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Dr. Frank Curington, who has owned Family Vision for 11 years, practices primary eye care, and diagnoses and treats patients with medical issues, such as dry eye syndrome.
Treatment may involve certain over-the- counter remedies, such as artificial tears, or prescribed medications such as steroids and Restasis, as well as nutritional supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids and flax seed oil. Lifestyle changes, such as limiting caffeine intake, staying hydrated and the use of humidifiers, can also help. In severe cases, punctual plugs (tiny pieces of collagen) may be inserted into the tear ducts.
SOLUTIONS IN SIGHT Of course, Dr. Curington also does his
share of the things people expect from their optometrist. “We pride ourselves on our high-quality
DIAGNOSING DRY EYE
Among the problems Dr. Curington frequently sees is dry eye syndrome, and because more and more individuals are suffering from this condition, it is something people should be made aware of, Dr. Curington says. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), “Dry eye is a condition in which there are insufficient tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears are necessary for maintaining the health of the front surface of the eye and for providing clear vision. People with dry eyes either do not produce enough tears or have a poor quality of tears.” “Dry eye is often undertreated. Patients
frequently self medicate with over-the-counter drops and never get the relief they are looking for. The drops work for five minutes and their symptoms return. These symptoms should not be ignored. To a patient who suffers from it, dry eye disease is not trivial. And because dry eye is chronic and often progressive, it makes sense to begin treatment while symptoms are relatively mild,” explains Dr. Curington. “We see many patients with dry eye who have accepted it as a normal part of aging and have not sought treatment, or their condition was mild and not recognized on previous exams. Once we start to ask the right questions, we discover that they’ve had these problems for years.”
“I’m a social person and I like talking to people. I guess that’s one reason why I became an optometrist. I also like helping people. To me it’s satisfying to find a solution to someone’s problem.” – Dr. Frank Curington of Family Vision
The problems of which
Dr. Curington speaks can be irritated, gritty, scratchy or burning eyes; sensitivity to light; a feeling of something in the eyes; excess watering; redness of the eye; and blurred vision. Those symptoms occur primarily in older adults, and as their numbers climb, so do diagnoses.
“In addition to the tens of millions of current
dry eye sufferers, the incidence is increasing. Over 77 million baby boomers will soon be reaching Medicare age, and of these, about 40 million are post-menopausal women, the group with the highest incidence of dry eye,” says Dr. Curington. Indeed, the AOA estimates that the majority
of all people over 65 experience some form of dry eye, which can be caused by medications; medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid problems and diabetes; environmental conditions; and other factors, like certain types of corrective eye surgeries. “We are seeing more patients (with dry eye) because they are asking more questions,” says Dr. Curington. “People come in and ask, ‘How can I have dry eye when my eyes are so watery?’ and I explain that although contrary to conventional wisdom, it is a common symptom of dry eye.” He adds that diagnosis is relatively
straightforward: “You ask the right questions and perform a thorough examination. That includes taking a detailed patient history; examination of the eyes, including eyelids and cornea; and measuring the quality and quantity of tears.”
frames and lenses. Our free form progressives (which treat presbyopia without peripheral distortion) are one of our most popular lenses,” he says, and adds that Family Vision has two board certified opticians and a laboratory on the premises and therefore does not always have to “send out” glasses to be made. Popular frame manufacturers such as Ray-Ban, Coach, Silhouette and Maui Jim are represented. As for contacts, the trend is toward silicone
hydrogel lenses, which are super-permeable and allow large amounts of oxygen to reach the cornea. “We fit those almost exclusively because when you allow more oxygen to the eye, it is healthier and allows for safer and more comfortable wear,” explains Dr. Curington. One-day disposable contact lenses also have
gained in popularity, as have bifocal contacts for the 40-plus crowd. “Most people should have their eyes checked once a year, especially diabetics,” says Dr. Curington, who adds that the time to start having vision check-ups generally starts at the age of 5. Many eye diseases, like glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, rarely affect vision in their early stages but can eventually lead to blindness. Early detection is essential to preserving vision. Talk to your optometrist and he or she will listen. “I’m a social person and I like talking to people. I guess that’s one reason why I became an optometrist,” says Dr. Curington. “I also like helping people. To me it’s satisfying to find a solution to someone’s problem.” And that’s what each patient should look for
– someone who will take the time and listen. That’s a good optometrist.
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