Updates

It’s back-to-school time, and parents may wonder whether their child should undergo a full eye exam, also known as a comprehensive eye exam, as a preventive measure. If a child is having vision problems, he or she should be seen by an eye professional experienced in the care of children for an exam.  As an effective safety net, all Texas children undergo vision screenings during their school years to identify problems that don’t always have symptoms.

The first half of the summer featured an unusual amount of rain and cloud cover. But the reality of the hot Texas summer is now starting to set in for much of the state: We have many weeks of hot, sunny days ahead of us.

When it comes to the summer sun, protecting our skin with sunscreen and shade gets much of the attention.  But our eyes, which can face just as much damage as our skin from UV light, often do not receive the same level of attention.

We often hear about the “three O’s” in eye care: ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians. While only ophthalmologists attend medical school, all three professionals fulfill vital roles in the delivery of eye care.

It is easy for the public to confuse the different roles. 

Advancements in medical technology, including the advent of laser surgery, have made many surgeries more convenient and less painful for patients. When it comes to the eyes, Ophthalmologists can make laser surgery look deceptively easy. Some observers even mischaracterize laser surgery as a “low risk” event. While it is true that laser surgery typically comes with fewer complications, it is still a serious surgery with all of the inherent risks of traditional surgery.  

Do you remember when Cpt. Sully Sullenberger saved his passengers after a flock of geese hit his airplane? The important part of that story is not that Cpt Sullenberger knew how to fly under normal circumstances, it is that he knew what do to when everything went wrong. Think about that the next time you consult with a Surgeon. 

Did you know that the eyelid is the thinnest skin on your entire body? It is less than one millimeter thick – less than the thickness of a credit card. Yes, your eyelid is thin and delicate, but it is also a complex, impressive organ that protects your eye from harm.

Parents were already struggling with determining how much screen time was too much prior to the pandemic. The pandemic added an unexpected twist to the screen time dilemma for parents.