Dr. Shari Carney Joins Georgia Eye Institute

28 February 2017 – Savannah, GA – Georgia Eye Institute (GEI) announces the addition of Dr. Shari A. Carney to their staff. Carney, a medical ophthalmologist, will begin seeing patients at the main campus of GEI on February 19^th.

Carney received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Clarkson University and a Doctorate of Medicine from Upstate Medical University where she was later Chief Resident in Ophthalmology. Most recently, she was Clinical Assistant Professor of Medical Education for Mercer University School of Medicine, at Memorial University Medical Center. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Georgia Eye Institute provides primary eye care, optical retail locations and sub-specialty eye care in 13 locations conveniently located throughout Southeast Georgia and the South Carolina. The sub-specialty eye care includes cataract evaluation and management, retinal care, glaucoma management, functional cosmetic eye surgery and LASIK laser vision correction. For more information, visit gaeyeinstitute.com.

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Eye Safety for the Solar Eclipse

By Mark Manocha, M.D.

During August 21st’s solar eclipse, it is important to take the proper ocular safety precautions. Looking directly at the sun is never a good idea, so there are a few ways to view it and minimize risk. Savannah will only experience a partial solar eclipse (around 90%), but you can look online to see where totality occurs.

• At no point in Savannah will it be safe to look directly at the sun because it will never be fully covered. Even when the sun is partially covered, it is just as bright, and is equally unsafe.
• If you are planning to travel to see totality where the solar corona is visible, you can look without protection for the few minutes the sun is completely covered.
• Put on your glasses immediately after the sun emerges as looking at it directly, however brief, can cause long-term retinal damage.
• Make sure to look away from the sun before putting on and removing your protective glasses; rapid adjustment to light can also cause severe eye damage.
• You can purchase specially certified glasses (ISO 12312-2) for viewing, which you can find online or in certain stores.
• Regular sunglasses, cameras, binoculars, and telescopes are not safe for viewing the eclipse.
• Alternatively, you can use the pinhole method to project an image of the eclipse on another material. You can do this by poking a hole in a piece of cardboard, and putting a piece of paper behind it, changing the distance until the image is projected clearly onto it.

The solar eclipse is one of the greatest events nature can offer, and it happens rarely in United States. Don’t let this opportunity to witness history pass you by, but make sure to be safe and protect your eyes while viewing this grand spectacle.

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Basics of Glaucoma

More than 3 million people in the U.S. have glaucoma. Glaucoma is a complicated eye disease in which the optic nerve gets damaged due to high eye pressure. If it’s not treated properly or is ignored glaucoma can lead to progressive, irreversible loss of vision. Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness in the world today.

Glaucoma is incurable, but it can be managed through drug therapies. However, when medication fails to lower the eye pressure, or causes severe side effects, surgery is recommended. In some cases, doctors might recommend surgery as the first course of treatment.

Glaucoma surgery is typically categorized two ways: laser surgery; and incisional surgery. Your ophthalmologist will take into consideration the type of glaucoma you have, its severity, and your general eye health before deciding which type of surgery is most suitable for your condition.

Surgery can stabilize vision by lowering the eye pressure, but it cannot cure glaucoma or reverse any loss of vision which has already occurred.

The following is a brief overview of glaucoma laser surgery and incisional surgery, and what to expect during recovery.

Laser Surgery

Doctors ordinarily recommend laser surgery unless pressure in the eye is extremely high or the damage to the optic nerve is severe.

During this procedure, the eye surgeon improves the drainage system of the eye using a highly focused beam of light. The patient feels no pain during the surgery, as the eye is numbed. A special lens is held to the eye and the laser beam is directed into it.

Immediately after the surgery you may experience blurry vision and some irritation of the eye. Many patients are able to resume normal activities within a day or two after the surgery. However, most doctors recommend patients not lift anything heavy, refrain for any strenuous activity, or do any significant bending for at least two weeks.

Incisional Surgery

Your eye doctor may recommend incisional surgery for any of the following three conditions:

• Extremely high eye pressure
• A severely damaged optic nerve
• Failure to lower eye pressure with laser surgery

During incisional surgery, a small drainage hole is made in the sclera to allow intraocular fluid to bypass the clogged drainage canals and allow the fluid flow from the eye, helping reduce eye pressure.

Shortly after incisional surgery, patients may experience irritation, redness, and increased watering or tearing. Recovery time for incisional surgery is typically longer as compared to laser surgery. Most patients recover in two to four weeks. In some cases, however, recovery time might be longer – up to 2 months.

For more information please call 912.354.4800.

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Summer Eye Safety

Summertime means spending more time outdoors, at the beach or pool, and more time in the sun. Most people associate more time in the sun with applying sunscreen to protect the skin, but it’s equally as important to protect your eyes, as exposure to harmful sunlight can lead in an increased risk for eye diseases, including cataract, growths on the eye, and even cancer.

In addition to benefitting your vision health, taking precautionary measures to protect your eyes can also make summertime more fun. Follow these simple tips from Georgia Eye Institute and you and your family can enjoy the summer sun safely while protecting your vision.

Sunglasses are more than just a great accessory

Sunglasses not only look great, they can help protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and reduce the chances of burning your corneas. Sunglasses should fit snugly around your eyes and offer protection on the side of the eyes as well. Keep in mind that sunlight is strongest mid-day, at higher altitudes, and when reflected off water or sand.

Choose sunglasses labeled “100% UV protection,” and only use glasses that block both UVA and UVB rays. It’s important to note that even if you wear UV blocking contact lenses, you still need to wear proper sunglasses to fully protect your eyes.

For maximum protection, wear a hat along with your sunglasses. Broad-brimmed hats are best.

Wear eye protection

Warm, sunny weather means it’s the perfect time for yardwork or to make a dent in your long list of home improvement projects. While doing work on your yard or home, it is extremely important to protect your eyes from dust, dirt and flying debris. Safety goggles can be purchased at home improvement stores, and do a better job of protecting your eyes than sunglasses.

Swim with goggles

Nothing says summer like a day at the beach or the pool. The chlorine in most swimming pools can be particularly irritating to the eyes, causing minor infections and dryness. Salt water from the ocean, rivers other natural bodies of water also contain contaminants that may be harmful to eyes. Wear swim goggles when you’re in the water to protect your eyes from irritants and floating particles that could damage your eyes.

Don’t forget the little ones

While it’s best to keep children out of direct sunlight during the middle of the day, they should wear sunglasses and hats to protect their eyes whenever they’re in the sun, and goggles when they’re swimming.

Eat right for your sight

Nutrition plays an important role in preventing conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration. A healthy diet of summer foods like strawberries, tomatoes, avocadoes and peppers can help protect your eyes from many common eye conditions. Vitamins C, E and zinc have been shown to slow the aging process in eyes.

Drinking plenty of water can also help keep your eyes healthy. During summer months, it’s easier to become dehydrated, which can cause vision problems. Drink plenty of water to help keep your eyes healthy.

Year-round care

Eyes can be damaged by the sun – even through clouds and haze- any time of year so be sure to give your eyes the same protection year ‘round.

In addition to protecting your eyes in summer, annual visits for your eyes are important and beneficial for your overall health. A thorough eye exam – which is not the same as having a “vision test” – performed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist can detect potentially harmful diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, thyroid disorders and cancers, vision disorders, and issues with the muscles in your eyes.

Georgia Eye Institute provides leading edge primary eye care, corrective eye surgery, ophthalmic care, and surgical eye care at 13 area offices. For more than 20 years the pioneering surgeons and staff at GEI have set new standards for outpatient cataract surgery and lens implantation, offers advanced retinal care for diabetic eye disease, LASIK laser vision correction, glaucoma management, treatment for macular degeneration and corneal disease, oculoplastic surgery,and optometry. For more information, visit gaeyeinstitute.com.

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Georgia Eye Institute –

Dr. Shawna Strub Joins Georgia Eye Institute in Statesboro

Georgia Eye Institute (GEI) announces the addition of Dr. Shawna Strub to their Statesboro staff. Dr. Strub received her degree in optometry from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and joined the Georgia Eye Institute team in July 2014 working in their Glennville location. She is an active member of the Georgia Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association.

Georgia Eye Institute provides primary eye care, optical retail locations and sub-specialty eye care in 13 locations conveniently located throughout Southeast Georgia and the South Carolina Low country. The sub-specialty eye care includes cataract evaluation and management, retinal care, glaucoma management, functional cosmetic eye surgery and LASIK laser vision correction.   For more than 20 years your vision has been Georgia Eye Institute’s focus. For more information, visit gaeyeinstitute.com.

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Dr. Amy Murray Joins Georgia Eye Institute

Georgia Eye Institute (GEI) announces the addition of Dr. Amy W. Murray to their staff. Dr. Murray is a Doctor of Optometry and began seeing patients in GEI’s Glennville office on January 9^th. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Georgia in 1995, and a Doctor of Optometry Degree from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis in 1999, graduating Cum Laude. Dr. Murray is a member of the Georgia Optometric Association and the American Optometric Association.

Georgia Eye Institute provides primary eye care, optical retail locations and sub-specialty eye care in 13 locations conveniently located throughout Southeast Georgia and the South Carolina Low country. The sub-specialty eye care includes cataract evaluation and management, retinal care, glaucoma management, functional cosmetic eye surgery and LASIK laser vision correction.   For more than 20 years your vision has been Georgia Eye Institute’s focus.

For more information, visit gaeyeinstitute.com.

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What Your Eyes Can Tell You About Diabetes

Georgia Eye Institute –

What Your Eyes Can Tell You About Diabetes

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and the doctors at Georgia Eye Institute would like to encourage everyone to schedule an eye exam with diabetic eye screening every year just as you would your primary care physician or dentist.

Having your eyes checked annually is more common among people with glasses or contacts, but even if your eyes are not bothering you, an eye exam can determine signs of possible health problems such as diabetes. The following conditions that can be detected through diabetic eye screening.

Diabetic Retinopathy

If your eye was a camera, then the retina would be the film. The retina translates what the brain sees into images. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the retina’s blood vessels are damaged. If left untreated, it could lead to poor vision and potentially blindness.

You could have had diabetes for years and not know it has already damaged your eyes. The best way to detect diabetic retinopathy is to have a dilated eye exam. Background retinopathy, which is the early stage of diabetic retinopathy, requires no treatment but early detection gives the best prognosis. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can progress to irreversible vision loss.

Maculopathy

The macula is the part of your eye that gives you detailed vision. When your retina’s blood vessels leak fluid or blood vessels grow, the macula can eventually become damaged. You should see your doctor before you have trouble reading, recognizing faces, or when figures look distorted. It is common to have diabetic maculopathy in only one eye and not know it because your healthy eye can make up for the difficulties in seeing. Laser surgery is a common treatment for diabetic maculopathy.

Other Conditions Detectable by Eye Exams

Glaucoma can affect people with or without diabetes, but those with diabetes are at higher risk. A high pressure in your eye, which in turn damages the optic nerve, causes glaucoma and vision loss. There are no symptoms.

Another diabetes-related eye complication is retinal detachment. This occurs when the retina pulls away from the blood vessels and deprives the retina of oxygen. This is a late stage of diabetic retinopathy and can lead to blindness even with expert care. Early diagnosis is best.

Protect Your Sight with an annual dilated exam.

See your eye doctor annually even if you are without symptoms. When you do experience symptoms, it may already be too late.

For more information or to schedule an eye exam in the Savannah area please contact us or visit our website.

YOUR VISION, OUR FOCUS Georgia Eye Institute

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