Happy New Year! My hunch is that as much as we might think about what 2021 has in store, many of us are just happy to just say it is NOT 2020! Since, unfortunately, the mere turn of a page on a calendar is not enough to turn the page on the pandemic, we still have work to do and issues to ad…
We are fortunate that, in spite of the pandemic, we can work remotely, and our children can learn remotely. However, this benefit does not come without consequences. For one thing, we are not “designed” to spend extended periods of time engaged in near vision activities (like staring at a co…
– By Stephen Cohen, O.D. Many people have delayed getting their eyes examined during this time, whether it is due to avoiding going out, other priorities or work situations. Many eye doctors have closed their offices during this crisis. In some parts of the country (e.g., New Jersey), eye ca…
– By Stephen Cohen, O.D. Over the past decade, our lives have been transformed due to smart phones, tablets and other handheld devices. These devices are backlit by LED light. Also, legislation has been implemented that require that incandescent light bulbs be replaced by more energy efficie…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. — Although life expectancy is at an all-time high, the current diabetes epidemic is getting much worse, increasing by 27 percent in just the past 10 years. Seventeen million people are diabetic, and about one-third (almost six million) do not know it. Diabetics are at …
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. — Age-related eye conditions will triple in the next 15 years. Macular degeneration alone will account for 50 percent of visual impairment and 20 percent of blindness. It is also estimated that 30 million people are developing cataracts, due to factors such as: increas…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. — Nearsightedness (difficulty seeing things far away), aka myopia, is growing at an alarming pace and is estimated to impact one in two Americans by the middle of this century. In parts of Asia, it affects 80–90 percent. Although genetics plays a role (two nearsighted …
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. — Myopia. Hyperopia. Astigmatism. Presbyopia. “I have no idea what you’re talking about-opia.” If you are like millions of other Americans, one of these terms describes you. Presbyopia alone affects over 100 million people, but don’t worry, it’s not contagious. These a…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. — “Go on that diet.” “Exercise more.” “Spend more time with my family.” “Save more money.” The start of the New Year gives us a clean slate to work with. While you’re “editing” your 2019 list of resolutions, let me add a few small things you can do on a regular basis […]
– By Stephen Cohen, O.D. So much research continues about the role that diet and supplements can play in our health. This has now become the focus of research regarding diet and glaucoma. Glaucoma is a chronic and, if untreated, progressive disease where gradual damage can cause irreversible…
– By Stephen Cohen, O.D. Most people have an awareness that glaucoma can lead to loss of vision, and that diabetes can damage the back of our eyes. However, there is a disease that is more prevalent than glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy combined. It is estimated that this disease will affec…
– By Stephen Cohen, O.D. Although allergies can occur year-round, we are now entering the prime season…beautiful weather that reminds us why we live here, but a huge challenge trying to fend off the plethora of allergens floating around. Up to 30 percent of Americans have some form of allerg…
– By Stephen Cohen, O.D. Over the past decade, our lives have been transformed due to smartphones, tablets and other handheld devices. These devices are backlit by LED light. Also, legislation has been implemented that require that incandescent light bulbs be replaced by more energy efficien…
– By Stephen Cohen, O.D. Most people cherish their vision more than any other sense. However, like many things in life, we often become most motivated to preserve our vision only when we find ourselves at risk to lose our vision. With deference to the proverbial “an ounce of prevention,” her…
– By Stephen Cohen, O.D. There are few things as wonderful as looking into the clear eyes of a baby, and seeing warm recognition in response. While it is easy to see a child’s development in other areas (e.g., walking, talking), we really don’t “see” a child’s eyes develop. Over time, we jus…
– By Stephen Cohen, O.D. Happy New Year! Hopefully, included in your resolutions is taking care of your most precious sense: your vision. We were not designed for the current demands on our eyes. If we were, we’d have one eyeball in the middle of our foreheads! For a little diversion, here a…
– By Stephen Cohen, O.D. If you have a child of driving age, you get to experience the pleasure…as well as the anxiety…of having a child out on the road behind the wheel. Sixteen to 19 year olds are the highest risk driving group, particularly during the first driving year. These “vision and…
– By Stephen Cohen, O.D. Technology changes so fast that what was new last year, can be passé today. While these mind-boggling advances occur at breakneck speeds, we can’t always anticipate the unintended consequences that come with the advances. Many of us face the challenges that arise fro…
– By Stephen Cohen, O.D. When we see a rainbow, it is the composite of colors of visible “white light” radiation. On one end is “blue” light, which comes right after Ultraviolet Radiation (UV). The potential damaging effects of UV are well known. It can contribute to skin damage (aging, c…
– By Stephen Cohen, O.D. It’s “that” time of year. As we move from the season that reminds us why we live here, to the one that makes us question our sanity for living here, we tend to pay extra attention to protecting our skin from the potential ravages of Ultra-Violet Radiation (UVR). We c…
– “Go on that diet.” “Exercise more.” “Spend more time with my family.” “Save more money.” The start of the New Year gives us a clean slate to work with. While you’re “editing” your 2016 list of resolutions, let me add a few small things you can do on a regular basis that will enhance […]
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – Although life expectancy is at an all-time high, the current diabetes epidemic is getting much worse, increasing by 27 percent in just the past 10 years. Seventeen million people are diabetic, and about one-third (almost six million) do not know it. Diabetics are a…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – Age-related eye conditions will triple in the next 15 years. Macular degeneration alone will account for 50 percent of visual impairment and 20 percent of blindness. It is also estimated that 30 million people will develop cataracts by the year 2020 (due to increase…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – Myopia. Hyperopia. Astigmatism. Presbyopia. I have no idea what you’re talking about-opia. If you are like millions of other Americans, one of these terms describes you. Presbyopia alone affects over 100 million people, but don’t worry, it’s not contagious. These ar…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – “Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee. Your hands can’t hit what your eyes don’t see.” Muhammad Ali’s words apply for all sports. Nothing happens until the eyes tell the brain to tell the muscles what to do. Most of us equate great vision with being able to see […]
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – Most people cherish their vision more than any other sense. However, like many things in life, we often become most motivated to preserve our vision only when we find ourselves at risk to lose our vision. With deference to the proverbial “an ounce of prevention,” he…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – While the rest of the country hunkers down for winter, we can relish in the weather that reminds us why we put up with Arizona summers. What we don’t often consider is the full affect the sun has on our eyes, even during the winter months when the daylight hours […]
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – For most people, vision is their most precious sense. For children, this is even more significant, as about 80 percent of what a child learns is through the visual system. Most parents take their children to the dentist for regular preventative care, but rely only u…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – In the past 200 years, we have gone from hunters and farmers, to industrialists, to “computerists.” Clearly, the physical demands of each of these tasks are different. We now spend much of our waking day in front of a computer, viewing tiny details from no more than…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – Although allergies can occur year round, we are now entering the prime season…beautiful weather that reminds us why we live here, but a huge challenge trying to fend off the plethora of allergens floating around. Up to 30 percent of Americans have some form of aller…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – I recently saw a patient who told me that her prior eye doctor told her that if she didn’t deal with her insomnia, she would develop cataracts (a clouding of the lens inside our eye) and eventually go blind. Perhaps the message wasn’t delivered so harshly, but that’…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – Diabetes is considered to become the next epidemic in our country, having increased by more than 25 percent in just the past 10 years. Seventeen million people are diabetic, and about one-third do not know it. Diabetics are at risk for heart disease, kidney disease…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – For most people, vision is their most precious sense. For children, this is even more evident, as about 80 percent of what a child learns is through the visual system. Most parents take their children to the dentist for regular preventative care, but rely only upo…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – If you have a child of driving age, you get to experience the pleasure – as well as the anxiety – of having a child out on the road behind the wheel. Sixteen to 19-year-olds are the highest risk driving group, particularly during the first driving year. These vision and […]
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – “Which is better? One or Two?” This question has been associated with eye exams for years, and been the basis for more than one comedy routine. Most people fret over this question (of which, by the way, there is no correct answer!). The other area that people often …
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – Go on that diet. Exercise more. Spend more time with family. Save more money. The start of the New Year gives us a clean slate to work with. While you’re editing your 2013 list of resolutions, let me add a few small things you can do on a regular basis that […]
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – Technology changes so fast that what was new last year, can be passé today. While these mind-boggling advances occur at breakneck speeds, we can’t always anticipate the unintended consequences that come with the advances. Case in point is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (sur…
By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – “Float like a butterfly. Sting like a bee. Your hands can’t hit what your eyes don’t see.” Muhammad Ali’s words apply for all sports. Nothing happens until the eyes tell the brain to tell the muscles what to do. Most of us equate great vision with being able to see […]
Click to read more about Stephen. By Stephen Cohen, O.D. – There are few things as wonderful as looking into the clear eyes of a baby and seeing warm recognition in response. While it is easy to see a child’s development in other areas (e.g., walking, talking), we really don’t “see” a child’…
