How Routine Eye Exams Protect Your Vision 

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Do you get your eyes checked every year or every other year? That’s a great way to stay on top of your eye health! At Paul Vision Institute, our eye doctors in Wilmington, NC, offer routine eye exams to help protect patients from diseases and conditions that can lead to vision loss. Let’s go over how these exams help keep your vision safe.

Finding Eye Diseases Early

Coming for an eye exam allows our optometrists to check for eye diseases that can affect your vision, such as macular degeneration or cataracts. If we find these conditions early, we can monitor them or treat them as needed to protect your eyesight.

Discussing Risk Factors

During eye exams in Wilmington, NC, we can go over your family history and other possible risk factors for certain eye diseases. If you have one or more risk factors, we may recommend testing.

Monitoring Eye Conditions Over Time

If you’ve been diagnosed with an eye condition, eye exams allow us to monitor it. Some diseases, such as cataracts, don’t need treatment right away. Watching the progress of these diseases helps us determine when to treat them.

Offering Vision Solutions as Needed

As your vision and eyes change with age, eye exams can help ensure you receive solutions for better eyesight, such as corrective lenses.

Providing Eye Health Tips

We encourage you to ask us about how to care for your eyes and reduce your risk of developing eye diseases as you get older!

Schedule an Eye Exam with Our Optometrists Today!

Is it time for your routine eye checkup? Our eye doctors at Paul Vision Institute offer comprehensive eye exams in Wilmington, NC, to help keep your vision and eyes in great shape or catch problems early.

How Your Eyes May Change With Age

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As you get older, your eyes naturally begin to change. For some people, that can mean blurrier vision, and for others, more significant vision loss. At Paul Vision Institute, we understand how important your vision is, and we want you to know how vision changes in Wilmington, NC, can be addressed.

How Your Vision Changes With Age

Adults usually notice their vision starting to change around the age of 40. You may start to identify issues such as:

  • Trouble focusing on near items, such as a menu or written note
  • Needing more light for reading or detailed work
  • Spotting floaters in your eyes
  • Feeling that your eyes see with less contrast or that colors have become duller

Right now, your eyes are aging, so it’s not surprising that you’re noticing changes. That being said, while these changes aren’t always a sign that something is seriously wrong, they do mean that it’s time to stop in and see our team at Paul Vision Institute for a checkup.

When Should You See Your Optometrist Immediately?

Some vision changes are serious and need to be addressed right away.

If you notice sudden blurring, flashes of light, many floaters, or shadows in your vision, call us at Paul Vision Institute immediately.

These symptoms could be signs of problems like a torn retina or even a disease like multiple sclerosis.

Make an Eye Appointment in Wilmington, NC

Regular checkups are how you can keep your vision as clear as possible. Even if your vision is fine, it’s important to come in for your annual exam to keep a close eye on the (hopefully) small changes that may start around your 40s. For more information about your vision and what to expect as you age, call us or set up an appointment today.

How to Protect Your Vision as You Age

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As we age, our vision tends to change. While some change is an inevitable part of the aging process, and glasses or contacts can fix many of these, other problems can lead to low vision or permanent vision loss. While Paul Vision Institute can help when your vision starts to fail, we also want you to know what steps to take to prevent vision loss to begin with.

Keep Up with Regular Vision Checks

Seeing your eye doctor in Wilmington, NC, regularly for comprehensive checks is a key part of helping your vision as you age. At Paul Vision Institute, we screen for a wide range of age-related conditions to ensure your eyes are as healthy as possible. Often, these routine eye exam appointments will discover problems when they are just beginning, so we can take measures to prevent them from progressing.

Manage Chronic Health Conditions

Many chronic health conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes, can hurt your vision. Keeping these in check through proper medical management will help protect your vision. In addition, make sure you get the necessary screenings as you age so that you can discover these types of conditions early.

Stay Physically Active

Staying physically active can prevent problems like diabetes from developing in the first place. When your body is healthier, your eyes will be healthier, too.

Eat Well

Nutrition impacts your vision, so make sure you make smart food choices and consume a balanced diet with plenty of produce to support your vitamin intake needs. A balanced diet should also have omega 3 fatty acids to support your vision.

Use UV Blocking Sunglasses

Finally, invest in quality UV-blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes when you are outside. Consider wearing a hat to block some radiation if you can’t wear sunglasses.

For more tips on protecting your eyes as you age, make an appointment with your eye doctor in Wilmington, NC, today.

Did You Know We Offer Same Day Eye Exams?

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Vision issues can crop up suddenly, leaving you to wonder what is wrong and how long you must wait for an appointment. You could experience anything from a change in your eyeglass prescription to needing treatment for glaucoma. Paul Vision Institute is pleased to let you know that we offer same-day eye exams in Wilmington, NC, for any patient who feels they should come in right away.

What to Expect at Your Same Day Eye Exam

The first thing to expect is that Dr. Edward Paul or one of our other four optometrists will look directly into your eyes to determine if they spot any type of problem. If so, they will use X-ray and other diagnostic equipment to clarify what the eye issue is and why you are experiencing it.

You may need your eyes dilated to allow our optometrists a better view of the back of your eyes and how well this area functions. We will let you know if you need dilation drops at the start of the appointment, and you will complete some other tests before this happens.

The letterboard test is one of the simplest yet most accurate ways to check vision. Your optometrist sets a large piece of cardboard several feet away from you containing letters of various sizes. Some will be darker than others to gauge how clear they are to you. Based on the results of this test, your optometrist may write you a new prescription.

The severity of your issue determines whether you will complete any other tests duringsame-day eye exams in Wilmington, NC. If a foreign object is caught in your eye, we urge you to go to the nearest emergency room.

How to Help Your Child Avoid Losing their Glasses

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Wearing glasses is an adjustment. When your child first gets theirglasses in Wilmington, NC, they may misplace their glasses frequently. As a parent, you can help your child establish routines and habits to prevent this problem. When your child first brings home their glasses from Paul Vision Institute, this is what you can do to prevent glasses from being lost.

Establish Good Habits Early

As your child is getting used to their new lenses, they may take their glasses off frequently. Leaving their glasses lying around is one habit that may eventually cause them to lose them. Remind your child to put their glasses on any time you see them without their glasses on their face.

Consider getting your child a strap that will hold their glasses on their face, or get them a chain that they can use to allow their glasses to dangle around their chest if they want the glasses to come off for a while. Having these tools helps your child remember to always keep their glasses with them. Once your child is used to wearing their glasses, it should become second nature to leave their glasses on their face.

Give Your Child a Case

Give your child a case where they can put their glasses when they’re not wearing them. Using a case to protect their glasses is good practice and makes them more visible, so they’re easier to find when laying around.

Establish a Place Where Glasses “Live”

If your child must take off their glasses, encourage your child to put them in a consistent location every time. This location may be on top of a dresser or on their nightstand.

Want more advice to help your child take care of their glasses? Talk to your child’seye doctor in Wilmington, NC. Call Paul Vision Institute today to speak to one of our eye doctors.

How We Diagnose and Treat Macular Degeneration

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Macular degeneration in Wilmington NC is a potentially serious eye disease that affects people as they age. Although macular degeneration typically doesn’t cause complete vision loss, you may lose some or all of your central vision. While there is no cure for this age-related eye condition, you can receive effective treatments for it.

Wet Macular Degeneration

With this type, the blood vessels in your macula and retina leak fluid and blood, and your eyes take on a bulging appearance. Wet macular degeneration affects only 10 percent of people diagnosed with the disease. However, this type is the more severe of the two because it can cause complete loss of central vision when left untreated. We urge you to schedule an exam at Paul Vision Institute right away if you notice dark spots in the center of your visual field.

Dry Macular Degeneration

The dry type of macular degeneration causes a buildup of yellow protein deposits in your macula called drusen. The drusen causes your eyes to feel very dry while thinning your macula at the same time. Loss of central vision occurs slowly over time. Some people with the dry type of macular degeneration develop the wet type after several years.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Macular Degeneration

We start the eye exam by dilating your eyes to check for signs of the disease. Your optometrist may also use one or more advanced tests to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. Once we know which type you have, the next step is to start using prescription medication. Nutritional supplements and lifestyle changes are also useful, as is photocoagulation if you have leaking blood vessels. We may also recommend specific low vision tools to increase your quality of life.

Your vision is too important to ignore. Please contact us to screen for macular degeneration in Wilmington NC if you have any concerns.

Can You Drive If You Have Low Vision?

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Low vision is a condition that affects millions of people in the United States. If you live in North Carolina and are concerned about whether low vision impacts your ability to drive, here’s what you need to know.

What’s low vision?

Low vision is the loss of sight that can’t be completely corrected with visual aids. If you have low vision, your eye doctor may be able to prescribe corrective lenses that can partially help the problem, but low vision cannot be completely fixed.

Can you drive if you have low vision?

If you have low vision, you may be wondering whether you’re allowed to drive. The answer is: it depends.

According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, you must be able to achieve “Visually impaired individuals may be eligible to receive a restricted driver license with the use of a bioptic telescope if they can achieve at least 20/200 visual acuity in one or both eyes through conventional eyeglass lenses (if needed) and at least 20/70 visual acuity in one or both eyes through a bioptic telescope.”

If you can meet the qualifications of NCDOT to drive, then you will be allowed to have a driver license. However, whether you’re comfortable enough to be on the road is another question. It’s important to work with your eye doctor in Wilmington, NC. Your eye doctor can help you maintain your vision for as long as possible, using a range of tools such as corrective lenses, medications and medical procedures.

Want to Maintain Healthy Eyes? See the Eye Doctor

One way to avoid vision problems that might prevent you from driving safely is to see the eye doctor at Paul Vision Institute for regular eye exams in Wilmington, NC. At Paul Vision Institute, we can monitor your visual acuity, diagnose eye problems as they occur and prescribe visual aids like prescription lenses that can help you maintain clear vision. If you’re concerned about your ability to see properly and drive safely, call today to make an appointment.

Sources

https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/downloads/Documents/DL-77BT.pdf

https://www.verywellhealth.com/low-vision-specialist-4705963

How Latisse™ Thickens and Extends Your Eyelashes

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Latisse™ is an eyelash treatment that relies on a liquid compound called bimatoprost to improve the look and length of your eyelashes. We’ll look at the details of what it is, how it works, and what you should know if you’re considering getting it for yourself.

What Is Latisse™?

Latisse in Wilmington, NC is clinically approved to provide cosmetic benefits for patients who have hypotrichosis (the medical term for sparse eyelashes). You’ll see results in about a month or so, with full results clocking in at around 9 weeks. Latisse™ i’s typically safe for anyone who uses it, though side effects may include red eye or dry eye. In rarer cases, it may cause skin discoloration.

The original substance was made to lower eye pressure in people with glaucoma, but it became clear that bimatoprost had other benefits as well. People started getting thicker, darker, and longer eyelashes when using it, which led researchers to consider its secondary uses for people who wanted more noticeable lashes.

How Do You Use Latisse™?

Latisse™ is relatively simple to use and can be applied with just a brush along the line of the lash. You’ll put it on the upper lashes online because it will naturally transfer to the bottom lashes as you blink. As long as you’re using the product regularly, you should begin to see an improvement in your lashes. These results will last for as long as you take the product. If you stop, your lashes will return to their original consistency.

Not everyone will be eligible for Latisse™, as certain eye conditions may make it dangerous to take. If you have any type of dermatitis or hypertension in the eye, an eye doctor in Wilmington, NC may not be able to prescribe it to you. While this is used largely for cosmetic purposes, there’s a reason why you can’t go out and purchase it at the drugstore.

Latisse in Wilmington, NC

If you’re looking for an eye doctor who can prescribe this medication to you, visit the Paul Vision Institute for more information. Our staff is happy to tell you more about the details of using the product and whether it’s a good fit for your eyes.

Are Your Vision Changes Symptoms of Normal Aging?  

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You may notice changes in your vision as you get older, realizing it isn’t what it used to be. And this may raise some questions. Though it’s common for vision to deteriorate to a degree as we age, what’s considered normal? Are your recent changes to be expected? Or is something more serious at play? If you’re worried about vision problems due to aging, talk to your eye doctor in Wilmington, North Carolina, about your symptoms.

What Are Normal Vision Changes?

After the age of forty, many adults experience changes such as the ones listed below, and in most cases, they should be no cause for concern. It’s also good to note that if poor vision runs in your family, you are at more risk of declining vision as you age. Common vision complaints in those over the age of 40 include:

  • Trouble focusing on objects either near or far away
  • Trouble changing focus between near and far objects
  • Problems distinguishing between colors
  • Needing more light to perform certain tasks

Currently, around three-quarters of the world’s population have products to aid them visually, such as glasses or contacts, so you’re definitely not alone in your struggles.

What Are Abnormal Vision Changes?

Most of the time, we’re worried about changes in our vision when there’s no cause to be alarmed. But it’s still important to talk to your doctor about changes in your eyesight, because you could be dealing with an underlying medical condition. Signs of abnormal vision problems and symptoms related to health conditions include:

  • Seeing shapes and lights that aren’t present
  • Irritated or puffy eyes
  • Unusual discharge
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Any rapid changes in vision

What Causes Abnormal Vision Changes?

The symptoms listed above may all be cause for concern. Let your doctor know if you experience any of these potential signs of abnormal changes, because some chronic health conditions can affect your vision early on. Possible conditions include:

  • Diabetes
  • Shingles
  • Lyme Disease
  • Liver Disease
  • Hypertension

The earlier your condition is diagnosed and treated, the more optimistic your outcome. If you’re worried about gradual or sudden vision changes in Wilmington, North Carolina, and are concerned something serious may be to blame, call Paul Vision Institute today to schedule an appointment, or visit our website for more information.

 

3 Ways a Low Vision Optometrist Can Help with Sight Limitations

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Low vision means you have a type of impaired vision that cannot be corrected with the typical actions like wearing corrective lenses or getting eye surgery. If you have been diagnosed with low vision, it is important to work with a low vision optometrist in Wilmington, NC. These professionals can work with you to ensure you continue to get the most use of the visual abilities you have. Take a look at some of what you can expect below.

Get the most accurate diagnosis

A functional vision exam is a comprehensive eye exam that assesses how your eyes and all the parts of them are functioning. Oftentimes, patients do not fully understand what is behind their low vision issues because they have not received an accurate diagnosis. The functional vision exam will ensure all parts of the eye are thoroughly assessed, which makes it easier to address the issues you are experiencing.

Find out about adaptive optical solutions

Adaptive optical solutions are an ever-growing area of optometry. Adaptive optics is a type of technology that may improve visual performance by interacting with systems within the eye. For example, a specially made screen may be used with your computer to change how light wavelengths are delivered, which makes the screen easier for you to see. During your visit to see a low-vision optometrist, the doctor will likely discuss adaptive optics that could help your situation.

Gain access to visual rehabilitation

In some cases, visual rehabilitation can improve low vision issues. Even though not every patient or every eye condition can be improved, certain ones can. A low-vision optometrist will look at the latest treatment methodologies and advise you on any possible treatments. They will look at low vision rehabilitation that could help you learn how to use your eyes to see better, for example.

Find Out More About Low Vision Care in Wilmington, NC

Even though having low vision issues can be life-changing there are ways a Wilmington, NC eye doctor can help. If you would like to set up an appointment to discuss low vision, reach out to us at Paul Vision Institute to schedule an appointment.