Throughout the day, the average person blinks about 15 times per minute. Blinking helps to keep the eyes healthy by distributing lubricating fluid from the lacrimal gland over the surface of the eye. This action also helps to provide essential nutrients to the eye surface.
Ocular Allergies and Eye Disease: An Uncomfortable Combination
May 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Springtime is so beautiful: the flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and the temps are mild. Unfortunately, sometimes all of this beauty can bring a whole lot of misery! The sneezing, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes are the hallmarks of seasonal allergies that arrive with the spring. [Read more...]
New Online Patient Resources from the National Keratoconus Foundation
April 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Each year, the National Keratoconus Foundation (NKCF) presents patient education symposiums for people with keratoconus and their families. These seminars provide valuable information on the disease process, treatment protocols, and current research. [Read more...]
Rare Disease Support Resources and Rare Disease Day 2013
February 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
A rare disease is defined as one that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans. Nearly 7,000 rare diseases impact the lives of almost 30 million Americans. Here at BFS, a number of these rare diseases are very familiar to us and to our patient community. [Read more...]
Sleep Is Necessary for Ocular Health
January 31, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Ahhhh, sleep. I crave it as much as anyone, but as we all know, it can be hard to get a good night’s sleep every night. Life is busy and it’s hard to squeeze in everything. Often sleep is the first item to get shortchanged in a busy day. But did you know that chronic lack of sleep can lead to serious health and safety issues? [Read more...]
New Findings Identify Collagen-Influencing Genes that Indicate Keratoconus Risk
January 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment
According to the National Keratoconus Foundation (NKCF), keratoconus (KC) is estimated to occur in 1 out of every 2,000 persons in the general population. Keratoconus is a disorder that causes thinning of the cornea resulting in a cone-shaped bulge that distorts vision. [Read more...]
New Research Findings Uncover Possible Links between Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Keratoconus, CPAP, and Dry Eye
September 13, 2012 By 2 Comments
We like to pass along research findings of interest to our BFS community as they cross our radar. Here are some interesting recent discoveries related to keratoconus and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as well as the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for apnea and dry eye that can be an unintended consequence of this treatment. [Read more...]
New Keratoconus Information Now Available Online
May 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Last February, the National Keratoconus Foundation (NKCF) presented its annual vision symposium in Southern California. If you were unable to attend this event and are interested in learning about the latest keratoconus research and treatments, the NKCF has made available audio and video recordings from the symposium. [Read more...]
Keratoconus Patient-Education Seminar in Florida
April 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The National Keratoconus Foundation (NKCF) will be presenting a keratoconus education seminar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 5 for keratoconus patients and their family members. [Read more...]
Support Group Primer
March 22, 2012 By 2 Comments
Never considered yourself the support group “type”? Maybe it’s time to reconsider. Research performed over the past decade shows strong evidence that social support yields reduced mortality risk and greater mental health. Patients facing serious health challenges who had strong support systems reported reduced stress and depression, improved pain control and fatigue, and increased self-image. Here’s what you need to know about finding a support group that works for you. [Read more...]