Apolipoprotein B: Know Your Number
Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion and Central Retinal Artery Occlusion are two causes of permanent visual loss. The degree of visual loss in these conditions can range from very mild to very severe. In both conditions, visual loss is caused by arterial blockage due to a cholesterol plaque. In these instances, the plaque blocks nutrient-rich blood […]
Ray Ban Meta Smart Glasses Gen 2 Are Here at Atlantic Optical
Discover AI glasses that blend cutting-edge technology with iconic style. We are excited to announce that Ray Ban Meta Smart Glasses Gen 2 are now available at all Atlantic Optical locations. Even better, we have fully working demos you can see, touch, and try on in person. You can experience exactly how they look, feel, […]
INNOVATIONS IN GLAUCOMA TREATMENT – HOW EMERGING TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING PRACTICE
Glaucoma remains the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. The disease is often asymptomatic until a significant amount of vision is affected, which is usually in a late stage of the disease. Because of the subtle and often deceptive natural course of this illness, it is important to detect its signs as early as possible […]
A SPOTLIGHT ON GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY
Geographic Atrophy Awareness Week: December 1 – December 7 Approximately 2 million Americans suffer from a severe form of “Dry” Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) known as Geographic Atrophy (GA). GA is an advanced and progressive form of AMD that primarily affects the central retina – the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Unlike […]
Thyroid Eye Disease
Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that affects the tissue in and around the eye socket, also known as the orbit. It is most common in patients with Graves’ disease, affecting 20 to 50% of patients. It can also be associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and patients with normal thyroid function (euthyroid). The […]
CLEAR VISION, NO LIMITS: LET’S TALK ABOUT LASIK
Ever wish you could wake up and actually see your alarm clock — without reaching for your glasses or poking around for your contacts? You’re not alone. For many people, LASIK surgery is the life-changing step that finally brings that kind of freedom. At Atlantic Eye, we’ve helped countless people along the Jersey Shore say […]
UVEITIS
There are few conditions that can create more discomfort for a patient’s eyes compared to uveitis. Uveitis is characterized by persistent and increasing inflammation within the eye known as the uveal track. This condition can manifest in various locations along this track and may be triggered due to a myriad of different reasons. Most commonly, […]
CONTACT LENS HYGIENE
Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses – but only if used properly! In one study reported by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), over 80% of contact lens wearers engage in preventable behaviors that increase the risk of eye infections. Are you in the 20% that practice ideal contact lens handling? Here are […]
DRY EYE DISEASE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Background: According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, approximately 16 million Americans suffer from dry eye disease. Dry eye disease (DED) can negatively affect not only your vision but also your quality of life. Its prevalence is increasing, and it can affect people of all ages. DED is chronic and progressive, making diagnosis and treatment […]
CATARACT AWARENESS MONTH
Here at Atlantic Eye, we treat a wide variety of conditions that affect the eyes, but few are as common and prevalent as cataracts. In the US, about half of adults over the age of 75 are affected by cataracts. Many people have heard of cataracts because of how common this condition is, but I […]
SKIN CANCER PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
May is National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. This is a perfect time to raise awareness about skin cancer as the weather gets warmer and people spend more time outdoors at barbecues, sporting events, and at the beach. Summer is right around the corner, and so is the opening of WINK, Atlantic Eye’s new […]
DARK UNDER-EYE CIRCLES AND OTHER CONCERNS
The aging process of the face and periorbital area has been well studied. The 3 D’s of aging include: 1. Deflation 2. Descent 3. Deterioration A circle, crescent, or indent in the lower lid area is often the focus of unhappiness with one’s eye appearance. This area, commonly referred to as the “tear trough,” makes […]
A Vision Saved: How an Eye Doctor Helped John Overcome Glaucoma
John had always prided himself on being independent. At 62, he was an active man, enjoying his morning walks, reading his favorite novels, and spending weekends woodworking in his garage. However, over the past few months, he noticed subtle changes in his vision. From what first began as minor blurriness, it became a growing difficulty […]
PHOTOBIOMODULATION (PBM): A New Treatment for “Dry” Age-Related Macular Degeneration
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND: Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment for patients over 65 years of age. It is based upon genetic factors, aging factors and environmental factors. It comes in two types: A) The more prevalent “Dry” type, where there are no findings of leakage or bleeding and B) The […]
Warning: Give Eye Color-Changing Drops a Hard NO
Thinking about personal changes you want to make in the new year? It may seem tempting to try a new eye color using over-the-counter drops being touted on social media, but there’s no evidence that they work. These drops are also not FDA-approved, so there’s no evidence that they’re safe to use in your eyes. […]
Weighing in on Ozempic: How GLP-1 Agonists Affect the Eyes
Does Ozempic have a downside? The diabetes medication Ozempic has been in the news ever since the FDA approved it for blood sugar control and obesity treatment. However, can a drug that has proved to be so good at helping patients control diabetes and/or lose weight, also be not-so-good for the eyes? Let’s find out […]
Visions of Festive Flicks
Watching holiday movies has become a tradition that gives comfort and joy to so many of us during this season. From classic to contemporary, let’s look at some favorites that explore different ways of seeing more than meets the eye: 1. “A Christmas Carol” (various adaptations) In Charles Dickens’ classic tale, the protagonist Ebenezer Scrooge […]
Use-It-or-Lose-It – FSA $$ for Eye Care!
If you’ve been contributing to a Flexible Savings Account to cover healthcare expenses this year, don’t forget that you can use these funds for eyecare, too. The year is almost over and with most accounts, at the end of the year or grace period, you lose any money left over. The good news is, that […]
Celebrating Blue Eyes: A Unique Trait in Native American Heritage
November is Native American Heritage Month, so we thought it would be a splendid time to focus on a rare genetic trait found in some Indigenous people: blue eyes. This relatively uncommon feature among Native Americans is not as surprising as it may seem when we consider how our eyes get their color. Blue Eyes […]
Lashes: Why They Drop Like Leaves!
It’s natural for things to fall in the Fall, like leaves and temperatures, and it’s also natural that eyelashes fall out all year long. However, our eyes require those delicate fringes for purposes beyond mere aesthetics. Eyelashes protect the eyes from debris that can obstruct vision or cause infection or injury. Like hair, eyelashes grow, fall […]
Apps-olutely Essential: Tech Tools for Low Vision
Did you know there are technological tools available to help make everyday life easier for people with low vision? If you or someone you know is living with low or impaired vision, there is a wide range of assistive apps, devices, and resources that can be accessed from most smartphones or tablets. In observance of […]
Stress and the Eyes: The Surprising Connection
Is there a connection between the level of stress a person experiences, and the eyes? All indications are that yes, there is. When we feel stressed, our body releases cortisol and adrenaline, the “fight or flight” hormones. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, high levels of these hormones, either for short or longer periods, […]
Contacts for Kids?
Parents, have you been wondering at what age your child could start wearing contact lenses? There is no set age, but much will depend on how responsible your child is, along with how much parental support is needed and available. Children as young as 8 years old may do well with contacts, while some teens […]
6 Signs of Vision Problems in Children
As the busy summer months are coming to a close and back-to-school is just around the corner, it’s a good time for parents to pay closer attention to their child’s eyes. August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, and at Atlantic Eye we want to remind parents that eye health affects your child’s development […]
Stephen Nedoroscik, the Olympic ‘Pommel Horse Guy,’ Bringing Awareness to Strabismus – What Exactly Is It?
Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik did not let strabismus, an eye disorder commonly called crossed eyes, stop him from training, qualifying, and competing in his chosen event – in fact, performing so well on Pommel Horse that he earned a bronze medal for the 2024 U.S. men’s gymnastics team, their first in 16 years! But what […]
Polarized Lenses vs. UV Protection: “SPF” for the Eyes!
We know it’s important to protect our skin when out in the sun, but it’s just as important to protect our delicate eyes from discomfort and possible damage from the sun’s rays. July is UV Safety Awareness Month, a perfect time to talk about polarized lenses and UV protected lenses: what’s the difference, and when […]
The Lowdown on Lenses
When it’s time for your next pair of eyeglasses, you may initially feel bewildered by the array of available lens choices. What type, material, and lens coatings do you need? Let’s demystify some current lens technology to help prepare for your next visit to the Atlantic Eye Optical Department. I. Types of Lenses Single-vision lenses […]
Summer Makeover: How LASIK Surgery Can Transform Your Life
June brings warm days and freedom from winter coats and hats – but what if you could also be free from remembering your glasses or dealing with contacts? By now, most of us have heard of LASIK surgery, or know someone who has had it and raved about the result. At Atlantic Eye, we offer […]
You don’t need to live with a drooping eyelid!
If one (or both) of your eyelids are drooping, it’s probably nothing serious but also nothing to be ignored. Upper and lower eyelids are important for protecting your eyes from injury. They also help control how much light reaches your eyes as well as spread the tear film to keep them from drying out. Drooping […]
The Gold Standard
Did you know that 20/20 vision is not the perfect vision? It’s the standard measure for normal visual acuity, which is how sharp or clear your vision is at a distance. Eyeglasses or contacts help us have 20/20 vision. But what does the 20/20 fraction actually mean? Reading the letters The most common eye chart […]
Vision Revolution: Exploring the World of Advanced IOL Lens Implants
Most of us will need cataract surgery as we age, but the great news is that steady advances in intraocular lens (IOL) technology have made it possible for many of us to enjoy glasses-free vision after the surgery. During cataract surgery, the eye’s natural clouded lens is replaced with an artificial lens. However, many patients don’t […]
Do Your Eyes Need a Digital Detox?
After hours of using a computer, smartphone, or other digital device, you may notice that your vision blurs and your eyes feel achy, tired, and dry. This is digital eye strain, and it affects screen users of all ages. Thankfully, long periods of digital viewing will not cause permanent eye damage, but digital eye strain […]
The Brain-Eye Connection: How Your Brain Influences Your Vision and Eye Health
Our brains are amazing data processors – let’s take, for example, the way our eyes and brain work hand-in-hand to enable us to perceive the world around us. The connection between our eyes and the brain is a remarkable feat of biological engineering. In this Atlantic Eye blog, we explore this intricate relationship, highlighting how […]
Seeing Through the Smoke: Protecting Your Eye Health from the Hazards of Smoking
When “smoke gets in your eyes” – as the vintage song goes – it can do worse harm than causing irritation and tears. According to the FDA, damage from smoking can make your vision cloudy, reduce your field of vision, or even cause you to lose your eyesight completely. That’s why the doctors at Atlantic […]
Commander-in-Sight: A Look at Presidential Eye Problems
Despite their exalted position, even presidents are only human and therefore subject to common maladies that can affect us all. This includes problems with their eyes. Presidents Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman, and John F. Kennedy all wore glasses, while Richard Nixon opted for contact lenses. President James Buchanan had a noticeable eye twitch, […]
Who’s Who in Eye Care: Understanding the Roles of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, and Opticians
Our growing Atlantic Eye staff of skilled eye care professionals includes ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians. Given that these differing roles can seem confusing, let’s take a moment to talk about how each contributes to our mission to provide the highest quality eye- health care for our patients. Ophthalmologists are eye doctors with advanced medical and […]
What’s Up, Doc? Bugs Bunny’s Carrots & Other Eye Myths
Would that rascally cartoon rabbit get supercharged eyesight from eating so many carrots? In real life we hear all sorts of ideas about what is good and bad for our eyes, but are they true? To separate fact from fiction, let’s look into 10 common myths about eyes: 1. Eating carrots will improve your vision. […]
Shamir Workspace Lenses: The Alternative to Progressive Lenses for Enhanced Work Performance
There has been an exciting new development in the world of eyewear for 2024 – Shamir Workspace lenses. Many of our patients choose progressive lenses so they can change focus between near and far distances without changing glasses. Shamir Workspace lenses go above and beyond traditional progressives to offer a more specialized solution for individuals […]
Eat, Drink & Be – Blurry? Alcohol and Your Eyes
The winter holidays come but once a year, a special time when we may be forgiven for overindulging in good food and drink. As we at Atlantic Eye wish you all the best in the holiday season, we also think this is a good time for a gentle reminder about the effects that drinking alcohol […]
Monovision Contact Lenses: What Santa May Not Know
We all know that Santa Claus wouldn’t be the same without those iconic glasses perched on the tip of his nose. But if you’re tired of struggling to read small print on holiday gift instructions or experiencing blurry vision while driving to grandma’s house, there may be a solution: monovision, also known as blended vision. […]
Eye Spy with My Diabetic Eye: Tips for Keeping Your Vision in Check
November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and earlier this month we discussed one of the serious eye disorders that can result from diabetes: diabetic retinopathy, or DR. We said that anyone who has diabetes can develop DR — but also that it is largely preventable. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says […]
Diabetes and Your Eyes: Understanding Diabetic Retinopathy
If you (or a loved one) have diabetes, you know that the disease affects the body’s ability to produce or use insulin effectively to control blood sugar (glucose) levels. Over time, this excess glucose can damage vital organs of the body, including the eyes. Even when the disease is well-controlled, people with diabetes should get […]
For Contact Lens Safety Ditch the Risks
This month, in our earlier blog, we took a look at the main types of contact lenses so you can feel better informed when talking with your Atlantic Eye doctor. After you’ve received your contact lens prescription, the easiest and safest option is to have the doctor’s office order them. There can be a temptation […]
Contact Lenses – More Than Meets the Eye!
As you probably know, contact lenses are thin, clear plastic disks that float on the tear film that covers the eye’s cornea. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, nine out of ten people who want to correct their vision with contacts can wear them successfully. If you’re wondering if contacts might be right for […]
10 Sporting Heros who Goggle – Can you name their sport?
Did you know that tens of thousands of sports-related eye injuries occur every year, and most are preventable through the use of protective eyewear? Below is a list of ten-star athletes who recognized the risks and made sports safety eyewear a priority. For fun, see if you can identify the sport each athlete played (or […]
Protect Your Vision, Play with Precision: Celebrating Sports Eye Safety Month
This month, both adults and children are gearing up for fall sports activities – a good time to think about protecting the eyes from injury as well as ensuring the athlete’s ability to see clearly and comfortably. Fortunately, there are protective goggles for most sports, and for glasses or contact lens wearers, prescription goggles do […]
The Eye Exam, Take 2: The How and The What
Earlier this month, we discussed the “Why” and “When” (https://atlanticeye.com/2023/07/the-why-and-when-of-eye-exams/) of having a comprehensive eye exam. Now, let’s take a look at how it’s done and what happens during your eye exam. During a comprehensive eye exam, your Atlantic Eye ophthalmologist checks a number of aspects of your eye health. The exam will commonly include: […]
The WHY and WHEN of EYE EXAMS
August is National Eye Exam Month, the perfect time to remember the importance of regular eye exams, even if you haven’t noticed any problems with your vision. Let’s talk about why eye exams are so important, and when you and your family members should have them. The Why – A No-Brainer Many people think their […]
Can Menopause Cause Dry Eyes?
You’ve probably heard of (or experienced!) the hot flashes, irregular periods and other discomforts said to go along with the hormonal changes of menopause for women. But did you know that these changes also mean a higher risk of developing dry eye syndrome? Though tear production decreases for both men and women as we age, […]
Twitches & Spasms – when your eyelid muscles do their own thing
From time to time, most of us have probably felt our eyelids twitch, which means they move slightly and rapidly. This tends to happen more in your upper eyelid. The lid moves every few seconds, usually just for a minute or two. These movements also called “tics,” are involuntary and do not affect vision. Even […]