Top 10 List Of Common Eye Health Questions

DANBURY — The ten most common questions about eye health were answered at Danbury Hospital’s recent Medical Town Meeting, “The Eyes Have It: New Treatments for Eye Disorder.”

Topping the list are concerns related to diabetes and cataracts. New advances in technology are making many new eye procedures available to more patients, changing the way doctors treat eye problems, according to Matthew Paul, MD, of Danbury Hospital’s Department of Surgery, chief, Section of ophthalmology.

Dr Paul was joined by colleagues discussing all areas of eye health, including cosmetic surgery for drooping eyelids and laser surgery to correct refractive problems. The panel included Bruce Altman, MD, Berry Klein, MD, Hindola Konrad, MD, Vincent Reppucci, MD, and Stephen Zuckerman, MD.

Next on the list after diabetes-related eye problems are questions about cataract surgery. New Yag-laser technology makes cataract surgery more available today, but the procedure isn’t performed totally by laser, said Dr Paul. Some surgery is still required.

Strabismus, or cross-eyes in children, is also a commonly asked question. All children should be screened by age 3. Parents are urged to speak to their doctors regarding concerns about things that seem abnormal with their children’s eyes.

Dry eye is also very common, especially in the elderly, according to Dr Paul. “But people don’t have to suffer. There are many preparations to help,” he said. Supplementing one’s diet with essential fatty acids, such as the ones found in fish, helps, as does taking flaxseed or evening primrose oils.

Questions about red eye also make the frequently asked questions list. Not all red eye problems signal infection, according to Dr Paul, and he urged people to see their doctors. “Sometimes it’s a harbinger of something worse.”

“Does it make a difference where I buy my glasses?” is often asked of eye doctors. Dr Paul says it does. Discount sellers may be offering generic lenses that aren’t as good as the ones found at quality eye centers.

Contact lens questions also make the list. Today, says Dr Paul, there are contact lenses to solve every eye problem, including the need for bifocals.

“What about nutrition? Patients often ask what they can take to help their eyes,” said Dr Paul. Antioxidant vitamins are good, and can prevent formation of cataracts. “Taking vitamins before surgery is especially good; they can help the healing process.”

Dr Paul recommends taking extra vitamin C, essential fatty acids, and eating plenty of green leafy vegetables, like kale, collard and mustard greens. These vegetables are especially good in preventing macular degeneration. Pcynogenol, or grape seed extract, is also a potent antioxidant that may help the eyes, especially in preventing diabetic retinopathy.

People often have questions about whether they should see an ophthalmologist, an optometrist, or an optician.

An ophthalmologist is a skilled physician, an optometrist is someone who has post-graduate training in eye care, and an optician is someone who can fit glasses and sometimes contact lenses. Dr Paul recommended that someone with any kind of eye problem should see and ophthalmologist, or an MD.

He also urged people to wear eye protection when playing sports, cutting wood, banging in nails, or doing anything that puts the eye at risk. Using good judgment can prevent many problems.