Taking a role in maintaining your eyesight includes choosing a healthcare provider best suited for your needs – one that has the right training and experience, can give proper diagnosis and treatment, is informative, promotes the best possible outcome and guides care through genuine concern. Getting Started: How to Choose an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist Qualifications Make sure that the professional has the proper and adequate training to diagnose, treat and prevent…

These are some simple guidelines to follow for wearing corrective lenses or taking medicine prescribed by your eye healthcare provider. Eyeglasses Always store in a clean, dry place away from potential impact. Clean your glasses with water and a non-lint cloth, as necessary, to keep them spot-free and prevent distorted vision. See your doctor annually to check your prescription. Contact Lenses Always store your contact lenses in a clean case in fresh solution as recommended by…

It is important to maintain good ocular health. Having good ocular health means that vision is at least 20/20 or better with or without correction and that the eyes are disease-free. There are simple corrective and preventive measures to maintain good vision and enjoy lifelong ocular health. Here are some tips to keeping your eyes healthy and preventing problems: Visit Your Doctor for Regular Check-Ups You should visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist for an eye exam once every year. See…

This page will examine common misconceptions and provide some tips on how to care for your eyes—from childhood to old age. Below are some common questions people have about their eyes and relevant answers. Can crossed eyes be treated? Strabismus (crossed eyes) does not improve on its own, but it can be more easily corrected in younger children. That’s why it is important for your child to have an eye exam early, first when he or she is an infant, and then again by age…

If you have questions, or need more information about your headaches issues, view the resources below. Note: This is not a complete listing and inclusion does not imply endorsement by Cleveland Clinic. Remember to always follow the advice of your doctor and health care team. Headache Organizations American Headache Society 19 Mantua Road Mt Royal, NJ 08061 856.423.0043 National Headache Foundation 820 North Orleans, Suite 217 Chicago, IL 60610 312.274.2650 or…

By tracking your headache episodes through your headache diary, you may be able to identify specific foods that trigger your headaches. Not only can specific foods trigger a headache, but dietary habits can also play a role. Fasting, dehydration or skipping meals may cause headaches in some people. Headache Triggers There are many different foods and beverages that can contribute to headache episodes. Some of the most common foods, beverages and additives associated with headaches…

You have the right and responsibility to know what medications are being prescribed for you. The more you know about your medications and how they work, the easier it will be for you to control your symptoms. You and your doctor are partners in developing, adjusting and following an effective medication plan. Make sure that you understand and share the same treatment goals as your doctor. Talk about what you expect from medications so you can know if your treatment plan is working. Here are…

Any kind of pain that you feel is your body’s way of warning you about an injury or illness. Although headaches are rarely the symptoms of a serious illness, occasionally they may indicate a serious medical condition such as a tumor or aneurysm (blood vessel rupture). It is important for you to become familiar with your personal headache symptoms, and those that require immediate medical attention. Alarming Headache Symptoms So, what headache symptoms should cause concern? View the listing…

There are options for headache treatments that don’t require prescriptions or over-the-counter medication. Here are some tips for treating headaches yourself: Apply an ice pack to the painful area of your head. Try placing it on your forehead, temples or the back of your neck. Take a warm bath or shower. Take a nap. Take a walk. Ask someone to rub your neck and back, or treat yourself to a massage. Apply gentle, steady rotating pressure to the painful area of your head with your…

With the exception of physical therapy, many of the headache treatment approaches discussed below represent nontraditional therapies being used to manage head pain in the United States. Since most physicians today are open to consideration of alternative treatments, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor about referring you to a qualified alternative health practitioner. Alternative Headache Treatments Physical Therapy Physical therapy is a medical discipline that deals with the muscles, joints,…

Caffeine can be a double-edged sword for those with a headache: it can serve as a treatment or in some cases can cause withdrawal or a phenomenon known as “rebound” headache. The important thing to remember is that with education and moderation, caffeine can be one of the most effective treatments for headache. Caffeine as a Headache Treatment Caffeine is a common ingredient in many prescription and over-the-counter headache medications. Because analgesics work more quickly and more…

What Kind of Headache Do You Have? In order to treat a headache properly, you must first know which type of headache you suffer from. The primary types of headaches are: TensionClusterReboundMigraine Tension Headaches Tension-type headaches usually feel like a dull ache on each side of the head.Cluster Headaches Cluster headaches are rare and usually strike men. They produce sharp pain around one eye and are dubbed "cluster" headaches since they usually occur in clusters, then disappear…

When you exercise, or exert yourself physically, the muscles of the head, neck and scalp need more blood to circulate. This causes the blood vessels to swell, which can lead to a condition called exertional headaches. Headaches that most frequently occur due to exercise or over-exertion include jogger's headache and orgasmic headache (sex headache). While these may occur in isolation, they are most common in patients who have an inherited susceptibility to migraine (one or both parents have…

Why is it Important to Diagnose a Headache? The correct diagnosis is needed to begin an effective treatment plan. Early visits to your doctor are made to establish what type or classification of headache you have. Describe your headache symptoms and history as completely as possible. History of Headache Treatments A history of prior headache treatments is also an important part of the headache evaluation. Provide your doctor with a history of prior treatments — both prescribed and…

A comprehensive headache classification guide was established by the International Headache Society and includes more than 150 diagnostic headache categories. However, there are two major types of headaches: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Primary Headaches Primary headaches are not the result of another medical condition. Include tension, migraine, mixed headache syndrome and cluster headaches. Tension headaches: the most common type of primary headaches, accounting for about…

The Best Ways To Care For Skin As You Age Your skin changes with age. It becomes thinner, loses fat and no longer looks as plump and smooth as it once did. Your veins and bones can be seen more easily. Scratches, cuts or bumps can take longer to heal. Years of sun tanning or being out in the sunlight for a long time can lead to wrinkles, dryness, age spots and even cancer. But there are things you can do to help your skin. Wrinkles Over time, skin begins to wrinkle. Things in the…

With new skin products introduced daily, the differences among the products can be hard to understand. View the listing below to learn more about the ingredients in your favorite skin products, as well as those that aren’t familiar to you. Always check with your dermatologist before starting a new skincare regimen. Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAS) Over-the-counter skin care products containing alpha-hydroxy acids have become increasingly popular over the last five years. Creams and lotions with…

Dermatologists, or skin care doctors, have expertise in the care of normal skin, as well as in the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of skin diseases, including skin cancers. Dermatologists can also diagnose and treat patients with disorders affecting the hair and nails. In addition, dermatologists are knowledgeable in the management of cosmetic disorders of the skin (such as hair loss and scars). What Do Dermatologists Do? Dermatologists often perform specialized diagnostic…

We expose ourselves to the sun every day, which can cause damage to our skin without us even knowing. We need to protect ourselves from sun damage, because it can wear our skin down, cause wrinkling or sunburn and, in extreme cases, skin cancer. Does the Sun Have Benefits? You may have been taught as a child that you need sunlight for your body to make vitamin D, because vitamin D is not found naturally in most foods. Milk is fortified with vitamin D as well as other foods and drinks. And one…

Keeping your skin healthy in the elements can be the easiest first step to protecting your skin. Excessive dryness can damage skin over time, and being out in the sun all afternoon can hurt your appearance. By focusing on these aspects of skin health, you can have a good starting point to looking younger and staying cancer-free. Dry Skin Care Dry skin is defined as flaking or scaling when there is no evidence of inflammation of the skin. It is most prominent on the shins, hands and sides of…