Access Eye Blog

You Don’t Have to Suffer Through Scratchy Dry Eyes: OptiLight Can Help

An estimated 16.7 to 50.2 million Americans struggle with dry eye symptoms that affect their daily activities and quality of life. Most of these dry eye cases are caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), in which the eyelid glands stop secreting enough oil and cause rapid tear evaporation. Untreated, dry eyes can cause severe damage […]

How Your Eyes Change with Age, and When to See an Eye Doctor

Vision changes can be a normal part of aging but may also be a warning sign of a severe eye disease or condition. The risk of eye diseases increases with age, with cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma being the worst offenders. However, the blurry near vision starting around age 40 is expected […]

LipiScan™ Improves Dry Eye Diagnosis with High-Def Images of Eyelid Glands

Access Eye is excited to share the addition of LipiScan™ dynamic meibomian imager to our arsenal in diagnosing and treating dry eye disease. LipiScan™ technology captures high-definition images of the meibomian glands in the eyelids to diagnose meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) accurately. MGD is responsible for an estimated 86% of dry eye cases, and LipiScan™ […]

When to Seek Help for Eye Allergies? Warning Signs You Need an Optometrist

Eye allergies typically affect both eyes and cause itching, redness, swelling, and other uncomfortable symptoms. Also called allergic conjunctivitis, eye allergies can be confused with other conditions, such as dry eye disease. Men and women struggling with eye allergy symptoms should schedule an eye exam and allergy testing to determine what’s causing their issues and find relief with […]

How UVA and UVB Rays from Sun Exposure Damage Your Eyes

Most people understand that they need to apply sunscreen to exposed skin every day before leaving the house, but it’s only when their eyes squint in the glaring sun that they remember the importance of sunglasses. However, UV light from the sun’s rays can do just as much ocular damage on a cloudy day as […]

How Amniotic Membranes Improve Eye Care for Corneal and Conjunctival Diseases

Human amniotic membranes are highly effective for mending chronic wounds that won’t heal and fail to respond to traditional treatments. These slivers of amniotic tissue taken from the placenta during elective cesarean sections have been used by the medical community for nearly a century, but only in the past decade have optometrists and other eye […]

What Is MIGS and How Can It Help My Glaucoma?

Patients and Beatles fans alike exclaim, “Help! I need somebody.” If you are suffering from glaucoma, then you don’t need just anybody. You need one of the talented members of the Access Eye team. The good news is that our team offers a number of glaucoma treatment options to patients from our offices in Fredericksburg, […]

How Do I Choose What Type of Contact Lenses To Wear?

You have a lot of choices when it comes to contact lenses. It can be difficult to know where to start and the number of options can seem overwhelming. Don’t worry! You don’t have to choose your contact lenses alone. The Access Eye team is happy to help by providing contact lens advice. Schedule an […]

4 Things Everyone Should Know About Macular Degeneration

The macula is an important part of the eye. Located in the center of the retina, the macula is responsible for central vision, most of our color vision and fine, detailed vision. Macular degeneration is a disease that impacts a person’s central vision. Here, the talented eye doctors at Access Eye discuss four things everyone […]

Why Dry Eye Strikes in the Winter

It’s easy to find things to look forward to in the winter. From the crackling fireplaces to the glittering lights, winter can bring a feeling of warmth and joy. Unfortunately, winter can also lead to or worsen dry eye disease. If you are the one of the many who suffer from dry eye in the […]

It’s Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month — What You Should Know

November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month in the United States. It is important to raise awareness on this subject because many people do not realize how debilitating diabetes can be for ocular health. To do their part in helping fulfill this month’s mission, the dedicated optometrists and ophthalmologists at Access Eye in Fredericksburg, Stafford, […]

What Does an Optometrist Look For During Your Eye Exam?

If you are like many patients, you may not know what the individual tests included in an eye exam are attempting to measure, but you trust that your optometrist has good reason for asking you to participate. At Access Eye, our team of optometrists performs comprehensive eye exams for patients in Virginia every day. Here, […]

Here’s Why You Should Ask Your Relatives About Their Eye Health

Patients expect their physicians to ask about family history of heart disease, cancer and addiction, but they are generally less prepared when their eye doctor asks similar questions about their parents’ and grandparents’ eye health. If that’s a topic you’ve never broached with your loved ones, it may be time to do so. In this […]

Eye Floaters and When to Seek Treatment?

Eye floaters are small specks or strings that show up and drift around in your field of vision. For over 40 years, the award-winning team of eye doctors at Access Eye have helped patients in the Fredericksburg, Stafford, King George and Spotsylvania area by treating their floaters. Here, these doctors explain when it makes sense […]

Nearsightedness How Life Gets Better When You Overcome It

Do you see clearly when you look at objects up close but have difficulty when focusing your eyes on something in the distance? This is an indication you have myopia (or nearsightedness,) a refractive error that affects over 30% of Americans. At Access Eye, our talented doctors treat patients with myopia daily, which allows them to live […]

Keep Your Eyes Safe This Summer with These Tips

Now that summer has arrived, chances are that you are spending more time outdoors. While you get some much-needed fresh air, the team at Access Eye also encourages you to protect your eyes. To help you get through the summer without developing any serious eye conditions, diseases or injuries, our eye doctors have prepared this list of tips: Wear Quality […]

How to Put On Scleral Lenses

Scleral lenses are rigid gas permeable (RGP) and significantly larger than traditional contact lenses. The size and shape of these lenses allow them to rest against the sclera (the white, outer part of the eyeball) rather than atop the cornea. Patients who wear scleral lenses generally find them to be more comfortable, better at providing […]

What Is a Cataract?

If you are like most people, you may not give much thought to cataracts — at least not until they impact your own vision. However, because cataracts affect fully half the U.S. population age 80 and over, it is certainly worthwhile to know about them before they pose a problem. To better educate you about […]

Wear Contact Lenses? Why You Should Always Have a Pair of Backup Glasses

At Access Eye, we love to help our patients make the switch to contact lenses. Most people love the convenience, ease, comfort and invisibility that contacts afford. However, our optometrists still strongly recommend that patients who love their contact lenses keep a pair of glasses at home. These backup glasses offer you an option when […]