7 Search Results for "rays"

• Better Eye Protection for 2010 Better Eye Protection for 2010

  • From: LawrenceDLampertOD
  • Description:

    Baby Boomers are one of the largest population segments in the United States. Healthcare is a primary concern but too often eye health is overlooked. A comprehensive eye exam can help identify underlying health concerns and also determine if a person has macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 65.

    Protecting your eyes from UV exposure may help reduce the chances of developing macular degeneration and other vision conditions. In addition to wearing a wide- brimmed hat and UV protecting clothing, I recommend my patients consider Transitions lenses, which automatically darken and block 100% of harmful UV rays. 

    Remember even if you are seeing well, you want to get regular eye exams for the entire family.

    Stay Tuned and Be Well  

     

  • Blog post
  • 6 months ago
  • Views: 488

• Super Bowl Memories Super Bowl Memories

  • From: LawrenceDLampertOD
  • Description:

    Last week in South Florida I was privileged to be a part of Radio Row, which is a gathering of sports radio stations to report on the Super Bowl and interview celebrities and athletes in town for the big game. I was there to do several radio interviews along with Lesley Visser, a sportscaster who was the first female NFL analyst on TV. We were there for Transitions Lenses spreading the Healthy Sight message and the need to protect the eyes from harmful UV rays that come from the sun. It was a wonderful experience, and I got to see and meet many football greats.

    Watching the Super Bowl last Sunday brought back fond memories of my work with Qadry Ismail, nicknamed The Missile. He's a pro football player I met when he first started with the Ravens. You can Google him and check out his career. Qadry came to me looking for help with his vision for the game. He told me he was "on the bubble" and needed to prove himself with the Ravens. Long story short: I programmed some Sports Vision Training for him, shortly thereafter he posted career high statistics, and was on the team when they won the 2001 Super Bowl. He tells me after the training he felt like all the plays were in slow motion. Quadry gave me a picture of himself and wrote two quotes on it. One was "Thanks Dr Lampert for helping me slooow the ball down" and the other was "Look, Ma, I can see the football." Today Qadry is an NFL analyst on ESPN News. 

    Whether you are an athlete or a spectator I would like to emphasize the need to see your eyecare provider regularly. One announcer on Radio Row asked me some of the signs you would notice if you were developing certain eye diseases. I told him the key was prevention and having your eyecare provider pick things up before you even notice them. So get your eye exam even if you think you are seeing well.

     

  • Blog post
  • 7 months ago
  • Views: 447
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• Snowbound! Snowbound!

  • From: SaralynMarkMD
  • Description:

    

    What a winter! I remember hearing that the Farmer's Almanac said this would be a tough season, but I had no idea that it meant it would be the worst winter on record in Washington, D.C. history. I flew back early from a conference in Texas last Friday, trying to get home to the nation's capital before the blizzard hit. I was hearing reports from my neighbors that the store shelves were already bare, so I asked them to get me some milk, water and bananas. (Funny what you think you need or want in a storm.) 

    I grew up in Colorado so blizzards are not that new to me. I recall that we never even had a snow day for school. But then again, we could get three feet of snow in the morning and the sun would come out that afternoon. During our late spring storms, we could even go out and snow bathe -- better to get the full tan with all the rays beaming off the snow banks. Ignorance about skin cancer was stupid bliss at the time. 

    Yet, this was going to be a big storm in DC, and I couldn't wait to get outside and play in it. I woke up early last Saturday -- memories of my childhood rushing through my mind. As soon as the sun came up, I got my equipment ready: not my shovel, but my cross-country skis. They had been packed away for just this moment. With determination, I made my way through the two feet of snow that was waiting for me outside my door and then basically body surfed down my steps to make my way to the street. I strapped my skis on and made it to the main thoroughfare, Wisconsin Avenue. There were no cars around except for a few snowplows. I had not done this since the blizzard of 1997! Gliding down near empty avenues that would have been teeming with cars and people on a normal day filled me with sheer delight. Some hearty souls who were out shoveling or trying to walk, smiled and shouted out words of encouragement. I felt like I had come back to my Colorado roots.

    After an hour of exploring my city on skis, I returned home and shoveled and shoveled and shoveled. One of my neighbors and I decided to do this for our other neighbors as well. I know that sounds strange, but I have always loved to shovel. It's great exercise, it's fun to be outside, and it's fulfilling to accomplish something -- a positive spin on something that could be more than tedious. I joked with my neighbors that I would work for food and they actually took me up on that -- feeding me breakfast and dinner. Not a bad deal for a few hours of work. But the spirit of helping others was the best reward.  

    We are now coming into the next big snowstorm and some of the novelty of watching the snowflakes fall has worn off. The hassles of trying to just walk down a street, finding a way to get through the backyard to throw out bags of trash, watching helplessly the weight of all this white stuff on the roof, and canceling meetings and travel plans are increasing. Yet, we are so blessed. We have shelter and most of us still have electricity, heat and people around to help us out. It has been said that people plan and Mother Nature laughs. All we can do now is smile with her.

     

  • Blog post
  • 7 months ago
  • Views: 526
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• Block Those Rays Block Those Rays

  • From: LawrenceDLampertOD
  • Description:

    One of the best things about living in Florida is there’s no off-season for golf. Scratch golfers and weekend warriors can be found on the course year round.

    Whenever I'm at the golf course, I always notice people lathering up with sunscreen before their round. I also catch quite a few players with sunglasses on the tops of their hat, or wearing no eye protection at all. While I’m glad to see people taking the proper precautions to protect their skin, it pains me to see how few remember to protect their eyes from the sun.

    Most people are aware of the damage UV rays can cause the skin, but very few realize how these rays also pose a threat to the eyes. As an optometrist and sports vision specialist who has worked with both professional and amateur athletes, I’m eager to educate athletes and outdoor enthusiasts about the importance of keeping their eyes protected when outdoors.

    Taking simple steps to protect your eyes while outdoors may help prevent many long-term eye health problems, like cataracts and macular degeneration, which can lead to premature blindness. One important fact to remember is that UV damage is cumulative, so it is never too early -- or too late -- to start protecting your eyes with UV-protecting lenses.

    Within one week in September I saw two PGA Tour golfers in my office with sun exposure-related growths on the fronts of their eyes (known as pinquecula and pterygium). These are bumps that form on the white parts of the eyes usually at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions next to the iris. In the case of pterygium, the growths extend onto the cornea and can eventually affect vision. One player has a history of having his pterygium surgically removed and it has re-grown over the cornea again. Both players are now aware how important it is to protect their eyes from the sun’s rays. 

    So remember...protect your eyes as well as your skin when outdoors!

    Stay tuned and BeWell.

  • Blog post
  • 11 months ago
  • Views: 161

• Vision Quest: Welcome to My Be Vision Quest: Welcome to My BeWell Blog

  • From: LawrenceDLampertOD
  • Description:

    Welcome. As an optometrist I aim to make my new BeWell blog all about the two “i’s” (pun intended!): interactive and interesting. 

    Interactive: I invite and look forward to your participation, questions, comments, wisdom, and debate. Let’s make this a conversation.

    Interesting: My specialty goes way beyond looking at the eyes as an organ. I’m passionate about visual performance in the areas of sports vision training, vision and learning, stroke and head injury vision rehabilitation, and binocular vision (how the eyes work together as a team). Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals, for example, has been in the media attributing much of his success to the vision training he received from his grandfather, Dr. Robert Johnson, a developmental optometrist. For your inner athlete, I’ll let you in on many of the sports vision tips and drills I use with pro and amateur athletes to improve their game. In the area of vision and learning, there will be so many topics to cover -- from the visual skills necessary to succeed in the classroom or be a safer driver to brain fitness and stroke and head injury recovery.

    As way of background, here’s what I’ve been up to recently:

    • I am developing software that will address training for learning related vision skills, sports vision, driving safety, brain fitness, and safety of military personnel.
    • I have written and recorded two music CD’s for a company called Flipping for Phonics. The system uses a phonics teaching tool, instructional DVD, storybooks, and the CD’s of the stories put to music. The storybooks have been designed to reinforce some of the visual skills needed for reading.
    • As a spokesperson for Transitions Optical, I am also running a study with over fifty PGA Touring Pros on a golf-specific concept lens that increases contrast, decreases glare, and adjusts to varying lighting conditions. These lenses wouldn’t have to be removed during the game, so players could benefit from protecting the eyes from harmful UV rays all the time. Initial responses are very positive.

    All of the above starts with Healthy Sight, so of course those general topics will be addressed as well.

    Don’t forget: August is Vision and Learning Month. As our children go back to school, I urge you to get their eyes checked if you have not done so already. I’ve witnessed complete turnarounds in school performance when a child’s previously undiagnosed vision problem has been addressed.

    In closing I would like to say that I am very excited and looking forward to our blog time together.  So…stay tuned and BeWell!

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 149

• Choosing the Best (& Safest) B Choosing the Best (& Safest) Bath Products for Your Baby

  • From: DarshakSanghaviMD
  • Description:

    These days, parents often feel overwhelmed when trying to select products that are safe for babies, especially with the occasional news story or study that suggests some items may contain cancer-causing chemicals. Here's a brief Q & A to help you decide whether you really need to worry, and what products might be best bets for your little one.\

    A quick note: I don't have any commercial or financial relationships with any of the companies and products mentioned below.
     
    Shampoos & Body Washes
    
    Question: At least one recent studies found that some baby bath products contain cancer-causing chemicals, like formaldehyde and dioxane. What should parents look for when purchasing a baby wash?
    
    Answer: This is a tough one, since you can’t know for sure which bath soaps have the questionable chemicals, as they aren't listed on the product label. But the good news is the risk of actually harming your baby is really, really tiny. Even so, I give parents two tips: 1) Stick with products from well-known companies, since they usually have good manufacturing standards, and 2) Don’t always assume that organic products are better. 
     
    Also, keep in mind that some shampoos containing lavender, tea-tree oil, or placental extracts may cause hormone problems, like breast development in young kids.
     
    Two pretty good bets are Aveeno Baby Soothing Bath Treatment—which got the highest rating from one group that issues the report on cancer-causing chemicals in baby bath products—and Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo.  
     
     Lotions & Potions
    
    Question: What about baby lotions and diaper creams? How do I pick the safest options for my child?
    
    Answer:  First, parents should steer clear of powders, since some contain asbestos and can cause lung problems. Honestly, body creams aren't necessary unless your baby has 'atopic dermatitis' or dry skin. In that case, I'd recommend a fragrance- and color-free ointment, preferably one that's mostly oil-based to lock in moisture.  I like Aquaphor and Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly.
    
    For diaper rash, stay away from corn starch and baking soda, which are folk remedies that actually worsen the problem. Diaper creams containing zinc oxide are considered safe from toxins and usually work well if you remember to slather it on liberally. You don't need something with vitamins or other additives. A good bet is Desitin, which you can also get as a cheap generic in most drugstores. A quick caution: Some diaper creams may contain peanut oil, which can cause babies to develop peanut allergies.
     
    Toothpaste
    
    Question: Are there any dangerous ingredients in baby toothpaste?
    
    Answer:  Thankfully, we don't know of any cancer-causing products in toothpaste. That said, kids under six tend to swallow toothpaste, which can cause 'flourosis,' a harmless but unsightly tooth staining affecting one in five kids.

    Until age three, brush toddler teeth either with just a toothbrush or a fluoride-free toothpaste like Oragel Training Toothpaste, which gets kids used to the taste. Between ages three and six you can use a pea-sized amount of any regular fluoride toothpaste, but parents should supervise kids to make sure they spit it after brushing.  
     
    Sunscreen
    
    Question: Are there particular sunscreens that are safer or more effective for babies?
    
    Answer:  We don't know if sunscreen chemicals like oxybenzone can harm babies, though we do know they enter a child's bloodstream. For concerned parents, I recommend sunblock -- not sunscreen -- for babies, since they just sit on top of the skin and don't get absorbed into the blood. (To be honest, though, there's still a lot of controversy over this designation.) \

    Children under six months should just be dressed in protective clothing. After then, I recommend sunblocks containing only titanium or zinc oxide, like Blue Lizard Australian Suncream or Neutrogena Sunblock for Sensitive Skin SPF 30. These also protect against both UVA and UVB rays, and work immediately instead of needing half-an-hour to activate, like typical sunscreens.

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 184
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• Happy Father's Day: Now Let's Happy Father's Day: Now Let's Talk About Health Screening

  • From: JanetETaylorMD
  • Description:

    In honor of our brothers, uncles, sons, dads and other great men who are fathers, let's encourage an out of the box conversation with them.

    The talk would go something like this, ' ____, I love you, and because I want you around, we need to talk. When was your last health check-up or screening?' Whaddya think? Will it go over? I think so. To guide you, here are some suggestions for screenings that are arranged by age group. Feel free to use these as a guideline or create your own. Just get the conversation going. Talk about...

    20's-Testicular Cancer Testicular cancer, although rare is a leading killer of young men between 20 and 34 from a cancer-related death. It typically presents as a painless lump or mass, scrotal enlargement or a sensation of abdominal heaviness. Risk factors are being a young age, having a history of undescended testes, and is more common in white males. Ask your doctor to teach you how to perform a self-exam.

    30's-Skin Cancer Exposure to midday sun, and poor UV protection are risks factors for melanoma. Melanomas are twenty times more common in whites than blacks and four times more common in whites than Hispanics. Still, everyone is at risk. Wearing sunscreen daily and clothes that protect UV rays can help prevent skin cancer. Be aware of moles that have irregular borders or change their shape or color.

    40's-Prostate Cancer Being a black male is associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer. Other risk factors are increased alcohol usage, a diet that is high in fats and a family history of prostate cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. Talk to your health care provider about screening tests and your individual risks in your forties.

    50's- Colon Cancer Eighty percent of colon cancer comes from polyps. These polyps can be seen and treated with a colonoscopy. Individuals with a first-degree relative who developed colon cancer prior to age 60 may be at an increased risk for colon cancer. It is very important that you discuss your risk factors and what age you should have your first colonoscopy. Some may recommend a colonoscopy prior to age 50.

    60's-Bladder Cancer Bladder cancer is two to three times more common in men than women. It is unusual to develop before the age of 50. Good screening involves regular doctor's appointments, and routine urine tests and a bladder tumor antigen. Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of bladder cancer.

    70's-Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Risk factors are being older than 65 and male, smoking, hypertension, increased cholesterol and diabetes. Males have an increased risk. An abdominal ultrasound is a good screening tool, and in some cases a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may be indicated.

    80's- Major Depression Getting depressed is not a normal part of aging. It is important to identify and treat older men who are depressed. Men, 85 and older have a higher risk of suicide than the general population. Two simple questions can serve as a screening tool. They are asking these questions, (1) under the past two weeks, have your felt down, depressed to hopeless, (2) under the past tow weeks, have you little interest in doing things that bring you pleasure.

    So, under your loving signature, add a screening tip as part of your father's day wishes.

  • Blog post
  • 1 year ago
  • Views: 75
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