If your eyes have been itchy, red, or watery lately, you’re not alone — and it’s not just a springtime problem. Fall brings its own wave of allergy triggers, especially ragweed pollen and mold spores, that can leave your eyes just as irritated as your sinuses. Allergic conjunctivitis (the medical term for eye allergies) happens when allergens come into contact with the surface of the eye, triggering the release of histamine. That’s what causes the classic symptoms: Itching (often the most telling symptom — allergies itch, infections usually don’t) Redness and puffiness, especially around the lids Watery or stringy discharge A gritty or burning sensation It’s easy to confuse eye allergies with dry eye or even conjunctivitis (“pink eye”), but

Between remote work, virtual meetings, streaming, and scrolling, the average adult now spends more than seven hours a day looking at a screen. Kids aren’t far behind, especially once tablets and laptops become part of daily schoolwork. It’s no surprise that “digital eye strain” — also called computer vision syndrome — is one of the most common complaints we hear at Today’s Vision Las Colinas. Digital eye strain isn’t a single condition but a cluster of symptoms that build up from hours of close, fixed-focus screen work: Dry, irritated, or watery eyes Blurred vision, especially by the end of the day Headaches, particularly around the temples or behind the eyes Neck and shoulder tension from poor screen posture The main

Did you know that your eyes are an extension of your brain? There are six muscles connected to each eye, and they receive signals from the brain. These signals direct the eyes movements and, thus, control their ability to focus. When you are stressed, your brain goes through a number of changes and signals some of your body’s glands to release hormones in an attempt to deal with the stressor. With the brain undergoing all of these alterations, the eyes may become impacted as a result of their connection. When you suffer from stress, adrenaline is pumped through the body at great speeds. This causes the pupils to dilate, which increases the amount of light that enters the eyes and

We take a lot of aspects of our vision for granted. We expect to see nearby and faraway objects clearly, even if we require our eye care provider to prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses to do so. A huge degree of the information we take in about our world and our surroundings takes place visually, yet we rarely recognize and appreciate the fact. Finally, as adults we blink on average 10 to 15 times per minute or over 16,000 times during an 18-hour day. Despite all the mechanical action involved in blinking, moving one’s eyes to follow a moving object, or even focusing our eyes to see a small object, most of us rarely experience eye pain. Thus, when we

Eating right is essential for keeping your body healthy. This is as true for your eyes as it is for your heart. A diet that is rich in fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and is low in saturated fat, can reduce your risk of heart disease. This will also keep your arteries healthy, so they can continue to supply your eyes with oxygen-rich blood. In addition to eating an overall healthy diet, though, some foods in particular are excellent for your eye health. Green, leafy vegetables. Kale, spinach, collards and other leafy greens are all high in lutein and zeaxanthin. These nutrients may reduce the risk of chronic eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. These nutrients

Protecting your eyesight is an important part of staying healthy overall. Maintaining sound eye health will also help you preserve your quality of life as you age. To keep your eyes as healthy as possible, follow these simple lifestyle practices. Get regular eye exams. Some eye problems — including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease and glaucoma — may not show any warning signs until they have progressed into their advanced stages, limiting the treatment options. However, by undergoing regular eye exams, your eye doctor can help detect eye problems in their early stages and suggest appropriate treatment options sooner. Learn your family eye health history. If other members of your family have been diagnosed with eye conditions, you may be more

Optometry warnings about the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation on our eyes have not yet reached the degree of public awareness of that of skin damage. Yet, the sun can be just as damaging upon our eyes with unprotected exposure. Short-term exposure to very bright sunlight can result in a type of sunburn to our eyes regardless of the season. Photokeratiitis — also known as “snow blindness” and “flash burns” — is a sunburn to the eye’s cornea and conjunctiva, the membranes lining the eyelids and the outermost lining of the eye. Like a skin sunburn, the initial inflammation, pain and redness can last up to 48 hours before subsiding. Treatment such as cold cloths over the eyes and an