Fouad Melamed, OD Los Angeles Eye Doctor

With the coming of summer it is time to stress protection from the sun’s rays. While skin cancers and their prevention receive a large amount of attention, it is also just as important to protect your eyes from the sun. This is not to minimize the need for skin protection but rather to add eye protection to your summer routines.

Our sun emits powerful ultraviolet rays along with the visible light that we see and the heat that we feel. These ultraviolet rays can cause eye damage in several forms. Certain cataracts are thought to be formed when the eye is exposed to UV light. Cataracts are a clouding of the normally clear lens that covers the pupil of the eye. This cloudiness can drastically decrease vision.

Another form of eye damage is pterygium. This is a fibrovascular proliferation or overgrowth of cells. The pterygium grows from the corner of the eye closest to the nose and then over the lens. While the cause is not certain, the main culprits seem to be sand, dust, wind and exposure to UV rays from the sun. The thought is that as the sunlight passes through the cornea it is focused on the white of the eye or the sclera closest to the nose. It is this concentrated damage that may cause the pterygium to form.

Pingueculae is another growth that forms in the whites of the eye. These are usually small yellowish growths that generally cause few problems. However, some people feel like there is something in their eye with these growths or scratchy eyes.

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in older populations. While exposure to UV rays has not been proven to be a causative factor in developing macular degeneration, there is some thought that frequent unprotected exposure to the sun can be a contributing factor.  Smoking, hypertension, obesity, family history and a sedentary lifestyle are also thought to be culprits in this devastating affliction.

Intraocular melanoma may have a link to unprotected exposure of the eyes to the sun or tanning beds. Although the connection has not been proven, there is still sufficient concern, and precautions should be taken. Skin cancers of the eye lid and around the eye do have a direct connection to sun exposure. These areas are often under protected when sun screen is applied.

How can you protect your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun? Good sunglasses are a must for starters. If you are unsure of how good your sunglasses are, take them to your eye care professional. They can let you know how effective they will be at blocking the UV rays. If you are pretty sure you bought your sunglasses based on looks rather than effectiveness, it may be time for a new pair. There are great looking sun glasses that also block 99-100% of UV rays.

In addition to blocking UV rays, (both UV-A and UV-B) the sunglasses need to block out at least 80% of visible light. If you are out in the sun frequently, you should consider wrap around lenses. These will block out the sunlight from all portions of your eye. Don’t forget to get proper sunglasses for your kids. The effect of the sun on the eye is cumulative. This means the more eye protection you have over the course of your life; the less likely you will be to develop sun related issues.

In addition to good sunglasses, a wide brimmed hat can also block a large amount of the sun from reaching your eyes. Interestingly, while you may be tempted to take your sunglasses off in the shade, you may still need to wear them to protect your eyes from reflected light. The lesson here is leave all your protective gear on until it is too dark to see with them on or you are totally out of the suns rays.

If you have any questions about any possible eye damage from the sun, make an appointment to see your eye care professional. Your eye care professional has special training to see damage at a very early stage. This is the best time to catch a problem and receive treatment if needed. Simple changes at an early stage can have big payoffs in the long run.  Don’t forget to wear your sunglasses anytime you are out in the sun regardless of the season.

You have heard all the hype … LASIK Eye Surgery is THE way to go to not only see well but also get rid of your glasses and contact lenses forever.

But is LASIK safe? As with any medical procedure, you’ll want to be sure you have the most up to date information before investing in a new way of looking at the world at large.

As with any form of surgery, LASIK does carry with it some risks. It is important you seek the guidance of an experienced eye doctor to see if you are a good candidate and exactly what the procedure consists of. When it comes to your eye health, less expensive may not always be best. You want to be certain you select a LASIK surgeon with the appropriate credentials and experience performing LASIK procedures.

This will help reduce your risk of side effects and complications. Recent studies suggest that up to 5% of patients undergoing LASIK procedures will experience some mild side effects. Most of these side effects are usually gone within the first couple of months. Generally complication risks are minimized when patients for the procedure are carefully screened and selected. In fact, often the best doctors reject many patients, because they are not good candidates for the procedure.

Most of the side effects associated with LASIK treatments are relatively minor, and most not permanent. The most common LASIK side effects are glare and dry eye symptoms. These side effects have really gone down with the use IntraLase. And even now, these symptoms are temporary.

Other more common side effects include infection, irritation, some swelling or inflammation and temporary redness. These often resolve after a short time.

LASIK complications have dramatically been reduced with the lasers and technology. Most complications such as flap slips are dealt with in the first week, and the prognosis is generally excellent. At times the flap may be incorrectly cut or injured. Fortunately there is a new procedure that minimizes this risk known as IntraLase.

Fortunately in many cases the results of LASIK surgery are unquestionably positive. It is important your eye doctor screen you carefully to determine your eligibility for the procedure.

Patients over the age of 40 often feel they are not a candidate for LASIK. That is not the case. These patients can be a candidate for an altered form of LASIK. Patients should talk to their doctor about all their options.

Remember the most important determinant of your response is selection of an experienced surgeon. Hand technique and experience are important characteristics when choosing a surgeon. As an optometrist in West Hollywood, I am proud to work with the city’s finest surgeons. Our Free LASIK consultations give you a complete evaluation to see if you are a good candidate. You get one-on-one time with Dr. Melamed, who had the procedure done on him, 8 years ago. He will let you know himself, he doesn’t miss his glasses or contacts one bit!