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Big News: Orchard Park Vision Care Office Reopens with a Fresh Look!

We are delighted to announce the reopening of our Orchard Park eye care center, which officially took place on Monday, October 30th. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for us, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with our cherished southtown community. 

A Commitment to Excellence 


At our Orchard Park center, we’ve poured our hearts into a comprehensive revitalization, driven by our unwavering commitment to delivering top-tier eye care that exceeds your expectations for both quality and service. Our mission is simple – to provide exceptional eye care while treating you as not just a patient, but as a unique individual. 

What’s New: 

  • Spacious Environment: The new center boasts a more spacious and comfortable setting, creating a welcoming and soothing atmosphere for all our patients. 
  • Cutting-Edge Technology: We’ve invested in state-of-the-art medical equipment to ensure that you receive the highest standard of care. Your eye health is our priority, and we’ve equipped our center accordingly. 
  • Expanded Optical Shop: Our Optical Shop has nearly doubled in size, offering an even wider selection of eyewear, frames, and accessories to cater to your style and vision needs. 

A Team Dedicated to You 

Our entire team, including our skilled ophthalmologists and dedicated staff, are united by a singular goal – to care for you as a person, not just a patient. We understand the importance of eye health in your overall well-being, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. 

Unmatched Eye Care Expertise 

Our specialized team of doctors and certified technicians are committed to providing the highest level of care for your eyes. We pride ourselves on dedicating time and attention to understanding the root causes of your eye conditions. This enables us to create personalized treatment plans tailored to your unique needs. 

Schedule Your Visit in The Southtowns 

For any questions or to schedule an appointment at our newly rejuvenated Orchard Park center, please feel free to call us at 716.631.3937 (EYES) or 716.648.5329. We’re here to serve you, and we can’t wait to welcome you to our refreshed facility. 

Thank you for entrusting us with your eye care, and we look forward to providing you with the highest level of service and expertise at our Orchard Park location. 

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How to Tell If You Have a Scratched Cornea

person rubbing their eyes

The cornea is the thin, transparent outer layer of the eye that extends over the iris and pupil. Since it’s on the surface of the eye, it can sustain a direct injury.  

Corneal abrasions – or scratches on the cornea – can vary in severity. At times, the abrasion is relatively mild, causing only subtle symptoms. However, the scratches can be incredibly serious and may lead to additional problems, including corneal ulcers or iritis.  

Understanding the symptoms of a scratched cornea can help you determine if such an abrasion may cause any symptoms you’re experiencing. If you are wondering whether you have a scratched cornea, here’s what you need to know.  

Causes of a Scratched Cornea  

Generally speaking, scratched corneas can occur when something comes in contact with the surface of the eye. While it can be caused by a traumatic event, such as being intentionally or accidentally poked in the eye by a person or pet, those aren’t how must occur.  

Everyday incidental contact is a more likely culprit. For example, sand and dust getting into your eye could lead to abrasion, as well as debris from an industrial workplace. Makeup brushes can cause scratches as well, along with incorrectly removing a contact lens.  

Even dry eyes can be to blame. If your eyes get dry while sleeping, opening your eyelids in the morning can lead to abrasions due to the lack of moisture and the increased amount of friction.  

Essentially, anything that touches the cornea directly can damage the delicate tissue.  

Symptoms of a Scratched Cornea  

A scratched cornea can cause a range of symptoms, including:  

  • Eye Discomfort
  • A Gritty Sensation in the Eye
  • Eye Pain
  • Light Sensitivity
  • Excessive Tearing
  • Eye Redness
  • Blurry Vision
  • Headache

Mild abrasions may only produce mild symptoms, such as a general feeling of discomfort. The more severe the abrasions tend to be, the more noticeable symptoms often are. However, even a mild scratch can evolve into a more dangerous condition if not properly treated.  

Common Treatment for a Scratched Cornea  

If you suspect that you’ve scratched your cornea, it’s wise to take a few steps immediately. If you have scratched cornea symptoms, remove your contact lenses (if you wear them) carefully. Additionally, please don’t wear them again until your eye is fully healed.  

Flushing the eye with a saline solution is a smart move. That will help rinse out any dust, dirt, or debris, if any is present. After rinsing, blink multiple times to help remove the particles naturally.  

Resist the urge to rub your eyes. If any particles remain on the surface or embedded in the eye, rubbing can cause additional scratches or make an existing abrasion worse.  

When to Call a Doctor  

If you’ve rinsed your eye with saline and you’re still experiencing redness, pain, or the feeling that debris is stuck in your eye, seek immediate medical attention. A corneal abrasion can be incredibly serious, and prompt treatment is necessary to avoid further damage.  

Contact your optometrist or ophthalmologist right away for an emergency appointment. That way, they can evaluate your eye and determine if additional treatment is necessary.  

Your Eye Health is Our Priority 

At ECVA, our staff works tirelessly to care for our patients’ eyes, including evaluating and treating injuries as quickly as possible. If you suspect a corneal abrasion, schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today. 

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When Are Eye Floaters Serious?

Eye floaters – those little spots, lines, or shapes that flow across your vision – aren’t usually a big deal. There’s a decent chance everyone will notice some on occasion and, while they can be incredibly annoying, they typically don’t signal a major problem.  

However, there are times when eye floaters are a symptom of a serious condition, including some that could lead to substantial, permanent vision loss or other health complications. Figuring out whether you should be concerned isn’t always easy. If you’re trying to determine whether you need to see your eye doctor about floaters, here’s what you need to know.  

What Can Cause Floaters?  

There are a few potential causes of vision issues that a person may describe as floaters. Sometimes, debris drifting across the surface of the eye can have the appearance of a floater. This can occur directly on the eye as well as on contact lenses for those who wear them.  

However, most commonly, floaters occur when the vitreous of the eye shrinks. The gel-like substance makes up about 80 percent of your eye, giving it a rounded shape. As a person ages, the vitreous shrinks and changes texture. As it becomes stringy, the strands might start to cast shadows that hit your retina, creating a floater’s appearance.  

Over time, those floaters usually “settle,” causing them to no longer impede your vision. However, there can be other causes of floaters, including some that are potentially serious.  

Serious Conditions That Cause Eye Floaters  

Several eye conditions can lead to floaters aside from normal aging. First, infections and inflammation (uveitis) can both cause floaters. For example, pink eye (conjunctivitis) can lead to floaters. While it may seem like a common bacterial or viral infection, that doesn’t mean it can’t be serious. Without proper treatment, infections and inflammation can be harmful to your eyes, causing lasting damage.  

Hemorrhaging (bleeding) in the eye may also lead to the appearance of floaters. While many eye bleeds are caused by small broken blood vessels, which can be harmless, it can also be very serious. For instance, hyphema, a form of bleeding in the eye, requires prompt treatment to ensure that pressure doesn’t build to dangerous levels.  

At times, floaters may be a sign of retinal detachment. If the number of floaters increases quickly, that could indicate a retinal detachment in progress. If that occurs, or you see any of the other retinal detachment symptoms, you need to contact an eye doctor immediately. Left untreated, retinal detachments can cause significant permanent damage. With timely treatment, the damage may be reversible or, at least, minimized.   

Ultimately, floaters can be the sign of something dangerous, which is why it’s wise to speak with your eye doctor if you notice an increase in floaters or have any other concerning symptoms. Our experienced ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians work diligently to keep our patients’ eyes healthy, including identifying causes of floaters and treating when necessary. 

Have you had your eyes examined lately? 

 If you would like to make sure your eyes are as healthy as possible, schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today.  

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Cloudy Vision vs. Blurry Vision

Describing a vision issue is challenging for many patients. It’s hard to find the right words to express precisely what you’re experiencing. At times, this leads some patients to use the terms “cloudy” and “blurry” interchangeably. After all, they both denote a reduction in visual acuity, so it’s common to assume their meanings are similar.  

However, cloud vision and blurry vision are two very different situations. If you are wondering what they have in common and what sets them apart, here’s a close look at what cloudy vision and blurry vision involve.  

Cloudy Vision  

In the simplest terms, cloudy vision is when it seems like you are observing everything through a fog. It makes everything you look at seem like it is shrouded in a haze. At times, it could seem similar to looking at the world through dirty glasses lenses or a fogged car windshield.  

When you have cloudy vision, it may also feel like there’s a film on your eyes. It may seem like you could potentially blink or wipe away that film, restoring your vision, but that doesn’t always work.  

Cloudy vision can be caused by a variety of conditions, with cataracts being the most common. When you have cataracts, your eye’s lens loses transparency, creating cloudy vision. Other potential causes include:  

  • Corneal damage  
  • Diabetes  
  • Infection  
  • Macular degeneration  
  • Optic nerve disease  

Improper contact lens care can also lead to cloudy vision. If the lens isn’t thoroughly cleaned, residue may impact visual acuity, just as it can through smudged lenses on glasses.  

Blurry Vision  

In the most basic sense, blurry vision is when you look at an object and it doesn’t appear to be in focus. It isn’t unlike when you take a picture with a camera. Before you adjust the lens, the object you are trying to capture doesn’t seem crisp. Then, once you adjust the camera’s lens, it becomes clear.  

Usually, when your vision is blurry, certain actions may make the item seem clearer. Squinting may bring it into better focus, similar to how a camera lens adjustment can.  

Many conditions can cause blurry vision. Near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism are the most common and are usually correctable with prescription lenses. Other factors can also lead to blurry vision, including:  

  • Cataracts  
  • Corneal abrasions, opacification, or scarring  
  • Infection  
  • Low blood sugar  
  • Macular degeneration  
  • Migraine  
  • Optic neuritis  
  • Retinopathy  
  • Stroke  

In some cases, blurry vision is temporary. However, it can also require intervention and could potentially be permanent, depending on the cause.  

If you are experiencing vision changes, including cloudy or blurry vision, it’s wise to see an eye doctor as soon as possible. That way, they can determine the cause of your issue, ensuring you are treated promptly and correctly. Schedule an appointment at your closest ECVA clinic today. Our team will listen to your concerns and identify the ideal course of action, ensuring your eyes can remain healthy, and your vision issues are addressed appropriately.  

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How Blue Light Affects Our Eyes

Most people have heard that they should reduce their exposure to blue light. But it’s common to have questions, including why blue light could be harmful and how it affects the eye. If you’d like to find out more about blue light, here’s a look at what it is and how it could impact your eyes.  

The Light Spectrum  

Sunlight is a natural light source that appears white. However, it’s made up of a full-color spectrum, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet light. That’s what allows rainbows to happen. Water droplets in the air separate the colors visually, creating the rainbow look.  

Different colors of light have different wavelengths. Red rays have a longer wavelength, causing them to have less energy. In comparison, blue rays’ wavelengths are shorter and have more energy.  

Where Blue Light Comes From  

Blue light is produced by a range of sources. The sun is a natural source of blue light, for one. However, there are also numerous sources of artificial blue light, including:  

  • Smartphones  
  • Tablets  
  • Computer screens  
  • Televisions  
  • LED lightbulbs  
  • CFL lightbulbs  
  • Fluorescent lightbulbs  

Blue light isn’t inherently bad. In fact, it can provide some benefits, including boosting alertness and supporting the body’s natural wake cycle.  

While the sun is technically the largest source of blue light, there are concerns regarding artificial blue light exposure. Mainly, this is because people tend to be close to the sources and spend a substantial amount of time focused on them.  

How Blue Light Affects Our Eyes  

When blue light reaches your eyes, nearly all of it passes through the cornea and lens, allowing it to reach the retina. Practically none of it is blocked or reflected, causing it to be absorbed mostly. While our eyes are designed to deal with blue light, artificial sources mean we are taking in far more than we would from natural sources alone. And prolonged exposure could have negative impacts.  

One of the most common effects is digital eye strain. When you look at a screen, you tend to blink less, causing your eyes to fatigue and get dry. Additionally, exposure to artificial blue light may harm circadian rhythms, especially when it occurs late at night.  

Some studies suggest that blue light may actually harm the retina. It could be triggering chemical reactions in the eye that have a toxic effect on retina cells. When that occurs, visual acuity could be damaged over time. There may also be an increased risk of certain conditions, including age-related macular degeneration.  

Protecting Your Eyes from Blue Light  

While getting some exposure to blue light is a good thing, it’s wise to take precautions against prolonged exposure, especially from artificial sources. Begin by limiting your screen time when possible, and take breaks when you use devices to rest your eyes.  

Additionally, consider purchasing screen filters. These can decrease your exposure to blue light by stopping some of the blue light from passing through. Yellow-tinted computer glasses and anti-reflective lens coatings may also help block blue light.  

If you would like to learn more about the effects of blue light and what you can do to keep your eyes healthy, your eye doctor can help. Schedule an appointment at your nearest ECVA clinic today. Our skilled team will listen to your concerns and provide you with guidance, empowering you to make sure your eyes remain as comfortable and healthy.  

woman getting an eye exam