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Your
Vision
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Fall 2007 |
| STEVEN T. JACKSON, M.D. |
| ALAN E. JACKSON, M.D |
| DAVID T. BROCKBANK, M.D |
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| ROBERT H. MEEK, O.D |
| MIKE K. MITCHELL, O.D. |
| MICHAEL M. JUDKINS, O.D. |
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This newsletter is published by the Cottonwood Eye & Laser Clinic. It is our sincere hope that you will find some valuable and interesting eye care information. If you have any comments or questions regarding your eyes, please don't hesitate to call 801-268-6600, or visit www.cottonwoodeye.com.
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Please welcome our new associate physician to our staff:
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The Cottonwood Eye and Laser Clinic is pleased to welcome a new associate to our practice, David T. Brockbank, M.D. Dr. Brockbank completed his Ophthalmology residency training at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He brings with him experience in the latest diagnostic and surgical techniques for the treatment of various eye diseases.
Prior to his specialty training, Dr. Brockbank completed an internal medicine internship at Missouri-Columbia. He received his medical degree in 1999 from Albany Medical College in New York where he was elected to the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, and honor given to the top 15 percent of graduating students. He completed undergraduate studies at the University of Utah.
Dr. Brockbank, a native of Salt Lake City, is excited to be "home". He loves to spend time with his wife and four young children. He enjoys sports, outdoor recreation, and speaking the Russian language.
Dr. Brockbank specializes in both medical and surgical treatments of eye diseases such as cataracts, diabetes, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. He also enjoys treating pediatric patients. His currently accepting new patients.
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CONTACT LENSES AND YOUR EYE
Patients wearing contact lenses come into our office every day. Some of the patients are enjoying their vision and others have discomfort and irritated eyes. You might ask, "What is the difference between these?" The answer is, some remove their contacts more frequently than others.
Extended wear contacts have allowed people to wear their contacts longer and take them out less often. In some instances, people can even sleep in them. The idea of having the "perfect" contact which allows a person to wear them all day and all night has proven thus far unlikely.
All contacts, regardless of what type, prevent oxygen from accessing the cornea in one degree or another. The cornea relies upon exposure to the air during the day to remain healthy. While sleeping, the tears and nearby blood vessels provide the necessary amounts of oxygen. When deprived of oxygen, the corneal cells begin to die and sloughs off, exposing nerves and causing pain or discomfort. When this happens, some people put the contact back on the eye because it feels better. This is because the contact covers the damaged area, thus acting like a bandage. If habits aren't changed, then the condition continues to worsen and the eye's health continues to deteriorate. Also, there is increased possibility that other problems such as corneal ulcers, may result.
We would like to offer some suggestions to contact lens wearers to keep your eyes healthy.
- One week is the recommended maximum time for wearing extended-wear lenses. Leave them out of your eyes at least one night a week and clean and sterilize them on that night.
- Be sure you understand how to care for the lenses. Follow all instructions for cleaning and sterilizing. Commit to regular follow-up exams and keep every eye appointment.
- Every morning, look at your eyes in the mirror and if they are the least bit bloodshot or inflamed, remove the lenses and call our office that very day and ask for advise. Do not wear the lenses again until you have been instructed to do so. If you have pain or unusual light sensitivity that you did not have before, you must call as soon as possible, and make sure the doctor knows you are having a problem.
- When you travel, always keep your glasses with you. If you have any problems at all with the contacts, remove them and switch to the eyeglasses until you can see a doctor. If you have major problems, seek medical help wherever you are rather than risk waiting until you are home. Delay in treatment of some eye problems (corneal ulcer or infection) can result in loss of eyesight.
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Common Myths about the Eyes (From "Eye Care Notes")
Some people have crazy myths about the eyes. Here are some myths that are outrageously impossible. Lets look at some of these myths and set them straight.
THE MYTH: Reading in dim or poor light is harmful to your eyes. It may ruin them or may cause you to need eyeglasses.
THE TRUTH: Your eyes are not harmed by reading in dim light. They may get tired because of the extra effort it takes to see clearly, but no damage will occur.
THE MYTH: Using the eyes too much for close work such as reading is the reason people need glasses.
THE TRUTH: There is no hard evidence that using your eyes to read, study, work , etc. will cause you to need glasses. Any nearsightedness is probably due to you heredity. If you need bifocals to see up close, blame your longevity.
THE MYTH: Holding reading material close to the eyes will damage a child's eyes.
THE TRUTH: The place where reading materials is held has no effect on the health of the eyes or the need for glasses. Many children find it comfortable to read close-up and their focusing ability makes it easy for them to do so.
THE MYTH: Wearing someone else's glasses may damage your eyes.
THE TRUTH: Although you may not see very well while wearing them, no harm can come from wearing eyeglasses that are not your prescription.
THE MYTH: If you eat a lot of carrots, you will have good eyes and eyesight.
THE TRUTH: Although you have never seen a rabbit wearing glasses, the only basis for this myth is that carrots contain vitamin A, which, in small amounts, is necessary for the eyes to function. A normal diet contains all the vitamin A anyone needs. Too much vitamin A may even be damaging.
THE MYTH: To keep from damaging your eyes, view television in a dark room with only a small lamp on top of the set.
THE TRUTH: Whether the room is dark or lighted, or the light is in front or behind you, is a matter of personal preference and comfort. It will not make any difference to the health of your eyes.
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What is an Ophthalmologist, Optometrist and Ophthalmic Technician?
An Ophthalmologist is a licensed medical doctor specialized in eye care and eye surgery. They diagnose and treat all eye conditions. Educational training normally includes an undergraduate degree, medical degree, internship and ophthalmologic residency. An Optometrist is a licensed eye doctor trained to diagnose and treat eye conditions. Optometrists receive special training in spectacle and contact lens fitting. They co-manage pre and post operative surgery patients, but do not perform surgery. Educational training normally includes an undergraduate degree, an optometric degree and optometric externship. An Ophthalmic Technician is a certified, allied health person trained to perform preliminary examinations, specialized ophthalmic tests, and assist in eye surgery. Educational training can include a 2 year associate degree, continued education seminars and courses. The technician is required to take written and oral exams to attain levels of certification.
TO SERVE YOU BETTER
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The Cottonwood Eye Clinic has purchased some new equipment to better serve our patients. We have obtained a new Argon Laser. This laser can be used to treat glaucoma and also retinal diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetes and retinal blood vessel and circulation problems. This will make it even more convenient for our patients and doctors who can use the laser within our clinic and do not have to go elsewhere for this treatment.
We have also obtained a new high technology digital camera system, which allows us to take extremely high quality pictures of the inside of the eye. This is helpful in following patients who have glaucoma and retinal diseases. The digital photos are available immediately to view and to study and they can be printed anytime or stored on a computer.
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WHAT IS REFRACTION?
We receive quite a few inquiries by patients wanting to know what a refraction is and why some insurances won't pay for it.
A refraction is a very important part of the eye exam and is a testing procedure that measures and determines the refractive error of the eye. Certain eye measurements are taken using instruments such as a retinoscope, automated refractometer and a keratometer (phoropter). Based on these measurements, a series of trial lenses are placed in front of your eyes and you are asked to compare one lens with another to determine which lens combination offers you the best vision and the one that gives you the best overall visual acuity, thus resulting in a prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses. This is how the eye doctor determines, for example, if your vision is correctable to 20/20.
Some insurances were not designed to pay for non emergency or routine procedures and therefore will not pay for a refraction that is performed to obtain a prescription to improve vision as a routine procedure.
Most insurances will pay for "medical" examinations. If you have a medical eye problem or visually threatening eye condition, a refraction will be done as part of your eye evaluation. A refraction in this instance is necessary to learn your eye's best vision capability at the time of the examination. The "best vision" becomes a baseline for checking for any changes that may occur as your eye condition is treated. It is a necessary part of the exam for both medical and legal purposes. In this case, since it is part of evaluating an eye problem, it is likely that it will be covered by your insurance. It is your own insurance company that determines exactly which clinical services are covered by their policies.
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"Remember: Medical Insurance is like a hospital gown - you're never covered as much as you think you are."
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MY EYE IS ALL RED
A small blood vessel on the white of the eye may burst and bleed. This often happens during sleep but may occur anytime. This is known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage. It looks frightening, but it is almost always harmless. The amount of blood may be small at first, but later it can spread which may alarm you. A subconjunctival hemorrhage will not affect your vision, and is painless. There is no way this blood can enter the inside of your eye. The cause is usually unknown, but sudden straining, such as from lifting something heavy, sneezing, coughing or vomiting, may be the cause. Rarely, the bleeding may be associated with the use of blood thinners or from a blood or blood vessel disease.
By the time you see the first hemorrhage, the bleeding has already stopped. The blood will gradually disappear by itself, but may take up to two full weeks to absorb completely.
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