Envision Eye & Laser Center Facebook Twitter YouTube
  • About Us
    • Renee Bovelle, MD
  • Services
    • Blepharoplasty
    • Cataracts
    • Cornea Transplant
    • Cosmetic
      • Botox
      • Juvederm
      • Juvederm Voluma
    • Eye Exams
      • Glaucoma Test
      • Optical Coherence Tomography Scanner
      • Pupil Dilation Exam
      • Visual Field Test
    • Lasik
    • Refractive Surgery
    • Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)
    • Wellness
      • Nutraceuticals
  • Products
    • iS Clinical
      • Active Serum
      • White Lightening Complex
      • White Lightening Serum
      • Youth Eye Complex
    • Latisse
  • Patient Resources
    • Envision Rewards
    • Eye Conditions
      • Dry Eye (Sjogren’s Syndrome)
      • Flashes & Floaters
      • Glaucoma
      • Lazy Eye
      • Macular Degeneration
      • Pinguecula
      • Presbyopia
      • Pterygium
      • Stye
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
      • Tearing Eye
      • Thyroid Eye Disease
    • Insurance, Payment & Financing Info
    • Patient Portal
    • Testimonials
    • Video Library
  • Latest News
  • Contact Us
    • Location
  • COVID-19

  1. ENTER YOUR INFO TO RECEIVE
  2. 10% OFF
  3. on your next cosmetic procedure
 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

  • Blepharoplasty
  • Lasik
  • Cataracts
  • Wellness
  • Cosmetic

Click Below To Hear Dr. Bovelle’s Radio Interview

Archive for Diabetes

Women’s History Month: Cataracts and Patricia Bath

By Envision Eye and Laser · Comments (0)
Monday, March 30th, 2015
Tweet
Cataracts

image from MayoClinic.org

 

 

March is Women’s History Month – and here at Envision Eye & Laser, we’re highlighting a woman who has made a difference in the quest to keep our eyes healthy and our vision clear. One of the most significant advances made in the field of ophthalmology is in cataract surgery.  Everyone, if they live long enough will develop cataracts.  Cataracts occur when the lens which is in the middle of the eye, becomes clouded. This can lead to blurred vision, sensitivity to light (especially at night), glare, and trouble reading.  Patients often come to the office complaining of “glasses not working anymore”, even in a recent prescription.  In some severe cases – and if left untreated – cataracts can lead to blindness (vision worse than 20/200 even with glasses).

Certain risk factors for cataracts include:

  • Diabetes
  • Smoking and alcohol abuse
  • Environmental factors (such as prolonged exposure to sunlight)
  • Family History
  • Prolonged use of steroids
  • High Blood Pressure

High quality polarized sunglasses, vitamin E and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, vitamin C and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids may reduce cataract risk.

One of the biggest contributors to the field of ophthalmology is Patricia Bath, MD.  She was appointed Chairperson of the Ophthalmology Department at King/Drew- UCLA in 1983.  In addition to being the first woman chair of an ophthalmology residency program in the United States, Dr. Bath invented the Laserphaco Probe, a procedure designed to help treat cataracts.  When she patented the device in 1988, she became the first female African-American doctor to attain a medical patent.

Dr. Bath’s Laserphaco Probe helped pave the way for today’s small incision cataract surgery.  Her invention revolutionized the surgery because patients no longer have to remain in the hospital for several days.   Cataract surgery involves the removal of the cloudy lens, which is then replaced with a clear synthetic lens.  Cataract surgery is crucial for preventing vision problems and blindness, as it allows patients to continue living normal, independent and healthy lives.

Today, Dr. Bath is an advocate for telemedicine, a new field that uses medical technology to bring services to people in remote areas.  The passion that Dr. Bath has for community ophthalmology  and a desire to preserve vision, resulted in her co-founding the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness in 1976.  She is also an honorary member of UCLA Medical Center’s staff.

For more information call (301) 805-4664 about cataract surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Renee Bovelle at Envision Eye & Laser in Bowie, Maryland (also serving the greater Baltimore areas).

Comments (0)
Categories : Cataracts, Diabetes, Smoking
Tags : Bowie Cataracts and Patricia Bath, Cataracts, Diabetes, risk factors for cataracts, Smoking and alcohol abuse, Women’s History Month: Cataracts and Patricia Bath

What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?

By Renee Bovelle · Comments (0)
Monday, August 6th, 2012
Tweet

Diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetic eye disease, occurs when blood vessels in the retina change. Sometimes these vessels swell and leak fluid or even close off completely. In other cases, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina.

The retina is a thin layer of light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. Light rays are focused onto the retina, where they are transmitted to the brain and interpreted as the images you see. The macula is a very small area at the center of the retina. It is the macula that is responsible for your pinpoint vision, allowing you to read, sew or recognize a face. The surrounding part of the retina, called the peripheral retina, is responsible for your side—or peripheral—vision.

Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes. People who have diabetic retinopathy often don’t notice changes in their vision in the disease’s early stages. But as it progresses, diabetic retinopathy usually causes vision loss that in many cases cannot be reversed.

If you have diabetes, or are at risk for diabetes because of hereditary or lifestyle, you should schedule a diabetes eye exam with Dr. Bovelle today. Our practice is located in Glenn Dale, MD, just a short drive from Washington DC, and close to Bowie, MD and Silver Spring, MD. Give us a call at 301-805-4664 or simply fill out the form in the top right corner.

 

Comments (0)
Categories : Diabetes
Tags : Bowie MD Diabetic Retinopathy, Diabetic Eye Disease, Diabetic Eye Disease DC, Diabetic Retinopathy, Glenn Dale Diabetic Retinopathy, Maryland Diabetic Retinopathy, Prince George's County Diabetic Retinopathy, Silver Spring MD Diabetic Retinopathy, Washington DC Diabetic Eye Disease, Washington DC Diabetic Retinopathy

Older Drivers And Their Vision: Unique Solutions

By Renee Bovelle · Comments (0)
Tuesday, February 28th, 2012
Tweet

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.

Comments (0)
Categories : Astigmatism, Cataracts, Diabetes, Glaucoma, Old Age
Tags : Age-Related Vision Problems Bowie, Age-Related Vision Problems Glenn Dale, Age-Related Vision Problems Prince George's County, DC Age-Related Vision Problems, Maryland Old Age Vision Problems, Older Drivers, Older Drivers Vision Problems, Older Drivers Vision Problems DC, Treat Age-Related Vision Problems DC, Treat Age-Related Vision Problems Washington DC
Envision Rewards

We accept these insurances:

AARP, Aetna, Alliance/One Net, Bravo Health, Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Core Source, Coventry Health, Elder Health Care, Erickson/Evercare, First Health, GEHA, Great West, Guardian, Kaiser, Mail Handlersm, MAMSI, Medicare, MDIPA, Mutual of Omaha, NALC, NCAS, NCPPO, Optimum Choice, PHCS, Tricare, Unicare, United Healthcare, GHI

Envision Eye and Laser
Copyright © 2023 All Rights Reserved
iThemes Builder by iThemes
Powered by WordPress