retention.

3. Vitamin E to the Rescue: Take chilled water in a bowl, add a few drops of vitamin E oil to it and mix well.  Dip cotton pads in the mixture and place on the eyes for 20 minutes, this well help to reduce the swelling around the eyes.

4. Cucumber Relief: Cucumbers are a fantastic natural remedy to get rid of under eye puffiness. Take 2 slices of fresh refrigerated cucumber and place it on your eyes for 25 minutes. Relax with the cool, soothing slices over your eyes and slip into a short nap.  This will help refresh your mind as well as your eyes, and the anti-inflammatory properties of the cool cucumber will naturally help reduce puffy tissues.

5. Chilled Tea Bags: If you are in a hurry and do not want to leave the house with droopy eyes then teabags are the way to go. Moisten two tea bags in cold water and refrigerate them for a while.  Lie back and relax with the cool teabags over your eyes for 25-30 minutes. Finish by washing your eyes and face with cold water, and dry your skin thoroughly. You will feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

6. Spoons and Ice Water: Puffy eyes can be reduced with the help of a glass of ice water and four stainless steel spoons. Chill the spoons in the water and then place one over each eye. Keep switching the spoons while letting the other one chill in the glass of water. Keep switching until you see improvement.

7. Green Tea Bag: Settle down for 10-15 minutes with a chilled, steeped chamomile or green tea bag over each eye. The natural properties of these herbal teas will help bring puffy eyes back to their original size.

8. Hydrate Your Body: Drink as much water as possible. Yes, it seems counterproductive when you are retaining water, but hydrating reduces puffiness. So drink a glass of water whenever you notice your eyes getting a little puffy or droopy.

May 31, 2013
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5 Reasons to Never Leave Home Without Your Sunglasses

By | Blog, Eye Care, Eye Facts, Health and Nutrition

Looking Cool is One of the Many Excellent Reasons to Wear Sunglasses:

You slather on SPF 50 to shield your skin from the sun. But what about your naked eyes? In a 2012 survey, less than half of 10,000 Americans polled recognized the health benefits of sunglasses, and 27 percent of respondents reported never wearing them. Yet this simple and stylish accessory* can protect your eyes from a host of conditions caused by ultraviolet rays:

1. Skin Cancer
Up to 10 percent of all skin cancers are found on the eyelid.

2. Cataracts
The World Health Organization reports that, worldwide, approximately 900,000 people are blind because of cataracts—cloudiness in the lens of the eye—triggered by UV exposure.

3. Macular Degeneration
Over time UV light may play a role in damaging the macula lutea (an area of the eye with millions of light-sensing cells, which allow us to see fine details clearly), potentially leading to blurriness and vision loss.

4. Pterygium
This abnormal growth of tissue—also called surfer’s eye—may progress slowly from either corner across the white part of the eye, possibly leading to inflammation or disturbance of vision.

5. Photokeratitis
Essentially a sunburn of the eye, it’s temporary (healing within 48 hours) but can be painful, causing blurred vision, light sensitivity, and the sensation of having sand in your eye.

*Just not the $5 pair for sale on the corner. Those can do you more harm than good. Our pupils dilate behind dark lenses, meaning cheap shades will actually let more damaging rays into your eyes than if you weren’t wearing any sunglasses at all. Purchase a pair that’s designed to block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB light.

April 29, 2013
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Why You Should Wear Sunscreen

By | Blog, Eye Care

For anyone who’s ever wondered why you should wear sunscreen, the answers to this question are straightforward and beneficial to your health.

Reasons Why You Should Wear Sunscreen

There is a huge variety of sunscreen options available today. Even people who don’t wear sunscreen every day on exposed body parts usually invest in a bottle or more during summer, when outdoor activities call.

There are a number of smart reasons to wear sunscreen daily. These include:

  • Avoiding sunburn: Besides being painful, sunburns are associated with an increased risk for melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Anyone who has ever suffered a severe sunburn knows how debilitating it can be, but the temporary physical effects you see and feel may have consequences far into the future that aren’t apparent at the time. Children are especially at higher risk for sunburns, and protecting their delicate skin now will cut down on their risk of skin cancer later in life; multiple blistering sunburns during childhood increases the cancer risk as a person ages.
  • Cuts down on skin cancer risk: With more awareness about skin cancer and skin cancer risks, the sunscreen industry has seen a boom. The earlier and more often people are protected from the harmful rays of the sun, the more they cut down on their risks of getting this disease, which range from mild to life-threatening. It’s worth investing in sunscreen and the small amount of time it takes to apply to avoid serious cancer down the road. Parents and caregivers, of course, will have to be diligent in applying sunscreen to children, and there are plenty of formulas made just for young and sensitive skin.
  • Keep skin wrinkle-free: Besides the health benefits of slathering on sunscreen every day, there’s also a vanity reason, for those who want to maintain their youthful looks. Some of the damaging physical effects of too much sun include premature aging, or wrinkles, and age spots. If the skin cancer facts don’t sway you, perhaps the idea that you can delay wrinkles will. You can easily wear a general sunscreen all over the body, while using a product made specifically for the face on that area. In addition, many cosmetic companies manufacture makeup with built-in sunscreen, so you can enjoy the convenience of multitasking products that will also protect you.
  • Prescription worries: Certain medications make the skin ultra sensitive to the sun’s rays, making a sunburn or allergic reaction a more likely possibility, even if you don’t spend a lot of time outdoors. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist when taking medications. Some over-the-counter medications also increase your sun sensitivity, such as those containing ingredients to fight serious acne. It’s important to wear a sunscreen if you know you’ll be outside while taking photo-toxic or photo-allergic drugs, but to be on the safest side, stay indoors as much as possible.

Sunscreen Is for Everyone

Although some people, due to genetics and their physical makeup, are more at risk for developing skin cancer, anyone of any ethnicity can get the disease. Some people with darker complexions mistakenly believe that the additional melanin in their skin protects them from skin cancer, but this is not true. Everyone should be aware of why you should wear sunscreen, whether they’re fair-skinned or not.

Smart Sunscreen Use

Young or old, dark or fair, sunscreen benefits everyone. The next time your child complains about having to endure being covered head-to-toe in sunscreen before you head to the beach or pool, you can explain why sunscreen is necessary. Besides the physical affects you may see now or sometime in the future, the serious health risks that may arise from never using sunscreen should be enough to convince anyone.

March 27, 2013
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“See” If You Know the Answers…

By | Blog, Eye Care, Health and Nutrition

Why do animal eyes glow in dark?

In the dark, the pupils are dilated, so that maximum amount of light enters the eyes. When suddenly, light is shone in the animal’s eyes, it is reflected from the Tapetum lucidum. This is the reflecting layer behind their rod-rich retina. That is the reason why animal eyes glow in dark.

What is the red eye effect in a photo?                                                                                                                                                                                                  

The red eye in the photo occurs when light shining from a certain angle gets reflected from the choroid. The choroid has many blood vessels  and therefore appears red. The ’red eye effect’ can be avoided by changing the direction of the camera.

Do some animals have no eyes?

Some salamanders that live in dark caves and certain fish that live near deep ocean beds have no eyes at all! This is because they do not need eyes, since light never ever reaches them! Some of them have rudimentary eyes with permanently closed eyelids over them, while in others the eyes are totally absent.

Is it true that we do not see some colors in flowers?

That is true!  Flowers appear bright and vivid yet they are even more colorful than they appear! Flowers, like daisies, have an attractive colored
zone around the center. This zone does not appear different from the surrounding color to us, but the butterflies can see the additional colors in that
zone. This is a special gift to the butterflies, since they have taken up the job of pollination.

Can butterflies see more than human beings?

Yes, butterflies have compound eyes like many other insects. They see better than humans in ultraviolet range up to 300 nm. They require this ability to spot the central nectar bearing part of the flower. The flowers have a more colorful center that we can’t see! This helps the plant in pollination.

Why are some animals, like cats and owls, able to see well at night?

Nocturnal animals like owls have greater density of rods in their retina. The rods are responsible for vision in the dark. Therefore, they see better at night. Owls also have tubular eyes that increase the throw from the lens to the retina.

From the Staff of Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center
See, Look and Feel Your Very Best!

March 20, 2013
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Eye Fun Facts!

By | Blog, Eye Facts

Did You Know…

Sailors once thought that wearing a gold earring would improve their eyesight.

The shark cornea has been used in eye surgery since its cornea is similar to a human cornea.

The eye of a human can distinguish 500 shades of the color gray.

The cornea is the only living tissue in the human body that does not contain any blood vessels.

Your eyes blink over 10,000,000 times a year!

The Atlantic Giant Squid’s eye can be as large as 16 inches wide.

An ostrich’s eye is bigger that its brain.

20/20 vision means the eye can see normally at 20 feet. 20/15 is better; the eye can see at 20 feet what another eye sees at 15 feet.

Eyes are the most complex organs you possess except for your brain.

Eyes are composed of more than two million working parts

The eye muscles are the most active muscles in the whole body.

80% of what you learn is through your eyes.

It is impossible to sneeze without closing your eyes.

A worm has no eyes at all.

A chameleon’s eyes can look in different directions—at the same time!

Unlike humans, guinea pigs are born with fur and with their eyes open.

Each of our eyelashes has a life span of approximately five months.

An owl can see a mouse moving more than 150 feet away, with light no brighter than candlelight.

An ant has two eyes, each of which is made up of many smaller eyes. This type of eye is called a compound eye.

Fish do not have eyelids. They do not require tears either, since their eyes are bathed by water, no special lubricant-like tears are required.

From the Staff of Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center

See, Look and Feel Your Very Best!

March 1, 2013
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What Color Will My Child’s Eyes Be?

By | Blog, Eye Care, Eye Facts

Eye color is often the genetic trait that fascinates parents the most. Parents frequently ask our doctors here at Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center if they can tell what color eyes their baby will have. Will our child’s eyes be black, brown, blue, gray, green, hazel or some combination of colors?

A child’s physical characteristics depend on the genetic material each parent contributes to the child. The influences from each parent aren’t known until — surprise — after the child is born!

In years past, simple charts were used that supposedly could predict the eye color of children based on the eye color of their parents. We now realize that the way eye color is inherited is far more complicated than originally thought. Generally, though, it’s far more likely for two brown-eyed parents to have a blue-eyed child than for two blue-eyed parents to have a brown-eyed child. This is because the generally less dominant blue-eyed trait can be passed along by brown-eyed people until the genes for the lighter eye color happen to match up, possibly many generations later.

Two blue-eyed parents, on the other hand, are much less likely to have darker-eyed children. This is because darker eyes generally are so much more dominant that the genetic trait, when present, ordinarily would first show up in the parent, who then wouldn’t be blue-eyed at all.

Still, due to the complexities of how genetic traits are passed along, it is entirely possible for two blue-eyed parents to have a brown-eyed child.

How Eye Color Develops

The colored part of the eye is called the iris, which has pigmentation that determines our eye color. Human eye color originates with three genes, two of which are well understood. These genes account for the most common colors — green, brown, and blue. Other colors, such as gray, hazel and multiple combinations are not fully understood or explainable at this time.
Most babies are born with blue eyes but they may be blue only temporarily. Oftentimes, a babies’ eye color will darken in the first three years. Darkening occurs if melanin, a brown pigment usually not present at birth, develops with age.

We used to think of brown being “dominant” and blue being “recessive.” But modern science has shown that eye color is not at all that simple. Also, eye colors don’t come out as a blend of the parents’ colors, as in mixing paint. Each parent has two pairs of genes on each chromosome. So multiple possibilities exist, depending on how the “Wheel of Fortune” spins.

Children can have completely different eye colors than either of their parents. But if both parents have brown eyes, it’s most likely that their children will also have brown eyes. The darker colors tend to dominate, so brown tends to win out over green, and green tends to win out over blue. However, a brown/blue parent mix doesn’t automatically produce a brown-eyed child.

Some children are born with irises that don’t match in color. Usually this is caused by faulty developmental pigment transport, local trauma either in the womb or shortly after birth, or a benign genetic disorder. Other causes can be inflammation, freckle (diffuse nevus) of the iris and Horner’s Syndrome. Having an early eye exam is important to make sure nothing serious is going on — and “nothing serious” is the most common finding.

Why Does the Color of My Eyes Change?

The iris is a muscle that expands and contracts to control pupil size. The pupil enlarges in dimmer lighting and grows smaller in brighter lighting. The pupil also shrinks when you focus on near objects, such as a book you are reading.

When the pupil size changes, the pigments in the iris compress or spread apart, changing the eye color a bit. In addition, certain emotions can change both the pupil size and the iris color. That’s why some people say their eyes change colors when they’re angry or loving. Eye color also can change as we age, this happens in 10 to 15 percent of the Caucasian population, and can actually get darker with age.

When To Call Your Your Doctor

If your adult eye color changes dramatically, or if one eye changes from brown to green or blue to brown, called heterochromia, it’s important to see your eye doctor. Eye color changes can be a warning sign of certain diseases, such as Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis, Horner’s syndrome or pigmentary glaucoma.

Can I Change My Eye Color?

Ultimately, if you don’t like the eye color you inherited, you can always change it with colored contact lenses. But remember, even colored contact lenses are a prescription medical device and must be prescribed and monitored by an eye doctor. Don’t buy your contact lenses over the Internet or get them from a friend without having an eye doctor’s prescription.

From the Staff of Heritage Eye, Skin & Laser Center…

Here’s Looking At You!

December 22, 2009
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Stop Contacts… Start the Drops!

By | Blog, Eye Care

The next step was to stop wearing contacts and start using the Restasis drops. Stopping the contacts wasn’t that hard for me and neither was doing the drops (what I was not looking forward to was not using make-up for the three days before and one week after LASIK).   When I started the Restasis it wasn’t hard at all.  It was easy to remember to use them first thing in the morning and the last thing before I go to bed.  The drops help get your eyes ready for the procedure.  I guess they help your eyes make more tears.  They made my eyes feel really good.  I was so excited to be doing this!  I actually brought it up in every conversation, “I’m having LASIK!”  I felt special like I was doing something for me.

December 22, 2009
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Stop Make-Up

By | Blog, Eye Care, Health and Nutrition

When you have LASIK, you can’t wear make-up for a few days before the procedure and a week after.  I was not looking forward to that!  I stopped putting on make-up 3 days before LASIK and once I got used to it wasn’t that bad.  Everyone at work said I looked fine but they’re probably just saying that!!!!  I just keep reminding myself that it’s worth it to be able to see without glasses and contacts anymore.