What to do When Something Gets in Your Eye

Everyone’s been through this situation: One minute you’re going about life as happy as a clam, but then suddenly you feel something in your eye. It’s an unpleasant feeling, and your first instinct is to rub your eye to try to remedy the situation—we’re here to tell you, do not rub your eye!

You can harm yourself by rubbing your eye. Rubbing only irritates your eye more and increases the risk of dragging the object across your eye and scratching its surface. This is a painful injury because the cornea of your eye (the clear portion of your eye that contains the iris and pupil) contains a lot of nerve endings and is very sensitive. What’s more, you can also imbed objects into your eye when you rub it.

In lieu of rubbing out the offending object, here’s what you should do when you get something in your eye:

Try blinking your eye quickly. This can easily dislodge and dirt or debris that may have entered it.

Have someone else look at your eye to determine the location of the foreign body and whether it can be easily removed.

Use artificial tears or saline fluid to try to flush the object out of your eye.

Pull your upper eye lid down and out over your lower lid and then let it slide back. This simple trick can often help dislodge an object.

If you’ve already done the deed of rubbing your eye and you’re experiencing pain, please contact our office immediately. Our doctor will check for any scratches or embedded particles in your eye and effectively treat your case.

How You Can Beat Digital Screen Fatigue

When was the last time you looked at a device screen? Chances are you’re doing it right now. In today’s world, people spend hours in front of their computers and mobile devices. While being a part of a connected world has its benefits, it also has one sneaky drawback. You might not even realize it, but all of that time spent looking at a screen may be causing you eyestrain.

Eyestrain can happen when your eyes become tired from overuse.
So while it’s easy to blame electronic devices for this annoying condition, it’s not the only contributing factor. Some people experience eyestrain after driving for extended periods of time, reading non-digital books for long hours, being exposed to bright light or glare, or straining to see in dimly-lit areas.

At the top of the list, though, is computer eyestrain. Because it’s the most common cause of eyestrain, it actually has its own diagnosis: computer vision syndrome. Underlying conditions such as an eye muscle imbalance or uncorrected vision can cause or worsen a case of computer vision syndrome.

So what can you do to counteract this common ailment? The steps are quite simple.

User proper lighting. As a rule of thumb, your ambient light should be almost half as bright as what’s used in most office settings. You can reduce that light by closing shades or blinds, turning off overhead fluorescent lights, and using floor lamps.

Reduce glare. From screen glare to reflective walls and surfaces, you want to create an environment where bright light is reduced. Glasses with anti-reflective coating can help minimize glare by reducing the amount of light that reflects off your lenses.

Upgrade your monitor. If you sit at a computer for work and still use an old CRT monitor, it’s time to move to a flat-panel LCD. LCD screens aren’t as harsh on your eyes--they don’t “flicker” images like bulky CRT monitors.

Give your eyes a break. To prevent dryness and irritation, you should blink while looking at electronic screens. Every 20 minutes, you should try to take a break to blink 10 times. This will properly rehydrate your eyes and help prevent fatigue. You can also exercise your eyes to offset focus-related fatigue. Do this by following the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes you should look away from your screen and gaze at a distant object for at least 20 seconds.  

The Correct Way to Use Eye Drops

When you’re trying to combat dry eye, eye allergies, or eye infections, it’s likely you’ll use some sort of over-the-counter or prescribed eye drop solution to treat your ailment. To properly use the drops, you should follow the steps below.

1. Wash your hands—this will prevent new bacteria from getting into your eye.
2. Tilt your head back and look at the ceiling.
3. Gently pull your lower eyelid down so that it forms a small pocket.
4. Turn your eye drop solution bottle upside-down and squeeze its bottom to release a single drop into your eye. If you missed your eye on the first try, go ahead and squeeze a second drop. (It’s important that you don’t touch your eye or eyelid with the nozzle of the bottle.)
5. Release your lower eyelid and gently close your eye for 30 seconds. Dab any excess medication with a tissue.
6. If you need to apply another type of eye drop medication, make sure you wait 3 to 5 minutes before doing so. This lets you get the maximum effect from each medication.
7. When you’re done, immediately put the cap back on your eye drop solution.

There are some other things to keep in mind when it comes to eye drops. First, don’t share your medication with others, as you can easily spread infections. And if you need to use an eye drop as well as an ointment for treatment, always use your eye drops first and wait five minutes to apply the ointment. If you wear contact lenses, you’ll need to stop wearing your lenses until your treatment is finished or follow your eye doctor’s instructions.

And finally, some eye drops can enter the blood stream very quickly and cause side effects. To counteract this, you can slow the eye drop absorption by pressing your index finger where your lower lid meets your nose.  

Tips for Those Who Wear Contact Lenses

It doesn’t matter if you’ve worn contact lenses for years or you’re about to wear your first pair—there are some basic tips you should know to avoid problems with your lenses. Read on to learn how you can properly take care of your alternative to glasses.

Inspect the lens. Before you place a lens in your eye, you need to check to see if it’s inverted or not. First, make sure you wash and dry your hands before you handle your lens. This will prevent any bacteria from being introduced. Next, put the lens on your finger so that it forms a cup. Bring your finger up to your eye level and look at the side of the lens. If it forms a “U” shape with its top edges flared out, your contact lens is inside out. If it forms a “U” without a flare, you’re good to go.

Make a routine. Your lenses are different, meaning the left and right lenses are meant to be put in your left and right eyes, respectively. (It’s really no different than your shoes. Think about it: You wouldn’t try to put your right shoe on your left foot, would you?)  To avoid putting the wrong lens in the wrong eye, make sure you start with the same lens and eye every time. This simple trick helps you avoid switching your left and right lenses.

Keep it clean. Again, it’s important you wash your hands properly. Do this with antimicrobial soap and follow up by thoroughly drying your hands. To prevent contaminating your lenses, avoid any soap that contains creams or oils.

Avoid damage. While it may be tempting to pinch a lens with your fingertips, try to avoid doing so. You can easily nick a lens with your fingernail and cause damage. Not only that, your nails are a good source of bacteria. For these reasons, it’s best to hold your lens in the palm of your hand.

 

Eat Your Way to Healthier Vision

It’s true that “you are what you eat,” even when it comes to your vision. By choosing foods that are full of powerful nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc as well as vitamin C and E, you can nourish your eyes with what they need to help prevent age-related eye problems.

Macular degeneration affects more than 13 million Americans, and approximately half of Americans over the age of 80 have cataracts. Simply by changing your diet, you can protect your eyes from these conditions. So, the next time you’re at the grocery store, try shopping around the perimeter of the store. This is where you’ll find produce and protein to not only properly fuel your body, but also your eyes.

Super Foods That Do Your Eyes Good
Carrots, Bell peppers, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Garlic, Turkey, Sweet potatoes, Spinach, Wild salmon, Sardines, Kale, Oranges, Eggs, Nuts and seeds

If you really want to pack a healthy punch, try some eye-healthy recipes. For instance, here’s an oatmeal recipe courtesy of the American Optometric Association that’s sure you start your day off right.

Creamy Orange-Cherry Oatmeal

Ingredients:
1 ½ cups DHA-fortified milk or soy milk
2/3 cup dried tart cherries
1 cup old fashioned oats
2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate
1 tablespoon chopped pecans (optional)

Directions:
1. In a medium saucepan, heat milk/soy milk and cherries on medium high, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. When simmering, add oats. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until oats are cooked and liquid is absorbed, which takes approximately 7 minutes. Remove from heat.

2. Add orange juice concentrate and stir thoroughly. Pour into bowls and sprinkle with nuts, if desired. 
Maximize the vitamin C content by adding the orange juice after cooking. This oatmeal is so sweet, you won’t even need sugar!

Makes 2 servings.

Nutritional information (per serving): 417 Calories; 13% fat (6 g total, < 1 g saturated), 75% carbohydrate (78 g), 12% protein (12.5 g), 0 mg cholesterol, 7 g fiber, 26 mg vitamin C, 1 mg vitamin E, 136 mg sodium.

When Does Your Baby Need a Vision Appointment?

If you’ve welcomed a little one into your life, one of the greatest moments you’ll cherish is looking into their eyes for the first time. Not every baby makes eye contact, but there’s good reason for that. Much like walking or talking, the visual system of an infant takes some time to develop—in fact, in the first weeks after birth they don’t see much detail and only see in black and white plus shades of gray. While it takes several months for your child’s vision to develop, there are some steps you can take to ensure they have proper vision.

Once your baby is born, your doctor will quickly examine her eyes to rule out any serious problems. While such problems are rare, it’s vital to detect any issues right away in order to treat and minimize their impact on your child’s visual development.

During your child’s first few months, she will start to focus on objects that are 8 to 10 inches away from her face, which is generally the distance at which you keep your face from hers. This is also the period when eye-hand coordination starts to occur, as your baby will start to be able to track moving objects with her eyes and try to reach for them.

With important vision milestones such as these, the development of your baby’s eyesight will be checked during well baby visits. While you’ll make frequent visits to your baby’s doctor, it’s recommended that you also visit an optometrist after she has reached an age between six and 12 months for a more thorough eye examination. Generally, your baby will be tested for excessive or unequal amounts of nearsightness, farsightness, or astigmatism; eye movement ability; and eye health problems. Just like at birth, if any issues are found early on, it will be easier to deliver corrective treatment to your child.

If you need to schedule an appointment for your baby, please give us a call today!

Makeup Tips for Ladies Who Wear Glasses

Creating a good balance between your glasses and makeup can be quite the challenge. To help you hit the streets looking your best in your stylish specs, here are some makeup fundamentals you should know.

Stay neutral. You don’t want to compete with your fashionable frames, so stick to neutral colors for your eye makeup. Avoid cooler colors such as grey tones because they can leave you looking tired and dull. Instead, play up warm eye shadow tones for the most impact.

Keep it defined. Glasses can make your eyes appear smaller, so it’s essential to line your top lash line. And to maintain an even more polished look, make sure your brows are well groomed.

Punch it up. Opt for a couple coats of mascara instead of eye shadow and color your lips with a bright hue, such as a red, bright pink, or coral. With this quick and easy look, you’ll balance out your face with a modern flair.

Match your frames. Your eye liner should mimic the thickness of your frames. So, if you wear a thick, chunky pair, make sure your eyeliner follows suit.  

Add some glimmer. Your frames magnify your eyes, and you can use this to your advantage. Add a touch of shimmery eye shadow to your bottom lid, and you can subtly play up your look.

Conceal it well. Glasses can also enhance dark circles underneath your eyes, but using an under eye concealer will help make your eyes look bright and refreshed.

Curl those lashes. Not only will your eyes look bigger once you use an eyelash curler, but you’ll also prevent your lashes from touching your lenses.