Berg Feinfield Archives

3 Reasons LASIK Is A Good Investment

Paul Stubenbordt on November 18, 2020

Tired of glasses and contacts? You may have thought about LASIK but dismissed it due to the cost.

How much it costs varies depending on factors like your prescription, the surgeon, the practice, and the equipment used. On average, though, it’s more than most people want to spend up-front. But have you ever considered LASIK as an investment instead?

Investing in LASIK can not only improve your quality of life but also pay for itself in the long run. Keep reading for 3 reasons LASIK acts as a great investment for your future!

1. Eliminate the Need for Contacts and Glasses

The goal of LASIK is to make it so you can see without contacts or glasses. For the vast majority of patients, the procedure is successful and does exactly that!

LASIK does away with not only the inconvenience of contacts and glasses but also the expense. Think about it, how much do you spend on contacts every year?

Even with insurance, quality contacts can get pricey. And whether you wear contacts regularly, you also need a pair of glasses for backup, if nothing else. Glasses are notoriously expensive, even if you buy online.

You may not spend as much money on glasses or contacts in a year to match the cost of LASIK, but those expenses add up over time. LASIK is a one-time expense.

That means that over the course of a few years, LASIK can pay for itself by saving you the money you’d otherwise have to spend on other visual aids. When you look at it this way, it’s simple math!

2. Build Your Credit

Don’t have the cash on hand to pay for LASIK right now? No problem!

There are several ways you can pay for LASIK. This includes zero-interest financing plans and even credit cards you can use.

Monthly payments can be as low as $60 a month, and minimum credit card payments can be even lower. Paying back the credit for elective surgery can also be a great way to build credit.

Many young people these days have no credit because they prefer to use debit cards. But credit is important. You need to have good credit to buy a house, car, or even rent an apartment.

Some employers even look at credit scores before hiring potential employees. If you’re a young adult, you can get the most out of LASIK by building your credit. This will allow you to maximize the amount of time you’ll have to enjoy a life free of glasses and contacts.

3. Use It or Lose It: Spend Funds from Your FSA

Do you have a Flexible Savings Account, or FSA, with your employer? An FSA can be a good way to pay for medical expenses, but unlike a Health Savings Account, or HSA, the money doesn’t roll over year to year.

If you get to the end of the year and have money put aside in your FSA, you’ll lose it! Don’t let this happen.

LASIK is a great way to make a solid investment in your long-term vision and ensure that your money won’t go to waste. Why not use it to invest in yourself for years to come?

Ready to find out if LASIK is right for you? The first step is to schedule a LASIK consultation at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in South Pasadena, CA! Why not make 2021 the year you finally see clearly?

Should I Tell My Eye Doctor About Vision Loss?

Paul Stubenbordt 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!

Should I Consider a Premium IOL If I’m Having Cataract Surgery?

Paul Stubenbordt on September 24, 2020

Cataracts form in the lens, making it become cloudy. The only way to treat them is to remove the entire lens during cataract surgery.

Before modern cataract surgery, this left patients without any lens in their eyes. They had to wear very thick glasses to see again.

But thanks to modern medicine, your lens can now be replaced with an artificial one called an IOL, or intraocular lens. IOLs also come in several varieties.

Some are more advanced than others. But do you need a more advanced, premium IOL? It depends.

Keep reading to find out if you should consider a premium IOL if you’re having cataract surgery!

Standard vs. Premium IOLs

Cataract surgery is often covered by medical insurance as it’s considered a necessity. But most insurances only cover one kind of IOL, which is the standard monofocal lens.

Monofocals are lenses that have a uniform surface set to only one refractive power. This is either for distance vision or close-up vision.

Doctors usually give patients who opt for monofocals one of each power in each eye. This creates monovision and allows patients to see decently at a mid-range distance. The disadvantage is that they may have trouble seeing up close without reading glasses.

But there are several other options available when it comes to IOLs. These are premium options, and they are not usually covered by insurance.

The cost of your surgery is, but the premium lenses are not. That means you’ll pay out of pocket for your intraocular lenses if you choose a premium option.

Many patients find the tradeoff for better vision to be worth the expense. You may, too, especially because there are so many options to choose from.

Types of Premium Lenses

There are many diff IOLs available. Not all practices that offer cataract surgery carry every kind of IOL. These are the most common ones that are widely available:

Multifocal IOLs

These IOLs have rings that extend from the center of the lens.
The rings are set to alternating refractive powers.

Wearing the IOL trains your eyes to look out the right part of the lens depending on what you’re looking at. This allows the patient to see more sharply up-close. Most patients no longer need glasses.

Accommodative IOLs

These IOLs are lenses that change their shape depending on what you look at. When you’re focusing on something up close, the lens thickens to magnify what you’re viewing.

When your eyes are relaxed, the lens thins out again to allow you to see at a distance.

Trifocal IOLs

The trifocal IOL is a lot like a multifocal IOL but it has three refractive powers instead of two. This is for up-close, far away, and in-between distance. This allows patients to see at any distance.

Toric IOLs

This is the only kind of IOL specifically designed for patients with astigmatism. Toric IOLs correct astigmatism as well as other refractive errors.

Assessing Your Needs

With these different options, how do you know what to get? It depends on you. If you’re okay with having to wear reading glasses after cataract surgery, you may be fine with monofocal lenses.

If you spend a lot of time on the computer or looking at screens, a trifocal lens may be best for seeing at a middle distance.

Be sure to discuss with your doctor what your needs are and what options are available to you.

Have questions about cataracts and what kind of IOL you should choose? Schedule a cataract screening at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Pasadena, CA!

Clear vision could be yours again when you say goodbye to cataracts!

How Will I Know I’m A Good LASIK Candidate?

Paul Stubenbordt on August 28, 2020

LASIK can be life-changing. For so many people, LASIK means freedom from glasses and contacts.

But how do you know if you’re someone who can get LASIK? How do you know if LASIK is safe for you?

Here’s the good news: most people are good candidates for LASIK. Over 80% of people who go in for a LASIK evaluation qualify for the procedure.

How do you know if you’re one of them? The only way to know for sure is to go in for a LASIK consultation.

But there are some things you can check for yourself to get a better idea of if you’re a candidate. Keep reading to learn if you could be a good LASIK candidate!

You Are at Least 18

To have LASIK, you need to be at least 18 years old. Most of you, including your body, will finish maturing by this time.

But your eyes may still change even after 18. You’re more likely to have prescription changes until you’re at least 21.

You want to make sure your eyesight has stopped changing before you get LASIK. There’s no point in getting LASIK if your eyes are still changing.

If your prescription changes after having LASIK surgery, it makes the procedure less effective. For the best possible results, wait to have LASIK until your mid to late twenties.

Your Prescription is Stable

Even if you’re over 21, your prescription can still keep changing. You want to have no prescription changes for at least two years before you have LASIK.

This ensures that your procedure will be as effective as possible. Having stable eyes that haven’t changed in at least 2 years is a good way to guarantee this.

You are in Good Health

To have any eye surgery, you should be in good health. This means you should have no pre-existing conditions that could complicate recovery.

Having diabetes or an autoimmune disease may make it difficult for your eyes to heal after LASIK. Having pre-existing eye conditions can also make surgery dangerous.

Some conditions may not interfere with surgery, and these can be discussed during your evaluation. But as a general rule, if you’re completely healthy, there should be no trouble.

You don’t need to be in perfect health to have LASIK, but you should be pretty healthy.

Your Prescription is Within Acceptable Limits

LASIK can correct your vision even if you have a very strong prescription. But it’s most effective in correcting nearsightedness.

It can have some limits when correcting farsightedness and astigmatism. LASIK can correct up to -12.00 diopters of nearsightedness, +6 diopters of farsightedness, and 6 diopters of astigmatism.

If your prescription falls outside of those limits, LASIK is likely not for you. Don’t worry though, because there are other refractive procedures you may qualify for instead!

You Don’t Have Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye is a condition some people don’t even know they have. Even if you don’t experience symptoms, you may be predisposed to dry eye syndrome.

Eye surgery can trigger symptoms and make recovery difficult. Part of the screening process for LASIK includes evaluating tear production and tear quality.

But even if your tears are found to be lacking, your surgeon can recommend treatments to manage potential dry eye. If treated effectively, you may be able to have LASIK surgery after it’s under control.

Think that LASIK may be the vision correction procedure for you? Find out for sure by scheduling a LASIK consultation at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Burbank, CA!

If you’re frustrated by glasses or contacts, isn’t it time to find something better?

Will Having Cataracts Hurt?

Paul Stubenbordt on July 28, 2020

Cataracts are an eye condition that many people have to deal with as they get older. There are a variety of eye conditions that older individuals are at risk for.

Cataracts are probably the most common eye condition. The good news is that they present very few symptoms early on and don’t cause any physical discomfort.

But that also means that they can be hard to detect. As they get worse, you may find your eyesight becomes significantly impaired.

That’s one of several reasons why it’s important to have regular eye exams by the time you turn 40. But there are also things you can look out for to tell if you might have cataracts.

What are Cataracts?

Due to aging, the chemicals in our bodies change. It’s not known the exact process that leads to cataracts. But what is known is that chemical changes cause the cells in the eye’s natural lens to become more opaque.

This creates a sort of clouding or a cataract. Cataracts are extremely common. While they’re most frequently associated with aging, they can actually occur at any point in a person’s life.

Rarely, some people are even born with congenital cataracts. Certain factors may also put you at risk for developing cataracts earlier in life.

This includes factors like having diabetes, using tobacco products, and poor diet. While you can’t prevent yourself from developing cataracts, the best way to lower your risk is to lead a healthy lifestyle. But even if you’re healthy, you may develop cataracts, especially if you’re over the age of 40.

Symptoms

While cataracts don’t cause any real physical discomfort, they do have visual symptoms. These symptoms are subtle when your cataracts are first starting to develop.

They become more intense the more advanced they become. These symptoms include:

Blurry vision
Intense glare
Halos around light sources
Decreased ability to see the contrast
Light sensitivity
Difficulty seeing in low light

Often, these symptoms are mistaken for presbyopia or age-related farsightedness. But cataracts don’t actually decrease your ability to see up close.

You may develop a cataract at the same time as having presbyopia. For this reason, reading glasses may appear to reduce symptoms.

But with cataracts, if you have trouble reading, it’s often due to an inability to see fine details without direct lighting. It can be quite difficult to tell if your visual symptoms are a sign of cataracts or presbyopia.

The only way to diagnose them or any eye condition is to have an eye exam with an eye care professional.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Because you’re at increased risk for cataracts once you turn 40, you should have regular eye exams once you’re 40. For most people, this means an eye exam every two years or so.

Your eye doctor may want you to have more regular eye exams if you’re at a higher risk. If you have cataracts, your eye doctor may not recommend treatment right away.

Cataracts develop quite slowly over time. This may mean that treatment may never be necessary, depending on your age and symptoms. Once your cataracts begin affecting your quality of life, most doctors recommend treatment.

The only way to treat cataracts is to have them removed through cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is a very common, low-risk procedure.

In fact, it’s the most commonly performed medical procedure in the US. During surgery, your natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens called an IOL, or intraocular lens.

IOLs can be used to correct other vision problems like presbyopia or astigmatism as well. There are many advantages to having the procedure.

If cataracts are making it difficult to perform daily tasks, talk to your doctor about having cataract surgery.

Tired of living with the daily effects of cataracts? Schedule a cataract screening at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Burbank, CA today!

What Makes The Cost Of LASIK Worth It?

Paul Stubenbordt on June 26, 2020

If you’re sick of wearing glasses and contacts, you may have already considered having LASIK. But LASIK can be a bit expensive, so it’s definitely something you want to think over.

Here’s the thing: the price of LASIK is usually worth the results. Over 90% of LASIK patients report satisfaction with their results.

Not only that, but LASIK can save you time, energy, and even money in the long run. Keep reading to learn what makes the cost of LASIK worth it!

Long-Term Investment

LASIK isn’t inexpensive and you don’t want it to be. If a practice is offering extreme discounts, that should be a red flag. There are plenty of situations where getting the cheapest deal possible is the goal.

When you get LASIK, this should not be one of those situations. If you see a reputable surgeon, you get what you pay for.

But LASIK may also save you money. Think about how much money you spend on glasses and contacts every year.

With LASIK, you don’t have to worry about those expenses anymore. Most patients pay off the full cost of their procedure after two or three years.

Now think about the benefits you’ll continue to have a decade or two after LASIK. The money you used to spend on glasses or contacts can be spent on something else. That money can add up to something pretty nice.

And if you don’t have the money for LASIK to pay upfront? No problem because most practices offer financing plans or accept things like CareCredit.

You can get a plan with no interest and low monthly payments. There are plenty of ways that you can make getting LASIK an affordable investment.

Increased Safety

LASIK is not without risks. Any surgery, no matter how minor, has some risk for complications. But LASIK is considered a very low-risk procedure.

Not only that, but LASIK can actually make you safer in the long run. How? By eliminating the need for contacts.

The chances of getting an infection from LASIK is minor. You can keep those chances low by taking care of your eyes after the procedure.

But contacts often cause wearers infections. In the long run, a one-time procedure like LASIK can be safer than a lifetime of wearing contacts.

Contacts work great for some, but they tend to dry out your eyes if they are not supplemented with contact solution. This, in turn, increases your risk of infection.

Even taking out or putting in contacts without completely clean hands increases your risk of infection. In the long-term, not having to wear contacts keeps you safer from eye infections.

Boost Productivity

Anyone who wears contacts knows that they take time to manage, even if it’s only a few minutes every day. They can take more time when you have an issue and need to change them out.

Even glasses need management and frequently need cleaning as well. For some people, wearing glasses for too long, especially while working, can give them a headache.

With LASIK, you don’t have to spend any time cleaning your glasses or changing out your contacts. Those little moments that you spend on them add up.

When eliminated, you can spend more time putting your energy into your work or some self-care. Either way, not having to worry about glasses or contacts can make you more productive and less stressed.

Think investing in LASIK is worth it? Find out if you’re a good candidate by scheduling a LASIK consultation at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Burbank, CA!

Getting LASIK could be one of the best things you ever do for yourself, so why wait any longer?

Can Having Dry Eyes Stand In The Way of Cataract Surgery?

Paul Stubenbordt on May 29, 2020

Cataracts are a common eye condition in adults over the age of 40. Cataracts can also severely affect your vision.

They develop slowly but they can eventually make it almost impossible to see. When fully developed, they even cause total blindness.

The good news about cataracts is that their visual constraints don’t have to be permanent. Thanks to cataract surgery, you can regain your vision and have your cataracts removed.

Cataract surgery is also the only effective treatment option for cataracts. Like any surgical procedure, there are risks that come with having cataract surgery.

While cataract surgery is a safe procedure, having pre-existing conditions can make it a little more difficult. This includes if you have conditions like dry eye syndrome.

Keep reading to learn if having dry eyes can stand in your way of having cataract surgery!

Dry Eye and Eye Surgery

Dry eye can be a temporary condition triggered by changes in a person’s environment. But it can also be a chronic condition.

Dry eye syndrome often occurs in those that are older, especially women going through menopause. For those that have dry eye syndrome, any kind of eye surgery carries more risk.

Having enough moisture in the eyes is what helps them heal. Dry eye can make the recovery process after surgery longer and more uncomfortable.

Having dry eyes won’t prevent you from having eye surgery, including cataract surgery. To be as safe as possible, you may have to take some extra precautions.

Pre-Surgery Evaluation

Before you have cataract surgery, your doctor will screen you to make sure surgery will be safe. This evaluation includes testing your tear production.

Your doctor will assess both the quality of your tears, the amount produced, and how well they disperse over the surface of your eye. For most cases of dry eye syndrome, the actual amount of tears produced is normal.

The problem lies in your tears not having enough moisture. Because of this, the tears are more oil and mucus than water.

If your doctor finds you have dry eye syndrome, they will recommend treatments before surgery. These treatments will ease your symptoms and make you more comfortable.

Dry Eye Treatments

Dry eyes can be treated non-invasively. Before recommending anything else, most doctors will probably suggest over-the-counter artificial tears.

They may also suggest a change in diet. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help your tear production. You can also take fish oil or flaxseed oil supplements.

If you take supplements, know that the body absorbs nutrients better from actual food. You may need to try adding omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods in your diet, like salmon, tuna, chia seeds, and walnuts to get the full benefits.

If these changes don’t ease symptoms, there are minimally-invasive surgical options as well. One common surgery for dry eye is inserting punctal plugs.

These plugs block the eye’s drainage channel. Blocking the drainage channel forces your tears to stay on the surface of the eye longer. This helps keep your eyes more lubricated and makes up for tears that aren’t the highest quality.

Once your dry eye is under control, you can have cataract surgery, knowing your eyes are in better shape. If you still struggle with dry eye after treatment, your doctor may still consider surgery.

This depends on the severity of your cataracts, although there will be an increased risk. For the most part, dry eye is manageable, but every case is different.

Discuss your options about dry eye and cataract surgery with your doctor. This will allow you to make an informed decision.

Think you may need cataract surgery? Schedule a cataract screening at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Burbank, CA!

Should I Get LASIK Before Allergy Season?

Paul Stubenbordt on April 9, 2020

Spring can be a tough time for anyone with allergies. Somewhere between 10 and 30 percent of adults suffer from seasonal allergies.

If you have allergies and want to have LASIK, you may be concerned about when to have your procedure. It’s best not to have it during allergy season.

But should you have it before or after? Keep reading to learn more about how allergies can affect getting LASIK!

LASIK and Allergies

Patients with allergies don’t tend to have a higher rate of complications when they get LASIK. It is safe to have LASIK if you have allergies that cause conjunctivitis.

But it can affect how you heal if you’re exposed to allergens while you’re recovering from LASIK. If you have any allergic symptoms while recovering from LASIK, it’s harder to not rub your eyes.

If there is a rule to follow after LASIK, it’s to not rub your eyes. The reason for this is because, during LASIK, a small flap is created in your cornea.

This flap will heal over time but it can take a few months. While the flap heals, rubbing your eyes could run the risk of dislocating the flap. If this occurs, it often requires a follow-up procedure to fix the problem.

Allergic symptoms are also generally uncomfortable. They can make inflammation in your eyes even worse after surgery.

Even if you experience conjunctivitis after surgery, your doctor will prescribe anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops. These eye drops should keep your eyes from becoming infected or in too much pain.

If you have severe allergies, steroid medication may also be prescribed. If you can, do your best to avoid any and all allergens when recovering after LASIK.

Recovery Time

After you have LASIK surgery, your eyes will need time to heal. While initial recovery only takes a matter of days or weeks, the full recovery takes several months.

You won’t feel any different during much of that recovery. The corneal flap made during surgery acts as a natural bandage to protect your eye.

It takes about six months for the corneal flap to fully heal. During that time, it’s safest to do what you can to avoid infection or dislocating your corneal flap.

Most patients don’t need to do much to avoid complications during the majority of their recovery. If you suffer from allergies, it can be harder.

It may be wise to time your surgery so you can avoid allergens during your full recovery.

Timing Your Surgery

Having LASIK right before allergy season means you’ll still be in recovery during allergy season. Since it’s the recovery period where your eyes are most vulnerable, it’s best to have LASIK after allergy season.

The ideal time for patients with seasonal allergies is in the summer or fall. This ensures that the typical allergy season doesn’t fall during your six-month full recovery time.

This approach is cautious as you can have LASIK and recover while experiencing allergy symptoms. To have the least amount of stress and the best recovery, wait until after allergy season.

Wondering if LASIK could be right for you? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in South Pasadena, CA!

4 Tips To Calm Down Before LASIK

Paul Stubenbordt on March 10, 2020

LASIK surgery is more popular than ever. Modern advances in technology have made LASIK more accessible, safe, and effective.

Chances are, you might even know someone who’s already had LASIK. Maybe you’ve considered it for yourself.

But any surgery can be a little scary, even a minor procedure like LASIK. Before you have LASIK, you may be nervous.

But there are ways to ease your worries and go into LASIK relaxed, calm, and in control. Keep reading for 4 tips to calm down before LASIK!

1. Have an Honest Discussion with Your Doctor

The most important step in dealing with anxiety is knowledge. Knowing what to expect can do wonders for your mental state.

So talk to your doctor about any questions or concerns you have well before you have LASIK. Your doctor should have no problem walking you through what to expect. When you take away the unknowns, it’s a lot easier to feel comfortable about LASIK!

Keep in mind that while LASIK does involve a laser, it’s a painless procedure. You will be awake but your eyes will be numbed completely thanks to numbing eye drops.

There’s no need for injections! Some doctors even offer anti-anxiety medication to their patients.

This is a great way to help calm their nerves. Ask about what your surgeon can do to help if you think you’ll be especially nervous.

2. Practice Deep Breathing

Deep breathing is a wonderful stress-relieving technique for all kinds of situations. But it’s something you should have some experience with before you use it on the day of getting LASIK.

The most important aspect of deep breathing is breathing in and out at a consistent rate. Breathing too quickly can lead to hyperventilating, which is the opposite of what you want to do.

Try practicing by laying down. Then count the seconds as you breathe in, hold your breath, and breathe out.

There are videos online that explain different breathing techniques for relaxation. Try out a few techniques you can use when you’re getting ready for your procedure.

3. Listen to Music

It can be tough to stay calm when it gets closer to your surgery. On the day of, you may want to have some techniques to calm yourself while in the waiting room and surgery prep.

Besides practicing deep breathing, you can listen to music to distract yourself. Your surgeon may even allow you to listen to music during the procedure. Be sure to discuss it with them in advance to make sure!

4. Bring a Friend

Having someone with you is a great way to distract your mind while also having a shoulder to lean on. You’ll need a ride to and from your LASIK procedure.

You’re not allowed to drive yourself home after the procedure, after all! It’s a good idea to have a close relative or friend with you.

They can wait in the lobby with you and help you relax before the procedure. They’ll be there for you afterward to help you unwind.

LASIK doesn’t have to be scary. The procedure itself is far less complex than people realize. All you have to do to have the most comfortable experience is to stay relaxed!

Ready to stop being afraid of getting LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in South Pasadena, CA, and face your fears!

6 Foods To Eat To Help Dry Eye

Paul Stubenbordt 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!