How Does Computer Use Affect Your Child’s Vision?

October is Computer Learning Month, so it's a great time to explore how computer use relates to your child’s ocular health. Computer ergonomics problems and progressive myopia in children are also very real risks with the extended use of computers.
Computers are a great way to enhance your child’s learning—in moderation. Here are some tips to reduce their risk for developing problems as a result.

• Sit up straight but relaxed, with your head at a comfortable angle.
• Take a stretching break every 20-30 minutes.
• Take a break from looking at the monitor every 20 minutes or so as well, so that your eyes aren’t straining for too long.
• Limit computer time to shorter intervals.
• Reduce glare by lowering the lights in the room to match the brightness of the computer screen.
• Don’t use computer time as a replacement for educational activities. Your child’s computer time should complement his or her education, not replace it.

If you have questions about whether you or your child needs computer glasses, call and schedule an appointment with me. And if you have suggestions for ways you have found to manage your child’s computer time, share them in the comments below!

Habits that Hurt Your Eyes

Many people have certain quirks or habits. Many are annoying or bad for you in some way—nail biting, procrastinating, texting while driving…but did you know there are many habits that could also have a negative effect on your eyes? Check out the list below to see if there’s anything you’re doing that could be hurting your vision.

• Poor nutrition. Many age-related eye diseases can be prevented or alleviated by a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and essential vitamins and minerals. Hydrating well is also important to avoid dry eyes.
• Not sleeping enough. The aging process can be hastened if you’re not getting enough rest. A lack of quality sleep time means less time for your body to rebuild cells, which can not only cause those dark circles and puffy eyes, it can also lead to damage to your vision and dry eye syndrome.
• Smoking. Smoking can increase your risk for all kinds of ocular diseases, such as cataracts and macular degeneration (not to mention the terrible effect it has on your lungs!).
• Not protecting your eyes from UV rays. Sunglasses are a must for the outdoors. UV rays can lead to so many damaging diseases, including eyelid cancer, macular degeneration, cataracts, and photokeratitis (a sunburned cornea). Wear those sunglasses year-round!

And one last bad habit—forgetting to schedule your annual eye exam! If you haven’t done so yet, this is your friendly reminder. Give us a call!

Eye Color: How Does it Affect Your Eye Health?

It’s fun to think about what eye color you would like to have if you could choose, but did you know that your eye color may actually affect your vision?

While the sharpness of your vision won’t be affected by your eye color, the amount of pigment CAN affect how sensitive you are to light. For example, lighter eyes (blue or light green) may be more sensitive when they’re out in the sun than brown eyes. That’s why, regardless of the time of year, it’s important to protect your eyes with a good pair of sunglasses.

Lighter colored eyes can also be associated more frequently with other eye problems—because UV light can affect them more strongly than darker eyes. Cataracts and macular degeneration are two problems in particular that may be more common in lighter-eyed patients according to some studies. While this doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to get cataracts if you have light-blue eyes, it does mean you should be vigilant about safeguarding them against UV rays.

So if you want to protect those baby blues, make sure you’ve got an excellent paid of UV-blocking sunglasses and wear them year-round! And if you haven’t yet made your annual appointment, give our office a call!

Dry Eyes & Contact Lenses

For many with vision problems, contact lenses are an ideal solution. They offer an uninhibited range of vision and have progressed so much in quality that they are often unnoticeable to the wearer once they’re in.

However, one common issue we run into with contact lens wearers is dry eyes. Thankfully, there are many options to treat this issue and find the right solution for you. With a variety of lenses and other products on the market today, dry eyes for contact lens wearers can often be treated fairly easily. You may be concerned that you won’t be able to continue wearing contact lenses, but these days that is rarely a necessity. In most cases, we can find a solution to your dry eye problem so that you are able to remain a contact lens wearer.

One of the best advances made in contact lenses is the improvement of dailies—that is, lenses that you wear for a day and then discard. These are a great first option for someone struggling with dry eyes. Other possibilities include switching to a lower water content lens, lubricated eye drops (over-the counter or prescription—make sure you work with us to determine the best product),  a different cleaning solution…the options are many.

Are your eyes feeling dry from contacts? Share your concerns in the comments below. And be sure to schedule an appointment so we can review your options and get you the relief you need for your dry eyes. You don’t have to suffer through it—there are many solutions available to contact lens wearers today!

Youth Sports & Protective Eyewear

When it comes to youth sports, many parents may be concerned about injuries, but the first thing that crosses your mind may not be eye injuries. However, eye injuries can be extremely common and also dangerous to your child’s long-term vision. In fact, up to 40,000 eye injuries are reported each year.

Some sports may be more hazardous than others. For example, football is known as being an extremely physical, high-contact sport, but the risk of eye injury with basketball or tennis is also high. That’s why I recommend wearing protective eyewear when participating in any sport. This is especially important among youth, as an injury to the eye at a younger age could cause long-term vision damage.

Sports goggles are the ideal form of protection for your eyes. Often made from polycarbonate (a very impact-resistant material) and available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles, they’re designed specifically to protect your eye from injury during physical activity. An added bonus is that prescription goggles can enhance sports performance if you or your child has a slight vision problem.

Sports goggles are tailored to the specific activity  in which your child participates. For example, contoured goggles that fit more closely around the face are ideal for sports where you’re moving quickly and your eyes are at risk of flying debris, such as biking. There are goggles made to fit securely beneath football helmets. There are styles made for contact lens wearers as well.

Regardless of the sport your child plays, your eyes should be protected. Schedule an appointment today to speak with me about your sports safety eyewear needs and we can get you in the right eyewear. If you have questions or comments, please share them in the comments below.