Lehigh Valley Center For Sight

More than 22 million Americans over the age of 40 have been diagnosed with cataract disease, the leading cause of preventable blindness in the world. An additional eight million people will be diagnosed by 2020. What do cataracts look like? In a healthy eye, the lens is transparent, allowing light to pass through and create a sharp image on your retina, which sends that image to the brain allowing you to “see”. Cataracts cause the lens of your eye to literally cloud (spots appear hazy or foggy), distorting the light reaching your retina, causing: Blurry vision Excess glare Double vision Trouble seeing at night Will cataracts make you blind? Changes in your vision may not be noticeable at first, but if left untreated, this degenerative eye disease may cause blindness . Can cataracts be prevented? The exact cause of a cataract is unknown. Medical professionals do know that most cataracts are caused by age-related changes. However, there are several risk factors for ...

When you think of how a person who is color blind sees the world, what do you imagine? You probably envision their world in black and white or shades of gray. This is actually a common misconception. Color blindness often means someone cannot distinguish between certain colors, such as blue and yellow, or red and green. In rare cases, a person will be unable to see any color at all. According to Prevent Blindness America , as many as eight percent of men and less than one percent of women have a common form of color blindness. “Color blindness is most often inherited,” said Arian Fartash, OD. “Color blindness is genetic and mothers are the carriers, whereas their sons will probably be the ones to experience color blindness.” Watch Dr. Fartash explain how it all breaks down in the latest episode of #AskAnEyeDoc. If a man is color blind, the chance of his future offspring also being color blind is dependent on if the woman carries the gene. There are different degrees of color blin...

We are in the midst of an explosion in the number of nearsighted (myopic) children. A 2002 study on the rate of nearsightedness in the United States showed a 41% increase in the number of nearsighted Americans compared to the original 1972 study. On average, a child in the U. S. will see an increase in myopia of .62 diopters per year. Fortunately, current research shows preventing nearsightedness in children is possible with great success. A great deal of research is currently underway to determine what makes us more nearsighted and what might be the most effective method of  preventing nearsightedness in children. Much of the latest research in preventing nearsightedness in children is being done in China. Over 70% of Chinese children under 15 are now myopic. Needless to say, the Chinese government is putting a lot of resources behind the treatment and cause of the Myopic Epidemic. What Makes Us Nearsighted? Your genes do play a significant role in the type and degree of prescripti...

More than 2,000 people injure their eyes at work every day but with the right eye protection, most of these injuries could have been prevented or the severity lessened. Whether you work in a manufacturing plant, an office or as a mom taking care of little ones, it’s important to protect your eyes. Are you in a position that requires manual labor? When working around equipment or exposure to chemicals and other materials, it’s imperative to wear eye protection . A pair of safety glasses, ideally made with polycarbonate lenses, are necessary for jobs that present an eye safety risk. If there are chemicals present, safety goggles should be worn. Talk with your employer to see if safety glasses are covered in your vision plan. Get to know your work surroundings. Identify the primary health hazards in your line and location of work. By being more aware of the risks present, you can take the appropriate precautionary measures. Do you work a desk job? You’re likely sitting in fron...

The National Institutes of Health awarded the University of Houston College of Optometry and the Ohio State University College of Optometry $7.5 million to study the use of soft bifocal contact lenses in the prevention of nearsightedness (myopia) in children. The Bifocal Lenses in Nearsighted Kids (BLINK) Study will follow 300 children, ages 7 to 11 years of age over a period of 3 years. The Ohio State University College of Optometry previously published the Corneal Reshaping and Myopia Study in a 2009 issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology where it found that orthokeratology lenses were effective in preventing the lengthening of the eyeball in children which in turn slowed the progression of nearsightedness . Myopia Regulation Treatment at Total Eye Care Do you have a family history of nearsightedness? Are your kids nearsighted? Would you like to prevent the progression of myopia in your kids? Summer is a great time start Myopia Regulation Treatment. If you would like more d...

People often think of an eye exam as how you update your eye glass or contact lens prescription. More importantly, it is a very effective way to provide early detection of systemic conditions. Readers Digest recently published this article on conditions that are often first diagnosed by an eye doctor .   https://www.lvcenter4sight.com/surprising-conditions-that-eye-doctors-find-first/

Lehigh Valley Center For Sight, an established leader in eye care, announces the launch of their new website, located at https://www.lvcenter4sight.com. Dr. Houman Ahdieh, Lehigh Valley Center For Sight managing doctor, stated, “I am pleased to announce the launch of our new website. This newly redesigned website offers quick and easy access to essential information and features that offer a more comprehensive understanding of our eye care practice’s services.” Dr. Ahdieh continued, “The new website has a clean uncluttered design, improved functionality and enhanced rich content focused on the practice's mission to provide the best eye care service in the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania region.  We believe that this new site will allow our visitors to have a very informative experience as we continue to grow our practice and increase our presence in the Lehigh Valley. Our new website will be updated on a regular basis with information on new eye care technologies, practice activity, eve...

Lehigh Valley Center For Sight, an established leader in eye care, announces they have been named a leading provider for lasik surgery in the Lehigh Valley’s Style Magazine Who’s Who in Business in 2018. The 2018 Who's Who in Business listing is the essential guide to the leading products and services offered in the Lehigh Valley. Who's Who in Business is not a popularity contest. It's an annual scientific survey that reaches out to thousands of local residents to ask about their experiences and uses that information to determine which businesses and organizations have fostered positive consumer relationships over the years by providing valuable services and a commitment to quality. Dr. Houman Ahdieh, Lehigh Valley Center For Sight managing doctor, stated, “I am pleased to announce that the Lehigh Valley Center For Sight has been named a lead provider in the Lehigh Valley for lasik surgery. We are proud we were selected for such an esteemed award. It reflects our commitment...

Lehigh Valley Center For Sight, an established leader in eye care, announces a new full-time practice staff ophthalmologist, Dr. Mauricio Figuero. Dr. Houman Ahdieh, Lehigh Valley Center For Sight managing doctor, stated, “I am pleased to present Mauricio Figueroa, M.D., as a full-time staff ophthalmologist, who has just recently joined our practice.” Dr. Ahdieh continued, “Dr. Figueroa earned his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania at Perelman School of Medicine. He did his internship at Geisinger Health System and his residency at the New York Medical College. He opened his own practice in Allentown in 2009. Dr. Figueroa is a great addition to our practice. Dr. Figueroa is a dedicated, motivated eye care specialist who enjoys interacting with his patients. He values spending time with his patients and wants to make sure no patient feels like a number. He is a general ophthalmologist and will be performing cataract surgery. Dr. Figueroa speaks fluent Spanish as well.”

It’s no secret that exercise is the best way to get in shape and to prevent serious health conditions. But did you know that you can actually exercise your way to healthy eyes too!? Like your heart, brain, and lungs, your eyes are impacted by how you care for your body. By eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, you can help prevent eye conditions linked to obesity and being out of shape. Studies have found connections between regular exercise and reducing risks for several common eye ailments such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Vision problems and eye disease also stem from high blood pressure and high cholesterol. A healthy diet and regular exercise are two of the most important steps you can take to lower both. What you should know about the common eye diseases and exercise Cataracts – Studies have found that a lack of physical activity may be associated with an increased risk of getting cataracts. Whether it’s a brisk walk around your blo...

Sunglasses are an important accessory for the summer. Not only do they keep the blinding sun out of your eyes, sunglasses also protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and can be a fun way to let your personality shine through. There is no shortage when it comes to finding places to buy your favorite new pair; but, remember not all sunglasses are created equal. Do high-end sunglasses protect your eyes any better than gas station glasses? According to Mei Fleming, OD, high-end sunglasses are going to offer you more options when it comes to protecting your eyes. Many times, the style and cost of a pair of sunglasses overshadow the primary function—which is to protect your precious eyes. Dr. Fleming explains, too much exposure to UV rays can cause yellow spots on the whites of your eye called a pinguecula. Long-term exposure to harmful UV rays can also cause cataracts and macular degeneration both of which could lead to blurred vision. When you invest in high-end sunglasses, you’re get...

“The hardest thing about being a mom is knowing your kids are going to hurt. And when they hurt, there are going to be times when there is nothing you can do about it.” For Lynda Bettencourt, wife, teacher, and mother of two, the decision to treat her oldest son, who at the age of three was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency, was an emotional and challenging one. While treatment would require giving him a shot every single day until he was 18 years old, totaling nearly half a million dollars, she shared that the hardest part was, “watching him cry, knowing it was what was best for him, but also knowing I was hurting him.” Like Lynda, moms are often the chief medical officers of their households, on call 24/7 and the first line of defense when it comes to their family’s health. To those who work tirelessly to raise healthy and strong families of all kinds, thank you. #WeSeeYouMom Watch more of Lynda’s story:   https://www.lvcenter4sight.com/weseeyoumom-lyndas-story/

As we approach the longest day of the year and official start to summer on June 21, now is the perfect time to check how much Ultraviolet (UV) protection is in your eyeglasses. UV light is all around us. Even on cloudy days. Most of us know that prolonged exposure to UV rays are bad for the skin, and that’s why we apply sunscreen to prevent sunburns. But what about the daily harm that UV light can have on our eyes? UV damage is cumulative, occurring over a lifetime of exposure. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation and Prevent Blindness , this long-term UV exposure can cause damage to both the eyes and the delicate skin around the eyes. This can potentially lead to serious conditions, including cancers of the eyelids and eyes, sunburned corneas and cataracts. Your eye health is too important to risk. That’s why it’s important to protect your eyes and the skin around them year-round by having both sunglasses and clear prescription eyeglasses that provide full UV protection outdoo...

Click Here For Audio version Horama , a French biotech developing gene therapies for rare eye diseases, was established in 2014 as a spin-off of INSERM, France’s public scientific and technology institute. Today, the company has three gene-therapy development programs underway for rare inherited retinal diseases, targeting people with mutations in the genes PDE6B, RPE65, and RLBP1. “We are pleased with Horama’s growing presence and advancements in gene therapy development for inherited retinal diseases,” says Stephen Rose, PhD, chief scientific officer at FFB. “They are targeting conditions that cause devastating vision loss, and there are currently no approved therapies for PDE6B or RLBP1 mutations, both of which cause retinitis pigmentosa.” On April 29, at the 2018 meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Honolulu, Horama reported that three people have been treated in its Phase I/II gene therapy clinical trial for people with retinitis pigme...

One in four children on the island of Puerto Rico has a vision issue and one-third need some type of visual correction, like glasses. Patients at the San Jorge Children’s Hospital in Puerto Rico are also dealing with critical illness and the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. As part of ongoing disaster relief efforts, VSP Global, in partnership with the Inter American University of Puerto Rico College of Optometry, joined dozens of GLAM4GOOD volunteers to help. “Our patients need help, happiness and hope,” said Urania Dominguez, Child Life Specialist at San Jorge Children’s Hospital in Puerto Rico. Nearly 200 pediatric patients, their families and the hospital staff received eye care and eyewear, in addition to clothing, accessories, toys and learning tools. Of the patients who received an eye exam, nearly 70% needed prescription glasses! Watch their stories below. https://www.lvcenter4sight.com/happiness-and-hope-for-children-in-puerto-rico/