The team at Berks Eye Physicians and Surgeons greatly values your ocular health, and we want to help you enjoy clear vision as long as possible. One of the most important ways to ensure the long-term health of your eyes is to have regular comprehensive eye exams.

Often our doctors use dilating drops prior to eye exams. Dilating your eyes allows more light into your eyes, giving our doctors a clear look all the way into the back of your eyes.  Think of dilation as a way of opening a door to see inside a room, instead of trying to look through a peephole.

Not only can we spot problems like a torn retina or an eye tumor during dilated eye exams, we can also catch signs of systemic diseases early — sometimes before a primary care doctor or specialist has a chance to diagnose these conditions.

Regular eye exams are critical, even if you have not noticed any changes in your vision. Exams can detect eye diseases that don’t cause any noticeable symptoms in the early stages.

What you eat can have a big impact on your eye and vision health. Fortunately, many foods that are good for your eyes also taste great and have other health benefits. In this post, the team at Berks Eye Physicians and Surgeons discusses 20 foods that are great for your eye health.

Learning you have an eye condition or vision problem can be a challenging experience. Your eye doctor will be giving you a lot of information about your condition and treatment options, and it’s important that you understand what you need to do to keep your eyes healthy.

In this post, the team at Berks Eye Physicians and Surgeons gives their tips for communicating effectively with your eye doctor.

Pterygium or “surfer’s eye” is an elevated, wedge-shaped growth on the eyeball that begins on the white of the eye (sclera) and can extend to the cornea. Although benign, pterygium can become quite bothersome if left untreated.

The eye doctors at Berks Eye Physicians and Surgeons have years of experience treating patients with pterygium. Here, we explain what causes the eye condition. (more…)

The number of people hospitalized with an eye injury, regardless of whether it was the primary or secondary injury, is on the rise. According to a cohort study, the number rose by 18 percent over 13 years and researchers believe the majority of the increase is due to falls among adults age 65 and older.

The good news is that there are several things you can do to keep you and your loved ones safe. Here, Berks Eye Physicians and Surgeons shares more information on the study and how you can avoid fall-induced injuries. (more…)

Do you find yourself closing your eyes, squinting or shielding your eyes when exposed to light? You may have light sensitivity or photophobia, a common and usually benign symptom that causes slight and momentary discomfort. Most light-sensitive people are only bothered by bright lights, whether it be sunlight or harsh indoor lighting. But in severe cases any light can irritate the eyes.

Although photophobia is not an eye disease, it can be a sign of a serious underlying problem. Here, the team at Berks Eye Physicians and Surgeons discusses the causes of and treatment options for light sensitivity. (more…)

Hormones are chemical messengers created in the endocrine glands that control and coordinate most of the body’s functions, including sleep, mood, hunger and reproduction. Increased or insufficient hormone levels can affect nearly every part of the body, including the eyes.

Here, the team at Berks Eye Physicians and Surgeons reveals some of the surprising ways hormonal fluctuations that occur throughout life can affect the eyes and vision. (more…)

There are many factors that influence the aging process, including diet, physical activity and other lifestyle choices. Based on the results of a new study, it appears that visual acuity can also play a part in how quickly our minds decline with age.

A research team sponsored by the National Eye Institute and the National Institute on Aging found a link between worsening vision and the loss of mental capacity in older adults. Their findings hint that preserving good vision could help stave off cognitive decline.

In this post, the team at Berks Eye Physicians and Surgeons shares more details about this compelling research. (more…)