Are your eyes looking a little tired? When you look in the mirror do your upper eyelids droop and cover your eyes? You may have a condition called acquired ptosis and we can help.
Take a look in the mirror. What do you see?
Acquired ptosis or “low lying lids” usually occurs when the muscles in the eyelid stretch and weaken, causing the lid to droop. It affects adults of all ages, but occurs more often with increased age. It may also be caused by other issues such as cataract surgery, contact lens wear, or an underlying medical condition.
In addition to affecting your appearance, low-lying eyelids can also impact your eyesight by reducing your field of vision. Low-lying eyelids may lead to issues with reading, driving, and computer use. They can make you look tired, cause the appearance of asymmetrical eyes, or other cosmetic concerns.
Imagine an EYE-OPENING Lift with just a daily eyedrop!
Upneeq is the only FDA-approved prescription eyedrop for acquired ptosis that lifts your upper eyelids to open your eyes.
Upneeq lifts your eyelids quickly – Most patients in clinical trials had a lift in their eyelids in as little as two hours – some patients saw a lift in their eyelids as fast as 5 minutes after the first dose!
84% of patients had some level of improvement- and 74% of patients had more than a 50% improvement!
Upneeq significantly improves the upper field of vision. In clinical trials, Upneeq helped patients with acquired ptosis see more- - on the first day of treatment!
Upneeq is also safe and well- tolerated - In clinical trials, Upneeq was proven to be safe and effective when used as directed.
So what is Upneeq? Upneeq (oxymetazoline hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) is a prescribed eyedrop used to treat low-lying lids in adults. The doctors at Koetting Eye Center have a great deal of experience with this medication and have prescribed it to many of our patients with an amazing rate of success.
Our doctors can perform specific tests to accurately diagnose your type of low- lying lids and determine whether Upneeq may work for you. They will also review your full medical history before prescribing Upneeq.
Call our office today to schedule an appointment and ask for a free sample dose of Upneeq to see what a difference it can make to your appearance and to your vision! Most patients will see a result within a few minutes!
Look younger, more well- rested and see better today!
Call our Brentwood office at 314-863-0000 or our Ellisville office at 636-256-7800 to schedule now!
Smoking is a habit which carries many dangers. Most people know that smoking can cause lung cancer and heart disease, but smoking actually causes damage to every organ in the body including the eyes. Studies show that smoking increases the risk of developing many serious eye conditions such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma- all of which pose a significant threat to your eyesight.
The Cataract Connection:
Smokers are twice as likely to develop cataracts, which are the world’s leading cause of blindness. Luckily, cataracts can be reversed by surgery so any loss of vision they cause is usually temporary, but such vision loss includes faded color perception, decreased night vision, blurred or double vision and light sensitivity. Unfortunately, some sight-threatening conditions caused by smoking can be permanent.
Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD):
Smokers are three times as likely to develop Age Related Macular Degeneration. And, not only do they have an increased risk of developing AMD, they are more likely to get it earlier in life. Vision loss due to Macular Degeneration is progressive and permanent. The macula is the area in the retina which gives us our sharpest and most detailed vision. For patients with AMD, the macula deteriorates over time resulting in permanent blindness.
Can’t “Sugarcoat” these facts:
Smoking increases the risk of developing type 2 Diabetes by as much as 40%. Additionally, it makes people more vulnerable to diabetes related eye conditions. Diabetic Retinopathy occurs when weakened blood vessels at the back of the eye start to leak blood into the field of vision and decrease the amount of oxygen to the retina. This problem will get progressively worse over time, especially when diabetes is not well controlled.
Non Smokers aren’t safe either:
Obviously smokers will be affected the most, but don’t forget that secondhand smoke is dangerous too. Non-smokers who are frequently exposed to secondhand smoke are at greater risk for lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Children who live with smokers will have more frequent pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis, asthma attacks, and increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
But vaping is better, right?
According to e-cigarette or vaping companies vaping is a “safer” alternative to smoking, but that’s just not true. Many of the chemicals in cigarettes which cause an increased risk of these sight-threatening conditions are present in e-cigarette fluids as well. The fact is there is no safe or healthy way to consume tobacco.
Break the Habit Now- or better yet, don’t ever start:
We know that there are other factors involved with many of the eye conditions discussed in this article. There are genetic, environmental or age- related factors which also increase the likelihood of disease, but the risks associated with smoking are preventable. Don’t smoke. Quit if you can- or don’t start in the first place. Don’t expose children to secondhand smoke. Take good care of yourself- eat healthy, stay active, and schedule regular eye exams. If you can’t quit then it is even more important to receive regular eyecare as early detection is crucial to disease management.
Perhaps you’ve seen the holiday movie: Ralph desperately wants a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas but is met with a disturbing refrain each time he mentions it. “You’ll shoot your eye out!” says his mother, his teacher and even Santa himself! And lo and behold, when he finally gets the desired gift, he injures his eye and breaks his glasses. Most kids probably won’t get a BB gun this Christmas, but many will receive something that has the potential to be pretty dangerous.
Nerf guns come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes and are extremely popular toys for kids and adults alike. However, there have been many safety issues regarding the toy guns that can leave parents feeling hesitant about purchasing them.
Nerf darts are soft and made of foam and not inherently dangerous, but if shot in the wrong way, they can cause corneal abraisions (scratches), bleeding, cataracts, and even retinal detachments due to the vulnerability of the eyes which can be easily damaged on impact. Ultimately the question of safety comes down to the user. Nerf guns can be a great tool to develop motor skills and coordination, they’re lots of fun, and with the right guidelines we can learn to use them safely and enjoy them.
One way to ensure safety is with safety glasses or goggles. It’s a good idea to wear safety eyewear during any play involving projectile objects, specifically for small children or during serious games like Nerf wars.
Some other good general rules for Nerf play include the following:
Never shoot at the face.
Never look into the barrel of the Nerf gun- even if you think it’s not loaded.
Only shoot at others that are “playing” and are aware that you’re aiming at them.
Don’t shoot at or from a moving vehicle.
Do not walk around with your finger on the trigger- wait until you are ready to aim and shoot at
your target.
Do not shoot at close range.
Any guns that shoot projectiles should be considered “dangerous” in order to ensure proper
usage and precautions.
Never leave a loaded Nerf gun within reach of a child or individual that is not able to use the toy
safely and properly.
Accidents happen and eyes can be injured by many “harmless” objects as well as Nerf darts, but using proper safety precautions and good common sense, many accidents can be avoided and a lot of fun can be had.
Use discretion and consider the age and maturity of the child when selecting these types of toys, and have a safe and Happy Holiday!
We love our patients and we are thankful for them each and every day, but with Thanksgiving quickly approaching we would like to take the opportunity to formally express our heartfelt gratitude. We will never be able to fully explain how much each of you mean to us, but we will give it our best…
We thank you for your confidence and trust.
It is our honor and pleasure to provide your eyecare. We know there are many choices out there, so we don’t take lightly the fact that you have chosen us and that you choose to return each year.
Thank you for reminding us why we’re here.
We are blessed to have the opportunity to help others and when we see your excitement as you pick up your new glasses, or try contacts for the first time, it makes us happy too! When we can offer you some relief from pain, a solution to your dry eyes, or medication for your ailments, we feel gratified. When we can give you assurance that your eyes are healthy and that everything is good, it brings us joy. When we see you each year and catch up on your lives and families, it makes our busy workday a delight. We are rewarded daily for our effort and we love what we do.
Thank you for being happy to see us too!
On days we have to be away, it makes us feel so good to hear you say “I missed you the last time I was here”. It means so much to know that you look forward to seeing us like we look forward to seeing you!
You make us who we are.
Our patients are what make our practice- we would not be the Koetting Eye Center without you! You are people seeking help- not just another job in our day- and we are so grateful that you believe in us and allow us the privilege of caring for you.
And so we would like to say…
Thank you.
From the bottom of all our hearts.
We hope you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a blessed holiday season filled with laughter and good cheer!
If you need a joke for Halloween, look no further. We have compiled 31 funny(ish) jokes for your tricks and treats.
What do you call a dinosaur with no eyes? Do-you-think-he-saurus?
What do ghosts with poor eyesight wear? Spooktacles.
What do you call a pirate with two eyes and two legs? A rookie.
What do you call two ducks and a cow? Quackers and milk.
What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie? Sofishticated.
What do you call a factory that makes OK products? A satisfactory.
What did the janitor say when he jumped out of the closet? SUPPLIES!
Why do seagulls fly over the ocean? Because if they flew over the bay they’d be bagels.
What has more letters than the alphabet? The post office.
How do you get a squirrel to like you? Act like a nut.
What do you call it when a snowman throws a tantrum? A meltdown.
What does a bee use to brush his hair? A honeycomb.
I was going to tell a time- traveling joke but you guys didn’t like it.
What do clouds wear? Thunderwear.
What did one computer browser say to another? Would you like a cookie?
Why didn’t anyone want to go trick or treating with Dracula? Because he’s a pain in the neck.
Where does Dracula keep his money? At the blood bank.
What do you call an angry carrot? A steamed vegetable!
Why do cows wear bells? Their horns don’t work.
What do lawyers wear to court? Lawsuits!
What’s brown and sticky? A stick!
What do you call a sad cup of coffee? Depresso
What goes up and down but doesn’t move? Stairs.
What do you call a hippie’s wife? Mississippi
Why did the smartphone have to wear glasses? It lost all of its contacts.
Where is the eye located? Between the H and J.
What do you call a duck that gets straight A’s? A wise quacker.
How do baby cats learn to swim? In the kitty pool.
Why don’t elephants chew gum? They do. Just not in public.
What did the banana say to the dog? Nothing - bananas can’t talk!
What does an evil hen lay? Deviled eggs!
Have fun out there and be safe! Remember not to wear masks that inhibit clear vision and be careful with makeup and glitter around the eyes. Also be sure to bring a flashlight so you can see any obstacles or tree branches that could cause injury.
Happy Halloween from all of us at Koetting Eye Center!
