At Spectrum Eyecare in Peachtree City, Dr. John Henahan is committed to great vision and the health of your eyes.  For younger patients, most eye health problems come from improper care of their contact lenses.

In a startling new study, Dr. Danielle Robertson and researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that the situation was far worse than previously thought.  In fact, only one percent of patients fully complied with the simple strategies that are required to safely wear contact lenses. As reported on NPR’s morning edition the following common mistakes lead to problems including eye irritation, redness and even sight threatening eye infections.

Common Contact Lens Care Mistakes:

#1) Reusing the same contact lens solution multiple times.  Lenses must be cleaned and disinfected each time they are removed.  Typically, this involves a simple process of soaking the lenses in a solution that cleans and disinfects the lens.  The solution must be completely changed every usage, otherwise it becomes contaminated and can cause eye problems.

#2) Keeping the contact lens case too long.  Even properly rinsed and cleaned cases gradually build a biofilm that will contaminate the contact lenses.  This contamination can cause eye irritation, poor comfort when wearing the lenses, eye redness and corneal ulcers.  A good strategy is to replace the case every time you buy a new bottle of solution.

#3) Not washing your hands before handling your lenses.  As we interact with the world, we come in contact with countless chemicals, viruses and bacteria, as well as other even nastier organisms. Nothing is more basic than washing your hands before sticking your fingers in your eye, but most people don’t do it.

#4) Sleeping in your contacts. Sleeping in your lenses increases the risk of all types of complications ten fold.  This is especially true of the most serious complications, such as the dreaded corneal ulcer.

#5) Keeping your lenses too long.  Failure to replace your contact lenses on the recommended schedule (typically every 2 – 4 weeks), results in a dirtier lens that is unable to transmit adequate oxygen to the eye.  Oxygen starvation to the eye is a big cause of eye infections and irritations.  It saves very little money too, especially compared with the cost of  doctor’s visits and prescription eye drops.  The drops alone can easily cost more than $150.

#6 Soaking lenses in… anything other than contact lens multipurpose solution.  In the no one can make this stuff up category, a UK study found that patients would soak their contacts in things like fruit juice, beer and even butter rather than multipurpose solution.  This is a sure way to end up with a major eye infection.

According to Dr. Henahan, the risk of poor contact lens hygiene is often great than the risk of LASIK eye surgery.  If you know that you are not going to care for your contacts properly, consider the daily disposable contacts or LASIK.  Proper use of daily disposables (single use, thrown away everyday), is the safest way to wear contact lenses.

If you have concerns about your eye health or would like an appointment with Dr. Henahan, please contact us here or call 770-487-0667.

#1 Protect the future of your vision.  Vision loss is a leading cause of disability in older Americans.  By simply having an eye examination periodically, you can ensure that any eye health issues can be addressed before the problem becomes irreversible.  Remember, even if you don’t have vision insurance, a medically focused eye exam can usually be billed through your medical insurance. Proper nutrition is also a foundation for a lifetime of good vision.

#2 Wear Sunglasses. Quality polarized sunglasses with UV protection can cut the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and even reduce the risk of skin cancers around the eyes.  Additionally, up to 30% of auto accidents are associated with glare induced vision impairment.  Polarized sunglasses are far more effective at cutting dangerous glare than tinted lenses alone when driving.  Polarized sunglasses are available with and without prescription lenses.

#3 Stop sleeping in your Contact Lenses. Study after study have shown that sleeping in contact lenses is the number one risk factor for serious complications from contact lenses including a potentially blinding eye infection called a corneal ulcer.  Even if your contact lenses are approved for extended wear, it is much safer to remove them at night.

#4 Throw Away those Contact Lenses (and that Contact Lens Case). After extended wear, keeping contact lenses for too long is the major risk for the aforementioned eye infections.  Most contact lenses are meant to be thrown away every two – four weeks.  As your contact lens ages, it is less able to provide enough oxygen to the surface of the eye.  This oxygen starvation can damage the surface of the eye.  Also, have you looked at your contact lens case lately?  Older cases are breeding grounds for bacteria.  Each time you buy a new bottle of solution, get a new case (some companies even bundle cases with large solution bottles).

#5 Resolve to give up your reading glasses. Are you a reading glasses addict? Do you have pairs spread around the house, car and office?  Always running around looking for a pair when your phone rings, when you need to read a menu, recipe or  to check your Facebook status?  There is a better way.  With a new generation of High-definition bifocal contact lenses and eyeglasses you can have good vision all the time; far away, close up and in between.  Imagine, no more taking on and off readers all day.

Whatever else you may do, Dr. Henahan recommends you resolve to see the best in yourself, others and the world around you.  Now that is a resolution we can all agree on!

Dr. John Henahan is a fellowship trained doctor of optometry practicing and living in Peachtree City with his wife and two sons.  You may call his office at 770 487-0667 or visit him on the web at www.speceye.com.

According to a recent post by Andrew Weil, MD multiple studies have again reiterated the importance of a nutrition and healthy diet in reducing the risk of Macular Degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in older Americans.  ”Dr. Weil has been a real pioneer in integrative medicine”, according to Dr. John Henahan at Spectrum Eyecare in Peachtree City. “I have long worked to integrate nutrition counseling and judicious use of supplements to reduce the risk of eye disease and improve symptoms of various eye conditions”, continues Dr. Henahan.

“Researchers at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS)-funded Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research have found that the combination of a low-glycemic diet combined with vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids can help maintain quality of life and reduce health care costs due to sight-robbing eye diseases.”, reports Dr. Weil in his recent post.  A low glycemic diet has many other health benefits (Learn more). Omega-3 fatty acids, especially those found in fish oil have recently been reported to reduce the risk of macular degeneration markedly.  They also reduce dry eye symptoms in about 70% of patients.

Dr. Weil favors additional lifestyle and dietary changes to help reduce the risk of macular degeneration.  These include smoking cessation, sunglasses, and a diet rich in Vitamins, C, E as well as lutein and zinc.  According to Dr. Weil’s website, “Vitamin C-rich foods include citrus fruits, melons, tomatoes, potatoes and broccoli. You can get vitamin E from soybeans, greens, fish, wheat germ, nuts and seeds.Dietary sources of zinc are legumes (peas, dried beans, garbanzos/chickpeas, black-eyed peas, lentils and soy products) and whole grains. The carotenoid pigment lutein is found naturally in spinach, kale, collard greens, romaine lettuce and peas. Other protective compounds are the red and purple pigments found in berries and other fruit. Eat berries, especially blueberries, often. You can also get these pigments into your diet with supplements of bilberry, grape seed extract or pine bark extract. My recommendations for daily vitamin E are to take 400-800 IU of natural mixed tocopherols, or at least 80 mg of natural mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols. People under 40 should take 400 IUs a day; people over 40, 800 IUs.”

At Spectrum Eyecare, Dr. Henahan favors a preventive approach to macular degeneration.  ”You must act as soon as the earliest signs of macular pigment loss are apparent, which often occurs in the forties and fifties.  If you wait until macular degeneration is apparent, then it is too late to prevent it.  If your doctor is not looking carefully for signs of early macular pigment loss, called drusen, then you may be missing an opportunity to prevent this devestating condition.”, reports Dr. Henahan.  ”Look for health care professionals that want to partner with you to help you stay well, not wait until your eye is sick.”

In fact, according to the AOA American Eye-Q survey, only one-third of Americans said UV protection is the most important factor they consider when purchasing sunglasses.

Whether it’s cloudy or sunny, summer or winter, the AOA urges Americans to take measures to protect their eyes from the sun’s UV rays in order to decrease the risk of eye diseases and disorders.  “Over-exposure to UV rays is quite serious and can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration, or, in some cases, skin cancer around the eyelids,” said Sarah Hinkley, O.D., the AOA’s UV protection expert. “Other disorders that can occur are abnormal growths on the eye’s surface and even sunburn of the eyes. These conditions can cause blurred vision, irritation, redness, tearing, temporary vision loss and, in some instances, blindness.”

Even more troubling is the lack of awareness surrounding the potential effects of overexposure to UV radiation. According to the American Eye-Q survey, 35 percent of adults are unaware of the eye health risks associated with spending too much time in the sun without the proper protection.

The following top five tips from the AOA may help prevent eye and vision damage from over-exposure to UV radiation:

• Wear protective eyewear any time the eyes are exposed to UV rays.
• Look for quality sunglasses or contact lenses that offer good protection. Sunglasses should block 99 to100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation and screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light.
• Check to make sure sunglass lenses are perfectly matched in color and free of distortions or imperfections.
• Purchase gray-colored lenses for the brightest conditions because they reduce light intensity without altering the color of objects to provide the most natural color vision. Choose brown or amber-colored lenses for variable light conditions, overcast days or times when you will be in and out of the shade such as hiking, golf or mountain biking.
• Don’t forget protection for young children and teenagers, who typically spend more time in the sun than adults and are at a greater risk for damage.

Children need UV Eye protection too

“The lenses of children’s eyes are more transparent than those of adults allowing shorter-wavelength light to reach the retina,” said Dr. Henahan. “Because the effects of solar radiation are cumulative, it’s important to develop good protection habits early, such as purchasing proper sunglasses for young children and teenagers.”

According to the AOA, parents should purchase sunglasses for all children, including infants.

The American Eye-Q survey found 66 percent of Americans purchase sunglasses for their children, but more than one in four parents do not check to make sure the lenses have proper UV protection. Additionally, less than one third (29 percent) of parents make sure their child wears sunglasses while outdoors.

Apart from an annual eye exam, the most important thing you can do to protect your eyes is to where quality polarized sunglasses, according to Dr. Henahan.  ”While I was director of Low Vision at LSU the majority of patients with vision impairment suffered from macular degeneration, which is caused in part by excess UV exposure.”  For maximum protection, Dr. Henahan recommends polarized lenses which have the added benefit of being much more effective at cutting glare.  ”When you are driving, on the water or participating in sports, the additional glare reduction afforded by polarized sunglasses is huge”, continues Dr. Henahan.  When purchasing sunglasses, you pay more for higher quality lenses, such as those made by Costa del Mar, Columbia and others.

If you would like more information or to see Dr. Henahan, click here or call the office at 770-487-0667.  He sees patients in Peachtree City every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and two Saturdays per month.

Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease whereby a person’s own immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin, destroying them.  When insulin is not produced, the person cannot control their blood sugar and it climbs ever higher without use of synthetic insulin from shots or a pump. In many patients with diabetes, vision loss and even blindness can result.

HealthDay (4/8, Gordon) reported that, according to a study published online April 8 in the journal Immunity, researchers from the University of Calgary “have successfully reversed type 1 diabetes in mice using a new vaccine technology that appears to solely target the immune system cells responsible for the disease.”

By “using a ‘nanotechnology-based’ vaccine, the researchers were able to boost the effects of the weaker immune cells, which allowed them to stop the damaging immune cells from attacking.” So, “instead of directly attacking the stronger cells, the autoregulatory T cells turn off the signal that tells the stronger immune cells to attack, effectively stopping the destruction of the beta cells that allow the body to produce it’s own insulin.”

According to Reuters (4/9, Steenhuysen), the study’s findings may help researchers find new ways how to manage other autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Diabetes is the number one cause of vision loss in children and adults under age 65, according to optometrist Dr. John Henahan.  Therefore, any movement toward a cure for diabetes represents reason for celebration for health care workers and patients alike.

At Spectrum Eyecare inPeachtree City, Dr Henahan reports that all patients are screened for diabetes (and high blood pressure) during their annual eye exam.  Any patients with diabetes receive special additional testing during their exam, including high quality retinal photography to look for signs of this condition.

In diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels in the retina (which is similar to the film in a camera), begin to bleed and leak.  As blood and other fluid spill into the retina, the fluid is absorbed causing the retina to swell. Just as a swollen ankle does not function properly, a swollen retina does not function properly.  However, using the analogy of the ankle swelling, as the swelling there goes down, the ankle function returns to normal.  However, in the retina, as the swelling goes down, the retina never functions normally again.  A malfunctioning retina means blurred vision….permanantly.

That reiterates the importance of regular eye exams in patients with diabetes.  It is imperative to catch problems early and to use appropriate treatments to seal off leaking blood vessels BEFORE vision loss occurs.

If you or a loved one has diabetes, either type 1 or type 2 and you have not had a complete eye exam with eye health assessment in the past year, please contact us.  We would be glad to see you and we accept almost all medical insurance plans.  As an aside, when you are diabetic, you do not need a vision plan in order to have an eye examination.  We can file the exam through your medical insurance (co-pays and deductibles still apply, however).

The Washington Post on March 16 reported that, according to the Nutrition Business Journal, people in the US “spent an estimated $10 billion on” vitamin and mineral supplements in 2008.

This is despite the fact that “recent studies undertaken to assess their benefits have delivered a flurry of disappointing results.The supplements failed to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart attacks, strokes, type 2 diabetes, and premature death.” These studies have caused many to question the benefit of supplements.

However, in the case of eye disease, “people who have at least moderate age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness, may be able to limit further damage by taking a daily supplement that contains vitamins C, E and beta carotene.”

“Lutein and Zeaxanthin are likely to be even more important in slowing the progression (or even preventing the development) of AMD.”, according to John Henahan, OD, FAAO optometrist at Spectrum Eyecare in Peachtree City.  Getting enough lutein in your diet, through dark green leafy vegetables, such as kale, collard greens or cooked spinach is ideal, but for most of us that just isn’t going to happen regularly.  That is where a high quality lutein/zeaxanthin supplement can come in handy.  Dr. Henahan recommends a 20mg per day dose of lutein.  ”Lutein supplements are widely available in stores”, according to Dr. Henahan.  ”Just be sure that you choose the naturally occurring FloraGlo version which is derived from marigold flowers.”, he continues.

If you or a family member are at risk for AMD, contact Spectrum Eyecare and Dr. Henahan in Peachtree City for a complete eye examination.  We will take the time to thoroughly examine your eyes and discuss the best ways to ensure a lifetime of healthy vision!

The UK’s Daily Mail (1/15, Hagan) reports that, according to a study published in the Annals of Epidemiology, “statins (medications like Lipitor) could cut the chances of developing cataracts by nearly 40 percent.”

In a “study of 180,000 people,” Israeli researchers found that “men aged between 45 and 54 who took the cholesterol-lowering pills virtually every day reduced their risk of cataracts later in life by 38 percent, compared with those who took them rarely.” Meanwhile, “in women of the same age, the risk was reduced by about 18 percent.”

Dr. Henahan’s take:

While cataract surgery is one of the most successful surgeries ever created, anything that can delay their onset and provide many other health benefits is a great option for patients.  If you have issues with elevated cholesterol, this is just one more reason to be consistent with your medications.  This study does not make it clear whether people with normal cholesterol would benefit from statin drugs like Lipitor for lowering cataract risk, but, for those with elevated cholesterol, the data is clear cut.

At Spectrum Eyecare in Peachtree City, Dr. Henahan takes the time to carefully evaluate the health of your eyes, and discusses how general health issues like high blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes can impact your eyes.  We even check blood pressure and blood sugar during your eye exam, because we know that these problems can affect your eye.

The best way to deal with eye disease is to try and prevent them by improving your health and having regular eye exams, especially if you are over the age of 50.

For more information, or to make an appointment, click here or call us at 770-487-0667.