Glaucoma can be hard to describe, because there are no symptoms early on and nothing to “look out for.” So visuals like the one below are very helpful! A visual comparison of a healthy optic nerve (right) vs a glaucomatous optic nerve (left) The round structure there is the optic nerve (aka cranial nerve II). The optic …
What is a macular hole? To describe a macular hole and how it forms, we need to first discuss the anatomy of the eye. Check out this video for a concise overview of the structures of the eye (it’s less than a minute long). The anatomy of the eye Image: ASRS The inside of the eye is basically …
What is a CRVO? A central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) occurs when there is an obstruction of the central retinal vein, which is the main vein of the retina (the tissue that lines the back of the eye). A blood clot, or thrombus, may occur in the vein as a result of abnormalities in blood vessel size, blood …
Fundus cupcake sprinkled with drusen February is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month. AMD is one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss among Americans over 60 (1). Let’s preface our AMD discussion with a quick anatomy review. The tissue that lines the back of the eye is called the retina. The retina has millions …
According to the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), one in four children struggle with reading and learning unnecessarily because of undiagnosed vision problems, and approximately 60% of problem learners have undiagnosed vision problems contributing to their difficulties (1). So what does a child need visually to be able to read well? Clear vision up close. Pretty obvious, …
Ishihara cupcakes What allows us to see color? The retina (the tissue that lines the back of the eye) contains specialized cells called photoreceptors that respond to light. There are two types of photoreceptors: rods and cones. Rods are responsible for vision in dim light, and cones are responsible for vision in bright light as …
Food and lifestyle choices can influence your eye health and may help to reduce the risk of some age-related eye diseases. Check out this quick summary of the nutrients essential for good eye health.*Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist or a dietician. Zinc (red meat, poultry, oysters, beans, fortified cereal) The Food and Nutrition Board recommends: …
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, so I think we all know what this month’s post is about. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness world-wide (1), and Open Angle Glaucoma affects more than 2 million people in the US alone (2). A cupcake rendition of the optic …
As Halloween approaches, it is important to remember that there are serious risks associated with improper costume contact lens wear. ALL contact lenses- even decorative lenses that do not provide vision correction- are classified as medical devices, and their safety and effectiveness is overseen by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They need to be …
