Category: Eye Health and Diseases

Your glasses are one of the essential things you wear every day! Your eyewear helps you navigate the world around you, learn new things, and give you the ability to make memories with friends and family. Are you taking the best care of them? One of the best ways to keep you seeing your best is by regularly cleaning your lenses. And you may do it already, but are you doing it right? Here are our recommended steps for cleaning your glasses and common do’s and don’t of lens care.

Cleaning Your Glasses

Using soap to clean your lenses.

With a clean hand, place a drop of cleaning soap on your fingertip. We recommend avoiding hand soaps that contain lotion or fragrance to prevent smudges on the lens.

• Do not use any household cleaners like window cleaning spray or alcohol to clean your lenses. These products may cause damage to the coating on your frames or lenses.
• Do not use hand soap or baby wipes to clean your lenses. These products commonly have moisturizing properties that can lead to a hazy residue after cleaning.

Washing & Rinsing

Under room temperature water, gently rub your entire frame and lenses with your fingers. We do not recommend using hot water as it could damage coatings on your eyewear. Rinse your eyewear to remove all soap residue.

Drying or wiping your lenses clean.

Using a microfiber cleaning cloth, dry your glasses. If you notice that your lens cleaning cloth is dirty, clean with your standard laundry load. However, be sure NOT to use fabric softener as this adds residue to your material that could cause smudges on your eyewear.

• Don’t use toilet paper, your shirt, or other cloth to clean your glasses. Most fabric cloths, especially with dry lenses, can scratch, smear, or leave lint on your lenses.
• Don’t try to buff out any scratches. If your lenses have been scratched, contact us, and we will let you know what we can do to help!

Have questions about how to best care for your eyewear, let us know. We are here to help! We are also always happy to fully clean and disinfect your eyewear during your next appointment. Schedule your next exam today by giving our office a call.

Love online shopping and want to extend your purchases to online eyewear? Before you do, let us share with you what you may be missing! Eyewear is one of the most important investments you can make, it will help you see the world around you and complete your daily life to the best of your ability. We don’t want you to end up with a pair of eyewear that will break, scratch, or even discolor over time.  Our goal is to find you a pair of eyewear that will last and not need frequent replacement.

Know the difference.

When you compare online eyewear to our practice, there is always a compromise to be made. One of the most significant features lost when buying online eyeglasses is individual care. When purchasing eyewear in our office, our opticians will recommend eyewear based on your daily routine, provide professional fittings, and ensure your eyewear quality is examined. In addition, once you purchase your eyewear, you have our team to call if something breaks, scratches, or stretches. We are happy to readjust your glasses anytime a mishap happens!

Quality

Many types of metal, plastic, and lens materials are used in the eyewear manufacturing process. Online retailers often use lower quality materials in the eyewear they are selling, leading to more easily damaged or worn eyewear. Unsure about the materials offered in an online store? Ask us! We are happy to share our recommended frame and lens materials or brands for your unique needs.

Try it On For Fit & Style

When buying glasses from an online retailer, you sacrifice the opportunity to try various eyewear shapes and colors to see how they fit your face. We know a virtual try-on just doesn’t cut it! In addition to style, purchasing eyewear online does not allow a proper fitting of your final eyewear. Our staff is experienced in altering your nose pads, ears, and arms of your frames to ensure they are the perfect fit for you. As a result of an online purchase, you may receive a pair of glasses that are too tight or loose for your face.

Materials

Did you know some materials could cause skin irritation! Lower quality metal frames can discolor your skin or even cause a skin rash due to allergy. With prolonged wear, low quality plastic frames will discolor in sunlight and the smooth finish can diminish. If your frames are made with inexpensive materials, they are not designed to withstand extended use, unlike eyeglasses sold by our office, which are designed to be long-lasting.

Sunwear Protection

Quality and material is the most crucial factor when purchasing sunwear. If you are tempted to buy low-cost sunglasses because of the fear of misplacing or scratching them, stop! While we understand the fear of breaking your new pair of sunglasses, we feel your eye protection is always most important. It is crucial to protect your eyes from UV radiation damage! So, don’t give up 100% UV protection for a lower sticker price.

Are you still looking to purchase eyewear online? We ask that you come into the office to talk with our staff first! Ask our team to write out their specific recommendations so you can compare your new eyewear features equally across suppliers.

Cataracts affect about 24 million Americans and are the leading cause of blindness in the world.* Cataracts are a natural part of aging but should be addressed as they start to affect your vision. If you are over the age of 40, we recommend scheduling a yearly comprehensive eye exam to detect cataracts as they develop. Want to learn more about the cause, symptoms, and treatment of cataracts? Read below!

What causes cataracts?

Cataracts are the clumping together of proteins within the lens of your eye, causing cloudiness in your vision. While health issues like diabetes, obesity, smoking, ultraviolet radiation, and family history can influence your development of cataracts, your eyes and body’s natural aging also leads to cataracts. As you age, cataracts may begin to develop and get larger or more severe over time naturally.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. If you start to experience any of the following symptoms associated with cataracts, schedule an appointment with our office.

• Slight blur in vision
• Dim or cloudy vision
• Light sensitivity (sunlight or lamps seem too bright)
• Colors appear faded
• Reduced night vision quality

Types of cataracts

Subcapsular

Subcapsular cataracts, most commonly found in individuals with diabetes, typically occur in the back of the lens. Because of where it develops, you may notice symptoms of degraded night vision or difficulty reading first.

Nuclear

Nuclear cataracts are the most common and are associated with aging and occur in the central zone of the lens.

Cortical

Cortical cataracts are the opposite of Nuclear cataracts and begin in the outer part of the lens, interfering with light passage through the eye.

Are cataracts preventable?

Lower your risk of developing cataracts by maintaining your body and eye health.

• Schedule a yearly comprehensive eye exam! 
• Stop smoking!  Smoking can increase your risk of cataracts.
• Continuing treatment if you have diabetes or other medical conditions will help minimize your risk.
• Prevent ultraviolet radiation by wearing 100% UV blocking sunglasses.

Treating cataracts

If you are experiencing symptoms listed above or are concerned you may be developing cataracts, call our office to schedule an appointment. During your appointment, we will examine your eyes and provide the best recommendation to manage your cataracts or recommend surgery if needed. Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear lens to improve your vision.

Have more specific questions about cataracts, your risk, or treatment options? Call our office to schedule an appointment and let us know you would like to learn more about cataracts!

*National Eye Institute (https://nei.nih.gov)

For individuals that need vision correction both near and far, progressive or bifocal lenses are a must-have! As your eyes age and your vision changes, age-related farsightedness or presbyopia may start to affect your vision.

What are Bifocal or Progressive Lenses?

Progressive and bifocal lenses transition from near to far distance prescription within one lens! For that reason, these lenses provide you a single lens to fit all your prescription needs.

Progressive vs Bifocal Lenses

Both progressive and bifocal lenses are used as a vision solution for presbyopia and provide comfortable vision for individuals with multiple prescriptions. Progressive lenses seamlessly transition between near and far prescriptions within the lens. In contrast, a distinct line separates near and far vision in bifocal lenses. Consider your lifestyle and your personal preference when choosing which type of lens is the best fit.

Bifocal Lenses

Bifocal lenses provide a clear distinction between near and far vision prescription within the lens. While many people may immediately choose a progressive lens, a bifocal may be a better fit for your lifestyle and vision needs. Some individuals find the strong distinction between Rx’s of a bifocal lens more comfortable for their vision.

• Two vision zones (one for near vision and one for distance)
• Has a distinct line separating the powers
• May cause difficulty reading computer screen and cause a greater risk for computer vision syndrome

Progressive Lenses

Progressive lenses provide a transition from near, intermediate, and far vision prescription. As compared to bifocal lenses, progressives provide a wider zone of clear vision to make activities like computer use and reading easier for the wearer. Early progressive lens designs had a soft blur during movement. However, with technological advancements, today’s progressive lenses have reduced this blur to provide better vision for active wearers.

• Seamless progression between all distances of vision (near, intermediate, and far)
• No distinction between different powers within the lens
• Most popular lens for anyone with presbyopia who wears eyeglasses
• Expanded intermediate zone for better computer vision

We understand the need for comfortable eyewear adequate for your lifestyle. Unsure about if you would benefit from bifocal or progressive lenses more, ask us! We are here to determine what eyewear fits your lifestyle. Progressive and bifocal lenses could be the solution you have been searching for! Contact our office today!

The foods and vitamins you consume affect your body’s overall health, including your eyes. With a healthy diet and lifestyle, the likelihood of developing some eye diseases and health disorders dramatically decreases. With a few simple steps, your body will thank you later!

Eating Healthy Foods

One of the best things you can do is choose foods rich in antioxidants and vitamins. An easy trick to remember is dark green or brightly colored fruits and vegetables are the go-to foods. Not only will they impact your overall health, but they will help to reduce the chances of developing eye diseases such as dry eyes and cataracts.

Another trick is to look for different versions of your favorite snacks. Instead of foods that are high in sugar or made from white flour, look for sugar-free foods and whole-grain alternatives. Healthy fats such as salmon and nuts are high in omega-3, which helps with your eye health.

Hydration

Water is one of the best drinks that you can choose, so drink plenty of it! Stay away from sugary drinks because proper hydration helps to reduce dry eye symptoms.

Nutrients

Nutrients are essential to your overall health. If you find yourself not getting the amounts needed daily, look into taking supplements to ensure you receive the proper amount. The following nutrients can help reduce your risk for many eye related issues!</p

• Vitamin A: night blindness and dry eyes
• Omega-3: macular degeneration and dry eyes
• Vitamin C: cataracts and macular degeneration
• Vitamin D: macular degeneration
• Zinc: night blindness
• Vitamin E: advanced macular degeneration

Aging Eyes

Your eyes will change as you age, so it’s essential to take all factors into consideration on how to keep your eyes healthy. One of the most important things is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. By wearing sunglasses with built-in UV protection, you can help prevent your eyes from developing cataracts and macular degeneration.

Eating lean beef in moderation can also boost your eye health. Beef contains zinc, which helps your body absorb vitamins and may play a role in reducing the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration.

Another habit you should start is leaving the cigarettes behind. Not only is smoking harmful to your overall health, but it increases the chances of developing eye diseases.

Finally, one of the easiest things you can do is schedule an annual eye exam to detect any eye diseases as early as possible. Many eye conditions start without symptoms, so it’s crucial to have a professional take a look. Call us today to learn more!

From playing with the kids to working on the computer and playing golf with friends, our lives take us many different directions every day. However, is your eyewear ready for your multiple hobbies and the activities in between? Our busy lives show us that having multiple pairs of eyewear handy is a necessity. Here are a few reasons why we recommend having another pair of eyewear at the ready!

1) Accidents Happen

We’ve all been there! Looking for your missing glasses when you need them most or hearing a crunch when sitting on the couch for a relaxing movie night? An additional pair of eyewear can’t guarantee your current eyewear will be safe,  but it will significantly reduce the chances of having to go without. Contact lens wearer? Backup glasses are the perfect solution for a lost contact lens without a replacement. An additional pair of eyewear can hold you over until your new contact lenses come in!

2) Screen Time

Your eyes are exposed to harmful blue light through all digital devices, including your phone, TV, and tablet. This increased exposure to screens and blue light can cause eye strain and fatigue. If you are suffering from fatigue or headaches, computer eyewear is the perfect addition to your eyewear collection. Try wearing a pair of blue light blocking eyewear during extended screen use to alleviate your symptoms.

3) Work & Sports

From safety-approved eyewear for your workday to a pair of colored lenses to improve your game in the evening, we have you covered! No matter what space your lifestyle puts you in, get a pair of eyewear that fits each need. For example, a pair of polarized lenses may be a great addition to your eyewear lineup if you work outdoors at a construction site or love spending your weekends fishing. Polarized lenses remove glare off water or cement so you can see your best throughout your day.  If you are an avid golfer, try a pair of eyewear with colored lenses to increase contrast on the green and see your game soar!

4) Contact Lens Wearers

Protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays every season is key to reducing your risk for other eye-related diseases. However, not all contact lenses protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays of the sun. That is why we say a pair of plano sunwear that blocks 100% of UV rays is a must-have for all contact lens users.

5) Style

Eyewear is more than just a medical necessity. It’s a fashion accessory! A date night with your partner calls for a different pair of eyewear than when working at your computer throughout the day. Try a pair of funky frames to showcase your personality and grab a more neutral pair for professional situations.

Ready to shop for your second pair of eyewear? We are excited to help! Schedule an appointment today, and we will help you find the best frames and lenses for your lifestyle!

There are many things we need to protect our eyes from all year round, including allergies, dry eye, and harmful UV rays. Each of these could affect your eyes any day of the year.  Take a look at these tips for protecting your eyes so you can stay allergy-free, hydrated, and protected  from harmful UV rays.

Reducing Allergy Symptoms

Whether you have seasonal, perennial, or indoor allergies, the key to protecting yourself is to reduce your exposure to allergens. From summer to winter, here are some tips to reduce your symptoms.

• Wear Sunglasses. Try wearing sunglasses outside to protect yourself from harmful UV rays and keep pollen or allergens from entering your eyes.
• Keep your hands and face clean. Your hands touch many surfaces throughout the day and can easily pick up allergens from your surroundings. Reduce the possibility of allergens entering your eye by making sure your hands are clean before touching your face and eyes.
• Opt for glasses. Contact lenses are an excellent option for most people, but if you are heavily affected by outdoor allergens, opting for glasses instead might reduce allergy symptoms. Glasses allow your eyes to maintain lubrication and act as a shield from outdoor allergens.
• Keep your windows shut and use your air conditioning instead!
• Use an air purifier to remove your allergy triggers from your indoor space.
• Keep your eyes lubricated by using artificial tears and rewetting drops.

Protecting Your Eyes From Against Harmful UV

Your exposure to harmful UV rays is affected by many different factors from location, time of day, cloud cover to your environment. However, these factors don’t mean that UV protection is not needed. Check out our facts below about UV rays and different environments.

• Clouds: While clouds do block some light and UV rays, UVA can penetrate clouds and reach your eyes.
• Sun: Easy, sun = UV radiation. Always make sure you are wearing your sunglasses on a sunny day!
• Snow: On sunny days, snow can reflect up to 90% of UV radiation. Wear a pair of sunwear on snowy days to protect your eyes and reduce blinding glare from reflected light.
• Water: Water can reflect up to 10% of UV light and sand by almost 15%. So next time you head out to go fishing or to the beach, remember your UV protective eyewear!

Reduce Your Dry Eye Symptoms

Does chronic dry eye syndrome or extended computer use have your eyes tired, red, and itchy? Try these tips to reduce your dry eye symptoms and find relief!

• Weather: If you are going out on a cold or windy day, pack your glasses or sunwear! Heavy wind can cause your eyes to dry out. By wearing a pair of eyewear, you are keeping your eyes hydrated.
• Take a computer break. Our bodies naturally blink less when working on a digital device. Remember to take breaks from your computer screen to give your eyes a break!
• Remember to blink! Try adding a note to your computer screen to remind yourself to blink! Blinking is what keeps your eyes hydrated and can help alleviate dry eye symptoms.
• Keep your eyes lubricated by using artificial tears and rewetting drops.

Ready to start protecting your eyes all year round! Grab a pair of eyewear during your next appointment or ask us about relief from your symptoms. We are here to help.

While we love colored eyewear lenses as an opportunity to make a bold fashion statement, that’s not all they can do. A different lens color for your eyewear or sunglasses can help filter light differently to fit your unique needs best. Unsure if you could benefit from a pair of colored lenses, read below!

Whether you need to enhance the colors you see, make your colors more vivid, reduce glare, or improve visual acuity, there is a colored lens for you!

Choosing Your Lens Color

Green

Green eyewear lenses create contrast in your vision by filtering out a larger percentage of blue light. This color lens reduces glare and allows you to see more comfortably on bright sunny days. If you are a golfer or tennis player, a pair of green lenses may be a great addition to your game!

Gray

Gray lenses are one of the most common for a standard pair of sunwear. This color reduces the glare of light when reflecting off of surfaces like water or pavement. In addition to cutting glare, gray lenses easily shield bright light, making them an excellent option for sunny or cloudy days. While gray lenses are a perfect everyday lens for most people, the glare reduction is the ideal addition to individuals who spend time on the water.

Blue or purple

Blue tinted lenses improve color perception and increase your ability to see object contours. This color of lenses also increases visibility by reducing glare on snowy surfaces or in foggy/misty environments. Our favorite part? Blue lenses look great at almost any skin tone keeping you looking and seeing your best!

Red or rose

Rose-colored lenses are the perfect pair of lenses for many sports activities like skiing and cycling. Red or rose-colored sunglasses block blue light, helping to reduce eye strain. They also increase your vision’s depth of field and provide enhanced detail.

Yellow, orange, or gold

While yellow, orange, or gold lenses may distort your vision’s color, they are an excellent solution for indoor sports with lower lighting conditions. By providing improved visibility of objects, this color lens makes your surroundings seem brighter. This color lens also provides increased depth perception.

Amber or brown

Like rose and orange-colored lenses, amber or brown lenses reduce glare and help brighten surroundings when in lower light conditions. Activities like golf and baseball that need improved depth perception across the green or blue landscape will benefit from this color lens.

Ready to try out a new pair of colored lenses? Before purchasing sunglasses with colored lenses, stop by the office, and we can help evaluate which lens color will be the best fit for you. Or during your next appointment, ask us about sport-specific eyewear. Some frames allow you to change your lens based on your activity!

There are many things we need to protect our eyes from all year round, including allergies, dry eye, and harmful UV rays. Each of these could affect your eyes any day of the year.  Take a look at these tips for protecting your eyes so you can stay allergy-free, hydrated, and protected  from harmful UV rays.

Reducing Allergy Symptoms

Whether you have seasonal, perennial, or indoor allergies, the key to protecting yourself is to reduce your exposure to allergens. From summer to winter, here are some tips to reduce your symptoms.

• Wear Sunglasses. Try wearing sunglasses outside to protect yourself from harmful UV rays and keep pollen or allergens from entering your eyes.
• Keep your hands and face clean. Your hands touch many surfaces throughout the day and can easily pick up allergens from your surroundings. Reduce the possibility of allergens entering your eye by making sure your hands are clean before touching your face and eyes.
• Opt for glasses. Contact lenses are an excellent option for most people, but if you are heavily affected by outdoor allergens, opting for glasses instead might reduce allergy symptoms. Glasses allow your eyes to maintain lubrication and act as a shield from outdoor allergens.
• Keep your windows shut and use your air conditioning instead!
• Use an air purifier to remove your allergy triggers from your indoor space.
• Keep your eyes lubricated by using artificial tears and rewetting drops.

Protecting Your Eyes From Against Harmful UV

Your exposure to harmful UV rays is affected by many different factors from location, time of day, cloud cover to your environment. However, these factors don’t mean that UV protection is not needed. Check out our facts below about UV rays and different environments.

• Clouds: While clouds do block some light and UV rays, UVA can penetrate clouds and reach your eyes.
• Sun: Easy, sun = UV radiation. Always make sure you are wearing your sunglasses on a sunny day!
• Snow: On sunny days, snow can reflect up to 90% of UV radiation. Wear a pair of sunwear on snowy days to protect your eyes and reduce blinding glare from reflected light.
• Water: Water can reflect up to 10% of UV light and sand by almost 15%. So next time you head out to go fishing or to the beach, remember your UV protective eyewear!

Reduce Your Dry Eye Symptoms

Does chronic dry eye syndrome or extended computer use have your eyes tired, red, and itchy? Try these tips to reduce your dry eye symptoms and find relief!

• Weather: If you are going out on a cold or windy day, pack your glasses or sunwear! Heavy wind can cause your eyes to dry out. By wearing a pair of eyewear, you are keeping your eyes hydrated.
• Take a computer break. Our bodies naturally blink less when working on a digital device. Remember to take breaks from your computer screen to give your eyes a break!
• Remember to blink! Try adding a note to your computer screen to remind yourself to blink! Blinking is what keeps your eyes hydrated and can help alleviate dry eye symptoms.
• Keep your eyes lubricated by using artificial tears and rewetting drops.

Ready to start protecting your eyes all year round! Grab a pair of eyewear during your next appointment or ask us about relief from your symptoms. We are here to help.

It’s no secret we live in a very digital world and use digital devices throughout the day. While we cannot escape exposure to digital devices and blue light, it is important to know how our eyes are affected by our changing technological environment.

Before we talk more about the digital world and its effect on our eyes, let us share our top tip to keep your eyes comfortable during extended periods of device usage. Follow the 20/20/20 rule! Every 20 mins of device usage, take a 20-second break and look at something at least 20 feet away. This simple exercise will help you keep your eyes lubricated and reduce any eye strain you may be experiencing.

Digital Devices & Blue Light

Blue light is a high energy spectrum of light emitted by the sun and human-made sources like your computer or a phone’s digital screen. This light can reach deeper into the eye and cause eye strain.

Since the sun is the biggest emitter of blue light, it has been tied to our circadian rhythm. Higher exposure to blue light tells our body it’s daytime and that we should be awake, while lower amounts in the evening tell our body it’s time to rest. By supplementing the sun’s natural blue light with digital devices, we are tricking our bodies into a different pattern of awake and rest.

Are digital devices harmful to my eyes?

With all light, if your eye has been overexposed, there are risks to your vision health. In this case, blue light can reach the back of your eye. When overexposed to this type of light without protection, it can increase your risk for specific eye-related diseases. To keep your eyes protected, we recommend ay pair of computer eyewear or blue light blocking lenses.

Reduce Your Risk

To reduce your risk of digital eye strain and other eye-related diseases, we recommend the following for adults and children who spend time on a screen light-emitting device.

• Practice the 20/20/20 rule.
• Remember to blink!
• Use eye rewetting drops.
• Reduce or limit your screen time.
• Adjust your screen brightness to match your surrounding environment.

Have more questions about how the digital world could be affecting your vision and eye health? Schedule an appointment today and share any questions or concerns you have. We are happy to walk through your symptoms and help you get relief.