I can see well. Why do I need to visit an Eye Care Professional?

Comprehensive eye exams are the best way to prevent silent eye diseases like diabetes, glaucoma, and other manageable conditions in their early stages when they are more easily treated. Many conditions can be avoided through planned eye exams.

Should my child's eyes be examined regularly?

Most Pediatricians test a child's vision as part of a routine medical examination. They can refer a child to an ophthalmologist if there are signs of an eye condition. Examinations should be done at three years and then regular pediatric eye exams annually.

Can my child wear contact lenses and play sports?

Yes, contact lenses provide excellent vision correction for most sports. However, they can not protect the eyes from injury. Therefore, contact lens wearers should use prescribed sports safety goggles.

Dryness of our eyes is often due to a decrease in the oil production in our eyelid glands which causes the surface of the eye to become irritated.

Eye exams

Name: Dennis N. Marshall, OD
Address: 1495 Parkway Drive, Suite A, Blackfoot, ID, 83221, US
Telephone: 208-216-1500
Price range: $000 - $300

7 Tips to Keep Your Vision Healthy and Clear

Most of the information we receive from our surroundings comes through our eyes, so let’s do our best to protect them. Follow these 7 tips to give your eyes and vision the boost they need to stay healthy.

Eye Health Habits & Tips

1. Eat a Well Balanced Diet

Consuming a healthy and balanced diet filled with lots of vitamins and nutrients can help keep your eyes healthy and strong. Vitamins A, E and C, along with zinc, lutein, and omega-3 fatty acids have all been shown to support eye health and function — and reduce the risk of sight-threatening eye diseases.

2. Exercise

Exercising for at least 20 minutes each day not only gets your body moving, but also improves blood circulation in the eyes. A regular exercise routine can also help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your risk of obesity — a risk factor for several diseases that cause vision loss in adults.

3. Control Your Blood Pressure

Keeping your blood pressure within normal limits is not only important for your overall health, but for your eye health as well. High blood pressure can damage the tiny and fragile blood vessels that feed the retina, the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye, and result in blurred vision and vision loss. Maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle and taking the right medication, if prescribed, can help to reduce your blood pressure and your risk of vision loss.

4. Wear Sunglasses

Wearing 100% UV protective sunglasses can protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays and reduce your risk of cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and other sight-threatening eye conditions.

5. Rest Your Eyes

Spending hours each day in front of a computer screen or other digital device can lead to eye strain, fatigue and dry eye symptoms. Practice the 20-20-20 rule to give your eyes their much needed break — every 20 minutes, tear your eyes away from the screen and look at something at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

6. Quit Smoking

Smoking is hazardous to your health and affects nearly all the organs in your body, including your eyes. Cigarette smoke in particular contains toxins that have been shown to cause cerebral lesions in the visual processing area of the brain.

Smoking tobacco has also been linked to higher risks of sight-threatening eye diseases including age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy.

7. Schedule Regular Eye Exams

Regular eye exams are a crucial part of maintaining eye health and vision. Comprehensive eye exams can detect early signs of eye disease, even before symptoms appear — facilitating earlier treatment and lowering your risk of permanent vision loss.

If you’re due for a routine checkup, you’ve noticed any changes in your vision, or you’d like to learn more about protecting your ocular health, contact Dennis N. Marshall, OD in Blackfoot to schedule an eye exam today!

3 Eye Exercises To Relieve Eye Strain

Dennis N. Marshall, OD To reduce eye strain, try these 3 exercises near you in Blackfoot, Idaho

Many eye diseases can be quickly and easily diagnosed during a Comprehensive eye exam, Pediatric eye exam and Contact lens eye exam. If you were diagnosed with an eye disease, such as Cataracts, Pink Eye or conjunctivitis Myopia or Nearsightedness , Glaucoma, Macular degeneration, Diabetic retinopathy, or Dry eye, you may be overwhelmed by the diagnosis and confused about what happens next. Will you need medications or surgery – now or in the future? Is LASIK eye and vision surgery an option for you ? Our Blackfoot eye doctor is always ready to answer your questions about eye disease and Contact lenses.

Book an eye exam at Dennis N. Marshall, OD eye clinic near you in Blackfoot, Idaho to learn more about your candidacy for contact lenses and which type is right for you. Call 208-216-1500

Take a break from digital devices to allow our eyes to rest and prevent eye strain near you in Blackfoot, Idaho

The more time we spend on digital devices for work, school, and entertainment, the greater the risk of developing eye strain. Staring at a screen for an extended period of time tires out our eye muscles and can also cause dry eye, headaches, blurred or double vision, sensitivity to light, and soreness in the neck and shoulders.

Fortunately, there are exercises to relax and refresh your eyes and prevent eye strain discomfort.

Eye Exercises

Since the use of digital screens has become a large part of our daily lives, more people are suffering from eye strain. To prevent or reduce eye strain, try these 3 simple eye exercises:

The 20-20-20 rule

Every 20 minutes, look away from your computer for 20 seconds
Gaze at an object that is at least 20 feet away
Repeat throughout the day

This quick and easy exercise reduces eye strain by resting the eyes and upper body.

Palming

Sit in a darkened room with your elbows leaning on a table
Relax your back and shoulders
Rub your hands together to warm them
Place your palms over your eyes — do not press the eye sockets so that your eyes can blink freely
Visualize total darkness and breathe deeply for 2 minutes

This exercise relieves stress on the eyes.

Blinking

When we look at a computer screen, we tend to forget to blink. This exercise reduces eye strain and dry eye symptoms.

Slowly close your eyes for a few seconds
Open your eyes slowly and relax your facial muscles
Keep your eyes open for 3-5 seconds
Repeat 10-20 times, until your eyes and the muscles around your eyes feel relaxed

While eye strain isn’t a medical emergency, it can negatively affect your quality of life and ability to work and learn. For a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan, schedule a comprehensive eye exam with an eye doctor near you. At Dennis N. Marshall, OD, we care about your eyes and health. Contact us today!

Dennis N. Marshall, OD, your Blackfoot eye doctor for eye exams and eye care

Alternatively, book an appointment online here CLICK FOR AN APPOINTMENT

I can see well. Why do I need to visit an Eye Care Professional?

Comprehensive eye exams are the best way to prevent “silent” eye diseases like diabetes, glaucoma, and other manageable conditions in their early stages when they are more easily treated. Many conditions can be avoided through planned eye exams.
Should my child’s eyes be examined regularly?

Most Pediatricians test a child’s vision as part of a routine medical examination. They can refer a child to an ophthalmologist if there are signs of an eye condition. Examinations should be done at three years and then regular pediatric eye exams annually.
Can my child wear contact lenses and play sports?

Yes, contact lenses provide excellent vision correction for most sports. However, they can not protect the eyes from injury. Therefore, contact lens wearers should use prescribed sports safety goggles.
What is Dry eye?

Comprehensive eye exams are the best way to prevent “silent” eye diseases like diabetes, glaucoma, and other manageable conditions in their early stages when they are more easily treated. Many conditions can be avoided through planned eye exams.