Retinal Detachments

Retinal detachments, while rare (affects about one in every 15,000 people), are very dangerous and can cause blindness in a matter of days. While usually spontaneous, people who are very nearsighted or have had previous eye injuries or surgeries are more susceptible to retinal detachments.
There are three main types of detachments: exudative, tractional, and rhegmatogenous. Exudative retinal detachments are caused by fluid leakage underneath the retina, usually from a tumor, birth defect, or inflammatory disease. Tractional retinal detachments are caused by pulling on the retina from within, usually from scar tissue. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments occur because fluid within the eye enters a hole or tear and causes the retina to separate from the inner wall of the eyeball.
When the retina is getting tugged on, you can often see a flash of light. Depending on how hard the tug and how often, the light flashes can vary in intensity and frequency. If the traction is successful in creating a hole or tear, you can often see a "floater" or even a shower of "floaters" in your vision. "Floaters" look like spots or strings in your vision and can vary in size, shape, and opacity. Once a hole or tear is formed, there is a passageway for fluid to enter it. As fluid enters and the retina separates from the wall of the eyeball, you will lose vision in that area. Depending on how much fluid enters, you may notice either extreme darkness or a subtle change in your peripheral vision. It is often described as a "cloud" or "curtain/veil" that starts to form in your peripheral vision and usually spreads towards your central vision.  This vision loss is painless. 
The best way to check for a retinal detachment if you have any symptoms is to get a thorough eye exam with dilation right away. The best way to prevent a retinal detachment is to get regular eye examinations with dilation to check for any holes or tears before they allow fluid to enter. The earlier a hole/tear/detachment can be detected, the more likely it can be repaired simply with laser or freezing therapy rather than a complicated scleral buckle procedure or a vitrectomy.

Spring Cleaning

We've decided to move our "New Arrivals" and other features previously highlighted in this blog to our facebook page. Visit us at www.facebook.com/CypressTSO to become a fan. We'll be giving away a pair of BCBG or Cole Haan sunglasses to one lucky fan a week for the next 6 weeks, so go "like" the TSO Cypress facebook page today!

On that note, we've decided to dedicate the blog more to issues that I often get asked during examinations and interesting cases. If you have a topic that you would like addressed in this blog, please submit them. Our next topic will be retinal detachments.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

The TSO Cypress family wishes everyone the luck of the irish today!

Winners, Winners!

Congratulations to the last round of winners in our rodeo ticket give-away!  Please come by the office to pick up your tickets and have a great time!

Kid Rock - Devon Sowell and Michelle Bledsoe
Kiss - Matt Routh
Miranda Lambert - Tyler Currie and Caitlyn Barrow
Zac Brown Band - Terry Oliver
Alan Jackson - Sabrina McClure
Brad Paisley - Mike and Janyce Kerns
Jason Aldean - Kay Doebler

Find us on Facebook!

Visit us at www.facebook.com/CypressTSO and Like us to get the latest information about what's going on at your local Texas State Optical

Winners!

Congratulations to the following winners of this week's Rodeo tickets!

Keith Urban: kendall Womack, Evelyn Hernandez, Jenny Wu
Martina McBride: Nadia Beltran, Mary Welch
Rascal Flatts: Cindy Combs, Leana Karkour
Lady Antebellum: Gaynell Van Lue, Alina Kennedy
Gary Allen: Brian Horak, Cheyenne Youd
La Arrolladora Banda El Limon/LaLeyenda: Alberta Martinez, Gerardo Gomez

One more week left, come in to sign up for a chance to win tickets to: Kid Rock, KISS, Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, or Jason Aldean!

New Arrivals

Our optical boutique has brought in two new lines.  Columbia is a brand that has "focused on making the outdoors more enjoyable for everyone, and on getting more people out the door!"  If you're going for a casual sporty look, in a durable frame, these glasses are for you.  If you are more inclined towards chic, sophisticated sensibility, then Theory is the line for you.  Come into the office to try them on!