There is so much to see this holiday. As you admire the fall colors, the bountiful feast on the table, and the smiling faces of loved ones, we hope that you know how much we appreciate you. We are grateful to have such a dedicated staff who work hard to bring our patients the best vision care possible. We would also like to express our gratitude to everyone who trusts us to care for their eyes. Our patients mean the world to us, and we wish them all the best now and all year round. May you and your loved ones enjoy a Thanksgiving full of warmth, love, and happiness!
What Causes Excessive Tearing?
Watery eyes describe a condition where the eyes produce excessive amounts of tears. This can happen in people of all ages for a variety of reasons. Some are minor, but others may be more significant and require medical attention.
Excessive Tearing Causes
Certain types of medications can cause watery eyes. They include epinephrine, echothiophate iodide drops, pilocarpine drops, and chemotherapy drugs. Radiation therapy can also increase your risk of excessive tearing. Non-medication related causes include
- Tear duct blockages
- Common cold
- Allergies and hay fever
- Eye scratch or damage
- Eyelid that’s turned out or in
- Corneal ulcer
- Infection in tear duct
- Ingrown eyelash
- Inflamed cornea
- Foreign object in eye
- Contact with a chemical substance
- Trachoma (bacterial infection)
- Eye injury
Watery eyes can also be a symptom of an underlying health condition. You may be more likely to develop excessive tearing if you are diagnosed with:
- Chronic sinusitis
- Bell’s palsy
- Facial nerve palsy
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Thyroid disorder
- Tumor
How to Treat Watery Eyes
The best treatment plan for watery eyes will depend on what’s causing the condition. You may need prescription eye drops, antibiotics, or a medication to help reduce allergy symptoms. If a tear duct is blocked, then you may need surgery. Scratches, burns, or injuries should be treated accordingly to allow healing that will eventually correct the problem.
Your ophthalmologist can provide more information and recommend an effective treatment plan for watery eyes. Contact Grosinger, Spigelman & Grey, Michigan’s Leading Eye Care Physicians today to schedule an appointment.
7 Ways to Help Prevent Macular Degeneration
Ophthalmologists are not sure the exact cause of macular degeneration, but they have discovered factors that can increase or decrease a patient’s risk of developing the condition. The following list can help you adopt a healthy lifestyle that will lower your chances of a macular degeneration diagnosis.
- Avoid smoking or stop if you currently smoke. Research has found that people who smoke a pack or more a day are twice as likely to develop blindness from macular degeneration.
- Eat a healthy diet that includes lots of green, leafy vegetables. Spinach, collard greens, and kale are great choices. Fruit should also be included in your regular menu.
- Consume fish twice a week or more for omega-3 fatty acids. The best choices include those that are high in omega-3, like sardines, salmon, herring, albacore tuna, and mackerel.
- Cut out the processed foods like cookies, cakes, candy, and potato chips. Many pre-packaged food items are not healthy for you. Also, avoid soft drinks.
- Maintain a healthy weight. If you are not currently at a healthy weight, now is the time to look into a diet that will get you there. Consult a physician to monitor progress and avoid gimmicky diets.
- Protect your eyes from blue and ultraviolet light with sunglasses. A hat or visor that shields your eyes from sunlight while outdoors can also be helpful.
- Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar at normal levels. This goes hand-in-hand with exercise and a good diet.
A doctor can provide more insight into your macular degeneration risk. Contact Grosinger, Spigelman & Grey Michigan’s Leading Eye Care Physicians today to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.
Happy Halloween
Living with Glaucoma
Tips to Help Keep Your Eyes Healthy
Glaucoma is a common eye condition that is often hereditary. It may not appear until later in your life. Pressure builds in the eye that can cause damage to your optic nerve. Those with glaucoma may notice vision loss or even permanent blindness if untreated. The following tips can help you make positive changes after a glaucoma diagnosis.
- Stay Fit with Regular Exercise – Believe it or not, exercise can help you deal with glaucoma. It keeps your blood flowing to the nerves in your eye and can lower pressure. Make sure you choose the best routine for you. Some exercises can increase pressure, so speak to a doctor before getting started.
- Enjoy a Well-Balanced Diet – Eat a well-balanced diet that includes nutritious and antioxidant-filled foods. Some good examples to include are dark, leafy greens and fish with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Follow Your Doctor’s Orders – Always take your medication as directed. Stick with a schedule and keep your doctor up to date on any changes. Missing a dose can cause glaucoma to get worse, so this is very important once you have a diagnosis.
- Limit Caffeine & Spread Out Fluid Intake – Too much caffeine can increase eye pressure. Limit intake or avoid it altogether. One study conducted revealed that even a single cup of coffee can cause a significant rise in pressure in your eye for as long as an hour and a half. Also, spread out your overall fluid intake throughout the day.
- Don’t Smoke – Nicotine can increase both blood pressure and your eye inflammation. It also has other adverse effects, like increasing your risk of diabetes. Don’t smoke or quit if you currently smoke.
If you have questions about living with glaucoma, talk to an ophthalmologist. Contact Grosinger Spigelman & Grey Michigan’s Leading Eye Care Physicians located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan to make an appointment.
5 Things You Can Do to Lower Your Risk of Cataracts
Cataracts are a common problem that affects over 24.4 million Americans above the age of 40. Around half of all adults in the U.S. develop the condition by the time they reach age 75. It can cause changes in vision ranging from minor blurriness to blindness. There are ways you can lower your risk of cataracts.
Make Sure Your Diet is Rich in Nutrients
Your diet affects every part of your body – including your eyes. A study of over 35,500 women was conducted in 2008. The results found that participants who consumed more antioxidants from yellow or dark green leafy vegetables lowered their risk of cataracts by 18%. Additional studies have also pointed to omega-3 fatty acids as being beneficial.
Don’t Smoke or Stop If You Already Do
It’s a well-known fact that smoking is not good for you. It can also affect your vision. Research has suggested that people who smoke are twice as likely to develop cataracts compared to those who do not. The risk increases based on how much you smoke.
Enjoy Adult Beverages in Moderation
Adult beverages are not inherently bad for your eyes. However, much like other vices, enjoying them in excess can increase your likeliness of getting cataracts. Drink in moderation and keep your risk low.
Avoid Long-Term Use of Oral Steroids
Oral steroids are known to cause cataracts when used long-term. There is conflicting information about whether nasal spray or inhaled versions are also as risky. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about steroid use and cataract risk.
Schedule Regular Eye Exams
Living a healthy lifestyle and scheduling regular eye exams are the best ways to avoid cataracts and to receive proper treatment if you do develop them. Your ophthalmologist can check for signs of this condition and suggest ways to keep your risk minimal. Contact Grosinger, Spigelman & Grey Michigan’s Leading Eye Care Physicians to schedule your appointment.
November Is American Diabetes Month
Protect Your Eyes by Managing Blood Sugar Levels
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report that states over 100 million U.S. adults live with diabetes or prediabetes. An estimated 23.1 million were diagnosed, and 7.2 million were undiagnosed per the 2017 report.
Diabetes can raise your risk of developing cataracts and glaucoma. This November, celebrate American Diabetes Month by learning about the condition and finding out how to protect your eyes from its effects.
How to Live with Diabetes
You can live a full life with diabetes. The following tips will help you adopt a lifestyle that will let you stay in control of your blood sugar levels.
- Make sure you get plenty of sleep and eat a nutritious breakfast with a glass of water before you go to work. This will help you prepare for the day with less stress, which can raise blood sugar levels.
- Pay close attention to how your body reacts. This is especially important when exercising, changing diet, and taking medication. It will help you figure out the best way to manage diabetes and make it easier to identify a problem.
- Stay active and maintain healthy body weight. Obesity is closely tied to diabetes. Staying fit will help reduce your risk and manage the condition.
- You can still eat the foods that you like. You will have to watch portions and understand how different foods will affect your blood sugar levels. A dietician can help you come up with a menu you enjoy that’s good for your body.
Get Your Eyes Checked
Staying in touch with your health care team is essential to diabetes management. That includes your eye doctor. Now is a great time to get your vision checked. Contact Grosinger, Spigelman & Grey’s Southeast Michigan office today to schedule an ophthalmologist appointment.
Prevent Eye Strain When Using a Computer
Many people spend hours working, shopping, playing and reading in front of a computer. Remaining in one spot while staring at an illuminated screen can have an adverse effect on your vision. What can you do to prevent eye strain?
Maintain Proper Light Levels
Excessive brightness can cause eyestrain. This can happen from intense sunlight coming through a window or powerful interior lighting. Make sure your ambient lighting is around half as bright as the illumination if you are in an office setting.
Reduce Glare as Much as Possible
Reduce glare by using an anti-glare screen and covering nearby windows. Those who wear glasses can choose lenses with an anti-reflective coating. Walls can be painted in darker colors with a matte finish.
Keep Your Monitor at Arm’s Length
Never sit too close to your computer monitor. The screen should be approximately 25 inches away from your face, or around one arm’s length. Position yourself so that the middle of the screen is around 10 to 15 degrees lower than your eye level.
Use an Updated LCD Monitor
Newer LCD monitors are easier on your eyes than the old style units. If you are still using an outdated CRT (cathode ray tube) model, it’s time to upgrade. CRT monitors cause a flicker which can cause eye strain.
Use the 20-20-20 Rule
Always work with the 20-20-20 rule in mind. That means you should look at an object that is at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds or more once every 20 minutes.
Keep Up with Eye Exams
Make sure you are having regular eye exams to monitor health and vision. Contact ophthalmologists Grosinger, Spiegelman & Grey Michigan’s Leading Eye Care Physicians today to schedule your next appointment.
LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System Brings Relief for Dry Eyes
Around 30 million people in America are diagnosed with Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). This condition is a common cause of dry eyes. Multinational medical and pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson has introduced a treatment that can provide a solution in minutes.
How Does Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Cause Dry Eyes?
Patients with MGD are prone to dry eyes. This happens because the Meibomian glands found in the eyelids become blocked. This prevents them from protecting the thin layer of fluid that encompasses the surface of the eye known as the tear film. The problem was difficult to treat in the past.
How Does LipiFlow Work?
First, your doctor will use a LipiScan imaging device to verify that you have MGD. If you do, numbing drops will be applied to prevent any discomfort during the procedure. Dome-shaped activators are placed on each eye. This protects the cornea during treatment.
The activators will send heat into the glands using Vector Thermal Pulsation technology. A combination of heat and temperature will begin to massage the blockages, causing them to liquefy. This clears obstructions to prevent future symptoms. The treatment is non-invasive and takes 12 minutes to complete.
Is LipiFlow an Option for Me?
Patients will notice changes right away. The results will continue to improve over the next six to eight weeks. LipiFlow may be a good option for you if you are diagnosed with MGD. The first step is to visit your ophthalmologist for an examination. Contact Grosinger, Spigelman & Grey to make an appointment.
Debunking the Myths Surrounding LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK eye surgery is more common and affordable than it was years ago. Many people are interested, but some are put off by the myths spread about this procedure. There are several things you should know before deciding if laser surgery is the best treatment option for you.
- Myth: Anyone Can Get LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK isn’t for everyone. It is not recommended for patients with irregular or thin corneas as well as those with eye viruses or diseases. Other conditions like autoimmune disease or poor health can increase risks.
- Myth: You Will Never Need Glasses or Contacts Ever Again
Everyone’s vision changes over time. Eventually, you may need glasses for reading or driving at night. Patients should continue having regular eye exams after LASIK to monitor health and eyesight.
- Myth: LASIK Surgery Is Very Painful
Most patients feels nothing during LASIK. Your doctor will apply numbing drops beforehand. You may notice a gritty sensation in your eyes a few hours after the surgery. Most patients experience minimal discomfort that is managed with ibuprofen or aspirin.
Is LASIK Eye Surgery a Good Choice for Me?
To learn more about LASIK eye surgery or to find out if you’re a candidate, contact Grosinger, Spigelman & Grey to schedule an appointment with one of their highly specialized ophthalmologists. A professional can examine your eyes and recommend the best option to correct your vision.