Latest Office News
- Details
At some point, you might be the victim of this scenario: You rub your eye really hard, or walk into something, or just wake up with a red, painful, swollen eye. However it happened, your eye is red, you’re possibly in pain, and you’re worried.
What do you do next?
Going to the Emergency Room is probably not your best bet.
Your first reaction should be to go see the eye doctor.
There are many causes for a red eye, especially a non-painful red eye. Most are relatively benign and may resolve on their own, even without treatment.
Case in point: Everyone fears the dreaded “pink eye,” which is really just a colloquial term for conjunctivitis, an inflammation or infection of the clear translucent layer (conjunctiva) overlying the white part (sclera) of our eye. Most cases are viral, which is kind of like having a cold in your eye (and we all know there is no cure for the common cold).
Going to the ER likely means you’re going to be prescribed antibiotic drops, which DO NOT treat viral eye infections. Your eye doctor may be able to differentiate if the conjunctivitis is viral or bacterial and you can be treated accordingly.
Another problem with going to the ER for your eye problem is that some Emergency Rooms are not equipped with the same instruments that your eye doctor’s office has, or the ER docs may not be well versed in utilizing the equipment they do have.
Read more: My Eye Is Red, Should I go to the Emergency Room?
- Details
We’re all aware that too much sun can cause skin cancer, but did you know the sun’s ultraviolet rays can also do lasting damage to your eyes?
That’s why it’s important for everyone to wear sunglasses and other lenses that block UV rays.
What is Ultraviolet Light?
UV radiation refers to the invisible rays that come from the sun and can harm our eyesight. Most notably, these rays are UVA and UVB.
UVA rays can hurt your central vision by damaging the lens and retina, which can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration. UVB rays can damage the front part of your eye, possibly leading to growths on the eye surface and causing corneal issues and distorted vision.
UV rays can come from many directions. They radiate directly from the sun, but they also are reflected from the ground, water, snow, sand and other bright surfaces. These rays can affect your eyes even when it’s cloudy.
These are some of the problems caused by UV rays:
- Macular Degeneration, which is a loss of central vision.
- Cataracts, which blur your eye’s lens and cause cloudy vision.
- Pterygium, a growth of pink, fleshly tissue that begins on the white of the eye.
- Photokeratitis, or “Sunburn of the eye,” which causes red eyes, sensitivity to light and excessive tearing.
About Us
At Ankeny Family Vision Center you will find a caring team of professionals dedicated to providing high-quality personalized eye care for the whole family. We value our patient relationships and strive to improve your quality of life and vision wellness through uncompromised service and state-of-the-art technology.
Services We Provide
Good Eye Care Begins With A Yearly Eye Exam!
Even a basic eye exam can instantly detect many health conditions.
Eye Health Evaluation
Years of experience in diagnosing and treating typical vision disorders such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, amblyopia, presbyopia, cataracts, and more.
Read MoreDry Eye Evaluation
Various conditions such as eye infections, thyroid problems, diseases such as diabetes, Graves Disease, Sjogren’s Syndrome, and lupus have all been linked to “dry eye.”
Read MoreMacular Degeneration Evaluation
Macular Degeneration is an eye disease that destroys central vision through damage to the macula. It is the leading cause of blindness over the age of 60
Read MoreGlaucoma Evaluation
Glaucoma is an eye disorder that usually is associated with higher than normal pressure inside the eye, due to a decreased outflow of the liquid (aqueous) in the anterior chamber of the eye. This pressure causes damage to the optic nerve tissue.
Read More
Educational Video Library
Our comprehensive video library encompasses an extensive array of topics related to eye health, including detailed explanations of various vision conditions, thorough overviews of optical procedures, and informative guides on routine eye examinations.
Lenses & Coatings
When it comes to vision care products, they are not all created equally! Across the eye care industry, there is a large variance in quality and craftsmanship. We take pride in using a wide range of top-quality materials with great product support to provide you with excellent eye care products.
