Year: 2022 (Page 2 of 2)

We mentioned in our last blog that we are going to start offering Neurolens in both of our new locations. We wanted to take a deeper dive into this new technology to give you all the details of how this can help you.

What is it?

According to nvisioncenters.com “Neurolens is the first prescription lens that uses a contoured prism to realign the eyes and relieve pressure on the trigeminal nerve.” This type of contoured prism lens can help fight the effects of digital eye strain. We have talked about blue light and digital eye strain here before, and this lens could be an alternative to blue-light-blocking lenses.

A significant amount of people suffer more and more from digital eye strain since most of us work with computers all day and use our smartphones and tablets while not at work. With the rise of children-friendly tablets, people are getting exposed to blue light earlier and earlier. Digital eye strain can cause not only eye strain but also neck pain, shoulder pain, and headaches.

The root cause of these symptoms is the digital eye strain. Neurolens can help to correct the damage caused by digital eye strain resulting in fewer headaches and neck and shoulder pain.

The Science Behind It

The Trigeminal nerve is the biggest nerve that is connected to your brain. Research has proven that there is a connection between this nerve and the eyes. If your eyes are misaligned due to eye strain, it puts pressure on that nerve which in turn causes the symptoms we detailed above.

In order to prescribe a Neurolens, we will use a measurement device that can detect a possible misalignment and then determine the prescriptions needed.

Who could benefit?

This type of lens could benefit anyone who spends a lot of time on a computer as well as anyone who does a lot of detailed work or reading. It can also be helpful for someone who has suffered from the symptoms of digital eye strain but have not see any relief from their symptoms using other treatments.

Come See Us!

If you fit the description above, call us to make an appointment. We love being able to help improve the lives of our customers by offering the latest breakthrough technologies. We would love to see if Nurolens could help you!

Here at TriCounty Eye Associates, we have some very exciting changes happening. Since our client base has grown so much thanks to all our amazing customers, we have decided to upgrade our current locations to accommodate YOU better. We are Moving!

Moncks Corner

We aren’t moving far, but we will now be at:
119 Foxbank Plantation Blvd
Moncks Corner, SC 29461

This is the same parking lot as before, but we are now in a bigger unit! We are also adding a new doctor to this location. Joel Schultz, OD. Dr Schultz used to practice at Flowertown Family Vision in Summerville, We are so excited to welcome him to our practice!

North Charleston

We are moving to:
8983 University Blvd
North Charleston, SC 29406

Our doctor at this location is still Dr Shaye Hurd, who can medically treat Ocular Disease as well as take care of your routine exams.

We are really excited to be able to serve our customers better with the extra space our new locations are going to provide. We will be settled into our new locations by July of this year so mark your calendars!

Neurolens

We are also introducing a new prescription lens called Neurolens which actually helps to correct eye issues related to pressure on the trigeminal nerve. Keep an eye out for a separate blog about this new offering. We are always thinking of new ways to better serve our loyal customers. Whether it’s researching and offering new products and technology, or moving to larger office spaces to better accommodate our customer’s needs.

With all of the new things going on, feel free to call us with any questions about our new locations and our new Neurolens option.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Springtime can bring so many good memories to mind. Warmer weather, fresh wildflowers blooming, bright colors, and outdoor activities. In the Lowcountry, it means the Flowertown Festival is around the corner. The bright pinks of the Azalea bushes will be coloring every corner of town.

These are all telltale signs of spring has sprung can be an incredibly unpleasant time of year for allergy sufferers. One of the most affected parts of the body by allergies are the eyes.  Here are a few ways to cope during this time of year.

Helpful Tips

1. Avoid Allergens – some ways you can avoid allergens could be to change your HVAC filter more often, or even get a filter specifically made to filter out allergens. You can check the pollen levels outside using your weather app on your phone, if the pollen level is high keep the windows of your home closed. Cleaning your home more frequently can help because pollen travels fast. A shower before bed will make sure you don’t track any pollen into your bed with you. It is also a good idea to wipe down pets when they come in from the outdoors and wash them more often during the pollen season.
2. Don’t wear contacts – contacts can get irritated more easily by allergens so switching to glasses just for the season can help to alleviate some symptoms.
3. Wash your hands and face – this is similar to cleaning your home and showering before bed. If you are washing your hands and face more often, you will be getting rid of the pollen you have tracked in.
4. Wear sunglasses – while we have discussed many reasons why sunglasses are a good idea, in this instance, sunglasses can keep pollen from getting directly in your eyes while you are outside.

Tips to Soothe Your Eyes

1. Eye drops – since allergens can cause your eyes to dry out, they can get in your eye. Eye drops can help to keep your eye lubricated as well as help to flush out any allergens stuck in there.
2. Cold Therapy – using a cold compress to help with the symptoms. You can just wet a clean, soft cloth and leave it in the fridge for about 15 minutes. Then gently apply to your eyes for some much-needed relief of redness and puffiness.

Of course, if your allergies are still not under control while following these steps, give us a call. We will be able to determine if medication is needed to keep your allergies at bay.

We hope everyone stays comfortable during this pollen season!

Glasses were invented back in the 13th century in Italy. Since then, people wear them to help see better. Some people need them from birth, others develop vision impairment later in life. Some people just need reading glasses as they age to help them continue to work or enjoy a good book.

There is some new research we wanted to tell you about that the AAO released in January of this year. They are experimenting with eye drops as a way to improve eyesight so that you do not need to wear reading glasses. These topical eye drops could ease the burden of having to remember where you left your reading glasses.

The Details

The technical term for needing reading glasses is presbyopia, which is a gradual loss if near vision with age. There are two kind of eye drops they have developed to combat presbyopia.

1. Miotic Drops – these types of drops will change the size of the pupil which will maximize near and far focus in the eye. This is the first type of drop that is actually FDA-approved.
2. Lens-Softening Drops – these types of drops combat the stiffening of the clear lens in the eye. It softens the eye’s lens, this flexibility allows the eye to better focus on near objects. This drop would be ideal for someone without cataracts who are at the beginning stages of presbyopia.

How Do They Work?

The miotic drops have been proven to start working thirty minutes after use, and they can last from four to seven hours until the effects start to wear off. The early studies of the lens softening drops suggest they can last years.

Side effects

This is a new development in the eye world. While the Miotic Drops have been FDA approved, the lens softening drops have not been approved yet. The main side effects people reported were headaches, limited vision at night, and depth perception issues.

Cost

It is doubtful these eye drops will be covered by insurance, but they are likley to still be less than a pair of glasses.

This is an exciting development for anyone who wears reading glasses. While each person has a different eye health journey it is hopeful that these eye drops can help to improve the quality of life for people who suffer from presbyopia.

Whether you are itching to be on the frontline of technology or comfortable with your glasses, we at TriCounty Eyes are here to serve you!

We love to educate our patients on the different types of eye conditions so they can be aware and conscious of the early signs. The more you know about your eyes, the earlier you can diagnose an issue. This month we want to shed some light on Glaucoma. January was Glaucoma Awareness month, so what better time to brush up on what this eye condition is and the warning signs to look out for.

What is it?

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness. It is a disease where damage to the optic nerve leads to progressive, irreversible vision loss.

There are two main types of Glaucoma:
1. Open Angle
This is the most common form of the disease and is caused by pressure that damages the optic nerve.
2. Angle Closure
This form of this disease makes the pressure inside your eye go up suddenly.

Getting your yearly eye exam is a fantastic way to catch this condition early before damage can begin. During an eye exam, an eye doctor can determine if there are risk factors for glaucoma before any proven damage to the optic nerve can happen. If this is the case, your eye doctor would tell you that you are a Glaucoma Suspect.

What to look out for

Unfortunately, it is completely possible to have Glaucoma and you do not realize it. Sometimes there are no symptoms, and it can only be by your eye doctor’s diagnosis. All the more reason to make sure to schedule your regular eye exams. This will help your doctor to catch these things early.

Treatment

If you have Glaucoma, you and your doctor will come up with the right treatment for your situation. There currently is no cure for it, and if your vision is regressing it cannot be regained. It is, however, possible to stop progression and further damage once diagnosed. Depending on your situation your eye doctor will either prescribe medication and/or surgery in order to stop its progression.

Glaucoma is a risk that everyone faces. Regardless of your age, gender, and race, anyone can be diagnosed with Glaucoma. The best way to combat its effects of it is to catch it early. The best way to catch it early is to schedule regular eye exams throughout your life.

Call TriCounty Eye Associates today to schedule an appointment so we can help to preserve your eyesight!

You see them at the grocery store, the dollar store, the pharmacy. Packs of glasses that have different numbers on them. It’s hard to know what the numbers mean, and which ones might be right for you. Depending on your needs, you may need stronger or weaker measurements of magnification. These numbers you see on the glasses are called Diopters, or measurements of the magnification level.

There are many factors that drive us to consider reading glasses. Maybe you start having trouble reading your favorite book, or that restaurant menu? Another common reason for thinking about glasses could be frequent headaches or eye strain. This can be contributed to aging eyes or even blue light exposure as we have discussed in the past.

How to know if you need reading glasses

• Do you ever experience headaches while reading?
• Is hard to read small prints?
• Do you hold things closer or farther away to read them clearly?
• Do your eyes feel tired after reading or using a computer?

If you answer yes to any of these questions it may be time to start wearing reading glasses.

How to know what Diopter to get?

There is a basic rule of thumb depending on your age to determine what diopter reading glasses to get. If you are between 35-45 years old start with a +1.00. As you get older you may need to up it, if you are between 45-50 you will probably need at least +1.5 and then once you are into your 50s you will need +2.00. Generally, the older you are, the higher power lends you need.

The absolute best way to find out what power lens you need is to ask your eye doctor. If you are making regular appointments and getting exams on time, your eye doctor will be able to tell from your exams what your eyes will need.

Make sure to be open and honest with your eye doctor to make sure they can help in the best way possible. If you have symptoms of needing reading glasses but you ignore the signs, this can cause your eyes to continue to strain. Over the years if your eyes are constantly straining, it can make your vision worse. While in contrast, if you start wearing reading glasses at the first signs of needing them it can help to keep your vision from being impaired further.

Be Careful

If you are new to using reading glasses, be sure to pay close attention to how your eyes feel using different strength lenses. If you just pick a lens with no advice from a professional and it’s not right for you it can cause worse eye strain and headaches. You want to be sure that you are using the right strength for yourself.

Let us know here at TriCounty Eye Associates if we can help in any way with selecting the right pair of reading glasses for you!

Here at TriCounty Eye Associates, we feel like we can help our customers not only when they are in our office, but also by educating them on the different things that could affect their eye health. One of those things is Preseptal Cellulitis. This one is especially important as the kiddos have been back to school recently and more susceptible to this condition. This condition is most common in children under the age of 10. It can occur at any age though.

What is it?

Preseptal Cellulitis is an infection of the eyelid and can affect the skin around your eyeball. It can cause pain, swelling, and redness around the eye.

How does it happen?

This condition can occur when bacteria enter the eyelid area. Usually, the bacteria will come in contact with the eyelid when someone rubs their eye with their hand. It can also happen if there is a scratch near the eye that gets infected.

Another way this could happen is from a sinus infection. After having a sinus infection or during one you could develop Perceptual Cellulitis.

What to look out for:

• Tiredness
• Redness
• Tenderness
• Fever
• Pain
• Swelling

What do to if you think you or your child may have it:

Call us! Make an appointment with us for an exam. We will be able to assess the situation and diagnose if this in fact what is wrong.

Once diagnosed, antibiotics will be prescribed to treat the infection. In some serious, but rare, situations surgery is needed to correct issues from a serious case of Presptal Cellulitis.

As always, we here at TriCounty Eye associates are here for any of your eye care needs. We are happy to help you through all the possible things that could go wrong as well as be there with you through all the things that go right!

Calling all lovers of that warm cup of happiness! You know that morning cup of coffee feeling?? This blog is for you!

As of 2018 there is a connection between that glorious cup of joe and your long-term eye health. I am here to break it down and give you further justification for that daily caffeine fix!

It’s no secret that a large number of adults in America rely on a daily cup of coffee to gain their motivation and help wake them up in the morning. The National Coffee Association mentions, 7 in 10 Americans drink coffee every week, and 62% drink it every day.

A 2018 study by Cornell University proves that a daily cup can protect against a few different eye problems that can damage your retina.

• Glaucoma
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Age-related vision loss

Each of these are detailed in other blogs written here. Feel free to brush up on our Eye Care News page!

How does coffee do this?

CLA

The Cornell study used mice, not people. BUT it shows regular use of CLA (Chlorogenic Acid), which is found in coffee, the mice who were pretreated with CLA developed no retinal damage during testing. So, because of that finding, it implies that coffee may attribute to strong retinas in humans.

Caffeine

Another big part of coffee we are all very familiar with is caffeine. That little boost we all crave can help with daily eye problems. According to the same study, as well as many others, caffeine is linked to helping to relieve common issues like Dry Eye. It has even been linked to helping stimulate tear production.

Moderation

While this information is promising and exciting for those of us who love to drink coffee, it is important to always remember to moderate your intake. While it may aid your retina’s long term health there are other bad side effects that excessive intake can cause.

If you are not a usual coffee drinker, we do not recommend forcing yourself to drink it in order to benefit your eye health. For those of us who are regular coffee drinkers, this is just another reason to keep having your magical cup of happiness each morning but remember not to overdo it.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your eye health please call us here at TriCounty Eyes. We want to be a part of every aspect of your eye health journey!