When it comes to maintaining your eye health, it’s vital to know how to protect your eyesight from the onslaught of glaucoma.  Despite the severity of this disease (if left untreated, glaucoma can lead to blindness), it isn’t the easiest eye condition to detect.  The disease is genetic, and often symptoms are often non-existent until later in life.  It’s estimated that of the four million Americans who have glaucoma, approximately two million are left undiagnosed.  Additionally, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans and the second leading cause of blindness in the world.

So what exactly is glaucoma, and what should you do if you think you have it?

Glaucoma and Its Symptoms

Glaucoma is a condition that develops when there is too much fluid pressure within the eyes.  This pressure damages the optic nerve, which is the main nerve that transmits images to our brains.  Therefore, when the damaged optic nerve is left unchecked, the continued pressure will cause blindness.  That blindness can become permanent after a few years if the glaucoma is still left untreated.

Typically, individuals over the age of 40 and who have a family history of glaucoma are most likely to suffer from it.  Glaucoma is also prevalent in African-American, Irish, Russian, and Hispanic populations.  The disease is also common in those individuals who suffer from diabetes, and who take certain steroid medicines.  It’s recommended that these individuals immediately seek an appointment with an eye doctor to check for glaucoma.

Symptoms of glaucoma include loss of vision, seeing halos around lights, eye redness, nausea, headaches, eye pain, and tunnel vision.

Treatments for Glaucoma

At Envision Eye & Laser Center in Glenn Dale, MD, serving the greater Washington DC area, southern Maryland (Prince George’s county) and Bowie, MD, Renee Bovelle, MD, works with patients to effectively treat glaucoma.  Depending on the type of disease you have, Bovelle will use the following treatments for glaucoma:

• Drops are usually the first line of defense against glaucoma, which must be taken one, two, even four times a day, depending on the type of glaucoma.

• Dr. Bovelle can use the Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) to treat glaucoma.  SLT is a relatively new laser treatment for open-angle glaucoma, but it is much less traumatic to the eye than Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT), which had been the standard laser procedure for glaucoma. This procedure eligible for newly diagnosed patients who don’t want to take drops; existing glaucoma patients who are using one or more drops and would like to reduce or eliminate them altogether; long-standing glaucoma patients who have been treated with the argon laser and whose pressures are rising. Click here to learn more about Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT).

If you’ve experienced any of the symptoms described above, or you’re at-risk for developing glaucoma, visit Envision Eye & Laser Center in Glenn Dale, MD today for innovative glaucoma treatments. Leave us a message here or call 301-805-4664 to learn about protecting your eyes from glaucoma.

You’ve heard about how vital it is to keep your body healthy by eating nutritional foods, getting plenty of exercise, and surrounding yourself with great people.  But it’s not just your body that needs proper care and attention to be in peak physical condition – your eye health does as well.

Like the body, your eyes need specific nutrients (more commonly referred to as “ocular nutrition”) in order to maintain stellar vision and combat the stresses of everyday life.  These daily stresses are often known as “oxidative stress”, and can pose a serious health risk to our eyesight.   Nutrition such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants work to counteract the by-products caused by oxidative stress, which keeps our eyes healthy and strong.

However, as our bodies age, the amount of nutrition available to our eyes steadily drops, resulting in a number of degenerative eye diseases that are so common in our golden years.  In the US and other developed countries, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has become the leading cause of irreversible vision loss.

So what’s the solution for keeping our eye health on track?  Simple: taking nutritional supplements that are meant specifically for preserving and protecting eye health.

Ocular Nutrition and Your Eye Health

In order to counteract the damages associated with poor eye health, complete ocular nutrition should be a necessary part of every person’s diet.  Ocular nutrition is comprised of highly specific vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, all which work together to support eye health and vision.  Additionally, ocular nutrition helps to combat the byproducts of oxidative stress, which in turn assists individuals with fighting off degenerative diseases and other vision problems.

The retina in particular has the highest concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids, chemicals that are prone to ROS (reactive oxygen species), which have toxic and destructive effects on all cellular components. With age, the amount of vitamin C and E in the body, and in the retina, have been shown to decline. This fact, combined with deficiencies in antioxidants in an aging eye, create additional risk factors for developing AMD.

An example of ocular nutrition would be omega-3 supplements.  Omega-3 is a type of fatty acid that has been shown to reduce inflammatory effects on the eye.  Because this type of fatty acid is not produced by the body (hence why it’s known as an “essential” fatty acid), it’s extremely critical for individuals to get their fill through a healthy diet and regular nutritional supplements.

Unfortunately, many Americans progressively replace omega-3s, as well as vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein and zeaxanthin, with refined sugars and other processed foods. It’s estimated that on any given day 25% of the population consumes any omega-3s, and nearly half of Americans fail to eat the recommended amount of zinc.

At Envision Eye & Laser Center in Glenn Dale, MD (also serving the greater Washington DC area; Bowie, Maryland; and Prince George’s county), Dr. Bovelle provides an extensive range of ocular nutrition supplements that are designed to support healthy eyesight from the inside out.  Our ocular antioxidants help protect the eye by preventing oxidative damage, which supports healthy eyes as you age and prevents AMD from developing.

Support and protect your eye health by taking a look at ocular nutritional supplements with Dr. Bovelle today. You can visit our eye health website for product information, or simply call 301-805-4664 to learn more.

With summer just a few short months away, you may be dreaming of beaches, barbeques, and days spent soaking up all that warm sunshine.  But before you start packing your beach bags in anticipation of a sun-soaked season, it’s vital that you include summer eyewear in any and all of your plans.

Not only is summer eyewear funky and fashionable, but it also serves a crucial purpose: it protects your eyes from the summer sun.  Protecting your eyes is about more than putting off those crow’s feet and eye wrinkles – it’s about preserving the health and well being of your vision for decades to come.

So why is summer eyewear so important to protecting your eyes from the summer sun?  Take a look:

The Summer Sun and Your Eyes

The main reason why summer eyewear is so crucial to protecting your eyesight is due to the fact that eyewear shields your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR).  UVR is incredibly damaging to the health of your eyes, and it’s not just due to the sunshine.  UVR can be transmitted via clouds, building surfaces, and a variety of other objects, which means that even on cloudy summer days, your eyesight is still vulnerable. When these rays come into contact with your eyes you could develop Pterygia or dry eye syndrome.

What’s more, UVR can even be reflected off the surface of your current sunglasses.  When eyewear is not made with protection in mind (as is the case with most fashionable sunglasses), UVR can enter the eyes from around the eyeglasses, or be bounced off the back of the lenses.  This simply means that unless your summer eyewear is specifically made to block UVR, you could be putting your eye health at serious risk.

Protect Your Eyes with Special Summer Eyewear

At Envision Eye & Laser Center in Glenn Dale, MD (also serving the greater Washington DC area, Bowie, MD, and Prince George’s County), Dr. Renee Bovelle will help you find the perfect summer eyewear that protects your eye health.  Dr. Bovelle’s range of summer eyewear is specifically designed to help eliminate the amount of UVR that your eyes are exposed to.  What’s more, her summer eyewear is also fashionable, which means you won’t have to sacrifice style for substantial eye protection.

No matter what your summer plans call for, be sure to protect your eye health with special summer eyewear from Envision Eye & Laser Center.  To learn more about protecting your eyes with a stylish pair of sunglasses fill out the form in the top left corner or call 301-805-4664.

For older individuals who enjoy the freedom of driving, recent research indicates that you’re more likely to be at risk for traffic accidents – and your vision is one of the primary reasons behind this elevated risk.

According to the American Medical Association, older drivers have a higher risk of traffic fatalities for multiple reasons, one of which is vision impairment.  The AMA cites that age-related vision problems – including diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and stroke – affect older drivers’ abilities to clearly see their field of vision.  As vision is one of the most vital functions involved in driving, it’s no wonder more older drivers are searching for long-term solutions for their vision.

If you’re an older driver suffering from age-related vision problems, Dr. Bovelle, owner of the Envision Eye & Laser Center in Glenn Dale, MD and serving the Washington DC metro, can offer a multitude of unique solutions.  Let’s take a closer look at how common age-related vision issues are redressed at her Center:

Cataracts:  In addition to offering cataract surgeries, Dr. Bovelle can provide older drivers with a number of lens solutions.  Multifocal lenses allow the patients to see better at both near and far distances, thus significantly reducing the older driver’s dependency on reading glasses.  These lenses have also been shown to improve intermediate vision, which is a crucial component of safe driving.

Astigmatism:  For those older drivers who suffer from cataracts and astigmatism, Dr. Bovelle offers a two-pronged solution in the form of toric lenses.  These lenses work to correct and reduce the astigmatism, all while improving the driver’s vision.

Glaucoma:  While glaucoma is a common vision problem associated with advanced age and near-sightedness, it can also present a major impairment to older drivers.  If left undetected, glaucoma can eventually led to cloudy vision and even blindness; therefore, early detection is crucial.  Dr. Bovelle is especially vigilant in glaucoma treatment, and utilizes the most advanced technology for early glaucoma detection: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and  treatment with the Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT).

Diabetes and Hypertension:  Finally, diabetes and hypertension have both been shown to significantly impair an older driver’s vision.  Drivers who have these conditions (or who are at risk for them) should undergo yearly exams in order to detect and treat any vision ailments.  Keep your eyes healthy and strong.

Keep your independence and active lifestyle well into your golden years and beyond.  Fill out the form in the top left corner or call 301-805-4664  today to learn more about our complete eye exams.

It’s safe to say that you work in front of a computer, or at least spend a great deal of time on one.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, you’re not alone: 100 million use computers at their jobs daily.  Additional research only expounds the prevalence of computers within our daily lives, with 95% of schools and 65% of classrooms outfitted with computers.

With such an emphasis on digital technology and computers, it’s no wonder a new generation of eye problems has cropped up, including CVS: Computer Vision Syndrome.

While Computer Vision Syndrome is defined as a temporary condition, there’s no denying that its side effects can be debilitating.  CVS is typically accompanied by headaches, blurred vision, eye strain, fatigue, dry and irritated eyes, strained neck muscles, dry eye, and difficulty refocusing vision.  Computer Vision Syndrome typically affects individuals who spend a large time focusing on computer screens without taking frequent breaks.

In a recent survey conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Computer Vision Syndrome is reported as one of the biggest workplace afflictions, with a whopping 90% of respondents experiencing the condition at some point during their computer-oriented careers.

If you’re suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome, Dr. Bovelle, owner of Envision Eye & Laser Center in Glenn Dale, MD (also serving Washington, DC) can help redress its symptoms.  In addition to treating Computer Vision Syndrome with topical lubricants, Dr. Bovelle also includes  anti-inflammatories and natural supplements in her mode of treatments. Contact lenses and eyeglasses can also work to reduce the eye strain experienced by frequent computer users.

In addition to treatments and lens prescriptions, Dr. Bovelle can also walk patients through a number of exercises and habits that relieve Computer Vision Syndrome symptoms.  For example, sufferers find that taking 20-minute breaks works well on symptoms, while many patients even report a significant decrease in symptoms by re-focusing their gaze away from the computer screen every 15 minutes.

For those at risk for Computer Vision Syndrome, Dr. Bovelle will design a program specifically tailored to your needs. Don’t let your computer screen rob you of excellent vision health; visit Dr. Bovelle at the Envision Eye & Laser Center today. Simply fill out the form in the top left corner or call 301-805-4664.

If you’ve dismissed the old wives’ tale that carrots actually improve your eyesight, you may want to rethink their sound advice.  Unfortunately, however, in today’s world, the carrots may not have as much nutritional value as they did in your grandmother’s day.  The Nutrition Security Institute states  “ Food grown in nutrient deficient soil lacks the nutrients needed to keep people healthy. Studies reveal that the nutritional values in food have declined significantly over the past 70 years. The declines in the nutritional values in food have been attributed to mineral depletion of the soil, loss of soil microorganisms along with changes in plant varieties.

Without adequate nutrition from food, we become susceptible to disease.  Simply stated … a lack of nutrients leads to malnutrition … malnutrition leads to disease.”   According to recent research, nutraceuticals – otherwise known as pharmacy grade vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and anti-oxidants – can be used not only to correct deficiencies found in the modern diet, but also to improve the quality of your eyesight and general  health .

For example, numerous studies have shown that a deficiency of vitamin A within your diet can lead to a host of eyesight problems, including heightened sensitivity to light, dry eyelids, tired eyes, increased susceptibility to eye infection, and much more.  Prolonged deficiencies of vitamin A have even been directly linked to eye diseases and blindness.

Nutraceuticals are also important in protecting the eyes against the chronic damage our eyes endure in the outside world.  Think about it: with today’s lifestyle, our eyes are continually exposed to heavy amounts of pollution and free radical damage.  Add the usual amount of wear and tear on top of it, and it’s easy to see why the medical community is ready to make nutraceuticals part of the average person’s diet.

As you can see, we’re not only what we eat – our eyesight health depends on it.

At Envision Eye & Laser Center in Bowie, MD (also serving the greater Washington, DC area), we understand how important it is not just to maintain your eye health from the outside, but from the inside as well.  That’s why our expert technicians offer nutraceuticals from AmeriSciences, an advanced molecular nutrition researcher that is partnered with NASA scientists.  AmeriSciences products were developed to provide astronauts with vital nutrition; additionally, these products have a bioavailability rate of 95% (or the amount we can restore); the industry average is only 50%.

The AmeriSciences products offered at Envision Eye & Laser Center include OS2, which is the omega-3 product approved by NASA.

When you make an appointment with Envision Eye & Laser Center, we’ll work with you to determine your current eye weaknesses, and how nutraceuticals – including AmeriSciences products – can help to correct those deficiencies.  Many of our patients are often surprised at how their diets are contributing to their eyesight problems – and we believe that by emphasizing the importance of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and anti-oxidants, we can help more patients enjoy better eyesight without always resorting to surgical procedures.

Dr. Bovelle believes that you deserve no less than what our astronauts take.  They can choose the best in the world and they choose Amerisciences.

Contact the Envision Eye & Laser Center in Bowie, MD and Washington, DC today to discover how Amerisciences can change your eyes – and your life – for the better. Simply fill out the form in the top left corner or call us at 301-805-4664.

Are you or a loved one worried about not seeing well when driving, especially at night?  Are you having trouble reading and changing your glasses just doesn’t seem to help? Cataracts can be a source of frustration for sufferers, and rob them of their independence.

However, at Envision Eye & Laser Center in Bowie, MD (also serving the greater Washington, DC area), you don’t have to put up with vision disabling cataracts.  You can again enjoy golfing, tennis, driving and needlepoint.   Now is the time to restore your quality of life by having advanced cataract surgery combined with new technology lens implants! You can reduce your dependence on glasses by choosing to have either multifocal or toric intra-ocular lens implants.

Multifocal Lenses:  Often regarded as one of the triumphs of advanced cataract technologies, multifocal lenses (otherwise known as multifocal IOL) are perfect for those patients who suffer from degenerative eyesight as a result of the aging process.  Thanks to its unique composition, multifocal lenses allow you to look at objects and see them all clearly, whether they’re far away, up close or in your intermediate vision.

The results are akin to having your eyesight be transformed from a blurry painting into a crystal-clear digital photograph.

Toric Lenses:  Astigmatism affects   approximately 20 percent of patients who need cataract surgery.  The cornea or the lens in patients with astigmatism irregularly shaped similar to a football rather than the ideal round shape like a baseball.  Until recently, even after cataract surgery, people with astigmatism still needed glasses.  If you have cataracts   and astigmatism, you can now enjoy a life with less dependence on glasses.  Toric intra-ocular lenses have made it possible for people with cataracts and astigmatism to enjoy blurry-free vision.

Patients with cataracts now have a once in a lifetime opportunity to remove the cataracts and replace the cloudy lens with a clear lens that also can allow them to see better at all distances or reduce astigmatism.  If you’re interested in this option, you’ll need to meet with Dr. Bovelle for several consultations regarding your cataracts.

Make an appointment with Dr Bovelle now, so that she can   assess your eyesight and cataracts and determine which choice is best for you.

Don’t let cataracts or any other degenerative eyesight problem affect your quality of life. Contact Dr. Bovelle at Envision Eye & Laser Center in Bowie, MD, which also serves the greater Washington, DC area. Simply fill out the form in the top left corner, or give us a call at 301-805-4664.

Harley Medical, based in the UK, recently published an article about the widely popular AmeriSciences nutritional supplements. AmeriSciences are premium nutraceuticals that can boost energy levels, improve your immune system and provide vitamins & antioxidents to your body.

You can learn more about and purchase AmeriSciences nutraceuticals from Envision Eye & Laser right here.

Click here to see the original article and the 10 reasons why you should be using Amerisciences products.

Amerisciences have developed the first-ever “super-league” multivitamin with the help of NASA, and this new product is now available off the shelf in the US. The Royal Society of Medicine views Amerisciences AS10 as “the next generation of breakthrough technology in nutritional supplementation.” You can read the complete press release here.

To learn more about Amerisciences and other supplements offered by Envision Eye & Laser Center check out our OS2 supplements here or our Amerisciences products here. You can always contact us or give us a call at 301-805-4664.

Let’s face it: you’ve always thought about having LASIK eye surgery, but you’ve never got around to actually pursuing it.  Perhaps you think getting 20/20 vision through a simple laser procedure will have too much of an impact on your budget.  Perhaps you’re worried that you’ll have to visit a costly Washington, D.C. eye clinic for a high-quality LASIK experience.  Or perhaps you’re simply used to the endless status quo of eyeglasses, contact lenses and blurry vision.

Well, it’s time to put that status quo to rest – because at Envision Eye & Laser Center P.A. (located near Bowie, MD and Washington, D.C.), Dr. Bovelle is providing clients with a revolutionary approach to affordable yet highly reputable LASIK eye surgery.

So what exactly is LASIK eye surgery – and what will you experience as soon as you walk through the doors of Envision Eye & Laser Center?

Chances are you’ve heard of LASIK eye surgery, and how this simple procedure has revolutionized the way people address their lifelong vision problems.  Envision Eye & Laser Center takes the LASIK procedure up a notch by utilizing a two-step process, which promises better results than traditional surgery:

• The Envision Eye & Laser Center technicians use the Intralase® laser, which creates a precise flap for the procedure.

•  Once the Intralase® laser has been used, your technician will then proceed with a Wave Front CustomVue laser, which allows for more precise vision correction than with glasses or contact lenses.  In fact, this advanced technology allows technicians to accurately identify vision problems with up to 25 times more precision than traditional vision-correction methods.

By utilizing only the most advanced vision correction lasers in the industry, Dr. Bovelle and the technicians at Envision Eye & Laser Center have made it possible for more candidates to qualify for laser surgery.  Additionally, as these technologies are far more precise than traditional eye surgery lasers, this means it’s far more likely that you’ll have a successful surgery.

It’s just the kind of superior eye laser surgery experience you’ll come to expect from Envision Eye & Laser Center!

Dr. Bovelle and the Envision team understand that their clients are looking for more than the best technology in the eye laser industry – they’re looking for a convenient customer experience that makes them feel valued.  Given the Envision Eye & Laser Center’s approach to customer services – and it’s incredibly convenient location to Washington, D.C. – it’s no wonder more people are turning to Dr. Bovelle for all their laser eye surgery needs.

If you’re ready to discover what crystal-clear vision really looks like, then visit Dr. Bovelle at the Envision Eye & Laser Center near Bowie, MD and Washington, D.C. today! Simply fill out the form in the top left corner, or call us at 301-805-4664.