It is that time of year again when the mild weather invites us to spend our time outside, but Mother Nature may have something else in mind: allergies. Allergy season arrives earlier in Phoenix than in other cities thanks to our mild climate. Based on a recent study by Quest Diagnostics, which examined the ragweed sensitization rate in different parts of the country, Phoenix now ranks among the country’s worst cities for allergies. Those...

”Changing Lives Every Day” doesn’t only apply to patients here in Arizona. On February 8, 2013, BDPEC’s William Schiff, OD, Amber Gearhart, RN-Director of Nursing, and surgical technician Sarah Walczak, joined forces with Stephen Hwang, MD, and Robert Brems, MD, to traverse the globe all the way to the Phillipines. The group was part of the Phoenix Filipino-American Lions Club and the Lions Vision Center of...

Among the many characteristics that make our state of Arizona unique is its variety of land elevations. For example, Yuma in the southwest sits only 163 ft. above sea level. Elevation in the Phoenix valley averages 1,000 ft. above sea level, and height above sea level in our mountain regions, which include Flagstaff and Show Low, can soar to over 7,000 ft. While this variety of land elevations gives us our beautiful landscapes and a choice...

What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma represents a number of disease states all of which are defined by death of optic nerve cells. The most common cause of optic nerve cell death is elevated eye pressure. However, nearly 25% of patients diagnosed with glaucoma do not show evidence of elevated eye pressure. How do you test for Glaucoma? Accurately diagnosing glaucoma involves measurement of eye pressure on numerous days, at various times during the day....

Simply measuring eye pressure does not guarantee a correct diagnosis of glaucoma. As we have stated, glaucoma is defined as damage to the optic nerve. Damage to the optic nerve initially leads to loss of peripheral vision. If the disease is allowed to progress, patients ultimately suffer loss of central vision. In general, damage to the optic does not cause “blurry” vision. Patients with advanced glaucoma may still be able to read the...

What are the most common risk factors for glaucoma? RACE: African Americans are at least 4 times more likely to develop glaucoma than caucasians. DIABETES: Diabetics are more likely than non-diabetics to develop glaucoma. MYOPIA: Nearsighted people are more likely to develop glaucoma. AGE: People older than 65 are more likely than those under 65 to develop glaucoma. FAMILY HISTORY: Having a 1st or 2nd degree relatives are at greater risk for...