Author: Physicians of Colorado Opthalmology Associates

Going above & beyond with an ultra-wide fundus exam

The earliest stages of eye disease and vision deterioration often take place in the farthest reaches of the eye and are difficult to find in a traditional retinal health check. Examining the far periphery of the eye requires special high-resolution imaging technology, such as the Zeiss Clarus^® 500. This state-of-the-art—but difficult to find—technology is readily available at Colorado Ophthalmology Associates.

This is a simple system that uses photography without requiring dilation, which is a popular feature for many patients. While an additional dilation exam of the retina may be required for some patients, the Clarus eye exam can frequently take the place of dilation for others. When it comes to evaluating your eye health, we go above and beyond to protect your vision.

With this diagnostic technology available in our Denver and Lakewood, CO, offices, our ophthalmologists can detect the early stages of disease and can establish a baseline of images to compare with future exams to track your ongoing eye health. By conducting an ultra-wide fundus exam, the peripheral regions are able to be examined at the same time as the front areas. This comprehensive view enables your eye doctor to identify and treat common ocular conditions in their earliest stages.¹

Interestingly, one of these common early detection conditions is diabetic retinopathy. The Clarus technology makes it possible for your ophthalmologist to diagnose early-onset diabetes—perhaps even before you know about it. This can give you the opportunity to receive prompt medical care that can help treat the diabetes in its earliest stages.

What common conditions can Clarus ultra-wide exams detect?

• Diabetes
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Retinal hemorrhages, holes or tears
• Retinal detachment
• Hypertensive retinal damage
• Ocular tumors
• Edema or lesions
• Cataracts
• Macular degeneration
• Lattice degeneration
• Retinal vasculitis
• Choroidal melanoma
• Chorioretinal scarring
• Glaucoma

Who should have a Clarus eye exam?

Among other patients, those who have a pre-existing medical condition may be good candidates for the ultra-wide fundus exam. Some common conditions that may indicate the need for a Clarus exam includes:

• Concussion
• Glaucoma
• Nearsightedness
• Diabetes
• Skin cancer/moles

How does the imaging technology work?

The Clarus digital technology has the ability to take 133° images. Additionally, it can capture two 200° photos and merge them together to make one image. This autoflorescent acquisition technology delivers a clear, true color image. In a couple minutes, your doctor can have a comprehensive picture of both of your eyes. These translucent images clearly show veins, discolorations, edema and more, aiding in the diagnosis of many different eye conditions.²

What is a Clarus exam like?

When you have an exam using the Clarus imaging technology, you will likely be pleased at how easy it is. Like other exams, you will place your chin and forehead on the provided rests. But unlike other machines, the Clarus will rotate slightly around you, so you can relax. You will be instructed where to look, and the painless, simple imaging exam will be done in less than two minutes. No dilation is needed!

Get your ultra-wide fundus imaging exam done today!

When considering a retinal health checkup, it’s important to go to the board-certified ophthalmologists who are investing in some of the most advanced technology and providing some of the best vision care in the region. Our two Colorado locations provide convenient access to this advanced imaging technology for optical diagnostics. Call us today to make an appointment:

            Denver: 303-320-1777

            Lakewood: 303-989-2023

Sources:

¹ https://www.zeiss.com/meditec/us/products/ophthalmology-optometry/retina/diagnostics/fundus-imaging/clarus-500.html

² https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKWOFCeGR9c

5 Tips to Ease Computer Eye Fatigue

Spending hours, days, and weeks in front of the computer can take its toll on your eyes, causing eye strain, fatigue, dryness and discomfort. Severe fluorescent lights and overly bright windows can combine with computer screen lights to create a harsh environment for your eyes. Over time, your eyes may become tired and dry out faster as the day progresses. Before long, you could be suffering daily from computer vision syndrome (CVS).

Symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome:

• Itchy eyes
• Dry eyes
• Tired eyes
• Headache
• Neck strain
• Blurred vision
• Red eyes

But what can you do? You have to be able to work on your laptop or PC. At Colorado Ophthalmology, our team of eye doctors has put together some tips to help you prevent or relieve computer-related eyestrain.

1. See your eye doctor

Regular visits to your ophthalmologist will ensure your eyes are healthy and not changing. Discuss any eye fatigue, pain, or dry eye symptoms you have been experiencing. Make sure you tell your doctor how many hours a day you spend on the computer as well as how close you sit to the screen.

If you wear glasses, your doctor can prescribe special anti-reflective coating (AR) to cut down on light glare from computer work. If you don’t wear glasses, there are clear AR glasses that can be easily purchased online or in stores. These can help cut down on the glare from your computer.

2. Adjust your lighting

The best lighting to use when working on a computer is an adjustable desk lamp. If there is a window nearby, it is best to turn your computer so the light comes in from the side. Bright window lighting behind or in front of your computer can encourage eyestrain, so either turn away from it or add heavy curtains.

Also, check to make sure your computer or laptop has the newer LED screen rather than the older CRT screen that has a slight flicker and can cause eye fatigue. If you are still using the old CRT screen, consider an upgrade to a flat screen LED. Additionally, anti-glare screen protectors can be purchased to fix over the top of computer screens.

Another option to cut down on glare is to trade your bright, light colored walls for a darker color painted in a matte finish. Repainting your office walls may go a long way in easing your eye pain.

3. Take eye breaks

To give your eyes a break, remember the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes look at something farther away—like 20 feet—for 20 seconds. Also, take a break every hour and walk around, look outside, and give your eyes a chance to rest.

4. Drops, drinks and blinks for dry eyes

If you suffer from dry eyes, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans have chronic dry eyes. And age may be a factor. According to studies, 3.2 million women aged 50 and over¹ and 1.68 million men aged 50 and over² suffer from dry eyes.  

There are several good brands of dry eye lubricant drops available over the counter. You may need to try a few before deciding which one works best for you.

Staying hydrated is another important consideration. If you are dehydrated, your eyes will be as well. Keep a big glass of water or a cold bottle of water on your desk and keep it refilled all day.

Studies have shown that staring at the computer screen can significantly cut down on the amount of blinking you do. When you blink less, your eyes don’t get the coatings of tears as they normally would. Combine this with a dry environment and a fan and your eyes can dry out quickly. Try to blink more frequently. Also, use a humidifier for the room and point fans away from you to create a better environment for your eyes.

If you continue to have trouble with dry eyes, you need to see your ophthalmologist. Some eye conditions can cause dry, irritated eyes and your doctor will need to rule those out. You can also get a prescription for lubricant drops from your doctor.

5. Adjust your computer

Your computer screen should be slightly higher than eye level when you are sitting straight. Ideally, it should be about two feet from your face.

The brightness setting of your screen should be about the same as the room. If it is too bright, it may be casting light into the room. If it is too dark, the room is brighter than the screen. This setting may need to be tweaked as the daylight changes.

The text size should be a comfortable size so you don’t have to squint to read it. Reading color print for too long can be fatiguing, so choose black on a white background whenever possible.

The color settings of your computer can also be changed. The more blue that you have in the settings, the more eyestrain. The more reds and oranges in your screen color, the less eye fatigue.

Get your baseline eye exam done today!

If you haven’t been to the eye doctor in a while, it is time for a high quality baseline exam. We can bring you a comprehensive exam to make sure your eyes are healthy and can then watch for any changes from year to year. Our two convenient locations ensure that you can have fast access to an experienced ophthalmologist. Call us at the location closest to home:

            Denver: 303-320-1777

            Lakewood: 303-989-2023

Sources:

¹ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12888056

² https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19506195

When You Need Cataract Surgery in Denver

Cataract surgery in Denver is a relatively common and simple procedure that helps improve eyesight, as well as quality of life. More than one million people over the age of 60 undergo cataract surgery in the United States, and as the years have passed, both the technology and safety of the procedure has seen enormous improvements.

Cataracts are characterized by the lens of the eye becoming blurred or cloudy. In Denver cataract surgery, the lens is removed from the eye and replaced by an artificial lens. This is done by the ophthalmologist making a small incision in the eye, while keeping a close look on your eye with a microscope. Sound wave technology is then used to break up pieces of the lens that will then be suctioned off the eye in a process called phacoemulsification. After the infected lens has been completely removed, an artificial lens is put in its place. The incision in the eye will then be closed and recovery can begin. Often, the surgery is performed on only one eye at a time. Sometimes only one eye is infected, but if both are infected, it may be advisable to wait a while between surgeries.

Denver cataract eye surgery is over in just about an hour, so the procedure is relatively quick. You will be awake throughout the procedure, but numbing medicine will be given so that you do not feel what is being done to your eye. There are very little risks involved with the procedure and you will be ready to go home soon afterwards. However, your vision will still be quite cloudy as your eye just underwent a traumatic experience. It will not be safe for you to drive, so always make sure to have a ride home pre-arranged. Be sure to follow post-op instructions carefully because they are imperative in making sure the cataract surgery was a success. You will be asked to use prescription eye drops, as well as given dark sunglasses to wear to protect your eyes from the sun. You will also need to make several post-op visits to your doctor to make sure your eyes are healing correctly. If there are any complications, your doctor will be able to know about them quickly and take care of them. You may also need a new pair of glasses or contact lenses after cataract surgery, and once your vision has improved enough and stabilized, your doctor will fit you with a new prescription that works well with the brand new lens that has added clear vision to your eyes.

Do Not Let Cataracts Take Over Your Life

Cataracts are a common ailment for people over the age of 60, and for some people, it is an ailment they feel they can live with. For others, it disrupts parts of their everyday lives and becomes more than just a nuisance. It becomes something they would much rather live without and fortunately, due to modern medicine, they can.

It is not always necessary to remove cataracts because they are not known to do much harm to the eye. However, what they can do is impair vision and this impairment is not something glasses or contact lenses can fix on a long-term basis. When deciding whether or not to have cataract surgery in Denver, you must first look at certain factors about your life and how seriously the cataracts in your eye or eyes are infecting your everyday functioning. Do you feel safe while driving or are the cataracts clouding your vision so much that this is becoming a dangerous issue? Are you sensitive to bright lights and unable to see clearly in brightly lit rooms? Are faces that were once clear blurry? Can you do your everyday chores around the house with ease and are you still able to enjoy entertainment like movies and television, as well as the internet, with ease? If any of these things have become difficult for you, then your life is becoming impaired by this eye ailment and Denver cataract surgery to remove them should be a consideration.

If your cataracts have already been diagnosed, but you chose to let it go and do nothing about them because they were not interfering with your everyday life, give your Denver cataract eye surgery center a call when they do start interfering. Make an appointment to discuss surgery options, including what the surgery will entail, how it is performed and what the recovery from this procedure will be like. Once you decide that surgery is the right choice for you, it is important to follow all of your doctor�??s pre and post-op instructions to help ensure that your vision will be protected. The actual procedure is done on an outpatient basis and should take no more than an hour and you will be awake for the whole thing. Sedation is an option, but the sedation will be mild enough that it will not put you to sleep. Make sure to have a ride home from the surgery, as it will not be safe to drive immediately following it.

If you feel cataracts are a hindrance on your daily enjoyment of life and are compromising your independence, call us today and we will set you on a path to the freedom that comes with clearer vision.

Prepping for Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is a relatively simple outpatient procedure performed on more than a million people over 60 each year in the United States. It helps improve the vision of those who suffer from this ailment, which is characterized by cloudy and blurred vision. During this procedure, the lens of the infected eye is removed and a new, artificial lens is put in this place. However, simple procedure does not mean this is not a surgery and like with all surgery, some pre-op and post-op measures must be taken to help ensure the best possible outcome.

Before your Denver cataract eye surgery, your ophthalmologist will go over your complete medical history, including any medications you may currently be taking. Depending on what those medications are, you may be asked to stop taking them in the days preceding the surgery. The day right before the surgery will have several instructions you must follow. First, do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your cataract surgery in Denver. You also should have someone drive you to the surgery location. This can sometimes be your doctor�??s office, but is most often a hospital or ambulatory surgery center. You will not see well immediately following the surgery, so having someone with you who can drive you home is pertinent.

Once you are at your Denver cataract eye surgery center, you will meet with an anesthesiologist. Although you will be awake during the surgery, you may want some sort of sedation and can discuss this with the anesthesiologist. The sedation is usually quite mild, and numbing drops will also be used so you do not feel what is taking place in your eye. The numbing agent may also come in the form of an injection, depending on what your anesthetist uses. The surgery itself should not take more than an hour to complete and afterwards you will be taken to a recovery room to rest before you are permitted to go home. Once home, you should rest your eyes some more for the rest of the day as rested eyes are more healthy eyes. You may experience some eye discomfort for a few days, and painkillers can be prescribed. However, your eyes should not feel severe pain. If they do, it is imperative that you contact your eye doctor immediately to make sure an infection has not developed.

Cataract eye surgery may seem simple, but should not be taken lightly. Your vision is a precious gift, and this procedure can give this modern medical procedure can help ensure this gift is yours for a long time to come.

The Decision to Undergo LASIK in Denver

Choosing to undergo LASIK surgery in Denver is one of the most important decisions you can make in life. This may be an elective surgery, meaning it is not a medical necessity as you can continue living healthily while wearing glasses or contact lenses, but it is still a momentous one that is can change your life for the better in a myriad of ways.

Perhaps you have been wearing glasses since you were a child and have always felt self-conscious about them. Despite buying fancy and trendy designer frames, there is just something about glasses that makes you feel less attractive or inferior to others. The option of contact lenses never appealed to you since you didn�??t like the idea of inserting something into your own eye. Or, maybe did not want to deal with the inconvenience of soaking them each night and putting them back in each morning. However, for many years these were your only options if you wanted to see clearly.

In 1999, another option was added when the FDA approved refractive eye surgery correction, also known as LASIK, for wide and general use. You may have been contemplating Denver LASIK eye surgery since then, but wondered if you could afford it or even if it was the right choice for you. Fear of the unknown may have gotten in your way, but Denver LASIK doctors can alleviate that fear by explaining how the procedure is performed, any side effects that may occur, as well as their own success rate and the success rate of this surgery throughout the United States.

Denver LASIK surgery is a relatively quick procedure, with the entire thing taking no more than 10 minutes most of the time. It is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you can go home soon afterwards. And, most of all the quality of your vision will be better than anything you ever remembered. The world will look crisper and brighter to you and those pesky glasses will be what make the world unclear. If glasses had made you avert mirrors for years, you will now look at your own self in a whole new light. You will not have to worry about losing them, breaking them or getting a new prescription every year or every other year. You can open your eyes in the morning and just see as you had always dreamed. Call us today and take that first step to seeing a whole new world in a way you never have before.

The Right Doctor to Perform Your Denver LASIK Surgery

Once you make the decision to see if you are the right candidate for Denver LASIK surgery, your next step is to find the right doctor to give you a thorough examination and consultation. If this doctor decides that LASIK is right for you, then he will most likely be who you choose to perform the surgery. And choosing the right doctor for this procedure that can change your life is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. After all this is your vision and you want to make sure whoever you entrust it to is the right person.

One of the very first things you need to do when searching for a Denver LASIK doctor is check for experience. Find out how many LASIK surgeries this doctor has performed, how long he or she has specialized in this type of refractive eye procedure and also learn what their success rate has been.

Do former patients seem to need enhancements way too soon? Have there been any less-than-successful outcomes? The chances are you know someone who has had Denver LASIK eye surgery performed. Ask your friends, family or acquaintances who they have used and if they recommend the doctor who improved their vision.You may get a good feel on whether you have chosen the right doctor right from your initial consultation.

The more thorough the exam and questioning, the more you can feel you can trust this doctor. If you are in and out in what seems like record time, then it is normal to not feel comfortable and wonder if the surgeries are treated like an assembly line as well. The right Denver LASIK surgery doctor will ask you as many questions as you ask him, if not more. He will want to know your complete medical history, any kind of medications you may be taking and how your vision problems have progressed over the years. The right doctor will also be up front and honest with you.

He will tell you that LASIK surgery in Denver can only fix existing problems and is not able to combat the natural aging of the eyes, meaning you may end up needing reading glasses later in life. He will also give you a thorough eye examination to determine in LASIK in Denver is right for you. If it is, feeling confident in your choice of doctor is of the utmost importance. You can go into the surgery feeling both excited and confident at the same time, knowing a while new visual world awaits you.

Conjunctivitis and Coronavirus

What You Need to Know About Pink Eye and the Link to Coronavirus

My eyes are killing me…is it coronavirus? If you’ve found yourself wondering if you’ve picked up COVID-19 through your eyes, you’re not alone. The coronavirus presents with the usual flu symptoms, and pink, irritated eyes with discharge is one of them. Here’s what you need to know about the connection between conjunctivitis and coronavirus.

Pink eye can be environmental, viral or bacterial

If you think you have conjunctivitis, or pink eye, there could be several causes. This time of year, you could be reacting to pollen, mold, chemicals and other allergens in the air¹. Sometimes bacteria can cause an eye infection flare-up but, by far, the majority of cases of pink eye are caused by viruses. One of these viruses could be coronavirus. But it just as easily could be another culprit.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmologists, there are cases that show that viruses that cause conjunctivitis were likely transmitted through the air to the eye. It is possible that the coronavirus could be transmitted through a cough or sneeze that causes microscopic particles to travel through the air.

Pink eye accompanied by a cold or flu could be a red flag

If you have eye irritation and also are suffering from congestion, fatigue and coughing, you could be one of over 1,700 cases² of coronavirus currently diagnosed in the United States. If your pink eye is presenting as the only symptom, you may have contracted it from another source. But it still needs to be treated by an ophthalmologist and you need to take the normal precautions to keep the infection contained.

Ophthalmologists may be the first responder in finding coronavirus cases

Since coronavirus can first present as eye irritation, it is possible that your ophthalmologist is the first person to notice the presence of a virus, such as COVID-19³. Patients who have traveled or who have had a family member who has traveled may be evaluated for possible coronavirus.

 Symptoms of pink eye:

If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms, you may have pink eye, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have coronavirus:

• Red-rimmed eyes, pink in the whites of the eyes, or excessively visible veins in the whites of the eyes
• Discharge from the eye, often yellow pus-like discharge and crustiness
• Watery eyes
• Itchiness and irritation
• Can be in one eye or both eyes

Is it coronavirus?

If your pink eye symptoms are accompanied by a cough, nasal congestion, fever or breathing difficulties, you could be displaying symptoms of coronavirus. Here’s what you should do:

• Begin carefully washing your hands
• Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes
• Reduce your contact with others
• Wear a surgical mask
• Get an appointment with your ophthalmologist to treat your pink eye and let the office know if you have accompanying cold or flu symptoms
• Have the office call in your prescription to a drug store that has a drive-through window so you can stay in the car
• Other than this appointment, stay home and away from others until you are fever-free for at least 24 hours
• Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated while your body fights off the virus

Contact us for quality eye care

If you suspect you have pink eye, call one of our two convenient locations to set up an appointment with one of our board certified ophthalmologists with decades of experience in diagnosing and treating eye concerns. As with any eye condition, conjunctivitis needs the proper diagnosis and treatment. Let us know if you have accompanying flu or cold symptoms or have recently been traveling or exposed to a virus. We’ll be here to offer prompt, quality eye care.

            Denver: 303-320-1777

            Lakewood: 303-989-2023

Sources:

¹ https://health.usnews.com/conditions/eye-disease/conjunctivitis/articles/viral-vs-bacterial-conjunctivitis

² https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

³ https://www.aao.org/headline/alert-important-coronavirus-context