Certain symptoms of Parkinson's, such as tremors, are the most recognized characteristics of the disease, but Parkinson's can also affect vision.

April is Parkinson's Awareness Month. It has been designated to raise awareness of this increasingly common neurological condition. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, it's important to understand the visual symptoms and what you can do to manage them.
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Parkinson's can cause a wide variety of symptoms that affect movement, cognitive ability, and mood. Possible symptoms include: 

• Tremors
• Slow movements
• Balance problems
• Stiffness
• Decreased facial expression
• Softer voice
• Sleep problems
• Depression

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Parkinson's disease affects the brain's ability to control movement. This can include the eye muscle movements.
Vision problems can develop due to poor eye muscle coordination, such as reduced control of eye movements. 

Certain medications used to treat Parkinson's may also exacerbate visual symptoms. For instance, anticholinergic medication may cause light sensitivity or blurry vision. Other types of Parkinson's medication can increase dry eye syndrome. 

Vision issues that may develop include:

• Double vision from muscles having trouble working together
• Dry eyes from decreased blinking that can occur with Parkinson's 
• Blurry vision as a side effect of Parkinson's medications
• Trouble opening the eyes due to reduced muscle movements 

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Visual symptoms can lead to some of the effects listed below. 

• Difficulty reading
• Problems judging distances
• Headaches after visual tasks
• Eye fatigue
• Redness and irritation 
• Increased falls

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Maintaining good vision is essential for everyone. But for people with Parkinson's disease, it takes on additional importance.  Parkinson's disease can affect balance, independence, and overall quality of life. Visual problems can compound these issues, worsening them.

Early intervention to help treat visual problems associated with Parkinson's disease can decrease fall risk and help maintain independence
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Treatment may include any of the strategies and interventions listed below.

Prism glasses: Prism glasses can help reduce double vision by bending light before it enters the eye. If double vision is a main symptom, prism glasses can improve visual comfort and reduce the risk of falls. 

Medication adjustments: If medication may be contributing to visual side effects, it's important to talk with your doctor. Changes in medication may include adjusting the dose or the timing of medication. However, always speak to your physician before making medication adjustments on your own. 

Vision therapy: Vision therapy can include targeted exercises to improve eye muscle coordination. These types of exercises should be guided by an eye care specialist and may include eye-tracking activities.

Everyday tips: Individuals with Parkinson's should follow everyday tips to improve vision, such as using good lighting, taking frequent breaks from screens, and increasing font size on devices as needed. 

Remember, good vision is essential for staying active and independent, especially if you are living with Parkinson's disease. If you have any questions about Parkinson's disease and how it can affect your eyes, we are happy to help. 

Also, if you would like to schedule an eye appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600. 

Your visual system is not only made up of parts of your eye. Your brain works with your eyes to process visual information. Your visual system continually works to keep your vision stable and clear. 

If this system becomes under strain, muscular or neurological stress may lead to a headache. For example, the muscles of your eye are constantly working to align both eyes and help you focus and track movement. If something is not working as efficiently as it should, it can cause the eye's muscles to work harder, leading to strain.

Think about it like this, if you walked around carrying a light dumbbell all day, at first it might not bother you. But over time, you're likely to develop fatigue. 
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Here are some of the most common triggers of vision-related headaches:

Digital eye strain: Digital eye strain occurs from spending time on devices such as computer screens, cell phones, and iPads. 

When you're on a digital device, you tend to blink less, and your eyes have to work harder because of the close proximity to the screen. This may lead to dry eyes and irritation, which can trigger headaches. Besides a headache, symptoms of eye strain can include blurred vision, tired or heavy eyes, and redness. 

Uncorrected refractive errors: Refractive errors occur when light does not focus properly on the retina. It may focus in front, behind, or unevenly. Refractive errors may include nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. 

This causes your eyes to continuously try to autocorrect the blur by adjusting your focus, which makes your eyes work harder, possibly causing a headache. In addition to headaches, symptoms may include eye fatigue and squinting to see clearly.

Dry eye syndrome: When you think of headaches, dry eye syndrome may not top your list of possible causes. However, dry eyes can lead to light sensitivity and eye strain and may trigger a tension headache. Chronic dry eye may also affect the trigeminal nerve, leading to referred pain and a headache. Additional symptoms of dry eye include burning, red eyes, and a gritty feeling in the eye. 
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Headaches are caused by several things. Signs your headaches may be vision-related include the following:

• Headaches occur after screen use
• Pain is located around the eyes or forehead
• Symptoms improve when you rest your eyes
• A headache is accompanied by blurred vision 

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There are ways to combat vision-related headaches before they start, such as:

• Get regular eye exams to identify refractive errors and correct as needed.
• Stay well hydrated to help support your tear film.
• Use proper lighting to optimize your visual environment.
• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: look 20 ft away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes to give your eyes a break.
• Prioritize getting proper rest.

If you're suffering from frequent headaches, it's important to schedule a comprehensive eye exam. Your eye doctor can help rule out serious underlying vision conditions, provide updated prescriptions for glasses and contact lenses, and discuss dry eye treatments. 

If you have any questions, we are happy to help. Also, if you would like to schedule an eye appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.

When you think of skin cancer, you may not immediately think about cancer around the eyes or on the eyelids, but cancer around the eyes is fairly common. Continue reading for information on risks for skin cancer around the eyes, symptoms, and prevention tips. 

Anyone can develop skin cancer around their eyes. The skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate, and it's often exposed to UV light from the sun. Additionally, some symptoms may go unnoticed, as skin changes may seem normal at first. 

Researchers have identified certain factors that may increase your risk of developing skin cancer around the eyes, including:

• Excessive sun or tanning bed exposure
• Having light colored eyes
• Older age
• History of prior skin cancer 

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Not every new growth or change to the skin around the eyes indicates skin cancer, but there are certain signs that should be evaluated and need a closer look, including the following: 

A new bump on the eyelid: Some people mistake a new bump for a stye, but a stye usually clears up in a week or two. A new bump that does not heal within 4 weeks should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. 

Loss of eyelashes in one area: Skin cancer can disrupt normal hair follicles on the lash line. This may lead to unexplained eyelash loss in one area of the eyelid. 

Vision changes: Although rare, eye melanoma can cause vision changes. Vision changes may include seeing flashes of light, blind spots, or blurred vision. According to the Mayo Clinic, eye melanoma typically develops in one of the three parts of the uvea: the iris, ciliary body, or choroid. 

A sore that doesn't heal in the skin around the eye: Similar to any part of your skin, a lesion or sore around the eye that doesn't heal in a few weeks should be checked out. Skin cancer around the eye may include an open sore or an area that repeatedly scabs and reopens.

Chronic redness of the eyelid: Chronic redness around the eyelid can be caused by dermatitis, recurrent irritation, and chronic blepharitis. But it can also occur due to skin cancer.
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As with all types of cancer, detecting skin cancer around the eyes early leads to the best outcomes. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 90% of skin cancer around the eye is basal cell carcinoma. Although this form of skin cancer is highly curable, left untreated it can be disfiguring.  In addition, even basal cell carcinoma can spread to the surrounding areas and the eye itself. 

Early detection can help prevent the spread of skin cancer. It can also reduce the need for more invasive treatment. During a comprehensive eye exam, in addition to examining the eyes, your eye doctor will evaluate the health of the eyelids and can spot subtle symptoms.  
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Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help reduce your chances of skin cancer around the eyes, including:

• Wearing sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection
• Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen around the eyes
• Wearing a wide-brimmed hat
• Seeking shade when available 
• Limiting sun exposure at peak times as much as possible 

Early detection of skin cancer around the eyes can protect your vision and your overall well-being. If you would like to schedule an eye appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600. 
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Some people may ignore eye symptoms because they come and go and do not seem serious.  Many people associate problems with pain. If pain is absent, someone may assume nothing is wrong. 

Typical reasons why people may delay seeking care for eye symptoms include the following:

• Thinking it's part of the natural aging process
• A busy schedule
• Assuming it's nothing serious
• Lack of understanding about what's concerning versus what is normal
• Waiting a little longer to see if symptoms go away on their own 

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Although the symptoms below may not indicate anything serious, it's still best to have them checked out by an eye doctor. It's always better to err on the side of caution and protect your vision. 

Eye symptoms you shouldn't ignore include: 

Intermittent blurred vision: Blurred vision that comes and goes can be caused by eye strain; however, it can also be an early symptom of cataracts.

New floaters or seeing flashes of light: Eye floaters from time to time are normal. However, sudden increases in floaters or flashes of light can signal a retinal detachment or tear. This requires immediate medical evaluation.
 
Loss of peripheral vision: A gradual loss of peripheral vision is not a normal age-related change in vision, but it can be an early warning sign of glaucoma. Early identification of glaucoma is vital to help slow the progression and preserve as much vision as possible. 

Double vision: True double vision is never normal. This involves seeing two images when there is only one. Double vision should always be evaluated by an eye doctor. It can indicate nerve problems, neurological conditions, or issues with eye muscle coordination. 

A sore or bump on the eyelid or near the eye that does not heal: Skin changes around the eye may be subtle, and you may not even notice them initially. Usually, bumps around the eye, such as a stye or a blocked oil gland, will resolve in a few weeks. A growth that does not heal after a few weeks could indicate skin cancer and requires evaluation. 
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This quick reference chart indicates what symptoms may be normal versus what is concerning and needs evaluation by an eye doctor. 
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Your visual system works best when it's consistently protected and supported. The good news is that even if your habits have not been top-notch, it's never too late to start. 

You can use the same principles you use to develop a fitness plan to develop an overall eye health routine, including preventative care, consistency, and recovery. 
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Functional fitness is a type of exercise training that prepares your body for real-life movements such as pushing, pulling, and standing. These types of movements are used in everyday activities.

In your vision, a measure of eye health is not only whether you see 20/20. Overall eye health includes peripheral vision, light adaptation, visual clarity, and contrast sensitivity.

Your vision is also important to your overall functional health. It impacts your cognitive processing, reaction time, balance, and overall wellness and independence. 

Considering the overall importance of your vision for your functional health, it helps you understand how vital it is to not just react to vision problems. Instead, take a preventive, proactive approach.
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When you start an exercise program, you may have an assessment by your physician or a personal trainer to ensure everything is OK. The same thing applies to your eyes. Having a comprehensive baseline eye exam allows your eye doctor to evaluate your retinal health, the appearance of your optic nerve, eye pressure, and early signs of eye disease. 

Certain eye conditions, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, often do not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages, but they can be diagnosed through an eye exam.
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When you think about it, you use your vision almost the entire day, from the time you wake up to the time you close your eyes at night. Just like your body needs recovery time after exercise, so do your eyes. For instance, if you spend hours staring at a computer screen at work and then come home and look at the television or cellphone, this can contribute to dry eyes and digital eyestrain.  

Try to take frequent breaks from digital devices. This may involve getting up and walking away for a few minutes or something as simple as the 20-20-20 rule. This involves every 20 minutes looking about 20 ft away for 20 seconds. Think of the 20-20-20 rule as the equivalent of taking a rest between sets of exercises. It gives your eyes a break.
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You protect your muscles and joints by wearing the proper shoes and protective gear, such as a knee brace. It's equally important to practice wearing the proper eye protection for the activity you're doing. For example, excess UV exposure contributes to eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Wearing sunglasses that provide 100% UVB and UVA protection is one way to reduce your risk of these diseases.

It's also critical to wear impact-resistant eyewear when playing sports, such as pickleball and racquetball, which can lead to eye injuries. 
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Just like exercising once in a while won't build muscle, practicing healthy eye habits occasionally won't provide the best protection. 

No quick fix or miracle replaces consistent eye care. According to the American Society of Retina Specialists, ways to improve eye health include: 

• Consistently wearing sunglasses
• Eating a well-balanced diet, including foods rich in Omega-3s 
• Getting regular exercise
• Not smoking
• Getting regular eye exams

If you have any questions about how to keep your eyes healthy, we are happy to help. Also, if you would like to schedule an eye appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.

March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month, designated to raise awareness of workplace eye risks and the precautions needed to reduce eye injuries.

The first step in preventing eye injuries at work is understanding the risks. Certain industries may increase the risk of different types of eye injuries and may require varied safety precautions. 

Below is information on the industries that pose the highest risk of eye injuries and what you can do to protect your vision. 
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According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, manufacturing has one of the highest incidences of eye injuries. Manufacturing environments often involve exposure to airborne particles and different types of pressurized systems and machinery. Employees may be exposed to dust, chemical sprays, metal shavings, and other projectiles that may enter the eye. 

Traumatic injuries can also occur during manufacturing jobs. For example, if a part breaks loose and strikes the eye, this can lead to a traumatic eye injury. 

How to protect your eyes in manufacturing jobs:

• Wear goggles: Protecting your eyes in a manufacturing job starts with wearing impact-resistant goggles. If possible, goggles should also have side shields to prevent projectiles from impacting the eye from different angles.
• Adherence to protocols: It is also critical for employees to adhere to workplace safety protocols and practice routine equipment maintenance to ensure machinery is functioning properly. 

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It may be no surprise that construction workers also face a high risk of eye injuries. Using tools, such as saws and drills, can cause particles of metal, concrete, and wood to fly into the air and become embedded in the eye. Small particles of flying debris can cause corneal scratches and foreign-body injuries.

Protect your eyes in construction jobs: 

• Wear safety goggles: Wearing ANSI-rated safety goggles is the number one way to reduce construction-related eye injuries. Wraparound safety glasses are also an option. 
• Consider face shields: If you are performing high-impact work where flying debris is likely, wearing face shields can also reduce eye injuries.
• Stay consistent: It is critical for workers to reach for safety goggles or face shields even when performing quick tasks.  It's easy to let your guard down when completing a brief job and skip the eyewear. However, an eye injury can happen in a second. 

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It may be surprising that healthcare and laboratory workers may also face the risk of eye injuries.  Eye injuries in the healthcare industry typically do not involve blunt trauma. Instead, the risk of eye injury comes from bodily fluids, infectious droplets, and chemical splashes that can enter the eye.  For example, in laboratory environments, biological agents and solvents can splash into the eyes, leading to chemical burns.

In healthcare settings, such as hospitals, infectious droplets from bodily fluids like blood can also enter the eyes, posing a risk to overall health and disease. 

Protect the eyes in healthcare and laboratory settings:

• Wear splash-proof goggles: Splash-proof goggles can help reduce the risk of a serious eye injury in a laboratory setting.
• Wear face shields: Health workers should wear face shields during high-risk procedures, such as drawing blood.
• Have quick access to eyewash stations: Healthcare and laboratory settings should have easily accessible eyewash stations that employees are trained to use.

If you sustain any type of eye injury at work, it's best to seek immediate evaluation to decrease the risk of permanent eye damage. 

We hope the above information provides an important reminder on the benefits of protective eyewear. If you would like to schedule an eye appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.

The article below examines how today's modern lifestyle impacts our vision and what you can do to preserve long-term eye health.

If you're like many people in today's world, you spend at least a few hours a day using cell phones, tablets, and computers. In some cases, screen time can take up the majority of your day. All that screen time can affect your eyes.

When you use a digital device, you tend to blink about half as often as you normally do. Less frequent blinking increases the risk of dry eyes and irritation.

Also, keeping your eyes concentrated on a screen can create eye fatigue and digital eye strain, leading to symptoms such as:

• Blurred vision
• Burning eyes
  
• Headaches

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Daily life used to require frequent shifts between near and far vision. For instance, your eyes had to frequently alternate between near-focus activities, distance vision, and face-to-face interactions. These continuous distant shifts are protective for the visual system. 

Your eyes are designed to shift focus from near to far objects, adapt to varying light levels, and track moving objects. In modern society, many people spend significant hours in a fixed visual position, staring at a computer screen. Limiting visual diversity can eventually have an adverse impact. This lack of visual variety can cause eye fatigue, difficulty refocusing, dry eyes, and light sensitivity. 
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Modern environments include climate-controlled systems such as heating and air conditioning. This reduces humidity, which can decrease the tear film and lead to dry eyes.
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More time spent indoors can also reduce exposure to natural sunlight, which helps regulate our circadian rhythm. Disruptions to the circadian rhythm can affect your sleep-wake cycle and worsen eye fatigue, light sensitivity, and dry eye.

In decades past, many jobs required physical activity, and recreational time was often spent outside. Today's work world often includes jobs that require long hours spent on a computer. Between gaming, social media, and countless streaming platforms, recreational activities are also often sedentary.

Inactivity can increase the risk of obesity, metabolic diseases, and high blood pressure. These diseases can affect blood vessels throughout the body, including the eyes.
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The goal is not to eliminate technology. It's to balance it. There are several ways you can still enjoy the modern lifestyle while protecting your vision, including the options listed below. 

• Take a break from the screens. Go outside, get some fresh air, and go for a walk.
• Adjust screen height to just below eye level to reduce digital eye strain.
• Practice healthy lifestyle habits such as getting regular exercise, eating a well-balanced diet, and getting plenty of rest.
• Reduce screen time about 2 hours before bed to improve sleep quality. 
• Get regular comprehensive eye exams annually or as directed by your physician.

We hope the information above has provided some insight on how modern living can have an impact on vision and what you can do to keep your eyes healthy.

If you would like to schedule an eye appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.

Your eyes contain delicate nerve structures, connective tissue, and blood vessels that are vulnerable to immune responses. It's no surprise that some autoimmune diseases can affect the eyes and vision. In fact, eye symptoms are sometimes some of the earliest signs of an underlying autoimmune condition. 

Some autoimmune diseases can affect the eyes, such as:

• Lupus
• Multiple sclerosis 
• Rheumatoid arthritis 
• Sarcoidosis
• Sjögren's syndrome
• Type 1 diabetes 

Autoimmune diseases do not always target one organ system. Some diseases can cause widespread inflammatory changes. 

How autoimmune disorders affect the eyes can vary depending on the specific condition. For instance, Sjögren's syndrome targets the tear glands, which can cause dry eyes. 

Multiple sclerosis (MS) impacts the central nervous system and the nerve pathways. Your vision is an extension of the central nervous system. MS affects the myelin, which surrounds the nerve fibers in the body. If myelin is damaged along the visual pathway, including the optic nerve or the visual processing area in the brain, visual symptoms can occur. 
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In some cases, visual symptoms are one of the first signs of an autoimmune disease. Early warning signs that may indicate an autoimmune disorder include: 

• Sudden light sensitivity with no other known cause
• Blurred vision 
• Persistent dry eye, which may include a gritty sensation in the eye 
• Deep eye pain 
• Double vision or vision changes
• Repeated eye inflammation  
• New floaters 

The symptoms above can also occur due to other diseases and eye conditions, so it is important to seek care if you have any of the above symptoms.
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A comprehensive eye exam can be an early detection tool. Regular eye exams can detect subtle changes, including inflammation, that may prompt additional testing to diagnose an autoimmune disease.
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Additionally, if you have already been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, a comprehensive eye exam allows your doctor to obtain baseline information and assess tissue changes, retinal vessel inflammation, and optic nerve swelling. Identifying early vision changes from an autoimmune disease can help reduce inflammation and may prevent long-term eye damage.

If you have an autoimmune disorder, regular eye exams are essential for managing your condition. It's important to have eye exams even if you do not have any visual symptoms. Early visual changes may not cause symptoms, but they can be identified through subtle changes your eye doctor can detect during an eye exam.

Also, some medications used to treat autoimmune diseases may affect your eyes, requiring increased monitoring. 

It is also vital to practice healthy lifestyle habits, including not smoking, wearing sunglasses to prevent UV exposure, and getting regular exercise.

Remember, everything in the body is interconnected, and your vision is not separate from the rest of your body. An autoimmune disease can impact multiple systems. Managing an underlying medical condition appropriately has a significant impact on other areas of the body, including your vision.

If you have any questions, we are happy to help. Also, if you would like to schedule an eye appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.