The Eye Information Blog

Patient Appreciation Day November 12! Refreshments, Contests – win an iPad2!

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:50:40 +0000

Join us for Drinks, Hors D’ouevres, Prizes, and enjoy the Eye Wear Fashion Show event of the season featuring designer frames by
*Armani
*Gucci
* Juicy Couture
* Hugo Boss
*Kate Spade

Also, we would like to thank you for your loyalty with a 20% discount to be used at the event.

Just share this event with your friends on Facebook to receive a 20% discount!

Let us know that you shared the event by posting on this events wall “Shared”

This offer must be used during the event and is not valid with insurance plans, or VSP plans, but can be applied towards your Flexible Spending Account.

*Make sure you check in at the event and you will be entered in a drawing to win an iPad2!

We look forward to seeing you at our Patient Appreciation Day!

Refractive Errors Most Common Vision Problems In Children

admin — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:37:47 +0000

Medscape (10/11, Waknine) reports, “About 4% of preschoolers have myopia, 21% have hyperopia, and 10% have astigmatism, according to data from two studies supported by the National Institutes of Health and published in the October issue of Ophthalmology.” According to the studies, “refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, are the most common vision problems in children and are correctable with eyeglasses.” The first study was performed by researchers from the Doheny Eye Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California-Los Angeles, and the Division of Ophthalmology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The second study was conducted by investigators from the Doheny Eye Institute.

Courtesy of the doctors at Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care. Optometrists, Ophthalmologists and Opticians serving the Rockville, Potomac, Gaithersburg and Germantown Maryland suburbs of Washington DC for over 50 years. Connect with us on facebook and twitter. Office hours by appointment (301) 670-1212. Visit our virtual practice at youreyesite.com

What is Voluntary Nystagmus?

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:27:46 +0000

Nystagmus generally refers to an involuntary rapid movement of the eyes frequently observed in people with conditions that affect the midbrain, albinos or people with genetic conditions. The term “voluntary nystagmus” refers to the ability of a person to make their eyes appear to vibrate in a rapid, horizontal motion at will. A survey of a college age population revealed that 8% could produce voluntary nystagmus. It seems to be genetic to some degree, as 79% of those in the survey had relatives who could also perform it. Voluntary nystagmus can be differentiated from other forms of nystagmus by its frequency, duration, and occurrence in individuals whose neuro-ophthalmological examination is normal.

Video of Voluntary Nystagmus

Courtesy of the doctors of Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care; Optometrists, Ophthalmologists and Opticians serving the Rockville, Potomac, Gaithersburg and Germantown Maryland suburbs of Washington DC for over 40 years. Connect with us on twitter @Eyeinfo, on facebook by clicking this link and visit our youtube channel here

Patient Appreciation Day!!! Save the Date!

admin — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 01:49:19 +0000

SAVE THE DATE – November 12 from 10:00 to 3:00 – Patient Appreciation Day! Drinks, Hors D’ouevres and a eyewear fashion show featuring designer eyewear by Gucci, Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, Armani and Hugo Boss; raffles, giveaways and more! Check in while at the event and get entered in a drawing to win an iPad2!

Courtesy of the doctors and staff of Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care; Optometrists, Ophthalmologists and Opticians serving the Rockville, Potomac, Gaithersburg and Germantown Maryland suburbs of Washington DC for over 45 years. Connect with us on twitter and visit our facebook page
Visit our practice website youreyesite.com and our youtube channel EyeInfoChannel

With My Family History, What Can I Do to Protect My Eyes?

admin — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 02:44:34 +0000

EAV_BLOG_VER:642c8025a7421c46 {EAV_BLOG_VER:642c8025a7421c46} Several blinding eye diseases have strong genetic ties. Knowing your family history is an advantage as there are several things one can do to reduce risk from an inherited eye disease. A common eye diseases with serious consequences that may be prevented to some degree by lifestyle changes is Macular Degeneration. Here are lifestyle changes you should consider if you have a relative with a history of macular degeneration:

UV Protection – UV exposure may increase risk of developing macular degeneration and may be a stimulus involved in the onset of the disease. Be sure your eyeglasses and sunwear is 98% or more UV protective and wear your sunglasses whenever you are outside. Blue light also has been implicated, so reducing the amount of light that reaches the back of the eye by wearing polarized UV sunwear is recommended by most eye doctor associations

Nutrition – Diets high in antioxidants, specifically the nutrients Lutein, Zeaxanthin and vitamins A, C and E help to reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration as determined by the AREDS study. Omega 3 fatty acids also are helpful in reducing risk of macular degeneration.

Regular Eye Care – Most of these diseases are detectable in their early stages through an eye exam by a state licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist. Early diagnosis and intervention is possibly the most important factor in how much vision you retain ultimately, so be sure to see your eye doctor regularly.

Courtesy of the eye doctors at Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care; Optometrists, Ophthalmologists and Opticians working together to serve you better. Serving the Rockville, Potomac, Gaithersburg and Germantown Maryland suburbs of Washington DC for over 40 years. Call (301) 670-1212 for appointment or visit our optical without an appointment. Connect on twitter @EyeInfo. Visit our website youreyesite.com for more information

FDA Recommends Sunglasses With 100% UVA/UVB Rating.

admin — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:33:35 +0000

The Louisville (KY) Courier-Journal (7/28, Carter) reported that the Food and Drug Administration “recommends selecting sunglasses that are labeled with a UVA/UVB rating of 100 percent to get the most protection” from the sun’s harmful rays. The agency said consumers should also “try to find a wraparound style” that covers the eye socket completely. Children also need sunglasses; and parents should “check the label, remembering that toy sunglasses may not have any UV protection,” according to the FDA.

Courtesy of the doctors at Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care; Optometrists, Ophthalmologists and Opticians serving the Rockville, Potomac and Gaithersburg Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC for over 43 years. Visit our website at youreyesite.com. Connect with us on twitter @EyeInfo and “Like” us on facebook Connect with us on Twitter @EyeInfo and subscribe (free subscription) to this blog. Call (301) 670-1212 for office information and appointment scheduling

Get Your Eyes Ready for the Beach This Summer . . .

admin — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 23:46:19 +0000

Headed to the beach? Packed your sunscreen and hats? Be sure not to forget your sunglasses. Sunglasses are a necessary part of protecting your body from the harmful effects of UV. Not just any sunglasses, but sunglasses that are labeled as UV Protective, preferably more than 97%.

How can you be sure your sunglasses are more than 97% UV protective? Be sure to purchase them from a qualified eye care practitioner who can demonstrate their UV characteristics with a UV meter. It is also recommended to purchase Polarized lens which are naturally UV protective.

Courtesy of the Doctors of Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care. Optometrists serving the Rockville, Potomac and Bethesda Maryland suburbs of Washington DC for over 40 years. Connect with us on Twitter @EyeInfo. Visit our office website, http://www.youreyesite.com or call (301) 670-1212 for more information

Research Shows Sunlight Prevents Myopia

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:00:33 +0000

A recent study from Australia shows that around 10-14 hours of sunlight can reduce the risk of nearsightedness in children. Previous belief had held that the risk of myopia (nearsightedness) increased the more a child played with video games but research has never conclusively backed that up. Instead an indirect link may be found because those children who play with video games are at a higher risk of developing myopia merely because they are not getting enough sunlight.

The question was broached to the leader of this study, whether or not wearing sunglasses hindered the light from coming to the eye. According to Kathryn Rose, a leading international researcher of visual disorders “There is no evidence either way that wearing glasses has no effect or hinders the protective effect of sunlight, but this has not been studied systematically. Young children tend not to routinely wear sunglasses, possibly due to high rates of breakage and general intolerance to wearing glasses.” (Special thanks to CNN for that quote)

Night Vision Contacts Helped To Kill Osama?

admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:00:11 +0000

Almost everyone who has heard anything about military forces know that sometimes the army uses something called night vision goggles to be able to see in the dark. However what most people don’t realize is that those things are so bulky that oftentimes they are limited in their effectiveness.Technology for night vision goggles are rapidly advancing with the goggles quickly getting smaller and more compact.

There is an interesting rumor out right now that Seal Team 6, the elite band of Navy Seals who killed Osama Bin Laden used Night Vision Contacts to be able to maneuver well at night without being laden down by the bulky and inefficient goggles. Night Vision Contacts have been talked about for the last decade or so but our technology has never been able to achieve it. Maybe some top secret government lab has the technology to be able to do this but the public just can’t be sure. However if anyone had access to this amazing piece of technology it would be Seal Team 6.

The Danger of Fireworks

admin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:00:47 +0000

To many of us, the most patriotic thing in the world to do on July 4 might be to celebrate by lighting fireworks. However this year many physicians are warning their patients not to do their own fireworks show. Fireworks cancause serious damage to your eyes as well as to the rest of your body. In 2009 US hospitals treated close to 8800 patients because of damages caused by fireworks. More than half of these injuries came from people under the age of 20. The second most common part of the body that these people injured were their eyes.

If an eye injury does occur:

DO NOT try to remove any objects that are protruding from the eye.
Flush your eyes with water to remove any particles present.
Cover the eye loosely for your comfort and immediately seek medical help.

However it might just be best to leave the fireworks to the professionals.