Alameda Eye Center

09/29/2021

When you have eye pain or irritation, your first instinct may be to try a drugstore remedy. In most cases, your local pharmacy probably has an entire aisle dedicated to eye care. However, not all eye drops are created equal, and it can be confusing to know which ones are safe to use. Indeed, some drops may actually be harmful to the eyes when used improperly. Let's go over a few:

1) Artificial tears (e.g. Refresh, Systane, Theratears, Genteal, Retaine). These are the mainstay of dry eye treatment and safe and effective to use for most minor eye irritations. There are three main formulations, in increasing order of viscosity: tears, gel, and ointment. As a rule of thumb, tears should be used during the day, whereas gel and ointment are more suitable for nighttime use. Some tear formulations contain a preservative called benzalkonium chloride that can be irritating to the eyes when used in excess. If you are using more than 3-4 drops per day, switch to a preservative-free formula and seek the advice of an eye care professional.

2) Redness relievers (e.g. Visine, ClearEyes). These make the eyes appear whiter by temporally constricting the blood vessels on the surface of the eye. These are best used sparingly (think, as a quick remedy for red eyes on picture day!), if at all.
Long-term use can lead to a rebound effect, where eye redness can come back with a vengeance, even worse than before. If you suffer from chronically red eyes, it's best to see an eye doctor to diagnose and treat the underlying condition.

3) Anti-allergy eye drops (e.g. Zaditor, Pataday, Alaway, Opcon-A, Naphcon-A). The common ingredient in these drops is an anti-histamine, which helps to relieve redness and itching. Beware of eye drops in this category that add a "redness reliever" to the formulation, as they can cause problems similar to the standalone redness reliever drops.

As always, if over-the-counter remedies are not enough to keep your symptoms at bay, check in with your eye doctor for a detailed eye exam and, likely, a prescription treatment.

08/29/2021

Let's talk floaters. Those bothersome strands that float across your vision can be single or numerous, clear or colored, ever-present or only seen in certain lighting. They've been described as blobs, cobwebs, strings, amoebas, chromosomes, and other funny shapes.

In general, floaters arise from the jelly substance (termed "vitreous humor") that fills the inside of the eye. As a part of the normal aging process, the vitreous humor will liquify and produces more clumps within itself. These floaters are not harmful to the eye and tend to fade away over time. They tend to be more prevalent and arise earlier in people who have a nearsighted prescription.

However, floaters can also be a sign of inflammation, bleeding, retinal tear or detachment, and other serious eye conditions that require treatment. The way to tell the difference is to ask yourself how quickly the floaters came on, how numerous they are, and whether they're accompanied by eye pain, flashes of light, or a change in your vision. When in doubt, it is advisable to see an ophthalmologist for a dilated eye exam.

07/05/2021

Happy 4th of July from all of us at Alameda Eye Center!

One of the best investments you can make for your eye health this summer is simple: wear sunglasses. That's because powerful UV rays from the sun can be damaging to the eyes. In fact, it can accelerate the development of cataracts and retinal diseases and can lead to a new growth (termed "pterygium") on the surface of the eye. And just like your skin, the surface of your eyes can develop a painful sunburn with even one session of unprotected exposure (termed "photokeratitis").

When choosing sunglasses, look for 100% UVA/UVB protection, and consider a wraparound style to block UV rays from entering the eyes from the sides. The rest (colors, finishes, polarization) is all up to you!

06/07/2021

Glaucoma is a vision-threatening, irreversible condition that can be silent and insidious. It often runs in families and can take years to appear. A comprehensive eye exam is the only way to diagnose and detect glaucoma and is especially important for those who have a family history. We are proud to offer glaucoma testing using the latest technologies. Among our tools is the Virtual Field, a convenient, virtual reality-based device that allows us to assess the health of your peripheral vision. Testing can generally be performed in under 15 minutes, and results are available right away. If the diagnosis of glaucoma is made, we will work together to come up with a detailed treatment plan for you and follow you carefully over the long term.

05/19/2021

We just wrapped up our first week of seeing patients at Alameda Eye Center. It has been a joy to meet our first patients, many of whom were Alameda locals that followed the progress of our construction and shared in our excitement on opening day!

05/03/2021

05/03/2021