Tech Ridge Vision Blog Eye Care and Optical

Partnering with VSP Vision Care, every child’s favorite scientist is taking to the web to debunk very common eye care myths in an effort to better educate the public and to encourage better eye health at all ages.

Bill Nye will help explain the confusion about concepts like those below.

Computers Are Bad for the Eyes
Using a computer is not going to harm your eyes, but it can cause blurred vision, eye fatigue and headaches if the eyes are not provided a break from time to time. It is recommended that people who work on a computer all day look away every twenty minutes to focus on something off in the distance. Just a twenty second look out the window can do the trick.

Eyes Get Worse When a Person Wears Glasses
Reduced visual clarity, especially in the close range, is not the fault of corrective lenses, but instead the calendar. Time is the factor that weakens eye sight. As we age, our vision naturally fades.

If you Sit Too Close to the TV, You’ll Hurt Your Eyes
You may get headaches if you make your eyes work hard to process the big screen when sitting so close, but it won’t actually harm the eyes.

There is No Need to Have Children’s Eyes Tested Unless They Have Problems
This is not true. Many children do not realize there is a problem because they have never known clear vision and even if this isn’t the case with your kids, eye exams can help find other potential problems early.

For more information on common myths, keep reading the full article.

The 5th annual EyeRock Concert is set to take the stage this March for the International Vision Expo.

The profits made during this event will help the Luxottica’s OneSight foundation.

This is actually a group of charities that operate as one to provide the necessary screenings and eyewear to people in need.

The concert will be held at the Hard Rock Café in New York City Time Square highlighting the headline performance to be given by the beautiful and talented Lisa Loeb.

The singer is so dedicated to eye health that she created her own line of eyewear, called Classique Eyewear in 2010 and admits that she is very excited to take part in the event.

In addition to New York citizens and those from afar, many of the attendees of the musical event will be the participants in the Vision Expo East, which is designed as a forum to discuss the hottest topics in the ophthalmologic field.

In addition to big names, like Loeb, there will be many performers who also hold roles within the eye care community, which certainly draws the interest of others who work in the field.

You can attend as well.

Tickets to the event cost seventy-five dollars and you will know that your money is going to a great cause.

For more information about the event, continue reading the full article.

February is AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month, so we’d like to show our support by sharing information to help spread awareness in the effort for preventing vision loss.

One in three older Americans will be diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, but age is not the only factor that can increase the risk that one has for suffering the same fate.

Put it Out, Leave it Out
Quitting tobacco products in your life is one of the very best things that you can do for your health and well being. It can also decrease your chances of being diagnosed with AMD because smoking can disrupt the oxygen levels reaching the retina.

Look to Your Past
Has a family member fought with AMD in the past? If so, then you are facing an increased risk of doing the same in the future.

What Box Do You Check
When asked if you are male or female on a doctor’s form, you are also answering a question about your likelihood to be diagnosed with macular degeneration. This is because females are more susceptible.

Where Did Your Family Originate?
Just as the question of sex can impact the determined risk level, so can questions about race. Caucasians are the most likely to suffer from AMD.

Rock the Shades
If you spend a lot of time in the sun without UV-blocking shades then your eyes are at an increased risk of this medical condition.

Eat Right and Stay Fit
A bad diet – one high in fat and low in antioxidants – is like saying that you are okay with an unhealthy tomorrow. AMD is one of the many conditions that becomes an increased concern when a person eats poorly. When bad eating habits lead to obesity, that risk increases even more.

Stay Cool, Calm, and Collected
High blood pressure means an increased pressure in the eye and constricted vessels as well. That means less oxygen to the eye and a likely diagnosis of AMD down the road.

For information on the remaining risk factors, continue reading the full article.

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The incessant stream of tears down your face isn’t always a sign of upsetting news.

When it isn’t caused by emotional hurt, tear production can be downright annoying.

So what else would cause the welling of liquid?

The human eye is always producing tears. This substance is used to keep the eye nourished and moist. With each blink, it cleans the surface of the eye.

If the eye is irritated in some way, the tear production is stepped up in an effort to wash away whatever caused the sudden discomfort.

The ducts, found in the corner of the eye are the drains, which whisk away any excess fluid and flush it into the nose.

When too many tears are produced, the drain can fail and spill over will occur. There are a few reasons why this might occur.

Dry eye syndrome is a common condition. It is associated with a constant feeling of irritation and discomfort.

This is caused by the eye drying. Tears are then produced in excess, but they may not contain the necessary oils to properly rehydrate the eye. The drain is overwhelmed and tears stream down the face.

Infection and allergies are also associated with watering eyes. Both can result in the irritation that causes the increased tear formation.

Additionally, eyelids that don’t close properly can fail to move the tears to the duct at the corner.

For more information on diagnosis and treatment, visit the full article.

Each night, before bed, you remove your contacts and set them in containers of contact lens solution, right?

While this is often not the case for many contact wearers who have developed a habit of wearing lenses overnight from time to time, even the most careful individuals could still be at risk.

Whenever contacts are removed from the eye to be stored, the lens solution should be changed. Though removing the lenses from the eye is a good start, placing them in the same solution as was used the night before is dangerous.

It loses its effectiveness as a disinfecting agent after the first use. The ‘dirty solution’ has been linked to serious infection and disease in the past.

Though this is rare, it isn’t worth the risk. Bacterial and fungal infections, of a less severe nature, are far more common and can lead to extreme pain and discomfort and may even lead to corneal ulcers or permanent blindness.

New labeling instructions via the FDA have made it so contact lens care products must do the following:

• Include an expiration date.
• Instructions for use, including the recommendation that users rub and rinse lenses for added effectiveness.

If you wear contacts, you should pay close attention to any signs of infection, which include pain, redness, mucus discharge, or blurred vision.

If you believe that you have an eye infection – regardless of your contact cleaning habits – you should seek the immediate attention of your eye doctor.

It is recommended that you thoroughly clean your hands and remove the contact lenses at the first sign of infection.

For more information on proper contact cleaning methods, keep reading the full article.

Are you finding it difficult to read the computer screen at work each day?

Is it getting more and more difficult to navigate the roads so you can make it to the office?

If you are suffering from eye-related issues, but don’t have the money to get the problem corrected, there may be good news for you.

The National Eye Institute has listed the following organizations as potential aids in the effort to help all Americans see better, regardless of their financial status:

• EyeCare America – Known for providing eye exams and care with little or no out-of-pocket expense.
• Vision USA – For those without insurance and facing difficult economic times, vision care may be provided by this organization at no cost.
• Lions Club International – Some branches of this volunteer organization offer programs that provide assistance when corrective eyewear or corrective procedures are required.
• Mission Cataract USA – One of the leading causes of blindness, cataracts affect millions of Americans. Mission Cataract USA helps those who have no other way to afford the expense.
• InfantSEE – Eye care is essential for even the youngest members of the American population. InfantSEE provides free screenings for all children under the age of one, regardless of income level.
• Sight for Students – For children under the age of eighteen, eye care and corrective lenses may be available at no cost through the Sight for Students program.
• New Eyes for the Needy – This program for those who have run into financial difficulties will provide vouchers for free eyeglasses.

For more information on these organizations and links to their websites, read the full article.

Did you know that January is Glaucoma Awareness Month?

For more than four million Americans, Glaucoma is a problem that extends well beyond January 31st.

The group of eye diseases that come together to cause this common diagnosis, are very troubling, as they ultimately destroy the optic nerve. With that essential piece of the puzzle, the eye can no longer function correctly and vision fades away.

Due to the fact that there are no immediate warning signs of Glaucoma, it isn’t associated with pain, and blindness happens rather slowly, it is difficult to catch this condition in the earliest stages.

In fact, the only way to do so is through the use of specialized testing equipment. For those who routinely visit the eye doctor, this isn’t an issue, as optometrists commonly screen for glaucoma.

Unfortunately, a large percentage of the American population fails to understand the importance of eye exams.

Who is at risk of Glaucoma?

No one is immune to it. Anyone with a family history of the disease is at increased risk, but it is recommended that all individuals have regular eye exams to ensure that Glaucoma is caught early.

Particularly high risk is associated with African Americans over the age of forty and Mexican Americans over the age of sixty, however the odds of developing glaucoma increase substantially for all people at that point.

With early detection, it is possible to use eye drops and surgical procedures to stave off the impending vision loss, so a patient can continue to enjoy clear eyesight for many years.

For more information, continue reading the full article.

There are many common complaints heard by optometrists’ offices after patients walk away with new prescription glasses.

If you are experiencing trouble with your new frames or lenses, then you might want to consider the following.

Improper Fit

Improper fit is commonly something that people discover within the first few days of wear.

This can be due to the fact that the person chose a pair of frames, but could not clearly see the way they fell on the face until the prescription lenses were placed in them.

This is a good reason to have your eye professionals help you select eyeglasses.

Often people will find that the legs of the glasses fit too tightly against the temple.

It might be possible to ask for spring hinges that allow the legs to flex past straight and thereby alleviate the ‘digging’ sensation.

Vision Issues

Vision issues related to the new glasses are also common.

There is an adjustment period of a few days that most will require to get used to the new prescription.

However, if the problem persists after the first three days, then a visit with the optometrist is in order.

Most will correct a prescription, if needed, one time without charge.

Discuss this option with your eye doctor before purchasing new lenses.

For more tips about your new eyeglasses, keep reading the full article.

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