Nearsighted vs. Farsighted

If you find yourself squinting to see street signs, the computer screen at work or a picture hanging across the room, it’s likely you are nearsighted. Maybe you have to hold a book far away to read it, have trouble reading the fine print on medicine labels or reading a map. If that’s the case, it’s likely you are farsighted.

To put it simply, nearsightedness is when a person can see better close up than far away and farsightedness is when a person can see better far away than close up.

In normal vision, light enters the eye and is perfectly focused onto the retina, providing a clear view, no matter how near or far the object in view is located. Nearsighted vision focuses on an image before it reaches the retina, often caused when the curve of the cornea is too steep. Just the opposite, farsighted vision focuses on an image behind the retina, occurring when the cornea is too flat or the eye is too short.

Both nearsightedness and farsightedness are frustrating, interfere with daily activities and quality of life, but there is good news. Both conditions can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery. The best approach can be determined by your optometrist.

Want to see clearly at any distance? Call our office today and we’ll get you setup with the appropriate corrective action before your vision continues to deteriorate. 

My First Eye Exam: What to Expect?

Whatever the reason may be, you’ve decided it’s time to visit an optometrist. Good for you! But now you’re wondering, what happens next? Here’s a basic rundown of what to expect:

Prepare. You’ve made an appointment for a reason. Be prepared with a list of questions for your optometrist. Know your (and your family’s) medical and vision history. Be open on the reason for your visit.

Test. Next, your optometrist will perform a series of tests. These tests will determine how clearly you can see, the overall health of your eyes, and your eye pressure. Depending on the type of test, your optometrist will use the following tools to assess your vision: letter charts, lights, color patterns and eye drops to dilate your pupils.

Review. Following your eye exam, your optometrist will review the results of all of the tests and provide an assessment of your vision, preventative measures, and next steps.

Now that you know the basics, it’s time to call our office to schedule your eye exam. We’re happy to answer any questions you have and look forward to seeing you soon!

What Are Eye Floaters?

You’re seeing specks, spots, threads, or cobweb-like objects in your field of vision, but when you try to focus on them, they never stay still long enough to be visible. What’s going on? You’re experiencing eye floaters, and although these phantom forms can be a bit unnerving at times, you likely have nothing to worry about.

Eye floaters generally occur as you age, and are caused by the natural degeneration of your eye’s vitreous, the gel-like substance that helps maintain the round shape of your eyeball. Over time, the vitreous can dissolve, shrink, and liquefy, causing the vitreous to have a stretched or string-like consistency. When this happens, the usually transparent vitreous casts shadows on your retina, ultimately appearing in your vision as an eye floater.

Most often, eye floaters affect older individuals, those with diabetes, or people who have undergone cataract surgery. The occasional floater is nothing to worry about, but in some situations, eye floaters could mean something more serious.

If you are experiencing any of the following signs or symptoms, it’s time to call our office:

- You suddenly begin seeing floaters on a regular basis
- They interfere with your regular vision.
- Your eye floaters are accompanied by flashes of light, vision loss, or pain.
- Eye floaters follow an eye surgery or trauma.

Keep an eye on floaters (figuratively speaking!) and immediately call us if you suspect that you’re experiencing abnormal eye floater behavior. 

Everyday Tips For Healthy Eyes

Keeping your eyes healthy is of utmost importance as a person grows and ages. You may not realize that some of the most everyday activities and routines can help keep your eyes healthy and ensure you’re seeing your very best.

Get a comprehensive eye exam. Even if you think your vision is just fine, a comprehensive vision exam can help detect the early signs of diseases such as glaucoma, diabetes, and macular degeneration. Likewise, an eye exam may point out common vision problems you didn’t even know you had.

Maintain diet and exercise. You already know how important diet and exercise is for healthy living, but did you know it can also affect your eyes? A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, as well as fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, can help sustain good vision. And maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of diabetes, which can often lead to vision loss.

Invest in protective eyewear and sunwear. Whether you’re playing your favorite sport or finishing up some DIY projects at home, wear appropriate protective eyewear such as safety glasses, goggles, and shields/guards to prevent accidental injury. Just the same, protective sunwear will guard against UV-A and UV-B radiation from the sun’s rays.

Practice good eye hygiene. This may be common sense, but it bears repeating to ensure you’re avoiding the risk of infection. Whenever handling your contact lenses, be sure to first wash your hands, always disinfect your lenses before wearing, and replace them at the end of their lifespan.

Students’ Success Begins With Healthy Vision

Now that the new school year is in full swing, your kids have classes, projects, and homework to complete every day. You’ve done a great job preparing them with everything they need to succeed—lunchboxes filled with healthy meals; lots of pens, pencils, and notebooks for assignments; and plenty of help with math homework.

But consider that more than 80% of a child’s learning happens through vision, and it’s easy to understand how an undiagnosed vision problem could impact learning and performance, grades, self-esteem, and more. That’s why regular eye exams are so important for your child. Sometimes, undetected vision problems are mistaken for a learning disability, such as dyslexia or ADD.

Below are some of the major warning signs that your child is suffering from vision problems.

• Sitting too close to the TV or other electronic device, or holding a book too close
• Using their finger as a guide and/or frequently losing their place while reading
• Closing one eye or tilting their head to see better
• Frequent eye rubbing or sensitivity to light
• Complaints of headaches or tired eyes

If your child complains of any of these issues, it’s time to make an appointment with your optometrist. Your child deserves the best when it comes to education, and success in the classroom begins with healthy vision!

The Benefits & Drawbacks to Contact Lenses

Welcome back for the second half of our series on the pros and cons of eyeglasses and contact lenses. Today, we break down the good things and not-so-good things about wearing contact lenses.

The Pros of Contact Lenses

• You don’t have to worry about fogged lenses, which often plague glasses wearers when the climate changes.
• As a matter of aesthetic preference, some prefer the natural look of wearing contact lenses over eyewear.
• Contact lenses are less cumbersome for those that play sports.

The Cons of Contact Lenses

• Contacts require a daily commitment of cleaning and care to avoid bacterial infections. 
• While daily contact lenses reduce the need for regular care, they can be a more costly option. 
• Contact lenses are more likely to increase your risk of dry, irritated eyes. 
• Unlike eyewear, contact lenses can be difficult for some wearers to insert or remove. 

So, what’s your opinion? Do you think glasses or contact lenses are the better option? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section. Of course, if you need help deciding is best for your lifestyle, be sure to call our office and schedule an appointment. We’re more than happy to assist you with your eyecare needs.

The Benefits & Drawbacks to Glasses

Today we’re kicking off a two-part series on the pros and cons of both glasses and contact lenses. There are pluses and minuses to both, but today we'll be focusing solely on glasses.

The Pros of Glasses:

• Depending on the glasses you purchase, they can be more affordable as they may not need to be replaced as often.
• Glasses have made a great comeback in recent years as a fun, stylish accessory. New, trendy frame styles abound.
• With glasses, you avoid an increased risk of dry eye or eye infections.

The Cons of Glasses:

• Glasses do have the dreaded “fogging” issue—this can be worse depending on the area you live in, especially colder climates.
• Peripheral vision may be an issue, as glasses sit further away from your eyes.
• While maintenance is easier, a scratched lens or unadjusted frame can make wearing glasses uncomfortable.

Check back next week to learn what the good, the bad, and the ugly is when it comes to contact lenses! And be sure to share your own thoughts on the glasses versus contacts debate in the comments below.