>>> WELCOME TO "ASK THE SPECIALISTS" TONIGHT WE ASK THE EYE DOCTORS ON WCMU PUBLIC TELEVISION.

♪ >>> OH, MY NAME IS STEFANIE MILLS.

WELCOME BACK TO TONIGHT SHOW WHERE ALL EYES ARE ON OUR GUESTS, LOCAL EYE DOCTORS, DOCTOR ZANE YA FROM PLEASANT OPTICS AND DOCTOR MILLER FROM THE EYESITE IN MOUNT PLEASANT.

WELCOME BACK, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE ARE GETTING REGULAR WITH THIS PROGRAM HERE, SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING, YOU PROBABLY HAVE SEEN OUR GUESTS PREVIOUSLY, BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO THE SHOW TONIGHT, DOCTORS, CAN YOU TELL THE VIEWERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?

DOCTOR MILLER WE WILL START WITH YOU.

>> MY PRACTICE IS THE EYESITE IN MOUNT PLEASANT.

I'VE BEEN PRACTICING FOR 20 YEARS AND STARTED OUT INTO THE AIR FORCE AS AN OPTOMETRIST BUT BACK TO MOUNT PLEASANT NOW FOR 17 YEARS.

>> THANK YOU.

DR. ZAINEA?

>> I PRACTICE IN TOWN AT PLEASANT OPTICS.

I BELIEVE I AM IN MY NINTH YEAR OF PRACTICE.

I DID MY TRAINING IN CHICAGO AND ORIGINALLY FROM MIDLAND, MICHIGAN.

>> OKAY.

>> ENJOY BEING HERE.

>> YOUR BACK HERE.

>> WE ARE BACK.

>> THANK YOU FOR OUR VIEWERS TONIGHT.

ONE SECOND.

FOR OUR VIEWERS TONIGHT, I GOT LOST MY TELEPROMPTER.

FOR YOU WATCHING TONIGHT, YOU HAVE A QUESTION, YOU CAN GET ON THE PHONE NOW AND GET THEM TO US.

EVERYTHING THAT IS ASKED HERE STAYS COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS GIVE US A CALL BY DIALING THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN 844-973-3343.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON FACEBOOK, THE SAME RULES APPLY.

CALL THE SAME NUMBER THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN OR POST YOUR QUESTION AND WE WILL MAKE SURE YOU PASS IT ALONG.

FINALLY, ONE MORE WAY TO BE INVOLVED IS SENT US A TWEET.

THIS SHOW, THIS CONVERSATION IS COMPLETELY FUELED BY YOUR CALLS AND QUESTIONS.

DON'T HESITATE TO.

THE PHONE AND BE A PART OF TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION.

TO START THINGS OFF, WE BEGIN BY TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE MAYBE MORE MAIN CONCERNS WE HAVE WITH OUR EYES, SCREEN TIME, HOW THAT IS IMPACTING THEM, AND WHY TAKING BREAKS IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE A LOOK.

>> ♪ ON THE COMPUTER SCREENS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, ESPECIALLY A LOT MORE OF THE PAST FEW YEARS CAN CAUSE THINGS LIKE EYESTRAIN TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY.

WHEN WE ARE STARING AT A COMPUTER SCREEN ALL DAY, WE ACTUALLY DON'T BLINK AS MUCH AS IF WE WERE JUST DAY TO DAY LOOKING AROUND.

AROUND THE COMPUTER, NOT BLINKING IS MUCH CAN CLOSE HER EYES TO DRY OUT MORE.

ALSO CAN CAUSE EYE STRAIN FROM FOCUSING AT THAT SAME DISTANCE.

A FEW THINGS THAT WE RECOMMEND IS SOMETHING CALLED THE 202020 RULE.

AFTER BEING ON THE COMPUTER FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR SO, TRY TO LOOK ABOUT SOMETHING 20 FEET AWAY FOR 20 SECONDS.

THAT WILL GIVE YOU A NICE FREQUENT BREAKS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

REMEMBER TO BLINK OFTEN AND USE EYEDROPS AS NEEDED IF THINGS ARE DRY.

DRY EYE IS SOMETHING WE CALL A MULTIFACTORIAL CONDITION.

IT MEANS THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE DRY EYE.

DRY EYE IN GENERAL WILL INCLUDE SYMPTOMS LIKE WANDERING EYES, FEELING LIKE YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR EYE, FEELING GRITTY OR SANDY.

SOMETIMES PATIENTS WON'T BE ABLE TO WEAR CONTACTS FOR VERY LONG TIME.

THOSE ARE SIGNS OF DRY EYE.

ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S MULTIPLE THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE DRY EYE.

WE RECOMMEND EYE EXAMS TO RULE OUT ANY OF THOSE CAUSES.

WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IN MAKING SURE YOUR EYES ARE HEALTHY IS IF YOU SEE ANY VISION CHANGES, IF YOU KNOW YOUR EYES ARE GETTING BLURRY, IF YOU NOTICE ANYTHING LIKE FLOATERS OR ANY CHANGE IN YOUR OVERALL PERIPHERAL VISION.

THOSE ARE ALL SIGNS YOU SHOULD COME IN AND SEE AN EYE DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A FEW THINGS TO UNPACK.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING WHERE WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SPENDING EXTRA TIME ON SCREENS.

WE ARE DOING SO MUCH OF THAT RIGHT NOW.

WORKING FROM HOME, OUR KIDS HAVE BEEN HOME, TOO, WHAT ARE SOME TIPS FOR US -- FROM YOUR EXPERTISE -- WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT HOW TO BETTER PROTECT OUR EYES DURING THIS TIME?

>> OBVIOUSLY, EVERYBODY IS DOING A LOT OF SCREEN TIME.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING BLUELIGHT PROTECTION WHEN POSSIBLE.

YOU CAN GET GLASSES THAT HAVE A BLUE LIGHT PROTECTION.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE TAKING FREQUENT BREAKS, EVERY 20 MINUTES TRY TO FOCUS ON SOMETHING AT LEAST 20 FEET AWAY FOR 20 SECONDS OR LONGER.

IF YOU CAN GET UP AND WALK AROUND, THAT'S BETTER.

REMEMBER TO BLINK.

IT'S A FUNNY THING BUT WE ACTUALLY DON'T BLINK AT THE SAME RATE WHEN WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE SCREEN TIME, THAT CAUSES OUR EYES TO DRY OUT.

THINK ABOUT BLINKING.

STAY HYDRATED.

SOME PATIENTS NEED TO USE ARTIFICIAL TEARS.

THEIR EYES CAN DRY OUT.

THOSE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO DRY EYE, BECAUSE AS I WAS READING MORE ABOUT IT, I THOUGHT WHAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT HAVING DRY EYE, ONE OF THESE CONDITIONS IS HAVING WATERY EYES.

CAN YOU EXPAND A LITTLE MORE ON THAT?

>> IT SOUNDS COUNTERINTUITIVE IT.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU I SPEAK FOR THE BOTH OF US, THE MOST COMMON QUESTION WE GET THE PATIENT COMES IN AND SAYS MY EYES ARE WATERING ALL THE TIME.

WELL, PROBABLY DRY EYES.

>> THEY SAY MY EYES CAN'T BE DRY IF THEY ARE DRIVE THERE WANDERING ALL THE TIME.

WE GO THROUGH AND WHY IT HAPPENS.

IN THE FRONT OF VERONICA WE HAVE THREE LAYERS OF TWO YEARS.

ON THE OUTER LAYER OF TEARS ACT LIKE A SHIELD, THE LIPID LAYER.

THAT LAYER OF TEARS, EVERY SINGLE TIME WE BLINK, A NEW LAYER OF TWO YEARS IS SECRETED.

IT IS DONE BY GLAZE THAT'S A BROWN DOOR ON MY WELL UNFORTUNATELY HAPPEN SOMETIMES IS THAT IF WE DO NOT PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE OR SOMETIMES THOSE GLANDS GET STAGNANT, AS WE GET OLDER, THEY ARE NOT PRODUCING THAT OIL FOR THAT LIPID LAYER.

THE JOB OF THAT LIPID LAYER IS LIKE A SHIELD, IT HOLDS ALL THE MOISTURIZING TEARS RIGHT UP AGAINST ALL RIGHT.

IF THE OUTER SHIELD, IF WE ARE NOT PRODUCING IT EVERY SINGLE TIME WE BLINKED, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MOISTURIZING TEARS BEHIND IT IS THEY START RUNNING DOWN OUR CHEEK.

THAT'S WHEN WE START TALKING TO OUR PATIENTS ABOUT EYEDROPS, ARTIFICIAL TEARS, LOTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES.

WHAT THOSE WILL DO IS IT WILL HELP THAT LIPID LAYER TO KEEP THOSE MOISTURIZING TEARS UP AGAINST ALL RIGHT.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A CALLER FROM WHO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC DRY EYE AND WANT TO KNOW WHY THEIR EYES ALWAYS WATER, WHICH YOU JUST ANSWERED.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THEY CAN DO?

USE DROPS IN THOSE SITUATIONS?

>> THERE IS A BARRAGE OF OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO DRY EYE, SUCH AS WARM COMPRESSES.

WE TALK ABOUT THAT WITH GLANDS THAT PRODUCE THE LIPID LAYER OF TEARS.

WARM COMPRESSES WILL HELP THE STAGNANT FLUIDS LOOSEN UP A LITTLE BIT AND COAT OUR EYES.

THERE ARE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS THAT HELP US PRODUCE OUR OWN TEARS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE DOWNSIDE TO THOSE IS THEY TAKE TIME TO FULLY KICK IN.

SOME OF THEM TAKE UP TO SIX MONTHS.

>> THAT'S QUITE A LENGTH OF TIME.

>> IT IS BIG THERE'S OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO, TOO, FISH OILS KNOWN TO HELP.

HEALTHY FATS.

HELPS GLANDS PRODUCE OILS AS WELL.

>>GOGOT IT.

GOOD ADVICE.

NEXT QUESTION FROM LUDINGTON.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE CATARACT IN JUST ONE EYE?

>> YES.

OFTEN TIME CATARACTS ARE GOING TO GROW IN BOTH EYES, BUT NOT UNUSUAL THAT ONE I MIGHT HAVE A CATARACT THAT DEVELOPS FASTER THAN THE OTHER ALL RIGHT.

IN GENERAL, MOST PEOPLE DEVELOP IN BOTH EYES.

SOMETIMES IF YOU HAVE TRAUMA, YOU MIGHT HAVE A CATARACT DEVELOP IN JUST ONE EYE, ESPECIALLY YOUNGER PERSON, THAT'S A OF THE POSSIBILITY.

YES.

>> OKAY.

TO EXPAND MORE ON THAT QUESTION, THE NEXT QUESTION IS - - THEY HAVE CATARACT IN ONE NIGHT AND WONDERING WHAT SYMPTOMS THEY NEED TO HAVE BEFORE GETTING SURGERY.

>> THE SYMPTOMS WOULD BE BLURRY VISION OR ESSENTIALLY DIFFICULTY WITH THEIR DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES.

WE ARE ONLY GOING TO CONSIDER SOMEBODY A CANDIDATE FOR CATARACT SURGERY IF THEY ARE HAVING SOME KIND OF VISION, FUNCTIONAL PROBLEM THAT WARRANTS A SURGICAL INTERVENTION.

SOMETIMES, JUST CHANGING THE GLASSES PRESCRIPTION WILL IMPROVE VISION, BUT WHEN YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN NO LONGER GIVE SOMEBODY STRONGER GLASSES TO MAKE THEIR VISION BETTER, THAT'S WHEN WE START THINKING ABOUT A SURGICAL OPTION.

>> GOT IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS DIFFERENT THEN, BUT THIS NEXT QUESTION, THIS PERSON HAD A TOTAL I CONSTRUCTION.

THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW LONG THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY CAN GET A CATARACT SURGERY ECHO IS THAT THE SAME OR DIFFERENT?

I'M NOT SURE.

>> THE CONSTRUCTION IS IN THE FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ORBIT OF BONES?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

TOTAL ON CONSTRUCTION.

>> NOT QUITE SURE THEY ARE REFERENCING.

USUALLY HAS TO DO WITH THE ORBITAL STRUCTURE FROM TRAUMA.

>> GOT IT.

MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN TALK WITH THEIR LOCAL EYE DOCTOR ABOUT.

ALL RIGHT.

CALLER FROM LUDINGTON TONIGHT WANTS TO KNOW -- IT SEES A 70 -YEAR-OLD WOMAN AND SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHY HER EYES, HER EYE FILLS WITH BLOOD.

>> MAYBE THE WHITE PART OF HER I'M ASSUMING?

SHE MEANS THE WHITE PART OF THE EYES FILLING WITH BLOOD?

WHEN PEOPLE GET BROKEN BLOOD VESSELS ON THE WHITE PART OF THEIR ALL RIGHT, IT CAN BE FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

IF SOMEBODY'S USING BLOOD THINNERS OR ASPIRIN, THAT CAN ACT UP IN THE BLOOD AND THEY ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO GET BROKEN BLOOD VESSELS ON THE WHITE PART OF THEIR ALL ON A.

OF THE TIMES JUST RUBBING THE EYE TO AGGRESSIVELY.

HEAVY LIFTING, COUGHING, SNEEZING CAN CAUSE A BROKEN BLOOD VESSEL.

IN GENERAL, BROKEN BLOOD VESSEL IS A PRETTY BENIGN THING.

IT'S JUST THAT WHEN AND IF IT BECOMES MORE CHRONIC OR FREQUENT IN NATURE, THAT MIGHT WARRANT FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

MAYBE LAB WORK TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE INCREASE.

>> IT'S INTERESTING THAT IT COULD BE CAUSE POTENTIALLY BY MEDICATION.

>> BLOOD THINNERS, ESPECIALLY.

>> EXACTLY.

NEXT QUESTION CAME IN FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

BACK TO CATARACTS.

DO YOU RECOMMEND CATARACT LENS IMPLANTS THAT COVER ALL FIELDS OF VISION?

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, I THINK WHAT THEY ARE REFERRING TO IS A MULTIFOCAL IMPLANT.

>> OKAY.

>> WHEN WE SEE A PATIENT AND RECOMMENDING MULTIFOCAL IMPLANTS, A LOT OF TIMES THOSE PATIENTS HAVE BEEN IN MULTIFOCAL CONTACTS.

GENERALLY, UNTIL THE FULL GOAL CONTACTS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DESIGN OF THOSE, WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE OUR ECCENTRIC SIR CHARLES.

WHAT THOSE THOSE ECCENTRIC CIRCLES DO, EACH ONE ROTATES A DIFFERENT FIELD OF VISION.

YOU MIGHT HAVE NEAR, INTERMEDIATE, DISTANCE.

IT GOES BACK AND FORTH.

SOMEBODY HAS A MULTIFOCAL IMPLANT, A GOAL AFTER SURGERY IS THEY WILL NOT NEED GLASSES.

GENERALLY, WHAT WE SEE ARE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CATARACT SURGERY IS THAT THEY USUALLY HAVE DISTANCE ONLY CORRECTION AND THEY USUALLY HAVE TO WEAR READING GLASSES AFTERWARDS.

A LOT OF PATIENTS CONTINUE TO WHERE PROGRESSES OR A DIFFERENT STYLE BIFOCALS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE USED YOU AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE GLASSES ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME.

MULTIFOCAL'S ARE A GREAT OPTION.

SEEN A LOT OF PATIENTS HAPPY IN THEM.

I DO KNOW THEY ARE A LITTLE MORE -- MORE EXPENSIVE BUT I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PATIENTS HAPPY WITH THEM.

>> OKAY.

NEXT QUESTION.

THINKING ABOUT GETTING LASIX SURGERY BUT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT SOME OF THOSE MIGHT BE, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> GO AHEAD AND.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE DONE A GOOD PREOPERATIVE EXAM TO FIND OUT IF SOMEBY Y IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR LAY SICK LASIX.

THERE'S A LOT OF ASPECTS OF YOUR EYE HEALTH THAT IS IMPORTANT TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE A GOOD CANDIDATE.

YOUR PRESCRIPTION, CORNEAL THICKNESS, PREVIOUS MEDICAL HISTORY, MEDICATIONS, PREVIOUS SURGERIES.

IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT YOU NEED TO BE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR SURGERY.

SOME OF THE RISKS FOR THE SURGERY WOULD BE INFECTION OR PERSONS SENT INFLAMMATION.

FOR THE MOST PART, IF DEEMED TO BE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR SURGERY BY YOUR EYE DOCTOR AND YOU ARE GOING TO A REPUTABLE SURGEON AND YOU ARE ADHERING TO ALL THE FOLLOW-UP CARE AND THE EYEDROPS THAT ARE PRESCRIBED POST OPERABLY, MOST OF THE TIME YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT RESULT.

SOME PEOPLE WILL HAVE MILD DRY EYE OR HALOS DRIVING AT NIGHT AFTER SURGERY.

THOSE ARE COMMON, MILD AFTER ISSUES WITH LASIX SURGERY.

FOR THE MOST PART, THOSE EVEN TEND TO IMPROVE AND ARE MANAGEABLE OVER TIME.

>> IS THERE A CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION STRENGTH YOU NEED TO HAVE TO QUALIFY?

I'M NOT SURE HOW BAD THE VISION NEEDS TO BE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY.

>> AGAIN, IT SHOULD BE -- THERE SHOULD BE SOME FUNCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT WITH SURGERY COMPARED TO NOT HAVING GLASSES.

IF YOU ARE REALLY DEPENDENT ON GLASSES AND CONTACTS TO GET AROUND, THEN THERE IS AN ADDED BENEFIT FOR YOU TO HAVE SURGERY TO GIVE YOURSELF FREEDOM FROM THOSE KINDS OF VISION CORRECTIONS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE ABOUT 50 MINUTES LEFT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING TONIGHT AND FOR CALLING IN.

THERE IS STILL TIME FOR YOU TO GET A QUESTION TO US.

CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN, SPECIALIST COVE.

YOU CAN ALSO POST YOUR QUESTIONS TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR TWEET US PICK A.

LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO BE A PART OF TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION.

DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE A GOOD CANDIDATE.

YOUR PRESCRIPTION, CORNEAL THICKNESS, PREVIOUS MEDICAL HISTORY, MEDICATIONS, PREVIOUS SURGERIES.

IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT YOU NEED TO BE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR SURGERY.

SOME OF THE RISKS FOR THE SURGERY WOULD BE INFECTION OR PERSONS SENT INFLAMMATION.

FOR THE MOST PART, IF DEEMED TO BE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR SURGERY BY YOUR EYE DOCTOR AND YOU ARE GOING TO A REPUTABLE SURGEON AND YOU ARE ADHERING TO ALL THE FOLLOW-UP CARE AND THE EYEDROPS THAT ARE PRESCRIBED POST OPERABLY, MOST OF THE TIME YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT RESULT.

SOME PEOPLE WILL HAVE MILD DRY EYE OR HALOS DRIVING AT NIGHT AFTER SURGERY.

THOSE ARE COMMON, MILD AFTER ISSUES WITH LASIX SURGERY.

FOR THE MOST PART, THOSE EVEN TEND TO IMPROVE AND ARE MANAGEABLE OVER TIME.

>> IS THERE A CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION STRENGTH YOU NEED TO HAVE TO QUALIFY?

I'M NOT SURE HOW BAD THE VISION NEEDS TO BE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY.

>> AGAIN, IT SHOULD BE -- THERE SHOULD BE SOME FUNCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT WITH SURGERY COMPARED TO NOT HAVING GLASSES.

IF YOU ARE REALLY DEPENDENT ON GLASSES AND CONTACTS TO GET AROUND, THEN THERE IS AN ADDED BENEFIT FOR YOU TO HAVE SURGERY TO GIVE YOURSELF FREEDOM FROM THOSE KINDS OF VISION CORRECTIONS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE ABOUT 50 MINUTES LEFT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING TONIGHT AND FOR CALLING IN.

THERE IS STILL TIME FOR YOU TO GET A QUESTION TO US.

CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN, SPECIALIST COVE.

YOU CAN ALSO POST YOUR QUESTIONS TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR TWEET US PICK A.

LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO BE A PART OF TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION.

HEALTH, BUT ESPECIALLY YOUR EYE HEALTH.

MACULAR DEGENERATION HAS -- YOU HAVE A 400 PERCENT GREATER RISK OF MACULAR J GENERATION IS A SMOKER COMPARED TO A NON-SMOKER.

CATARACTS MAY DEVELOP FASTER.

RETINAL VASCULAR CHANGES WILL BE ACCELERATED.

AGE-RELATED CHANGES ACCELERATED.

HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES IN THE EYE AND REST OF THE BODY WITH SMOKING.

SO, YES, IT'S GOING TO MAKE YOUR VISION WORSE AND JUST OTHER THINGS AS WELL.

>> NOTHING HELPFUL AND BENEFICIAL ABOUT SMOKING.

>> INCREASES THE RISK OF EVERYTHING, IT SEEMS TO BE.

>> MOVING ON.

WHAT SUGGESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR SUNGLASSES AND A HIGH SAFETY?

>> AS FAR AS SUNGLASSES GO, THE STANDARDS -- YOU WANT UV PROTECTION AND POLARIZATION.

THOSE ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE MOST PROTECTION AND THE BEST VISION.

AS FAR SAFETY GLASSES, THERE IS A STANDARD SAFETY GLASSES REQUIRED IN THE WORKPLACE.

SIDE SHIELDS ARE USUALLY INCLUDED IN THAT.

A LOT OF TIME THAT IT DEPENDS ON THE OCCUPATION.

WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO GRIND AND WELD.

SOMETIMES THEIR SAFETY GLASSES WILL REQUIRE MORE COVERAGE THAN A NORMAL PAIR OF SAFETY GLASSES.

>> ALSO JUST ADD ON, THINK ABOUT SPORTS SAFETY.

IT'S A BIG DEAL.

THINK ABOUT RACQUETBALL, TENNIS, REALLY ANY SMALL OBJECT WHERE WE MAY GET HIT IN THE EYE.

THAT'S A RISK.

YOU SHOULD ALSO THINK ABOUT SPORTS SAFETY GOGGLES FOR KIDS AND ADULTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ESPECIALLY KIDS PLAYING BASEBALL, SOFTBALL.

YOU ARE IN THE SUN ALL DAY.

>> WE HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION.

THEY WANT TO KNOW ONE OR THE WARNING SIGNS OF GIANT CELL THAT IS IDENTIFIED BY THE EYE DOCTOR?

GO AHEAD.

NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS OF.

>> GIANT SMELL, IT'S A VASCULAR CONDITION.

USUALLY, IF WE BREAK AT THE AGE IS MOST COMMON WHEN YOU SEE IT IT'S USUALLY IN FEMALES THAT ARE ELDERLY.

WHEN THE PATIENT COMES IN, THEY ARE GOING TO NOTICE A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS IN VISION, TYPICALLY IN ONE EYE.

WHAT THEY WOULD BE TELLING US IS, IT IS SORE ON THE SIDE OF MY HEAD OR MAYBE COMPLAINING ABOUT SOME JAW PAIN.

IF THEY ARE TELLING YOU THAT A AND YOU LOOK INSIDE THE EYE AND YOU NOTICE THEIR OPTIC NERVE LOOKS WORN AND THEY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN DIVISION.

A LOT OF TIMES THOSE POSITIONS ARE GETTING A ONE-WAY TICKET TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

>> GOT IT.

NEXT QUESTION IS WHAT IS GLAUCOMA AND WHAT ARE SOME COMMON SYMPTOMS OF GLAUCOMA?

>> GLAUCOMA IS IN EYE DISEASE THAT AFFECTS THE OPTIC NERVE AND CAUSES A SLOW, IN MOST CASES, PROGRESSIVE LOSS OF PERIPHERAL VISION AND FINALLY CENTRAL VISION.

AND BLINDNESS, IF LEFT UNTREATED.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NO SYMPTOMS OF GLAUCOMA.

THAT'S WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT PATIENTS COME ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO HAVE REGULAR EYE EXAMS TO MONITOR THINGS THAT -- RACE FACTORS OF GLAUCOMA.

IF YOU HAVE FAMILY HISTORY, PATIENTS WITH HIGH EYE PRESSURE.

WE LOOK AT THE OPTIC NERVE, DO SCREENING VISUAL FIELDS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR PEOPLE TO FIND AND DETECT GLAUCOMA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT IS WHAT IS GOING TO PREVENT VISION LOSS THROUGHOUT THE PATIENT'S LIFETIME.

>> BACK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE YOU GET APPOINTMENTS.

WHO IS MOST AT RISK FOR GLAUCOMA?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT ARE AT RISK.

OVER THE AGE OF 50.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE AT A HIGHER RISK OF GLAUCOMA.

PATIENTS WITH FAMILY HISTORY.

PATIENTS THAT HAVE HIGH EYE PRESSURE.

>> PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT SHE SAID, SHE COVERED ALL THE IMPORTANT POINTS.

CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, WASN'T GLAUCOMA THE NUMBER ONE PREVENTABLE CAUSE OF BLINDNESS IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WOW.

>> WHEN DOCTOR MILLER SAYS PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY FAMILY HISTORY, GO TO EYE EXAMS.

OVER THE PAST 2 OR 3 YEARS, THERE SOMETIMES PATIENTS WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOUND AS A GLAUCOMA SUSPECT.

WE SEE THEM TWO OR THREE YEARS LATER AND THERE'S A COUPLE CASES WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.

THAT'S A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

>> ONCE GLAUCOMA DOES THE DAMAGE, WE CAN'T REVERSE THE DAMAGE FROM GLAUCOMA.

WE CAN SLOW IT DOWN AND WE CAN TRY TO PREVENT VISION LOSS, BUT ONCE THE DAMAGE IS DONE IT IS TOO LATE TO TRY TO RESTORE THAT VISION.

>> DO SO, MAKING SURE YOU GET YOUR YEARLY EYE APPOINTMENTS AND IS CRUCIAL WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU GO TO SEE YOUR EYE DOCTOR?

>> ANNUALLY.

>> ANNUALLY.

DOES NOT APPLY TO ADULTS AND KIDS?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NEXT QUESTION.

THEY HAD A THIRD STROKE AND CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE LEFT SIDE.

WONDERING WHY THIS HAPPENED AND WHAT CAN THEY DO ABOUT IT.

>> MORE THAN LIKELY IF SOMEONE HAS HAD MULTIPLE STROKES IN THE EYE, THERE'S SOME SYSTEMIC UNDERLYING CAUSE, WHETHER THAT IS DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL, OR SOME OTHER VASCULAR PROBLEM.

UNFORTUNATELY, NOT ONLY CAN YOU HAVE A STROKE THAT AFFECTS YOUR ARMS, LEGS, MOBILITY, BUT IT CAN ALSO AFFECT YOUR EYE AND VISION.

A LOT OF CASES, THAT VISION CANNOT BE RESTORED ONCE THE STROKE OCCURS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'VE GOT A TON OF QUESTIONS, I WILL DO MY BEST TO ASK THEM SO WE CAN GET YOU ALL THE ANSWERS YOU'RE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.

WHY DO YOU -- THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY SEE FLASHES OF LIGHT OR SPORTS IN THE VISION WHEN THEY WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

>> IF THEY ARE WAKING UP IN THE MIDDLE THE NIGHT AND SEEING ANY FLASHES, ANY SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE NOTICES SPARKS, REFLEXIVE LIGHT, LIGHTNING BOLTS, I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND A DILATED EYE EXAM.

THEY COULD VERY WELL BE BENIGN.

A LOT OF PATIENTS EXPERIENCE IN OCULAR MIGRAINE, WHICH IS USUALLY TRIGGERED BY STRESS OR OTHER THINGS.

ANY SITUATION WHERE SO MANY EXPERIENCES LIKE THAT, THEY NEED A DILATED EYE EXAM.

>> NEXT QUESTION.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS, IF ANY, WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF FLOMAX ON CATARACTS SURGERY?

>> IF YOU ARE TAKING FLOMAX AND THE SURGEON UNDERSTANDS THIS AS WELL, THEN THEY CAN HAVE AN ISSUE WITH KEEPING THE EYE DILATED DURING SURGERY.

THEY USUALLY NEED TO DISCONTINUE MEDICATION FOR A PERIOD OF TIME PRIOR TO THEIR SURGERY TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE BEST SURGICAL OUTCOME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NEXT QUESTION FROM DAVE VINSON.

BLOOD TEST WAS HIGH, THEY ARE WONDERING IF THE EYE DOCTOR WILL TEST THIS AT AN ANNUAL EYE EXAM.

>> TEST THEIR ARROW IN AND SEE OR DO A DIABETIC -- IT.

>> TESTING THEIR A1C.

>> TYPICALLY THE PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER IS THE ONE THAT WILL TEST THE A-1 C AT LEAST MINIMALLY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

AS FAR AS A1C RESULTS GO, THE PATIENT IS DIABETIC, THEY HAVE A DIABETIC EYE EXAM EVERY YEAR, DILATION, USUALLY OTHER TESTS.

WHEN WE TYPICALLY SEE A1C'S OVER 8 FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE RISK OF SIGNS OF HAVING BLOOD SUGAR IN THE EYES INCREASES.

IS SOMETHING THAT WE BOTH PROBABLY SEE ON A DAILY BASIS.

>> OKAY.

GOT IT.

NEXT QUESTION.

IF YOU HAD RETINAL DETACHMENT, AS A POSSIBLE YOU MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER?

>> YES.

IF YOU HAVE A DETACHED RETINA, THERE IS A GOOD LIKELIHOOD, HIGHER INCIDENCE, OF REPEATED RETINAL ATTACHMENT.

WHETHER IT IS IN THE SAME HIGH, DEPENDING ON THE DETACHMENT WAS REPAIRED OR THE OTHER I.

>> OKAY.

NEXT QUESTION.

SORRY FOR THE RAPID FIRE, WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE IRIS IN THE LEFT EYE.

PERSON NOTICES A FLUTTERING IN THERE AND I.

WONDERING IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO FIX IT.

>> FLUTTERING IN THEIR AND THERE IRIS?

>> IT SAYS END OF THE HIGH.

>> OKAY, TYPICALLY WHEN PATIENTS COME IN COMPLAINING ABOUT FLUTTERING.

IS SOMETHING CALLED MICHAEL KANIA.

GET THAT FROM PATIENTS A LOT.

PICTURE EYELID TWITCHES HOW PEOPLE REFER TO IT.

SOME OF THE COMMON CULPRITS ARE STRESS, CAFFEINE, LACK OF SLEEP.

EYE STRAIN.

IF THE PATIENT IS NOT IN THE RIGHT CORRECTION, CAUSES IT AS WELL.

>> WE'VE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT CATARACTS TONIGHT.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MISSED SOME OF THAT, BUT THIS PERSON WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS CATARACT.

>> CATARACT IS A CLOUDING OF THE LENS INSIDE OF YOUR EYE.

THERE'S A LENS THAT SITS BEHIND THE IRIS THAT DOES ALL THE FOCUSING.

ALSO FILTERS LIGHT BEFORE IT HITS THE RETINA.

WHEN WE ARE BORN, MOST OF THE TIME THE LENS IS CLEAR.

AFTER 50, 60 YEARS OF AGING AND UV EXPOSURE, DIETARY THINGS AS WELL WILL CAUSE CATARACT TO GROW.

IT'S A NORMAL AGE-RELATED CHANGE OF THE LENS.

BUT IT IS A CLOUDING OF THE LENS.

>> EVERYBODY'S PATH IS DIFFERENT BUT HER LAST QUESTION TONIGHT FROM ITHACA, THEY WANT TO KNOW IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS, HOW DO YOU BECOME AN EYE DOCTOR?

>> SO, YOU GO TO YOUR UNDERGRADUATE AND USUALLY THERE IS A LIST OF PREREQUISITE CLASSES YOU HAVE TO TO TAKE.

YOU COULD BE A BIOLOGY MAJOR, A PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR, BUT THERE IS A LIST OF PREREQUISITE CLASSES.

TAKE THOSE CLASSES, A STANDARDIZED TEST CALLED THE OIT AND INTERVIEWED DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

AND WE HAVE ARE OPTOMETRY PROGRAMS.

FOR YEARS LONG.

THAT INCLUDES THE TRAINING, BOOKWORK, AND ROTATIONS.

>> SO IT TAKES A COUPLE YEARS.

>> 8 YEARS, BUT 8 YEARS.

>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR OUR PHONE OPERATORS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HELP ANSWER THE CALLS AND QUESTIONS.

WE WILL BE BACK AGAIN NEXT WEEK WHEN WE ASK THE DENTIST, ACTUALLY.

THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

FROM ALL OF US HERET T WCMU, HAVE A GREAT DAY.