Protecting your eyes, as well as early detection and treatment of eye problems
are the best ways to take care of your vision throughout life. Following is a
guideline you may find helpful in scheduling your visits with Dr. Doubrava:
Before Age 5
Since it is possible for your child to have serious vision problems without being
aware of it, your child should have his/her eyes screened before age 5 for eye
conditions such as astrabismus (crossed eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), ptosis (dropping
of the upper eyelid) and refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness,
and astigmatism). If there is a family history of vision problems of if your
child
appears ??? speak to Dr. Doubrava about when and how often your child's eyes
should be examined.
Puberty to Age 39
It is suggested by the American Academy of Ophthalmology to have a complete eye
exam at least once between the ages of 20 and 29 and at least once between the
ages of 30 to 30. Symptoms that indicate a problem are: sudden visual changes
or pain, flashes of light, seeing spots or ghost like images, lines and edges
that appear distorted or wavy, redness. If you experience any of these symptoms
you should notify the doctor promptly. Most young people have healthy eyes, but
still need to take care of their vision by exercising good safety habit. You
should wear sunglasses when outside and protective eyewear when playing sports,
doing yard work, or partaking in any activities that could cause eye injury.
Ages 40 to 65
The American Academy of Opthalmology suggests scheduling an eye exam with your opthalmologist every two to four years.
Over Age 65
It is suggested to have a complete eye exams every one to two years to test for
cataracts, glaucoma, age-related mascular degeneration and other eye conditions.
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We offer a full selection of the latest styles in high quality eyewear. We carry
designer frames such as Fendi, perry Ellis, BeBe, and more. Our friendly and
courteous staff can help you choose a personalized look that is just right for
you. Please visit our ABO certified optician during your visit.
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BOTOX™ has been used for years as a non surgical treatment for uncontrollable
facial spasms and disorders of the eye (such as misaligned eyes). Now it is used
as a safe and effective way to reduce facial wrinkles without surgery. BOTOX™ is
targeted directly at the facial muscles that cause wrinkles to form. The BOTOX™ protein
injection blocks transmission from the nerve ending to the muscle. As a result
the muscle relaxes, significantly reducing the appearance of wrinkles and muscles
on the skin above that muscle. This blocking effect on the nerves usually lasts
an average of three to six months, at which time the muscles regains movement
and wrinkles reappear.
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The cornea is the clear front window of the eye. It transmits light to the interior of the eye allowing us to see clearly. Corneal injury, disease, or hereditary conditions can cause clouding, distortion, and scarring. Corneal clouding, much like frost on a glass window pane, blocks the clear passage of light to the back of the eye, reducing sight sometimes even to the point of blindness. If the cornea becomes cloudy, one way to restore sight is to replace or transplant the cornea.
Corneal transplantation (keratoplasty) is the most successful of all tissue transplants.
An estimated 15,000 corneal transplants are done each year in the United States.
After careful evaluation with the ophthalmologist, and making the choice for
the corneal transplant, patients needing the procedure are placed on a waiting
list for tissue to become available through an eye bank. The operation consists
of a transfer of the clear central part of the cornea from the donor's eye tot
he patient's eye. Soon after the operation, the patient can walk about the resume
normal activity. Return of the best vision after the surgery may take up to a
year, depending on rate of healing and the health of the rest of the eye
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The term cataract refers to the clouding of the normally transparent crystalline
lens within the eye. The lens focuses light onto the retina so that we can see
clearly. People with cataracts have blurred vision, making everyday activities
such as driving and reading difficult. Successful cataract surgery now restores
the ability to perform these activities. Dr. Doubrava utilizes the modern no-stitch
no-needle small-incision technique for cataract surgery.
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Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in people over 50 years of age, and is often referred to as the "Thief of Sight" because it doesn't usually have any symptoms. Glaucoma is the disease of the optic nerve, which is the part of the eye that carries the images we see to the brain. The optic nerve is made up of many optic nerve fibers, like an electrical cable containing numerous wires. When pressure inside the eye increases damage to the optic nerve fibers may occur, causing blind spots to develop. These blind spots usually go undetected until the optic nerve is significantly damaged. If the entire nerve is destroyed, blindness occurs. Early detection and treatment are keys to preventing optic nerve damage and blindness from glaucoma.
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If you have diabetes, your body does not use and store glucose properly. High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels in the retina, the nerve layer at the back of the eye that senses light and helps to send images to the brain. The damage to retinal vessels, referred to as a diabetic retinopathy, can cause bleeding at the back of the eye and vision problems.
If you have diabetes, it is important to schedule an examination at least once per year. More frequent examinations may be necessary, depending o the progress of the disease.
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Related Links
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery
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