Eye Health Solutions

Are you studying for final exams? Or are you someone who spends hours a day in front of a computer or cell phone?  The 20-20-20 rule is a simple guideline for reducing eye strain and other symptoms that can occur after long hours of reading or prolonged use of digital devices.  We use this catchphrase to remind patients to take a break every 20 minutes to focus on something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds . By doing so, you give your eyes a chance to relax and refocus, which lowers the risk for eye fatigue and headaches.  Make a conscious effort to blink the eyes regularly, or use lubricating eye drops, to help prevent dryness and blurry vision from staring at a screen or book.  Adjust the brightness of your screen and set up an ergonomic workspace. Research in more recent years has focused on the growing use of devices and concerns over eye-related consequences like increased near-sightedness.  While taking breaks from near work is still a good thing, on...

  I hope everyone is having a nice weekend. I wanted to take a moment and talk about the recalled artificial tears that you may have heard about on the news. I have had a few calls from patients over the last couple of weeks about these. They are Ezricare non-preserved artificial tears and were recalled on February 2nd. There have been 55 reported infections with 5 people losing vision and one person dying. How can you die from an eye drop you ask... Eye drops, like all medications, are absorbed into the body as well as the eye. In this case the bacteria got into the blood stream and the patient most likely became septic, which is an infection in the blood.  These particular drops are not any I have ever heard of and I have never seen them locally. They are manufactured in India. The particular issue with these is that they are non-preserved so any bacteria that is in the bottle has nothing to stop it from growing. The photos of the drop seem to show a large bottle. The non-pr...

Eat Your Way to Better Eye Health If you’re like most people starting the new year, you may have made a resolution to eat healthier in 2023.  Whether you’re starting to fall off the wagon or holding strong, it’s never too late to start eating well.  There are several vitamins and nutrients specific to the health of the eyes, and chances are, what is good for the eyes is also good for your overall health. 1. Vitamin A     - Required for the formation of rhodopsin, a pigment found in the retina that allows us to see in low-light        conditions.  Deficiency could cause "night blindness" due to impaired dark adaptation.     - Supports healthy functioning of surfaces in the eye like the cornea and conjunctiva.  Deficiency could lead to        dryness and corneal scarring.     - Good sources : orange-colored fruit and vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, and apricots. Eggs   ...

  As the end of 2022 approaches, I want to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation to all of the wonderful patients at Eye Health Solutions.  Thank you for making me feel welcome and for making my first year in Knoxville a success.  I am so grateful to each patient, new and established, that trusted me with their eye care, as well as to the staff and doctors of EHS for their support along the way.  It has been a pleasure getting to meet so many new faces and families this last year! Thank you for choosing Eye Health Solutions – we appreciate you! Wishing you good health in the new year, Dr. Rachel

  Diabetes and the Eyes If you didn’t get a chance to watch Dr. Jason on the WHO-13 Hello Iowa segment – check it out below! Eye exams are an essential part of the care plan for diabetic patients, and 46% of people with diabetes are not getting their eyes checked regularly. Dr. Jason reviews how diabetes can impact the eyes and why early detection of these complications is important. Of the US population: ·           11.3% (37.3 million people) are diabetic ·           8.5% are undiagnosed ·           38.0% (96 million people) are pre-diabetic across all age groups ·           1 in 3 over the age of 65 is diabetic and 50% are pre-diabetic ·           The average medical expenditure for someone with diabetes is $16,000 per year, with $9,000 of that being tied di...

  The Scary Truth About Costume Contact Lenses This Halloween you may have seen some spooky contact lenses. Costume contact lenses, also known as cosmetic or decorative contacts, are lenses that change how your eyes look by altering the eye’s color or pupil shape. Even though they may be advertised as cosmetic accessories, please keep in mind that  all  contact lenses are considered medical devices by the FDA – this means they require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye care professional, and proper care by the wearer. Purchasing contact lenses without a prescription is illegal in the United States. Only buy costume contacts from retailers who ask for a prescription and sell FDA-approved lenses – not from the gas station down the street, your nearest beauty salon or pop-up Halloween shop. Some cosmetic lenses have been found to be counterfeit or even re-packaged, which is not sterile and could contaminate your eye. Furthermore, one study found costume lenses ...