Category: Articles

What Shape Is Your Face?

Before you browse the frame selection at your eye doctor’s office, determine which of these shapes best describes your face:

• Square. If your chin is as wide as your forehead and cheeks, you have a square face.
• Rectangular. Although your cheeks, jaw, and forehead are the same width, your face is longer than it is wide if you have a rectangular face.
• Heart. A wider forehead and high cheekbones combined with a narrow chin creates a heart shape.
• Triangle. Triangular faces taper from the forehead to the chin, forming a triangle shape.
• Round. Round faces are perfectly symmetrical with full cheeks and a rounded jaw. These faces are equal in length and width.
• Oval. Oval faces also have rounded features, although the length exceeds the width.

Selecting Frames for Your Face Shape

Not sure which frames are best for your face. Take a look at our recommendations:

• Square or Rectangular Face. Try on oval or rounded frames. The frames work well with the angles of your face and provide a softening effect.
• Heart Face. Look for frames that balance your narrow chin and wider forehead, like cat eye, aviator, oval or semi-rimless styles.
• Triangle Face. Follow WebMD’s advice and choose glasses with stronger upper lines that emphasize your forehead. Aviator, cat-eye and semi-rimless glasses are good choices.
• Round Face. Counteract the roundness of your face with rectangular, square or geometric shapes to create contrast.
• Oval Face. Nearly every style looks good if you have an oval face. In fact, you may have trouble choosing between square, rectangular, rounded, rimless and cat’s eye frames.

Things to Remember

When choosing frames, keep these things in mind:

• Select Frames You Love. Feel free to forget the guidelines if a pair of glasses you love doesn’t follow the rules. After all, life can be more fun if you break a few rules. The ideal frames fit your personality and personal sense of style.
• Be Flexible. Try on a variety of frames, even if you don’t think a particular style would look good on you. You may be surprised to discover a style you overlooked in the past brings out your best features.
• Add a Little Color – Or Not. Consider red, blue, or other colorful frames, or look for a pair that offers more subtle touches of color. Don’t want anything to distract from your face? Clear or rimless frames are an excellent option.
• Consider Material Choices. Do you prefer plastic or metal frames? Although plastic frames are lightweight and available in many shapes, they can break more easily than metal frames, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
• Make Comfort a Priority. The eyeglasses may look great, but how do they feel? If the frames hurt your ears, pinch your nose, or slide down your face, they’re not the best choice, no matter how amazing you look wearing them.
• Think About Your Prescription. The stronger your prescription, the thicker your lenses. Your lenses may protrude past your frames unless you pay a little extra for thinner high-index lenses. Do you have a prescription for bifocals, trifocals, or progressive lenses? The frames you choose must be long enough from top to bottom to accommodate multiple focal points.

Need help selecting frames? Our staff can help you choose eyeglasses that feel as good as they look. Stop by our office to try on frames, or call us if you need to make an appointment for an eye exam and new prescription.

Sources:

• American Academy of Ophthalmology: How to Choose the Glasses Frame Material That’s Right for You https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/eyeglass-frame-materials
• WebMD: How to Pick the Right Glasses for Your Face Shape, 8/17/2022 https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/how-to-pick-the-right-glasses-for-your-face-shape
• CNET.com: How to Pick the Best Glasses for Your Face Shape and Skin Color, 9/19/2024 https://www.cnet.com/health/personal-care/how-to-pick-the-best-glasses-for-your-face-shape-and-skin-color
• American Academy of Ophthalmology: Eyeglasses: How to Choose Glasses for Vision Correction, 6/14/2023 https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/glasses

Use a Hard Case

Soft cases provide some protection from scratches, but aren’t as sturdy as hard cases. Hard plastic eyeglass cases offer the ultimate protection from breakage and scratches. Look for hard eyeglasses cases that close securely and include a scratch-resistant lining.

Follow Safe Cleaning Guidelines

Choosing the wrong cleaner or drying method may damage your glasses. Follow these suggestions when your eyeglasses become dirty or smudged:

• Remove Dirt. Get rid of dirt and smudges by rinsing your eyeglasses with warm water.
• Use a Safe Cleaning Option. Place a drop of mild, non-abrasive dishwashing liquid on each lens and gently rub. Consumer Reports cautions that window cleaner, bleach, ammonia, and vinegar can damage the lenses and shouldn’t be used.
• Rinse the Lenses. Remove the cleaning solution or dishwashing liquid by rinsing the lenses thoroughly under warm water.
• Dry Your Lenses Carefully. Dry your lenses with a clean cotton or microfiber cloth. Don’t use anything else to dry your lenses. Although a paper towel, tissue, or the corner of your shirt may be more convenient, fibers in these objects could scratch your lenses.

Don’t forget about cleaning the other parts of your eyeglasses. Dip a cotton swab in a mixture of water and dishwashing liquid and clean the nooks and crannies, including the hinges, temples, bridge and nose pads.

Glasses don’t just get dirty at home. All About Vision suggests buying eyeglass cleaning solution and spraying it on your lenses if they need a little attention when you’re out.

Do you wash your cleaning cloth regularly? Although you may only use the cloth to dry your glasses, it can still become dirty. Dirt or debris from the cloth could transfer to the lenses when you dry your glasses.

Don’t Share Your Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses are not a one-size-fits-all solution to vision improvement. Everyone has a unique vision prescription, plus frames come in a variety of sizes. Although frames are designed to handle some wear and tear, they can stretch if someone with a larger head tries on or wears your glasses.

Pay Attention to Your Surroundings

Although you should put your glasses in an eyeglasses case every time you remove them, we know that’s not always practical. If you take your eyeglasses off for a moment, find a safe space for them. Place the eyeglasses lens side up to prevent scratches.

Don’t put your eyeglasses on a chair, the floor, next to a heat source, or anywhere pets or small children could find them. If you put your glasses in the same place every time, you’ll avoid blurry, panicked searches when you realize you can’t find your eyewear.

Don’t Leave Your Glasses in Your Car

Your glasses can be ruined by heat if you leave them in your car. Heat builds up quickly in a parked car and can soon warp your frames. Warped frames may no longer fit your head correctly and may feel looser than normal. According to VSP Vision Care, heat can also damage polarized lenses or coatings designed to prevent glare or scratches.

Inspect Your Glasses Often

Wear and tear can loosen the screws that hold hinges or nose pads in place. Finding those tiny screws once they fall out is almost impossible. When you inspect your glasses periodically, you’ll have plenty of time to tighten loose screws. An inexpensive eyeglass repair kit that contains tiny screwdrivers and replacement screws is a good purchase for anyone who wears eyeglasses.

When you inspect your glasses, check for scratches on the lenses. Tiny scratches, depending on their location, may not cause a problem, but large scratches can interfere with your vision.

Make Protection a Priority

Remove your eyeglasses when applying hairspray or other aerosol products that could damage the lenses. Planning a few weekend home repairs? Wear protective goggles or safety glasses over your eyeglasses to avoid exposure to paint and strong chemicals that could damage the lenses.

Prolong the life of your frames by handling them gently. Place both hands on the temple when putting the glasses on or taking them off. Removing your glasses one-handed can stretch or break the frames.

Is it time for a new pair of eyeglasses? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the optometrist.

Sources:

• Consumer Reports: How to Take Care of Your Eyeglasses, 8/2012 https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/08/how-to-take-care-of-your-eyeglasses/index.htm#
• All About Vision: How to Clean Your Glasses, 5/10/2021 https://www.allaboutvision.com/eyeglasses/how-to-clean-glasses.htm
• VSP Vision Care: Why You Shouldn’t Leave Your Sunglasses in the Car https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/lasik-glasses-lenses/frames-sunglasses/frames-in-a-hot-car

Start a Routine

Are you worried that you’ll accidentally insert both contact lenses in the same eye? That’s less likely to happen if you always insert the same lens first. Following an insertion and removal routine will also help you feel more comfortable when putting in and taking out your lenses.

Use these insertion steps to put a soft contact lens on your eye:

• Pull up on your upper eyelid slightly. This step is easier if you use a finger on your non-dominant hand.
• Place the contact lens on the index finger of the hand you use most often and gently pull down the lower eyelid with your middle finger.
• Place the lens on the center of your eye and blink a few times to correctly position the lens.

To remove your lenses:

• Gently pull down on your lower eyelid and up on your upper eyelid with the opposite hand.
• Use your dominant hand, the one you use most often, to gently pinch the lens and remove it.

Do These Things First

Before you put in your lenses:

• Take a Shower. Tap water may contain bacteria or amoebas that could cause eye infections if you get water in your eye during a shower. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also notes that soft contacts could swell and stick to your eye when exposed to water. If that happens, you might develop a painful scratch on your cornea.
• Dry Your Hair. The heat produced by a hair dryer could dry out your contact lenses and make them feel uncomfortable.
• Use Hairspray. Use hairspray and other aerosol products, like perfume or deodorant, before inserting your lenses. These products could contaminate your lenses if used after inserting your contacts.
• Wash Your Hands. Reduce your risk for eye infections by washing your hands with soap and water before you handle your contact lenses.

Put makeup on after you insert your lenses. Tiny makeup particles may cling to your fingers even after you wash your hands and could transfer to your lenses.

Learn Which Way Is Up

If your eye feels uncomfortable after you insert a lens, your contact may be inside out. All About Vision recommends looking at the lens from the side. If it resembles a cup with upright edges, it’s fine to put in your eye. Your contact lens is inside out if it resembles a soup bowl with a rim.

All About Vision also recommends the taco test. This test involves gently squeezing the contact lens near the center and observing the edges. The lens is fine if the edges point straight up and the contact looks like a hard taco. The edges of an inside-out contact lens will bend outward.

Keep Contact Lens Supplies with You

Don’t leave the house without a contact lens case and rewetting drops. If a piece of dust or an eyelash sticks to your lens while you’re out, simply rinse your lens with the rewetting solution and reinsert.

If the lens is still uncomfortable, put it in the case and add rewetting solution to keep it moist. Daily disposable lenses should be thrown away instead. Don’t try to reinsert a torn or noticeably dirty lens. Replace your lens cases every three months or sooner if you notice they’re dirty.

It’s a good idea to bring your eyeglasses with you if you’ll be away from home for a few hours. You’ll be glad you brought your glasses if your contact lenses become uncomfortable or you need to take them out for any reason.

Let Your Optometrist Know If You’re Having Problems

Your eye doctor and optometry staff have plenty of experience helping patients adjust to contact lenses. They can offer helpful suggestions if you’re struggling with insertion or removal or make suggestions to improve comfort. Let them know if you’re having trouble with lens fit or comfort, even if the discomfort is minor.

Interested in trying contact lenses? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the eye doctor.

Sources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthy Habits: Keeping Water Away from Contact Lense, 4/15/2024 https://www.cdc.gov/contact-lenses/about/healthy-habits-keeping-water-away-from-contact-lenses.html
• All About Vision: How Can I Tell if My Contacts Are Inside Out?, 1/11/2019 https://www.allaboutvision.com/contacts/faq/inside-out.htm
• American Academy of Ophthalmology: Contact Lens Care: You’re Probably Doing it Wrong, 8/1/2018 https://www.aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/contact-lens-care-you-re-probably-doing-it-wrong

High Cholesterol

High cholesterol increases your risk for heart attacks, heart failure, heart disease, and stroke. These conditions affect the network of blood vessels circulating blood throughout your body. Although none of these conditions usually cause symptoms in the early stages, your health can still be affected even if you feel fine.

If you have high cholesterol, your eye doctor might notice a white, blue, gray or yellow ring around the outer edge of your cornea. The clear cornea covers your iris and bends the light rays that enter your eyes. The ring may be complete or partial. Although these rings don’t always mean you have high cholesterol, they can be a warning sign, particularly if you’re younger than 40.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure affects your blood vessels and can be just as dangerous as high cholesterol. Potential signs of trouble include narrowed or swollen blood vessels or small clots in the vessels in your eyes. A clot may be small enough that you never notice symptoms. In some cases, clots can cause blurry vision. Clots may also prevent blood from flowing to the optic nerve, the pathway to the brain, and can cause permanent damage and loss of vision.

Choroidopathy, the build-up of fluid under the retina, can also occur due to high blood pressure. The condition can distort your vision or create scars that interfere with your eyesight, according to the American Heart Association.

Diabetes

Your eye doctor also looks for signs of diabetic retinopathy during your exam. Diabetic retinopathy affects more than 9 million people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost 2 million people have diabetic retinopathy that’s so severe that it threatens their vision.

Diabetic retinopathy happens when your blood sugar level is consistently too high. Glucose clogs the blood vessels in the light-sensitive retina, restricting blood flow. Leaking blood or fluids from the blocked blood vessels may cause blurry vision. Your eyes may also form new blood vessels if a vessel becomes completely blocked. Unfortunately, these new vessels are often weak and prone to leaking.

Swelling in the lens, the clear structure inside your eye behind the iris and pupil, may occur if you have high blood sugar. The swelling can cause blurry vision that improves once your blood sugar level drops to a normal level.

Thyroid Disease

Protruding eyes could be a sign that you have thyroid eye disease, which most often affects people whose hyperthyroidism is caused by Graves’ disease. This autoimmune disease occurs when the thyroid gland produces an excessive amount of thyroid hormone. In addition to protruding eyes, thyroid eye disease may cause dry or red eyes, grittiness, tearing, double vision, or sensitivity to light.

You may have hyperthyroidism and not be aware that anything is wrong. Early symptoms, like difficulty sleeping, trouble concentrating, and nervousness or anxiety, can easily be dismissed as stress symptoms. During your exam, your eye doctor may notice that your eyes have begun to bulge slightly even if you haven’t experienced any noticeable symptoms of thyroid disease.

Autoimmune Disorders

Other autoimmune disorders can also be detected during your annual visits to the optometrist. Ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory type of arthritis, may cause changes to your irises. Fifty percent of people with ankylosing spondylitis develop iritis (inflammation of the iris) or uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye) at least once, according to the Spondylitis Association of America.

Eye changes may be among the early signs of other autoimmune diseases, including lupus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Protect your health with an annual visit to the optometrist! Contact our office to schedule your eye exam.

Sources:

• American Heart Association: How High Blood Pressure Can Lead to Vision Loss, 5/8/2024 https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/health-threats-from-high-blood-pressure/how-high-blood-pressure-can-lead-to-vision-loss
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Prevalence Estimates for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), 5/15/2024 https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health-data/prevalence-estimates/dr-prevalence.html#
• Spondylitis Association of America: Iritis or Anterior Uveitis https://spondylitis.org/about-spondylitis/possible-complications/iritis-or-anterior-uveitis/
• Prevention: 3 Serious Health Conditions Your Eye Doctor Can Detect, 9/14/2021 https://www.prevention.com/health/health-conditions/a37387204/health-conditions-eye-exam
• The Healthy: 6 Surprising Diseases That Eye Doctors Find First, 8/7/2020 https://www.thehealthy.com/eye-care/shocking-diseases-eye-doctors-find-first

Don’t Put Your Contacts in Checked Luggage

Imagine arriving at your destination and discovering that your checked luggage (and your contact lenses) never left the airport or were mistakenly routed to another city. Unfortunately, checked luggage can be lost or delayed, even if you’re traveling a fairly short distance. In 2023, nearly six of every 1,000 bags were mishandled, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Avoid this happening to you by keeping your contact lenses in carry-on luggage when traveling by air, train, or bus.

Check TSA Requirements Before Flying

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) limits liquids in carry-on luggage to 3.4 ounces, but doesn’t set any limitations for checked luggage. You can bring contact lens solution over 3.4 ounces in your carry-on luggage if you declare it at the TSA checkpoint. Large bottles of contact lens solution will be subjected to additional screening.

Buying travel-size solution is the best option, as you don’t have to declare your lens solution at the TSA checkpoint if the bottle weighs 3.4 ounces or less. Both contact lenses and contact lens solution are considered liquids and must be put in a quartz-sized bag with any other small liquids you plan to bring on the plane.

Use Your Rewetting Drops During Flights

The air inside the plane becomes drier as time goes on. According to the American Optometric Association, dry air, reduced oxygen availability, and reduced humidity and atmospheric pressure can cause contact lens discomfort, particularly in flights lasting three hours or longer.

Applying rewetting drops throughout the flight will help you avoid discomfort. Make sure you bring your eyeglasses on the plane with you in case the rewetting solution doesn’t help.

Pack a Contact Lens Care Bag

You’ll be less likely to forget something if you place lens cases, solution, rewetting drops, and other contact lens supplies in the same bag. Use a small bag that zippers or closes securely.

Bring Extras

Packing extra lenses is a good idea if you wear disposable contact lenses. No matter how careful you are, you never know when you’ll drop, tear, or lose a lens. Bring a few extra contact lens cases too, just in case you lose one. Extras are particularly important if you’ll be camping or spending time far from civilization during your trip.

Don’t Forget Your Eyeglasses

It’s easy to forget about packing your glasses when you spend most of your time wearing contacts. If your lenses become uncomfortable or you want to relax and read in bed at the end of the day, you’ll be glad you remembered your eyeglasses. Pack your glasses in a sturdy case in your carry-on to prevent damage during the trip.

Keep Your Contact Lenses Away from the Water

Are you tempted to wear your contact lenses at the beach or pool? Optometrists recommend removing contact lenses before swimming, showering, or using a hot tub. Water can easily become trapped under your lenses, increasing your risk of a serious infection that could threaten your vision.

Prescription goggles available from your eye doctor offer clear vision and keep water out of your eyes. Can’t imagine reading on the beach without your contacts and favorite sunglasses? Take a look at the large selection of frames available for prescription sunglasses the next time you visit our office.

Add a Copy of Your Prescription

Lost contact lenses or eyeglasses don’t have to ruin your trip. When you carry your prescriptions with you, it’s much easier to replace your contact lenses or eyeglasses.

Need a new prescription for contact lenses or eyeglasses before your trip? Contact our office to schedule your appointment.

Sources:

• Bureau of Transportation Statistics: Baggage Mishandled by Marketing U.S. Air Carriers https://www.bts.gov/content/mishandled-baggage-reports-filed-passengers-largest-us-air-carriersa
• Transportation Security Administration: Contact Lenses https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/contact-lenses
• American Optometric Association: Environments https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/vision-and-vision-correction/environments?sso=y
• All About Vision: Traveling with Your Contact Lenses? These 9 Tips Will Help, 8/23/2019 https://www.allaboutvision.com/contact-lenses/travel-tips

Reduced Risk for Eye Disease and Skin Cancer

Sun exposure is necessary for good health, but too much unprotected time in the sun increases your risk for skin cancer and eye disease. Invisible ultraviolet (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light rays have a shorter wavelength than visible light, meaning they carry more energy. These energetic rays cause more damage to the sensitive tissues of your eyes than lower energy, longer wavelength light.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts are two eye diseases that can occur after decades of unprotected sun exposure. AMD destroys cells in the macula, the central part of the retina. The retina, located at the back of the eye, turns light rays into electrical signals for the brain to interpret. AMD causes blurry or blind spots in your central vision.

Sun exposure also contributes to cataract formation. Cataracts occur when the clear lens inside your eye becomes cloudy, causing hazy vision and muted colors. If you don’t wear sunglasses outdoors, no matter the season, your risk for cataracts and AMD may increase.

Interestingly, North Americans are more likely to develop cataracts in the left eye, the side exposed to the sun while driving. In a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology in 2016, researchers tested 29 makes and models of cars to determine how much UV protection windshields and side windows provided. On average, windshields blocked 96% of UVA light, while side windows only blocked 71%. Stashing a pair of sunglasses in your car offers a simple way to decrease your risk for cataracts.

Exposure to UVA and UVB light also increases your risk for cancer in your eyes or in the skin surrounding the eyes. For the ultimate UV protection, use wraparound sunglasses. Unlike traditional frames, these glasses prevent light from entering your eyes from the sides and tops of the frames.

Comfortable Eyes

Moist eyes are comfortable eyes. Unfortunately, spending even an hour in the sun without sunglasses can speed up evaporation of the tear film that lubricates the eyes, causing dryness, itching, burning, and redness. Sunglasses shade your eyes and help slow evaporation.

Think darker is better when it comes to sunglasses? Dark lenses cause your eyes to dilate, making it easier for ultraviolet light to reach your eyes, according to The Vision Council. If your dark lenses don’t offer UV protection, wearing them could do more harm than good. Be sure to check labels when shopping, and choose sunglasses that protect against both UVA and UVB light. Gray, green, and brown UV lenses are also available and can provide more contrast than dark lenses.

Fewer Wrinkles

Limiting sun exposure may help you avoid premature signs of aging around your eyes and painful sunburn. UVA light causes visible signs of aging, while UVB rays burn the skin, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. You’re not safe even if you tan. In addition to increasing your skin cancer risk, tanning damages the skin and can be a factor in wrinkles and age spots around the eyes.

No Unsightly Growths

Sun exposure may also trigger the formation of fleshy bumps called pterygium on the whites of your eyes. Pterygium are generally harmless, though they can cause astigmatism or interfere with vision.

Reduced Risk for Sunburned Eye

If you think sunburned eyes sound painful, you’re right. Called photokeratitis, this condition is more common in people who spend time around reflective surfaces, like snow or sand, but can affect anyone who doesn’t wear sunglasses with UV protection. Although photokeratitis pain improves within a few days, enduring pain, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and watery eyes for even a few hours can be very uncomfortable.

Wearing sunglasses with UV protection is the best way to protect your eyes year-round. Need a new pair of prescription or non-prescription sunglasses or goggles? UV Safety Awareness Month, observed every July, is the perfect time to upgrade your eyewear. Stop by our office and take a look at our sunglass selection, or call to schedule an appointment with the optometrist if you need an exam.

Sources:

• JAMA Ophthalmology: Assessment Levels of Ultraviolet A Light Protection in Automobile Windshield and Side Windows, 7/2016 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2522190
• Oculofacial Society: Eyelid Skin Cancer https://www.asoprs.org/periocular-skin-cancer
• American Optometric Association: The Heat Is On: Ensure Patients’ Protective Eyewear Is, Too, 5/22/2024 https://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/health-and-wellness/protecting-patients-eye-summer?sso=y
• National Eye Institute: Keep Your Eyes Healthy: Wear Sunglasses https://nei.nih.gov/hvm/healthy_eyes_glasses
• The Vision Council: Hidden Dangers of UV: Keeping Your Eyes Safe, 2011 https://thevisioncouncil.org/sites/default/files/members/VCUVReportv7lrg.pdf