Children's Protective Eyewear - A Necessity!

Studies show that eye injuries account for 40,000 trips to the emergency room each year. That's equal to one injury every 780 seconds! Eye Care experts report that most of those injuries could be easily avoided by wearing proper eye protection. The majority of eye damaging accidents happen when participating in sports or during household chores. Youth are especially vulnerable to accidents involving eye damage, which frequently occur during sport activities.


If your children frequently engage in team sports, it is recommended that they use protective eyewear while on the court. Protective eyewear is made in a size-able variety of styles and colors so allow your child to choose a pair they love to ensure they will wear them.


To ensure you purchase safety glasses wisely, consult with an experienced eye care professional for recommendations. Our professionals can assist you in buying the best pair of protective eyewear for your child, depending on the way they will be used. If your child has glasses, safety glasses can be customized with prescription lenses from your vision care provider. Trivex or polylcarbonate lenses are optimal for a child that participates in contact sports such as football. Not only are they more durable, but also more light-weight than standard lenses, offering extra comfort.


Take your time when buying a pair of protective goggles. It's a simple step to safeguard your child's sight!

The Truth about the Vision Benefits of Eating Carrots

You may have heard that carrots improve night vision, but is it the
truth? Eye doctors know that carrots can't save you from needing eye
glasses. However, they do contain significant quantities of
beta-carotene, a vitamin that is beneficial for your eye health and
therefore ingesting foods rich in this vitamin is definitely a
recommendation for maintaining eye health.

Beta-carotene is a carotenoid, or orange pigment that converts into
vitamin A after it's absorbed in the human body. Vitamin A protects the
surface of the eye (cornea) and has been proven to be preventative for a
number of eye diseases such as corneal ulcers. Vitamin A, an
antioxidant compound, protects the surface of the eye to decrease the
frequency of eye infections as well as other infectious diseases.
Vitamin A is also known to be a successful solution for dry eyes and
other eye disorders. A lack of vitamin A (which is be more common in
poor and developing countries) often causes night blindness, corneal
ulcers and retinal damage which can contribute to blindness.

There are two forms of vitamin A, which depend upon the nutritional
source from which they come. Vitamin A originating from an animal is
called Retinol and can be obtained from foods such as beef, chicken
liver, or dairy products. Vitamin A that is produce-derived comes in the
form of ''provitamin A'' carotenoids, which convert to retinol after
the food is absorbed. In addition to carrots, carotenoids can be found
in colorful produce particularly those that are bright orange or green
in color.

It is proven that through most forms, vitamin A contributes to the
health of your eyes as well as your overall well being. Even though
carrots can't correct near or far-sightedness, grandma had it right
when she advised ''eat your carrots.''

UV Awareness Month - The Sun and Your Eyes

Due to education to increase knowledge of the hazards of Ultraviolet (UV) radiation to your skin, (such as sunburn and skin cancer), most are aware of the importance of using sunblock and avoiding direct contact with the sun particularly during the blazing summer months. What is less known is that ultraviolet rays and other harmful types of radiation from the sun are also a threat to your eyes.

If you are considering leaving the house without proper eye protection, think again. Extended contact with the sun's UV rays has been linked to damage to the eye.

UV Eye Damage

Intense UV exposure over a short amount of time can cause a ''sunburn of the eye'', which results in pain, blurry vision or even temporary vision loss. In the long run, UV exposure can result in more threatening eye diseases including cataracts, macular degeneration, and others, which can cause loss of sight. Just like the real thing, tanning beds pose a substantial threat of overexposure to UV.

How to Choose Protective Sunglasses

For effective UV defense, you should be careful to only purchase sunglasses that completely block all UV rays. Stick with sunglasses that specify they are ''UV 400'', which means that they block all UV light from entering your eyes (400 refers to the wavelength of light in nanometers).

You also want to choose sunglasses with full eye coverage. Wraparound sunglasses can prevent harmful ultraviolet rays from entering from the sides and back of the frame.

You don't have to pay a lot to have sufficient UV defense, but it's essential to be sure the sunglasses offer full UV protection. Many less expensive brands do offer proper UV coverage. The great news is that as well as defending your eyes from the harmful sunlight, stylish sunglasses are at the height of fashion, so pick up a pair (or two) and let the sun shine down!

All You Wanted to Know About RGP’s

While soft contacts are most common, a second, lesser-known brand of contact lens materials exists: gas permeable (GP) contact lenses, also called oxygen permeable lenses.

Actually, GP lenses involve more modern technology than soft lenses, and they are longer-lasting, offer greater vision quality, and offer better durability. Additionally they may also be less expensive in the long run than soft lenses. Of course, you need to first consult with an eye care practitioner to determine if RGPs fit your needs. Our optometry practice can assist you in ascertaining if you'd be a fit for hard lenses.

Because a GP is made of stiff material, it retains its shape well when you blink, which tends to provide sharper vision than the typical soft lens. Additionally GPs are especially strong. Though they can break if stepped on, they don’t easily rip like soft lenses. Also, because they consist of materials that don't contain water, proteins or lipids from your tears don’t adhere to RGPs as readily as they do to soft lenses. Those of you who are especially fussy about vision quality will most likely choose GPs.

GPs are also an often preferred option for people with special considerations such as astigmatism, presbyopia or keratoconus, where soft lenses may not fit comfortably or provide enough variety. RGPs are also preferable for contact users after refractive surgery.

When considering hard lenses, make sure to first speak to your eye doctor to find out if you definitely are a candidate. Who knows…hard lenses could be the perfect answer for you!

News on Macular Degeneration

Update on recent macular degeneration news.


Another reason to eat more fish is the lower risk of macular degeneration in women. A recent health study from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital shows that women who consume the most DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish) had a 38% lower risk of developing AMD than those who consumed the lowest amount of DHA. Similar results were found with EPA, another omega-3 fatty acid.

Having one or more servings of fish per week produced a 42% lower risk of AMD(Age-related Macular Degeneration), compared to less than one serving per month.  Salmon, mackerel, herring, or tuna were the primary types of fish that produced this lower risk.

Macular Degeneration Rates Falling in the U.S.

16 years ago, it was estimated 9.4% of U.S. adults age 40 and older had age-related macular degeneration. Now, the estimate is 6.5%.

Researchers speculate that improvements in diet, exercise  and blood pressure, as well as a less prevalence in smoking, may account for the change. Education of family history may be leading the population to take part in preventative maintenance for higher risk groups.

 To check if you're at risk, see your eye doctor for regular exams.

Eye Allergy Season is on the Way - Are You Prepared?

If you are experiencing red eyes, itchy eyes or watery eyes it could be due to pollen-induced eye allergies. For some, spring time is pollen season, marking the onset of uncomfortable symptoms such as red eyes, itchy eyes, stinging, burning and watery eyes. Seasonal eye allergies are often a result of an influx of pollen from trees and flowers into the air and can greatly inhibit quality of life for those that suffer from them.

How can you defend your eyes during pollen season? Well the most obvious answer would be to reduce contact with pollen which means staying indoors, in particular on days with a high pollen count. Keeping windows closed, cooling off with air conditioners and wearing wrap-around sunglasses when going outside can also help to protect your eyes from allergens in the atmosphere. A HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter can be used filter particles from the air inside your home or office.


Nevertheless, for the majority of us that can't stay indoors the entire spring season, certain medications can alleviate symptoms such as red eyes, watery eyes or itchy eyes. Often times a simple over-the-counter eye drop is enough to moisturize and alleviate itchy eyes or red eyes and flush out allergens. Medications containing antihistamines, decongestants or mast cell stabilizers are made to allay redness and swelling of the eyes and treat other symptoms such as congestion and sneezing. Eye drops often work better than pills or liquid medications to alleviate eye symptoms.


Individuals that wear contacts often have worse symptoms as a result of eye allergy season since irritants are more likely to stick to the surface of the lens, causing inflammation. This is compounded when oral antihistamines are taken which have a drying effect on the eyes. Contact lens wearers should make sure to keep their eyes lubricated and replace lenses on time. Many optometrists recommend switching to daily disposable contacts, because changing your contact lenses each day reduces the chances of buildup and irritation.


Most importantly, don't rub red, itchy eyes. Doing so can only exacerbate the inflammation. Due to the fact that some of the effective medications do require a prescription, if over-the-counter medications are not working for you, see your eye doctor.

Is it Smart to Purchase Glasses Online?

Though many people have become accustomed to shopping for anything and everything through the Internet, eyeglasses are a product that you are better off buying in person. Why? Although web-based optical dealers often offer reduced rates, the benefits of choosing an optical store far outweigh the ''deals'' you might find online.

One of the best reasons for buying your eyeglasses at an eye wear store rather than online is that you have a qualified optician to help you select the proper glasses. Our opticians can advise you in the numerous variables you need to consider in selecting a eyeglasses. In instances where you order through the Internet, you forgo the experienced advice of a professional optician.

As your head shape and eye shape are unique, it is hard to identify properly fitted eyeglasses without trying them on. An optician will consider your measurements and choose a pair of glasses that are a good fit and won't hinder your comfort. Glasses that are not wide enough can cause pressure and headaches, while those that are too wide can slip off the bridge of your nose. Online eye wear boutiques may give suggestions, still this can't replace expert consultation.

Even more than the comfort and alignment of your eyeglasses, good vision demands correct PD measurement. The optical center of your lenses provides you the clearest vision, making it crucial to properly measure the pupillary distance, or PD. It can be complicated to assess your PD by yourself, but without this measurement, your lenses won't be positioned properly within the frames.

Yes, Internet shopping is often good for other products, but in the case of eyeglasses your best bet is sticking to your local vision center where you can get glasses that are most appropriate for you and your lifestyle.