Eye Allergies

What are Allergies?

Allergic reactions occur when the eye over-reacts to pollen, molds, dust, or pet dander, the body thinks is dangerous.  Approximately 30-50% of the Iowa population has allergic symptoms of some kind.  Allergic symptoms of the eye include redness, watering, itching. 

These eye symptoms may or may not be accompanied by runny nose, sneezing, coughing, fatigue, or headache.

Allergy Treatment

The diagnosis of eye allergies is not always straight forward.  Let one of the eye doctors at Iowa EyeCare in Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Robins, Iowa, examine your eyes to be certain you are not suffering from an infection and help you choose the best treatment for your eyes.

The simplest solution to eye allergies is to avoid the offending agent.  Keep your living environment clean of allergens.  Always wear sunglasses when outdoors.  Wrap-around sunglasses will shield your eyes from allergens.  Limit time spent outdoors on days when the pollen count is high.

When eyes are chronically affected by allergies an eye drop medication may be necessary to fully relieve allergy symptoms.  Several types of anti-allergy medications exist by prescription.  The experienced eye doctors at Iowa EyeCare will evaluate the tissues of the eye and recommend the best therapy for your eyes.  Schedule an appointment today.

By Dr. Kimberly Cruise

The snow in  Iowa has finally thawed and it’s warming up.  That means more and more people are planning outdoor activites.  Just remember to be concious about your eye health this summer season.

One of the biggest eye hazards is yard work.  Eye protection is essential when operating power equipment like a lawn-mowers, weed-eaters, chain-saws, leaf-blowers or electric trimmers.  Each of these tools can send small high-velocity projectiles hurling toward the eyes.  Eye abrasions, perforations and  infections have the potential to cause significant damage to the eye including permanent vision loss.

Think about eye protection even when you don’t anticipate dangers.

If you receive an eye injury or have foreign material in your eye, seek care immediately.  It’s always best to have a professional look at your eye under a microscope.  Washing the eye yourself with tap-water is insufficient.  The doctors at Iowa EyeCare are on-call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Call 319-377-2222.

By Dr. Ryan Nelson

Since attending professional school at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, I’ve been a heavy coffee drinker.   I still think about cramming for a test with my classmates every time I walk into a coffee shop.  The latte and the expresso have been introduced to every street corner in America (Yes, even in Iowa) and most of us are guilty of buying a mocha-choka-somethin’ at one time or another.  I thought you’d like to know how all this coffee and caffeine might be affecting your eyes and vision. 

Physiologically, when caffeine is consumed it stimulates our central nervous system (our brain).  Because of these direct  affects on the brain, caffeine is  known to cause blurred vision as well as eyelid twitching or ”eyelid myokymia”.  Although caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant drug, it is considered a safe food substance by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Caffeine is an ingredient in some prescription pain medications.  It has also been included in oral diet supplements.  Don’t forget that prescription medications are regulated by the United States FDA, diet supplements are not.  For those who regularly consume high amounts of caffeine can expect to have withdrawal symptoms, which may include headache, irritability, drowsiness, and upset stomach.  I think most physicians would agree with me that moderation is the key.

After doing some additional research on wikapedia I discovered that caffiene is found naturally in coffee plants where it acts as a pesticide.  Now there’s some food for thought!

Do not despair coffee drinkers.   There are plenty of benefits to consider including lowering your risk of colon cancer, Parkinsons, and diabetes.  Caffeine may also help prevent cavities and temporarily boost your athletic ability.

Do you have dry eyes? Your not alone, Dry Eye Syndrome affects an estimated 3.23 million women and 1.68 million men in the United States each year. Did you know that caffeine may help relieve dry eye symptoms?  More research needs to be done, surely, but an article from Review of Ophthalmology in September, 2000, reported that those who drink coffee are 25% less likely to experience dry eye.  Learn more about Dry Eye on the Iowa EyeCare website.

To schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor at Iowa EyeCare call 319-377-2222 or Schedule an appointment online.  Iowa EyeCare has locations in Marion, Cedar Rapids, and Robins, Iowa.

By Dr. David Christensen

Artificial Tears

Most of us experience dry eye from time to time.  Especially during the Iowa winter months.  Most people experience symptoms either in the car, at work, or at night watching TV or reading a book.  If you go to the local supermarket, you’ll find a whole wall full of eyedrops.  It can be difficult trying to decide which eye drops to buy.  The eye doctors at Iowa EyeCare can help you best manage your dry-eye symptoms.  Sometimes we recommend over-the-counter artificial tears, environmental changes, dietary changes, and other times we might decide that a prescription medication or other treatment options are most beneficial.  Multiple treatment modalities are needed because individuals experience dry eye for different reasons. Dry eye may be due to poor lid function, poor aqueous production, poor eye-lipid production, or excessive tear drainage.

Keep in mind that all eyedrops are not created equal.  Lubricating eyedrops that are designed to combat dry eye, do so in different ways.  Before spending your money on an eye drop that may not work for you, schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors at any of our Robins, Marion, or Cedar Rapids, Iowa, locations.

You can also learn more about Dry Eye on the Iowa EyeCare website.

By Dr. Richard Noyes

Latisse Results

Would you be interested in a product that will make your eyelashes thicker, darker and longer? 

 Latisse^® allows you to achieve beauty naturally, using the body’s own pigment.  Latisse^® contains an active ingredient that optometrists have used safely for years and is the only FDA-approved prescription treatment for inadequate eyelashes.  Latisse^® is proven to prolong the growth phase of hair and stimulate thicker, darker and longer eyelashes.

 Latisse^® is applied once daily to the eyelashes using a sterile applicator.  Users can expect to see results in 8 weeks with full results occurring at 12-16 weeks.

 Latisse^® may eliminate your need to use mascara and has the potential to reduce lid conditions and contact lens complications that can result from incomplete or improper removal of mascara.

 To find out if Latisse^® is right for you, schedule a consultation with the doctors at Iowa EyeCare today by calling 319-377-2222.  Iowa EyeCare has locations in Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Robins, Iowa. Additional information about Latisse^® can be found at http://www.latisse.com/.

By Dr. Dennis Francis

The doctors at Iowa EyeCare have a different term for “scratched eye”.  We call it a corneal abrasion.  The cornea is the clear window in front of the colored part of your eye.  It’s about the thickness of a credit card and has 5 different layers.  The front or top layer, the epithelium, is designed to protect the rest of the cornea, but it’s also very sensitive and susceptible to damage.  When the epithelium is injured by an abrasion, the eye is at risk contracting an infection.  Corneal infections can have severe consequences, including permanent vision loss.

Prompt care can help to protect the eye and prevent permanent vision loss.  An antibiotic eye drop is usually required to help thwart infection and get you feeling better again. Your doctor may also choose to use additional medications or even a bandage contact lens, depending on the nature of the injury.  Either way, close monitoring of the abraded eye is critical.  It is important to follow up as directed by your Iowa EyeCare optometrist.

Prevention is always the best medicine.  Never forget to use safety glasses when it is appropriate, especially when doing yard work or working with metal.  A scratched eye can be very painful and it is important to seek medical care immediately.  At Iowa EyeCare we have a doctor on call 24 hours and day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, to care for any type of eye emergency.

If you or someone close to you has an eye emergency, you’ll want to call us right away.  Our phone number is 319-377-2222.  Keep number on hand, so when bad things happen your prepared.

Visit us on our website www.iowaeyecare.com

Here are some basic eye care tips: 

• Wear sunglasses when outside to shield your eyes from the sun’s glare and also to protect the eyes from dust. UV light is a contributing factor to many eye problems, including cataracts.
• Read in proper lighting.  Pages should have no shadows and lighting should not be so dim that you are straining to read the print.
• The print of the book or magazine should be legible and easy to read. The size of the print should be large enough so that you are not forced to squint or strain to read. 
• While it makes scary movies more fun to watch, you shouldn’t watch TV in a dark room.  The glare can cause serious eyestrain.  It’s best to be in a well-lit room, or at least have a lamp on for lighting. 

• Use contact lenses responsibly, they are a medical device that can cause harm if used recklessly.
• Makeup like eyeliner, eye shadow, and mascara are breeding grounds for bacteria.  You should never share your eye make-up with others.  Also, make sure you replace your mascara and liquid eyeliner at least every 2-3 months, to ensure it stays fresh.
• Eye makeup should be removed before bedtime, using a gentle cleanser.  You risk the formation of styes or other eye ailments by leaving eye makeup on overnight.
• Eat a well-balanced diet that contains fresh fruits and vegetables like papaya, oranges, and carrots. These contain vitamin A, beta carotene and essential minerals which are good for vision.
• Drink plenty of water.  At least 6, 8 oz. glasses of water each day will help to keep your eyes healthy.
• Look away from your computer screen or television and stare outside the window or at a faraway object for 30 seconds to a minute each hour. A change of scenery really helps to relax the eyes.

Comprehensive Yearly Eye Exams

There is more to the comprehensive eye exam than just finding out which lenses give you the best vision. Many serious conditions can affect the eyes, often without warning signs, until it’s too late.  Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even some forms of cancer can also manifest themselves within the eye. Eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts and macular conditions can occur at any age. One of the hardest adjustments a person can make is adapting to life with permanent vision loss. A comprehensive yearly eye exam can help keep track of any changes to your eyesight and catch potential problems before they worsen.

We hope these tips have helped you to understand the importance of eye care, eye exercises and the need to get regular eye check-ups.  Here’s to healthy vision!