Elisabeth S. Swan, O.D.

Your chances of having an occupation-related eye injury can be greatly reduced with the right eye protection. Those who work around chemicals, flying particles (even dust) or splashing liquids are probably already aware of the dangers. Hazards such as fumes, lighting, and exposure to bloodborne pathogens can be found in certain other work environments.

Your employer should be providing appropriate eye protection. If not, ask about it. If you are self-employed, conduct an eye hazard assessment of your workplace. We carry several several lines of safety eyewear which meet federal ANSI standards for safety including Wiley X Eyewear, which is the manufacturer of all US Military eyewear. Wiley X has fashionable styles for motorcyclists, bicyclists, target shooters, and outdoor adventurists.

We are here to offer advice and suggestions to you and your employer, and are a phone call or e-mail away.

Many people think they can manage their eyesight themselves when their vision starts to slip. A trip to the drugstore for a pair of readers is simpler and cheaper than making an appointment with an eye care professional.

But wait, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to vision care.

What if you’ve got eyes with differing focal points? Cheaters may help with short tasks but they are likely to cause headaches when you nestle in for chapter 20 of War and Peace.

Do you know if your eyes are properly aligned? They need to be in order to function properly, just like your car’s tires need aligning to be safe.

Also, a comprehensive eye examination for your child is an important investment for the future as it can identify difficult-to-detect issues early enough for you to take corrective action.

For instance, we can verify that normal vision development is on track, eliminating issues that lead to interference with academic achievement. Amblyopia, a fairly common childhood affliction, is a deficiency in one eye that can cause the developing brain to simply shut off the image from the blurry eye. If left untreated, the result can be permanent vision impairment.

Health care insurance generally provides for a comprehensive eye examination. If you don’t have insurance or an HSA, don’t let that stand in the way of making an appointment with us. We can help work out a payment schedule that will work for you and possibly save you money in the long run through early

A flexible savings account (FSA) allows you to pay for medical expenses not included in regular health insurance plans—such as certain dental, vision and alternative medical services—on a pre-tax basis.

A FSA often covers expenses that you end up paying yourself out of pocket. So, you might as well get some tax relief for it, right? Check with your employer for additional information on the company’s FSA benefit and ask about the next open enrollment period.

And if you already have a FSA, don’t forget to take advantage of that money you have set aside before it expires. Come see us for a new pair of prescription glasses, sunglasses, or extra contact lenses!

In the rush to prepare for the upcoming school year – buying school supplies, new clothes and shoes for growing feet – parents often overlook one critical piece of back-to-school preparations.

You guessed it – eye health and safety.

If you’re shopping for sports equipment, be sure to ask about recommended eye protection for the sport. Purchasing protection and using it routinely is much less expensive and far safer than treating an eye injury later.

Also, did you know that amblyopia is the most common cause of vision problems in children? It most often results from the misalignment of a child’s eyes causing them to cross or turn out. Sometimes one eye focuses better than the other causing the brain to favor it. This gives rise to the term lazy eye.

Because amblyopia causes reduced vision, it is important to identify it before your child heads through the schoolhouse doors. If undetected, it can be misinterpreted as a learning or behavioral disorder.

Early treatment greatly increases the chances of reversing such vision loss. Untreated or treated too late, the affected eye may never develop good vision, a condition considered “functional blindness.”

A comprehensive vision screening is required to detect amblyopia and other vision issues that otherwise may cause your child to struggle academically. Make an annual eye exam part of your overall preparation for the upcoming school year.

Technology innovators are flocking to a new consumer base: low-vision and macular degeneration sufferers. As this group grows and ages, the demand for tools to continue an independent life will also grow.

Already on the market are video eyewear, optical magnifiers and magnification software, vision-friendly keyboards, lighting, sun filters, and GPS systems. Desktop video magnifying systems help users read and write, engage in hobbies and self-grooming and conduct other daily tasks.

Did you know that 17 million Americans have diabetes and that one-third of them don’t even know it?

Diabetes is a chronic disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood, causing several problems including ones related to vision. But it is possible to have diabetes for quite some time without knowing it if it goes undetected and undiagnosed.

The danger, however, is that diabetes can cause vision impairment and blindness during that time. That’s why it’s important to identify the condition early. There are many therapies that allow diabetics to improve their health and decrease the risks of vision loss.

One of the ways diabetes is detected is during a comprehensive eye examination. By looking into your eyes and examining the blood vessels, we can see whether you have any vascular issues that relate to diabetes and hypertension.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with diabetes, getting an annual eye examination is equally important. Knowing your condition, we can monitor your eyes for serious vision issues relating to diabetes and advise you on strategies for preserving your vision.

Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in people aged 20-74. Don’t become part of that statistic. If it’s been over a year since you’ve had a comprehensive eye examination, give us a call to schedule an appointment.

Anyone who’s ever had an eye examination has probably had to read an eye chart with the big letter E at the top.

But what does 20/20 vision mean, anyway? It’s the ability to read a letter at twenty feet away. Usually, if you can read the letters on the fourth line from the bottom, you have 20/20 vision. The bigger the second number, the worse the vision.

Few people have vision in the smaller numbers but many animals do. Birds of prey, for instance, are estimated to have 20/5 vision or better.

According to eyewear forecasters, the final word in fashion this year is glamour.

You can expect to see glitzy shapes such as angular and oversized frames with sassy decorations. Cutout shapes, jewels, and even lace will make an appearance. You’ll be able to choose a lens color that matches a frame or go for mirrored or tinted treatments.

Influences from the natural world include the look of bamboo, wood, horn and even leather.

And don’t forget that wearing your sunglasses whenever you go outdoors is always in fashion!

Come by and see the new fashions in eyewear at Family Vision Clinic. Mention you saw this article and receive 30% off your next purchase!

As First Lady Michelle Obama launches her U.S. campaign against childhood obesity with its related early-onset diabetes issues, specialists in Wales are combating one of diabetes’ side effects, severely damaged blood vessels in the eye.

This condition, known as diabetic retinopathy, has been far more common in older people but is now affecting an increasing number of people in their late teens and 20′s. According to a BBC report, diabetes has almost doubled in eight years and vision care professionals are dealing with younger and younger patients. This trend mirrors figures in the U.S. indicating that the link between obesity, diabetes and eye disease is not just a domestic issue.

Diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels in the eye and even blindness. Poor management of the condition is a likely factor in the trend toward younger patients. Younger people are less likely to accept advice on diet and lifestyle. They also often fail to acknowledge vision problems until they become more severe.

Younger children in Wales are now being diagnosed with diabetes, too. But awareness often lags behind disease trends. Many parents don’t anticipate that their child could be vulnerable and don’t request screening.

Early detection is key to prevention of eye disease at any age. The Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service for Wales now offers countrywide clinics to assess for damage.

Glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness in the U.S., is most often associated with the elderly. But Prevent Blindness America, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization working to prevent blindness and preserve sight, cautions that glaucoma can appear at any age.

The disease slowly damages the optic nerve causing peripheral vision loss. If untreated, central vision can also be compromised or lost.

Groups that are most likely to develop glaucoma include people over forty and those with a family history of glaucoma. African Americans and Hispanics are at increased risk. Also, a congenital form of glaucoma can emerge in much younger people.

Glaucoma is sometimes referred to as “the sneak thief of sight”, as generally there are no obvious warning signs. Unusually high pressure in the eye can be an early indicator and this is why a comprehensive eye examination includes a test for eye pressure. For those who have been identified as at risk for glaucoma, an annual dilated eye examination is recommended.

There is no cure for glaucoma and it cannot currently be prevented. Nor can vision that is lost be restored. But when diagnosed and treated early, glaucoma’s effects on the eyes and vision can be mitigated.