August is Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month – Celebrate with an Eye Exam!
August is Children's Eye Health & Safety Month - Celebrate with an Eye Exam!
August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month in the great state of Texas - and Innovision Eye Care is celebrating with Children's Eye Exams!
Dr. Sanwari's office is home to specialized pediatric eyecare services for your children, offering Comprehensive Vision Exams and prescription lenses.
Make an Appointment with our convenient Online Scheduling for your child to get their Eye Exam in August before school starts and get $25 off! Walk-Ins welcome, simply mention this promotion!
*This offer cannot be combine with vision plans or any other discounts. Valid August 2019.
No-Insurance Optometrist in Katy Texas | Innovision Eye Care
DON'T LET A LACK OF INSURANCE PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING CARE
It can be difficult to choose an Optometrist for yourself and family and that decision can become infinitely harder when you don't have insurance to help cover expenses. Untreated eye conditions can cause serious harm and possibly irreversible vision loss. Don't risk your eyes and vision by avoiding getting care from an Optometrist if you or someone you know needs it, simply because you don't have insurance. There are options available to you.
We understand that eye conditions and infections can be an unexpected financial burden and Innovision Eye Care is prepared to help you! Innovision Eye Care proudly accepts non-insurance patients - and we would like to see you!
If you or someone you know is need of eye care or an Optometrist, please call our office at (281) 747-1232 to schedule an appointment with our Family Eye Care Optometrist.
LASIK Eye Surgery in Katy, Texas
LASIK VISION CORRECTION
LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses) is the most common corrective eye surgery for astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. This procedure uses a laser to permanently reshape the cornea for clearer vision and removes the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses for most patients. LASIK eye surgery is a permanent procedure that cannot be reversed.
A blade or laser are used to cut a flap in the cornea with a hinge at one side, folding the flap back to reveal the stroma. A laser is then used with computer precision to alter the stroma before the flap is put back.
In addition to myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism, many patients seek out LASIK surgery to combat the natural phenomenon called presbyopia.
Presbyopia
As you age, the proteins in the lens of the eye cause it to stiffens, referred to as presbyopia. The eye then has a harder time focusing on things viewed up close, causing headaches and eye strain. This loss of near focusing ability happens to everyone: even those who have never had vision problems before. Monovision LASIK can help minimize the need for reading glasses and corrective eyewear as a result of presbyopia.
Risks and Side Effects of LASIK
As with any surgical procedure, there are risk factors to LASIK eye surgery that you should review with your eye care doctor. Patients may experience dry eyes immediately after LASIK surgery, and in some instances, this inability to produce enough tears to keep the eye moist can develop into a chronic condition that needs regular treatment. In 2014, the FDA released an article regarding the risks of LASIK, which can be accessed here.
Interested in a LASIK Procedure?
If you suffer from vision impairment or loss and feel that LASIK eye surgery may be an option for you, schedule yourself an eye exam to discuss the best treatment options with an optometrist. If you live in Texas and are looking for an Optometrist near you, book your appointment with Dr. Samina Sanwari at Innovision Family Eyecare in Katy, Texas. Our local eye clinic specializes in pediatric optometry as well as LASIK and corrective eye surgery.
Laser eye surgery may be an ideal solution for you, learn more online or visit our clinic for an eye exam and to meet with a LASIK specialist today! If LASIK Surgery is not the best option for you, there are other vision correction surgeries available that may be a better treatment option. It is important to discuss the best course of treatment with your eye doctor.
If you are interested in corrective eye solutions such as LASIK eye surgery, please call our office at (281) 747-1232.
Kids and Conjunctivitis – A Guide to Pinkeye
How do I know if my child has Pinkeye?
There are some clear symptoms of Pinkeye that you may notice in your children - such as redness or puffy/swollen eyes, frequent itching or rubbing, or sensitivity to light. You may experience discharge or crust building around the eyes if Conjunctivitis is present.
If you or your child are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned in this article or suspect that Conjunctivitis might be present in your home, call Innovision Eye Care to schedule an eye exam at (281) 747-1232.
What is Conjunctivitis?
Most commonly known as Pinkeye, Conjunctivitis is a very contagious eye infection, that spreads rapidly and most frequently among children ages 3-13. The leading causes of Pinkeye are a bacterial or viral infection that causes irritation or inflammation of the conjunctiva - the white part of the eyeball.
Severe allergies can lead to Allergic Conjunctivitis, which is not contagious and can be treated with antihistamines.
Why is Pinkeye so contagious?
Part of what makes Conjunctivitis so contagious is the ease of spreading, as it can be passed through skin-to-skin contact and through touching a contaminated surface where eye secretions are already present. Untreated, Pinkeye can spread quickly to others, and it can rapidly move around schools, playgrounds, and day care centers if the areas aren't properly sanitized. Viral conjunctivitis, in particular, is as contagious as the common cold.
Can I prevent Conjunctivitis in my children?
While you can't guarantee there will never be exposed to the bacteria and viruses that cause conjunctivitis, there are things you can do to reduce the risks of you and your family getting Pinkeye.
The most important thing you can do is encourage hand washing often, especially after being in public places and using restrooms. Discourage children from rubbing their nose upwards towards their eyes, as this can introduce foreign materials into the eyes accidentally that can cause infection. You should change pillowcases, towels, and washcloths often to reduce the risk of bacteria and viruses lingering on these materials, and make sure children never share cosmetic or personal eye care items with others.
How do you treat Conjunctivitis?
Bacterial Conjunctivitis should be treated by a medical professional and with proper medication (antibiotic eye drops), the Pinkeye usually clears away in a few days to weeks. Viral Conjunctivitis will clear away naturally, within a few days.
Innovision Eye Care in Katy, Texas is proud to be an Optometrist that handles eye infections in children such as Conjunctivitis. For more information or to schedule an eye exam in with Dr. Sanwari, please call our office at (281) 747-1232 - Pediatric Optometry in Katy, Texas.
Diabetes and it’s effect on Eye Health
A diagnosis of diabetes doesn't just affect blood sugar levels and insulin production - it can also affect eye health and vision. The effects of vision loss from diabetes may be temporary or can become severe and irreversible. Proper diagnosis and treatment can be the difference in protecting your eyes and keeping your vision strong.
Diabetes can cause fluid to leak in the lens of the eye, causing blurred vision. Most often when blood sugar levels return to normal, blurred vision will subside in 6-8 weeks. However, sometimes the effects of diabetes on the eye cause a deeper issue in the inner eye such as Diabetic Retinopathy and chronic Macular Edema.
Diabetic Retinopathy
In patients who experience Hyperglycemia, high blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the retina that become swollen. Although early symptoms like microaneurysms are not always noticeable, late-stage symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include blurred vision, distortion, and 'floaters' and drastically impact vision. This is the most common eye condition in patients with diabetes and is the leading cause of blindness and vision loss in middle age adults.
Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
When swollen blood vessels in the retina begin to leak, fluid builds up in the macula of the retina. This can be compounded by hypertension, hypoalbuminemia, and hyperlipidemia. Diabetic macular edema can only be developed when diabetic retinopathy is already present - both conditions sharing many of the same symptoms, such as floaters and blurry vision. It can permanently damage the retina and cause irreversible vision loss.
If you have diabetes, it is recommended to check in with your eye doctor at least once a year to maintain proper eye health. A healthy lifestyle can help prevent the development of both diabetic retinopathy and DME. Immediately contact an eye doctor if you feel you are experiencing vision impairment or symptoms of eye infection.
Innovision Eye Care in Katy, Texas is proud to be an Optometrist that handles eye conditions and vision symptoms arising from Diabetes. For more information or to schedule an eye exam in with Dr. Sanwari, please call our office at (281) 747-1232 - Insurance not required.
Reduce Your Risk of Eye Infection
There's no way to guarantee that you'll never get an eye infection - there are some really great habits you can implement in your daily life to reduce your risk of developing a serious eye infection.
1. Wash Your Hands
The most important thing you can do is to wash your hands regularly, and especially before contact with your eyes. Hands carry and spread germs and bacteria around surfaces all day long and proper hand hygiene can greatly reduce the chance that these infectious germs never reach your eyes to cause an infection.
2. Proper Contact Lens Care
If you wear contact lenses, make sure that you always follow the manufacturer's care instructions. Dirty, old, and improperly cared for contact lenses can result in eye infections. Don't sleep in your contacts! It has been proven that wearing contact lenses while sleeping - even FDA approved sets - increases your risk of eye infection.
3. Protective Eyewear
Eye infections are much more likely after an injury to the eye, where the naturally protective layers of the eye become compromised. By wearing protective eyewear as recommended, you can reduce your risk of eye injury and eye infections from contact with a foreign item.
Getting Help with Eye Infections
If you believe you are experiencing a serious eye infection - please contact your local optometrist or eye doctor right away. It is important to treat bacterial eye infections quickly and diligently to prevent long term damage and vision loss. When diagnosed, most eye infections can be cleared away with the proper medication and antibiotics.
For more information or to schedule an eye exam in Katy, TX today, contact Innovision Family Eyecare.
Stay Ahead of Age-Related Vision Loss
As we age, so do our eyes. Eyes are not immune to age-related problems. For example, most individuals – even those who have enjoyed perfect, 20/20 vision their whole lives – will eventually find themselves straining to hold a book at arm’s length in order to see the print clearly. This is due to a condition called presbyopia, farsightedness which develops due to reduced flexibility of the lenses in the eyes and makes it difficult to focus on nearby objects.
Additional Age-Related Eye Conditions
Though it’s the most common concern, presbyopia is not the only age-related vision problem. Other conditions which can develop with age include:
• Cataracts
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Glaucoma
• Macular Degeneration
• Retinal Detachment
5 Healthy Ways to Stay Ahead of Vision Loss
1. Healthy Diet
A balanced diet preserves eyesight. Eat lots of nutrient-rich foods like carrots, bell peppers, leafy greens, blueberries, sweet potatoes, chia seeds, salmon and turkey to protect your eyes from age-related problems like macular degeneration.
2. Regular Exercise
Activity is good for your entire body, including your eyes.
3. Don’t Smoke
This unhealthy habit will increase your risk of developing cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and dry eye.
4. Protect Your Eyes from the Sun
Over the course of a lifetime, the sun’s UV rays cumulatively damage any part of the body exposed to them. Wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection, wide-brimmed hats and stay in the shade when possible to protect your eyes.
5. Limit Screen Time
Hours spent staring at computer, tablet, cell phone and television screens cause eye strain which can damage your eyes. Limit your screen time and practice the 20-20-20 rule, which suggests resting your eyes every 20 minutes by looking at an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
The Importance of Regular Eye Exams
In addition to living a healthy lifestyle, you can ensure the early detection and treatment of age-related eye conditions by scheduling regular comprehensive eye exams. Although most of these conditions can lead to permanent vision loss, early diagnosis and treatment can preserve your ability to see. The American Optometric Association recommends healthy adults schedule at least one eye exam annually to ensure the early detection and prompt treatment of eye conditions which can cause permanent damage or vision loss.
For more information or to schedule an eye exam in Katy, TX today, contact Innovision Family Eyecare.
7 Habits That Cause Bad Vision
Certain eye problems cannot be avoided. These issues, whether they be visual acuity problems or diseases, occur due to genetics, aging or as symptoms of other conditions. There are, however, a few things you can do (or avoid doing) to protect your vision.
Avoid These 7 Habits to Protect Your Vision
1. Not Getting Enough Shut-Eye
Sleep deprivation causes puffy, bloodshot eyes and dark circles. A lack of sleep can also cause blurry vision, dry eyes and involuntary eye twitching.
2. Letting Yourself Get Dehydrated
When you do not drink enough water or eat too much salt in your diet, your tear ducts will not be able to produce enough tears to lubricate the surface of your eyes, leading to redness, puffiness, burning and itching.
3. Eating an Unbalanced Diet
Optimum eye health requires balanced nutrition. If you don’t eat enough fruits, vegetables and healthy fats, then your eyes won’t have the vitamins, minerals and fatty acids they need to function properly.
4. Smoking
Smoking harms every organ inside your body, including your eyes. Did you know smokers are four times more likely than non-smokers to go blind? Research has directly linked the habit to an increased risk of vision-threatening eye conditions including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, cataracts and dry eye. Quitting at any age could save your ability to see.
5. Rubbing Your Eyes
Rubbing easily damages the delicate skin around your eyes, breaking blood vessels and causing both dark circles and wrinkles. Rubbing can also lead to a condition called keratoconus, which results in a bulging cornea and blurred vision.
6. Forgetting to Wear Sunglasses
You can’t rub sunscreen on your eyes. So, without sunglasses, your eyes are in danger of being damaged by the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays – just like the rest of your skin. Wear polarized sunglasses with 100% UV protection to protect your eyes from sunburn, cancer, cataracts, eye growths and macular degeneration.
7. Skipping Your Annual Eye Exam
Most vision-threatening eye diseases do not present symptoms early on. As a result, individuals who do not regularly see an eye doctor typically do not receive a diagnosis until they experience symptoms, which do not occur until the condition has progressed too far to be reversed or effectively treated.
Schedule a Comprehensive Eye Exam in Katy, TX
The American Optometric Association recommends adults have at least one comprehensive eye exam per year. If you have yet to schedule yours, we welcome you to safeguard your vision by contacting Innovision Family Eyecare today.
