Google has chosen Hillcrest Vision as one of their Favorite Places!

Dr. Juawana Hall received a letter from Google announcing, “Congratulations! You’re a Favorite Place on Google.” To share this to with the public, Hillcrest Vision received a “We’re a Favorite Place on Google” poster. The poster was sent with a peel-and-stick picture and instructions to add the poster to your store window.

Printed on the poster was a two-dimensional QR barcode that when scanned takes the user to the Hillcrest Vision Local Business Listing on Google Maps. From here, users can read and write reviews, add the office as a 'favorite place' and find contact information. QR barcodes are the latest way to "stay connected' to your friends and will likely be used to update your location and list your favorite places on social sites like Facebook and LinkedIn.

Google gave the "Favorite Places" designation to the top 190,000 businesses in the entire country. To be given this designation within our first year of operation is an amazing accomplishment.

Hillcrest Vision recognizes that even the smallest advantage in online marketing can make a big difference to practice growth. Juawana Hall, owner of Hillcrest Vision, is grateful to receive this award and thanks its loyal patients for helping them enter the top tier of Google Maps.

Uveitis

Uveitis is inflammation of the eye's uvea, an area that consists of the iris, the ciliary body and the choroid. The iris is the colored part of the eye that surrounds the pupil. The ciliary body is located behind the iris and produces the fluid that fills the anterior part of the eye. The choroid is the layer of tiny blood vessels in the back of the eye that nourishes the light-sensitive retina.

Uveitis is classified by which part of the uvea it affects: Anterior uveitis refers to inflammation of the iris alone (called iritis) or the iris and ciliary body. Anterior uveitis is the most common form. Intermediate uveitis refers to inflammation of the ciliary body. Posterior uveitis is inflammation of the choroid. Diffuse uveitis is inflammation in all areas of the uvea.
Many cases of uveitis are chronic, and they can produce numerous possible complications that can result in vision loss, including cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment.

Uveitis signs and symptoms

Uveitis most commonly affects people in their 20s to their 50s. Signs and symptoms of uveitis include red eyes, pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision and dark spots moving across your field of vision (floaters). These signs and symptoms may occur suddenly and worsen quickly.
If you experience any of these potential warning signs of uveitis, see your eye doctor immediately.

What causes uveitis?

The cause of uveitis is often unknown. However, in some cases, it has been associated with:
Eye injuries.
Inflammatory disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
Viral infections, such as herpes simplex or herpes zoster.
Autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.
Other infections, including toxoplasmosis and histoplasmosis.

Uveitis treatment

To treat uveitis, your eye doctor may prescribe a steroid to reduce the inflammation in your eye. Whether the steroid is in eye drop, pill or injection form depends on the type of uveitis you have. Because anterior uveitis affects the front of the eye, it's easy to treat with eye drops. Intermediate uveitis can go either way, and posterior uveitis usually requires orally-administered medication or injections.
If an infection is suspected as the cause of your uveitis, your doctor may also prescribe additional medications to bring the infection under control. And if your uveitis has caused elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in your eyes, drugs to reduce IOP to normal levels may also be used.
The duration of treatment for uveitis is often determined by the part of your eye that’s affected. With proper treatment, anterior uveitis can clear up in a matter of days to weeks. Posterior uveitis, on the other hand, may require a much longer period of treatment before it is completely under control.
Episodes of uveitis can recur. See your eye doctor immediately if signs and symptoms of uveitis reappear after successful treatment.
For more information on uveitis and other eye conditions, visit All About Vision®.

Article ©2008 Access Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited

Stye

A stye (or hordeolum) develops when an eyelid gland at the base of an eyelash becomes infected. Resembling a pimple on the eyelid, a stye can grow on the inside or outside of the lid. Styes are not harmful to vision, and they can occur at any age.

Signs and symptoms of styes

A stye initially brings pain, redness, tenderness and swelling in the area, and then a small pimple appears. Sometimes just the immediate area is swollen; other times, the entire eyelid swells. You may notice frequent watering in the affected eye, a feeling like something is in the eye or increased light sensitivity.

What causes styes?

Styes are caused by staphylococcal bacteria. This bacterium is often found in the nose, and it's easily transferred to the eye by rubbing first your nose, then your eye.

Treatment for styes

Most styes heal within a few days on their own. You can encourage this process by applying hot compresses for 10 to 15 minutes, three or four times a day over the course of several days. This will relieve the pain and bring the stye to a head, much like a pimple. The stye ruptures and drains, then heals.
Never "pop" a stye like a pimple; allow it to rupture on its own. If you have frequent styes, your eye doctor may prescribe an antibiotic ointment to prevent a recurrence.
Styes formed inside the eyelid either disappear completely or (rarely) rupture on their own. This type of stye can be more serious, and may need to be opened and drained by your eyecare practitioner.

Chalazion: Another type of eyelid bump

Often mistaken for a stye, a chalazion is an enlarged, blocked oil gland in the eyelid. A chalazion mimics a stye for the first few days, and then turns into a painless hard, round bump later on. Most chalazia develop further from the eyelid edge than styes.
Although the same treatment speeds the healing of a chalazion, the bump may linger for one to several months. If the chalazion remains after several months, your eye doctor may drain it or inject a steroid to facilitate healing.
To learn more about a stye, visit All About Vision®.

Article ©2008 Access Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited