Summit Eye Center Blog

The much anticipated solar eclipse is just a few days away! Here are some things you should know about the eclipse and how to protect your eyes when observing this celestial event.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes completely in front of the sun, and causes a period of darkness. Witnessing a celestial event such as a solar eclipse is a unique and fun experience for everyone, but safety should be of utmost importance!

Looking directly at the sun and viewing an eclipse, even for a few seconds without appropriate eye protection, can cause solar retinopathy. Solar retinopathy is a condition that results from UV light damage to the retina. The retina is the thin tissue in the back of the eye that captures light and sends a message to the brain in the form of electrical signals. Solar retinopathy causes permanent damage to the vision in varying degrees, and changes in vision can typically be noticed within hours of looking at the sun or eclipse. 1

In order to safely observe the solar eclipse, it is important to utilize the appropriate eye protection. Eclipse glasses are not regular sunglasses, appropriate eclipse glasses are much more protective and ought to comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.

Here is a comprehensive list of reputable brands and retailers of appropriate eclipse glasses.

If you notice any vision changes that do not improve within 24-48 hours following viewing the eclipse, schedule an appointment with your eyecare provider.

To learn more or schedule an appointment contact Summit Eye Center at 816-246-2111 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This blog is authored by Taylor Oswald, ophthalmic assistant and University of Missouri Kansas City- Health Sciences Intern.

Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) is an eye disease that impacts the macula. The macula is the central part of the retina in the back of the eye that is responsible for the detailed, central vision. In individuals with vision impacting ARMD the central vision is hindered in varying degrees. This vision loss can impact a person's ability to recognize faces, read books, drive, and complete daily tasks.

ARMD is characterized by drusen in the macula. The cells of the retina produce waste products from their cellular functions. Aging causes the body’s process of packaging and eliminating this waste to be less effective over time. The waste product, made of proteins and lipids, accumulates and develops into what are called drusen. Drusen occur naturally with age, but when they become large clumps or clusters they are characterized as a sign of ARMD.

There are two types of ARMD; wet and dry. The dry type of macular degeneration is generally slowly progressing and is characterized by drusen. The wet type of macular degeneration develops when dry ARMD begins to bleed. This type progresses more quickly and causes a decrease in vision over a short period of time.

Risk factors for developing ARMD include:

- being over the age of 60
- have a family history of ARMD
- smoking
- having high blood pressure
- being overweight or obese

Knowing the risk factors of ARMD allows individuals to make lifestyle choices that can help reduce their risk of developing the disease. Avoiding smoking and smoking cessation can greatly reduce your risk of developing ARMD. Additionally, eating a healthy diet with many colorful fruits and vegetables, while remaining physically active is beneficial in reducing the risk of developing ARMD.

If a person has a family history of ARMD or has early signs of the disease an ophthalmologist or optometrist may recommend the AREDS-2 vitamin formulation. The 5 year study of the AREDS-2 vitamin formulation determined that in individuals diagnosed with ARMD, taking the vitamin slowed disease progression. While the vitamin is safe to take even if a person has not been diagnosed with ARMD, there is no evidence to suggest that it prevents ARMD from occurring.

Currently there is no cure for ARMD, but there are treatments. In individuals with dry ARMD, taking the AREDS-2 vitamin, and modifying lifestyle choices to reduce risk factors are recommended. Medication treatment options are available for individuals with wet ARMD, and certain types of advanced dry ARMD.

Annual comprehensive dilated eye exams are important to monitor for changes related to ARMD. Sudden changes or decrease in vision should be reported immediately to your eye care provider. The costs of diagnosing and managing macular degeneration are covered under medical insurance including Medicare and other commercial insurance plans.

Summit Eye Center physicians Dr. Skelsey and Dr. Kleinsasser are skilled in diagnosing and monitoring ARMD. To learn more or schedule an appointment contact Summit Eye Center at 816-246-2111 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This blog is authored by Taylor Oswald, ophthalmic assistant and University of Missouri Kansas City- Health Sciences Intern.

Citations

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2023, September 21). Treatments for wet macular degeneration. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wet-macular-degeneration/in-depth/treatments-for-wet-macular-degeneration/art-20538639?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoKeuBhCoARIsAB4WxtdpxuEAk5dVgh4j1u17QiRkMkqu6sSNQ3sg4XDSD126HreQvemD6E4aAhwLEALw_wcB
Medeiros, S., & Hazanchuk, V. (2021, January 11). Lower your risk of macular degeneration. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/top-5-risk-factors-amd
Porter, D. (2023, April 26). What are Drusen?. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-drusen
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, January 9). Age-related eye disease studies (areds/AREDS2). National Eye Institute. https://www.nei.nih.gov/research/clinical-trials/age-related-eye-disease-studies-aredsareds2

What is astigmatism? This is a question many have for one of the most common vision problems. At least 30% of the US population has some level of astigmatism. We will answer everything you need to know about astigmatism in this blog. Yes, it is “astigmatism” not “stigmatism” as it is commonly referred to. You don’t have “a stigmatism”...you have astigmatism.

What is Astigmatism?

Similar to nearsightedness and farsightedness, astigmatism is a refractive error. It is simply a problem with how the eye focuses light. It is not a disease or eye health problem.

Is LASIK right for me? If you answer yes to the questions below, then LASIK is likely a good option to decrease your need for glasses and/or contact lenses.

Are you over the age of 18 with stable vision? By waiting until a patient is at least 18 years old, we minimize the chance that a person’s nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism is going to continue to change. Your vision should be stable over the last 12 months at least.

How do I know if LASIK is an option for me?

LASIK is an excellent option for many people to improve their vision without glasses or contact lenses. The best way to determine if you qualify for LASIK is through an eye exam with your eye doctor.

Here are some general guidelines:
• You must be at least 18 years old
• You must have healthy eyes – no evidence of a condition that could affect the healing process
• You cannot be pregnant or nursing, as your hormonal levels can affect measurements

What is Nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness, myopia, is the most common cause of vision problem in people under the age of 40. The number of people with nearsightedness continues to grow. Just a few decades ago, the number of Americans with myopia was about 25%. Today, over 40% of Americans are nearsighted. In fact, it is projected globally that 50% of the world’s population will be myopic by 2050.

Signs and Symptoms of Myopia

Children who are nearsighted often struggle to see things on the board at school or are unable to see things like a clock or television clearly. Adults, typically struggle seeing road signs or recognizing faces across a room. Individuals may squint to see these distant objects. However, these people will be able to see well for near tasks such as reading and working on a computer.

Steph Curry has made headlines this spring when it was revealed that he had played with less than 20/20 vision until he was recently fit with contact lenses. This makes one think how vision demands vary from sport to sport. Some sports can allow athletes with supreme athleticism to excel despite less than perfect vision. Others require the best vision possible in order for athletes to perform at an elite level.

We are entering the prime “Wedding Season”. There is so much involved with planning for your wedding, likely starting months before the big date. Who do you invite? Where is the wedding? Where is the reception? What do you wear? What does the wedding party wear? The list goes on and on.

#10) New Parents

Imagine not having to reach for your glasses before caring for your newborn in the middle of the night. Who doesn’t want to just go to bed when they are tired without the hassle of first removing your contact lenses?

#9) Sunglasses

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to just grab that stylish pair of sunglass off the shelf and not have to worry if your glasses prescription can be put in those frames?

One of the most common questions patients have about LASIK continues to be, “Is LASIK safe?” The answer to this question is a definite YES! They will then follow up with, “Is LASIK safe for my eyes?” The only way we can answer this question is with a thorough LASIK evaluation. The doctors at Summit Eye Center are available to perform this evaluation.

First, what evidence do we have that LASIK is safe?

The rate of safety for LASIK ranks among the highest of any medical procedure today. Both the safety and benefit of LASIK have been documented in a large number of scientific journals and clinical studies. In fact in the first ten years after LASIK’s FDA approval in 1998, there were over 300 published, peer-reviewed clinical studies.

Thanks to Mother Nature, the 2018-19 school year ran a bit longer in many of the Kansas City area school districts. Now that we have finally entered summer vacation, Summit Eye Centerer wants to provide a discount on LASIK laser vision correction to teachers this summer. This is in appreciation for the role they play in molding the young minds of future generations.

Spring brings with it a renewed energy to tackle the latest fitness trends as we strive to improve our physical fitness. If you are a HIIT enthusiast, swimmer or jogger...LASIK can make your workout experience better. This week’s blog will breakdown how glasses can be a hindrance with various fitness routines.

HIIT

Are you finding yourself moving your phone closer to you and further away trying to find the sweet spot where the text is clear? Do you have the text size on your phone set to the largest size? Do you have to pull your head back when your kid puts something in front of your face to read? If you answered yes to these questions you are likely developing presbyopia.

Presbyopia is a normal aging change of the natural crystalline lens, which sits right behind the pupil within the eye. When we are young, this lens is able to change shape to focus from distance to near. As we age, this lens hardens. At some point in our 40s, this hardening reaches a point that we find ourselves holding things further away to maintain clarity while reading. Eventually, things are still blurry when we hold things at arms length. This is when we move on to reading glasses or bifocals to help. As we continue to age the strength of these reading glasses or bifocals will need to increase in power until around age 60 when things typically will plateau.

As we enter August, students heading off to college are a common theme. These young men and women are embarking on their first period of independence. They are living away from home, making choices on how they balance their studies with the social experiences that will shape their early adulthood.

LASIK provides a safe, effective alternative to glasses and contact lenses. No longer will these students have to reach for glasses before they start the day. No longer will they have to endure the daily grind of putting in contact lenses every morning and then taking them out prior to going to bed.

When you reach different milestones throughout your life, LASIK is worth considering to enhance one’s lifestyle or simply as a reward. LASIK is a safe, effective procedure to reduce one’s needs for glasses and contact lenses. It can help provide you with hassle-free vision to better enjoy life visually. It can also be a reward for the hard work that was required to conquer a particular task. Why not relieve yourself of the need for glasses and contacts?

One of the most common questions patients have about LASIK continues to be, “Is LASIK safe?” The answer to this question is a definite YES! They will then follow up with, “Is LASIK safe for my eyes?” The only way we can answer this question is with a thorough LASIK evaluation. The doctors at Summit Eye Center are available to perform this evaluation.

First, what evidence do we have that LASIK is safe?

The rate of safety for LASIK ranks among the highest of any medical procedure today. Both the safety and benefit of LASIK have been documented in a large number of scientific journals and clinical studies. In fact in the first ten years after LASIK’s FDA approval in 1998, there were over 300 published, peer-reviewed clinical studies.

How Our Vision Changes Over One’s Lifetime

Kids and Teenagers Age 8-17

It is important to monitor children’s eye health with annual eye exams. As their bodies are developing, vision changes can occur. Often, nearsightedness will develop during these years. Children will experience increased visual demands as their schoolwork becomes more advanced and they begin driving toward the end of this timeframe. During these years, children will participate in sporting activities that require optimal vision and sometimes eye protection. Having a comprehensive eye examination ensures that their eyes are healthy and seeing to the best they can. Common visual treatments during this stage are glasses and contact lenses.

Glare around streetlights and headlights is making driving at night difficult and your overall vision just doesn’t seem to be as good it once was...your eye doctor tells you that cataracts are causing your problems.

Common Myths About LASIK

Do you have astigmatism and think that eliminates the possibility of LASIK? Do feel that you are too old for LASIK? At Summit Eye Center, we commonly hear people state various reasons why they feel that LASIK is not a good option for them. Often these beliefs are not correct and in fact the patient is a good candidate for LASIK. We would like to clear up some of these misconceptions in this blog.

Myth #1: LASIK Does Not Correct Astigmatism

Just like nearsightedness and farsightedness, Astigmatism can be corrected by LASIK. Astigmatism is simply and “out-of-roundness” to the cornea, the clear layer over the colored part of the eye. The more “out-of-round” the cornea is, the higher the level of astigmatism. LASIK works by reshaping the cornea to allow one to see better without glasses or contact lenses. Therefore, LASIK is a great option to correct astigmatism. Just like every patient who is nearsighted or farsighted is not a candidate for LASIK, the same can be said for patients with astigmatism. However, most who are nearsighted, farsighted or have astigmatism are candidates for LASIK.

It seems that more frequently then ever we are seeing reports of natural disasters disrupting the lives of people all over the world. Have you ever taken a moment to think how you would respond if a tornado, flood, fire or other natural disaster hit your home, work or place you are visiting? Depending on where you are and any advanced warning that is available, your level of preparedness will vary. If you rely on glasses or contact lenses to see well, extra considerations are needed to ensure the safety of your eyes and your vision both during and after a natural disaster.

LASIK and other vision correction procedures are popular choices for first responders in need of vision correction. They need to be confident that there vision is clear, comfortable and dependable at all times, no matter the environment. They not only need this vision at the drop of a hat when disaster hits, but also for the hours to weeks of hard and potentially dangerous work required to keep people and property from harms way after the disaster.