Eyesight Risks of Diabetics

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When you have an underlying condition such as diabetes, there are certain other inherent risks that accompany that. In particular, diabetics are susceptible to increased risks to eyesight. If you do suffer from diabetes, it’s even more important for you to have regular eye exams from an optometrist in Cincinnati, OH. Here are some risks to be aware of.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetics are more likely to suffer from diabetic retinopathy, a condition of weakened blood vessels in the eyes, causing them to leak or bulge into the retina. Over time, these blood vessels can close off, leading to the growth of blood vessels on the retina itself, which in turn causes vision problems.

Diabetic Macular Edema

This is a condition where the macula of the retina swells to a point where vision is negatively impacted. It typically develops as a stage after diabetic retinopathy.

Glaucoma

Anyone can develop glaucoma, but it is twice as prevalent among diabetics. Glaucoma can come on without outer symptoms, making it even more critical for glaucoma screenings at your eye doctor in Cincinnati.

Cataracts

Researchers believe that cataracts are linked to high levels of glucose in the body, which is something that is shared with the diabetic condition. Cataracts can affect almost anyone, but the risk for diabetics is much higher. This disease causes the lens to get cloudy, which inhibits vision

Diabetic Eye Exam in Cincinnati

A special diabetic eye exam in Cincinnati, OH is available for those who need it. This exam will screen for the risks mentioned above, plus others. If you are a diabetic, it’s essential for you to discuss your condition with your eye doctor so it can be addressed.

Contact us for more information about the additional risks associated with diabetes, or to schedule an eye exam as soon as possible.

Getting Your Eyes Dilated? What to Expect

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If you’ve never had your eyes examined by an eye doctor in Cincinnati OH, then you may not have experienced eye dilation in the past. Eye dilation can affect the way your eyes feel, and can affect your perception until the drops wear off. Knowing what to expect can help you prepare for your upcoming eye appointment.

Why Does Your Eye Doctor Dilate Your Eyes?

The eye doctor dilates your eyes because it allows him or her to see to the back of your eyes. This will enable the eye doctor to evaluate your optic nerve and retina, and check for conditions like glaucoma.

How Long Does Eye Dilation Last?

Eye dilation lasts about 4 to 6 hours, though the effects start to wear off within an hour of being dilated. Although there used to be an eye drop that would reverse the effects of eye dilation, that medication is no longer available.

What’s It Like When Your Eyes Are Dilated?

When your eyes are dilated, you may have a hard time reading text close to your face, and you may have a hard time focusing on nearby objects. You may experience a feeling of “tightness” in your eyes.

Finally, your eyes will be very sensitive to light. This can make going home after your appointment uncomfortable or difficult. Bring sunglasses. You may need someone to drive you home.

Will My Eyes Be Dilated With Every Eye Exam?

Dilation doesn’t happen with every eye exam in Cincinnati OH. Your eye doctor may not need to check for glaucoma and other conditions with each eye exam; this will depend on your risk factors. Your eye doctor can let you know if you’re going to need your eyes dilated when you make your appointment.

Need an eye exam? Call OIC Integrative Optometry to make an appointment.

Wire Rim or Plastic Glasses? What to Know Before You Decide

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There’s a big difference between wire rim and plastic glasses. The weight, character and appearance of each type of glasses are completely different! If you’re trying to choose between these two glasses materials and aren’t sure which one is right for you, then read on to learn more about choosing glasses. Before you go to the eye doctor in Cincinnati OH, it’s helpful to know some information about the eyeglasses you might be choosing.

About Wire Rim Glasses

Wire rim glasses are lightweight, practical, and very professional in appearance. Some people prefer wire rim glasses because they’re very durable, and can often be bent slightly without breaking.

One thing to dislike about wire rim glasses? They have plastic nose pads, which need to be replaced periodically. Nose pads that aren’t replaced periodically may develop a green coloring on the inner side.

About Plastic Glasses

Plastic glasses come in bold, noticeable colors. Many people love plastic because they’re vibrant! Plastic glasses are also in style right now, which means that there are many types of plastic glasses available to choose from.

What’s not to love about plastic glasses? For one thing, they’re not bendable. Most of the time, plastic glasses under pressure will break. In addition, plastic glasses are often heavier than wire rimmed glasses. Getting used to plastic after years of wearing wires can be tough.

How to Make a Decision

Not sure which types of glasses are right for you? Start by getting an eye exam from your eye doctor in Cincinnati OH. Once you’ve seen the eye doctor, you’ll be able to try on different glasses until you find the right kind for you.

3 Steps to Take to Get Used to Your New Contact Lenses

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When traditional eyeglasses are not the most desirable option, contact lenses in Cincinnati, OH can be a good alternative for most patients. However, if you are new to wearing contact lenses, the process can be a little intimidating at first. Check out a few tips to help you get used to wearing your new contact lenses.

1. Wear the lenses for a few hours at a time

Most patients will not be comfortable enough to put their brand new lenses in place and wear them all day if they have never worn contacts before. Instead, you should aim for wearing the lenses for a few hours at a time and then taking them out to give your eyes a rest. Over the first few days, try to wear the lenses for a little longer each time you put them in.

2. Be sure to lubricate the lens and eye frequently

One of the biggest challenges with contacts is keeping them lubricated and keeping your eyes lubricated. During the adjustment period, you may notice that your eyes feel dryer than usual. This is because getting used to the lenses in your eyes may lead to some excessive tearing. Make sure to use plenty of the prescribed solution to keep the eyes and lenses moist.

3. Practice putting in and taking out your contact lenses

The hardest part about getting used to your new contact lenses is learning how to put the lenses in your eyes and how to take them out without causing discomfort. While simple, it can take a few tries to get used to getting the lens placed in the precise spot. The general rule is, if you can feel the lens or it is getting in the way of your visual field, it is not in the right position. As you get used to your new lenses, pay special attention to figuring out how to install and remove them.

Talk to an Eye Doctor in Cincinnati, OH

To make sure you get contact lenses that are made to be the perfect fit, it is important to work with a qualified eye doctor in Cincinnati for help. Reach out to us at OIC Integrative Optometry to schedule your appointment to discuss contact lenses.

Eyes Hurt When Pressing on Them: Is it Glaucoma?

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Glaucoma is s serious, a degenerative eye condition that eventually leads to blindness. With early glaucoma detection in Cincinnati, Ohio glaucoma may be slowed or even halted. Sometimes glaucoma has no early warning, signs. However, there may be certain signs that can indicate a potential vision problem. For instance, if you press on your eyes and there is pain, is it glaucoma?

Eye Pain Can Have Many Causes

As stated, in most cases, glaucoma gives no early warning signs. This is why diabetic eye exams and glaucoma detection in Cincinnati, Ohio is so important. But if you do have eye pain, you should still see your Cincinnati eye doctor, since eye pain can have many causes, including glaucoma. Eye pain can also be caused by:

  • Cysts behind the eyelid
  • Sinus infection
  • Eye growth/tumor
  • Developing Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
  • Corneal infection
  • Foreign body in eye
  • Optic nerve inflammation
  • And more

Glaucoma Can Cause Eye Pain

In the condition known as glaucoma, pressure builds up within the eye. This pressure can lead to blindness, but it can also lead to pain when you press gently on the eyelid with your eyes closed. If you are having eye pain and it turns out to be glaucoma, you need to get treatment immediately. Treatment may include lifestyle changes, medication, and/or surgery.

An Eye Exam is Warranted

Whenever you have eye pain that doesn’t go away in a day or two, you should go to get an eye exam. This is because, even though it may not be glaucoma, you may be experiencing another problem with your eyes that needs to be treated by your eye doctor.

Although the problem may be benign, or something that could go away on its own, you should never take a chance with your vision. Contact us today to book your appointment.

When Should I See the Eye Doctor?

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How often do you see the eye doctor? You should be going to the eye doctor on a consistent basis. In this article, we’ll talk about how important it is to get regular eye exams in Cincinnati, OH, and how often you should be seeing your eye doctor. If you’re a parent, you should also know how important it is for your child to be seeing the eye doctor regularly! Here’s what you need to know.

See the Eye Doctor Every Year

Most adults should see the eye doctor every year, even if they have never needed vision correction. Eyes can develop health conditions at any stage, at any age. Seeing the eye doctor helps ensure that your eyes are healthy. This means you should be seeing the eye doctor even if your vision is clear. Do it once per year, around the same time that you see the dentist and go to the doctor for your annual physical.

At Age 1, Then Every Year Before School Starts

Children should see the eye doctor before their first birthday, to check for serious eye diseases and vision problems that could affect their development as they grow up. Some children with vision trouble get glasses when they’re very young.

Your child’s eye doctor in Cincinnati, OH will be able to tell you if your child needs vision correction. Unless the doctor says they need to return again sooner, your child won’t need to see the eye doctor again until they’re starting school. They should see the eye doctor every year before going back to school in the fall.

When You Notice Symptoms

See the eye doctor when you’re noticing symptoms. If your vision changes suddenly, or if you’re having trouble seeing, see your eye doctor for an eye exam as soon as possible.

How long has it been since you saw the eye doctor? Call today to make your appointment!

A Closer Look at Why “Routine” Eye Care Is a Myth

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If you pay attention to your visual health, you have likely taken the fact that routine eye care in Cincinnati is especially important. However, the “routine” part of general eye care is actually a myth. Here is a closer look at why that is the case and why this matters to your visual health.

Each Patient Has Their Own Visual Health Needs

When you visit an eye doctor to make sure everything about your vision is on the up and up, the eye doctor should take into consideration multiple facets of your overall health, such as:

  • Your age
  • Your genetic predisposition to certain visual health concerns
  • Your existing and history of medical conditions

Your eyes can tell a true story about your health, and every aspect of that story should be addressed during general exams and “routine” care. This is why each patient should get a tailored experience, right down to what steps are taken to examine the eyes and test for certain problems.

The Standard Eye Checkup Should Be Fully Customized

At OIC Integrative Optometry, every eye exam includes those standard steps to investigate the systems of the eye, but we fully customize every other step we take to address the specific needs of the patient. You may need a closer examination to check for glaucoma, retinopathy, or macular degeneration, for example.

The Benefits of Custom Eye Exams

Custom eye exams bring several benefits, including:

  • Less likelihood of missing critical signs of an issue
  • Speedier addressing progressive eye health conditions and vision threats
  • Eye care that takes into consideration other aspects of your health

Ready to Experience More In-Depth Eye Care in Cincinnati?

Your eyes are a critical part of your health and well-being, so the care they get from a Cincinnati eye doctor should be perfectly built around you as a patient and what your eyes need. To get started on the path to better vision with care designed for your eyes, reach out to us at OIC Integrative Optometry to schedule an appointment.

Am I Colorblind?

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Though true color blindness is a very rare condition where people see the world only in black and white, you may be like other people and have color blindness that makes it difficult to distinguish between certain colors. Most often inherited, color blindness usually involves being unable to distinguish between red and green or blue and yellow. If you suspect you are colorblind, here is how an optometrist can screen for the condition, and how it can impact your life in ways that can be dangerous.

The Dot Test

When you have an eye exam in Cincinnati, Ohio and are screened for possible colorblindness, your optometrist will use what many call the “Dot Test.” Along with the typical eye exam, your doctor will have you look at special pictures. These pictures, which contain colored dots, have numbers or shapes in various colors hidden within them. Should you find it to be very hard or even impossible to see the patterns in the dots, your optometrist will know you are colorblind.

Can Colorblindness be Dangerous?

As to how colorblindness can impact your life in ways that can be dangerous, one of the most common involves driving. For example, if you have red-green color blindness, it may be difficult for you to know when traffic signals are showing red lights to stop or green lights indicating you can go ahead. In other situations, if you have a red-green or blue-yellow colorblindness, this could impact your ability on a job, particularly if you are dealing with electrical or electronic components where you need to distinguish the colors of wiring.

Though there are no cures for colorblindness, you may be able to wear colored filters over eyeglasses or colored contact lenses that may provide limited improvement. To learn more about colorblindness, talk to your optometrist in Cincinatti, OH.

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A Look at the Primary Benefits of Integrative Optometry

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Every year, advancements in medical science and understanding allow practitioners to provide even better care for their patients, including patients treated by optometrists in Cincinnati, OH. Integrative medicine is a step above general medical care; this modern approach to caring for a patient integrates complementary treatments to create a more comprehensive care plan. Integrative optometry follows that same idea. Here is a look at the primary benefits of integrative optometry.

Eye Health Is Examined as Part of Whole Health

Your eyes may seem like such a unique part of your body, but the eyes are still organs, and still a major part of your overall health. In fact, an eye doctor can look at the eyes and find evidence of other issues like heart disease or diabetes. With integrative optometry, your eye health is examined as part of your overall health. Therefore, general eye exams may be more comprehensive.

Treatment Is More Than Simply Medication

If you come in for emergency eye care in Cincinnati, OH at our office, we will do all we can to treat you in a way that will protect your vision. While medicine may be part of the plan, an integrative optometrist will take things a step beyond. For example, you may be recommended for visual therapy or a complementary holistic care plan until you recover to heighten the chance of a positive outcome.

Integrative Optometry Examines Natural Treatments

One of the greatest advantages of integrative optometry is the inclusion of natural treatments that may not be part of orthodox care. For example, if you have an eye infection, we may make recommendations about lifestyle changes and certain remedies that can help clear the infection.

Get the Care You Need from an Integrative Eye Doctor in Cincinnati

Your vision is so valuable to your everyday quality of life. Whether it is general optometric care or something more serious, a comprehensive approach with an integrative eye doctor is for the best. Reach out to us at OIC Integrative Optometry to schedule your appointment today.