William C. Fruchtman, O.D. - Blog

How to Improve Your Vision

11/7/2019

You may think that once your eyesight starts to fade, there’s no going back to what it once was. But that may not be the truth for every case. Of course, the first thing you need to do in order to improve your vision is make an appointment with your optometrist. A professional consultation will help determine the cause of your change in eyesight. And your optometrist can also decide the best course of treatment.

In the meantime, if you want to improve your vision naturally, there may be some ways that you can do it. Here are three ways that you can start improving your eyesight today.

Eat Your Way to Better Vision
It’s true that your body is a machine. And like any other machine, it needs the proper care and fuel to operate efficiently. If you put regular gas in a high-performance sports car, the motor won’t run as well, and you’ll definitely notice a difference in the way it drives. The same is true for your body, including your eyes. Consider including more of these power health foods to boost your vision.

Vitamins A, C, and E, and minerals such as copper and zinc. Greasy, sugary foods don’t provide any nutrition or benefit to your eyes. In fact, a diet full of fatty, sugary foods can damage your eyes over time. Eating foods rich in these vitamins and minerals can help your eyes function better: carrots, asparagus, red peppers, broccoli, spinach, strawberries, sweet potatoes, and citrus fruits.

Water. The average human body contains 50–65% water. So, it only makes sense that we need to keep that ratio to keep our body’s biome healthy and functioning.

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4 Common Eye Problems

10/7/2019

Most people experience eye problems at some point in their lives. Most of these eye problems minor and will go away on their own or with a little assistance. As an optometrist, you can bet I’ve seen my share of eye issues over the years. From common eye problems to the occasional odd or bizarre circumstance, almost nothing surprises me anymore. Let’s look at some common eye issues, what you need to know, and what you can do about it.

Of course, no article is a substitute for seeing a professional optometrist when it comes to your eyesight. Please don’t hesitate to call us for any eye issue, even if it is minor.

Eye Twitching

I get asked about eye twitching a lot. Many people have experienced this involuntary movement of the eyelid or muscles around the eye. Although eye twitching is harmless, it can certainly be annoying. An eye twitch may last a few minutes, a few hours or even a few weeks. Eye twitching may be associated with several other health issues.

Fatigue
Stress
Caffeine consumption
Pink eye
Panic disorder or panic attack
Tourette syndrome

Eye twitching will go away on its own without intervention. If you find yourself experiencing eye twitching for an extended period, lie down and rest.

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10 Steps to Protect Your Eyes from Computer Time

9/9/2019

Whether we’re working at a computer by day or staring at our phone screens by night, we are getting a whole lot of screen time. Unfortunately, our screen time—whether by necessity or habit—can result in eye strain and eye injury over time. Protecting your eyes from computer time is essential. That’s why it’s important to take steps to preserve your eyesight as much as possible.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Keep Your Distance

When working at a computer, sit at least an arm’s length away from your screen. If you can place your hand on your computer screen, you’re too close.

Look Slightly Down

Place your computer screen so that your gaze is downward at a 15–20% angle. The top of your computer monitor should be at or just below eye level. This eye position keeps more of your eyeball covered by the eyelid; therefore, it stays more moisturized.

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10 Surprising Secrets Your Eyes Reveal about Health Problems

8/5/2019

It’s all in the eyes! We’ve heard that phrase numerous times. But what does that really mean? Are there really secrets that your eyes can reveal about your health? Yes. It’s true.
Scheduling an annual visit with your eye doctor is important for more than just your vision. In fact, even if you aren’t having vision problems, you should still make a yearly appointment. Here are 10 health issues your eyes reveal about you…

Nutritional Deficiency
If you are not eating properly or consuming the right balance of foods (e.g., extremely picky eaters or people on highly restrictive diets), it may show up in your eyes. People who are lacking in certain vitamins and nutrients will experience dry eyes, irritated eyes, and blurry vision.
Cataracts
Has the color of your eyes changed recently? Do they look a little faded? Changes in eye color can be one of the early signs of cataracts and other health issues.

To read more, click here.

Pink Eye Symptoms and Treatment

7/15/2019

If you’ve ever experienced red, itchy eyes, you may have wondered if you are experiencing common allergies or a more serious eye infection called conjunctivitis, or pink eye. The good news is that while pink eye looks bad, it is typically more inconvenient than serious, and it will rarely cause issues with your vision. Here’s what you need to know about pink eye symptoms and how to treat them.

What Causes Pink Eye?

First, a little biology—the conjunctiva is a thin, clear tissue that covers the white part of your eye and lines the inside of your eyelid. When this tissue gets irritated or exposed to bacteria or a virus, a variety of symptoms can occur.

Bacteria
Viruses, such as the common cold
Allergic reaction to eyedrops
Allergic reaction to pollen, smoke or dust
Contact lens allergy
Foreign body in the eye
Fungi
Amoeba
Parasites
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) – could be dangerous and lead to vision loss
Birth when mother is suffering with Gonorrhea or Chlamydia – can affect baby’s vision

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How to Slow Down the Aging of Your Eyes

6/10/2019

While aging is inevitable no matter what you do, there are several ways that you can slow the progression of aging, whether it’s your skin, muscle tone, or your internal organs. Today, I want to let you know a few secrets regarding how to slow down the aging of your eyes.

Keep Your Eyes Protected

The sun is the most relentless in damaging your skin over time, including the sensitive skin around your eyes. To minimize the sun’s effects on your eyes and to prevent premature aging, it’s best to keep them covered as often.

To read more, click here.

6 Tips for Maintaining Good Eye Health

5/14/2019

You only get one pair of eyes in your life, so take care of them now. These six easy tips for good eye health will go a long way toward maintaining proper vision throughout your life.

Wear sunglasses. It’s important to protect your eyes from damaging UV rays not only during summer but also year-round—especially if your eye color is blue or falls in the lighter spectrum. A habit of not protecting your eyes from the sun can eventually result in cataracts and macular degeneration. Vision damage from ultra-violet rays is irreversible. So, don’t take a risk. If you have to squint, you should be wearing shades.

To read more, click here.

Macular Degeneration Symptoms and Amsler Grid

3/12/2019

..Have you or a loved one suffered with macular degeneration? Macular degeneration symptoms can seem fuzzy at first. If you are in the early stages of macular degeneration, you may experience no symptoms at all. Or you may brush it off as your eyes being ‘tired’ or ‘off.’ Here is what you need to know about this progressive disease of the eye.

Macular Degeneration Symptoms

When you do start showing macular degeneration symptoms, they can seem minor or vague. At first, you may notice either a gradual or sudden change in your vision quality. You may also notice that straight lines appear to be slightly wavy or distorted. However, this initial change in eyesight can gradually develop into a dramatic loss of your central vision.

Click here to read more about Macular Degeneration symptoms and Amsler Grid.

Dr. Fruchtman Diagnoses Rare Condition During Eye Exam

2/18/2019

We’ve long maintained that the eyes are not only the window to your soul but also to your health. That’s why we recommend at least an annual eye exam—even if your eyesight is fine. Hidden conditions within the eye can be early precursors of other bodily illness and disease.

When a patient came to Dr. Fruchtman in 2018 with a complaint of blurry vision along with other symptoms he’d been experiencing, Dr. Fruchtman knew that something was definitely wrong.

Of course, blurry or cloudy vision by itself can be caused by a number of circumstances: an eye or head injury, typical vision loss, poor dietary habits, and more. So, Dr. Fruchtman took his time listening to the patient and performing a thorough eye exam. And he began to connect the dots.

Click here to read more about Fabry Disease.

When Is it Time for an Eye Exam?

1/6/2019

How do you know when it’s time for an eye exam? If you’re getting an eye exam each year, then you’re probably already on a good schedule. But if it’s been a while, you may want to schedule an eye exam as soon as possible. And if you’re experiencing an eye issue, you’ll want to know if you should get it checked right away or if you can wait until your next exam.

First, most people do well with an annual eye exam. This is usually the right frequency to catch any eye health issues early. However, if you are over the age of 50 or if you have been diagnosed with diabetes, then you’ll want to increase the frequency of your eye exams in order to continue to maintain the best vision possible for you.

Conditions That Warrant an Eye Exam Soon

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