Family Eye Care Rising Risks of Digital Eye Strain During Quarantine

Many eye diseases can be quickly and easily diagnosed during a Comprehensive eye exam, Pediatric eye exam and Contact lens eye exam. If you were diagnosed with an eye disease, such as Myopia or Nearsightedness, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Macular degeneration, Diabetic retinopathy, or Dry eye, you may be overwhelmed by the diagnosis and confused about what happens next. Will you need medications or surgery – now or in the future? Is LASIK eye and vision surgery an option for you ? Our Old Bridge eye doctor is always ready to answer your questions about eye disease and Contact lenses.

Our Eye Doctor Shares Tips to Prevent Painful Computer Vision

You and your kids are staying home, practicing social distancing in order to reduce the potential spread of Covid-19. It’s certainly the responsible, safe thing to do. However, the current stay-at-home lifestyle has also led to people spending more time on digital devices. Screen time is dedicated to both work and leisure, which keeps everyone busy and entertained, but unfortunately, it has also led to a higher rate of digital eyestrain and other vision complications.

More people of all ages have been visiting our eye clinic complaining of uncomfortable or painful vision, and our optometrist regularly diagnoses digital eyestrain. To protect yourself from a range of annoying symptoms, read these eye care tips to prevent computer vision problems:

• Pay attention to position

  When you sit down at your office desk, it’s probably equipped with ergonomic furniture and set at the perfect height. But your home workspace may not meet the same requirements. Take care to position your computer screen about an arm’s length and slightly beneath your line of vision. This will protect both your eyes from strain, as well as your posture and neck. Additionally, good back support will reduce discomfort caused by sitting for long periods. To reduce glare and accompanying eye fatigue, point your screen away from any bright lights.

• Take coffee breaks

  Even if you’re not in the mood for another java, regular breaks to stand up and stretch are vital for your body and eyes! Get up and walk around your house a bit. Any activity that allows you to look away from your screen will give your body and eye muscles a well-needed respite.

• Watch for warning signs

  In general, our eye doctor hears patients complain about the following computer vision symptoms when they visit our eye clinic:

  1. HeadachesWhen the pain is concentrated at the front of your head, it’s typically vision related. When it’s at the back of your head, it’s usually posture related. If your temples are throbbing, it’s probably tension.
  2. Neck and shoulder painThis is a direct result of a poorly positioned workspace. Your chair, screen, desk and keyboard all need to be aligned correctly for healthy posture.
  3. Blurry visionIf blinking clears up your sight, it could indicate a dry eye problem. But if your blurred vision usually occurs at the end of the day, it could point to mild farsightedness that’s being exacerbated by so many hours of close work.
  4. Dry eyesProlonged screen time leads to reduced blinking, which leaves your eyes exposed and compromises your moisturizing tear film. Burning or itching eyes are usual symptoms of dry eye syndrome.

  Computers can compromise children’s eye health

  During quarantine, kids depend heavily on digital devices for entertainment and socializing. There are no afternoon clubs or groups to attend, minimal opportunities to socialize, and education itself has become remote in most places. Computers are filling a range of roles in kids’ lives.

  While digital tech has been highly successful at keeping children occupied and happy, research also shows that kids who don’t spend time outdoors are at an increased risk for myopia (nearsightedness) and progressive myopia, especially if it runs in the family.

  During the pandemic, more and more parents are bringing their children to our eye care provider for eye exams. The most typical signs of a problem include:

  • Squinting at the TV or moving closer and closer to the screen
  • Headaches, particularly at the end of the day
  • Difficulty reading (when they didn’t have previous trouble)
  • Problems sleeping at night

  Tips from our optometrist

  • Practice the 20-20-20 rule for ocular health: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet into the distance for 20 seconds. This will help your eyes feel comfortable for longer.
  • Keep appropriate distance from screens: mobile phones should be about one foot from the face, desktops and laptops should be about two feet away, and TV screens should be about 10 feet away
  • Encourage kids to engage in physical activity outdoors, taking permitted walks or even kicking a ball around the backyard
  • Drink enough to stay hydrated
  • Remember to blink regularly
  • Don’t use digital devices within 2 hours of bedtime, so the blue light doesn’t disrupt your circadian rhythms

  Suffering from digital eye strain? Our eye doctor can help! Stop by our eye clinic to learn more about various strategies and products that can prevent and soothe the painful symptoms of computer vision.

  Family Eye Care, your Old Bridge eye doctor for eye exams and eye care

  Alternatively, book an appointment online here CLICK FOR AN APPOINTMENT

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Examination and Cares for individuals with Diabetes.

A Comprehensive Eye Examination can identify not only eye diseases, but diseases such as Diabetes and High Blood Pressure that affect the entire body. It is obvious that an eye examination can identify eye diseases such as Myopia or Nearsightedness, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, or Dry eye. Diabetic Retinopathy and Hypertensive Retinopathy are changes in the retina due to those disease.

In the US 1 out of every 10 people has diabetes, and unfortunately the numbers are going up. Diabetes affect the eyes, and at times, an eye examination is the first point that Diabetes mad be identified or suspected. Diabetes, especially when uncontrolled, affects blood vessels and nerves throughout the entire body. Excess blood sugar damages tiny blood vessels in the retina, which can lead to ocular inflammation, bleeding and devastating vision loss when left untreated.

The most common types of eye diseases associated with diabetes are:

• Diabetic retinopathy – small blood vessels in the retina weaken and sometimes leak blood
• Glaucoma – elevated pressure levels of fluid in the eye
• Cataracts – a clouding of the eye’s lens that blurs vision

There are two main types of Diabetes: Type one, known as Juvenile Onset Diabetes, and Type 2, Adult Onset Diabetes. A A yearly eye examination is critical to preserve your health and maintain clear sight. The Optomap instrument takes a picture of the retina, and a dilated eye exam enables us to see he retina directly. Dr. Roth can point out changes that are occurring in your retina and the picture enables us to monitor changes over time.

Unfortunately, about 60% of people who have diabetes, do not seek the care of an eye doctor. Sight-threatening changes in the inner eye tissues are often missed. Only a diabetic eye exam can reliably detect or rule out the start of many dangerous eye conditions. In addition, when we identify changes in your eye health, that may be an indicator that the total body treatment may require a change.

Emergency Visits for individuals with Diabetes are sometimes needed.

In addition to an annual examination, it is important that you are aware of the following symptoms:

• Seeing spots or floaters or small black lines or spots that don’t glide away
• Seeing red tinted fog
• Sudden changes in your vision
• Taking longer than usual to adjust to darkness

Please consider calling our office, Family Eye Care in Old Bridge and schedule a time for a comprehensive eye examination.

You can schedule an appointment on line by clicking here: CLICK FOR AN APPOINTMENT

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Nowadays, cancer is so widespread that most people have faced it – either directly or indirectly through the diagnosis of a friend or family member. However, despite the grim picture cancer statistics have presented over the years, scientists have also made tremendous strides towards understanding the biology of cancer cells. Medicine has reached many breakthroughs that improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Many eye diseases can be quickly and easily diagnosed during a Comprehensive eye exam, Pediatric eye exam and Contact lens eye exam. If you were diagnosed with an eye disease, such as Myopia or Nearsightedness, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Macular degeneration, Diabetic retinopathy, or Dry eye, you may be overwhelmed by the diagnosis and confused about what happens next. Will you need medications or surgery – now or in the future? Is LASIK eye and vision surgery an option for you ? Our Old Bridge eye doctor is always ready to answer your questions about eye disease and Contact lenses.

Local Eye clinic near you in Old Bridge, New Jersey

Is there anything to do other than wait for new research results? Yes, there are ways to protect yourself against cancer. Our eye care specialist outlines the following ways to take action and protect your health:

1. Visit your eye doctor for regular eye exams
   The vast majority of people don’t get around to visiting their eye doctor unless they notice a problem. However, eye exams are extremely valuable for reasons that go way beyond basic eye care services. When your eye doctor performs a comprehensive dilated eye exam, he or she can spot the early signs of eye cancer – which is typically asymptomatic. While eye cancer is rare, it does occur and can appear at any age. The good news is that most eye cancer is highly treatable when diagnosed early.
2. Prevention goes far
   Taking advantage of preventive healthcare is a powerful way to stay safe. That means going to yearly wellness exams and following your physician’s instructions for cancer screenings, such as a colonoscopy. This the best proven way to prevent cancer and catch it at a very early stage, when treatment is easiest. Self-exams for lumps and suspicious moles or skin lesions are also effective ways to improve early detection.
3. Don’t neglect your dental exams
   Who likes going to the dentist? Almost nobody… And some people dread it so strongly that they’ll avoid the dentist until their tooth pain becomes unbearable. Yet, good oral hygiene and regular visits to your dentist will not only help your smile look nicer, but they could also help prevent cancer too.

   Research suggests that compromised oral health is associated with the development of cancer. In sum, even if you can’t stand the dentist – this is a time to grit your teeth and get regular dental exams!

4. Live healthy
   Paying attention to proper nutrition (eat an abundance of vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables) and incorporating physical activity into your days are both excellent ways to promote your lasting health. Not smoking and not drinking excessive alcohol (binge drinking is particularly bad for you) are essential behaviors for helping to prevent certain types of cancers. Obesity is another risk factor for developing specific cancers.
5. Don’t take risks
   Sometimes, it’s the little things that increase your risk of cancer, such as spending too much time in the sun without protection and having too many sexual partners.

   Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and it’s also the most preventable! Avoiding tanning beds or sun lamps, covering up during the sunniest times of day, and wearing enough sunscreen to block UV rays can all prevent skin cancer.

   In addition, the more sexual partners you have – the higher your risk for developing HIV, AIDS, or HPV, all conditions that raise your chances for particular cancers.

6. Avoid occupational hazards
   If you work in an industrial environment, make sure you are well-protected against industrial and environmental toxins, such as benzene, asbestos fibers, aromatic amines, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). But don’t fret over your proximity to electromagnetic radiation from high-voltage power lines or radiofrequency radiation from cell phones and microwaves; these types of exposure have not been found to cause cancer.

We’re here to help you stay safe and make the most of your health. Using the latest technologies, our eye doctor performs comprehensive eye exams as a part of our expert eye care services. Visit our eye care center near you for more tips on how to optimize your vision and your overall health!

Family Eye Care, your Old Bridge eye doctor for eye exams and eye care

Alternatively, book an appointment online here CLICK FOR AN APPOINTMENT

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