Patient Education

April 17, 2024
There is an old adage in the eye care industry--Glasses are a necessity, contact lenses are a luxury. Ninety-nine percent of the time this is absolutely true. In the absence of unusual eye disorders o...

Video Education

bcm_videoplayer_banner View More Educational Videos

Frame Gallery

Interactive Video Player

The colored part of the eye is called the iris. It is composed of two muscles. The constrictor and the dilator. The black circle at the center of the iris is called the pupil and is actually just an opening to allow light into the eye. The pupil appears black because the inside of the eye contains pigment to absorb all of the light that enters it, not allowing any of it to reflect back out.

When light enters your eye there is a muscular reflex in your iris to regulate the amount of light that hits the retina. Too much light and constrict muscles tighten to making your pupil smaller to limit the amount of light entering your eye. Not enough light and the dilator muscles contract allowing your pupil to get bigger.

During a comprehension eye exam, your eye doctor might want to dilate your pupils to evaluate the back of each eye under high magnification. Without dilation, the bright exam light automatically causes your pupils to constrict, making a much smaller opening to look through.

Dilating drops cause your pupils to enlarge by inhibiting the constrictor muscles from reacting to light., then the doctor can use a bright exam light combine with a magnification lens for an unobstructed view of the internal structure of each eye, including the retina, macula and optic discs.

Dilation drops typically cause blurred near-vision and light sensitivity lasting about 4 to 6 hours. Sunglasses are usually worn afterward to relieve glare discomfort, but you should be safe to drive with caution.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service - if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
Recommended article from FiveFilters.org: Most Labour MPs in the UK Are Revolting.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Maui Jim - Protect Your View

- Putting your contact lenses in is easier than you think. Watch this short video to learn the proper way to apply your DAILIES® AquaComfort Plus® contact lenses, designed for a full day of refreshing comfort. In a few minutes, you'll be on your way, looking and feeling great with your DAILIES® AquaComfort Plus® contact lenses. Remember, it takes a couple of days to get used to putting in, wearing, and taking out your contact lenses. - Follow these easy steps to put in your contact lenses: first, wash and dry your hands with a clean towel. Open the contact lens pack and either pour the lens into the palm of your hand, or slide it out with your index finger. Check your contact lens: if it's shaped like a bowl, perfectly round on the edge, you're ready to put in your contact lens. If the edge is flared, flip it over. Using your free hand, pull your eyelid up gently. With the middle finger on the hand with the contact lens, pull down on your bottom eyelid. Then, with your contact lens on the tip of your index finger, gently slide the contact onto the center of your eye. Let go of your eyelid and blink once or twice. Repeat with your other eye and you're all set! Enjoy the all-day comfort of your DAILIES® AquaComfort Plus® contact lenses. Tonight, before bed, be sure to check out how to take out your contacts. - For more information on using contact lenses, talk with your eye care professional and visit www.dailies.com for more information on DAILIES® AquaComfort Plus® contact lenses and other Alcon products.

©2014 Novartis

Let's block ads! (Why?)

CHEERS to your ocular health.

Did you know that nutrition plays a vital role in your ocular health?

Cardiologists stress lean meats, red wine, and exercise for your heart health. But what about your eyes? Well, studies show there are distinct food groups that show extreme benefit to the well being of your vision.

Lutein, found in green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and broccoli create an added insulation in your retina against macular degeneration. Yellow vegetables and fruit (squash, yellow watermelon) as well as Omega III supplements (fish oil or flax seed oil) also help boost the pigment cells in the macula to promote crisp vision. As a side note, it is best to purchase molecularly distilled fish oil, and take the pills at night to prevent unwanted GI effects or “fish burp” which occurs with less expensive, non distilled fish oils. Remember, not all fish oil pills are created equally.

What about preventing cataracts you ask? Well, studies have shown that vitamin C found in citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and kiwi can slow down cataract formation. Cutting your UV exposure by wearing sunglasses with UV-A and UV-B protection will also help, as well as smoking cessation. You see, cataracts are a clouding of the natural lens of the eye that causes symptoms such as dim vision, glare at night, decreased focusing, and blurred vision.

Macular Degeneration is a condition of the retina in the back of the eye that causes symptoms of loosing the fine detail vision we have been used to, replacing it with a central scotomas or blind spots. Your central vision gets destroyed by this disease. Macular Degeneration is an inherited disease, as well as some cataract formations, so check your family history to see if you are at greater risk.

It behooves you to be aware of these conditions that affect millions of people worldwide, and do your best to incorporate preventative care such as good nutrition, regular check ups with your eye care practitioner, and preventing sun exposure as well as not smoking. Additionally, cooked food devalues the precious live enzymes, so these foods are best eaten raw.

Remember, you can play a vital role in your ocular health. After all, remember Hippocrates, the father of medicine, who said: "Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food".

And lastly if you don’t have time to eat all those fruits and vegetables in a day consider a fruit or vegetable smoothie and then drink to your good ocular health!

The content of this blog cannot be reproduced or duplicated without the express written consent of Eye IQ.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Costa Sunglasses: Beyond Polarized Where Glare Goes To Die. Most polarized lenses eliminate glare by blocking reflected light. But Costa's patented 580 lenses go farther, blocking perfect amounts of harsh yellow light while enhancing reds, blues and greens.

The result: less haze, less blur, greater contrast and greater clarity. Available in glass (580G), or a lightweight, impact-resistant plastic (580P), it's like seeing in high definition.

www.costadelmar.com

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Office Details

optometrist, eye doctor, South Portland, ME

View Map

743 Broadway
South Portland, ME 04106
Phone: (207) 799-3031   Fax: (207) 799-9005

Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri:

Office: 8:00am - 5:45pm

Optical: 8:00am-5:15pm

Wednesday:

Office: 8:30am - 5:45pm

Optical: 8:30am-5:15pm

Patient Resources

Latest News

April 17, 2024
There is an old adage in the eye care industry--Glasses are a necessity, contact lenses are a luxury. Ninety-nine percent of the time this is absolutely true. In the absence of unusual eye disorders o...