Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Your Eyesight

Omega-3 fatty acids are definitely a plus in your diet. They are known as a ‘good fat’ for your diet – one that protects the cell membrane and is reported to protect you from certain health issues. One of these health issues, as reported by NPR (National Public Radio), is age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration generally occurs in older adults. This condition results in vision loss in the middle of your line of sight, due to retina damage. According to the article, “Women who ate fish, a prime source of omega-3s, at least once a week were less likely to get age-related macular degeneration compared with women who ate fish just once a month, a new study finds.”

While all of this information is interesting to look at, the article also points out that the study is not complete.
There are always studies being done on vitamins and minerals. It’s important to know what is fact and what is fiction. Doing your homework is essential in preventative medicines, but the most important thing is having a complete eye examination. You eyesight is like a fingerprint – it is unique to you, and what may work for 5 or 10 other people may not necessarily be the best thing for you. If you think you may have an eye disease or your family has history of eye diseases, you should schedule regular eye exams for the best way to keep on top of it.

If you would like to read the article, you can find it here.

Eye Floaters and Flashes

Did you know that floaters and flashes that you experience in your eyesight are real?

Did you also know that they are really serious?

We all experience it one time or another. If you look directly into a light and then look away, you might see black spots in your vision for a few seconds. Experiencing floaters and flashes can sometimes be like that. You see spots that you know aren’t really there, but they are in your line of vision. Or you may see flashes of light off to the side of your vision, but there is no one taking your picture or shining a flash light at you.

Eye floaters and flashes can be the result of trauma to the eye. If you have ever been hit in the eye or have something poke you, you may notice these symptoms for a few minutes. For more serious injuries, the floaters and flashes may not go away.

You should see your ophthalmologist as soon as possible if:

• One new, large floater or "showers" of floaters appear suddenly
• You see sudden flashes of light
• You notice other symptoms, such as the loss of side vision

Your eye is filled with vitreous gel, and as you age, this gel can thicken or shrink. This may cause floaters within your eye. If the vitreous gel rubs against your retina or causes a tear in your retina, you may notice flashes.

It’s important not to ignore these symptoms. There is usually pain associated with a torn retina, but even if you do not experience pain, you should still call right away to have your vision checked.

Early treatment is the key to preserving your vision.

LASIK and Dry Eyes

Perhaps the most common side effect to LASIK is dry eyes after the procedure. Most of our patients experience a little dry eye after the procedure. This temporary issue can be relieved with eye drops and it will correct itself within a couple of weeks.

According to FDA trials, 20% of LASIK patients still experience dry eye even six months after LASIK. While this side effect may be annoying, it can be treated with punctual plugs or medications.

At Wright Vision Center, most all of our patients are free of this irritation after one year. This is why the post-LASIK follow-up appointments are absolutely necessary. We take your vision very seriously and we want to make sure you can see clearly for years to come.

LASIK works by correcting the cornea of your eye. LASIK can have you seeing clearly for many, many years, depending upon what age you receive treatment. If you are not a good candidate for LASIK, there are other procedures that can be performed to correct your vision. Learn more about laser vision correction with Wright Vision Center.