TV and Your Eyes

Did your mother tell you that sitting too close to the TV was bad for your eyes? Scientists disagree with Mom but say that picture details will appear sharper if you sit farther away. If a child insists in sitting close to the TV, have his or her vision checked. Nearsighted (myopic) children like to sit close to the screen.

For optimum comfort for TV watchers of all ages, watch TV in a normally lit room. A 2006 study by the Lighting Research Center, a part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, concluded that watching TV in normal lighting resulted in less visual discomfort, fatigue and eyestrain and less frequent blink rates.

TV Viewing Tips:

• Make sure your TV is properly installed and the antenna properly adjusted.
• Place the set to avoid glare and reflections from lamps, windows and other bright sources.
• Adjust brightness and contrast controls to individual and/or viewer’s taste and comfort.
• Have the set at approximately eye level. Avoid having to look up or down at the picture.
• Avoid staring at the screen for lengthy periods. Briefly look away from the picture, around the room or out the window.
• Wear lenses prescribed for vision correction if advised to do so by your eye care practitioner.
• View from a distance of at least five times the width of the television screen.

Sources: http://www.eyes-4u.com; http://www.sciencedaily.com

Contact Lens Fit

During your regular routine eye exam, several tests are done, your overall eye health is evaluated and a prescription for glasses is written if you need it. If you also want to get contact lenses or already wear contacts, a contact lens fit must be performed. When you make your eye exam appointment, it is best to tell us if you are interested in trying contacts or if you wear them already.

A contact lens fit uses different instruments for additional measurements needed to fit contacts to your eye properly. It also adds additional time to your exam. Because this contact lens fit is in addition to a regular routine exam, there is an additional cost. The fee for a contact lens fit will depend on the complexity and type of lens being fit and starts at $35 and goes up. The contact lens fit is performed annually to ensure the best possible fit for your contacts. The fit will include instructions on the proper insertion and removal of your lenses, starter solutions and six months of contact lens follow-up care.

Most medical insurance plans do not cover routine eye exams or contact lens fittings. If you have routine vision insurance, it may cover your routine exam, contact lens fit and glasses or contacts. Our office staff will be pleased to review your coverage to see if any benefits or discounts are available to you.

Dr. Woodruff at our Story Avenue office and Dr. Parker at our Audubon office are skilled at fitting contact lenses. Call our office today to schedule your routine eye exam and contact lens fit. Visit our website at www.eyecareinstitute.com to see the different services that our office provides. We look forward to offering you great eye care!

Trichiasis

If you feel a scratchy sensation in your eye and cannot see a cause, you may have trichiasis, one or more eyelashes misdirected toward the eye. The condition can occur anywhere across the entire upper or lower eyelid. Trichiasis is a common condition that can affect anyone at any age. Some of the numerous causes include chronic inflammation with scarring, herpes zoster (shingles in the eye) and trauma to the eye; but, more commonly, it occurs without another association.

In severe cases, left untreated, trichiasis not only causes discomfort, it can also lead to permanent scarring of the cornea and blindness. For this reason, it is important that you see your eye doctor if you have persistent discomfort. The misdirected lashes are easily removed in the office and will re-grow, often in the right direction, without recurrence of the trichiasis. Unfortunately, the lashes may grow back in the same abnormal direction. In this case, permanent destruction of the lash follicle is the only permanent solution.

The most effective permanent solution is electrolysis, which uses an electric current at the base of the lash to kill the cells that produce the hair. The Argon laser can be used to destroy the hair follicle although recurrence is more common with laser treatment. Trichiasis may recur after either treatment and re-treatment may be necessary. It is important to continue to see your doctor to prevent discomfort and to save your vision.