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

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.

It’s summer, school’s out and outdoor vacations are starting. And because wearing sunglasses is vital to the preservation of your sight, we are reminding you again to put on eye protection whenever you go outdoors.

Regardless of your age, ultraviolet (UV) radiation can damage various parts of the eye and also the skin around the eyes. UVA’s are longwave ultraviolet rays from the sun. UVB’s are shortwave. They both penetrate the atmosphere and cause cataracts, skin cancer and more. Help children establish good protection habits early in life to avoid problems later.

Some contact lenses have UV protection. But don’t get too comfortable if you wear treated lenses. The website for the Mayo Clinic points out that you still need to wear sunglasses for full UV protection outdoors. Wearing a sun hat extends the sphere of protection.

Be sure you buy UV-protection that blocks 99-100% of UVA and UVB rays. And regardless of what others are wearing this summer, buy larger glasses which will cover more of the eye area. Wraparounds offer especially good protection.

Additional features you may wish to consider include polycarbonate lenses which resist impact and polarized or photochromic lenses which reduce glare.

And to beat that forgetting thing? Here’s our suggestion: put your sunglasses and a hat near the door or near the car and house keys. If they’re easy to grab as you go out the door, you’ll increase your chances of remembering.

It was only a matter of time until product designers tackled this one. The New York Times recently reported on a device that will be on the market this spring, adjustable-focus glasses.

People who start to need bifocal or progressive glasses to sharpen near sight often find that wearing them makes objects further away appear blurry or distorted. This can cause problems if you are wearing reading glasses and trying to navigate stairs, for instance.

The new emPower glasses have liquid crystals inserted in the bottom of the lenses which change how the glasses bend light, essentially changing your prescription. Because the molecules in the crystals can be changed with a battery-charged current, a touch to the side of these new glasses can alter the power. This allows the wearer to switch quickly between visual needs.

These electronic spectacles have microchips, rechargeable batteries and electric wires in addition to the crystals. You might think that such feature-heavy glasses would be clunky. But thanks to the wonders of microtechnology and the persistence of developers, the glasses compare favorably to regular ones.

Of course, one down side of the new emPower glasses is that you have to recharge them regularly as you do other devices. Another is price. As with so many items new to the market, electronic eyeglasses are expensive. So, it could be awhile before they become part of the mainstream.

Many people think that sunglasses are just for summer. Well, that’s not entirely correct and we’d like to encourage you to start a new habit: wearing sunglasses whenever you are outdoors.

Why? First of all, weather can change. If you leave the house without your sunglasses on an overcast day you’re stuck if the sun comes out. Second, ultraviolet rays are ultraviolet rays no matter what the temperature is outside. So, even on a chilly clear day, your eyes need protection from UV-A and UV-B rays. Third, reflected light from snow or water can interfere with vision.

As with any good habit, the payoff is linked to consistent practice. Long-term exposure to the sun’s damaging rays contributes to serious vision problems later in life: retinal problems, cataracts, growths and cancers on or near the eyes. The earlier you form the habit of routinely wearing sunglasses when you leave the house, the greater your chances of avoiding complications as you age. Think of it as an old-age pension that you pay into every time you wear your sunglasses.

Sunglasses are not just for adults, either. Children and teenagers have two additional points of vulnerability. They spend more time outdoors and their retinas are more susceptible to ultraviolet radiation.

The earlier you can establish your children’s habit of putting on sunglasses, the greater the chances that practice will continue into adulthood. And when they are in their sixties, they’ll thank you.

Spring is here and along with it plenty of garden activity. Did you know that garden-related accidents account for over one-fifth of all penetrating eye injuries?

We think of gardens as places of peace and beauty. But take a moment to think about the activities we perform to keep them that way. First, there are the power lawn mowers. Small stones and sticks can be picked up by the blades and thrown at high speed causing a devastating eye injury.

Lawn trimmers have a nylon cord which revolves at high speed and can send small pieces of nylon, bits of dirt and other hard debris flying, potentially causing lacerations or infections. Some can be severe enough to cause blindness.

Applying grass seed, weed killers, fertilizers, and other powders on a windy day can cause burns and irritation to the eyes when these products become airborne. And if you work around bushes and plants, your face is likely to brush against branches and vegetation that can scratch the eye.

We don’t want to discourage you from the pleasure of tending your garden. But we encourage you to make a habit of wearing safety goggles when you do, especially for these risky activities.

Here are a few guidelines for keeping your eyes safe while working in the garden:

1. Wear dark grey sunglasses to cut out cataract-causing radiation
2. Wear protective safety goggles made of polycarbonate, available at hardware stores
3. Wear a wide-brimmed hat to reduce ultraviolet radiation
4. Don’t depend on ordinary glasses for full safety protection

Keep your eyes safe so you can use them to admire your beautiful garden.

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!

Serious paintball players understand the need for protective eyewear when they play and compete professionally but the typical recreational player is blind to the dangers.

A recent study of paintball-related injuries revealed that 81% of patients injured while playing required surgery. Of those, 22% had an eye removed as a result of paintball injury. In some cases where eyes were saved, patients had permanent vision loss.

Paintball injuries are completely preventable if you use appropriate protective eyewear. Check manufacturers’ recommendations or ask us for guidance.

Sunglasses and Sports, of course. But what lens color is optimal for your sport? In sports eyewear, there is no such thing as an all-purpose lens. For each sport there is an optimal lens colors.
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