By Dr. Jill Finke

On a recent brisk winter day, you may have bundled up into your coat for the cold, windy walk to your mailbox. As the wind chilled your cheeks and ears, you also may have noticed that tears were running out of your eyes. When tearing occurs in the absence of crying, your eyes are “watering.”

Our eye surface does require moisture to remain comfortable and to enable clear vision. In some cases, if our bodies sense a lack of moisture on the eye surface, the eyes will water as a protective response.  One cause of this lack of moisture can be environmental conditions, such as wind or a low humidity environment.  Another cause may be dry eye syndrome, when your eye surface becomes dry from poor quality or not enough tears and your eyes water to compensate for this dryness. Medications, radiation therapy, and health conditions can also contribute to eye surface dryness.

Additionally, our eyes can water in response to an irritant. Some people notice watery eyes in the presence of allergies as the eyes work to wash away the allergens from the irritated eye surface. Many people have experienced watery eyes when cutting onions, which is also a protective response of the eyes. Other irritant causes of eye watering can be infections, such as conjunctivitis, or an eye injury.

Another cause of eye watering can be due to a lack of proper drainage of the tears your eyes produce. The tear ducts normally enable healthy tears to flow away from the eye surface and into your nasal passages. However, in the presence of a blocked tear duct, the eye surface may have too much liquid and the tears will often run down your cheeks.

As you can see, there are several reasons for your eyes to water. In some cases, the watering is an excellent protective mechanism for your eyes. And in other cases, watering can be a sign of a condition that may need attention. If your eyes are watering frequently, your eye care provider will be able to help you sort through the causes and help you find a solution.

By Dr. Domenic Turco

Nonexudative age-related macular degeneration, also known as the “dry” type of macular degeneration, is the most common type of macular degeneration.  The hallmark finding of this type of macular degeneration is accumulation of drusen in the central macula as well as changes to the pigment epithelium of the retina, ultimately culminating in atrophy (also called geographic atrophy) and breakdown of the central macula which can reduce central visual acuity.  The most common form of management of this nonexudative form of macular degeneration has been through the use of oral vitamins, known as AREDS vitamins, of which the most recent and most common is the AREDS 2 formula.  Their use has traditionally been to prevent worsening of disease in patients with intermediate to advanced disease, but they have not been shown to reverse damage that has already accumulated.

Patients often ask if there are any other treatments for nonexudative macular degeneration, and even though there isn’t anything other than AREDS 2 vitamins currently, there are several other treatments being researched for use in the general population.  There are two drugs currently in phase 3 trials, pegcetacoplan and avacincaptad pegol, that are designed to work on decreasing the rate of growth of areas of geographic atrophy.  These drugs are delivered inside of the eye through an intravitreal injection.

Another promising potential new drug is one that has been used for many years in drop form for treatment of glaucoma-brimonidine.  They are studying injecting brimonidine on a biodegradable intravitreal implant into eyes to try to slow the rate of growth of geographic atrophy.

Lastly, researchers are working on implanting stems cells, known as induced pluripotent stem cells, into the retina on a scaffold in an effort to stop the photoreceptor cells from dying.  This novel treatment is currently in phase 1 trials but has very promising potential.

By Dr. Jill Finke

New experiences can sometimes make us feel nervous, but knowing what to expect can help put our minds at ease. When you have an eye examination, the goal of the exam is to assess your vision as well as your eye health. Additionally, an eye exam can help to detect eye and general health problems before you may notice their effects.

Because your eye health is linked to your overall health, your exam will include gathering information about your current medical conditions, your current medications, as well as you and your families’ medical histories. The best way to share this information with your doctor is to complete our patient paperwork. Our office would be glad to send your forms to complete in advance of your appointment.

In addition to bringing a list of your current medications and supplements to your exam, your eye doctor can also learn more about your visual health when you bring your past pair of glasses and/or contact lenses and boxes. Measuring your vision with what you currently use can help your doctor to assess how to maximize the clarity of your eyesight.

Maintaining healthy eyes is essential to maintaining clear vision. Therefore, your doctor will also assess your ocular health at your examination. By completing simple testing of how your eyes respond to light, measuring the pressure inside of your eyes, and observing the eye structures, your doctor can assess your eyes for common eye diseases and conditions. Your doctor may also recommend eye dilation at your appointment.

Eye dilation occurs when eye drops to widen your pupils are instilled into your eyes. This dilation allows your pupil size to increase temporarily so that the doctor can have a more complete view of the inside of your eyes. Eye dilation can make your vision slightly more blurred for a few hours, however, most people find this effect to be mild.

In summary, an eye examination is essential to maintaining visual clarity and detecting eye diseases and even general health problems before you may be aware a problem exists. Regular eye examinations as recommended by your doctor are valuable in maintaining a lifetime of health vision. And if you have vision changes, eye discomfort, or eye conditions you would like to know more about, your eye doctor is here for you.