Dr. Richard's Blog

"Watch out Dr. Phil, Dr. Drew, and Dr. Laura, there is a new doctor in town to keep an eye out for." -People Magazine 

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SummertEYEme! - July 18, 2011

Just like that, half the year is already over. The lazy days of summer are upon us, and kids are enjoying their break from the rigors of school. But that doesn't mean thoughts about their eyes should be on vacation, too. While kids are on break, why not use some of that free time to get them in for an eye exam, and beat the back-to-school rush. As mentioned in a previous blog (see "Back To School"), an eye exam before the start of the school year is highly recommended.

So we know about the importance of eye exams for children, but what about for the rest of us? Summer presents a great opportunity for everybody else to also use some of their vacation time to check their eyes. Don't you want to make sure you are seeing the best you can before taking that much deserved trip? I urge kids of all ages to take a few minutes this summer and think about their vision and eye health. An eye exam can ensure you see well this summer, and many summers to come.

ValentEYEn's Day - Feb. 14, 2011

Valentine's Day is here, and for most of us that means showing extra love and affection to the person we love. We don't think twice about spending $40 for flowers, or a $100 for a romantic dinner. But what about showing love for a very important part of our body.... our eyes. Several surveys have shown that the average person's biggest fear, even beyond death or the IRS, is going blind. But what do we do to prevent this horrible scenario? A good way to try and prevent this often avoidable circumstance is having yours eyes checked regularly. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, many eye diseases are preventable or treatable at the start, but you have to get checked to know. What's more, correcting your vision by glasses, contacts, or refractive surgery allows you to enjoy life to the fullest, so that you can take care of those loved ones that mean so much to you. So this Valentine's Day, I encourage everybody to think about when their last eye exam was. Without taking care of your eyes and loving this important organ, you may have alot to lose. 

Until eye see you next time...

-Dr. Richard Elhaj

  Email:  DrRichard@DrRichard.net

3-D Movies and Vision - Dec. 9, 2010

Like eyewear fashions, the Hollywood movie industry goes through varying trends. The current trend is that of movies that display a three-dimensional visual illusion to the viewer... or "3-D" pictures. As entertaining as these movies can be, they present a problem to individuals with uncorrected vision problems. Viewers with far-sightedness or astigmatism are especially prone to experience eyestrain or headaches while watching 3-D movies. Even episodes of nausea, light-headedness, and fainting have been reported. The problem lies in the technology that these movies utilize, which requires the brain to combine the image from the two eyes in a manner not normally encountered in everyday life. These issues are easily fixed by correcting the underlying vision problem through glasses, contacts, or refractive surgery. So before you go on your next trip to the neighborhood megaplex and strapping on those trendy 3-D glasses, make sure to see your eye doctor for a complete eye exam. The only way to fully enjoy those movies, and life itself, is to be seeing as clearly and comfortably as you possibly can.

Winter Eyes - Oct. 21, 2010

As winter approaches, the days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting longer. For many people, that means more driving in dim or dark light levels. Night driving is hard enough for people with perfect vision, but for those with less than perfect vision, it can be extremely troublesome... and even dangerous. Our pupils dilate under low-light conditions, and this can exacerbate any uncorrected vision problems. Myopic (or near-sighted) eyes become more near-sighted, and those with hyperopia (or far-sightedness), or astigmatism, may also notice their vision getting significantly worse. Even glare from headlights of cars can become quite debilitating. Correcting your vision, whether by eyeglasses, contacts, or refractive surgery, will tremendously improve your seeing capability under such conditions. So if you are noticing an increase in difficulty seeing recently, it is a good idea to book an exam with an eye doctor. It may not only save your eyes, but your life, as well.

Until eye see you next time...

-Dr. Richard Elhaj

  Email:  DrRichard@DrRichard.net

 Back to School - Sept. 16, 2010

For most parents, back to school means time to buy pencils, folders, backpacks, and other necessities for their kids. Eye exams are often forgotten, yet may be the most important aspect of a child's education, and ocular health. Many children are born with one eye stronger than the other. With time, the brain learns to ignore the weaker eye. As a result, a condition called amblyopia, or "lazy eye," may develop. Had the child undergone an eye exam and worn glasses, that eye would have recieved visual input, and the pathway to the brain would have developed normally. Unfortunately, many children do not notice if one eye is doing all of the work. They then may suffer with a "lazy eye" for life.

What's more, regular school eye screenings usually only test distance vision. Yet many children have a condition called Hyperopia, or far-sightedness. These kids would pass the normal school exam, yet have difficulty focusing at near. As a result, grades and development may suffer. Parents are left wondering why their child is not excelling in school. 

If you have a child going back to school, I highly recommend you put an eye exam on your "to-do" list. Just a few minutes with an eye doctor may save your child a lifetime of difficulty.

Yearly Eye Exams - Aug. 20, 2010

It is a proven fact that most people do not check their eyes once a year, like their eye doctor recommends. So the other day I was thinking about this, and wondering why that is. Is it the cost? The hassle of booking the appointment and driving to their eye doctor's office? Or is it that scary "eye-puff" glaucoma test we all dread? Regardless, there really isn't a good reason to not check your eyes once a year.

I remember a patient I saw a few years ago that had not had an eye exam for almost 8 years. His reason? Because his glasses were "working just fine." In fact, the only reason he came in to see me that day was because he wanted a new pair of glasses, and his prescription had expired. The only way to get those new glasses was to have an eye exam. During the testing, the technician had found that his eye pressure was elevated, and he had missed several spots on his visual field test. Further testing revealed that he had glaucoma, and had already lost a significant amount of nerve tissue in his optic nerve. That means permanent vision loss. This patient was slowly going blind, and did not even know it. That is why glaucoma is often called a "silent" disease. The saddest part is that had this patient caught the disease earlier, his prognosis would have been good. Glaucoma is usually treated by simply taking an eye drop prior to going to bed every night, which decreases eye pressure. 

The moral of this story is that our eyesight is much too precious to be taken for granted. Just because you see well out of your glasses or contacts (or with no correction at all), does not mean your eyes are healthy. Please do not gamble with your vision. If it has been more than a year, book an appointment today to have your eyes checked.   

Until eye see you next time...

-Dr.Richard Elhaj

  Email:  DrRichard@DrRichard.net