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How Your Optometrist Can Help with Eye Strain Relief

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How We Can Help Provide Eye Strain Relief

Sore, tired eyes after reading, driving, or focusing could be a sign you have eye strain. If you frequently experience eye strain symptoms, it’s time to pay a visit to the optometrist. Your eye doctor at Southern Focus Vision Center can help you find relief from eye strain with treatments and strategies to improve your eye comfort.

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What Are the Symptoms?

Eye strain may make your eyes feel tired or heavy and cause these symptoms:

  • Burning or Irritated Eyes
  • Watery Eyes
  • Blurry Vision, Particularly When Focusing
  • Trouble Keeping Your Eyes Open
  • Headaches
  • Tight Neck and Shoulder Muscles

Common causes of eye strain include:

  • Use of Digital Devices. Eye strain is common among people who use cellphones, laptops, tablets, and desktop computers. That’s not surprising, since the average American now spends about 7 hours daily using screens, according to the American Optometric Association. The words on a screen aren’t as crisp and clear as those on a page, which means your eyes must work harder when focusing on text, games, or reports.
  • Poor Lighting. Glare or dim lighting can strain your eyes. Glare can come from the sun, overhead lights, or screens.
  • Screen Distance Issues. Eye strain could also be related to the way you view screens or hold digital devices. Your eyes have to work harder if your computer screen is too high or low or you hold your phone too close to your face.
  • Dry Eyes. Blinking slows down when people use digital devices. Blinking spreads lubricating tears over the surface of the eye, keeping the eyes moist and comfortable.
  • Intense Focusing. Any activity that requires you to remain focused for a long time can trigger eye strain symptoms. You may be more likely to develop symptoms after driving or reading for hours or focusing intently on a woodworking or needlework project.
  • Vision Problems. Eye strain can also happen if you need glasses or contact lenses or it’s time to update your current prescription. Myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness) can make focusing difficult, as can astigmatism and presbyopia. You may also experience eye strain if there’s a problem with eye muscle coordination or eye alignment.
  • Environmental Factors. Smoke, allergens, dust, or dry air irritate the eyes and can be factors in eye strain.

5 Ways We Can Help You Find Relief From Eye Strain

If eye strain is a frequent problem for you, give your eye doctor a call. During a comprehensive eye exam, your optometrist will evaluate your focusing ability, test your vision, and assess your overall eye health. After the eye exam, your doctor may make one or more suggestions, including:

  • Keeping Your Eyes Moist. Your optometrist may recommend increasing moisture and lubrication with artificial tears or eye drops. Using a humidifier can also be helpful during the winter or other times when the air may be dry.
  • Updating Your Prescription. Tweaking your current contact lens or eyeglass prescriptions (or providing a new prescription if you’ve never worn glasses) improves the sharpness of your vision and may make focusing more comfortable. If your contact lenses make your eyes feel too dry, your optometrist can recommend lenses that preserve moisture.
  • Following the 20-20-20 Rule. The 20-20-20 rule reduces strain by giving your eye muscles frequent breaks. Follow the rule by looking away from your screens every 20 minutes. Focus on something about 20 feet in the distance for at least 20 seconds during these breaks.
  • Trying Vision Therapy. Vision therapy may be helpful if an eye muscle coordination or eye alignment issue causes a focusing problem. The therapy uses exercises and activities that improve focusing and other visual skills. Your eye doctor may recommend helpful exercises or refer you to a vision therapist.
  • Making Lifestyle Changes. Changing the height of your screens or the position of your cellphone could improve your eyestrain symptoms. Your eye doctor can also provide suggestions on ergonomics, lighting, and ideal reading distances.

Ready to improve your eye strain symptoms? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the optometrist.

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Types of Sunglasses and How They Protect Your Eyes

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Which Type of Sunglasses Are Right for You?

More than just a fashion statement, sunglasses have many benefits like reducing glare and protecting your eyes from damaging ultraviolet (UV) light. With so many styles and lens choices available, finding the perfect pair can be a little overwhelming. Fortunately, your optometrist can help you select stylish sunglasses that offer the ultimate in sun protection.

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The Many Benefits of Sunglasses

Sunglasses offer protection from:

  • Glare. Sunglass lenses filter light and reduce glare from the sun, snow, and sand. Is bright light a trigger for your headaches or migraines? Wearing sunglasses could help you reduce the number of headaches you get.
  • UV Rays. Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVA) rays can damage your eyes over time. If you don’t wear sunglasses year-round, your risk for cataracts increases. Sunglasses that provide UV protection also reduce the risk of cancer in and around your eyes.
  • Dust and Debris. Sunglasses block dirt, dust, and debris from entering your eyes.
  • Dry Eye. Windy or sunny conditions may make dry eye symptoms worse. Wearing sunglasses can help you keep your eyes moist.
  • Eye Strain. Glare can lead to uncomfortable eye strain. Sunglasses offer a simple way to avoid sore eyes, blurry or double vision, dry eyes, headaches, and other eye strain symptoms.
  • Photokeratitis. Forgetting your sunglasses on a sunny day could lead to photokeratitis, a painful condition that temporarily damages the cornea. Similar to a sunburn, photokeratitis affects the clear corneal tissue covering your iris and pupil. Photokeratitis causes blurry vision, watery eyes, headaches, light sensitivity, and redness. Fortunately, symptoms usually improve in a day or two.

Choosing Sunglasses

A good pair of sunglasses blocks UV light and glare without being so dark that you struggle to see. The American Optometric Association recommends choosing sunglasses that block 100% of UV-A and UV-B light and screen out 75 to 90% of visible light.

Sunglasses are available in a variety of styles and types, including;

  • Fashion. You don’t have to spend a lot for sun protection. Fashion sunglasses available in stores can be just as effective as pricier types. Once you find a pair that looks and feels good, check the tag to ensure the glasses offer 100% UV protection. Fashionable sunglasses aren’t only found on drugstore racks. Your optometrist offers a variety of fashion-forward, comfortable sunglasses for men, women, and children. Sunglasses are a must for kids, as 80 percent of lifetime sun exposure will happen before your children are 18, according to UCLA Health.
  • Clip-On. Clip-on sunglasses attach to your prescription glasses with clips or magnets. Although clip-on sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun, finding a pair of clip-ons that fit your frames perfectly can be difficult.
  • Prescription. Prescription sunglasses offer an alternative to clip-ons if you wear glasses. Your prescription is added to tinted lenses to ensure clear, comfortable vision.
  • Photochromic. Hate switching between your regular prescription glasses and sunglasses? Photochromic sunglasses may be the perfect choice for you. The lenses darken in the sunlight and gradually lighten when you return inside. Photochromic lenses may not darken completely in motor vehicles due to UV protection added to windshields.
  • Polarized. Adding polarized lenses to your sunglasses reduces glare while improving color contrast and sharpening your vision. Polarized lenses are a good choice for driving, water activities, and sports.
  • Wraparound. Wraparound sunglasses have a curved frame that prevents light from entering your eyes from the sides or top of your glasses. This style offers the most complete protection from UV rays.
  • Sports. Sports sunglasses feature impact-resistant lenses and offer a closer fit than traditional sunglasses. The close fit means you won’t have to worry about the glasses sliding off your face when biking, running, or participating in your favorite sport or activity.
  • Blue Light Blocking. Blue light blocking sunglasses feature yellow or orange lenses that decrease the amount of blue light that reaches your eyes in order to reduce eye strain.

Need a new pair of sunglasses? Stop by the office to check out our selection, or call us to schedule an appointment for an eye exam.

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Can Vision Loss Be Reversed?

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Can Vision Loss Be Reversed?

Wondering if there’s anything you can do to reverse vision loss? The answer depends on the cause of vision loss, the severity of the condition or disease, and available treatment options. If you have one of these conditions, it may be possible to reverse or improve your vision.

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Cataracts

A cataract is a common age-related eye condition that occurs when the lens inside your eye becomes clouded. The normally clear lens is located behind the iris, the colored part of your eye. Cloudiness affects the way light reaches the light-sensing retina at the back of your eye. Cataracts may cause blurry vision, light sensitivity, problems with glare, dull color vision, and the need for frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions. As clouding worsens, you may experience vision loss.

Cataract surgery reverses vision loss by replacing the cloudy lens with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens implant (IOL). Some IOLs provide sharp vision at either near or far distances, while others improve vision at all distances.

Detached Retina

A retinal detachment happens when the retina begins to peel away from the back of the eye. The light-sensing cells in the retina send electrical impulses to the brain. If the cells can’t do their job, the brain doesn’t receive the information needed to produce clear, complete images.

Symptoms of a retinal detachment include flashing lights and a sudden increase in floaters, wispy strings that float through your field of vision. You may also experience sudden vision loss and notice a dark spot in your visual field.

Fortunately, a detached retina can often be reattached if you receive treatment soon after you notice changes in your vision. Eye doctors reattach detached retinas with freezing treatment, laser surgery, or traditional surgery. Treatments can restore all or some of your lost vision. The National Eye Institute notes that retinal detachment treatments are successful for 90% of people.

Eye Infections

Eye infections, like conjunctivitis (pink eye), bacterial keratitis, endophthalmitis and orbital cellulitis, can cause blurry or double vision. Prompt treatment of these infections can restore your vision and help you reduce the risk of permanent vision loss.

Migraines

Do you notice colorful zigzag lights or blind spots just before you get a migraine? These vision changes can occur during a migraine and are called auras. Auras happen shortly before the pain of a migraine starts. Symptoms include confusion, trouble speaking, tingling, or numbness, in addition to visual changes.

Although the loss of vision is scary, vision usually returns to normal fairly quickly when the aura subsides. If you’ve never experienced vision loss with a migraine before, it’s a good idea to visit your optometrist to rule out other causes.

Central Retinal Vein Occlusion

Your vision can blur if the vein that removes blood from the retina becomes clogged. When this happens, blood and fluid leak into the retina. The accumulation of blood and fluid may cause swelling in the macula, the area of the retina responsible for central vision swells. Called “macular edema,” this condition may make straight-edged objects look wavy or colors look dull. You may be at increased risk for developing central retinal vein occlusion if you have diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure or hardening of the arteries.

Treatments to reverse symptoms or prevent them from worsening include medications injected into the eye to reduce swelling and laser surgery to fix the leaks in the vein.

Other Conditions

Other conditions that may be reversed or improved include retinal vasospasm, closed-angle glaucoma, giant cell arteritis, and vision loss due to multiple sclerosis complications.

It may be impossible to reverse vision loss if you’ve had a severe eye injury, damaged your optic nerve, or have a genetic degenerative eye disease. Although you can’t regain lost vision in these circumstances, a variety of low vision aids can help you make the most of your usable vision.

Are you concerned about a change in your vision? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the optometrist. If you notice a sudden change in vision or vision loss, go to the emergency room immediately.

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The Benefits of Reading Glasses

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The Benefits of Reading Glasses

Has reading the small print become a struggle as you’ve gotten older? Presbyopia, an age-related vision condition that affects your ability to see near objects clearly, may be to blame. About 128 million Americans have presbyopia, according to the American Optometric Association. Learn more about the benefits of reading glasses to improve vision below!

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Why do I need readers?

Presbyopia happens when the lens inside your eye stiffens. The lens helps focus light rays on the retina, the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye. Your lens changes shape to provide clear vision as you shift your focus between far, near, and intermediate distances. Starting around age 40, the lens becomes less flexible, making it difficult to see things close-up clearly.

Most people eventually develop presbyopia, even those who have never had problems with their vision before. If you have presbyopia, you may notice that it’s easier to read if you hold books and papers far from your face. Unfortunately, that strategy doesn’t work forever and isn’t the most comfortable way to read.

The Benefits

Presbyopia makes everyday tasks more difficult, from threading a needle to reading the ingredients on a package to texting. Fortunately, reading glasses offer a simple way to see what you’ve been missing. Reading glasses provide several important benefits, including:

  • Sharper Vision. Has reading become a guessing game for you? Reading glasses sharpen your near vision, allowing you to see words and close objects clearly again.
  • No More Eyestrain. Squinting to see near objects stresses your eyes and can be a factor in eyestrain. Do your eyes feel sore, tired, or dry when you read or look at close objects? Eyestrain could be to blame. Since blurry and double vision are among the common symptoms of eyestrain, the condition could make reading even more difficult. When you wear reading glasses, your eyes don’t have to work as hard.
  • Fewer Headaches and Muscle Pain. Eyestrain may increase tension in your shoulders, neck, and back muscles, causing pain and headaches. Wearing reading glasses for close work helps you avoid these uncomfortable symptoms.
  • More Comfortable Reading at Night. Presbyopia may make it more difficult to see near objects clearly at night or in dim light. Reading glasses, in addition to better lighting, make reading easier.

What Kind Are Best?

Reading glasses are sold in many stores, but are they a good idea for you? Over-the-counter reading glasses can help you see better but have a few drawbacks, including:

  • Prescription Uncertainty. As you sort through the rack of reading glasses, you’ll need to know which lens power is right for you. Is +.75 good enough or should you choose the +1.00 glasses? Making the wrong choice could cause discomfort and eye strain.
  • Lack of Customization. Over-the-counter reading glasses are a one-size-fits-all solution to presbyopia. If you need a slightly different lens power for each eye, as many people do, you’ll have to settle for glasses that are too weak or strong for one eye.
  • Style Limitations. Frame selection may be limited when you buy your reading glasses at the drugstore or grocery store. You might not find a style you like or discover that none of the frames feel comfortable.

During a comprehensive eye examination at the optometrist’s office, your eye doctor determines the ideal prescription for your reading glasses. The optometry office also offers a large selection of eyeglass frames designed to fit your personal style and budget.

Do you already wear eyeglasses due to myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism? Bifocals, trifocals, or progressive lenses may be good options for you. Bifocals are eyeglass lenses that are separated into an upper and lower section divided by a line. The upper section provides good distance vision, while the lower vision improves your near vision. Trifocals offer three distinct viewing areas for near, intermediate and far distances. Progressive lenses seamlessly transition between near and far vision without lines.

Ready to find out how reading glasses could improve your life? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the optometrist.

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Why Is A Contact Lens Fitting Important?

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Why Are Contact Lens Fittings Important

Wondering why you need an exam and a contact lens fitting when you visit the eye doctor? Finding the right fit for your contact lenses is just as important as determining the correct prescription for the lenses. Fit issues can lead to discomfort and could even prompt you to stop wearing your contacts. Fortunately, problems can be easily avoided with a contact lens fitting.

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Your Corneas Are As Unique As You Are

Buying shoes online is always a gamble. A stylish pair of shoes may have plenty of positive reviews and come in your size, yet are incredibly uncomfortable when they finally arrive on your doorstep. Other factors beyond size, like width and arch type, affect the fit of shoes. In fact, most people have to try on several pairs of shoes before finding the perfect pair.

The same type of process applies to fitting contact lenses. Contact lenses rest on the corneas, the clear rounded tissue that covers your iris and pupil.

Every cornea is unique. Some curve more than others or are irregularly shaped. Contact lenses that are too flat or too curved for your eyes are bound to be uncomfortable and may not provide the crisp, clear vision you expect from your contacts. Poorly fitting lenses rub against your cornea or move every time you blink, causing irritation that may make you wonder if contact lenses are really worth the trouble.

During a contact lens fitting, your optometrist measures the size of your pupil and iris and the curvature of the cornea. Your eye doctor uses that information to select contact lenses that best fit your eyes. At the end of the fitting, you’ll be given a trial pair of contact lenses to try for a few weeks. Although the first trial pair of contact lenses is the ideal option for many people, others may need to try another brand or type of contact lenses.

Your Comfort Depends on Your Fitting

In addition to determining the curvature of your cornea, your eye doctor also evaluates your tear film. If your eyes tend to be dry, contact lenses designed to retain moisture and keep tears from evaporating too soon may be the best option.

During the fitting, your optometrist also considers other factors such as:

  • Protein Buildup. Proteins in tears cling to contact lenses, causing irritation and worsening dryness. If protein deposits tend to build up on your lenses quickly, your optometrist may recommend daily disposable lenses rather than extended-wear lenses. Daily disposable lenses are worn once and thrown out, while extended-wear lenses are cleaned every night and worn for a week to a month before being replaced.
  • Refractive Errors. Your eye doctor will suggest contact lenses that provide the clearest vision for refractive errors, like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism. For example, if you have astigmatism, you may need toric contact lenses that fit the irregular shape of your cornea.

Wondering why your near vision has become blurry? If you’re over 40, you may have presbyopia. The age-related vision condition only affects near vision and is the reason people need reading glasses. If presbyopia is an issue for you, you may benefit from multi-focal contact lenses that combine multiple prescriptions in one contact lens. Multi-focal contact lenses provide sharp near, far, and intermediate vision.

Nothing Stays the Same Forever

During your annual comprehensive vision examination and contact lens fitting, your eye doctor looks for changes in your eyes that could affect the fit, comfort, and acuity (visual sharpness) of your lenses. For example, astigmatism tends to worsen with age.

Fifty-five percent of people with astigmatism experienced changes starting in their mid-40s, while 41% didn’t have any changes until their mid-50s, according to research published in Review of Optometry in 2023. A new prescription and new contact lenses could improve your vision and accommodate the change in the shape of your cornea.

Dry eye can also become a problem as you get older. The American Optometric Association notes that dry eyes are a normal part of aging and affect most people over 65. Switching to contact lenses with a higher moisture content could help you avoid irritation due to dry eye.

Is it time for your next eye exam and contact lens fitting? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the eye doctor.

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The Best Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes

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The Best Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes

Do your eyes feel red, itchy, or uncomfortable when wearing contact lenses? Your symptoms could be related to dry eye disease, a common problem that may make it difficult to wear contact lenses as long as you would like or find comfortable lenses. Changing the type or brand of contact lenses you wear could improve your lens-wearing experience.

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How Dry Eye Causes Problems for Contact Lens Wearers

Dry eye is an issue for many contact lens wearers. Ten to fifty percent of contact lens wearers stop wearing their lenses within three years due to discomfort, according to a 2017 article published in Clinical Optometry. Dry eye was the most common reason people stopped wearing contact lenses.

Contact lens wearers are at increased risk for dry eye due to:

  • Lower Oxygen Transmission. Contact lenses reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the clear cornea underneath the lenses. The amount of oxygen reduction varies depending on lens material and type.
  • Lens Materials. Some materials lose moisture faster than others, which increases the risk for dry eye.
  • Fit Problems. Poorly fitting contact lenses irritate your eyes and might make dry eye feel worse.
  • Protein Buildup. Protein buildup on contact lenses can worsen dry eye. Since daily lenses are thrown out every day, they’re less likely to cause a problem than monthly lenses.

Contact Lens Options for Dry Eye

There’s no need to suffer in silence or assume that contact lenses just won’t work for you if have dry eye. Your optometrist can recommend several options that could improve eye comfort and reduce dry eye symptoms. You may need to try a few types or brands of contact lenses to find the right kind for you.

Contact lens choices for dry eye include these options:

  • Bausch + Lomb Ultra. These monthly lenses uses MoistureSeal technology to maintain 95% moisture for 16 hours a day, according to the Bausch + Lomb website.
  • CooperVision Proclear sphere. Monthly CooperVision Proclear sphere are made with a special technological process that binds water to the lens while reducing protein buildup.
  • Alcon DAILIES TOTAL1. Alcon DAILIES TOTAL1 are daily lenses made with Alcon’s Water Gradient Technology. The technology holds in moisture, creating a cushion that contains almost 100% water at the surface of the lens, according to Alcon. DAILIES TOTAL1 lenses also release an ingredient that keeps the outer lipid layer of the tear film stable. In addition to maintaining tear film stability, the lipid layer keeps tears from evaporating too quickly.
  • ACUVUE OASYS 1-DAY. Another daily contact lens option, ACUVUE OASYS 1-DAY with HydraLuxe Technology reduces tear evaporation and keeps eyes moister.
  • Scleral Contact Lenses. Scleral contact lenses may be a good option if your symptoms don’t improve after wearing other types of lenses. Unlike soft daily or monthly lenses, scleral lenses cover the cornea and the sclera (white part of the eye). Scleral contact lenses are made of rigid, gas-permeable polymers and offer a custom fit. The lenses seal off the cornea, decreasing tear evaporation and preventing dust and dirt from irritating your eyes.

How to Improve Comfort While Wearing Contact Lenses

Wondering what you can do to improve contact lens comfort if you suffer from dry eye? Try these tips:

  • Reduce Wear Time. The contact lens manufacturer may claim that you can comfortably wear the lens all day, but that may not be true if you have dry eye. You may find that your eyes feel better if you remove your contact lenses after work or only wear them for eight hours a day.
  • Carry Rewetting Drops. Rewetting drops moisturize your eyes while you wear your contacts and are a must-have if your eyes are often dry or irritated.
  • Switch Your Solution. Trying a new type of solution could ease your symptoms. Switching to a preservative-free hydrogen peroxide-based solution can be a good option if preservatives in lens solutions irritate your eyes, according to a 2023 article published in Review of Optometry.

Are you having trouble finding comfortable contact lenses that don’t dry out your eyes? We’ll help you explore the options and recommend the best type of contact lenses for your eyes. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the optometrist.

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The Importance of Limiting Your Child’s Screen Time

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The Importance of Limiting Your Child’s Screen Time

Experts agree that kids should balance screen time with other activities. But is limiting your child’s screen time really necessary? Learn more about how screen time can impact your child’s vision and more!

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The Dangers of Too Much Screen Time

Digital devices make life easier by providing a convenient way to communicate, learn, watch videos, and play games. Unfortunately, many kids spend too much time using screens. Children ages 8 to 12 spend four to six hours daily using screens, while teenagers use screens up to nine hours per day, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

While occasional screen use may not cause problems, spending hours a day viewing screens can increase your child’s risk for:

  • Sleep Issues. Blue light exposure from screens may make it difficult for your son or daughter to fall asleep. Blue light affects melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate the sleep/wake cycle.
  • Weaker Bonds with Friends and Family. Kids who use digital devices excessively might not develop strong offline relationships with family and friends.
  • Behavioral Problems. Real-life situations and relationships help kids learn how to manage life’s disappointments and challenges. When children don’t spend enough time in the real world, they may not master patience, social skills, cooperation, listening, sharing, self-control, and other important behavioral skills.
  • Academic Difficulties. Although digital devices make it easier to research information or get homework help, too much screen time may affect academic performance. According to a review published in Cureus in 2023, increased screen time and multi-tasking between devices can worsen academic performance and executive functioning. Executive functioning involves mental skills necessary for memory, self-control, adapting behavior based on the environment, organization, and planning.
  • Weight Gain. Screen time limits your child’s physical activity and could be a factor in weight gain and obesity. Teenagers who used screens more than six hours a day had a higher risk of nighttime eating, unhealthy eating, and inadequate sleep, according to a research study published in Preventing Chronic Disease in 2018.
  • Digital Eyestrain. Your children’s screen habits may increase their risk for developing digital eyestrain. Symptoms include itchy or dry eyes, blurry vision, red eyes, eye fatigue, headaches, and neck and shoulder pain.
  • Myopia (Nearsightedness). Nearsighted children see near objects clearly, although everything in the distance is a blur. According to researchers, children who don’t spend much time in the sun may be more likely to become nearsighted. A meta-analysis and systematic review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health noted that sun exposure significantly reduced myopia prevalence and incidence in children. According to the meta-analysis, exposure to outdoor light for at least two hours daily was recommended.

How to Reduce Your Child’s Screen Time

These tips can help you lower your child’s screen time:

  • Set Device-Free Times. Schedule an hour or two during the day when the entire family avoids screens or devices except for emergencies.
  • Make Outdoor Activities a Family Priority. Ride bikes with your children, play outdoor games, or participate in outdoor hobbies. Encourage teens to spend time outdoors too. Organized sports aren’t the only options for teenagers. Running, walking, biking, skateboarding, swimming, and other activities give your teen much-needed exercise and sun exposure.
  • Enforce Digital Breaks. Ask your older children and teens to take a half-hour break after using screens for two hours. Teaching your kids the 20-20-20 rule can help them avoid eyestrain and headaches when using screens. After viewing screens for 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet in the distance for 20 seconds.
  • End Screen Time Well Before Bedtime. Make a rule that screens must be turned off two hours before bedtime. It may be easier to resist temptation if TVs are only in common areas, like living and family rooms.

Setting screen limits, in addition to scheduling regular eye exams, can help you protect your child’s vision. Is your child due for an exam? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the eye doctor.

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The Benefits of Puff-Less Eye Exams

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The Benefits of Puff-Less Eye Exams

Do you dislike that annoying puff of air aimed at your eyes during eye exams? Although the test is an important aspect of your exam, it’s probably your least favorite part. Puff-less eye exams offer the same accurate results with no discomfort.

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Why Is the Test Needed?

The puff of air measures the pressure inside your eyes. If your eye pressure is higher than normal, you’re at increased risk for developing glaucoma. Glaucoma happens when high pressure damages the optic nerve, the crucial connection between the eyes and the brain. Optic nerve damage is permanent and can cause partial or complete loss of vision.

Although anyone can develop glaucoma, the eye disease most often affects people over age 40, according to the American Optometric Association. Glaucoma risk factors include:

  • Thin Corneas
  • Diseases or Conditions (Your risk for glaucoma may be higher if you have diabetes, migraines, sickle cell anemia, or high blood pressure.)
  • Family History of Glaucoma
  • Corticosteroid Use
  • Race (People of African American, Hispanic or Asian heritage are more likely to develop glaucoma.)
  • Eye Surgery, Injury, or Inflammation

What Are the Advantages of Puff-Less Eye Exams?

During a puff-less eye exam, your eye doctor uses a device called an applanation tonometer to measure eye pressure. The device probe is applied directly to your cornea, the clear tissue that covers your iris and pupil. The probe temporarily flattens your cornea and provides an instant reading of your eye pressure. During the test, you may look into a slit-lamp, a lighted microscope that magnifies your eyes, or your eye doctor may use a handheld device.

Puffless-eye exams offer these benefits:

  • No Discomfort. Those puffs of air may not hurt, but they can be a little uncomfortable. Before your optometrist performs a puff-less test, he or she numbs your eyes. Thanks to the anesthetic effect of the drops, you won’t feel a thing during the test. A dye is also added to the eyes to make it easier to spot any changes or abnormalities in your corneas.
  • A Quicker Option for You. If you blink when the puff of air is aimed at your eyes, the test may need to be repeated several times until a pressure can be obtained. Unfortunately, the longer the test goes on, the more likely you may be to flinch and blink. With the puff-less method, you don’t need to do a thing, which means the test can be conducted in just a few seconds.
  • Less Anxiety. Do you spend your time in the waiting room dreading those puffs of air? The puff-less test makes visits more pleasant and eliminates anxiety about glaucoma testing.
  • Accurate Results. The applanation tonometer offers results that are just as accurate as the puff test. If your pressure is higher than normal, your eye doctor may recommend additional testing or may prescribe eye drops to lower your pressure. If eye drops don’t help, laser or traditional surgery may be used to improve drainage in the eye and reduce pressure.
  • Good Option for Children. Children can also develop glaucoma, although they have a much lower risk than adults. If your child hasn’t been cooperative in the past or hates the puff test, the puff-less test offers a better option.

Protect your eye health with a puff-less eye exam! Contact our office to schedule your appointment with the optometrist.

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How to Choose the Best Eye Drops for Dry Eyes

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How to Choose the Best Eye Drops for Dry Eyes

Are you overwhelmed by the number of eye drop choices available at the drugstore? Although you could randomly select a bottle of eye drops and hope for the best, you might accidentally pick the wrong type of drops for your symptoms. Wether you have dry eye symptoms or not, here are our tips for finding the best eye drops for dry eyes and relief!.

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Why Do You Need Drops?

Do your eyes feel dry or itch or burn? You may have dry eye, a condition affecting about 20 million people in the U.S., according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). A layer of tears constantly covers your eyes, lubricating the surface. If your tear film is inadequate, you may experience dry eye symptoms, which include dryness, redness, itching, burning, stringy mucus discharge, and occasional blurry vision.

Dry eye can happen if:

  • Your eyes don’t make enough tears
  • Tears drain too fast from your eyes
  • Your tears aren’t high-quality
  • You’ve been exposed to wind or smoke or spent time in a dry climate or environment

People over 65, women, and people who have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disease are more likely to develop dry eye, according to the American Optometric Association. Your risk of dry eye may also be higher if you use digital screens.

Do you have allergy symptoms, like sneezing, coughing, and congestion? Your itchy, red eyes could be related to your allergies.

What about your appearance? Do you want to use eye drops because your eyes are red?

Picking The Best Option

When you shop for eye drops, take a quick look at the product’s description, which is usually located below the product name. You’ll probably see one of these descriptions:

  • Lubricant/Lubricating. Lubricating eye drops, like artificial tears, are a good choice for dry eye symptoms. The drops offer temporary relief of symptoms and can be used throughout the day. Are your eyes uncomfortably dry during the night? Look for gel lubricating drops that remain on your eyes longer than liquid drops. Although these drops are better for nighttime use, they may make your vision look a little fuzzy when you first wake up.
  • Antihistamine/Eye Allergy. Choose antihistamine/eye allergy drops if your symptoms are caused by allergies. These eye drops prevent the release of histamines, natural substances that cause itching, redness, and watery eyes.
  • Redness Relief. Eye drops that reduce redness work by decreasing the size of blood vessels in the eye. Unfortunately, these drops can worsen redness if you use them too often. The AAO recommends avoiding eye drops that contain naphazoline and tetrahydrozoline for this reason.
  • Rewetting Drops. Rewetting drops keep contact lenses moist and can be applied when you’re wearing your lenses. Remove your contact lenses before using other types of eye drops, as some products can damage your lenses.

Not sure if preservative filled or preservative-free eye drops are best? Products with preservatives are a better option if you only use eye drops occasionally, as these products can be used for about a month after opening.

If you need extra lubrication every day and use eye drops more than four times a day, preservative-free drops might be a good option. These drops don’t contain chemicals that could irritate your eyes. Single-use vials are thrown out immediately after you use them. Multi-use, preservative-free eye drops are safe to use for a few days, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions. Using expired eye drops, whether they contain preservatives or are preservative-free, increases your risk of a bacterial eye infection.

Dry eye patients who switched to preservative-free eye drops in a research study published in Clinical Ophthalmology in 2018 had less severe dry eye symptoms after using the new drops. Ninety-four percent of the patients preferred the preservative-free drops.

Be sure to contact your eye doctor if eye drops don’t improve your symptoms or you experience signs of infection, which may include pain, severe redness, blurred vision, discharge and watery eyes.

Are your eyes still uncomfortable despite using over-the-counter eye drops? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the optometrist.

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What Does 20/20 Vision Mean?

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What Does 20/20 Vision Actually Mean?

Not sure what 20/20 vision means? You’re not alone. We’ll explain what those numbers mean and how your optometrist can help you if you don’t have 20/20 vision.

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What Is 20/20 Vision?

Optometrists use the term “20/20” vision to describe visual acuity, or your ability to see clearly without contact lenses or eyeglasses. If you’re like the the average person, you can see an object clearly at 20 feet away without contact lenses or eyeglasses.

The greater the second number, the blurrier your vision. For example, if you have 20/200 vision, others can see a tree clearly at 200 feet, but the leaves and trunk only come in to focus when you’re 20 feet away. If the second number is lower than 20, your vision is better than average. Let’s say your vision is 20/15. In that case, you see an object clearly at 20 feet while an average person must stand 15 feet away to see the same object clearly.

How Is 20/20 Vision Measured?

It wouldn’t be practical to measure your eyesight by asking you to stand outside and move back and forth in front of a tree. That’s why eye doctors developed eye charts like the Snellen chart used today. Originally, patients stood 20 feet away from the chart while reading letters that got progressively smaller on each line. Today, mirrors make it possible to measure your vision in a smaller space.

Each line on the chart corresponds to a specific acuity measurement, like 20/20 or 20/40. As you read each line, your optometrist notes if you struggle to see any of the lines or letters.

Your eye doctor may also also ask you to look into a auto refractor when determining your visual acuity. During this test, a computer estimates your acuity by measuring how light reflects off your retina.

Can You Still Have Good Vision If You Don’t Have 20/20 Vision?

Many people with in the U.S have refractive errors that affect their vision. Refractive errors affect the way light bends and focuses on light-sensing retina at the back of the eye. These four refractive errors can affect visual acuity:

  • Myopia. Myopia, the most common type of refractive error, affects 42% of Americans, according to the International Myopia Institute. Myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs when light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This can happen if your eyeball is too long or the cornea is too rounded. Nearsightedness can also be caused by an issue with the lens inside your eye. If you’re nearsighted, you can see near objects clearly, but objects in the distance are blurry.
  • Hyperopia. Hyperopia, or farsightedness, happens when light is focused behind the retina. Farsightedness can be caused by a too-short eyeball, a cornea that isn’t curved enough, or an imperfection in the lens of the eye. If you have hyperopia, you can see things in the distance ,clearly but struggle to read or look at close-up objects.
  • Astigmatism. Astigmatism occurs due to an irregularly curved cornea or a lens imperfection. These irregularities affect how light enters the eye, causing blurry vision at near and far distances.
  • Presbyopia. Presbyopia, an age-related refractive error, happens when the lens becomes less flexible. The lens changes shape when you change your focus from near to far. People who have presbyopia struggle to see near objects without reading glasses.

Eyeglasses and contact lenses help people see well even if they don’t have perfect vision. These devices correct your vision to 20/20 vision or as close to this number as possible while you’re wearing them. Both devices change the ways light is refracted as it enters your eyes and keeps it focused precisely on your retinas.

Although your eye doctor will have rough idea of your prescription from your Snellen and autorefractor results, he or she must fine-tune your prescription to ensure that your vision is as crisp and clear as possible. During this part of the visit, you look into a phoropter, an instrument that contains lenses of many different strengths. As you look into the instrument, your eye doctor flips different lenses in front of your eyes and ask you to pick the clearer of two options. The test helps determine the perfect prescription for you.

Have things been looking a little blurry lately? We can help you improve your vision. Contact our office to schedule an appointment.

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