1. Size and weight — Eyes are about 1 inch in diameter and weigh about a quarter of an ounce.
2. Colors — The human eye can differentiate about 10 million different colors.
3. Complex — Eyes are the second most complex organ after the brain.
4. Blinking — The human eye blinks over 4 million times per year.
5. Components — Eyes are comprised of over 2 million working parts.
6. Cell structure — Each eye contains 107 million cells.
7. Responsive — The eye is the fastest muscle in the body.
8. Strong — The muscles in the eye are 100 times stronger than they need to be to perform their function.
9. Topsy-Turvy — We actually see things upside down, and the brain turns the image right side up.
10. Durable — The only cells in the human body that survive for your entire lifetime are in the eyes.
11. Unique — The cornea is the only tissue in the human body that does not contain blood vessels.
12. Resilient — 80% of vision problems worldwide are avoidable or curable.

To keep your eyes in tip-top shape, be sure to schedule regular appointments with your Eye MD.

The post 12 Fun Facts About the Eyes appeared first on Atlantic Medical Eye Care.

Unfortunately, every Ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) has heard scary stories about the use of non-prescription or over-the-counter contact lenses.

Reason #1: Costume Lenses Can Scratch the Cornea

If contacts are not professionally fitted to the eye, they can scratch the cornea. One patient’s lens was too tight. It adhered to her eye causing a permanent eye scar, vision loss, and a drooping eyelid.

Remember — there is no such thing as a “one size fits all” contact lens. They should always be professionally fitted by an experienced eye care physician.

Reason #2: Costume Lenses Often Cause Serious Infections

Infections are also common with costume-type lenses. These lenses may not be sterilized when packaged. They even may contain harmful chemicals, such as chlorine.

A patient described her need for surgical intervention following a very serious infection that left her with permanent blurry vision and persistent dry eyes. Another patient regrets his use of color changing lenses that caused complete vision loss in one eye, even after having about a dozen surgeries to try to fix the problem.

Over-the-Counter Lenses Are Now Illegal in the United States

In response to cases like these, non-prescription or over-the-counter lenses are now illegal in the United States — whether purchased in costume stores, beauty supply shops or online.

So, avoid using these color-changing costume contact lenses at all costs. They are just too risky in terms of the permanent damage they can cause to your eyes.

The post 2 Reasons to Avoid Color-Changing “Costume” Contact Lenses appeared first on Atlantic Medical Eye Care.

What is Zika Virus?

Zika virus is an infection primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, though it can also spread through sexual contact. In most healthy adults, the illness is mild and rarely life threatening. The symptoms most commonly reported are:

• fever
• rash
• joint pain
• red eyes (conjunctivitis)

Primary Complication of Concern: Microcephaly

The most serious complications are associated with infection during pregnancy.

Zika virus has been linked to microcephaly, a condition in which a baby is born with an abnormally small head due to incomplete brain development. This congenital condition may lead to long-term neurological and developmental challenges.

Zika’s Impact on the Eyes: Infants at Risk

Clinical research, including findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Ophthalmology, has shown that a significant percentage of infants with Zika-associated microcephaly also develop vision-threatening abnormalities. These lesions most commonly affect both retinas.

Evidence suggests that Zika infection during early pregnancy may contribute to congenital ocular lesions, even when maternal symptoms are mild.

Additional studies indicate that the virus may affect the anterior segment of the eye in infants. In contrast, eye complications in adults during acute infection appear to be uncommon. When present, reported conditions have included conjunctivitis, iridocyclitis, and chorioretinitis.

Reducing Risk in Areas with Zika Transmission

There is currently no specific antiviral treatment or widely available vaccine for Zika virus. In areas with active transmission, public health authorities may advise individuals who are pregnant or planning pregnancy to consult with their healthcare providers regarding potential risks.

Pregnant women—particularly during the first two trimesters—are generally advised to avoid travel to regions where Zika transmission has been documented, including:

• tropical regions of Africa
• parts of Southeast Asia
• areas within the Pacific Islands

Preventive measures focus on minimizing mosquito exposure. The most effective strategy is to reduce mosquito bites by using protective clothing and an EPA-registered insect repellent.

The post How Zika Virus Impacts the Eyes and Ocular Health appeared first on Atlantic Medical Eye Care.

Technology Advances to Predict Glaucoma Progression

At present, disease progression is monitored through comprehensive eye examinations. In office testing can include measuring eye pressure and assessing a patient’s central and peripheral vision using visual field testing.

The Problem

The problem with measuring eye pressure in the doctor’s office is that it only provides a measurement for a single point in time. In addition, eye pressure commonly rises at night when it is impractical to see a doctor.

The Solution

Researchers from Columbia University in New York City have come up with a remarkable solution:

A contact lens with a built-in sensor that can monitor eye pressure 24 hours a day.

The sensor in the lens picks up any change in lens curvature which indicates a change in eye pressure. With the help of an attached wireless antenna, the data is sent to the patient’s physician via Bluetooth.

Where Are We Now?

Since this post was originally written in 2021, continuous eye pressure monitoring has made meaningful progress. A smart contact lens system known as the Triggerfish, developed by Sensimed, has been approved in several countries and is now used in specialized clinics to help track 24-hour pressure patterns in glaucoma patients.

In the United States, these technologies are still limited in availability and are primarily used for research or complex cases, but ongoing clinical trials continue to refine accuracy, comfort, and data integration with electronic health records.

Additionally, artificial intelligence is now being used alongside these sensors to better predict which patients are most at risk of progression, helping doctors personalize treatment plans earlier than ever before.

For Now, Regular Eye Exams are Key

This advanced contact lens is not yet available in the United States, but our hope is that it will be available soon.

So for now, in order to detect glaucoma, your physician will need test your visual acuity and visual field and test the pressure in your eye. Regular eye exams help to monitor the changes in your eyesight and to determine whether you may develop glaucoma.

If you’re located in central New Jersey, our Eye M.D.’s can help monitor your eyesight. Contact us to set up an appointment.

The post New Technology to Predict the Risk of Glaucoma Progression appeared first on Atlantic Medical Eye Care.

The work of Dr. Patz resulted in the closure of two-thirds of the schools for the blind. It’s truly remarkable how this came about.

A Blindness Epidemic in Premature Babies

Just as treatments for premature babies had improved in the 1950’s, there was a sharp increase in retrolental fibroplasia (RLF) causing blindness in these babies.

Premature infants at that time were routinely treated with great amounts of oxygen. The babies started off having a blue cast to their skin. After oxygen was given, they gained a healthy pink color.

Dr. Patz believed that providing these infants with too much oxygen had caused their blindness. His hypothesis was met with skepticism from the medical community, but his extensive research eventually proved that he was right.

Dr. Arnall Patz’s Amazing Legacy

After Patz’s findings became known, the use of high-dose oxygen therapy was limited. As a result of his research, there was a whopping sixty percent reduction in childhood blindness throughout the United States.

Today, oxygen-caused RLF (now called Retinopathy of Prematurity) is an infrequent occurrence. About 14,000 of the 3.9 million U.S.-born infants are affected by ROP. Of those, about 90% have only mild disease — thanks in large part to the work of one brilliant ophthalmologist.

The post He Solved Widespread Blindness in Preemies – Who Was He? appeared first on Atlantic Medical Eye Care.

What Caused the Man’s Blindness?

Zderad, a patient at the Mayo Clinic, is affected by retinitis pigmentosa.

Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited condition that causes the degeneration of specific cells in the retina called photoreceptors. Unfortunately, in addition to causing poor vision at night, retinitis pigmentosa can also advance to complete vision loss.

How Does the Eye Implant Work?

The eye implant that Zderad received works by bypassing the damaged retina and sending light wave signals directly to the optic nerve. There is a small chip attached to the back of the eye.

The system also includes special glasses and a computer worn in a belt pack.

The prosthesis enables the recipient to see shapes, light, and closer objects. In this case when the device was activated, Zderad was able to see his wife again for the first time in ten years. It was a very dramatic moment.

Progress, But Not Perfection

At this time, recipients of the prosthesis cannot see details of faces or read. Of the device, Zderad said:

It’s crude, but it’s significant.

And researchers agree. This technology takes a big step forward.

Researchers believe that in time adjustments to the device will extend the technology to create more functional vision that’s much closer to way human’s see without such devices.

The post Blind Man Receives a “Bionic Eye” Implant and is Able to See appeared first on Atlantic Medical Eye Care.

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that there are 5.2 million people in the United States that suffer from this disorder.

Using the Eyes to Detect Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center are getting closer to a new diagnostic option: non-invasive retinal eye scans.

There is evidence that people with Alzheimer’s Disease often develop beta-amyloid plaques in areas of the brain responsible for memory. In addition, research also shows that these plaques can appear years before a patient experiences Alzheimer’s symptoms.

While other researchers have examined how these plaques form in the brain, the doctors at Cedars-Sinai have found that beta-amyloid plaques can also build up in the retina in the back of the eye.

Since the eye is part of the central nervous system, these findings suggest that this procedure may lead to a quick, inexpensive and pain-free way to detect Alzheimer’s Disease.

Quicker Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s

A faster way to detect Alzheimer’s Disease would be a potential boon for this debilitating condition. Once a patient is diagnosed, aggressive treatments for memory loss, behavioral changes, and sleep issues can all be initiated.

The field is moving fast. Retinal imaging—supported by AI and advanced optics—is not just a hopeful concept anymore; it’s entering real-world research and pre-clinical trials. Within the next few years, we may begin seeing accessible, non-invasive eye tests that can screen for Alzheimer’s far earlier than any current standard.

The post Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease Through the Eyes appeared first on Atlantic Medical Eye Care.

Autism is a disorder characterized by challenges in communication, socialization, learning, behavior and the appropriate use of play or leisure time. It does not appear to discriminate based on genetics, education level or socio-economic class — though it does appear to be more common in boys (three times more likely than in girls)

Autism is considered a “spectrum disorder,” since the effect of autism can range from mild to severe in any person. As such, there is a wide range of symptoms, skills and levels of disability in functioning.

With that in mind, how we approach children with Autism as ophthalmologists takes special care.

Eye Exams for Children with Autism

Some individuals with autism can communicate quite well, but I am often asked how I can determine visual acuity for someone who cannot respond to a question frequently asked during eye exams:

Better at line 1 or 2?

An ophthalmologist might start by noting whether a patient can fixate on an entertaining object. Pictures can be used instead of letters if necessary.

An autorefractor machine — a computer-controlled device used during an eye examination to provide a measurement of a person’s refractive error and prescription for glasses or contact lenses — might also be utilized as a starting point.

Another exam, known as a cycloplegic refraction, is helpful because it avoids any chance for the patient to accommodate and doesn’t require the person to communicate what or how well they can see.

Learning More About Autism

In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued their ADDM autism prevalence report. The report found that the prevalence of autism has risen to 1 in every 59 births in the United States – twice the rate of 2004 (1 in 125).

Learn about the different types of autism spectrum disorders, how autism affects individuals and families and more – visit AutismSpeaks.org.

The post Autism Awareness: Helping Children With Autism See Better appeared first on Atlantic Medical Eye Care.

What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that cannot be explained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue may worsen with physical or mental activity, and unfortunately, it does not improve with rest.

This definition is consistent for many of those patients who are having trouble clearing COVID-19 months after becoming infected.

Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome — Eye Symptomology

CFS can be difficult to diagnose because, apart from the fatigue, there are few definitive signs of the condition.

However, researchers have begun to investigate the fact that people with CFS consistently experience problems with their eyes. These issues include symptoms such as:

• light sensitivity
• dry, itchy or painful eyes
• difficulty focusing
• eye strain
• vision-related headaches
• slow eye movements
• problems tracking moving objects

Research may help with early CFS diagnosis

In a new research project, the team will test 50 participants who have CFS on a number of parameters. The results will then be compared to information from a control group of 50 participants without CFS.

The researchers believe that if they can isolate the visual problems common to people with CFS, then earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments will follow.

The post Eye Health Can Help Diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome appeared first on Atlantic Medical Eye Care.

Stem Cell Treatments for the Eyes Have Not Been Approved by the FDA

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) urges the public to question the lofty claims that certain clinics make about stem cell treatments, and to note that at present the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any stem cell therapies for the eyes.

In fact, according to AAO and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, there are no stem cell therapies that have yet proven to be safe and effective for treating your eyes.

Be Cautious of Clinical Trials for Stem Cell Treatments for the Eyes

If you have interest in a clinical trial of a stem cell treatment for your eye disease, as a rule of thumb, you should make sure it is an FDA-approved trial.

Also, beware of any clinic that demands a large sum of money for an unapproved therapy. Legitimate researchers rarely charge patients to participate in a study.

Remember, at best these unsanctioned treatments will be ineffective, and at worst they can be quite dangerous to the long-term health of your eyes. Know in advance what you’re getting into — your vision may well depend on it.

The post Beware of Unapproved Stem Cell Treatments to Treat the Eyes appeared first on Atlantic Medical Eye Care.