Category: Eye Health and Diseases

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)

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.

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.

In the same way we protect our skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, we need to protect our eyes as well! Even more importantly, we need to protect our child’s eyes. Children’s eyes are still developing at a young age, and with the substantial time they spend outdoors, it is essential to purchase sunglasses to protect their eyes from harmful UV rays. Kid’s sunglasses are designed to appeal to their style to promote better use!

UV Rays: What are they?

UV rays or ultraviolet radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation or energy. UV rays are emitted from the sun as well as sources like tanning beds. Our inability to see these rays is what makes them so dangerous. Ultraviolet rays fall outside the range of visible light for the human eye.

Harmful UV Ray Exposure

Eye Development

The lens inside a child’s eye is still developing and cannot filter high energy rays similar to adults’ eye lenses. This inability to filter and fully protect their eyes causes children to have a higher risk of UV rays damage. Shielding your infant’s or child’s eyes from UV rays as early as possible will help prevent overexposure to UV radiation throughout their lifetime. For younger children and infants, a sun hat provides additional protection to their skin and eyes throughout the day as the sun shifts, and in case they remove their sunglasses.

Environment

Exposure to UV radiation increases at high altitudes, tropical locations, and in reflective environments. Consider the level of risk in your environment and if you should wear protective eyewear. Here are a few environmental aspects and how they could affect your exposure to harmful UV rays.

• Altitude: At higher altitudes, the earth’s atmosphere is thinner and unable to provide the same protection from UV rays.
• Location: As you move closer to the earth’s equator, the level of UV rays increases. If you and your family visit a tropical area near the earth’s equator, always wear 100% UV blocking eyewear when outdoors.
• Highly reflective services: Areas with highly reflective services like pools, lakes, oceans, and snow reflect UV rays. Snow can reflect up to 80% of UV rays creating a higher risk of UV damage to your eyes.
• Clouds: Keep in mind clouds do not block UV radiation. UV exposure can be high on cloudy days.

Time of Day

• Time of day: UV levels are higher between 10 am to 2 pm when the sun is at its peak.
• Setting: Highly reflective surfaces like sand, snow, and water provide a much higher risk of eye damage due to UV radiation.

Kids Sunglasses

We understand convincing your child to wear sunglasses can be a challenge. Use these pointers when talking with your kids about sunglasses! Don’t forget, you know your children better than anyone else, so some of these tips may not work for them.

• Match the current trends. If your child loves a specific color, pattern, or shape, purchase sunglasses to match their unique style.
• Make sure the eyewear fits properly. If the fit is wrong, your child may feel discomfort while wearing their glasses. Have your optician make sure that your child is comfortable wearing their glasses and make adjustments if they need to.
• TV shows, young celebrities, and brands like Disney create sunglass lines to appeal specifically to children. That’s right; children notice and prefer brand named items just like teens and adults.
• Keep frame in the family. If the child has an adult or sibling, they look up to and admire, purchase your child similar sunglasses to what the adult or sibling owns. This will appeal to the child’s desire to look more like their older sibling or parent!
• Let them do the shopping. Take children shopping specifically to pick out their very own unique pair of sunglasses. The more they like their sunglasses, the more likely they are to wear them, and the better protected their eyes will be from harmful UV radiation from the sun.

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!

• 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!

Suffering from eye discomfort or blurry vision can be scary, especially if it comes on suddenly or is a result of a dramatic event. Below are some of the common eye-related disorders. However, remember that common doesn’t mean it should be ignored. If you are experiencing any of these systems or if you have questions about your eye health, call us to schedule an appointment with one of our caring eye care professionals.

Symptom One: Red Eyes

Many things can cause red or bloodshot eyes, including allergies, pink eye, or eye trauma. Our eye care professionals can help determine the cause of your redness and develop a treatment plan for you! Be sure to mention your red-eye symptoms when scheduling your appointment!

Symptom Two: Itchy Eyes

Itchy eyes are one of the most common eye symptoms that people experience. Again, there are many potential causes that could lead to itchy eyes, including allergies, contact lens usage, and prolonged use of digital devices. Even though it may provide temporary relief, you should never rub your eyes as it can add allergens or bacteria into your eye, compounding the issue.

Symptom Three: Puffy Eyes

Swelling around the eyes is due to excessive fluids in the skin tissue, but there are a variety of reasons for that extra fluid to be present. Allergies, Dehydration, overconsumption of salt, lack of sleep, stress, and crying can all lead to eyes appearing puffy.

Symptom Four: Burning Sensation in Eyes

If certain products, makeup, facial cleaners, or shampoo, come in contact with our eyes, we may experience a burning sensation in our eyes. If the burning sensation is a continued problem, identify your surroundings and the products you are using and try to reduce your exposure. If reducing your exposure isn’t an option, or if you are still suffering, call our office to schedule an appointment.

Symptom Five: Spots in Vision

Although this sounds scary, it isn’t necessarily a reason to worry. Spots or floaters are caused by protein and tissue in the gel-like matter in your eyes, and it is normal to occasionally see spots in your vision. This will even become increasingly common with age. If you are experiencing more spots or floaters than normal, call our practice to schedule an appointment, and be sure to mention your vision changes!

Symptom Six: Painful Eyes

Call our office immediately if you have a foreign body enter your eye or if you are experiencing prolonged eye pain. While waiting for your appointment, remain calm, avoid rubbing your eye, and do not try to remove the object yourself. When speaking with our team, we may ask you to describe your symptoms in detail to help us pinpoint the cause.

Our team of trained professionals is here to answer all of your eye-related questions! Schedule an appointment with us today, even if your eye health feels like it is in perfect condition!

Yearly comprehensive eye exams are crucial to detecting changes in your vision and risk of eye-related diseases. We recommend adults have a comprehensive eye exam every year, and children should have an eye exam as early as six months before they start school, and then every 1-2 years. We often get questions about what to expect from your eye exam, so we’ve created an overview of the parts of a typical eye exam.

Eye Exams: What to Expect

Eye exams are quick and painless! 

Who gives an eye exam? An optometrist will perform your eye exam. Optometrists are eye doctors who prescribe glasses, contacts, vision therapy, and medication to treat eye diseases.

Choosing eyewear? Following your exam, one of our staff opticians will help you select a pair of eyewear. An optician will ask you about your lifestyle to determine which eyewear is best for you as well as fit, adjust, and repair your eyeglasses.

What to expect during your appointment?

Your eye exam may take an hour or more based on the tests your eye doctor determines are needed to evaluate your eye health. Your eye exam may consist of the following tests.

Pre-Exam Tests

Before your exam, a technician will often perform a few basic tests, including:

• During a color sensitivity test, we will ask you to look at colored circles or shape and simply read the letter or number you see within it.
• For a peripheral vision test, we will place an object in your peripheral vision and ask that without moving your eyes if you can see the item displayed.
• The glaucoma (or “air puff” test) is commonly the most uncomfortable testing during your exam. For this test, the technician will puff a small bit of air into your eye to measure your eye pressure. There is no direct contact between the technician or machine and your eye and should only result in some watery eyes following.

Your Eye Exam

To prepare for your exam, bring your most recent pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses. Remember also to bring a list of questions or concerns you may have about your eyesight to discuss with your eye doctor.

Pupillary Reaction

Using a light, the doctor checks your pupils’ responsiveness. Your pupils’ response to light is a natural function of the eye and is critical to your vision. While using the light, the doctor will also look at the surface of your eye for signs of dry eye, corneal scratches and bacterial debris.

Slit Lamp Test

A slit light test is when your doctor shines a vertical bar of light into your eye to magnify its surface and inspect for abnormalities. This test allows the doctor to check your cornea, iris, and lens. During this test, you may be asked to blink or look in a specific director to allow your doctor to view your eye’s surface.

Visual Acuity and Refraction

The most well-known part of the eye exam is the visual acuity test. Your doctor will ask you to read an eye chart filled with numbers and letters with one or both eyes. Your ability to clearly read and identify the numbers and letters helps the doctor further determine your vision prescription needs. To hone in on your exact prescription, your doctor will place a large lens refractor in front of you and ask you a series of questions about which lenses make your vision better or worse.

Pupil Dilation

We recommend getting a dilated eye exam every year! By dilating your eyes, your doctor can more clearly examine your retina and optic nerve. To dilate your eyes, your doctor will place a few eye drops in your eyes to cause your pupils to enlarge. After a dilated exam, your eyes may be sensitive to light for up to an hour after the test. If you need a pair of temporary sunglasses, ask us, and we may be able to provide you one for comfort while driving home.

What to do after the exam?

Shop our selection of eyewear to find the perfect pair for your lifestyle. An optician for our team will be available to walk you through this process. Finally, schedule your follow-up appointment for the next year!

As our world becomes increasingly digital, the number of people suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) has also increased. Raise your hand if you have experienced one of the following symptoms.

1. eye strain
2. difficulty focusing
3. red, dry, itchy, or burning eyes
4. blurry or double vision
5. eye twitching
6. nearsightedness, also called myopia
7. headaches
8. neck or shoulder pain and stiffness
9. backache
10. A combination of two or more of the above symptoms

If you have experienced any of these symptoms, know you are not alone. Although CVS affects each individual differently, we can help alleviate the symptoms and create a plan to improve your vision.

Reducing Computer Vision Syndrome Symptoms

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is caused by your eyes and brain reacting to the computer screen. A computer screen’s content is usually less sharp, has less contrast, and can have more reflections or glare bouncing off the screen. All of these factors lead to CVS, but they aren’t the only factors. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, here are some suggestions for improving your screen time!

Lighting Conditions

Viewing your screen in low light conditions can cause your eyes to continually try to focus on the screen, causing strain on your eyes. When working on your computer, be sure your surroundings have adequate lighting. Try setting your computer brightness to the same brightness as the room around you.

In addition to lighting, try to minimize the reflection of glare off your computer screen by installing an anti-glare screen on your monitor. If you are working in a room with windows, consider closing the blinds to prevent the sun from reflecting off your computer screen as well.

Screen Positioning

Another factor that can cause CVS is your computer or screen position. Being too close to or too far from the screen or positioning the screen at an angle can lead to eye strain. A great start to reducing your eye strain is to position your computer directly in front of you, so the top of the screen is just below your eyesight.

Give your eyes a break!

Taking regular vision breaks (looking at something 20 feet away, every 20 minutes, for 20 seconds) can go a long way in alleviating your symptoms. However, it may not completely resolve them.

If you believe you are suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome, it doesn’t have to be that way! Call our practice today to schedule an appointment and talk to one of our eye care professionals. We can discuss your specific needs and explore your options together!

Thinking about giving contact lenses a try but nervous they might not be right for you? Although the only guaranteed way to have a positive experience with contact lenses is to schedule an appointment with one of our eye care professionals, we want to address some of the common myths we hear about wearing contact lenses.

Myth One: I’m too old to wear contact lenses.

Some people believe once they reach a certain age, contact lenses are no longer appropriate or possible. If you develop the need for a corrective perception later in life and worry contact lenses will not work, talk to our team! We can explore your options for making contact lenses fit into your prescriptive needs and your lifestyle.

Myth Two: My child is too young to wear contact lenses.

On the flip side, most parents are cautious about their children wearing contact lenses. There are no age restrictions on wearing contacts. However, we like to ensure your child is responsible and mature enough to manage the application, removal, and care of contact lenses. If your child has expressed interest in contact lenses, our staff can advise whether they would be a suitable fit.

Myth Three: Contact lenses will get lost behind my eye.

We hear this one a lot, and we are here to confirm that this is physically impossible. Although contact lenses can shift in your eyes, there is a membrane that covers your eye which connects inside your eyelid that prevents anything from getting behind your eye. So even if your contact shifts slightly, never panic. It can be easily adjusted.

Myth Four: Contact lenses can get stuck to the eye.

This is another popular misconception. However, we believe it originates from improper wear, care, and removal, and not because contact lenses are a bad solution for individuals. In most situations where a contact feels stuck, your eye may simply be dry. Applying some rewetting drops should loosen them up and make them easy to remove.

Myth Five: I’ll never be able to put in contact lenses.

Placing contact lenses directly on your eye can be scary, especially the first few times, but our team is here to help! Our trained professionals will coach you through the process and ensure you are confident in your abilities to put in and take out your contact lenses before leaving the office.

We hope by debunking some of these common myths, your eyes are open to the idea of wearing contact lenses. Don’t let fear ruin your chances of living happily with contact lenses. Schedule an appointment with our team to talk about your specific needs, and we can explore your options together!