Eye Health Archives

Should I Tell My Eye Doctor About Vision Loss?

Alan M. Berg, MD on October 22, 2020

When it comes to your health, you think you know when to see your doctor. If you have a cold, a cut that won’t heal, or a concerning medical symptom, you go to the doctor.

But when do you go to the eye doctor? Like the rest of your body, your eyes sometimes need some attention outside of a regular eye exam.

If you experience any kind of vision loss, you should tell your eye doctor right away. Prompt action could save your vision! Keep reading to learn more!

Visual Indicators

What does vision loss mean, exactly? There are many areas of your vision that you can lose.

Knowing which section of vision is giving you trouble is a key part of figuring out what’s wrong with your eyes. Any kind of vision loss should be reported to your eye doctor, but here are the major indicators of some of the more common eye conditions:

Loss of central vision
Loss of peripheral vision: losing the edges of your vision, which sometimes leads to tunnel vision
Blurry vision
Loss of low light vision: decreased ability to see at night or in low light
Loss of ability to see the contrast
Extreme light sensitivity

Conditions that Cause Vision Loss

Vision loss is more common in older adults. No matter what your age, you can experience serious visual problems. If you’re younger, blurry vision may be a sign of a refractive error, like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

Most refractive errors can be corrected with glasses or contacts. More rarely, you could have amblyopia, which happens when your eyes don’t develop normally. This can be harder to correct, but can still be treated.

Loss of night vision at a young age may be a sign of retinitis pigmentosa. This is another condition that you can manage once it’s diagnosed.

If you’re older, around your forties, fifties, or sixties, it may be a sign of having cataracts. Cataracts also may make it harder to see contrast and increase light sensitivity.

Vision loss, either central or peripheral, can often be a sign of more serious conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy. This is especially concerning if you’re over 40.

With these diseases, vision loss is irreversible. But these conditions can also be managed, especially when caught early on.

Regular eye exams increase the odds of diagnosing one of these conditions before there’s even vision loss. But if you do experience loss of your central or peripheral vision, no matter how slight, tell your eye doctor right away! Diagnosis and treatment is the only way to slow down further damage.

When to Seek Care

If you have any issues with your eyes, it’s best to go and see your eye doctor. Even if your symptoms are mild, it’s better to be a little cautious.

This is especially true if you’re 40 or older, as vision loss can be a sign of serious age-related conditions. Early diagnosis and treatment can combat further vision loss and preserve your eyesight for years to come.

Concerned that you may be losing your vision? Schedule an appointment at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in South Pasadena, CA today!

6 Foods To Eat To Help Dry Eye

Alan M. Berg, MD on February 27, 2020

Dry eye is a very common and uncomfortable condition. Some people are more prone to dry eye than others.

There are certain factors that can trigger dry eye, like hormonal changes and age. Luckily, there are some ways you can treat and even prevent severe dry eye symptoms.

The best way to treat dry eye is to get nutrients that help your eyes produce quality tears. How can you do this? You can take nutritional supplements.

Another easy way to treat your dry eye is to simply eat foods rich in certain nutrients. Your body absorbs nutrients better when you eat food rather than taking a pill.

What nutrients and foods should you eat for your dry eye? Here are a few of the top choices:

1. Fish

If you aren’t a vegetarian, fish is a great way to counter dry eye because they contain omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation in the eye, especially in the tear ducts.

Having healthy tear ducts makes it easier to have healthy, high-quality tears. Most fish contain omega-3s.

Fish with the most nutrients are salmon, halibut, herring, and tuna. You can also get omega-3 fatty acids from mollusks like oysters.

2. Leafy Greens

Certain greens are rich in Vitamin C, another nutrient that contributes to eye health. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which is great for fighting damage caused by aging.

They also contain folate. Folate is a nutrient that can prevent developmental problems and vision loss.

The best Vitamin C and folate-rich greens are kale, collards, and spinach.

3. Seeds

Seeds, like chia seeds and flaxseed, are another good source of omega-3 fatty acids. They’re a great alternative to fish for vegetarians and vegans.

In fact, flaxseed oil is often a recommended alternative to fish oil and other fish-based omega-3 supplements. Seeds can also be good to have besides a variety of fish to have a well-rounded diet.

For the healthiest eyes and better health, your diet should contain enough protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

4. Nuts

Nuts are high in both omega-3 and Vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant much like Vitamin C.

It can fight age-related damage, including damage to tear production. The best nuts that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E are walnuts and cashews.

Peanuts, while technically legumes and not tree nuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

5. Beans

All beans contain high amounts of nutrients and are a great part of any well-rounded, healthy diet. They’re rich in fiber and protein and make a great substitute for meat.

But they’re also good for your eyes. Beans contain folate and zinc. Having enough zinc is important because it contributes to the production of melanin.

Melanin protects your eyes from damage. This is vital in preventing and treating dry eye, especially from sun damage.

6. Water

While water has no nutritional value, it has a big part to play in healthy tear production. Dry eyes can often be the result of dehydration, especially if you live in a hot, dry environment.

Drinking plenty of water can help a lot when it comes to making tears. Staying hydrated is also good for your health, so be sure to drink enough water every day!

Suffering from the symptoms of dry eye syndrome? Schedule an appointment at Berg Feinfield to discuss your dry eye treatment options!

5 Medical Conditions That May Make You A Bad LASIK Candidate

Alan M. Berg, MD on April 19, 2018

Right now, you rely on glasses, contacts, or both, to be able to see clearly. These can be cumbersome and limit your active lifestyle. Although LASIK has helped millions of people reduce and even eliminate dependence on glasses, it is important to not assume that LASIK is the best option for you. The best way to determine if you are a good candidate is to be evaluated by your doctor.
Factors that determine candidacy for LASIK surgery include prescription stability for your contact lenses and/or eyeglasses, age (you must be at least 18), and corneal thickness. Corneal thickness notwithstanding, there are medical conditions you need to be aware of that may make you a bad candidate for the LASIK procedure. Some of these conditions may only temporarily make you ineligible for LASIK, while others may mean LASIK is not the right fit for you.

Read on to learn about 5 medical conditions that may make you a bad LASIK candidate.

Autoimmune Conditions May Be An Issue

LASIK candidates must be in good physical health. Certain conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune or collagen vascular disease may be an issue. LASIK candidates also cannot be on any medications or have any conditions that can compromise the immune system.

Eye Injuries

An eye infection or injury will take you out of the running for LASIK, but don’t fret; once you are healed up and cleared by your doctor, you may very well quality for LASIK surgery.

Nursing/pregnancy

Candidates should not be nursing or pregnant when undergoing LASIK surgery. Your fluctuating hormones may affect the stability of your vision. You will again be eligible to pursue LASIK surgery three menstrual cycles after you have discontinued nursing.

Fluctuating Prescription

Has your eyeglass or contact prescription changed in the last year? If so, you will not be considered as a LASIK candidate until your prescription has been stable for at least one entire year.

General Eye Health

A good LASIK candidate will not have eye diseases such as glaucoma or corneal disease, among others. LASIK candidates also will not suffer from optic nerve and retinal disease, as well as herpes simplex or herpes zoster. Those with good eye health but who have eye problems such as lazy eye, muscle imbalances, or active eye conditions that may influence healing should discuss their conditions with their doctors.

If your LASIK eye doctor deems you not to be a good fit for LASIK surgery, you may still be considered in the future. Laser eye surgery is not for everyone, however, and some patients — such as those with certain diseases involving the cornea and/or retina — will never be candidates. The best way for you to find out is by contacting Berg Feinfield Vision Correction for a thorough, no-obligation LASIK consultation.

Exercise and Your Eye Health

Alan M. Berg, MD on February 28, 2018

There are many reasons that people exercise – increased energy, weight loss, and several additional benefits. But have you ever heard how regular exercise can keep your eyes on their A game? Here is how regular exercise is helping your vision!
Living a sedentary lifestyle can put you at risk of developing conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. By increasing the amount of exercise, you are doing daily it will help increase your health and avoid falling victim to conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure that can put your overall health and vision at risk.
Here are some tips on how to increase your physical activity throughout the week:

Give yourself a step goal:
Life gets busy and usually exercising becomes less of a priority then it should be. By giving yourself a realistic goal of how many steps you should take in a single day it can really help you get moving more and increase your activity level! Walking more throughout the day will have an impact on decreasing your chances developing age-related macular degeneration.

Give yourself rewards:
People are easy to become discouraged and give up on exercising completely. By setting goals that are followed up with rewards you can motivate yourself to stay on track and not fall behind!

By increasing the amount of activity in your life it will help you keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check and decrease your chances of developing glaucoma, cataracts, or age-related macular degeneration!

3 Tips That Can Help You Decrease Your Risk Of Spring Allergies

Alan M. Berg, MD on January 24, 2018

With the long months of Winter coming to an end – we are all ready for it to be spring. But the rising temperatures also come with an increase of pollen and with that comes the negative side effects of spring allergies. You have probably found yourself, a victim, to spring allergies and the annoying side effects. A runny nose, and the dreaded red, itchy, watery eyes. Here are 3 tips you can use to decrease your risk of getting spring allergies this year.

Avoid Allergens
When the pollen level in your area is high it is important to avoid allergens as much as possible. A good way to reduce the amount of pollen you are encountering is by keeping your windows shut during high pollen periods and use a fan or air conditioning as an alternative in your home as well as your car. If you are using an air conditioning unit it is also important to make sure that you are replacing and cleaning the filters frequently.

Wear Sunglasses
When spring rolls around you can’t avoid going outside and facing the pollen forever, so when you do go outside it is important to keep your eyes protected. By wearing sunglasses you can shield your eyes and decrease the risk of getting pollen directly into your eyes causing irritation.

Wash Your Hands
Washing your hands frequently is important to do for a number of reasons but becomes increasingly important as the pollen levels increase. If you come in contact with pollen it is easy to forget to wash your hands – also making it easier to rub your eyes and unknowingly introduce it to your body. This will cause them to become irritated and leave you dealing with the annoying side effects of spring allergies.

Your Eye Health and Your Diet

Alan M. Berg, MD on December 27, 2017

It is important to ensure that you are eating foods that are good for your overall health as well as your eye health! I’m sure you’ve heard to eat more carrots if you want strong eyes or fill your diet with leafy greens but what are you eating that could be harming your eye health? Since your eyes are vascular it is important to have a diet that is heart healthy in order to keep them on their A game! Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered – here are 3 things in your diet that are damaging your eye health!

Sweetened Drinks

The first thing in your diet that will contribute to negative eye health is sweetened drinks. These sweetened drinks are unhealthy for your eyes because they have a negative impact on your blood pressure level. The source of these sugars commonly comes from additives such as high fructose corn syrup, which raises your blood pressure. In addition to an effect on your blood pressure level, these sugary drinks also increase your triglyceride level making them a poor choice for a heart-healthy and eye-friendly diet.

Processed Foods

Consuming a diet that is high in processed foods has a negative impact on multiple aspects of your health, including your vision. These foods are full of additives that negatively impact your overall health and take a toll on your cardiovascular health. By limiting the number of processed foods, you consume you can help keep your eyes healthy and prevent many eye diseases such as macular degeneration.

Margarine

Nutritionists have stated that margarine is a source of unhealthy trans fatty acids which increases your chance of developing a cardiovascular disease. The processing and chemicals that are used to make margarine can lead to clogged arteries putting your eyes, heart, and whole body at risk.

By cutting back or cutting these 3 things out of your diet you can decrease your chances of developing an eye disease such as macular degeneration, cataracts and many more!

These 4 Habits Are Damaging Your Eyes

Alan M. Berg, MD on December 15, 2017

We all have a couple bad habits that we can’t seem to kick – whether it is biting your fingernails or skipping flossing we are all guilty of something. But what if you found out your bad habits were affecting your eye health? We are here to help! Here are 4 bad habits that could be negatively impacting your eyes.

Constantly Being Behind A Screen

Whether it’s your cell phone, computer, or TV most people spent a lot of their time behind a screen. This can be harmful to your eyes because of the blue light that is emitted from these screens that can cause an increase in your eye strain. It is important to take breaks from looking at these screens throughout the day to ensure you are giving your eyes a rest.

Rubbing Your Eyes

Rubbing your eyes can have a negative impact on your eye health for multiple reasons. Firstly, your hands are covered in germs and bacteria and by rubbing your eyes with them you are exposing your eyes to these germs. In addition to this, you can end up damaging your cornea from the constant rubbing motion which can result in loss of vision. Your eyes will naturally use tears to wash away debris that may be in your eyes, so trust your eyes and try to keep your hands away from them as much as possible.

Sleeping In Cosmetics

If you wear makeup you have had this experience before – you are already in bed and realize you forgot to wash your makeup off. What next? Some will peel themselves out of bed to remove the day’s makeup but others will shrug it off and go to bed. When you sleep in makeup you are also sleeping in all the collected bacteria throughout the day. To protect your eyes make sure you are removing away your makeup before falling asleep at night to reduce your risk of an eye infection.

Not Wearing Sunglasses

It is important to take preventative steps to protect your vision. By wearing sunglasses outside you not only will protect your eyes from damaging UV rays but you will reduce your exposure to the wind and direct sunlight that can dry out your eyes. The longer that your unprotected eyes are exposed to UV rays the higher your chances of developing cataracts or macular degeneration later in your life are. Next time you are headed outside don’t forget to grab your sunglasses on the way out!

4 Easy Steps To Take To Protect Your Vision

Alan M. Berg, MD on November 29, 2017

There are many steps you can take to keep your body healthy, including your eye health and vision. There are many factors that contribute to your eye health and these are a couple ways you can protect your vision!

Eat Healthy:

It is no secret that what we fuel our body with has an effect on every aspect of our health. To keep your eyes on their A game it is important to keep your diet rich in many things including Lutein, Zinc, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Vitamins C and E.

Some examples of food you can eat to fill your diet with these nutrients are:

• Fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel)
• Nuts & Seeds (walnuts, flaxseed, chia seeds)
• Whole Grains (brown rice, whole wheat pasta, quinoa)
• Leafy Greens (kale, spinach, collards)
• Citrus Fruits & Vegetables

Stay Hydrated:
It is important to keep your body not only fueled with the right food but plenty of water. Your eyes can only properly function when they have plenty of fluid that is keeping them hydrated. When you become dehydrated you can run into issues with tear production which will result in dry eyes. Drinking at least eight ounces of water every few hours is an easy way to keep hydration at the front of your mind. One way to make sure you are drinking water throughout the day is to keep a water bottle handy, filling it up whenever it may be getting low.

Wear Sunglasses:
Wearing sunglasses outside helps protect your eyes from the damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays that come from the sun. The longer that your unprotected eyes are exposed to UV rays the higher your chances of developing cataracts or macular degeneration later in your life are. When buying a new pair of sunglasses, it is important to make sure that they block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Quit Smoking:
It is well known that smoking is the leading cause of serious health conditions that affect your lungs, heart, and much more. What most people don’t know is how smoking negatively impacts your eyes and puts you at an increased risk of developing cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and dry eye syndrome. It is important to know the risks that are associated with smoking when it comes to your total health, including your eyes. By quitting smoking, you can help reduce your risks of developing one of these eye conditions!

Common Eye Injuries: What Are They and How Can You Prevent Them

Alan M. Berg, MD on October 26, 2017

There are many scenarios you may find yourself in where you are at risk for an eye injury. Whether you are playing a sport, handling chemicals, or in the way of any foreign objects you could find yourself dealing with an eye injury. Don’t worry – they are common and with the right information and care they are usually manageable and easily taken care of. Here are 4 of the most common eye injuries and how you can prevent them!

Scratched Eye:

There are many things that occur that can leave you with an irritated, scratched eye. Whether its dirt particles that got into your eye, an accidental slip of a makeup brush to your eye or even a paper cut there are endless possibilities of what’s to blame for your irritated eye. To prevent scratching your eye it is important to be extremely careful when handling anything around your eye and to protect yourself from an object that can cause damage to your eyes. If you think something may have gotten in your eye it is important not to rub or dig at your eyes. Instead try blinking or washing your eye with saline solution or clean water in an effort to get out what is scratching your eye. If you have scratched your eye it is important to call your eye doctor to get it taken care of safely and quickly.

Chemical Exposure:

The next common eye injury involves substances or chemicals getting into your eyes and causing discomfort and damage. When you are surrounded by chemicals there is a chance that some of the substance could get splashed or sprayed in your eyes. It is important to protect yourself from chemicals and be cautious but if find yourself in this situation don’t panic. You should immediately rest your head under a stream of water (slightly warm) to try and wash the chemicals away from your eye. It is also very important to call your eye doctor or an urgent care center to see what they recommend as the next steps, make sure to tell them as much detail about the incident as possible including what chemical you’ve been exposed, how it entered your eye and how long ago it occurred.

Sports-Related Injuries:

When playing sports, you are putting yourself at risk on many injuries. Especially injuries related to your eyes. It is important to take steps to reduce your chances of an injury by wearing the protective gear necessary. It is estimated that 90% of sports-related eye injuries can be avoided by wearing the correct protective gear. If you do find yourself in a situation where you have injured your eyes while playing a sport it is important to call your eye doctor to get an over the phone evaluation and figure out what the next steps are to treating your injury. Each sports-related eye injury is going to vary in steps to take and seriousness that’s why it is very important to treat every eye injury as an emergency at first.

Now that you have learned more about different types of common eye injuries we hope that this will help you further protect your eyes and vision down the road. Some injuries are unavoidable and when you do find yourself in a situation like that give us a call so we can help you take the next steps towards healthy eyes!

Helpful Tips to Protect Your Eyes from Digital Eye Strain

Alan M. Berg, MD on September 27, 2017

Growing up in today’s day and age it’s not if you will use technology throughout the day – it’s about how long your day will be consumed behind a screen. Whether you’re sitting at work behind a computer for 8 hours or lounging on the couch scrolling through your newsfeed you could be experiencing the side effects of Digital Eye Strain.

Digital Eye strain is also known as computer vision syndrome and is the physical discomfort you may experience from looking at a screen for too long throughout your day. As technology has become increasingly popular over the years there has been an increase in the number of people who experience the side effects of this condition. Luckily for you, there are many steps you can take to help relieve and reduce your symptoms of digital eye strain.

Some symptoms of digital eye strain that you may experience include:

Dry eyes
Squinting
Headache
Neck, shoulder, or back stiffness
Double or blurred vision
Increased sensitivity to light
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling like you cannot keep your eyes open

Tip 1: The first suggestion we have to give you in an effort to reduce your symptoms is to try and follow the 20-20-20 rule. The 20-20-20 rule states that if you are working behind a screen for an extended amount of time it is important to take a break after 20 minutes for 20 seconds to look at something that is at least 20 feet away from you. In doing this you are giving your eyes a chance to completely relax and to focus on something other than your device.

Tip 2: Blink. This is a very important step to follow when looking at a screen for a long time because it’s something people often forget to do. As natural and easy as it is to blink a lot of times when using a computer, smartphone, or tablet our blinks are incomplete. Incomplete blinks can result in a number of the symptoms listed above. In order to reduce dryness in your eyes, it is important to keep blinking and keep your eyes hydrated.

Tip 3: Adjust your work area. It is important to make sure that you are reducing the amount of overhead lighting in your work area which will decrease the glare that reflects off your screen. This is a big advantage for your eyes. Another crucial step to take is to make sure that you are not sitting too close to your screen which can cause additional eye damage. To reduce eye strain make sure you are positioned slightly above your screen when doing this you cut down on the amount of stress that you are putting on your eyes throughout the day.

Tip 4: Schedule an eye exam. It is important to regularly get your eyes examined. At your next appointment talk with us about how much digital use you are having so, we can discuss viable solutions and alternative steps you can take to reduce your symptoms of digital eye strain.