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Eye exam misconceptions explained

Eyecare blog

We rely heavily on our sense of sight and need to keep our eyes healthy and fully functioning. Comprehensive eye exams are the foundation of eye care, but some people don’t have the complete story on why. The following addresses three common misconceptions about visits to the optometrist to take care of your eyes.

Vision screenings are not substitutes for comprehensive eye exams.

Vision screenings can help identify individuals who are at risk for a vision problem, but they are far more limited than a comprehensive eye exam. Screenings can be performed by anyone trained to do so, regardless of their experience with eye health. A comprehensive eye exam is done by an optometrist.

While a screening can detect potential vision problems, it cannot address the presence or risk of eye disease and other aspects of eye health. One of the best ways to take care of your eyes is to have yearly comprehensive exams, even if you’ve gone through vision screening that gives you the “all clear.”

Patients who wear contact lenses will have a longer exam.

Occasionally we get questions from our contact lens patients about the extra time and expense of their appointments. Working with patients who wear contacts requires additional testing to make sure their lenses not only correct their vision, but also fit properly and are comfortable. After all, contact lenses are applied directly to the eyes which results in increased risk of injury and infection if the fit isn’t right.

While eyeglass prescriptions are valid for up to two years, contact lens prescriptions expire after one year. This is a federal law designed to optimize contact lens safety.

Even people with “perfect” vision need to have their eyes examined each year.

Comprehensive exams include more than just vision testing, so those who skip them are missing out on tracking other aspects of their eye health, including additional measures of visual performance and the early detection of eye diseases. This is as important for children as it is for adults.

Changes in vision are not always easily detected, especially by children who aren’t aware of what “perfect” vision means. Even adults have a hard time recognizing more subtle vision changes for what they are.

We make it easy to schedule your comprehensive eye exam. Call us or click on the scheduling button to the right.

Classic features for this season’s trendy sunglasses

ID-100152793Eyewear on the runway at Spring 2016 Fashion Week in New York may have been big, bold and colorful, but here in Chicago form and function are important when choosing a pair of sunglasses. We love our warm weather and spend plenty of time outdoors once it has arrived. Here are some tips on what classic features to look for when purchasing a new pair of shades for the season.

  • Look for sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays. Some will be labeled “UV 400,” which means they block all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers. All of the sunglasses we sell offer full protection for your eyes.
  • Blue-blockers and sunglasses with yellow lenses heighten color contrast for a distinct image. These are popular for activities like skiing and boating, where sharp vision is critical. Though they are called blue-blockers, these sunglasses typically have amber lenses.
  • If you are serious about a particular sport or activity, performance sunglasses offer various lens color options that address specific needs. For example, brown lenses provide nice contrast on green golf courses. Because they are constructed of polycarbonate, they are also lightweight, non-slip and impact-resistant.
  • Gradient lenses that are darker at the top of the lens and gradually become lighter at the bottom are a good choice for driving, as sunlight is strongest coming from the top of your lenses.
  • Don’t forget the kids! As with your skin, UV damage to your eyes is cumulative, which means that starting young with sunglasses can have an impact on future eye health issues.

Know Your Eyes — Keep Them Healthy

ID-100285822Eyes are incredibly complex organs, and there is a lot to know about them. Check out these five facts about your eyes. You may learn a thing or two about keeping them healthy.

  • People blink about 12 times per minute, but less frequently when staring at a computer. This is why extended use of digital devices can cause dry eye. Be aware of digital eye strain symptoms and what you can do about it by reading this.
  • Your eyes are getting a workout all the time. Of all the muscles in your body, those that control your eyes are the most active. Keep them healthy by staying current with your annual exams.
  • Myopia is on the rise. A study from the National Eye Institute shows that nearsightedness in the U.S. among people age 12 to 54 increased by nearly two-thirds between 1970 and 2004.Researchers believe this could be due to more frequent close work and decreased time outdoors.
  • You read 28 times slower on a screen than on paper. So give your e-reader a break every once-in-a-while and pick up a good book.
  • Each person’s retina is unique; even identical twins do not show a similar pattern of blood vessels. This is what makes technological advances in retinal mapping so beneficial. At Northcenter Eye Care, we offer retinal mapping for early detection of a variety of eye diseases and conditions.

With decades of combined experience, we know a lot about your eyes. You can learn more too by visiting our webpage and viewing videos on eye health topics on our Eyemaginations player.

 

Photo courtesy of freedigitalimages/stockimages.

Early detection is the best defense against AMD

Macular degeneration, or AMD, is the leading cause of severe vision loss in the U.S. for people 50 and older. In fact, given the size of the aging Baby Boomer population, experts predict that AMD will reach epidemic proportions in less than 15 years.

Unfortunately there is no cure for AMD, so knowing risk factors and sharing them with your eye care professionals is critical, especially as you approach your fifties and beyond. For patients with AMD, early detection has a significant impact on disease progression and vision loss.

Following are some of the risk factors for AMD. As you can see some are genetic, but others are environmental and within your control.

Age. People 55 years and older are at greater risk.
Race. Caucasians develop the disease at a higher rate than other races.
Genetics. People with a family history of AMD have greater risk than those without.
Smoking. Research shows the more people smoke, the more likely they are to develop AMD.
UV exposure. UV light, and blue light, can damage the retina, the part of the eye effected by AMD.
Unchecked cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure. Research indicates a correlation between cardiovascular disease and AMD. The two share common risk factors, such as smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise.

Because symptoms in the early stages of AMD often go unnoticed, regular comprehensive eye exams are the best defense for addressing the disease. Make sure we are aware of your risk factors, especially family history.

Digital devices at bedtime can reduce sleep

Over the past few years the optometry community has been paying more attention to the growing concern of digital eye strain, its short-term symptoms and the possible long-term effects of blue light. But this kind of light also has an immediate impact — on your sleep.

ID-100308658Because we use digital devices for many of our daily activities, they are often at our bedside for things like checking the next day’s weather, checking messages, reading and for use an alarm clock. We can’t deny the convenience, but we need to be aware of the risks. A growing number of studies are finding that having a digital device on at bedtime has a negative impact on sleep patterns.

  • A University of Texas-Austin study found that college students lose an average of 46 minutes of sleep by using their digital devices to answer phone calls and check messages in bed.
  • Research published in Photochemistry and Photobiology found that a week of blue light exposure at bedtime results in 14 fewer minutes of sleep.
  • Multiple studies have shown that exposure to blue light at bedtime alters our melatonin levels and delays our circadian clocks.

Another big clue that blue light exposure should be taken seriously is the response of the companies who make digital devices. Recently both amazon.com and Apple announced changes to their products that alter the light from screen readers when clocks indicate evening or night hours, or in low-light conditions. Read more about these features in this article from the American Optometric Association.

One concerning statistic from all this research on digital eye strain is that 90 percent of patients do not talk with their eye doctors about their digital device use. There are several ways we can help alleviate symptoms of eye strain as well as protect your eyes in the longer term, including special lenses for patients who spend a significant amount of time in front of screens.

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net/Tuomas_Lehitnen

Break bad contact lens habits


According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 99 percent of the country’s 41 million contact lens wearers are guilty of at least one bad contact lens habit. While we like to think our patients are perfect, we know that it isn’t always easy to follow all the rules when it comes to taking care of your contacts.

ID-100112459Here are some of the top contact lens abuses and tips for avoiding them:

Sleeping in contacts. Almost everyone who wears contact lenses or glasses dreams of a life awakening from sleep with clear vision. Sometimes you are just so exhausted that you fall straight into bed, skipping your usual pre-slumber routine. Unfortunately this can be very damaging to your eyes, as round-the-clock contact lens wear can cause infections.

The solution? If convenience is a factor, consider daily disposal lenses. This type of contact is growing in popularity due to advances that have been made to address astigmatism [link to blog post] and even presbyopia [link to blog post]. At the end of the day, take them out and toss them — something you can do even after your head hits the pillow.

Wearing contacts for too long. Different contact lenses are designed for varying lengths of wear. For example, daily disposables aren’t meant to stay in for a week. If your lenses are recommended for two weeks of use, you shouldn’t stretch it to four. Lenses past their prime are worn and more susceptible to infection-causing germs.

The solution? Remembering when you last changed your contacts is tough if you aren’t wearing daily disposables. Get some help from contact lens manufacturers, such as Acuvue, that will send an email when it’s time to change your lenses. If you are trying to save money, keep in mind that eye infections can be expensive, among other things — and you may pay not only with your money but also with your sight.

Not changing your case. A full 82 percent of respondents in the CDC survey admitted to not changing their contact lens case the recommended every three months. Even if you are discarding your storage solution on a daily basis and keeping your case clean, you are putting your eyes at risk by using an old case.

The solution? Contact lens cases are as abundant as favor bags at a kids party. They often are included in packaging for storage solution. Keep them in a handy spot and swap them out first day of each new season.

 

Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net/marin

Digital devices and your eyes

girl-with-smart-phone-1616794-639x426The Vision Council recently released its latest report on digital eye strain, which has become a primary eye health concern for people of all ages. In fact, nearly 60 percent of people use their digital devices more than 5 hours a day, enough time to have an impact on your eyes.

Perhaps you’ve experienced one of these symptoms:

  • Back and neck pain
  • Blurred vision
  • Dry eyes
  • Fatigued eyes

The good news is that digital eye strain can be greatly reduced with good digital use habits (such as setting up your work station properly and taking breaks from looking at screens). Yet, research shows that in the longer term, your eyes suffer damage linked to macular degeneration and cataracts caused by over-exposure to blue light that is emitted from digital devices. To address this, we can fit with you glasses that have coatings that filter a certain amount of blue light.

You can read more about the Vision Council’s findings here. At your next appointment, make sure to talk with us about any concerns you have about your use of digital devices and its impact on your eyes.

 

Photo credit Eric Gross/freeimages.com

What you should know about glaucoma

eye-1-1545819-639x936January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, which serves as a good reminder of how important regular comprehensive eye exams are.

Glaucoma, caused by pressure in the eye that can result in damage to the optic nerve, is the second leading cause of blindness in the U.S. One of the most difficult aspects of the disease is that people often don’t seek diagnosis or treatment until it has progressed significantly. The good news is that it is responsive to early intervention, and comprehensive eye exams can help us detect the initial onset of glaucoma.

Though often associated with old age, glaucoma can affect anyone, including small children and babies. The lead singer of U2, Bono, has been treated for glaucoma for the past two decades. This shows that the disease can develop early on and the right treatment can ward off blindness. People with a family history of glaucoma should let us know. Certain ethnic groups, such as African-Americans or Hispanics, also are at higher risk, as are people who have diabetes or are severely nearsighted.

Read more about glaucoma here and make sure to schedule your annual comprehensive exam for 2016 so that we can help you take the best care of your eyes.

 

 

Photo courtesy of freeimages.com/stafiniak
Stock photo

5 Ways To Use Flex Spending On Your Eyes

Flex spending on the eyesIf you participate in flex spending healthcare accounts, you may find you have money left to spend before the end of the year. Why not treat your eyes? Following are five popular options for using those funds on healthy eyes and great vision.

Offset deductibles. One of the best ways to use your flex spending dollars is to cover deductibles or shortages in allowances for exams and eyewear. If you are due (or overdue) for a compressive exam, December is a great time to make an appointment. Flex spending funds can make a new pair of glasses or a supply of contact lenses more affordable.

Second pairs. There are a number of reasons to invest in a second pair of eyeglasses. For some, having a second pair offers convenience and a necessary back-up when the first pair is lost or damaged. This is especially important for people who remove their glasses frequently throughout the day. Others view eyewear as a fashion accessory, in addition to a medical device, so being able to supplement their wardrobe with a different pair is a bonus. Read more about the benefits of second pairs here.

Prescription sunglasses. Prescription lenses make any pair of glasses a medical device, even sunglasses. If you wear contact lenses, consider a pair of prescription sunglasses as a great alternative for the beach or the pool, where contacts can be less convenient. Flex spending dollars can make the more expensive pairs that are so attractive much more affordable.

Protective eyewear. The vast majority of eye injuries are preventable with protective eyewear. Unfortunately not enough people are aware of the risks. (In fact, one of winter’s most popular sports, basketball, has one of the highest rates of eye injury.) If you or someone in your family spends time on the court, field or in the workshop, using your flex spending funds on prescription protective eyewear is a solid investment. For more information on eyewear for sports, click here.

Computer eyewear. Digital eye strain is a critical health issue, affecting more than half of the adult workforce, per The Vision Council. Even if you don’t wear corrective lenses, you might find that computer glasses ease the effects of digital eye strain.

As always, please call, stop in or send us a message if you have any questions about your eye health. (Your insurance plan is the go-to resource for the specifics of your flex spending options.)

* Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net/suphakit73

Using contact lenses to treat presbyopia

Eyecare blogPresbyopia is the condition people near 40 usually experience with the onset of blurred near vision and eye fatigue when doing things like reading and other close work. A common term is old-age farsightedness, but that seems a bit inaccurate considering how young 40 seems to many of us!

At the onset of presbyopia, using reading glasses in a lower power such as 100 or 125 often does the trick, but those with more significant presbyopia often need different solutions. One is multifocal contact lenses, which have improved over the past few years in accuracy of correction and wearability.

Lately we have been fitting some of our patients with multifocal daily disposables to address their presbyopia. Daily disposals offer the convenience of no cleaning and the health benefits of starting each day with a fresh new lens. (Even the best cleaning regime can’t remove all the build-up on lenses.) Some patients find daily disposables significantly more comfortable than disposal lenses that are replaced every one to two weeks.

Another benefit of daily disposables is the ability to work them into your schedule for specific periods of time. Some patients are fine with a single focal lens and reading glasses combination on most days but find multifocal lenses a better solution for certain activities.

If you are interested in learning more about ways to address your presbyopia, even if you have never had vision correction, please get in touch with us.