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ENLARGE
O.D. Jason Jost uses a Phoropter to get Jenn Charlwood's prescription Friday in Dillon.
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ENLARGE
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Optical technician Jenn Charlwood's eyes look through her glasses Thursday in Dillon.
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SUMMIT COUNTY - Those baby blues are more sensitive to sunlight than brown eyes, but when it comes to high elevations, everyone should protect their eyes from ultraviolet radiation.
Ultraviolet rays are stronger at high elevation, and that can damage eyes. The disorder is called pinguecla, and it involves a thickening of the white of the eye.
The best way to prevent it is to wear sunglasses to minimize exposure to damaging rays, said optometrist Jason Jost of Dale Lervick and Associates in Dillon. It's especially important to wear sunglasses on snow or water because the elements reflect sunlight, said optometrist Daniel Giovagnoli, of Eyes on Breckenridge.
Unfortunately, if you're an adult, you've received the majority of damaging ultraviolet exposure by age 18. But that doesn't mean you should give up and not wear sunglasses, Jost said.
Ultraviolet radiation also can cause yellow bumps on the whites of the eyes. The bumps tend to be precursors to an eye disease called pterygium. Pterygium is a growth of the mucus membrane over the clear portion of the eye that can induce astigmatism and blur.
Pinguecla can grow into pterygium, but surgery can remedy it, said ophthalmologist Jason Wang, who began consulting every fourth Tuesday of the month at Summit Eye Center in Frisco for patients who may need eye surgery.
Currently, Summit County does not have a full-time eye surgeon; most patients travel to Denver for laser and other eye surgeries.
Ultraviolet rays are stronger at high elevation, and that can damage eyes. The disorder is called pinguecla, and it involves a thickening of the white of the eye.
The best way to prevent it is to wear sunglasses to minimize exposure to damaging rays, said optometrist Jason Jost of Dale Lervick and Associates in Dillon. It's especially important to wear sunglasses on snow or water because the elements reflect sunlight, said optometrist Daniel Giovagnoli, of Eyes on Breckenridge.
Unfortunately, if you're an adult, you've received the majority of damaging ultraviolet exposure by age 18. But that doesn't mean you should give up and not wear sunglasses, Jost said.
Ultraviolet radiation also can cause yellow bumps on the whites of the eyes. The bumps tend to be precursors to an eye disease called pterygium. Pterygium is a growth of the mucus membrane over the clear portion of the eye that can induce astigmatism and blur.
Pinguecla can grow into pterygium, but surgery can remedy it, said ophthalmologist Jason Wang, who began consulting every fourth Tuesday of the month at Summit Eye Center in Frisco for patients who may need eye surgery.
Currently, Summit County does not have a full-time eye surgeon; most patients travel to Denver for laser and other eye surgeries.
"Eye surgeons are primarily supported by cataract surgeries. The population's so young up here, it'd be rough for (eye surgeons) to make a go of it," Giovagnoli said.
Still, eye surgeries have become more popular, especially as patients who get elective laser surgery tell friends about the good results they have.
"I think it's something patients wish they had done sooner," Wang said.
Lasik - the popular correction surgery employing lasers - can cause dry eyes, especially in the first few weeks. Patients who have medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, which contributes to dry eyes, aren't good candidates for the surgery, Wang said.
But living at high elevation also can contribute to dry eyes, causing red eyes that may burn or itch. Most doctors treat dry eyes with artificial tears. When over-the-counter drops don't work, optometrists can test the amount of moisture in the eyes. Other treatment options include changing to higher performing lenses if patients wear contacts, collagen inserts or medication.
One thing people shouldn't use much are eye drops that say they "get the red out," Giovagnoli said. Drops like these contain chemicals that constrict blood vessels. When people use them every day, the blood vessels become dependent upon them and end up bigger than normal when they don't receive the drops. This leads to chronically red eyes, he said.
The majority of eye drops do not contain the addictive chemicals, though some "pure lubricants" are better than others. Giovagnoli recommends asking your eye doctor which brands are best.
Still, eye surgeries have become more popular, especially as patients who get elective laser surgery tell friends about the good results they have.
"I think it's something patients wish they had done sooner," Wang said.
Lasik - the popular correction surgery employing lasers - can cause dry eyes, especially in the first few weeks. Patients who have medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, which contributes to dry eyes, aren't good candidates for the surgery, Wang said.
But living at high elevation also can contribute to dry eyes, causing red eyes that may burn or itch. Most doctors treat dry eyes with artificial tears. When over-the-counter drops don't work, optometrists can test the amount of moisture in the eyes. Other treatment options include changing to higher performing lenses if patients wear contacts, collagen inserts or medication.
One thing people shouldn't use much are eye drops that say they "get the red out," Giovagnoli said. Drops like these contain chemicals that constrict blood vessels. When people use them every day, the blood vessels become dependent upon them and end up bigger than normal when they don't receive the drops. This leads to chronically red eyes, he said.
The majority of eye drops do not contain the addictive chemicals, though some "pure lubricants" are better than others. Giovagnoli recommends asking your eye doctor which brands are best.
Another common eye disorder that comes with living at higher elevations is corneal edema (see personal story, this page). It is a swelling of the cornea (the clear part of the eye) that can cause foggy vision. It's due to a decreased amount of oxygen to eyes, which can come from wearing contacts while sleeping, living at high elevation or both.
Jost recommends patients never wear contacts to bed at high elevation, even if the contact is FDA approved for overnight wear.
Finally, to keep eyes healthy, doctors recommend using protective goggles while working with machinery or participating in sports and eating a balanced diet full of whole fruits and vegetables.
Kimberly Nicoletti can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 13624, or at knicoletti@summitdaily.com.
Keep an eye on your health
Jost recommends patients never wear contacts to bed at high elevation, even if the contact is FDA approved for overnight wear.
Finally, to keep eyes healthy, doctors recommend using protective goggles while working with machinery or participating in sports and eating a balanced diet full of whole fruits and vegetables.
Kimberly Nicoletti can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 13624, or at knicoletti@summitdaily.com.
Keep an eye on your health
See an eye doctor if:
- You need more light and have a gradual, spotty loss of detail vision (a sign of dry macular degeneration) or a sudden and severe loss of central vision (a sign of wet macular degeneration).
- Your vision seems hazy, you are having trouble distinguishing colors or have an increased sensitivity to glare or light scatters and appears like a halo (signs of a cataract).
- You experience a subtle loss of contrast, difficulty driving at night or loss of peripheral vision (signs of glaucoma).
Source: Lighthouse International
A personal look
- You need more light and have a gradual, spotty loss of detail vision (a sign of dry macular degeneration) or a sudden and severe loss of central vision (a sign of wet macular degeneration).
- Your vision seems hazy, you are having trouble distinguishing colors or have an increased sensitivity to glare or light scatters and appears like a halo (signs of a cataract).
- You experience a subtle loss of contrast, difficulty driving at night or loss of peripheral vision (signs of glaucoma).
Source: Lighthouse International
A personal look
You can't tell just by looking at me, but I had it - corneal edema. OK, it's not quite as dramatic as it may sound, but it is a condition that requires attention - if you want to keep seeing, that is.
I went to the eye doctor last month, because my eyes were really dry and it seemed like my contact prescription had changed. When the doctor saw me, I realized it wasn't the prescription that was the problem. It was a swelling of my cornea, corneal edema, that was causing the discomfort. So, what caused the corneal edema? Summit County caused it. Well, the elevation caused it, to be more exact. Apparently, this happens to a lot of folks up here that wear contacts.
It was nothing I had or hadn't done: I didn't sleep in my contacts, I always (well, almost always) clean them at night and I change them when I'm supposed to.
I didn't need medication. I just had to stop wearing my contacts for a couple of weeks to let my eyes heal. Once they did, my contact prescription was back to normal. I did have to get a new type of contact, though - one that would let more oxygen get to my eyes.
And, as everyone who lives here knows, everything up here could use a little more oxygen.
- Jennifer Harper
I went to the eye doctor last month, because my eyes were really dry and it seemed like my contact prescription had changed. When the doctor saw me, I realized it wasn't the prescription that was the problem. It was a swelling of my cornea, corneal edema, that was causing the discomfort. So, what caused the corneal edema? Summit County caused it. Well, the elevation caused it, to be more exact. Apparently, this happens to a lot of folks up here that wear contacts.
It was nothing I had or hadn't done: I didn't sleep in my contacts, I always (well, almost always) clean them at night and I change them when I'm supposed to.
I didn't need medication. I just had to stop wearing my contacts for a couple of weeks to let my eyes heal. Once they did, my contact prescription was back to normal. I did have to get a new type of contact, though - one that would let more oxygen get to my eyes.
And, as everyone who lives here knows, everything up here could use a little more oxygen.
- Jennifer Harper
