Fouad Melamed, OD Los Angeles Eye Doctor

Don’t hesitate to see your optometrist for red eyes. There are many causes for red eyes, some very minor and some severe. If your eyes are painful and red or if you have any vision disturbances, you will need to see your eye care professional without delay.

The summertime seems to be hard on our eyes with all the blooming trees, flowers and grasses. Depending upon the allergen, irritation can start in early spring and continue on through the first really cold weather in fall. Your optometrist can provide the medication to make allergy season bearable.

Dry eyes are also a cause for red eyes. You may have tried several treatments at home without much success for dry eyes. Some patients think this is really not a problem that is serious enough to go see the optometrist for. However, the truth is, your optometrist can prescribe the correct lubricating drops that will finally provide relief.

Pink eye is a highly contagious disease that may need antibiotic treatment to be resolved. Pink eye is commonly seen in children and spreads rapidly as it is hard to keep kids from sharing the bacteria. However, adults can also have pink eye, especially if they have been exposed to a child who has the disease. Viral infections can also cause eyes to be red. Your optometrist can make a proper diagnosis and start the proper treatment

Another cause of red eyes is blepharitits. This is an infection of the skin around the eye lashes. Lashes may be crusty or you may notice little white specks at the base of the lashes. Some patients complain of greasy lashes. Your optometrist can help you get rid of this problem which can be especially troublesome if you wear contact lenses.

Eye redness can also be caused by sunburn to the face and eyes. This can be very painful. Foreign substances in the eye at the beach can also cause a whole myriad of problems. From misplaced sunscreen, especially from the spray bottles to abrasions from sand, there are lots of reasons for eyes to be red. If you have any question about the cause of the redness of the eyes or how to handle an issue, call your optometrist. It is much easier to prevent an issue from getting out of hand, than trying to resolve the problem after the fact.

Contact lens over use can cause eyes to be red. Changing contact lens solutions can also cause red eyes. Usually these are easy to treat but there can also be more serious conditions that occur with contact lens over use. If your symptoms persist for more than a day or two, see your eye care professional.

Rarely does glaucoma come on quickly, but when it does it is a true emergency. Symptoms include eye redness, pain and visual disturbances. If you have any of these symptoms call your optometrist immediately.

Seeing your optometrist for red eyes can save you time and money. Trying over the counter treatments can be expensive, especially if the treatment does not work. Let your eye care professional treat the cause of the problem and resolve the issue. Prompt treatment is key to keeping your eyes healthy.

Summer is just around the corner, which means it is time to think about UV protection for your eyes. The American public has gotten very good about applying sunscreen to protect skin against harmful UV rays. In fact we have gotten so good at protecting our skin that there is a real issue with Vitamin D deficiency. Our bodies synthesize Vitamin D from skin exposure to the sun.

However, we often neglect protecting our eyes from the bright rays of the sun. We should be wearing protective eyewear from the sun year around and summertime is a great reminder of that fact.  Those strong summer rays tend to make people more aware of the need for sunglasses. Now is the time to see your eye care professional and get a new pair of sun glasses.

Why is eye protection from the sun so important? Aside from seeing things better with polarizing lenses, why should you go to the trouble of making that appointment? First of all, it sunglasses help prevent facial wrinkles. There are also several conditions that have been strongly linked to eyes that are exposed to the sun without any protection.

Cataracts affect over 22 million Americans. Reducing the eyes exposure to the sun can help prevent cataract formation. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that progress slowly. Left untreated blindness may be the end result. There are several treatments for cataracts, but the best cure is prevention.

The cornea of the eye can actually be sun burned. Just like a burn that occurs on the skin, this is very painful and can leave permanent damage. At the very least, this will make for a pretty miserable day or two. A pair of good fitting sunglasses with adequate tinting is the best prevention especially when paired with a wide brimmed hat.

The eye and the skin around the eye can also be damaged by the sun’s rays to the point that skin cancer develops. The most serious of these cancers is melanoma. This cancer can be deadly and is the one most associated with UV exposure. This serious condition needs to be treated immediately. Here is a link to help identify the warning sings of melanoma of the eye. 

Pterygium is another growth that affects the eyes. This condition is usually non-cancerous but can be severe enough to require treatment. The cause is not absolutely known, but there does seem to be a correlation between sun and wind exposure to the eye. Again, sunglasses will help prevent this condition with both sun protection and also as a wind block for the eyes.

There is also speculation the macular degeneration may be caused by excessive sun exposure. There are still studies that need to be done before the sun’s rays can be totally implicated, but until those studies are completed, erring on the side of caution seems prudent. Wear good eye protection is so important for so many reasons.

All sun glasses are not created equal. Sunglasses need to be big enough to protect the eyes from the UV light. Wide arms on the ear pieces will protect against list that spills around the sides of the glasses. Lenses need to have protective coating to protect against UVA/UVB rays. Also get sunglass lenses with UV 400 protection. This will protect against most UV rays.  Lastly, remember that sunglasses can not protect your eyes parked on the top of your head, or sitting on the car dash board. Did you know the early Ray-Ban Wayfarer was almost impossible to park on the top of the head? Sunglasses are a very effective way to protect the eyes from the sun’s rays. Get ‘em, wear’em, feel the protection from ‘em.

For more information on UV Protection for your eyes, get a consultation with a Los Angeles Eye Doctor.

We have had a lot of new people visit our websites over the last month, as well as our office in the Los Angeles Area. As a result, we have had several questions about whether Melamed Eye Care Accepts Aetna insurance for the service offered at our company. I am more than happy to tell all the people who visit my blog, or my website for the company, that we do accept Aetna Insurance for your vision care needs.

If you have a standard policy for vision from Aetna insurance, or your company uses Aetna as a TPA (third party administrator) then your typical plan should have vision coverage is for routine eye exams, glasses, and contacts. This type  of vision plan takes care of most people’s need for vision care by a Los Angeles Eye Doctor.

If you have an Aetna health care insurance, or PPO insurance, then your plan can cover medical eye visits, red and dry eyes, glaucoma, and other such medically related issues for your eyes. Minor eye injuries, like a corneal abrasion, can also be covered under this type of plan. The big difference here is that the Aetna Vision Plan takes care of the routine things.

If you would like to have more information about Aetna Insurance, and how you can use that with Melamed Eye Care, I invite you to check out our Aetna Insurance Page on Melamed Eye Care.com. Talk to you again soon.

Dr. Melamed

Los Angeles Area Eye Doctor

Did you know that it is possible to beat dry eye syndrome with Restasis, a quality product designed to treat dry eyes. Dr. Fouad Melamed, a Los Angeles Eye Doctor, is now carrying Restasis for dry eyes in Los Angeles. Here is a little more information on dry eyes, and what Restasis can do for you.

Dry eye is a condition in which there are insufficient tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears are necessary for maintaining the health of the front surface of the eye and for providing clear vision. People with dry eyes either do not produce enough tears. Most people who suffer from dry eyes also  have a poor quality of tears. Dry eye is a common and often chronic problem, particularly in women and older adults, but it is a treatable disease.

With each blink of the eyelids, tears are spread across the front surface of the eye, known as the cornea. Tears provide lubrication, reduce the risk of eye infection, wash away foreign matter in the eye, and keep the surface of the eyes smooth and healthy.

Restasis Prescription eye drops help to increase production of tears, thereby helping to rid people of dry eyes. Restasis can be prescribed by your Los Angeleis optometrist.,  Additional therapy can come from omega-3 fatty acid nutritional supplements. The treatment works well with prescription Restatsis. For more information on Restasis, and how Dr. Fouad Melamed can help you treat dry eye syndrome, check out his article on the subject at Melamed Eye Care. You can beat dry eye syndrome with Restasis.

Dr. Fouad Melamed, O.D. is now a Los Angeles area Davis Vision Eye Care Provider. This new relationship with the Davis vision people will allow Dr. Melamed to be a Los Angeles Eye Doctor for even more people now.  Melamed Eye Care has been working on this developmental project for some time.

Davis Vision is one of the nation’s fasterest groing provider of eyecare coverage. It offers thousands of companies a range of vision programs, from plans that meet overall eye health and wellness needs to plans that cover advanced vision correction procedures, including surgery.

This relationship with Davis Vision will allow Dr. Melamed to provide employees of many companies, with their spouses and children, to provide affordable eye exams, frames, and lenses. Give our friendly staff a call so we can answer any questions you might have regarding your insurance or eye/vision.

We also have a nice selection of fashionable, designer, and affordable frames that fall in the coverage for people with Davis Vision.

EyeScience Dry Eye Formula™ is a unique oral supplement that may improve your dry eye symptoms for long lasting continuous relief. Although eye drops may provide temporary relief of your symptoms, they are inconvenient and cumbersome to use. Our formula works differently, from the inside out, addressing the underlying cause of dry-eye syndrome, not just the symptoms.

There are certainly many types of dry eye vitamins on the market, but none provide long-lasting relief quite like the EyeScience Dry Eye Formula®. Anyone who has dry eyes can attest to the discomfort that it causes, so it becomes vitally important to find reliable supplements. The EyeScience Dry Eye Formula® is just that, as it is an easy-to-use dry eyes remedy that is anything but temporary.

The formula created is recommended by Dr. Melamed because of vast amount of clinical research behind it. Ingredients that have been proven to increase the eyes natural tear production, such as Flaxseed Oil, Omega-3s, Lactoferrin, and several other vitamins are included in the correct amounts for adequate effectiveness.

When you purchase the EyeScience Dry Eye Formula® with the auto-delivery option, you will never again have to worry about how to find relief for your dry eyes – these dry eye supplements offer continuous relief that can’t be beat. The EyeScience Dry Eye Formula® is a particularly great remedy if you are fed up with having to use annoying eye drops that do not work or other dry eye supplements that offer little to no relief. If you are looking for a remedy for dry eyes that can offer real-continuous relief, then look no further, EyeScience Dry Eye Formula is for you.

T0 purchase click here, and be sure to use Promo Code DRMEL, to receive 10% off and Free Shipping.

Lasik surgery is not for everyone. Once the patient has decided to have Lasik surgery, an exam needs to be done to see if they are indeed a good candidate for the procedure. There are certain criteria that must be met before Lasik can be preformed. In my home area of Los Angeles, California, you can even get a free Lasik Consultation evaluation.

First is patient age, most physicians will not perform surgery on patients that are under 21 years of age. This is to allow for growth to be completed. Patients will also need to have stable corrective prescription for about two years.

Your corneas will be examined to make sure they are thick enough for surgery to proceed safely. Corneal thickness is crucial to the making of the flap necessary for the surgery and subsequent recovery.

Your eyes will also be examined for their general health. This is so important for many reasons. While Lasik is minor surgery, it is still surgery. You will have wounds that will need to heal. Your eyes will need to be in peak health to heal rapidly. Healthy eyes also help prevent surgical site infections.

Your eye care professional will also discuss past and current medical history. If you are pregnant or nursing, your Lasik procedure will need to be delayed. You will also need to discuss any past history of ocular herpes. Lasik surgery will need to be postponed for a year after treatment of ocular herpes.

Occasionally the corrections needed are just too great for current Lasik technology. The technology surrounding Lasik is constantly improving. So if you are one of the few that can’t be helped by Lasik, don’t give up hope. As you have your regular eye exams, check with your eye care professional to see what changes have occurred in the technology. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Some conditions will need to be evaluated on a case by case basis. Those include previous corneal scars, dry eyes, and any issues that might slow healing. Those include immunosuppressant medications and steroids. Patients that have autoimmune disorders may also be at risk for healing issues.

Some patients will not be candidates for Lasik procedure. Cataract patients, those with corneal diseases, and those with corneal thinning will probably be excluded from having the procedure. Those patients that have a history of wound healing issues may also be excluded, as well as those patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Your Los Angeles eye doctor will also discuss realistic expectation for surgery results. In fact, you can take advantage of a free Lasik Consultation Evaluation While 20/20 vision is the goal, not everyone will achieve this result. Also as you age you may well need to wear reading glasses even though your Lasik procedure was successful.

Corneal abrasion is a painful scratch that occurs on the clear covering over the pupil and colored portion or iris of the eye. Even though the cornea is clear, there are many nerve endings sitting right under the surface. These nerve endings an early warning detector. When there is pain in the eye something is wrong and needs to be treated. This early warning lets the patient know to see their eye care professional immediately. How to deal with corneal abrasion will involve the services of a Los Angeles Eye Doctor, or an eye doctor in your part of the U.S.

Corneal abrasions occur usually occur when a foreign object hits the cornea and scratches it. This can be almost anything from a piece of sand or small rock, a finger nail, an animal scratch, a piece of metal from an industrial accident to a tree branch

Corneal abrasions can be very difficult for the casual observer to see with the naked eye. There is also the danger in some corneal injuries that a small fragment penetrated the eye to involve deeper structures. That is a true medical emergency and demands immediate attention to preserve eye sight. If you can’t get in to see your eye care professional immediately, you will need to go to Urgent Care Eye Doctor (if one cannot be reached, seek an Emergency Room). These usually occur when small, fast moving objects hit the eye, like small pieces of metal or wood.

The most common sensation with a corneal abrasion is the feeling that there is something in the eye and you can’t get it out. You probably will not be able to see anything, but the sensation continues and is painful. You may also have a new sensitivity to bright lights. Your eye may even be red and watery. It is time to seek the help of your eye care professional.

Your eye care professional may use a local anesthetic eye drop to temporarily numb the eye. A drop of a yellow medication will then be used. Under a special light the scratch or abrasion can then be viewed by your eye care professional. A treatment plan can then be formulated.

You may be prescribed antibiotic drops or an ointment to use in your eye at home. This will help with the healing process and help prevent infection. Many times, a bandage contact lens, is used to cover the abrasion, help healing and dramatically improve comfort, but must be used under a supervision of an eye doctor.

Wearing sunglasses will help with the sensitivity to light. Simply lying down and taking a nap between eye drops may help with the discomfort. Your eye will start to feel better within a day or two. You will probably go back to see your Los Angeles Eye Doctor in a couple of days, just to make sure the cornea is healing properly.

It’s pink eye season in the Los Angeles area. This is a time of year when we see a fair bit of the disease. This is especially so in children. Pink eye is an inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. The conjunctiva is the transparent lining of the eyelid and eye ball. This lining becomes red as the tiny blood vessels enlarge with the inflammation. That is what gives this illness its name.  People generally think of children when they think of pink eye, but adults can also have pink eye.

The causative agent of the pink eye determines what the treatment will be. In infants pink eye can be caused by a blocked tear duct. In children and adults the causes can be bacterial,  or viral. They can also be caused by irritants that are in the eye.

Viral and bacterial pink eye is very contagious. After making an appointment to see your Los Angeles eye doctor, it is very important to try to keep the infected person isolated until the cause and treatment is determined. This is obviously much easier to accomplish with an adult than with a child. Do not share make-up, wash cloths, towels, or bed linens with the infected person until they are non-contagious.

If the cause is bacterial, antibiotic drops or ointments will probably be prescribed.  Most day cares will request that children be kept at home for at least 24 hours after medication is begun. The eyes may be watery. The eye area will need to be handled to apply the drops or ointment. Throw away any tissues immediately that have touched tears, and good hand washing is a must to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Viral causes of pink eye will not require antibiotic treatment. If the causative agent is herpes simplex an antiviral medication may be prescribed. That is why it is so important for a proper diagnosis to be made by a Los Angeles area eye doctor. Antibiotics are not effective for viral infections. Your eye care professional may want to send a sample for a definitive diagnosis.

For either viral or bacterial pink eye, refraining from rubbing the eye area will help prevent infecting the other eye. If the eye area is touched, thorough had washing is a must. Eye make up must be discarded to prevent re-infection of the eye. If contacts are worn, be sure to seek advice from your eye care professional on the proper course of action. You may need to refrain from wearing your contacts until the pink eye has resolved. Your eye care professional can guide you in how to clean non-disposable lenses.

Other causes of conjunctivitis include allergic reaction. While this form of pink eye is not contagious, the symptoms can be very distressing. The first treatment is to remove the allergen, although that is not always possible. Your Los Angeles eye care professional will probably prescribe eye drops or even a combination of several different drops to provide symptomatic relief.

In addition to any prescribed medication, a cool cloth on the eyelids may offer symptomatic relief. Some patients prefer a warm wash cloth. If the eyes are crusty in the morning, a warm cloth may help to remove the dried mater on the eye lashes and corners of the eye lids. Just be sure to place the cloth immediately in the wash when done, and wash hands thoroughly.

Fouad Melamed, O.D., is a Los Angeles Eye Doctor. He frequently writes about issues related to eye health, pink eye, contacts, fitting eye frames, etc. You can contact him at melamedeyecare@gmail.com, or  just visit www.melamedeyecare.com to make an appointment in the greater Los Angeles, Beverly Hills area.