December is National Safe Toy and Gifts Month

Children’s bright eyes epitomize the spirit of the holiday season, but those same bright eyes can become weary and even injured without proper supervision during the holiday gift-giving season as toys and computer games can prove hazardous to children’s vision. The Consumer Products and Safety Commission reports that more than 230,000 toy-related injuries are treated in emergency rooms annually. Of those injured, approximately one third under the age of five and more than 45% of those injuries are to the head and face. Most eye injuries caused by toys are completely preventable. Many parents are simply unaware of what to look for to maximize children’s eye safety when purchasing toys.

Here are a few things to look for:

• Avoid purchasing toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts.
• Check labels on toys for age recommendations and be sure to select gifts that are appropriate for a child’s age and maturity.
• Make sure toys are well made and durable.
• Make sure children have appropriate supervision when playing with potentially hazardous toys or games that could cause injury.
• Keep toys made for older children away from younger children.

Another potential hazard to children’s eye health can result from spending countless hours playing games on computers. Extended exposure to computer screens is particularly straining on children’s eyes because they’re still developing. Focusing on an object in close proximity for an extended amount of time can cause eye fatigue, headaches or spasms in children’s eyes. A great way to alleviate computer-related vision problems is to follow the 20-20-20 rule. It’s easy to remember: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break, and look at something 20 feet away. Also reminding children to blink is important as blinking washes eyes in naturally therapeutic tears.

Here are a few tips to remember when children are spending extended amounts of time on a computer or in front of any other electronic screen:

Be sure children sit at least arm’s length away from the computer or television screen when playing computer or video games.

Encourage intermittent breaks away from the computer or television screen in order to give eyes a proper chance to rest.

Try to keep window light off to the side of electronic screens rather than in front or behind. Position screens to reduce reflections from windows or overhead lights.

Think about lighting. Good room lighting is important for healthy eyes.

The holidays should be spent with friends and family, not in the emergency room. By taking a few simple precautions when it comes to toys, you can easily keep this holiday season and all of its festivities merry and bright.

Have you ever experienced an irritating eye twitch that just won’t seem to end? How about dry eyes or blurred vision? Have you ever thought that these issues could be caused by stress? It’s true, our eyes are an extension of our brain so whatever affects the various parts of our brain can actually interfere with our vision.

Eye Twitching

Possibly the only thing more irritating than an itch you can’t scratch is involuntary eye twitching, or myokymia, which is a feeling that many of us are familiar with. Stress is actually one of the leading factors of involuntary eye twitches. Some other causes of myokymia include spending too much time on a computer and insufficient amounts of sleep. The condition itself is usually temporary, but persistent eye twitching may be a sign of a serious genetic disorder, which should be addressed by your eye doctor.

Dry Eyes

When our body experiences heightened levels of stress, it naturally increased and thickens blood flow to protect us from injury. In turn, the heart has to work even harder than usual and blood circulation to the extremities in our bodies, such as our skin, brain, and eyes, is decreased. This causes eyes to become dry and irritated.

Blurred Vision

Stress can also cause blurred vision and, ironically, experiencing a vision problem can create more stress. Stress affects your body in many ways, so blurry vision may be a secondary symptom. Sometimes stress causes your body to react as though its facing something dangerous and, as a result, your pupils dilate. This allows more light to enter the eye to help you better assess the situation, but too much light can actually cause poor vision – hence the blurriness.

Even though these eye conditions caused by stress can prove to be disruptive and irritating, they can be controlled with exercise, a healthy diet, and stress reduction techniques such as meditating and deep breathing. If your symptoms persist, be sure to visit your eye doctor to determine whether there may be an underlying cause for their occurrence.

Experiencing red or watery eyes, blurred vision or difficulty focusing after a day at work can often be the result of staring at a computer screen for eight or more hours. Office environments can certainly take their toll on your eyes. Here are some common symptoms and simple solutions to help maintain healthy vision during your work day.

Adjust Your Work Area

If your computer is not properly positioned, you may find yourself experiencing eye strain and visual fatigue. Make sure that your computer’s screen is at least 24 inches away from your face and that the screen itself is directly in front of and also slightly lower than your line of sight.

Dry Eyes

Poor ventilation, dry air, and dust can cause eyes to become red and irritated since tears may not properly coat and moisten the eye. When reading or using a computer we tend not to blink as often, which can actually make the issue worse. When you are reading or looking at your computer screen for extended periods of time, be sure to take breaks and remind yourself to blink.

Follow the 20-20-20 Rule

Focusing on your computer screen for extended amounts of time can cause your eyes to become fatigued. That’s why it is so important to give your eyes a break by following the 20-20-20 Rule; after 20 minutes of computer use, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Our days are about to become darker even earlier with the fall season officially upon us, which means more nighttime driving. According to a national survey, 32% of drivers reported that they have trouble seeing in the dark. Most of these drivers have difficulty judging distance, identifying signs or exits, and struggle to see animals and pedestrians in roadways.

So why is it so much harder for some people to drive at night? The reason is due to the fact that the pupils in the eyes dilate under low light causing vision to become blurred as well as contributing to focusing problems. Glare from oncoming vehicle headlights also makes driving at night more difficult, especially for older individuals. Drivers should not operate vehicles with uncorrected vision problems. This is just another reason why the importance of regular comprehensive eye exams is so great. Without a regular visit to your eye doctor you may not know that your prescription needs to be updated and therefore you may experience more difficulty with nighttime driving than necessary.

Here are some easy rules to follow to help you drive safely at night:

• Drive slowly
• Use your high beams during clear conditions and be sure to dim them for oncoming cars
• Regularly maintain your vehicle by checking fluids, tires, breaks and lights
• Be sure to turn off all interior lights before driving
• Give your eyes a few minutes to adjust to the darkness before you start driving
• Avoid glare by looking at the bottom of the road and by using the night setting on your rearview mirror to reduce glare from cars behind you

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases in which the optic nerve, which connects your eye to your brain, is damaged by the pressure of fluid inside your eye.

There are two main types of glaucoma. One is primary open-angle glaucoma and the other is angle-closure glaucoma. These types of glaucoma are marked by an increase of intraocular pressure, or pressure inside of the eye. Secondary glaucoma refers to any case in which another disease contributes to or causes increased eye pressure.

In a healthy eye, clear fluid is continuously being made behind the iris and leaving the eye through a microscopic drainage canal in front of the eye. If this drainage canal becomes blocked, the pressure inside the eye increases and often causes glaucoma damage to the optic nerve.

Since you cannot feel this pressure in your eye, and because the disease progresses so slowly, you may not even know that you have glaucoma. That’s why it is so important that you have your eyes examined on a regular basis so that your eye doctor can detect and assess any symptoms of glaucoma before they can cause irreversible damage to your vision. There is currently no cure for glaucoma, but with early detection, medication or surgery, it can be slowed down and further vision loss can be prevented. Over 2 million Americans, and over 60 million people worldwide, have glaucoma. Experts estimate that half of these individuals are not aware that they even have the disease.

Who is at risk?

While the causes of glaucoma are not completely known, risk factors for its development include family history of glaucoma, race, and being over 40 years old. Glaucoma may affect people of any age from newborns to the elderly, but it is more common in adults as they approach their senior years. African-Americans, Hispanics, and people with diabetes are also at a higher risk of developing the disease.

As we grow older our bodies experience many different changes, and our eyes are no exception to this rule. Usually as we age and our vision becomes more blurred, we assume that we probably need new glasses with a stronger prescription, but in fact, cataracts may be the culprit behind our declined vision.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology states that cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in Americans 65 years old and older. By age 80, nearly half of all adults will develop a cataract. This month take some time ot learn how to recognize the symptoms, find treatment, and educate those around you about this common yet treatable eye condition.

What is a cataract?

A cataract is an opacity that clouds the natural lens inside the eye. Normally the path of light to the retina (where the light sensors of the eye are) is as clear as possible. When proteins that make up the lens clump together, the resulting cataract blocks some of the light making vision blurry or hazy. Cataracts may start in one eye or can develop in both eyes around the same time. They are not painful and therefore can go unnoticed.

Symptoms

Symptoms can include:

• Fading or dimness of colors
• Frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions
• Trouble reading small print
• Glare and halos around lights
• Blurry or cloudy vision
• Distortion of vision in one eye more than the other
• Difficulty driving, especially at night

Treatment

Cataract surgery is considered one of the most popular and highly successful procedures for improving vision in cataract patients. In fact, a recent study by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons reported that 98% of cataract patients had their vision successfully improved following cataract surgery. Many patients reported that their vision was even better than it was before they developed cataracts due to the vision-correcting nature of the surgery.

Prevention

While there are no clinically proven approaches to preventing cataracts, simple preventive strategies can be taken to including reducing exposure to UV rays, quitting smoking, and increasing antioxidant vitamin intake through the consumption of leafy green vegetables and nutritional supplements. UV blocking sunglasses should be worn whenever you’re exposed to the sun’s harmful rays. If you currently smoke, quit as it will decrease your likelihood of developing cataracts. The American Academy of Ophthalmologists also recommends eating a diet that is rich in antioxidants such as spinach, broccoli, and eggs. Studies have also suggested that Vitamin C and E supplements may help to lower the risk of developing cataracts.

It is also very important that you schedule a regular eye examination, especially if you are over 40 to help diagnose cataracts and other common eye complications.

August can often be hectic as we rush to fit in the last bits of summer vacation before the school year starts and the weather cools down, but before you get too wrapped up in back-to-school or final summer plans, don’t forget about planning ahead for healthy vision by scheduling an eye exam for you and your family.

The month of August is National Eye Exam Month. Eye exams are not only important for maintaining clear and focused vision, but they can also give your eye doctor a better glimpse into your overall health. Here are a few more reasons why you schedule your regular comprehensive eye exam during National Eye Health Month:

1. Detect Underlying Eye Conditions Just by looking at the eye in a comprehensive exam, your eye doctor is able to spot early warning signs of high blood pressure, glaucoma, diabetes and high cholesterol. Having your eyes examined on a regular basis can help detect problems before they become more serious and affect your vision as well as your overall health.
2. Improve Children’s Performance in SchoolAccording The Vision Council of America, one out of every four children in the U.S. has an undiagnosed vision problem. It is also estimated that 48% of parents with children under the age of 12 have never taken their children to see an eye care professional. One of the most common reasons why children fall behind in school each year is due to poor vision or vision problems. Having your child undergo a comprehensive eye exam can help detect problems that may lead to reading and learning difficulties.
3. Keep Your Prescription Up-To-DateOur eyes are constantly changing, especially after the age of 40. Getting a regular, comprehensive eye exam is one of the best ways to stay on top of your vision and determine whether or not you need a new prescription for your glasses or contact lenses.

July 12th is Heterochromia Awareness Day. Only 11 out of every 1,000 Americans have heterochromia, a condition that results in two differently colored eyes. This trait is commonly found in animals and is relatively rare in humans. One eye can be blue, while the other hazel. Or one eye may be brown while the other is blue. The condition can be hereditary and harmless or it can be caused by a disease or syndrome like neurofibromatosis, which is when tumors form on nerve tissue within the nervous system. An eye injury, serious infection or inflammation may also cause heterochromia.

There are different types of heterochromia – complete, sectoral and central. When each eye is an entirely different color, this is known as complete heterochromia. Central heterochromia occurs when there are two colors in the same iris. A section of one eye that is a different color from the rest of the eye is called sectoral heterochromia.

Be sure to contact your eye doctor if you notice any new changes in the color of your eyes as a sudden discoloration may be an indication of a serious medical issue.

June is here and that means summer is upon us! June also means that it’s UV Safety Month – a great time to spread the message of sun, fun and the effects of UV rays. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main cause of skin cancer, but can also damage your eyes if you leave them unprotected. It is always important to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, but it is especially important during the extended daylight hours of the summer.

Here are some helpful tips to protect your eyes from the sun.

• Choose sunglasses that block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays.
• Select wraparound styles of sunglasses so that the sun’s rays cannot enter from the side of the frame.
• In addition to your sunglasses, wear a hat. Broad-brimmed hats proved the protection for your eyes.
• Don’t be fooled by cloudy skies! The sun’s rays can pass through haze and thin clouds. Sun damage to eyes can occur anytime of the year, not just summertime, so be certain to wear your sunglasses whenever you’re outside.
• Don’t rely on your contact lenses to provide protection. Even if your lenses have UV protection, you should always remember to wear your sunglasses as well.
• It sounds quite obvious, but never, ever look directly at the sun. Looking directly at the sun at any time, even during an eclipse, can lead to solar retionpathy, which is damage to the eye’s retina from solar radiation.
• It’s best to try and avoid exposure during peak sun times, which happen between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. This is when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest. but if you have to be outside, then it is especially important to shield your eyes with a hat and proper sunglasses.

With warmer weather upon us, many of us are probably enjoying the sunshine by playing some recreational sports. Tens of thousands of sports-related eye injuries occur each year. The good news is that 90% of these serious eye injuries are easily preventable through the use of protective eyewear. The risk of eye injury varies depending on the activity, so make sure the level of eye protection you use is appropriate to the sport. Regular eyeglasses will not offer you proper protection when it comes to the safety of your eyes and vision.

Sports-related eye injuries occur most often in baseball, basketball and racquet sports. In baseball and racquet sports such as lacrosse, a helmet with a polycarbonate face marks or even wire shield should be worn at all times. Protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses should also be worn for sports such as basketball, soccer and field hockey.

If you think that eye protection isn’t important when it comes to sports, consider some of these facts:

• Professional baseball players throw ball at about 95 mph
• Polycarbonate can protect against a .22 caliber bullet
• The average hockey puck travels at a speed between 90 – 100 mph

The damage that can be incurred from high-velocity flying objects can do irreparable damage to your vision, so be sure you take the proper precautions to protect your eyes.

Sports generally account for the highest number of eye injuries, but there are also other hobbies and activities that can post risks for your sight. According to a study conducted in 2008, more than 40% of patients treated for eye injuries sustained at home were a result of yard work, cleaning, home repairs, and cooking. Common sense and caution can be exceptionally beneficial when it comes to keeping your eyes safe.

Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind to keep your eyes protected.

• Always remember that eyeglasses are not a sufficient substitute for eye protection.
• Be careful during activities or games that involve projectiles and any sort of sharp object that could cause injury if they come in contact with your eyes.
• Consider the risk of flying debris and other objects during activities and wear the appropriate eye protection.

If you experience an eye injury, be sure to see your eye care professional or go to the emergency room immediately, even if the injury may appear minor. Delaying medical attention could result in permanent blindness or vision loss.