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.

At Spectrum Eyecare in Peachtree City, Dr. John Henahan is committed to reducing the number of people losing vision or becoming legally blind from macular degeneration (AMD). Please read this important information and discuss it with your doctor if your regularly take aspirin.

Discussing the new study, HealthDay (1/6, Mozes) reports, “Daily aspirin use among seniors may double their risk of developing” the “wet” form of “age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a significant cause of blindness in seniors,” according to a study published in the January issue of the journal Ophthalmology. In fact, “daily aspirin use was associated with the onset of late-stage” wet AMD, “and to a lesser degree, the onset of early ‘dry’ AMD — even after the researchers took into account age and a history of heart disease, which in itself is a risk factor for AMD.”

Specifically, “late-stage ‘wet’ AMD was 2.22 times more likely among daily aspirin users (95% CI 1.61 to 3.05) in a” study population of 4,691 European seniors, MedPage Today  (1/6, Phend) reports.

Medscape  (1/6, Keller) explains, “More frequent aspirin use was associated with more severe levels of AMD. One third of the individuals with wet AMD consumed aspirin daily compared with only 16% of control participants.” Medscape adds, “Limitations of the study include its cross-sectional and retrospective nature, with the possibility of recall error about aspirin use and possible confounders,” such as the fact that aspirin is found in many over-the-counter drugs that study participants might not have recognized as containing it. “In addition, there were no data on the doses of aspirin or the use of other antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs” taken by study participants.

According to Dr. Henahan, the most recent data suggests a strong link between wet AMD and frequent Aspirin use.  ”I do NOT recommend that anyone discontinue aspirin use without consulting their physician or cardiologist” says Dr. Henahan.  ”The benefits of aspirin therapy must be balanced with the increased risk of wet AMD.  Consulting with your physician can help you decide what to do.”

If you or a loved one is concerned about the health of your eyes and live in the Peachtree City area, feel free to contact our office if you would like an appointment. You may also call us at 770-487-0667.

As the optometrist at Spectrum Eyecare in Peachtree City, Dr. Henahan is committed to the safety and visual health of your eyes.  As part of that mission, he reposts information on recalls of eyecare and eyewear related products.  If you wear Avaira contact lenses, please read the following to ensure that your eyes are not threatened by wearing defective Avaira contact lenses.

From Consumer Reports: CooperVision has announced that it has expanded its worldwide recall of Avaira contact lenses to include Avaira Sphere lenses, after reports of wearers experiencing hazy vision and discomfort.

At Spectrum Eyecare in Peachtree City, Dr. John Henahan works with thousands of patients to ensure their eye health, visual comfort and eye safety.  As new trends emerge in eyecare, Dr. Henahan evaluates each one carefully in order to help his patients make the most of their vision.

“One thing that we have taken for granted for decades is the safety and accuracy of eyewear that is produced by optical laboratories in the United States.  But a new breed of eyeglasses sold online that is manufactured and shipped directly from China is raising concerns about this basic assumption.”, reports Dr. Henahan.  “A study published in a major Journal this month found that online eyeglasses get a failing grade, with nearly 45% failing for either accuracy, lens safety or both.” By comparison, fewer than 2% of eyeglasses purchased at brick and mortar optical shops fail on these standards.

This study included leading professors from Optometric Universities and a member of the federal standard setting committee for eyeglasses safety. They uncovered a disturbing lack of accuracy in the filling of the eyeglasses prescription.  This can lead to blurred vision, headaches and eyestrain, says Dr. Henahan.  The researchers purchased hundreds of pairs of eyewear from 8 of the largest online vendors. Nearly 30% of prescriptions were not filled accurately.

In addition to accuracy problems, more than 1 out of 5 pairs failed impact testing.  This safety test determines if the lens would withstand an impact that might be experienced when wearing glasses during a car accident, playing sports or in a random event. This is especially scary because the lens could shatter into the eye and cause major damage or even blindness.

Another unknown revolves around the safety of the materials and paints used in the frame itself.  With the recent discovery of toxic materials in children’s toys and jewelry, there are big questions about what we might be exposing ourselves to with a device that touches our skin all day.

Dr. Henahan urges patients to purchase their eyewear from one of the many retailers with a brick and mortar presence in their area.  Any optical retailer, whether it is a private practice (like Spectrum Eyecare), a retail chain or even in “big box” store will provide assistance with choosing eyewear. They will help ensure that the glasses fit your face, are adjusted for comfort, and they will verify that all lenses pass inspection for accuracy and safety.  Finally, if you have a problem they will work with you to adjust the glasses or prescription to give you comfort and clear vision.

“What I tell my patients is that eyeglasses are not like contact lenses, which are mass produced.  Each pair is custom made to match their individual prescription, eyesize and frame selection.  It is critical that they be correctly fit, measured and verified. Online retailers simply cannot provide that, and now the safety of the eyewear they produce is in serious doubt.”

Dr. John Henahan has been a practicing optometrist since 1991.  He is a former Instructor at LSU School of Medicine and a board certified optometrist practicing in Peachtree City.

After this father’s day weekend, I have been contemplating the unhappy news I had to deliver to my own father last week.

I discovered that his age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) had converted from the “dry” type to the “wet” type.  It was personally very difficult for me to deliver this news to my dad. It has also resulted in a lot of questions from my siblings about the nature of this condition.   I thought I would write the answers to their most frequently asked questions here, so they might be of some help to others as well.

What is ARMD?

ARMD is a deterioration of the central detail vision as a result of degeneration of the retina in the macular area.  The retina can be thought of as the film in the camera of the eye.  No matter what kind of lenses you have in the camera, if the film is damaged, you cannot take a clear picture.

Does ARMD cause blindness?

Since ARMD only affects the central detail vision, you can never go blind from ARMD.  However, you can lose your ability to see details.  For example, you could see the newspaper on the table but would struggle to read it.

How does someone get ARMD?

As the name implies, macular degeneration is age-related.  The prevalence increases steadily in each decade after age 60, with a prevalence of nearly 25% in those over age 90.

When other family members have/had ARMD you are more likely to develop ARMD yourself.  Other risk factors include a history of smoking, lots of sun exposure without the use of UV sunglasses and lightly colored eyes.

What is the difference between dry ARMD and wet ARMD?

Dry ARMD is by far the more common type.  It is characterized by the accumulation of creamy yellow deposits in the retina called drusen.  They eventually interfere with retinal function and can result in blurred central vision.

About 15% of the time, these same drusen can coalesce and then damage the layer of tissue underneath the retina, which causes the body to develop abnormal blood vessels in that area.  These blood vessels tend to bleed and leak (hence the “wet” in wet ARMD).  As this blood spills into the macular area of the retina, the retina swells.  The swelling impairs the function of the retina, causing a sudden deterioration in the central vision in that area.  In most cases, you would know right away that something was wrong when the blood vessels leak and bleed, because the change in vision is pronounced and sudden.

What is the Treatment for ARMD?

At this time there is no treatment for the dry type of ARMD.  Prevention is your best option (see below).

Until recently the treatment for wet ARMD involved the use of lasers to destroy the unwanted blood vessels.  The problem is that lasers create a lot of heat to do that, which invariably destroyed the retina above the vessels.  This left scar tissue and blind spots.  Now we have a new way of treating wet ARMD with medications that cause the blood vessels to regress and disappear.  As the blood vessels regress, the swelling in the retina would go down, often leading to modest improvements in vision.  More importantly, the treatment tends to prevent worsening of vision.

Can I prevent ARMD?

Since there is no treatment available for the more common dry ARMD, prevention is your best option.

A lifetime of sunglasses usage is a great starting point.  You can also take a multivitamin.

Additionally a supplement called Lutein has been shown to cut ARMD risk by 25-30%.  I recommend 20mg per day of natural form Lutein.

A large study of nurses completed in 2010 showed that those with the highest fish intake had the lowest reported severity of ARMD.  As such, I recommend 3000mg of high quality fish oil supplements per day.  (Take two capsules with breakfast and one with dinner).  Keep in mind that fish oil is very difficult to manufacture and lower quality fish oils are more likely to be rancid (if the pills stink, that is a sign they are rancid).

Finally if you smoke, quit.

How can I make the most of my remaining vision?

If you have have lost vision due to ARMD, you might benefit from low vision aids.  These specialized devices allow you to make the most of the vision you have left and can often help ARMD patients read better.  If the ARMD has only affected one eye, then low vision aids are not typically used.  They are usually only used when your vision is impaired in both eyes.

If you have questions about your vision, ARMD, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for low vision aids, feel free to contact Dr. Henahan at Spectrum Eyecare.  The website is www.speceye.com and the phone number is 770-487-0667.

“A young man came into my office with a painful red eye after leaving his warehouse job.  He had been using a staple gun to attach labels to crates.  I expected a simple scratch on the cornea, but instead was shocked to see a portion of the staple had lodged itself deeply in his eyeball.”

Upon further questioning the young man revealed that he believes the staple hit something buried in the wood of the crate, and the staple ricocheted back into his eye.

“Upon examination, I was able to see that one of the tines of the staple had broken off and shot back into the eye, piercing it like a mini spear.  Because of the high velocity it easily ripped through his cornea and iris (the colored part of the eye)”, continued Dr. Henahan.

“I was fearful that if I attempted to extract the staple that it would further damage the sensitive inside of the eye.  I referred him to a specialist in Atlanta who performed emergency surgery to remove the staple.”

Often in these cases, the sensitive film in the back of the eye (called the retina) or other eye tissues are irreparably harmed often resulting in blindness, and even loss of the eye.

Luckily for this young man, the specialist, Dr. Evan Loft of Eye Consultants of Atlanta, was able to carefully extract the object with no apparent permanent damage.  “The patient may require a second surgery if the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy with a traumatic cataract, but even then he should have a full visual recovery”, reported Dr. Loft.

Dr. Loft that he sees up to 10 patients per year with a penetrating eye injury.  “He is just one specialist of the many in Atlanta”, reminds Dr. Henahan.  That means in Atlanta alone, there are hundreds of such injuries per year, often with much worse outcomes.

When using any type of power tool or even a tool that strikes with force (such as a hammer), always wear safety glasses.

Dr. John Henahan has practiced for 20 years and has been living and practicing in Peachtree City since 1999.  If you would like to contact Dr. Henahan or make an appointment you can call 770-487-0667 or contact us here.

Large-scale study shows omega-3 fatty acids may lessen AMD severity

At Spectrum Eyecare in Peachtree City, Dr. John Henahan has long been an advocate for use of high quality fish oil in treating dry eye.  Now a new study from National Institutes of Health researchers found that those reporting the highest intake of omega-3 fatty acids (from fish oil) had the lowest reported rating of Age related Macular Degeneration (AMD) severity.

J.R. Chang, MD, and colleagues reported that “dietary DHA/EPA (the key components of fish oil) was inversely related to AMD score in energy-adjusted comparisons of participants reporting highest vs. lowest quintile intake.”  In other words, those with the highest level of fish oil intake had the lowest risk of AMD.

There were 4,203 patients in the study; they had a baseline mean age of 73 years; and 57% of the patients were women. All patients had good visual function at baseline, but the majority had risk factors for progression to advanced AMD, according to the poster.

“This is the strongest evidence yet that we can help reduce the severity or possibly even prevent macular degeneration in at risk patients with a strong nutritional program that includes fish oil, lutein and other vitamins”, according to Dr. Henahan.

“Historically, I have been recommending smoking cessation, polarized sunglasses, a multi-vitamin and 20mg of natural lutein per day.  But now I will be adding fish oil to my recommendations.  The great thing about fish oil is that it appears to have so many collateral benefits, such as reducing symptoms of dry eye, improving cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events. However, those taking blood thinners (such as coumadin) should consult their physician before beginning fish oil”, continued Dr. Henahan.

When looking at fish oil supplements, it is important to shop very, very carefully.  Lower quality fish oils have increased contaminants such as lead or mercury and lower levels of the key omega-3′s called EPA and DHA.  Look for at least 40% of these components in each capsule.

At Spectrum Eyecare, Dr. Henahan takes the time to truly understand how he can work with patients to prevent the most serious eye diseases, especially through the use of nutritional supplements and other non-drug interventions.  Of course, he uses prescription medications when indicated, so you can be sure that you will get the best of both traditional and natural medicine to provide a lifetime of great vision.  If you would like to have Dr. Henahan evaluate you, please contact us by clicking here or calling 770-487-0667. Dr. Henahan is in the Peachtree City office every Monday, Wednesday and Friday as well as two Saturday’s per month.

Among the leading causes of vision loss and blindness are diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, according to Dr. John Henahan, optometrist at Spectrum Eyecare in Peachtree City.  ”As the incidence of these diseases is climbing, so too are ocular complications, including cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and other retinal problems.”, according to Dr. Henahan.

In fact, ABC World News (4/26, story 7, 1:20, Sawyer) reported that “almost half of American adults, 45% of us, now have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes,” according to researchers from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Los Angeles Times (4/27, Maugh) reports that “one in eight Americans has at least two of the conditions and one in 33 has all three, sharply increasing their risk.” These “data come from the ongoing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.” While “researchers should be able to use the new data to plan interventions, ‘the main thing here is for people to be aware that they have these conditions and know that lifestyle modifications and medications can control them and reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease,’ said epidemiologist Cheryl D. Fryar of the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, one of the study’s authors.”

WebMD (4/26, Woznicki) reported that “the study shows that about 8% of adults have undiagnosed high blood pressure, 8% have undiagnosed high cholesterol, and 3% of have undiagnosed diabetes.”

HealthDay (4/26, Edelson) reported that “blacks had a particularly high incidence of hypertension, 42.5 percent, compared to 29.1 percent of non-Hispanic whites and 26.1 percent of Mexican-Americans.” The report indicated that “high blood cholesterol was more common among non-Hispanic whites (26.9 percent) than among blacks (21.5 percent) and Mexican-Americans (21.8 percent), while diabetes was more common among blacks (14.6 percent) and Mexican-Americans (15.3 percent) than among non-Hispanic whites (8.3 percent).”

According to Dr. Henahan, “If you or someone you care about has one of these conditions, it is critical to get annual eye exams with your pupils dilated, even if you have perfect vision.  It’s less about eyeglasses for these patients than it is about the medical health of the eyes.”

At Spectrum Eyecare, all diabetics receive retinal photos to ensure that no diabetic retinopathy is present.  That helps preserve vision by finding problems early so treatment can prevent vision loss.

Many patients do not understand that in most cases they can have an eye exam covered by their medical insurance if they have one of these medical conditions.  ”You do not need vision insurance to have an eye exam if you are diabetic, hypertensive or have high cholesterol”, reports Dr. Henahan. Although you may have a copay or deductible to meet, the exam can be filed through your medical insurance.

If it has been more than one year since your last eye exam, or if you are newly diagnosed with one or more of these conditions, contact us to schedule your medical eye exam.  At Spectrum Eyecare, we schedule just two full eye exams per hour so we can be thorough in evaluating the total health of your eyes.

After all, you only have one set of eyes.