Do you worry about losing your vision ?

80 percent of Americans worry about losing their vision yet 86 percent of those who already have an eye disease do not get routine exams.

     A well known filmmaker, Joe Lovett was scared, really scared. Being able to see was critical to his work as a documentary filmmaker and, he thought, to his ability to live independently. But longstanding glaucoma threatened to rob him of this most important sense — the sense that more than 80 percent of Americans worry most about losing, according to a recent survey.

    Partly to assuage his fears, partly to learn how to cope if he becomes blind, and partly to alert Americans to the importance of regular eye care, Mr. Lovett, 65, decided to do what he does best. He produced a documentary called “Going Blind,” with the telling subtitle “Coming Out of the Dark About Vision Loss.”

    In addition to Mr. Lovett, the film features six people whose vision was destroyed or severely impaired by disease or injury:

Jessica Jones, an artist who lost her sight to diabetic retinopathy at age 32, but now teaches art to blind and disabled children. Emmet Teran, a schoolboy whose vision is limited by albinism, a condition he inherited from his father, and who uses comedy to help him cope with bullies.Peter D’Elia, an architect in his 80s who has continued working despite vision lost to age-related macular degeneration. Ray Korman, blinded at age 40 by an incurable eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa, whose life was turned around by a guide dog and who now promotes this aid to others. Patricia Williams, a fiercely independent woman legally blind because of glaucoma and a traumatic injury, who continues to work as a program support assistant for the Veterans Administration. Steve Baskis, a soldier blinded at age 22 by a roadside bomb in Iraq, who now lives independently and offers encouragement to others injured at war.

     Sadly, the nationwide survey (conducted Sept. 8 through 12 by Harris Interactive) showed that only a small minority of those most at risk get the yearly eye exams that could detect a vision problem and prevent, delay or even reverse its progression. Fully 86 percent of those who already have an eye disease do not get routine exams, the telephone survey of 1,004 adults revealed.

   The survey was commissioned by Lighthouse International, the world-renowned nonprofit organization in New York that seeks to prevent vision loss and treats those affected. In an interview, Lighthouse’s president, Mark G. Ackermann, emphasized that our rapidly aging population predicts a rising prevalence of sight-robbing diseases like age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy that will leave “some 61 million Americans at high risk of serious vision loss.”

                                                           The Benefits of a Checkup

   Low vision and blindness are costly problems in more ways than you might think. In addition to the occupational and social consequences of vision loss, there are serious medical costs, not the least of them from injuries due to falls. Poor vision accounts for 18 percent of broken hips.

  So, why don’t more of us get regular eye exams? For one thing, they may not be are covered by Medicare and many health insurers unless there is a eye disease found. But even those who have insurance or can pay out of pocket are often reluctant to go for regular eye exams. Fear and depression are common impediments for those at risk of vision loss, said Dr. Bruce Rosenthal, low-vision specialist at Lighthouse. Patients worry that they could become totally blind and unable to work, read or drive a car, he said.

  Yet many people fail to realize that early detection can result in vision-preserving therapy. Those at risk include people with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease, as well as anyone who has been a smoker or has a family history of an eye disorder like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.

   Smoking raises the risk of macular degeneration two to six times, Dr. Facchiano indicated. The eyes are truly a window to the body, and a proper eye exam can often alert physicians to a serious underlying disease like diabetes, multiple sclerosis or even a brain tumor.

                                                              Reasons Not to Wait

     Dr Facchiano OD FAAO along with the AOA recommends that all children have “a basic professional eye exam” before they start elementary school. “Being able to read the eye chart, which tests distance vision, is not enough, since most learning occurs close up,” he said. Studies indicate that “One in three  schoolchildren has a vision deficit. Learning and behavior problems can result if a child does not receive adequate vision correction.”

     Annual checkups are best done from age 20 on, and certainly by age 40, Dr. Facchiano OD FAAO said. Waiting until you have symptoms is hardly ideal. For example, glaucoma in its early stages is a silent thief of sight. It could take 10 years to cause a noticeable problem, by which time the changes are irreversible.

     For those who already have serious vision loss, the range of visual aids now available is extraordinary — and increasing almost daily. There are large-picture closed-circuit televisions, devices like the Kindle that can read books aloud, computers and readers that scan documents and read them out loud, Braille and large-print music, as well as the more familiar long canes and guide dogs.

     On Oct. 13, President Obama signed legislation requiring that every new technological advance be made accessible to people who are blind, visually impaired or deaf.

     Producing “Going Blind” helped to reassure Mr. Lovett that he will be able to cope, whatever the future holds. Meanwhile, the regular checkups and treatments he has received have slowed progression of his glaucoma, allowing him to continue his professional work and ride his bicycle along the many new bike paths in New York City.

  Dr Facchiano recommends that you start the new year out by scheduling an eye exam.

            A version of this article appeared in print on December 21, 2010, on page D2 of the New York edition.

What Eye Exams Detect

Most people think of eye exams as something done to detect a need for eye glasses, prescription sun glasses or contact lenses. That is one of the results of an eye exam, but that isn't what they are "for." The reason for eye exams is to check the total health of the eye. Sometimes, problems with seeing things clearly might be from eye diseases or other health issues that affect vision. Optometrists are trained at looking for health problems and will be able to detect a variety of diseases from the instruments used during an eye exam.

Here are the most common diseases caught by optometrists who practice full scope primary eye care:

Glaucoma

Macular Degeneration

Cataracts

Diabetes

High Blood Pressure

Cancer

When the doctors do a full examination, they'll be able to use all the tools available to them to make determinations if there are any underlying issues with reported vision problems. Sometimes, there won't be any reported vision problems and the diseases will be caught in an early stage that makes managing them much easier. So don't think that the only thing eye exams detect is a need for corrective lenses, they do so much more than that.

HD Optics

There is a marketing buzz word going around right now for contact lenses that you might be hearing about more next year and it is called "HD Optics." If you are like me and wear corrective lenses like glasses or contacts, you might notice "halo" effects or glare from lights or other bright objects. Glasses already have an option to reduce  these sometimes bothersome effects with anti-reflective coating that helps with eye strain as well. Contacts haven't been as fortunate, until now. To put it in simple terms, "HD Optics" for contact lenses is essentially like the anti-reflective option for glasses. For people who don't wear glasses or contact lenses, trying to explain how light "looks" different with a pair of corrective lenses is actually pretty tough. That is probably why the term "HD Optics" was born, to simplify things.

One of the first contact lenses to go all out with an "HD" option is Bausch + Lomb's PureVision 2 monthly disposable lens. With this heir to the original PureVision line, Bausch + Lomb is  starting to incorporate the latest technology to sharpen up images as much as possible. I pulled an image from the B+L website that does its best to simulate what it means in terms of "HD."

The face of Big Ben doesn't have any sort of funky lighting effect, which is supposed to emulate what the PureVision 2 HD will do for patients. If you want to read up more on the lens, you can check out the official webpage or talk to your optometrist.

So that is the fuss about "HD Optics." It is a way of telling people that contacts are making progress in reducing halo and glare and now, more than ever, there will be an option for everyone if they choose to wear contact lenses.

How Multifocal Contacts Work

I've said it about a thousand times, but there is a contact lens out there for everybody. When people hit the age of 40, the eyes start doing all kinds of weird things and that is around the time patients start noticing the need for bifocals and rush to their eye doctor to get it corrected. For contact lens wearers, that shift in the need for a more specialized correction meant they had to go back to glasses. Now, there are many options available that incorporate different prescription powers so that those in need of multifocal contacts have options.

How do these multifocal contact lenses work? Most people are familiar with glasses and the no-line transitions but how multifocal contacts work is slightly different. Kinda.

There are actually a few ways that multifocal contacts correct for mutliple distances. One common method used by contact lens makers is to put concentric circles in the lens that correct for different distances. The following crudely drawn diagram I found through an image search actually does a good job at showing what I am talking about



This is just one way of correcting for multiple points of focus. There are also a few other ways to correct with multifocal contact lenses that are closer in proximity to how no-line progressive lenses glasses work, just on a much smaller scale.

Now the question becomes, how does the contact move to the right area of correction. The trick is that the the eye is the one that "moves" to focus on the right part of the contact. It is such a slight focus adjustment that people will not be able to tell the eyes have "moved." That, in a nut shell, is how multifocal contacts work. Remember, your optometrist will have more information when you go in for your next contact lens fitting if you are really looking to get the fine details on how the mutlifocal contacts work.

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Digital Retinal Photos Are a Great Tool for Optometrists

There are many parts to an eye exam that assess the overall health of the eyes. One of the most helpful parts is the digital retinal photography. It is essentially a digital camera that has been developed to take a clear image of the back of the eye. The pictures are so detailed that not only can optometrists diagnose eye diseases such as Glaucoma, Cataracts and Macular Degeneration but they can spot signs of diabetes, high blood pressure and eye cancers. Since the resulting image is digital, it can act as a "snapshot in time" of your eye health. Each year, the optometrist will be able to look for any small changes to the health of the eye and catch any potential abnormalities at early stages.



The photos are defiantly something you don't see everyday. I've even had a few patients during the eye exam prescreening half-jokingly ask if they could have the photo as their Facebook profile picture. Kidding aside, these photos are incredibly helpful when it comes to catching eye diseases as it gives optometrists time to successfully manage and control those problems. The digital retinal photos are just one of the many aspects we look at during our eye exams, but one that is vitally important.

Medication Apps

One of the most important questions asked before any type of exam is what medications are currently being used. At that point, there are two types of patients, those who cannot remember what types of medicine they take and those that produce a tattered piece of paper from their wallet or purse listing, in impressive detail, the medications they take.

The one thing these two types of people have in common is a cell phone, often times a smart phone. There are applications to download on the phone that not only list medications taken, but also remind people when it is time to take them.

The New York Times recently did an article about a few of these applications. They test MedsLog, Medsy, MotionPHR Health Record Manager and Dosecast and give their recommendations about what apps are worth the time. Since a phone is something that a lot of people carry, the information is always accessible and easy to read.

I couldn't end this post without highlighting one app that is specifically for eye care. The Eye Chart Pro is a portable Snellen eye chart that you can show to all your friends.

Going Blind: Coming Out of the Dark About Vision Loss

If you were told that you were going blind, what would you do? One film maker, when faced with that question, decided to document the entire experience.

The director, Joseph Lovett, has worked on many TV and films in his career but now he is the subject in a documentary about helping people understand vision loss. Lovett isn't the only person highlighted, there are people suffering from eye disease, complications from diabetes and an Iraq War veteran who lost his sight during his service. These personal accounts are extremely touching as each person has dealt with the issue of losing vision in different ways that show the power of human determination.

On the official movie website, there are tons of images and video clips from the documentary that show people talking about their conditions and what vision means to them.

Find more information on the Going Blind Twitter account at @GoingBlindMovie

5 Things to Consider Before LASIK

Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, or LASIK for short, is the medical procedure that changes the shape of the eye so that corrective lenses aren't needed as much, or at all. Many people ask me during the pre-screening for eye exams  if they are good candidates for the operation. When I hear that, I encourage a patient to talk with our optometrists and find out if LASIK is right for them. There are a lot of factors to consider that need to be weighed and balanced before going forward with the LASIK surgery.

There are people and groups who don't need LASIK

If someone has a slight prescription, or is really young, LASIK really isn't recommended or needed in a lot of cases. Take a look at your lifestyle, age and dependence on contacts or glasses and deeply consider if it will improve your day-to-day life or if would be just "nice" to have. There are risks with undergoing LASIK and certain people might lose more than they gain.

Are there problems with the eye beyond "not seeing well?"

If you have Glaucoma, past eye traumas, eye conditions like dry eyes or a host of other problems or complications related to the eye, there are complications that could result in diminished vision or vision loss. Always go in for an eye exam and make sure that everything checks out. It is now a requirement that vision remains stable for an entire year before proceeding with LASIK.

Researching and finding the best surgeon

Is the doctor experienced with the best knowledge and latest FDA approved equipment? That is the question everyone should ask, however, many people only consider price when shopping around for LASIK, but that should only be one of the many considerations when selecting a doctor to preform the operation. Doing a little legwork and getting all the facts on LASIK centers in imperative before getting the procedure done. Your primary eye care doctor will also be able to make recommendations.

Commitment

LASIK isn't just a one time surgery that makes the need for glasses or contacts disappear. There many steps along the road to the operation and many steps that follow. People who get the LASIK done might even need to go back for touch-ups a few years down the road.

Won't solve all problems

A lot of times, people will still have to wear reading glasses after a LASIK operation. People looking to be totally free of glasses or contacts need to be aware that there still might be need for corrective lenses following the operation for things like close-up vision.

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If you want to know more information about LASIK, the FDA has a great website that covers all the bases about what to expect, what to do/not do and other bits of information that is useful for people considering the surgery.

Airsoft Guns and Vision Do Not Mix Well

There are quite a few ways to injure the eyes. They are such a delicate part of the body that even something seemingly minor can end up causing a lot of trouble. Then, there are some activities that beg for trouble if the proper precautions aren't taken. Like AirSoft.

AirSoft is like paintball in the sense that enthusiasts play games of tag with realistic guns, however, the ammo is plastic pellets not unlike BBs. The AirSoft guns are relatively inexpensive for basic models so it wasn't too long for a dedicated following to emerge. Without proper precautions, AirSoft can be a dangerous game of how fast can you shoot an eye out. That means that people concerned about eye care sprout new grey hairs.

Just like a Dentist would caution against eating candy and brushing your teeth after each sweet treat, Optometrists and Ophthalmologist will caution against playing this sport/hobby all together. If you do, make sure to get all the proper equipment that will have the greatest chance of keeping your eyes safe and healthy. Anything that seems to cut corners like Mesh Masks can still get debris through to the eyes and put your vision at risk.

Thanks to Dr. Ryo's Blog for the idea on covering AirSoft

Happy Thanksgiving

Our offices will be closed today for Thanksgiving. We will resume normal business hours on November 26, 2010.

How Easy, or Hard, it is to Rip Contacts

Before everyone starts stuffing themselves full of turkey, I wanted to do a very (un)scientific look at how strong contacts can be. I found some trials we have an extraordinarily large number of and decided to see how easy it was to rip them by using brute force. Just remember, the higher the prescription the more effort it takes to rip a contact. Unlike this video, the most common way people rip contacts is from inadvertently getting their fingernail caught on the lens, which weakens the material.

November Tornado in Rockford Illinois

At a time where families are supposed to be gathered together, counting their blessings and enjoying the company of loved ones, the Rockford Illinois area was hit yesterday by a rare late November tornado. Homes were reduced to broken boards and shattered belongings with nearly 10,000 people still without power. Many of our patients are in the areas where the storm ripped a path and it pains us to see the images of destruction.

On behalf of the entire staff at Dr. Facchiano and Associates, our thoughts and prayers are with those who were affected last night.

InfantSEE Program Helps Optometrists Treat Eye Diseases

If you were reading last Sunday's Rockford Register Star newspaper in Rockford, Illinois you might have noticed that Dr. Facchiano was highlighted as a participant in the InfantSEE program, a foundation of the American Optometry Association that allows families to schedule eye exams for children regardless of income levels or access to insurance. The news article talks about a teen who was diagnosed with a form of eye cancer that was successfully treated at an early age. Here is an excerpt from the article -

Dr. Vincent Facchiano, who also participates in InfantSEE, said he has identified a patient with retinoblastoma as well as children with high refractive errors that, if not corrected early, would have resulted in permanent vision reduction called amblyopia or lazy eye. He said he also was able to help a child with a rare corneal disease called keratoconus, a deterioration of the structure of the cornea that causes a gradual bulging from its normal round shape to a cone shape resulting in reduced vision.

OneSight Mission to Burkina Faso

Dr. Facchiano recently went on a mission to Africa to Burkina Faso with the organization OneSight. Burkina Faso is a French speaking nation in western Africa near the Ivory Coast and is home to roughly 15 million people. It has one of the lowest GDP rates in the world and a recent drought in the region left many of agricultural workers (the most common type of job) without work and without food. Just to give an idea of the poverty level, most people only earn $300 USD a year. That means people live on less than $1 USD a day. This is one of the most impoverished countries in the world.



In terms of access to health care, there are only 6 physicians for every 100,000 people. As I'm sure many can imagine, it is nearly impossible to find dedicated optometrists. For a country that has a life expectancy of only in the mid-40's, there are a shocking number of a vision related problems that steal vision at a young age. Because of the work of the team of eye health professionals, 1,845 people were able to see better or get referrals for more advanced help. According to the OneSight Burkina Faso blog, the phrase of the week was "Je Vois," which translated from French means, "I can see."



I will post more pictures taken by Dr. Facchiano's along with some of his stories in future posts.

Colored Contacts

Why Yearly Eye Exams and Contact Fittings are Recommended by Optometrists

Many patients often ask why they need a yearly eye exam. The contact lens patients also ask why they need to get yearly contact lens fittings. The reason is very simple: Optometrists recommend it for your health. The eyes are an important sense to the body and making sure they are healthy and staying healthy is very important.

I tell people to think of it like going in for an annual physical, specifically for the eyes. Even if you don't notice any

vision problems, and get a clean bill of eye health, it is reassurance that nothing is starting to form in the background. As for why contact lens patients need to keep getting a yearly fitting, that is tied in back to the health of the eye. Since eyes are one of the fastest changing parts of the body, people might change types of contact brands a number of times as materials get better or eye change. The main concern is that the eye is getting enough oxygen to stay healthy as contacts have the potential to act as an oxygen barrier.

There are possibly a 1001 reason why eye exams are so important, but they all come back to making sure that you have wonderful vision and any problems can be treated early on before they manifest themselves into something that requires serious, emergency attention. Diseases like Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration and Cataracts can be managed a lot easier and better if they are caught soon enough, and only eye exams will be able to show the warning signs of those sight robbers.

If you want to see the list of important yearly exams everyone should get, the popular TV show The Doctors recommends eye exams and a few other exams to keep a clean bill of health.

New Phone System for Madison Patients

If you are a patient at our Madison eye clinic, you might have already noticed the telephone greeting when you dial the number 608.829.2440. If you wish to be connected to the office immediately, you don't have to wait for the entire message to play. Just dial "0" and you'll get a hold of one of our technicians.

How to Tell if a Contact Lens is Inside Out

It can be difficult to tell if a contact lens is inside out. Pictures and models of inside out contacts look very obvious, but when it comes time to actually put in the real thing, it isn't as obvious. The following video will show how to tell the slight difference using a real contact. Be sure to watch in the highest resolution possible!

What FAAO Stands for after the "OD"

I had a patient ask me what the FAAO acronym stood for after Dr. Facchiano's name and the Optometrist designation of "OD." FAAO stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.


The FAAO designation is given to Optometrists who have dedicated their professional lives to science of sight. They have to meet strict, high standards and must be accepted by the American Academy of Optometry. Nearly 90 percent of people given the FAAO title are practicing Optometrist, however, scientists, educators, librarians, administrators and editors can also receive the designation providing they have done the proper accreditation process.

How to Read a Contact Lens Blister Pack to Check the Prescription

Since the Optometry field is highly visual, what better way to help explain how to care for the eye than with an official Dr. Facchiano and Associates' YouTube channel?

Customized Displays on Contact Lenses Possible

The LA Times recently ran an news story about researchers at the University of Washington who have found a way to use nanotechnology to put customized displays on contact lenses. Right now, the technology is very basic (a contact lens can display a red dot and a blue dot) but there are practical uses, like health readouts. The article mentioned the researchers are looking for ways to monitor glucose levels, which is important for diabetics. The eye contains a lot of health information so a contact medical device that would display vital information is very helpful, in theory. Eventually, entire computer screens could possibly be displayed.

It all sounds like something out of a science fiction novel, but human trials a long ways off. The eyes are a delicate and sensitive part of the body so any new technology related to contact lens wear needs to be rigorously tested first.

When to Tell Your Optometrist about "Eye Crusties"

Everybody at some point in their life has woken up with little crusty particles in the corner of the eyes. The dry little particles are formed at the corners of the eye typically and can be brushed away. The official term for these dry particles is Rheum. It is made up of natural mucus from the eye and nose, skin cells, dust and pollen. These are totally normal and a natural part of your body's function to flush away foreign objects from the eyes. The funny part is that there doesn't seem to be a universal, everyday term for Rheum. Eye boogers, the sandman's dust, sleepies, crusties and a multitude of other names are said on a daily basis. Admittedly, these common terms roll off the tongue a little better, even if they are a bit silly.

Trying to one of our optometrists to say "eye booger" was one of my highlights today.

There generally shouldn't be any cause for concern with Rheum. You should tell your optometrist only if you notice that there is discoloration, pus or if your eyes are "glued" shut in the morning. That is usually a signal there is a problem with the eye and it should be looked at by an optometrist.

How to Read a Prescription from Your Optometrist

After an eye exam, the doctor will come back in the room and hand you a prescription if there is a need for glasses or contact lenses. When you shop for glasses or contacts, a technician or optician will fill the Optometrist's written specifications, which is the prescription. There are lots of numbers and abbreviations so it can be quite confusing if you were to just glance over it. However, once the different parts are learned, it can tell quite a bit about focusing power and shape of your eye.

Let's take a look at my prescription. Notice in the blue circle where it has the abbreviations "OD" and "OS." That tells you what eye we are talking about. "OD" stands for Oculus Dexter, which is the fancy Latin way of saying "Right Eye" and "OS" stands for Oculus Sinister, which is the not-so-flattering way of saying "Left Eye."

In the red circle is the the Sphere, Cylinder and Axis. These columns tell you about the focusing ability and shape of the eye. Sphere is commonly referred to as the "power" of the eye. If the number in the "sphere" column  is a negative (like my prescription) it means you are nearsighted. Optometrists will call the condition Myopia. If the number is positive (if my prescription were to say +2.75) it means you are farsighted. Like nearsightedness, Optometrists have a special name for farsightedness as well - Hyperopia.

The cylinder and axis will tell if you have an astigmatism or not. That just means your eye is shaped more like a football than it is a basketball. The numbers in the cylinder and axis columns correct for the astigmatism.

The Difference Between an Optometrist and...

There are a lot of "O" words when it comes to eye care. There are optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians. Most people confuse the terminology as the "Three O's" have one major thing in common, they all care about the eyes.

Optometrists are the first line of defense for primary eye care. They adminsiter eye exams, prescribe glasses, treat some eye diseases, diagnose diseases like Cataracts and Glaucoma, fit contact lenses and preform a few other services related to eye health and vision. You can tell if a doctor is an Optometrist if their title is "OD." Our Optometrists in Madison and our Optometrists in Rockford are "ODs."

If there are serious finding during an eye exam, an Optometrists will refer a patient out. Ophthalmologists typically specialize in a portion of the eye and will preform surgery when it necessary. Many Ophthalmologists have the title "MD" but some carry the title "DO." A lot of times Optometrists and Ophthalmologists will co-manage patients together.

Opticians are the remaining piece of the puzzle. They are the people that fit patients with glasses. They take face measurements, make lenses, inform people about lens choices and help people pick out frames. They fill the prescription given by an eye doctor.

To simplify the definitions-

Optometrist = primary eye care doctors

Ophthalmologists = eye specialists

Opticians = fill the prescriptions given by a doctor

Madison Ranked One of the Best Places to Move to in America

(Image from Yahoo! Real Estate)

CNBC.com has ranked some of the best places to move to in the United States. Their criteria was based on a number of different factors, but new to this year is what the job landscape looks like. Madison clocked in at number 7 thanks to free cultural activities like Concerts on the Square and the Henry Vilas Zoo, access to education, low crime rates and a low unemployment rate  of 5.2%, which is nearly half the national average right now. Madison is a great city to explore as it is a perfect blend of city living with nature surrounding everything. Just make sure you don't miss the beauty by not getting  your eyes checked.

We Want to Know How We Did

The fact that so many people have trusted us for caring for their eyes means the world to us. Since our patients our our number one focus, want to find the things we do well, and not so well. That way, we can deliver an exceptional eye care experience each and every time.

If you have been one of our patients, please consider writing about your experience on one of the many websites that allow for people to review businesses, restaurants and health care providers. I've included some links here that will make finding us a snap.

Rockford, IL patients who have received an eye exam or contact lens fitting-

Yelp.com

CitySearch

Google Places

Madison, WI patients who have received an eye exam or contact lens fitting-

Yelp.com

CitySearch

Google Places

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There are plenty of other places out there to submit reviews so if you don't see your favorite, just head to the place you are most comfortable with and type your thoughts.

Thank you in advance! The feedback from patients is incredibly helpful as it allows us to examine what is working and where we can improve.

Famous People and Goggles

Glasses make a fashion statement. Contacts can make a fashion statement. Protective eye wear can also make a statement. Take a look at the following famous faces and how goggles were able to steal a bit of the spotlight as these stars sported specs that kept their eyes safe.

I'm sure there are a ton more famous people who have worn goggles. Make sure to comment and add to the list!

Kareem Abdul-Jabar - Former NBA Basketball Player



Charles Lindbergh - First man to fly across the Atlantic Ocean nonstop



Shaun White - Champion snow and skate boarder



Michael Phelps - Olympic swimmer who broke nearly every swimming record



Snoopy as the Red Baron - Classic cartoon dog made famous with Charlie Brown

FDA Issues Warning on Chelation Therapy

The FDA recently issued a warning on Chelation products that are being marketed as dietary supplements. Chelation is the process of removing heavy metals from the body. The claim is that it can cure diseases such as Alzheimers, Autism, Parkinson's, Macular Degeneration and others using nasal sprays, clay baths, IVs, suppositories, capsules or  liquid drops. They are sold as a dietary supplement to get around any sort of FDA regulations, which is why only a warning is issued. As you may have guessed, we get concerned when a warning goes out that involves the eyes.

The danger here is that chelation is FDA approved when used someone comes into contact with dangerous levels of copper, lead and arsenic - the heavy metals - and administered by a doctor. This leads to mass confusion and misleading claims. Chelation used for purpose or "cures" other than to remove heavy metal could be dangerous and deadly.

There has only been one death reported of an Autistic boy dying after receiving an intravenous Chelation therapy. Other than that, there haven't been any problems reported making this warning more preventative. It should be stated that Chelation therapy is not scientifically proven to cure any Macular Degeneration or other diseases mentioned above. Evidence points to that Chelation doesn't improve any chronic conditions like the ones listed.

Here is the list of products that got a letter from the FDA-

World Health Products LLC: Detoxamin Oral, Detoxamin Suppositories, and the Metal Detector test kit

Hormonal Health LLC: Kelatox Suppositories

Evenbetternow LLC: Kids Chelat Heavy Metal Chelator, Bio-Chelat Heavy Metal Chelator, Behavior Balance DMG Liquid, AlkaLife Alkaline Drops, NutriBiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract, Natur-Leaf, Kids Clear Detoxifying Clay Baths, EBN Detoxifying Bentonite Clay, and the Heavy Metal Screen Test

Source: ABC News

Common Vision Myths

I've been on the hunt for other vision care blogs around the net because I want to see who is also covering the eye. There are a lot of great ones out there! Just today, I stumbled across a really well written post that dispels some of the common myths people have about vision. Here is a tiny little bit from the original article-

2.  If I lose a contact lens in my eye, can it roll back in to my head behind my eye? Anatomically impossible.  No worries on this one.

If you want to read the rest, head over to Keene's Eye & Vision Care Blog. Make sure to read the story about carrots and eye sight - it is my favorite of the bunch.

The Brief History of Eye Glasses

I've realized that contact lenses have been getting a lot of blog love lately. To balance out the coverage, here is the (brief) history of eye glasses.

In the history of the world, glasses are relatively a new invention for something that feels so important now. About a 1,000 years ago, the first corrective vision tool called a "reading stone" was used by polishing glass that was in the shape of a sphere. Essentially, it was the first magnifying glass. The reason it took so long for a corrective vision aid of any sort to be created was simple due to the fact that not many people knew how to read. It wasn't until monks suffered from age related vision problems in the 1200's and wanted to read that a need for eye glasses was created.



Fast forward another 200 years, an Italian is credited for making the first pair of wearable eye glasses. They were made from all sorts of materials that sound ridiculous now considering optical lenses and plastic dominate most eye ware fashion. Quartz, leather, bone and metal were common materials used. It also wasn't until the 1700's did eye glasses have a standard method of attaching to people's faces with the ear pieces. Solutions involved looping string around the ears, it wasn't until about another 100 years until ear pieces were added.

Around the same time as ear pieces, Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals. Reportedly, he hated switching between glasses for distance and up close vision. I'd imagine it was like how the Snuggie was invented, someone was tired of having to switch between being in a blanket and not. Franklin's invention of putting two lenses of two different powers on top of each other paved the way of other advances like correcting astigmatisms. One common thread throughout the history of eye is that people have been embarrassed or self conscious of wearing them since the beginning. The upper classes and royalty in Europe would only wear glasses in private.



I'll leave the history here. From the time Ben Franklin invented bifocals, the biggest innovation since then is the ear pieces that help balance glasses, the kind that is ubiquitous now. There are a few other things, and the advancements in the Optometry profession but the point was to explain the genesis of eye glasses.

Halloween Contact Lenses

Our eye clinics phones have been ringing with a lot of calls lately (Madison in particular) about "monster" contact lenses. With Halloween approaching, people are scrambling to throw together the perfect costume. With the popularity of sparkly vampires, Lady Gaga and all sorts of imaginative things specialty contacts are in high demand. However, there are some things people need to know first before placing an order.

The first thing people forget is that contact lenses are actually a medical device. To legally buy contacts, a person needs to have a current prescription from an optometrist. Alarm bells should go off if they are looking at contacts that don't require prescription information. This is why it is incredibly important to talk with an eye doctor and get a proper prescription before getting any sort of contacts. A contact that doesn't fit correctly can do so many harmful things to the eye, even if it is worn "just for a night."



The vast majority of Halloween lenses are not FDA approved. Those contacts that make the eyes look bigger and the craziest types of eye changing contacts come from other countries and are actually "contraband" because they are sold without a prescription. The good news is there are FDA approved specialty contacts and, with the help of a doctor, can be worn safely. One brand that comes to mind that is FDA approved is CIBA Vision's WildEyes brand of contacts. CIBA also makes the extremely popular Air Optix normal contact lenses.

If you are still looking to get a pair of FDA approved, doctor prescribed wild contacts for Halloween the window to get them before the big night is rapidly closing. If you are looking for more information about what to avoid, check out this post about Spooky Eyes and this post about the contacts that make the eyes look larger. Both are great resources to spot the types of contacts that will harm the eyes.

If you are looking at these contacts and have any other questions, give us a call and we'll be happy to fill you in on the details.

How Contact Lenses are Made

This video speaks for itself. It's really fascinating to see how contacts are made.

50 Dos and Don'ts for Contact Lenses

I found a sheet of paper in the contact lens room that we give to our contact lens patients. It offers a lot of helpful tips on how to handle the fragile little lenses. Let's just jump right into the list-

1. Do - Follow your eye doctor's instructions and call the clinic if you have any questions

2. Don't - Wear the lenses if they have suddenly or consistently become uncomfortable

3. Do - Schedule follow up visits if you need them

4. Don't - Wear the lenses if you notice a chip or tear in the lens

5. Do - Follow the wearing time schedule as prescribed by the optometrist

6. Don't - Exceed the wearing schedule by over wearing lenses during adjustment periods

7. Do - Throughly wash, rinse and dry hands before handling lenses

8. Don't - Wear lenses all day if you haven't worn contacts in a few days

9. Do - Clean your lenses after wear and before storage to avoid build up of tough protein deposits and oily films that are hard to remove

10. Don't - Roughly handle lenses, they are made from delicate materials



11. Do - Be careful when cleaning lenses as they can easily be damaged

12. Don't - Touch contacts with fingernails (this is the primary reason contacts get damaged)

13. Do - Use fresh solution each night in the storage case

14. Don't - Insert lenses over an open sink. A dropped lens will look exactly like a water droplet

15. Do - Rinse storage case wells out with warm tap water, then with saline after each use and let the case air dry

16. Don't - Move if a lens is dropped. A wet lens can stick to just about anything

17. Do - Sit or stand near a counter when inserting contacts so they won't fall on the floor if dropped

18. Don't - Pick up a dropped lens with a fingernail or push it along a rough surface to lift it. Dampen your finger and the lens will stick to it

19. Do - Re-clean lenses that have dropped on the floor or your clothes

20. Don't - Switch to a heat cleaning system after using a chemical cleaning system (and vise versa)



21. Do - Ask your doctor about how to make the transition between cleaning systems safely, without damaging soft lenses

22. Don't - Use any other kind of solutions other than what is prescribed by your optometrist. Even ask an eye doctor before switching brands

23. Do - Close the drain if near a sink or bathtub

24. Don't - Use different brands of solution at the same time

25. Do - Wear eye protection with contact lenses for sports and activities to avoid serious injury or trauma

26. Don't - Touch the solution bottle tip to the inside of a lens or case. It will contaminate the solution

27. Do - Avoid hairspray or aerosols

28. Don't - Try to wear a soft lens that was left out of the solution or has become brittle. Put the lens back in the solution for at least two hours

29. Do - Apply hairspray or other aerosol products before inserting contact lenses. A lens that gets spray on it is uncomfortable and hard to clean

30. Don't - Wet lenses by putting them in your mouth (this has seriously happened before)



31. Do - Stay away from harmful vapors and fumes

32. Don't - Use tap water on soft lenses. Only use saline or solutions for rinsing

33. Do - Wear eye protection in dusty environments

34. Don't - Overfill storage cases. A lens can float to the top and get stuck where the lid closes or snaps

35. Do - Use caution when adjusting to temperature swings

36. Don't - Put eye drops like Murine or Visine in your eyes while you are wearing contacts

37. Do - Hold back eye lashes when inserting a contact to make it easier to put it in

38. Don't - Force apart a folded contact lens. Put solution or saline and gently massage the lens

39. Do - Keep a kit of essentials (case, solution, saline) with you at all times

40. Don't - Rub lenses with towel, tissue or shirt tail



41. Do - Apply cosmetics after inserting contacts, including lotions, foundation, mascara and eye shadow

42. Don't - Wear lenses if you have a cold of the flu

43. Do - Remove contacts before swimming or showering. Water will flush out the contact

44. Don't - Leave contacts near TVs, in glove compartments, window sills or other areas that can warm up. It will warp the lenses

45. Do - Wear eye protection when riding in a convertible car

46. Don't - Sleep in lenses without doctors approval

47. Do - Use water soluble cosmetics. Waterproof mascara is difficult to remove from contact lenses

48. Don't - Use deodorant or cold creme soaps. they leave greasy residues on hands and lenses

49. Do - Apply eyeliner below the lash line. Otherwise, it will block a tear glad that makes contact wear more comfortable

50. Don't - Use eye lash thickeners or lengthener. They contain additives that contaminate lenses

Join The Conversation

This post comes as bit of a PSA for our blog readers. In effort to bring you great news related to caring for the eyes, eye exams and breaking news dealing with optometry, you can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

You can get a hold of us through these methods if you have any questions for our Optometrists. We'll be sure to reply as quickly as we can with accurate information to help care for your eyes. We also want your feedback of the type of content you want to see or, if you are one of our patients, we want to hear how we did on your last eye exam.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Zinc

Zinc is going to be the last important nutrient talked about in these blog posts for a while. There are other important minerals and nutrients, but this is a good stopping point until a later time. The role of Zinc is  sweet and to-the-point for the role of eye care. It helps carry Vitamin A from the liver up to the retina. This helps the eye produce a protective pigment in the eye called melanin.

Where is Zinc found in foods? Lobster, Oysters, Beef, Pork, Yogurt, Salmon (bonus points for being a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids), Milk and Hardboiled Eggs. Basically, these are all my favorites so I know I'm personally getting enough Zinc to possibly give me x-ray vision. If  you aren't getting enough Zinc, studies have linked a deficiency to things like poor night driving or impaired vision.

When you schedule your next eye exam with an Optometrist and have been eating a balanced diet with eye healthy foods, don't be surprised if the eye doctor gives you a high-five. Many people neglect their eyes, but there are some simple and easy ways to keep them healthy for a long time.

10 Normal Symptoms for New Contact Lens Wearers

When people need vision correction, they usually start out with glasses. Most people usually try contacts at some point in their life and some people get discouraged by some common symptoms of getting used to contacts. Here are 10 normal symptoms for new contact wearers as they adjust to the lenses -

Lens Movement

If it feels like the lenses are moving, that is what is supposed to happen. There is a natural fluid flow in the eye and contacts need to permit it.

Minor Irritation

The first couple of times a new wearer puts the contacts in, they will say they can "feel" the contact. It takes a bit of time for the eye to accept the contact because it is a medical device. Any feelings of discomfort should ease away in 15 minutes.

Tearing

Contact lens wearers will tear up when they put the contact in their eye. It's totally normal and once adapted to the lens, the tears will stop.

Light Sensitivity

New wearers will sometimes note sensitivity to bright lights. Like other symptoms on this list, this should go away with lens adaptation.

Burning

This symptom is cause for concern for a lot of new contact wearers. Rightfully so, a burning sensation in your eye is alarming. What it signals is that the eyes are dry and need moisture. Eye drops will do the trick and re-lubricate the eyes.

Blurring

Contact lenses are supposed to clear up vision, not blur it. If the lens is making a new wearer see things blurry it typically means there are a lot of tears generated or there are oils on the lens. Using solution to clean the lenses and reinserting the contacts will clear up the vision. If the problem persists, call your eye doctor.



Dislodged Lenses

The lens will seldomly either go "off-center" or lift off from the cornea. If this rare occurrence happens, a simple blink will reposition the lens.

Excessive Blinking

This symptom is actually beneficial to new contact wearers. Full, complete blinks when the lenses are first inserted will keep the lens comfortable.

Red Eyes

This symptom is fairly common with the burning. Basically, the eyes are dry if this is a mild case. Some saline solution eye drops should do the trick.

Itchy Eyes

This symptom usually comes paired with red eyes. Eye drops should sooth the eyes.

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It should be noted these are common for soft lenses. If problems persist, contact your eye doctor immediately. Hard lenses are an entirely different animal to tackle and have a whole other set of normal symptoms for lens adaptation. Soft contacts keep improving with more scientific advances so the symptoms of adaptation might not be as severe for new wearers as they were in the past. It all depends on the type of contact and how well it fits with the wearer. There are so many different options for contact lenses that there is bound to be a great fit for anyone.

The World Vision Expo West 2010

I just caught on the 4greatvision Twitter feed that The World Vision Expo is happening right now in Las Vegas. Essentially, it's the who's who in the world of optical fashion and science. Companies from all over the world will be exhibiting the latest designs, procedures and science during the event. There are tons of things to see and do, celebrities will be there to promote lines of eye ware as well. Probably the best way to explain it is by showing a video the Expo put together -



You can find out about the Expo at their website or check the Expo's YouTube channel which will be updating during the show.

A Cautionary Tale: Double Check the Labels

Watch the video below-



Yes, that happens more than it should. When people are given eye drops for an infection, disease or after surgery they may not have perfect vision yet. That is when mix ups occur. The bottles of strong glues look very similar to eye drop prescriptions.  If it needed to be stated, super glue and the eye do not mix. If it happens, seek medical help immediately. If the eye gets glued shut, emergency medical attention is necessary. The woman in the news report is right, it can happen to anyone.

If you are unsure or have questions about what bottle is what there are some steps you can take if you are unable to see the label yourself.

• Call the pharmacy, they'll be able to tell you what the bottle looks like and the colors


• Ask someone to re-read the lable


• Keep medicines and household items of similar shape and size in different rooms or locations


• Always remember to put away materials like super glue in safe places where it will not get confused with other products

It cannot be stressed enough that if you are on prescription medicine, always double check the label.

DHA/EPA

DHA/EPA are docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids, respectively. More commonly, they are referred to as Omega-3 Fatty Acids. They are commonly found in cold-water fishes and have been recently found to be incredibly beneficial for health of the body and eyes. Including DHA/EPA into the daily diet has shown to be important for visual development and retinal functions. If the body is deficient in DHA/EPA, it could lead to chronic problems with dry eyes. Salmon, Tuna, Mackerel, Anchovy, Trout and others are all really great sources for DHA/EPA.



DHA/EPA is definitely one of those  nutrients you must see a doctor before starting a supplemental regimen of Fish Oil. Studies have shown it can have an effect on blood pressure medications and other parts of the body, so there has to be precautions taken before intaking more  DHA/EPA.

Vitamin E

The next healthy nutrient on the series of posts is Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant found in nuts, some breakfast cereals, peanuts and sweet potatoes.

Vitamin E promotes the health of cell membranes. There is an important membrane in the eye called the "conjunctiva," which helps lubricate the eyes. When it gets inflamed, the diagnosis is called conjunctivitis, or, "Pink Eye." So that is why it is important to remember to include Vitamin E in the daily diet. Vitamin E acts along side other nutrients to slow progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

As for the proper dosages for healthy, consult optometrists before taking incorporating more Vitamin E in your diet through select foods or supplement. The reason is because The United States National Library of Medicine suggests dosages over 400 IUs a day can be harmful.

Impress your eye doctor next eye exam and tell them you have been eating healthy foods that are healthy for the eyes. Not only will the Optometrists thank you, your eyes will too.

Vitamin C

I'm on a health kick lately. All the talk about lutien and its ability to help the health of the eye made me look for other possible vitamins and minerals. There are quite a few that have been studied and believed to be very healthy for the eye. It should be no surprise that Vitamin C helps contribute to healthy eyes. That way, you can tell your optometrist during your next eye exam, you've been taking care of your eyes.



Basically, all cells in the body depend on Vitamin C. The eyes have a high concentration of cells in all the tissues that are constantly active. What Vitamin C does exactly is promote healthy ocular blood vessels, help promote healthy capillaries, cartilage and iron absorption across the board and is believed to reduce the risk of cataracts in women by 64 percent if they take sufficient levels for 10 years. Fruits like oranges, grapefruits, strawberries and others are some of the best sources for Vitamin C.

The recommended intake of Vitamin C is 90 mg/day for men and 75 mg/day for women. However, research suggests that for Vitamin C to play a part in eye health, the intake needs to be at about 500 mg/day. The trick is that Vitamin C is water soluble so too much too quickly will be flushed away. One word of caution, megadoses of Vitamin C can have adverse effects. It usually is only a concern when there are supplement pills are taken. Normal, healthy diets will provide all the necessary Vitamin C.

It's becoming the norm for optometrists to talk about nutrition during eye exams. Your eye doctor might give some recommendations if they see fit to help care for the eyes and there is a growing body of research that shows vitamins and minerals play an important role in keeping eyes healthy.

Lutein

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 55. The number of cases is expected to triple by the year 2025. This information comes right from the American Optometric Association (AOA). If you are wondering what age-related macular degeneration is, you aren't alone. For as prevalent as the disease is, there isn't much talk about it. In the simplest of terms, age-related macular degeneration creates blind spots in the central vision. It can cause images to look "wavy" or have dark spots.

Proper nutrition is one of the keys to fighting it off. Studies have shown that taking vitamin and mineral supplements or a healthy change in diet reduced the risk of advanced stage age-related macular degeneration by 25% in some subjects. It's an encouraging number and doesn't hurt to eat extra vegetables or swallow a pill if the situation calls for it.

However, a proper balanced diet will help prevent age-related macular degeneration in the first place. One of the essential nutrients in warding it off is called lutein. The body doesn't naturally make lutein, so it has to come from other sources, namely leafy green vegetables. It is increasingly becoming true that we are what we eat, if it looks healthy its bound to be good for the body somewhere. One of the best sources for lutein is, strangely enough, kale.



Usually the left over garnish for many burgers and fries, cooked kale provides 23.8mg of lutein per serving. If the hardy cousin to cabbage isn't all that appetizing, spinach, collards, turnip greens, corn, green peas, broccoli, lettuce and other foods all contain lutein. Some of the benefits of lutein intake is that it is an antioxidant to keep cells healthy, it acts as a filter to block out harmful high-energy blue wavelengths, increased tolerance and recovery from light glare and may promote low light sight.

After an eye exam, optometrists might give out some Lutein supplements. There have been a number of studies done that show adding Lutein is good for eye health and companies who are involved in eye care are running as fast as they can to manufacture these new pills. People at risk for age-related macular degeneration should talk to their optometrist if they should be adding more lutein to their diet. Just be sure to always talk with your eye doctor first before taking any sort of medicine or supplement for  your eyes.

How the Eye is Able to See

It is really interesting how the eye is able to take light, bend it and reassemble the information into an object. Here is the basics of how it all works.

Being able to see all comes down to how the eye is able to focus light. As light enters the eye through the cornea (the outer part of the eye), light begins to bend. This is begins what is called "refraction." After light goes through the cornea, it bends one more time by a crystalline lens inside the eye as it goes to the retina, where the light is focused. Once the light is focused, it stimulates cells that send millions of electrochemical impulses along the optic nerve to the brain. The brain uses a special section near the back that interprets the signals into an image of an object. The amazing thing is that this complicated process happens automatically and in less than a blink of an eye.


However, sometimes the eye has trouble focusing light. Vision becomes blurry and objects don't appear as sharp anymore. That is where the importance of an eye exam and corrective prescription like glasses or contact lenses come to the rescue. It can adjust the focus of the light so that the eye and brain can clearly define objects. During an eye exam with an eye doctor, one of the technicians will use what is called an auto-refractor. It measures the approximate amount of correction is needed and tells the optometrist if there is an astigmatism or not.

What about animals? Well, they aren't exactly your typical eye exam patient, but I did dig up this YouTube video of what was just explained and how humans and animals see the world in sometimes different lights.



Here is a great resource for more about how the eye is able to see.

A consumer guide to eye topics such as Eye Twitching, Itchy Eyes, Conjunctivitis, Contact Lenses and more.

Eye Care 101: Inserting Contact Lenses

Eye Care is one of the most important parts in the practice of Optometry. Good eye care practices are both the responsibility of patients and doctors. This series of posts will cover the basics that highlight important topics in Optometry to show how eye care is important.

So many people wear contact lenses that they are just as common as glasses wearers. Every contact lens wearer is also trained in specific ways to make sure that they keep their contacts clean and eyes healthy when they insert them each morning. As wearers get more comfortable with inserting and removing the contacts, some bad habits can form. And it all starts with inserting contact lenses. In terms of eye care, it is paramount to keep up a good regimen so contacts won't expose the eye to disease and infection. The following is the proper steps to follow when handling contact lenses to insert them. The biggest key to keeping eyes healthy with contact lenses is making sure everything is clean

• First, make sure to wash your hands throughly. A mild anti-bacterial soap is the best kind to use.


• Be sure to check for any debris or particles in the solution or on the lens.


• Double check to the lens to see if it is inside out. A good way to tell is look at the contact at eye level. If there is a slight "bell" shape to the contact, it needs to be flipped inside out.


• Avoid over handling contacts. They are made from delicate materials and can pick up germs, particles or other thing you don't want touching your eye ball.


• Once the contact is on the eye, look down and close your eyes for a few seconds to let the contact settle.

This information is generally given out during an eye exam, but it is always good to call an Optometrist if you have any questions. Here is a video with some more information about contacts from the solution brand Opti-Free. That is the brand our eye doctors use and recommend.

Allergies and Your Eye

The change of the seasons usually means many people will start suffering from environmental allergies. Even during the colder winter months, there are irritants that will attack the eyes of allergy prone people. Since allergies and their symptoms are so common, it there are many methods for caring for the eyes when symptoms strike. Allergies can happen at any time, and those commercials where they use military words like "assault" and "strike" are actually good descriptors. Even people without allergies can develop an allergic reaction to something later in life. That is why you are asked during each eye exam if you have allergies.

Pollens, mold, pet dander or other environmental source can cause allergies. Contact lens wearers can be allergic to certain eye drops even. When someone who suffers from allergies is exposed to the irritant, a number of automatic responses from the body will happen naturally. Sneezing and nasal congestion are common, but the eyes also play into allergies in a big way.

When eyes come in contact with irritants, they will try and flush out the attacking microbes. The eyes will water and mucus will do its best to get rid of the allergies. If exposure is high enough, the eyes will become red and puffy as a reaction to what is causing the allergies. It's a miserable experience. When I suffer from allergies, I tell people I'm a leaky faucet.



The picture above of those spiky dodgeballs are actually what pollen look like a at microscopic level. Some people have a natural immunity to them and others are entirely susceptible to them and have to wait for the eye to kick in its defense if they are unable to get away from the pollen fast enough.

When allergies occur, there are a few things that can be done to ease the discomfort.  The first thing is avoid what is causing problems in the first place. The best treatment is to eliminate or drastically reduce the amount of time near known allergy sources (such as flowers, cats or dust). It really goes back to the old adage of, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." If that doesn't work or is impossible to do, there are medications out there that help manage the symptoms. There are over-the-counter solutions, however, it is best to consult a doctor before taking anything. If there is an allergy to eye drop solutions, there are other brands with different formulas that will hopefully not cause the same reaction.



Just keep some tissues handy, just in case.

Allergies are a problem, but they can be  managed. Knowing what causes the allergies and avoiding the irritants is the best way to deal with them. Contact lens wears should make it a point to tell their eye doctor if they have environmental or other types of allergies so they can be fitted with contacts that won't bother them if they are chronic sufferers.

Fashion Tuesday: Ray-Ban Wayfarer

If there is one, unmistakable fashion statement that can be made with sun glasses, the Ray-Ban Wayfarer is it. Hollywood stars like Audrey Hepburn to Robert Pattinson have worn them. Musicians like Bob Dylan all the way to Taylor Swift have worn them. Artist Andy Warhol wore them and president John F. Kennedy even wore them. The look is the epitome of "cool" and the Wayfarer has enjoyed popularity as the best selling sun glasses of all time for a good deal of the 20th and 21st century. However, there were some dark times.



One interesting fact about the Wayfarer is that during one of the dips in its popularity, it lost so much interest that the entire line was on the verge of being discontinued. What saved one of the most recognizable fashion trends ever? A movie called Risky Business starring a mostly unknown actor, at the time, Tom Cruise.

Half of Eye Injuries Happen at Home

Injuries to the eye are no laughing matter, they can  be annoying at best and all the way to very painful. It's always good to protect the eyes with safety glasses or other approved safety device. Many people think that construction workers or other type of profession that works a lot with tools are primarily at risk for eye injury. Not the case. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Society of Ocular Trauma (ASOT) over 1.5 million eye injuries happen every year in the home. That is half of all eye injuries.

Of the most dangerous places, the lawn and garden rank number one. The reason is from lawnmowers tossing debris into the air. Those rocks, clippings or twigs can lodge themselves in the eye and cause serious damage. Household products like cleaning supplies, makeup, dinner utensils, scissors and hair brushes are another big source of eye injury. Kids now are about 20 percent of the total eye injury total, so it is more important than ever to teach children about not running in the house with potentially dangerous objects and play away from someone mowing the lawn.

It's a common misconception that safety glasses have to be "nerdy" or "dorky." There are plenty of options available now that look fashionable and offer the same type of protection needed to keep eyes healthy. So those glasses you wore in 7th grade chemistry-



Can now look more like this-



A whopping 90 percent of the nearly 3 million yearly injuries could have been prevented. By being a little more careful and wearing the proper safety glasses, the statistics for eye injury will plummet. If you have any questions about safety glasses, get in touch with an eye care expert.

Learn more about eye safety at All About Vision.