Lindenhurst Eye Physicians & Surgeons, P.C. - Total Excellence In Eye Care

Frank Brinka of WHLI and B103 interviewed Dr Richard Nattis
on April 16, 2007. The content was about Lasik surgery, cataract surgery, Pediatric ophthalmology and general questions. If you are interested in hearing a replay please call the office.

Our staff was present at the Senior Appreciation Day
Held at Good Samaritan Hospital in March 2008, providing eye care information to the senior population.

Welcome to the practice for Dr. Hsu
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Cynthia Hsu to our staff. Her experience and dedication to promoting healthy eyes will complement our staff of specialists and enhance our commitment to provide the best care for our patients. Dr. Hsu is a specialist in corneal diseases and corneal transplantation.

New State of the Art Technology
The Zeiss Stratus OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography). The Stratus OCT facilitates diagnosis and management of retinal diseases and glaucoma. The Stratus OCT minimizes patient discomfort, as it is a non-contact camera that permits detailed examination of the retina and optic nerve head in our office.

Nutrition and Vitamins for Your Eyes
Is eating carrots really good for the eyes, or do moms just say that to inflict the vegetable on their kids? One average-sized carrot contains twice the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamin A, which happens to be very good for your eyes. If you don’t like carrots, there are lots of foods that contain vitamin A and other nutrients your eyes need.

Antioxidants – New studies suggest that broccoli may be a powerful force in preventing blindness. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have discovered that sulforaphane, the naturally occurring antioxidant in broccoli and broccoli sprouts, protects the eye from damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet light. Carotenoids give carrots their orange color. You can find them in many red, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables. As well as in green, leafy vegetables.

Vitamin C and Bioflavonoids – Ever-popular vitamin C may reduce your risk of glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration. Bioflavonoids help your body to absorb vitamin C and some work as antioxidants themselves. Vitamin E and Minerals – Like vitamins A & C, vitamin E may reduce your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. The minerals selenium and zinc help your body to absorb antioxidant vitamins and may have their own protective effects as well. Try the following foods to make sure you get enough eye protecting nutrients:

Vitamin A:	Cod Liver Oil, Liver, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Butternut Squash.
Lutein & Zeaxanthin:	Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens.
Vitamin C:	Sweet Peppers (Red Or Green), Kale, Strawberries, Broccoli, Oranges, Cantaloupe.
Bioflavonoids:	Citrus, Fruits, Cherries, Grapes, Plums.
Vitamin E:	Sunflower Seeds, Almonds, Hazelnuts.
Selenium:	Brazil Nuts, Yeast, Seafood.
Zinc:	Oysters, Hamburgers, Yeast, Nuts
Fatty Acids:	Cold-Water Fish (Salmon, Mackerel, Trout)

VISION PROBLEMS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
Your child’s vision is the most important tool he has to succeed in school. When his vision suffers, chances are his schoolwork does too. School-age children also spend a lot of time in recreational activities that require good vision. After-school team sports aren’t fun if your child can’t see well.

Refractive errors (poor visual acuity or astigmatism) are eye care practitioners main concern for school-age children. Parents, as well as teachers, should keep a watchful eye out for signals that a child’s vision needs correction:

	Consistently sitting too close to the TV or holding a book too close Losing his place while reading
	Squinting-Tilting the head to see better
	Frequent eye rubbing
	Sensitivity to light
	Excessive tearing
	Closing one eye to read, watch TV or see better
	Avoiding activities which require near vision
	Complaining of headaches or tired eyes
	Avoiding using a computer because it “hurts his eyes”

Schedule an appointment with your eye care practitioner if your child exhibits the above signs. Refractive errors are easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

PRESBYOPIA: IS IT ME, OR IS PRINT GETTING SMALLER THESE DAYS?
When the age monster comes calling on baby-boomers, he usually steals away some of their ability to do things the way they used to – including the ability to read fine print. The forty-and-over crowd is finding that their arms are “growing shorter” as words become difficult to see up close, and they must hold small items at arm’s length in order to view them clearly.

Called presbyopia, this condition occurs as eyes gradually lose their ability to focus on objects in the near range. But boomers have more choices than their parents ever did. When it comes to near vision correction, reading glasses are a popular option. They come in all styles and colors. They come as a multi-focal with lines or no-line bifocals or progressive lens. Monovision contact lenses are another option as well as LASIK surgery with monovision correction. Your eye care professional will help you decide which one is best for you.

EYEDROPS
Eye drops contain medicines that are used to treat many eye diseases and conditions. Some are also helpful for relieving eye discomfort.

USING MEDICATIONS WISELY
When your physician prescribes any medication for you, you should always be aware of the following important information:

	Make sure you know the name of the medication. It always has a “generic” name as well as a brand name.
	Make sure you know how often you need to take the drops.
	Call your Eye MD if you are unclear as how to use the new medication or if you have any questions.

Lasik

Cateract Surgery

Macular Degeneration

Glaucoma

Pediatric Eye Care

Retina