If you have keratoconus, finding clear and comfortable vision options can be a constant challenge. Standard eyeglasses don’t correct the cone-like distortion from the irregular astigmatism. The answer might be with specialty contact lenses in Pittsburgh, PA.

Understanding Keratoconus and its Impact

Keratoconus is a condition that affects the cornea, or dome-shaped front of the eye. Normally, a round globe, with keratoconus, the cornea thins and bulges into a cone shape.

The cornea helps focus light onto the retina, and the globe shape plays a significant role in this process. The cone shape that comes with keratoconus can cause vision to blur and make the eyes extra sensitive to light.

Benefits of Specialty Lenses

One of our Doctors of Optometry in Pittsburgh, PA, can evaluate your eyes and determine if specialty lenses are the right option for you and what type. Typically, those with keratoconus will require unique lenses that can vault over the cornea, providing a smooth surface that corrects vision. Three types of contact lenses are common for this eye condition, each with unique benefits.

Scleral Contact Lenses

Lenses that are larger than traditional contacts to cover the entire cornea. They tend to be more comfortable for keratoconus patients and provide excellent vision correction.

Rigid Gas Permaeable (RGP) Contact Lenses

These hard contact lenses have a distinctive makeup that allows oxygen to pass through the material to nourish the cornea. Hard plastic lenses retain their shape better than soft contacts.

Hybrid Contact Lenses

Hybrid lenses have characteristics of both RGP and soft lenses. They can offer the vision acuity of an RGP along with the comfort of a soft contact.

The doctor may also customize a soft lens for you that fits the shape of your cornea. This may be the best choice for good vision and comfort.

If you need specialty contact lenses, make an appointment with a Doctor of Optometry in Pittsburgh, PA, today to get a customized treatment plan for your keratoconus.

If you’re used to hearing people remind you to grab your sunglasses before heading out on a bright day, it would be easy to assume that shielding your eyes is the best response to the glare. Of course, not all exposure is bad for your peepers, and it would be a mistake to avoid it entirely. If you’re looking for reasons to head out in the sunshine without remembering your glasses, here are a few benefits.

1. Better Sleep

Better sleep isn’t just important for your health; it’s important for all of the other things that you want to do. Whether you have a demanding career or home life, studies link natural sunshine to better sleep quality.

2. May Prevent Nearsightedness in Children

Plenty of time indoors often translates to screens or other close-range activities. Natural light may be able to reduce the odds that your child develops nearsightedness.

3. Stronger Health

An eye doctor in South Hills, PA will tell you that your eyes are receptive to the light, and stimulating certain cells in the retina connects everything back to your pituitary gland. This all-important gland controls many of your hormones, which partially explains why you get better sleep and impacts your reproductive and metabolic health (not to mention your stress response).

Do You Need Sunglasses in South Hills, PA?

As with nearly every good thing in your life, moderation of natural sunshine is key. Aim for around 20 minutes a day, preferably in the morning or at night, of natural light, and throw on your sunglasses in South Hills, PA or a hat to keep the worst of the glare off of you. If you’re looking for a team to evaluate your optical health, contact Lappen Eye Care to make an appointment. We’re here to help you find the perfect balance!

Hypertension refers to high blood pressure, and while you may think about it largely in relation to your heart health, it can also significantly impact your eye health as well. Below, we’ll look at the symptoms of hypertension and what you can do to reduce your odds of more serious eye disorders down the line.

What Does Hypertension Do to the Blood?

The more pressure in your blood, the more it impacts the blood vessels. To cope with the stress, vessels may start to narrow or leak, which can weaken your blood vessels. Reduced blood flow to the eye is also called hypertensive retinopathy, which essentially affects how the light-sensitive tissues process images.

Symptoms of Hypertension Eye Disorders

The most common symptom is a major change in vision, whether it becomes blurry or distorted by anything from floaters to light flashes. If hypertension goes untreated, an eye doctor in South Hills, PA will tell you that it can lead to nerve damage and, in the worst-case scenario, blindness.

If you want to avoid hypertension, the best thing you can do is maintain a healthy lifestyle, which may mean anything from eating better to exercising more to getting more sleep. While high blood pressure may be associated with stress and salt, these are far from the only two culprits. If you have a history of high-blood pressure or you’re not seeing the results you want from your lifestyle changes, you can talk to a primary care physician or cardiologist to learn more about different medications that can help you manage your blood pressure.

Eye Doctors in South Hills, PA

If you’re looking for an eye doctor who can help you manage your eye health in South Hills, PA, contact the team at Lappen Eye Care today to make an appointment!

Did you know that eye strain is so prevalent that it has its own technical term? It’s asthenopia, and as your optometrist in Greensburg, PA at Lappen Eye Care can tell you, we see it more and more. We have a theory that it’s more prevalent now than in the past because people spend so much time looking at screens. It’s a problem, but until we outlaw computers—which, admittedly would be horrible at this point—it’s something that we’re going to all have to learn how to better manage. To that end, understanding the causes of eye strain can help prevent discomfort and maybe even reduce how much eye strain you experience.

Prolonged Screen Time

Staring at digital screens for extended periods is one of the leading causes of eye strain. The blue light emitted by screens, combined with reduced blinking, can lead to symptoms such as dryness, headaches, and blurred vision. This is often referred to as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome.

Bad Lighting

The muscles in your eyes are forced to work harder when there’s bad lighting. This includes things like reading in dim light or sitting in a room with harsh overhead lighting.

Incorrect Prescription Lenses

Wearing outdated or incorrect prescription glasses or contact lenses can also cause eye strain. If your lenses don’t match your current vision needs, your eyes will need to exert extra effort to focus, the very definition of eye strain.

Extended Focus on Close Work

Spending long periods focusing on nearby objects, such as reading, crafting, or writing, can lead to strain. Your eye muscles need regular breaks to relax and adjust to different focal distances.

Please come in for an eye exam in Greensburg, PA at the first sign of any eye strain. Don’t take it for granted that it’s innocuous. Eye strain can also be a symptom of something more serious.