Dr. Claudia Wendel at Pearle Vision - Robinson Town Center

11/19/2025

11/18/2025

Sleep crust, also known as eye gunk or by its technical term, rheum, is a common occurrence. Rheum is a harmless mixture of exfoliated skin cells, oils, and tears produced or shed that accumulate in the eyes. We all get that crusty stuff in the corners of our eyes when we wake up in the morning. It is all part of a good night's sleep.

This buildup happens because, during sleep, you do not blink, allowing secretions and debris to collect and dry in the corners of your eyes and along the eyelash line.
This residue is a result of the eye’s normal protective processes. Blinking throughout the day helps flush away mucus and other debris from the surface of the eye.
Therefore, finding crusty residue in the corners and along the lash line of your eyes is normal, unless it is accompanied by symptoms such as redness, pain, or excessive discharge, which may indicate an underlying condition. It should be white or light cream color—which is normal.
If the discharge is yellow or green, that can be a sign of bacterial conjunctivitis—a common form of pink eye. There are also chronic conditions, like blepharitis (a type of inflammation), dry eye, and allergic conjunctivitis that can cause sleep crust. In some cases, it could be enough to make your eyes stick together. In those cases, see an eye care professional.

Sources:
www.healthcare.utah.edu
www.healthline.com
www.aao.org
Photo sources:
www.reichpharm.com
www.healthcare.utah.edu
www.amconlabs.com

11/11/2025

Did you know – Veterans Day Edition

1. Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day until 1954 when it was renamed Veterans Day

2. Veterans Day coincides with Holidays in several countries including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day

3. Veterans Day occurs on the Anniversary of the end of WWI

4. Major hostilities of WWI were formally ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.

5. There are distinct holidays commemorating the service of all US Veterans

• Memorial Day in May
• Veterans Day in November
• Armed Forces Day also in May
• Women’s Veterans Day in June

11/11/2025

1994

11/09/2025

It’s a hockey day in Pittsburgh!

11/05/2025

How many of you play pickleball, it’s a burg thing right? With nearly 20 million people playing pickleball has quickly become big in the United States. Pickleball-related eye injuries are on the rise in the US. Although the increase in ocular injuries may simply reflect the increasing number of players. It is possible that casual players are more susceptible to injury due to limited experience and unfamiliarity with the game.

A study found that pickleball-related eye injuries have increased at an alarming rate over the past 4 years as the sport continues to grow in popularity. It is not that the game is getting more dangerous.

Common kinds of ocular injuries from pickleball have been reported by ophthalmologists and Emergency rooms, including:

• Lacerations around the eye
• Corneal abrasions
• Inflamed irises
• Retinal detachment or tear
• Orbital fractures
• Globe trauma
• Berlin's edema is damage to the retina's outer layers, which can cause temporary decrease in vision.
• Hyphemia is bleeding in the front chamber of the eye

To prevent these injuries, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and other experts recommend wearing shatterproof polycarbonate safety goggles that meet ASTM F3164 standards. These standards ensure that eyewear is rigorously evaluated for impact resistance and safety during play, providing reliable protection against the types of injuries commonly seen in pickleball.

Eye protection is not currently mandated to take part in amateur or professional pickleball play. However, there is a push to establish standardized guidelines that is strongly recommended, as evidence from other sports a significant reduction in ocular injuries when protective eyewear is required. For example, studies in racquetball and hockey have shown a 90% decrease in common eye injuries after mandating protective eyewear. This underscores the potential benefit of implementing similar safety measures in pickleball.

Sources:
www.livescience.com
www.jamanetwork.com
www.aao.org
Photo sources:
www.potthoffeyecare.com
https://www.foxnews.com






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10/29/2025

No date.

10/28/2025

Another Good Reason to Eat Chocolate

Much to the delight of chocoholics everywhere, dark chocolate specifically. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants from the cocoa beans called cocoa flavanols or CFs.

In a recent study, the authors hypothesize that cocoa flavanols may improve blood flow by relaxing blood vessels, thereby enhancing the availability of oxygen and nutrients to the blood vessels of the eye and brain. This process is believed to potentially improve both visual and cognitive function.

The retina in particular, they point out, is very highly vascularized, meaning it is rich in blood vessels and may be the area of interest in these study findings. It is worth noting that this study was not supported by any cocoa or chocolate companies.

The study examined how consuming milk chocolate vs. dark chocolate affects visual acuity, as well as large and small letter contrast sensitivity.

Milk chocolate can have as little as 10% of Coco flavanols but has more fat, were as dark chocolate contains 50 to 90% of Coco flavanols.

It was found to show improvements within two hours of ingesting a 47 g chocolate bar.

The primary outcomes of the study were changes in retinal perfusion, using Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is a noninvasive image modality that provides depth-resolved imaging of the retinal and choroidal vasculature.

High flavonol, dark chocolate, help to activate stem cells and repairs, blood vessels.

Sources:
www.scientificamerican.com
www.health.harvard.edu
www.nature.com

10/22/2025

February 22, 1995

10/21/2025

Zeaxanthin for Vision

In a recent blog post I discussed lutein, a carotenoid. Another carotenoid is zeaxanthin, which can be found in foods you eat daily. It also comes with a host of benefits, like promoting eye health. Zeaxanthin is the companion of Lutein and often appears side-by-side in foods. Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants. They give fruits and vegetables their vibrant hue.

Zeaxanthin and lutein are present in significant concentrations within the macula, where they are referred to as macular pigments. These antioxidants are present in various vegetables and also naturally occur in the lens, retina, and macula of your eyes. That’s why doctors believe they play a key role in healthy vision. Zeaxanthin helps safeguard your eye tissues by filtering harmful sunlight and preventing oxidative damage caused by free radicals.

The macula is the most sensitive part of the retina and the part with the highest concentration of photoreceptors. These are special cells that convert light into signals that can be interpreted by your brain. As such, the macula is the place where your sharpest vision is produced. It is also responsible for your ability to perceive colors.

Five servings of fruits and vegetables daily provide enough zeaxanthin and lutein for your body. Make sure you choose each color of the rainbow, to help you continue to see rainbows.

Food Sources of Zeaxanthin:

If you are looking to boost your zeaxanthin intake, look for green, leafy vegetables since they have the highest amount of the carotenoid. The chlorophyll in dark green vegetables actually masks the lutein and zeaxanthin (yellow-orange) pigments, giving the vegetables their recognizable green color.

You shouldn't limit yourself to just a few veggies. In addition to greens, eggs and brightly colored fruits and vegetables are also good sources of both zeaxanthin and lutein. Eggs may be your best source. Although vegetables often contain more zeaxanthin, it isn't naturally combined with the fat-soluble enhancers needed for absorption, which lowers their bioavailability. Your body absorbs it more efficiently from eggs due to their fat content.

After ingestion, zeaxanthin is preferentially transported to the ocular tissues. It is incorporated into the lens, the transparent, curved structure located at the front of the eye. This yellow pigment functions as a protective barrier.

Sources:
www.webmd.com⁠
www.health.clevelandclinic.org⁠
www.verywellhealth.com⁠

10/16/2025

October 4, 2006

10/08/2025

June 1, 1994