What is a Stye?

A stye, or hordeolum, is a small bump that can appear on the outside or inside of eyelid developing from an eyelash follicle or an eyelid oil gland that becomes clogged from excess oil, debris or bacteria. Styes can be brought about by increased stress, but can also be a complication of blepharitis (inflammation of eyelid). The treatment includes warm compresses, gentle massage of affected area and antibiotic ointment or eye drops.

Top 5 Ways to Protect Eyes from the Sun

1) Wear Protective eyewear
2) Choose Quality sunglasses
3) Inspect your sunglasses to assure they are perfectly matched in color and free of distortion
4) Wear gray-colored lenses
5) Protect Children and teens

UV Eye Safety

We protect our skin with sunscreen, but what about our eyes? There are 3 types of UV radiation UVA, UVB and UVC (UVC poses no threats since it is absorbed by ozone layer). UV rays can damage the eye’s surface tissues as well as the cornea and lens. There can be short term and long term effects of UV radiation. It is not yet known how much exposure will cause damage but you should wear quality sunglasses that offer good protection and should:
1) block out 99-100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation
2) screen out 75-90 percent of visible light
3) be perfectly matched in color and free of distortion and imperfection
4) have lenses that are gray for proper color perception

Glaucoma Risk factors

Glaucoma has been called “The Sneak Thief of Sight” because it slowly causes vision loss without warning signs. It can not be prevented but it can be controlled if diagnosed early. Certain people are at a greater risk than others:
1) People over aged 50
2) Those severely nearsighted
3) Individuals with diabetes, hypertension, previous eye surgery or long-term steroid use
4) African descent (African-Americans have glaucoma 4-5 times more often than others
5) Those with a family history
6) Those with a history of eye injury or trauma
7) Those with high intraocular pressure
8) Those with abnormal optic nerve head