Glaucoma Is The “Silent Thief” of Vison: Eye Exams Offer Early Diagnosis

Many people with glaucoma don’t know they have it yet because 95% of cases are asymptomatic until vision loss. There are often no obvious signs of this eye disease until your side vision is permanently damaged, which is why eye exams are crucial. Vision impairment from glaucoma typically happens due to high intraocular pressure (IOP) that damages the optic nerve, and there’s no way to recover it. For these reasons, glaucoma is known as the “silent thief” of eyesight.

It’s essential to have annual eye exams to diagnose glaucoma early. Wiles Eye Center offers comprehensive glaucoma management and treatment, and our ophthalmologists use various tests during comprehensive exams to identify glaucoma and other eye diseases.

What Is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a type of eye disease that includes a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve, often due to high IOP. The optic nerve is a crucial connection between the brain and the eyes, and once the optic nerve is damaged, it can’t be fixed. The longer eye pressure increases, the more damage the optic nerve may sustain. Patients may experience tunnel vision and missing patches in their peripheral (side) vision. Left untreated, high IOP can deteriorate the optic nerve, causing permanent vision loss or blindness.

Severe forms of glaucoma, such as acute closed-angle glaucoma, cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, red eyes, blurred vision and severe eye pain. This is a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment to prevent vision impairment.

How Is Glaucoma Detected During Eye Exams?

Our ophthalmologists perform various tests during comprehensive eye exams to examine the optic nerve, visual field, eye pressure and other aspects of eye health. These appointments are recommended yearly, especially for people with risk factors, such as a family history of glaucoma.

Some of the diagnostic tests for glaucoma include:

• Air Puff: The air puff test uses a plume of air to calculate the resistance from your eye and determine the eye’s internal pressure.
• Goldmann Tonometry: Also called a blue light test, this part of an eye exam uses numbing eye drops and a slit lamp biomicroscope to examine the cornea with a flat-tipped probe.
• Tonometer: This test also requires numbing eye drops for comfort as the doctor gently touches the eye with a tiny device that measures pressure resistance and internal eye pressure.
• Optical Coherence Tomography: The OCT scan is a computer-based diagnostic tool that’s non-invasive. The technology breaks down retina images into cross-sectional and color-coded regions to detect eye diseases, including glaucoma. A laser captures high-resolution images to locate ocular damage or tissue changes.
• Visual Field Test: This diagnostic test creates a computerized map of your visual field to measure your side vision and detect abnormalities in your eyesight.
• Angle Exam (Gonioscopy): This part of an eye exam looks at where the cornea (transparent outer layer of the eye) connects with the iris (the pigmented portion of the eye). This angle involves your eye’s drainage system and is a significant component of glaucoma diagnosis and progression. Our eye doctors touch the cornea with a special lens to see if the drainage angle is open or closed.

Our eye doctors may also take a corneal thickness measurement to establish risk factors for glaucoma. We will discuss the findings of your eye exam right after your appointment and your treatment options. We offer medicated eye drops, laser procedures, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). Wiles Eye Center also provides Durysta, the first implantable medicine approved by the FDA for open-angle glaucoma.

Schedule a comprehensive eye exam at Wiles Eye Center in St. Joseph, Missouri, at (816) 279-7015 or Kansas City, Missouri, at (816) 455-2020.

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Why People With Cataracts Choose Cataract Surgery Before Vision Loss

People tend to wait years to have cataracts removed, putting off cataract surgery for fear of the procedure or waiting until their vision is severely impacted. However, early cataract surgery may lead to fewer complications and allows people to enjoy a better quality of life in their golden years. Cataract surgery is one of the most successful and safe medical procedures, which is why more and more people opt to remove cataracts before vision impairment.

Most people will develop cataracts by their 70s. Being proactive with your eye health by treating cataracts early gives you more freedom to enjoy your family and lifestyle unencumbered by blurry vision. You may even eliminate your prescription eyeglasses!

Wiles Eye Center offers traditional cataract surgery and laser-assisted cataract surgery with advanced intraocular lens (IOL) implants to restore clear vision and improve common refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

What Is A Cataract?

As you get older, the proteins inside the natural lens of your eye clump together and thicken, clouding the eye lens and preventing light from passing through to the retina. Cataracts cause a host of symptoms that may impact your ability to read, drive, watch TV and perform other daily functions.

Cataract symptoms include:

• Blurred or clouded vision
• Muted colors or a yellowish tint
• Double vision
• Light sensitivity
• Glare
• Halos around lights
• Poor night vision
• Vision impairment or blindness

Cataracts are diagnosed during comprehensive eye exams at our St. Joseph and Kansas City, Missouri offices. These visits are recommended annually to screen for early signs of eye diseases.

Cataract surgery removes the clouded lens and replaces it with an IOL for better vision. The procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and recovery is often short with no hospital stay. Removing the thick, cloudy lens restores clear vision, including color vibrance, night vision and light sensitivity. Advanced IOLs offer sharper eyesight at multiple focal points and may help you get rid of prescription glasses, contacts and readers for good.

Wiles Eye Center offers high-quality, FDA-approved premium IOLs, including Tecnis, ReSTOR and Crystalens. These multifocal lenses address common vision problems, including presbyopia.

Why Have Cataract Surgery Before Vision Impairment?

Early cataract surgery prevents you from experiencing common issues with cataracts, such as difficulty reading or driving at night. You can enjoy good vision and eliminate corrective eyewear sooner for a better quality of life with more visual independence. Removing a cataract during early formation is often less challenging than a dense, hyper-mature cataract and may decrease some risks and reduce surgery time and recovery.

Cataract surgery may lower intraocular pressure (IOP) and provide better outcomes for glaucoma patients by improving IOP control. Thick cataracts increase eye pressure, and cataract surgery may prevent that pressure increase and improve glaucoma treatment response.

How Do I Know If I’m Ready For Cataract Surgery?

Our ophthalmologists will discuss your eye health and cataracts during your comprehensive eye exam. It’s important to understand you don’t need to wait until you’re struggling with significant vision impairment to have cataract surgery. Early cataract removal is safe and successful with a quick procedure and a short recovery.

Medical advancements and new techniques have made cataract surgery one of the safest procedures in modern medicine. It’s not too early to find out if you’re a candidate for cataract surgery.

Schedule an eye exam at Wiles Eye Center in St. Joseph, Missouri, at (816) 279-7015 or Kansas City, Missouri, at (816) 455-2020.

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How To Combat Dry Eyes During Kansas City Winters

Although the uncomfortable symptoms of dry eye disease can strike at any time during the year, they are particularly common during the winter months. Cold, windy weather, low humidity and indoor heating can exacerbate the itching, burning, redness and foreign body sensation associated with dry eye disease. In this post, the ophthalmologists at Wiles Eye Center discuss some of the best ways to combat dry eye symptoms during Kansas City winters.

Run a Humidifier Indoors

One of the first things you can try to minimize dry eye symptoms during the winter is to run a humidifier indoors. This will add moisture back into the dry air that can help soothe dry eyes.

Avoid Heat Blowing Directly on Your Face

Blasting your car’s heater directly in your face or sitting under a heating vent can worsen your dry eye symptoms. Angle your car’s vents away from your face and, if possible, shift your furniture around so your house’s heating vents are not directly blowing into your eyes.

Manage Screen Times

In colder temperatures, we naturally spend more time inside (and often using screens). But prolonged screen time exacerbates dry eye disease. Try to limit your leisure time spent watching television, playing video games and browsing social media on your smartphone or tablet. When using screens, take frequent breaks to give your tired eyes a brief respite.

Eat Eye-Friendly Foods

Consuming foods that contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, flaxseed or walnuts, can help to lubricate dry eyes. (An alternative option is to take an omega-3 supplement.) Foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A are also eye friendly. These include citrus fruits, carrots, leafy green vegetables and sweet potatoes.

Try Artificial Tears

Artificial tears are a reliable way to get relief from dry eye symptoms. The tears add much-needed moisture back to the eyes.

Consult With Wiles Eye Center

If these lifestyle changes do not improve your dry eye symptoms, it may be time to consult with our team of experts. We can determine the underlying cause of the problem — it could be a lack of tears or a problem with the tears’ composition — and recommend the most suitable course of action.

Depending on your circumstances, prescription eyedrops, intense pulsed light therapy or tear duct plugs could resolve your troublesome symptoms. We will oversee your treatment and make modifications as needed so you can enjoy lasting relief from dry eye.

To request an appointment with our ophthalmologists to discuss your dry eye symptoms, please call or email Wiles Eye Center today.

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Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month: Watch for These Warning Signs

Every November, Wiles Eye Center participates in Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month in an effort to make more people aware of the effects of the disease. Our ophthalmologists encourage people who are at risk to get screened early, so they can start prompt care if diagnosed. Early intervention and timely treatment are key to limiting the effects of diabetic eye disease on long-term vision.

In this post, our team reviews the warning signs that people with diabetes should watch for. If you experience any of the following warning signs, we urge you to schedule a screening with our eye doctors.

What Are the Warning Signs of Diabetic Eye Disease?

Diabetes causes changes to the small blood vessels that nourish the retina. The blood vessels can leak blood and other fluids into the retina. This condition is called diabetic retinopathy. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, there may be no symptoms. As the disease progresses, warning signs can include the following:

• Blurry vision
• Floaters (objects – e.g., spots, strings, specks – that appear to float around in the visual field)
• Flashes of light (streaks or sparks of light that appear in the visual field)
• Dark or blank spots in vision

Sometimes diabetic eye disease can affect the macula. The macula is the part of the retina that controls the clarity of our central vision as well as our color vision. Fluid that leaks from the retinal blood vessels can build up and cause the macula to swell. This is called diabetic macular edema. If diabetic macular edema occurs, central and color vision can be affected. Warning signs of diabetic macular edema include the following:

• Blurriness or distortion in the center of the visual field
• Colors that appear faded or yellowed

Note that these symptoms are not exclusive to diabetic eye disease. Sometimes they can indicate other problems with the eyes. A qualified eye doctor can discuss your symptoms with you, perform appropriate testing and provide you with an accurate diagnosis.

Managing Diabetic Eye Disease

Diabetic eye disease is treatable. If you are evaluated and diagnosed with diabetic eye disease, our team of experts can discuss your best treatment options based on the type and severity of your condition. That could entail undergoing an in-office laser procedure, or an eye surgery, or receiving injections to stop the damage to the retinal blood vessels.

Our diabetic eye disease experts will act quickly to stop the disease from advancing and prevent additional vision loss. We can coordinate with other members of your medical team, such as your endocrinologist or primary care physician, to keep them up to date on your ongoing eye care.

It is crucial that you follow your medical team’s advice to bring your blood sugar and other vitals under control. Well-controlled diabetes is less likely to permanently affect your ocular health.

To request an eye exam and screening for diabetic eye disease, please contact Wiles Eye Center today.

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The Hidden Dangers of Halloween Contact Lenses & How to Safely Change Eye Color

No one is too old to dress up for Halloween. Some people like to enhance their costumes with decorative contact lenses that change their eye color or create special effects, like the illusion of cat or zombie eyes.

Unfortunately, it is common to obtain these types of decorative lenses without a prescription. The non-prescription use of costume lenses can be dangerous. Some of the risks of improperly obtaining and wearing these lenses are downright scary.

Here, the ophthalmologists at Wiles Eye Center discuss the potential consequences of Halloween contact lenses — and suggest a safer way to change your eye color for the holiday.

Risks of Costume Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are medical devices and therefore overseen by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for their safety and effectiveness. The FDA cautions that contacts should only be obtained with a valid prescription.

Purchasing contact lenses — such as novelty lenses from a beauty supply store, costume store, party supply store or online retailer — without a prescription, puts you at risk of serious eye problems. The lenses may be made of questionable materials, and they may not fit your eyes correctly. The lenses could scratch the surface of your eye, making your eyes susceptible to infection and other problems. Though rare, contact lens-induced infections that are not treated can lead to blindness. We can all agree that changing your eye color for one holiday is not worth potentially losing your sight.

The good news is that you can safely change your eye color for Halloween (or other occasions) with contacts, as long as you get a valid prescription from a licensed eye care professional.

Safely Change Your Eye Color With Pigmented Prescription Lenses

If you wish to change your eye color, contact your eye care professional to inquire about a prescription. Your eye care professional can properly measure your eye and give you a prescription for lenses that specifically fit your eyes and give you the desired eye color. You can be sure the lenses are made from safe materials. When you work with your eye care professional, you will also receive instructions about the proper use and cleaning of your lenses. This will decrease the chances of any complications.

Furthermore, your eye care professional can explain warning signs to look for, such as eye redness or pain, that could suggest a problem with the lenses.

For more information about safely changing your eye color with pigmented prescription lenses, please call or email the team at Wiles Eye Center. We are happy to help you put the finishing touches on your Halloween costume!

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Getting Older and Having One of These Medical Conditions Increases Eye Disease Risk

Vision changes and eye concerns are inevitable parts of the natural aging process. Some eye issues are more of a nuisance, while others can lead to blindness if left untreated. Early detection and treatment are  key to enjoying good vision in your golden years, as is understanding your risk of developing these eye diseases. Our ophthalmologists at Wiles Eye Center can diagnose and manage eye diseases at our Kansas City and St. Joseph offices.

Diabetes 

People with diabetes have an elevated risk for multiple eye diseases, including glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. This risk factor is due to the damage uncontrolled blood sugar can have on the retina that lines the back of the eye. The small blood vessels can leak fluid and blood, scar and lead to new abnormal blood vessels that affect vision (diabetic retinopathy). Diabetic retinopathy affects people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and can cause retinal detachment if scar tissue pulls the retinal tissue from the back of the eye.

The longer someone has diabetes, the higher their risk of vision impairment. People with diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts at a younger age because high blood sugar can alter the structure of the eye lens and accelerate cataract formation. Having diabetes also doubles your risk of developing glaucoma.

High Blood Pressure 

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can affect the retina’s blood vessels. Poor blood flow caused by hypertension may damage nerves found in the eye and block the arteries in charge of supplying blood to the retina. High blood pressure may also block the veins responsible for carrying blood from the retina. These issues are called hypertensive retinopathy, and you may not experience symptoms until damage progresses. Headaches, double vision, dimming vision and vision loss are symptoms of hypertensive retinopathy. Recent research found that high blood pressure increases cataract risk, and long-term hypertension is a risk factor for glaucoma.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is another eye disease of concern for people with hypertension. The damage caused by high blood pressure in the retinal blood vessels can lead to AMD or age-related vascular dysfunction.

Autoimmune Disorders 

Autoimmune disorders, such as arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease, are another risk factor for eye disease as you age. The swelling caused by these conditions can destroy tissues in the middle of the eye. Uveitis, which causes severe vision loss, may be an eye concern in people with autoimmune diseases, and these people are more likely to get uveitis in both eyes. Symptoms include light sensitivity, impaired vision, eye floaters, blurred vision, redness and eye pain.

If you live with one of these medical conditions, you will need more frequent comprehensive eye exams to preserve your vision. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to managing these eye diseases and maintaining good eyesight.

Schedule an eye exam at Wiles Eye Center today. Contact our Kansas City, Missouri, office at (816) 455-2020 and our St. Joseph, Missouri office at (816) 279-7015, or fill out our online contact form.

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What to Do When Glaucoma Eye Drops Don’t Work to Lower Eye Pressure

The primary goal of early glaucoma treatment is to prevent the disease from progressing and causing vision loss. Eye drops have been the first-line treatment for glaucoma since the 1990s, and prostaglandin is the most common eye drop medication. However, newer eye drop drugs are FDA-approved to lower intraocular pressure for glaucoma treatment. Unfortunately, these eye drops can fail to control glaucoma progression, and you may need advanced techniques or laser surgery to slow the disease.

Our ophthalmologists at Wiles Eye Center in Kansas City offer comprehensive glaucoma treatment customized to your needs. Some patients who respond well to eye drops may not tolerate the medication’s side effects or find them inconvenient, in which case other treatments are a better fit.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty for Glaucoma Control 

Some ophthalmologists use selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) as a first-line treatment for glaucoma patients because it can provide meaningful improvement without the worry of remembering to use eye drops several times a day. This laser procedure is used for open-angle glaucoma. SLT uses low-level light from laser technology to increase fluid drainage in the natural drainage pathway between the iris and the white covering on the eye’s surface (sclera).

SLT is an attractive option for patients resistant to eye drops because a single laser procedure can effectively lower eye pressure for up to three years or longer. Some patients may still need glaucoma medications, while others enjoy lasting relief without secondary treatment. This glaucoma laser treatment does not damage the drainage canal in the eyes and can be repeated if the initial procedure doesn’t lower eye pressure.

SLT is performed on an outpatient basis, so you can go home to rest afterward. Our eye surgeon will administer special numbing eye drops to the eye’s surface and use a gel contact lens on the eye to focus the laser energy onto the drainage canals. Patients may see flashes of bright light, hear clicks and experience a tingling sensation during the procedure. However, most patients report little to no pain during SLT, which takes around five to 10 minutes.

Determining the Best Glaucoma Treatment Plan for Your Vision 

It’s common for medications such as eye drops to lose effectiveness over time. Some patients need more potent doses or different types of eye drops. Our eye doctors will examine your ocular health and create a treatment plan to manage intraocular pressure and slow glaucoma progression. It often takes a combination approach to see the best results.

If you’re struggling with eye drops for glaucoma management, contact Wiles Eye Center to schedule a comprehensive eye exam and discuss your treatment options. Call our Kansas City, Missouri, office at (816) 455-2020 or our St. Joseph, Missouri office at (816) 279-7015, or fill out our online contact form.

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How Do Cataracts Develop? The Gradual Clouding of Vision

The natural lens of your eye sits behind the iris (pigmented center) and in front of the vitreous fluid that fills the eye. This clear, curved disk works like a camera lens helping to focus light onto the retina for clear, crisp vision. As you age, the proteins inside the eye’s lens break down and clump together, creating a cloudy effect and forming a cataract. Our Kansas City eye doctors can restore clear vision with cataract surgery at Wiles Eye Center.

Cataracts Form Gradually 

It can take years for a cataract to progress and cause vision loss. Our ophthalmologists may diagnose early cataracts during a comprehensive eye exam, but you may not need treatment for quite some time. Some patients choose to have cataract surgery early to stop the clouded lens from progressing and affecting their quality of life.

You may not notice initial symptoms of cataracts until your eyesight changes, such as:

• Double images when you look at an object like a stop sign
• Halos around lights
• Increased light sensitivity, especially at night
• Trouble seeing clearly at night
• Muted colors or a yellowish tint in your vision
• Blurred vision

People with diabetes may have cataracts that progress quicker than others, but this eye disease often takes many years to affect vision and require surgery. Our eye doctors can monitor the maturing cataract and recommend the best time for treatment.

Most People Will Have a Cataract in Later Years 

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), half of Americans will develop a cataract by age 75. A cataract is one of the most common eye diseases. Luckily, cataract surgery is one of the most successful eye procedures. Cataract surgery has a 98 percent success rate, according to the American Foundation for the Blind. People who need cataract surgery are often Medicare patients, and a study of 200,000 Medicare beneficiaries reported that 99.5 percent of cataract patients did not have significant post-surgical complications.

What is Cataract Surgery? 

The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery reports that 3 million people have cataract surgery annually. This straightforward eye surgery removes the clouded natural lens and replaces it with an intraocular lens implant (IOL). These IOLs can correct your vision for one or multiple focal points, depending on your vision goals. Wiles Eye Center offers advanced IOLs to free you from prescription glasses and contact lenses and restore a clear field of vision.

Schedule a comprehensive eye exam at Wiles Eye Center in Kansas City, Missouri, at (816) 455-2020 or in St. Joseph, Missouri, by calling (816) 279-7015; or, use our online form to make an appointment.

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How Presbyopia Causes Near Vision Loss and What You Can Do About It

Many people find that they need reading glasses starting around age 40. Our eye doctors in Kansas City, Missouri, offer treatments for presbyopia so you can enjoy good vision without the burden of readers or special contact lenses.

What is Presbyopia?

Good vision relies on many parts of the eye but starts with the cornea and lens. Together, these components refract light onto the retina at the back of the eye, which relays the message to the brain through the optic nerve. The dome-shaped, transparent cornea allows light to enter the eye, and the lens sits behind the pigmented iris and adjusts with the incoming light. The lens is why your pupils are large in dim environments and small on bright sunny days.

The natural eye lens is soft and flexible, allowing it to quickly change shape to view objects far away or close up, such as a menu or text message. As you get older, the lens gradually loses the ability to accommodate for nearby objects and hardens. The loss of crisp near vision that results is called presbyopia and is a natural part of aging. There’s no way to stop or reverse presbyopia, but contact lenses, eyeglasses and eye surgery can correct your near vision and stop related eye strain and headaches.

Treatments for Presbyopia

Our board-certified eye doctors offer many solutions for presbyopia, including refractive lens exchange, corneal inlays and reading glasses or contact lenses. If you only have presbyopia, readers (reading glasses) may work well for you, but people with nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism may wish to eliminate the need for corrective eyewear.

Refractive Lens Exchange

Refractive lens exchange is performed the same as cataract surgery; the only difference is that the removed eye lens is clear and not cloudy from a cataract. Our skilled eye doctors remove the aging, rigid lens and replace it with an intraocular lens (IOL) implant that corrects for near, intermediate and distance vision. Wiles Eye Center offers Crystalens HD, Tecnis Multifocal and ReSTOR Multifocal IOLs for presbyopia correction and other refractive errors. We will recommend the IOL that’s most suitable for your needs because each IOL has unique features.

Corneal Inlays

Corneal inlays can allow you to rid yourself of contact lenses and glasses for presbyopia and are removable if you’re unhappy with the results. Tiny plastic rings are placed in the cornea of one eye. The inlays have small central openings like a pinhole camera to focus light entering the eye for better vision.

If you struggle with presbyopia, schedule an eye exam at Wiles Eye Center to see if one of these treatments is right for you. Contact our Kansas City, Missouri office at (816) 455-2020 or our St. Joseph, Missouri office at (816) 279-7015.

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Celebrate Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month with an Eye Exam

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, and our eye doctors at Wiles Eye Center want parents to understand the warning signs of eye problems and when to bring their kids in for an eye exam.

Why Children Need Eye Exams

August is typically the month when kids are funneling back into the classroom or preparing to return to school. Eye exams are a critical part of this time of year as vision problems can affect your child’s learning and development. Children constantly learn with their eyes, and the first years in school are spent learning to read — a wholly visual task. Regular eye exams can ensure good vision and eye health and avoid learning disabilities. Some parents are surprised to learn that their kid doesn’t have a learning issue but rather a vision issue. Annual eye exams with one of our Kansas City or St. Joseph eye doctors are the best way to help children stay on track and view the world in sharp clarity.

Warning Signs of Eye Problems in Children

Sometimes, blurry vision and other eye concerns are easy to spot in kids, but some warning signs may not be so obvious. If your child shows these symptoms, consider an eye exam:

• Misaligned eyes
• Red or watery eyes
• Red, swollen or crusted eyelids
• Rubbing the eyes constantly
• Covering or closing one eye to see
• Tilting the head to watch TV
• Holding a book far away from or close to the face
• Excessive blinking
• Squinting or frowning to see
• Behavioral changes after close-up tasks or reading
• A disinterest or loss of interest in reading or viewing items at a distance

Older children may complain of burning or itching eyes and say that something is scratching their eyes. Head pain, dizziness, nausea and stomach pain may happen after extended time doing close-up work. Our eye doctors can diagnose eye problems and refractive errors, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness, during an eye exam.

Children’s Eye Health and Screens

School work often requires hours in front of a screen, especially during remote classes. Many children experience eye strain after extended screen use, but there are ways to decrease that discomfort. Encourage your children and the rest of the family to give their eyes a break every 20 minutes by looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds (called the 20/20/20 rule). Reducing glare from screens and adjusting the contrast and brightness controls can minimize eye strain.

These extended hours on the screen and late nights studying can affect teenagers who wear contact lenses. Wearing prescription eyeglasses instead can give the cornea a break and prevent kids from falling asleep wearing contact lenses. Poor contact lens care can cause corneal ulcers, blurry vision and eye infections.

Schedule an eye exam for your child at Wiles Eye Center today. Contact our St. Joseph, Missouri office at (816) 279-7015 or our Kansas City, Missouri office at (816) 455-2020.

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Summer Eye Care Tips to Lower Your Risk of Eye Diseases

Your days in the sun can affect your eyes and the rest of your body. Protecting your vision and ocular health can reduce your risk of certain eye diseases and conditions as you age, including cataracts and eye cancers. Our eye doctors in Kansas City and St. Joseph hope you enjoy a fun summer. Remember to take care of your eyes using these tips, and schedule annual eye exams to diagnose and treat vision problems early.

1. Sunglasses with “100% UV Protection” for the Whole Family

Babies, children and adults of all ages need to protect their eyes outdoors, including on hazy or cloudy days. UV-protective sunglasses are an essential part of eye care for the whole family, and they should wear these frames year-round. Wrap-around sunglasses are best because they cover your entire visual field, and wide-brimmed hats can help reduce UV exposure.

It can take decades for UV rays to harm your eyes, but you increase your risk of cataracts and eye cancers each time you forget your sunglasses at home. Harmful UV rays can cause “sunburn of the eye” or photokeratitis. This condition happens when UV exposure burns the eye’s surface, leading to temporary vision loss, redness, blurry vision and eye pain. Sunlight that reflects off of water, sand, ice and snow can cause photokeratitis and snow blindness (a form of photokeratitis). Surfers, skiers, farmers and other people who spend a lot of time in the sun can develop pterygium, a yellowish growth on the eye. Sunglasses can prevent these eye complications.

2. Don’t Wear Contacts While Swimming, and Use Goggles

Whether you’re swimming in a chlorine or saline swimming pool or a body of open water, bacteria and microorganisms will be with you. People who wear contact lenses should take them out before swimming because these irritants can get underneath the lens and may lead to infection.

“Swimmer’s Eye” is another concern for people who spend much of their summer in the pool. Chemicals such as chlorine can alter the natural tear film and lead to temporary blurred vision, red eyes and a gritty feeling in the eyes — swim goggles and washing the eyes with fresh water can improve symptoms. Goggles also reduce the risk of contamination from bacteria in the water.

3. Protect Your Eyes from Dryness and Injury

The summer heat and dry environment may also affect the tear film and cause dry eye symptoms. Over-the-counter eye drops or artificial tears can help keep the eyes moisturized and refreshed. Wear protective eyewear that wraps around your eyes if you’re doing yard work or home improvement projects this summer. Mowing the lawn and trimming weeds can lead to eye injuries, as can construction work. More than half of all eye injuries take place in the home, but many can be prevented with proper eye care and protective eyewear.

Schedule an eye exam with our board-certified eye doctors at Wiles Eye Center by contacting our Kansas City, Missouri office at (816) 455-2020 or our St. Joseph, Missouri office at (816) 279-7015.

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Why Cataract Patients Choose Advanced IOL Lens Implants

Cataract surgery restores clear vision by removing the clouded natural eye lens (cataract) and replacing it with an artificial lens implant. More and more patients are choosing premium intraocular lens implants (IOLs) that go beyond the capabilities of the traditional option. Our eye surgeons at Wiles Eye Center in St. Joseph and Kansas City will discuss the benefits of these advanced IOLs during your eye exam.

The Benefits of Advanced IOLs for Cataract Surgery

The traditional lens implant is a monofocal IOL adjusted to one focal point. Most people choose to correct their vision for distance and still rely on glasses or contact lenses for near and intermediate zones. Monofocal IOLs can improve one aspect of your vision, but advanced IOLs can eliminate your need for corrective eyewear. The most significant benefit of premium lens implants is freedom from prescription lenses.

These IOLS are laser-fitted to your eye and address a range of refractive errors, including nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism and presbyopia. You can drive, read, watch TV and have fun with friends and family with crisp vision at all focal points.

Advanced IOLs allow you to live your life and enjoy sports and activities without the burden of glasses or contacts. People with active lifestyles often choose premium IOLs for sharper vision. Intraocular lens implants are designed to last a lifetime, giving you visual freedom for the rest of your days. They are an excellent way to customize your cataract surgery for sharper eyesight.

Types of Advanced IOLs

Artificial lens implants fit into several categories, including:

• Monofocal IOLs: These are the traditional IOLs that provide the best possible eyesight at one focal point, typically distance.
• Multifocal IOLs: Multifocal lens implants have corrective zones built into the implant, similar to the lenses in a pair of bifocal glasses. These IOLs improve near and distance vision, though some can also address the intermediate zone.
• Extended Depth of Focus IOLs: EDOF lens implants use one corrective zone designed to stretch all three focal points, allowing sharp eyesight for nearby, intermediate and distant objects.
• Accommodating IOLs: These IOLs also correct refractive errors at all distances but harness the natural movements of your eye’s muscles, changing focus like your natural lens (or the lens of a camera).
• Trifocal IOLs: PanOptix IOL is the only FDA-approved trifocal lens implant. It is proven to address myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia (age-related near vision loss) with fewer visual disturbances than other options. PanOptix is less likely to cause halos and glare around lights than other IOL types and can eliminate the need for readers on top of prescription lenses.
• Toric IOLs: Toric versions of the above IOL types are available to correct for astigmatism.

Wiles Eye Center offers Tecnis Symfony, ReSTOR Multifocal, Vivity IOL, Crystalens HD and PanOptix Trifocal lens implants.

Contact Wiles Eye Center to schedule your eye exam and consultation if you’re interested in advanced IOLs for your cataract surgery. Our board-certified ophthalmologists are located in St. Joseph and Kansas City, Missouri.

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Can Diabetic Eye Disease be Reversed? No, but it Can Be Slowed.

Diabetes can damage your eye health and your overall well-being. Diabetic eye disease often leads to vision loss and may cause blindness without treatment. Early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy is crucial to saving your eyesight because treatments cannot reverse vision loss that has already occurred. However, the disease can be slowed or halted with better diabetes management and treatments with a board-certified ophthalmologist, such as one of our eye doctors at Wiles Eye Center.

How Does Diabetes Damage Vision?

Diabetes affects your eyesight both short term and over the long term. Short-term fluctuations in your blood sugar (glucose) levels can cause vision changes such as blurry vision but typically stabilize with improved diabetes management. Long-term uncontrolled diabetes leads to diabetic retinopathy.

The abnormally high glucose levels in your body damage your blood vessels, including the tiny ones found in the retinas that line the back of your eyes. These small blood vessels leak fluid and blood, damaging the retina through swelling and scarring. These are the early non-proliferative stages of diabetic retinopathy. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy occurs when new abnormal blood vessels form due to poor circulation in the retina and lead to more swelling, bleeding and scar tissue. As additional scar tissue develops, it can tug on the retina, pulling it away from the back of the eye. That is called retinal detachment and constitutes an emergency.

If diabetic retinopathy goes undiagnosed and untreated, it will cause blindness. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you will experience vision loss.

Can Diabetic Retinopathy be Treated?

There are several effective treatments to prevent, delay and reduce vision loss from diabetic retinopathy. However, there is no cure for this eye disease. Early diagnosis and treatment lead to better outcomes for patients. Typically, treatment is needed if your peripheral vision is harmed, new blood vessels have appeared or your macula is damaged.

Treatments for Diabetic Retinopathy

Treatments for diabetic retinopathy include:

• Laser photocoagulation:Laser treatment can work well if the retina is not severely damaged. Severe cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy may need pan-retinal or scatter photocoagulation to limit blood vessel growth.
• Vitrectomy:A vitrectomy removes some of the vitreous gel in the eye to improve your vision and is often used to treat retinal detachment or early-stage, non-proliferative retinopathy. Vitrectomy may treat severe scar tissue from diabetic eye disease.
• Anti-VEGF Medicine:Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) cause new abnormal blood vessel growth. Anti-VEGF injections, steroids and medications may slow the formation of weak blood vessels.

Diabetic retinopathy requires ongoing treatment as the condition worsens. However, diabetic eye disease doesn’t have to cause blindness. Proper diabetes management, regular eye exams and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to preserving your vision.

If you have diabetes, schedule an eye exam at Wiles Eye Center in St. Joseph and Kansas City, Missouri. Our board-certified ophthalmologists will look for signs of diabetic eye disease during your appointment.

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How Chronic Dry Eyes Affect Your Vision

Chronic dry eye disease is also called dry eye syndrome and often causes painful symptoms and vision changes. Our eye doctors at Wiles Eye Center offer dry eye treatment to improve your quality of life and restore a healthy tear film.

Your eyes require a stable tear film to maintain clear, comfortable vision. Your tears contain three layers: The lipid (oil) layer prevents tears from drying up too quickly and maintains a smooth ocular surface. The aqueous (water) layer keeps your eyes moisturized and nourished, while the mucin (mucous) layer sticks the tear film to the eye’s surface. When these layers are out of balance, you can have dry spots on your eyes that lead to burning, tearing and other cumbersome symptoms. An imbalanced tear film is a common cause of dry eye disease, but decreased tear production can also be a culprit.

Meibomian gland dysfunction is one of the most common reasons for dry eyes and happens when the meibomian glands that line the inside of the eyelids get blocked, preventing oil secretion and causing fast tear evaporation. Regardless of the cause, chronic dry eyes can cause vision impairment, including:

1. Light Sensitivity (Photophobia)

Dry eye disease and migraines are the two most common causes of photophobia. Aggressive treatment with eye drops, ointments, punctal plugs and other options can ease the painful light sensitivity caused by chronic dry eyes. Researchers don’t know why dry eyes cause photophobia, but the theory is that the abnormal tear film causes light to scatter when it enters the cornea. Another idea is that the inflammation related to dry eyes makes the rapid contraction of the pupil painful when you look at bright lights.

2. Blurry Vision

Blurred vision from dry eye disease is made worse by screen use. The light-scattering caused by poor tear film leads to unclear images, but this is often addressed by blinking. However, people with severely dry eyes can develop a corneal ulcer or inflammation of the cornea that causes constant blurry vision despite blinking the eyelids.

3. Difficulty Seeing at Night

The decreased lubrication on the eyes creates glare from streetlamps, headlights and any lighting in a dim area. Seeing at night can be the most difficult because the pupil is dilated in low lighting, and many people have drier eyes after using them all day for computer work. When you look at these lights, pupil contraction can make seeing and driving at night difficult.

Dry Eye Treatment

Chronic dry eyes can be treated with prescription eye drops and artificial tears. Punctal plugs may be used to prevent tear drainage and keep the tear film on the eye’s surface. Our eye doctors also offer intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy to slow tear evaporation and the LipiFlow thermal pulsation system to address meibomian gland dysfunction.

You don’t have to live with painful, uncomfortable dry eyes. Contact Wiles Eye Center to schedule your eye exam and discuss your dry eye treatment options in Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri.

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Can Cataracts Cause Balance Problems? 3 Dangerous Consequences of the Eye Disease

Cataracts may be curable with cataract surgery, but they are still a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Many people put off cataract removal until their vision is significantly affected. However, clouded, blurry vision caused by a cataract can impact your quality of life and pose a safety threat. Our ophthalmologists can restore your vision with cataract surgery in Kansas City and St. Joseph and improve your overall eyesight with premium intraocular lens (IOL) implants.

1. Balance Concerns from Poor Vision

A 2019 study found that people with poor vision caused by cataracts experienced mobility and balance issues. These concerns were drastically improved just one month after cataract surgery, enhancing the quality of life and safety profile in a patient pool vulnerable to falls and injury. Cataracts can impact balance in several ways, including dizziness due to visual disturbances, such as double vision. Vision problems make maintaining proper balance difficult and require the eye muscles to work harder, leading to eye strain and headaches.

2. Fall Risks and Cataract Development

Cataracts limit your depth perception, and clouded vision increases the risk of falling around the home or running errands. A 2003 study evaluated fall risk before and after cataract surgery. Researchers suggested that cataract surgery could be a way to reduce the fall risk in elderly patients who have visual impairment from cataracts.

A 2016 study in Ophthalmology and Visual Science found a substantially high rate of falls and subsequent injuries in older adults waiting for cataract surgery, with one in three experiencing a fall. People with a history of falls or who regularly engage in physical activity have a higher fall risk with vision impairment from cataracts, and a delay in cataract surgery increases their likelihood of a tumble and injury.

3. Auto Accidents and Cataracts

It’s often difficult for aging adults to recognize when driving is unsafe, and the slow progression of vision loss caused by cataracts can make this decision even more challenging. A 1999 study evaluated the auto accident risk for drivers over 75 with cataracts and compared it to those without the eye disease. They found that older drivers with cataracts were twice as likely to report driving less often and typically moved slower than the flow of traffic or preferred someone else to drive them to their destination. Drivers with a cataract were 2.5 times more likely to report a history of an at-fault auto accident in the past five years, regardless of their overall health, mental status or age. Cataracts restrict driving and lower road safety.

A 2001 study found that driving difficulties among people with cataracts likely stemmed from decreased contrast in vision. These vision problems increase the risk of an at-fault crash in older drivers with a cataract in one eye or both.

Contact Wiles Eye Center About Cataract Surgery

Fortunately, cataract surgery has a 98 percent success rate, and premium IOLs can improve refractive errors, reducing your dependence on glasses or contact lenses.

If you’re experiencing vision changes or have been diagnosed with a cataract, contact Wiles Eye Center in Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri, to schedule your eye exam and discuss cataract surgery.

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