Whatever you do for a profession, whether you’re a carpenter, or a teacher, healthy vision is vital to your success.  The American Optometric Association says that on the job eye injury and strain is not only common, but cost billions in lost productivity each year.  These figures are startling considering that 90% of these workplace injuries could be prevented simply by wearing properly designed and fitted protective eyewear.

But worrying about something flying into your eyes is not the only thing you have to be worried about.  If you’re like the rest of America, you sit in front of a computer all day long, text on your Smart Phone, browse the web at home, etc.  You also need to protect your vision.  Computer Vision Syndrome is a relatively new word, which brings with it some painful and uncomfortable symptoms such as: dry eyes, headaches, fatigue, blurred vision and loss of focus.

The below recommendations will go a long way to ensuring you have great vision for a very long time:

1. Give it a rest. Make sure you apply the 20-20-20 rule.  That is, for every 20 minutes at your computer, make sure you look away to a distance 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

2. Increase the font size on your PDA. Most PDAs use tiny fonts that are very hard to see.

3. Make sure your monitor is set to the best resolution available.  This will offer greater clarity.  Also, adjust your monitors brightness to a level you feel is comfortable.

4. Look down.  The American Optometric Associates says that it’s easier for the eyes to focus on reading material that is below reading level.

And above all else, make sure you see your local Optometrist at least once a year to ensure your eyes are happy and healthy.

Computer Vision Syndrome

At Simon Eye Associates we’re often asked the question, “why is it so important to get an eye exam?” We have many answers to this, but today I found this well written answer from Gail Gilman-Waldner.  Enjoy!

Your vision seems great and your eyes feel completely fine so you may be putting off that visit to the eye doctor. If you haven’t seen your eye care professional in a while, you might have an eye problem that you don’t know about. Many eye diseases have no early warning signs. You may not notice anything so it’s critical to have your eyes examined on a regular basis. A comprehensive dilated eye exam involves looking at all the parts of your eye. It also tests eye movement, the reaction of your pupil to light and the fluid pressure inside your eyes.

It’s critical to pay attention to your eye health, because eye health actually is a reflection of overall health. Changes in the eyes, for example, can tip a doctor off that you have diabetes.
Comprehensive dilated eye exams can catch problems that could lead to blindness and visual impairment while they can still be halted or reversed. If you have glaucoma or diabetic eye disease (a group of eye problems that can accompany diabetes) you may notice a problem only when it’s too late to regain your lost vision. Glaucoma, for example, first affects your side, or peripheral vision, which can be hard to notice. If left untreated, the vision loss will continue to move toward the center of your vision. It’s a painless process much like hypertension or high blood pressure can be painless. Having regular eye exams can help detect eye diseases in their early stages, when they can still be treated. Regular eye exams are important for everyone, but especially for African Americans over age 40, those with a family history of eye disease, people with diabetes and everyone over 60.

An eye exam can also spot uncorrected refractive errors, meaning your eye is out of focus. Uncorrected refractive errors affect more than 11 million Americans. Eye care professionals usually prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses to solve the problem. More than 150 million Americans now use corrective eyewear. How often you should have your eyes examined depends on your age, family history and other risk factors. Your eye care professional can tell you when your next exam should be. If you haven’t had an eye exam for a while, now is the time. Your eyes are an important part of your health. Healthy vision can help keep you safe while you’re driving, participating in sports and taking part in recreational activities. It can also help you maintain a healthy and active lifestyle well into your golden years.

Eye Exam

I found a great article by Dr. Alisa Hildeg.  She’s not an Optometrist, but she has some great things to say about vision and how to keep our eyes happy and healthy. Enjoy!

I recently found out that February is Low Vision Awareness Month, and it occurred to me that most of the time I take my sight for granted. I remember my great grandmother lost her vision to macular degeneration at a young age. Later, my grandmother lost her vision to cataracts but then surgery became available and she could drive again. If I lost all or most of my vision, how would it impact my life and my family’s life? How can I protect my sight and my family’s sight?

Eye examinations are about more than determining whether or not you need glasses. An eye exam can detect the effects of underlying health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune problems and many other diseases that can rob you of your sight. Proper eye care and treatment can prevent, maintain or improve various eye conditions. Because the early signs of many eye conditions can be mild, regular eye exams are the best way to catch problems early. When a child is born, their eyes should be examined in the hospital for congenital conditions such as cataracts or eye muscle problems. Their physician should check their eyes each time they go in for well-baby and well-child exams.

If there is a difference in vision between the two eyes, it needs to be addressed before a child is 4 to 5 years old or it could cause permanent problems. Poor vision over time can cause difficulties at school, headaches and even behavior issues. As an adult, how often you should get an eye exam depends on your age and whether you have any special risk factors like diabetes, a family history of glaucoma or previous eye injuries or surgeries. Ask your eye doctor how often you should get an exam. Besides routine eye exams, you can help preserve your and your family’s sight by being vigilant for signs and symptoms. If you notice any of them, get to a physician as soon as possible. Any sudden change of vision needs immediate evaluation that day.

In children, watch for eyes that do not line up or appear crossed; red, crusty or swollen eyelids; watery or red eyes; rubbing eyes frequently; covering or closing one eye to see things; struggling with reading or other close-up work; holding things close to see them; squinting a lot; complaining of itchy, burning or scratchy eyes; dizziness, headaches or nausea after doing close-up work; and complaining of blurry or double vision. In adults, be alert for the same things that you watch for in children, but also difficulty adjusting to dark rooms; trouble focusing; sensitivity to light or glare; change in eye color; recurring pain in or around the eyes; a dark spot at the center of anything you look at; wavy or distorted lines; spots in the vision; loss of vision in one eye; seeing flashes that others do not see; halos or rainbows around lights; and loss of side vision.

Some things are signs of a need for glasses or contact lenses, but others can be symptoms of more serious conditions that need treatment. You can read about many common eye conditions in more detail at the National Eye Institute Web site ( www.nei.nih.gov/ index.asp). If you feel that you cannot afford to go to an eye doctor, you can find information about financial assistance at www.preventblindness. org/vlc/resources.htm and www.nei.nih.gov/health/ financialaid.asp. Another aspect of eye health is preventing injury. There are around 2 million serious eye injuries per year, and some estimates put as many as 90 percent of these as being preventable.

Protect your eyes from injury by wearing safety glasses, safety goggles or a face shield when you mow the lawn, work with wood or do anything where there is potential for injury. This includes handling chemicals, racquet sports, basketball, baseball and hockey. I wear sunglasses that have a safety rating for some of these activities because sun damage can cause melanomas, cataracts and other preventable eye problems. Get your routine eye exams and be vigilant about your vision. Stack the deck in your favor for a lifetime of good vision so you can (literally) watch your kids and your grandkids grow up.

Low Vision Month

By Alexa Kaczka

A woman has had her eyesight restored after being blind for 30 years, it has been reported.  Jenny Peterson, from South Dekota, lost her eyesight following an allergic reaction to antibiotics, reports ActionNews.  Over the years, Jenny underwent several unsuccessful stem cell transplants and surgeries, which would return her sight for a few days.  This month, however, she was convinced by surgeons to give surgery another try and was amazed by the results.  After five hours under the knife at the Mayo Clinic, Jenny awoke and could see almost immediately. “I saw my kids. And I can see the little children that I left behind in their faces yet. And I say my husband, my sisters, my dad,” she told the news provider.

Her husband, Ron added: “We`ve been watching videos of things that have happened 30 years ago and 25 years ago. Things that we went to but she could never see.” Recently, researchers from the UC Davis Medical Center in the US claimed that artificial muscles could be used restore the eyesight of people with facial paralysis.

Jenny Peterson

Pasta you may love, but if you want to be able to see the rich colours in your meals for a long time to come, turn to desi food.  For, Indian cuisine uses extensively a magical herb that can prevent loss of sight as the years roll by.  This herb is the humble saffron, which lends yellow colour to your spicy curry.

Researchers from University of Sydney in Australia and Policlinico Gemelli in Italy tested the effect of saffron pills on 25 subjects over six months. Half of the subjects were given a saffron pill for the first three months followed by a placebo for the next three. The other half were given placebo first and then the saffron pills.

Silvia Bisti, lead author of the study from University of Sydney, said, “Measurements using objective eye sight tests showed patient’s vision improved after taking the saffron pill. When they were tested with traditional eye charts, a number of patients could read one or two lines smaller than before, while others reported they could read newspapers and books again.”  She said all patients experienced improvement in their vision when they were on the saffron pill. “But when they stopped taking the pill the effect quickly disappeared,” Bisti added.

The researchers said saffron seems to have a beneficial effect on the genes that regulate the fatty acid content of the cell membrane. “This makes the vision cells tougher and more resilient,” Bisti said.  According to her, saffron has ‘anti-apoptotic’ properties, which means it increases the availability of oxygen to the body and prevents the death of cells.  The researchers are further studying the appropriate dose that can help the elderly avoid vision loss. They also hope to find out if saffron can help treat genetic eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.  The spice is also believed to have anti-cancer properties.  Secular you should be politically, but when it comes to health, saffron may be the way to go.

Saffron for Eyesight

It seems like we’re getting an awful lot of snowfall in Delaware this Winter.  We haven’t had many major snowstorms, besides that one just before Christmas, but we seem to be getting a little bit of snowfall every week.  This can create more problems than just a dirty car.  It can also affect your eyesight.  Especially, when you’re young and spend a lot of time playing in this white, fluffy snow.  That’s why when I came across this press release on PR Newswire I thought I’d pass it along to all of you.

CONCORD, Mass., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ — Each winter, parents pull out the outer coats, hats, scarves, gloves and boots to properly protect their children from the cold, but what about protecting their children’s eyes from the sun? According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), sunglasses are not just for sunny summer days, but are also needed during the winter season when reflections from snow, water, sand or pavement can intensify UV rays to extremely high levels. In addition, the sun’s rays pass right through haze and thin clouds, making sunglasses a necessity during the early afternoon sun, when UV radiation is strongest, and a must when participating in winter sports, particularly at high altitudes. When taking the kids in the car or the stroller, heading out to the bus stop or to sled or build a snowman don’t forget the shades.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that children’s eyes are at increased risk for permanent damage from sunlight until they are at least 10 years old, because their eyes are highly sensitive and still developing. Furthermore, 90% of total lifetime damage from the sun’s harmful rays occurs by age 18.

The Real Kids Shades line of protective infants’ and children’s sunglasses provides 100% UV-A and UV-B ray protection, as recommended by Prevent Blindness America. Real Kids Shades are safe, lead-free and made of impact-resistant, shatterproof polycarbonate frames and lenses, a material hailed by Prevent Blindness America as “the first choice for children’s eyewear.”

“Recognizing that children’s eyes are at special risk from the harmful effects of UV rays since their eyes are still developing and are more vulnerable to sun damage, we developed Real Kids Shades to provide serious sun protection in comfortable, kid-friendly and stylish designs,” says Lisa Medora, VP Product Development, Real Kids Shades.

“Real Kids Shades were developed to be both durable to withstand kids’ lifestyles and great-looking, so that kids will want to wear them,” added David Scheinberg, CEO, Real Kids Shades.

The Real Kids Shades are designed for all children 12 and under in a wide assortment of polycarbonate shatterproof frames and lenses with adjustable neoprene bands, rubber flex or metallic frames. Several of the styles can be fitted with prescription lenses. Retail prices start at $14.99 to $19.99. For more information and store location, visit www.realkidshades.com.

Real Kids Shades

Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak is located in North Eastern Tanzania.  It is a beautiful sight to see. It has been written about in countless books and articles.  Most notably, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, by Ernest Hemingway.  These praises have lead many people to try and climb this beast.  Many have tried and most have failed.  There is one person in particular that recently succeeded in conquering this African Goliath.  That’s not the most impressive thing about this story though.  What makes it even more amazing is that the 31 year old Kev Lowther climbed the mountain and lost his vision part way up the mountain, but managed to make it to the summit.  Kev was climbing to raise money for a charity called Macmillan Cancer Support.

When asked about the climb, Kev told one newspaper, “The hardest part was dealing with the exhaustion and altitude sickness. At one point I even lost my eyesight and one guy told me I was staggering about like someone who had just been kicked out of the pub at closing time!”

I’m sure we can all agree that climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is hard enough, to do it without your sight is something all together spectacular.  We applaud Kev for his incredible feat.

Mount Kilimanjaro

As a continuing effort to help our patients stay informed and educated about their eye care, Simon Eye Associates puts together a Tip of the Month.  This month, it’s How to Protect Your Eyes from Corneal Abrasions.  First off, what is a Cornea? The Cornea is that tissue, which resides at the front of the eye.  It helps focus light coming into the eyes.  This tissue, since it’s at the front of the eye, is easily susceptible to cuts, scratches and damage from debris.  In order to avoid such problems, which could negatively affect your eyes, or eyesight, we recommend the following tips:

1.  Remember to keep your fingernails clipped short and to clean them often.  Many eye infections and injuries stem from someone accidentally sticking themselves with their fingernail.

2. If you wear contact lenses, remember to keep them clean.  The importance of keeping contact lenses clean has been covered in previous Simon Eye blogs.  Along with keeping your contact lenses clean, make sure you are very careful when putting them in.  Also, it is important to never sleep with your contact lenses in all night.

3.  If you work in a profession that involves machines, sawdust, metal, or wood, you should always wear eye protection.

It is very easy to protect your eyes, you just need to exercise a little caution and take the appropriate actions.

The Cornea

Very few people in Delaware have heard of LASIK. Actually, that isn’t true, many have, but they often come here confused and wondering what it is. It’s actually very simple. Laser vision correction (LASIK) is a procedure that corrects for nearsightedness (inability to see objects in the distance) by using a Laser. LASIK is the most advanced eye procedure available and the procedure of choice for the correction of myopia (nearsightedness) and small amounts of hyperopia (farsightedness).  When most people hear the word laser, they think Star Wars. No, that’s not the kind of laser it is. In fact, we use a Wavefront Laser, which uses 3-dimensional measurements of how your eye processes to guide the laser in re-shaping the front part of the eye.

Why Should You Get It?

Many people who choose LASIK surgery have jobs that require good vision. With contact lenses or glasses, these people often find that their corrective lenses also get in the way of them performing their job functions at peak ability. Fire-fighters, police officers, athletes, and emergency service personnel all depend highly on good vision, but, at the same time, find that corrective lenses get in the way. When taking into consideration the cost of LASIK eye surgery, you should also take into consideration the positive effect that LASIK could have on your career.

Even is you don’t have a career which would benefit from LASIK, you should still weigh up your options. Are you a mom who has a very active lifestyle and just can’t seem to hang onto those eyeglasses? Do your contact lenses irritate your eyes and constantly fall out? There are many reasons people get LASIK eye surgery. You now have the information, the choice is yours.

Delaware LASIK Vision Correction

At Simon Eye Associates our patients are constantly asking us questions about how to choose Eyewear based on the clothes they wear, their body type, etc. To make it easier, we decided to post this article written by Eyewear Designer, Robert Marc.  Robert has been in the Fashion Eyewear business for many years, founding his own line in 1999.  Here’s what Robert had to say:

• Take your entire lifestyle into consideration. Don’t buy a casual style if you wear suits to work and dress up a lot for evenings.

• Pick a shape that contrasts with your face shape. If you have a round face, you don’t want a round frame. Try something more horizontal and angular.

• Look at scale and balance. Just as a size 10 wouldn’t buy a size 18 dress, a petite woman shouldn’t get an oversized frame.

• Don’t be afraid of making a mistake. Experiment and try on a lot of glasses. You might surprise yourself and discover a new look.

• You don’t wear the same pair of shoes to go to the gym, work and a cocktail party. At minimum, you should have two or three pairs of glasses in your wardrobe.

Vera Bradley Sunglasses