Digital Dilemma Directive

Calling all vision health preservers!

I am guessing that you are reading this blog because you want to protect you eye health. Or the health of your kids! Or your parents! Or you’re just curious about eyes, and so I need to convince you to protect yours with this post. Well you’ve found the right place! Today’s post is probably one of the best you could have found because it is about a COMMON vision problem facing us today. Digital Eye Strain! Or Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) as it is medically termed. As stated in Midwest Lens’s tweet and blog post (one of my favorites, check it out! http://www.midwestlens.com/blogger/ ) fewer than 1 in 5 adults have heard of Digital Eye Strain, though today it is the most common repetitive strain injury, beating even tendonitis.
After reading Midwest Lens’ blog blurb a few weeks ago I shared it in a Facebook post. Here I want to expound on what else I found.

SO! What is it? CVS is eye damage primarily caused by our high exposure to digital devices. Smart Phones, Tablets, TVs, Navigation Devices, and of course the big fat screen that most of us stare at all day....the computer. Good grief my eyes are starting to water just thinking about this!



To add insult to injury, this problem is affecting children more than most parents realize! Kids not only spend more time around screens while watching TV, gaming and using phones, but they also regularly use computers and are under harsh florescent lighting while at school for long hours. Many children may not understand symptoms and are unable to explain what they need to you. Look out for little ones rubbing their eyes or any redness, tiredness or headaches. 

 The damage, according to what I found, is three-fold.

#1 Overworked Eyes. When we look at these screens our eyes are constantly having to refocus and reposition to process what we are seeing. Graphics, text, flashes, it’s all changing constantly so our eyes change to keep up. This repetitive refocusing causes A LOT of stress on our eyes, making them fatigued. Pixels are especially hard to focus on. Work 9-5 in front of those bad boys and your eyes are in for a world of hurt!

#2 Blinking! Have you ever been watching a movie you’re super into (There is NO way she is going into that dark room where the scary music is coming from!) then tried to blink and it’s like dragging plastic wrap across a cactus? Bingo. While using these devices we blink ½ to ⅓ the number of times we do normally. That’s dry! Blinking moistens, lubricates, and cleans our eyes. When we stop that...it’s bad news.
 

#3 Not only are eyes taken into account, but other symptoms are caused by the same problem. Neck and back pain, headaches, etc. are all part of the package of overuse and poor ergonomics while using these toys.

In a nutshell: Redness, itchiness, blurred vision, dryness, back/neck pain, headaches, general fatigue....all yours to be had for the low price of a few hours a day on a computer. Sign me up! Not.

So how do we prevent all of this?

Well, besides greatly reducing our usage of these devices (Bhaaahahaha!! Right.) here are a few tips to keep the symptoms to a minimum.

Stay hydrated! Make those few blinks count by drinking lots of water throughout the day, especially at work. Some foods also help to keep our eyes lubricated and healthy. Fatty fish, broccoli, carrots (yes that’s a real one) eggs, garlic blueberries...and an overall balanced diet will keep you feeling better.

Ergonomics is also a big one! Set up your desk/computer position to enhance comfort and ease during usage. Keep your computer screen at eye level or lower, where your eyes naturally rest. Keep your shoulders dropped and forearms roughly level with wrists supported. Have an adjustable chair to keep you high enough and support your feet. Sit up nice and tall, slouching really does make the whole situation worse! Also keep your computer screen flat or close to it. This reduces glare and keeps the images undistorted and easier to process.

Fix up your environment. Have the screen brightness and contrast adjusted for comfort. Increase font size (Yeah, rock that grandma font! No offense to grandma’s :P). Reduce overhead lighting, and shine lamps on the desk but away from your face or screen.

Last but not least, follow the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes on the computer (TV, tablet...) look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to allow your eyes to unwind. (Betcha just tried it :P) Breathe deeply and blink during this rest period.
 

A few additional things that can help are to ALWAYS get a good Anti-reflective coating (AR) on your lenses. This cuts the glare bouncing off of screens and lights that add to this eye strain. Many computer lenses also have a slight tint, usually yellow, to increase contrast and filter harmful light rays. Consider a pair of computer or occupational lenses, with a slight power increase in the reading zone, such as Midwest’s Perfecta Ease. These give your eyes a little boost, so they don’t have to work so hard.

Some lucky people have no problem, or it’s not severe enough to bother them. But for many others the difference in how they feel at the end of their work day, gaming session, or newest soap opera marathon can be huge! Use these tips to keep those baby blues, browns and greens in tip top shape, no matter what time of day.

OR skip all the hoopla, pitch all your devices, and move outside where there is only natural light and loveliness.......Oh wait, UV rays! >:P Keep wearing those sunshades folks, your macula will thank you later. That’s another day's rant. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macular_degeneration)

Protect those baby blues..or browns

As the warm weather is slowly approaching us (fingers crossed) I want to stress to you the importance of protecting your self from the sun.

You hear it all of the time. The sun is evil and can cause many damages to your skin. In this post I want to share with you some helpful tips to keep you looking young and having glowing skin!

Wearing SPF everyday is not a bad thing. Women can now get tinted moisturizer for part of their make up routine. It gives you a boost of color plus the benefits of SPF 15. You never know when you will end up out in the sun, not planned. And the truth is, it doesn't have to be blazing hot to get affected by the sun. Guys, you may not want to wear tinted moisturizer, but you could dab a little SPF lotion on daily too.

The big one here in the optical world is to wear sunglasses! Not only are they stylish, but they are bigger than regular eye wear, so it will cover more of your face. Think about your future (or present) crows feet. Block those bad boys from the sun and they will be thanking you forever! I always talk about polarization which is fantastic, but as long as you have some sort of protection on your eyes it will help.

If you go tanning indoors, where the tanning goggles! Sure you may not want to because you are trying to get tan and don't it to be obvious that you have been. The goggles can give you tan lines, but it can not be compared to the stress you could be causing your eyes! Even if you close your eyes or put a towel over your eyes, the rays can pass through and be very powerful to the eyes. I understand that you want to look good and not have those "raccoon" tanning eyes, but think about how much you love to see. Without your eyesight you could not see your beautiful, sun kissed self!

Below is a picture that I wanted to share with you. It is of a truck driver who does not wear protective sun wear. As you can see the left side of his face is more damaged than the right side because his driving window is on his left. Now this picture is over time. But that is the thing. We always think about our eye health now and that it is fine, rather than thinking about the future of our health!

Cold Weather Calling!

We have posted a similar blog in the summer time, suggesting to not leave your glasses/sunglasses in the car. Back then under the blistering sun, glasses could start to craze due to the heat. Plastic frames especially. In the heat, frames can mold a lot more easily. This is why you may see us go to the lab when we are adjusting your glasses. We use a small heater to help mold the frame to better fit you. In this case though (although we dig natural heat) is not suggested.

Same thing goes for the winter months. When is starts getting colder (Will it ever happen in Kansas?) your glasses could completely snap in half if it is too cold. One time, before I knew about proper glasses care, I left mine in the car during a blizzard. I did have them in the case, and was lucky that my glasses had not broken yet. I opened my RayBan, flap case and "CRACK" right down the middle. It nearly scared me,thinking that my glasses that I loved so much was probably on it's way to cracking as well.


Think about it this way...if you have your sunglasses with you all of the time, instead of in your car, you will be ready for anything! If your friend asks you to lunch on your break and all you have to do is walk there, then you will be styling and protecting your eyes! Oh and not to mention no snappy glasses! That is a triple bonus!



Pink Ribbons

We are big fans of Vera Bradley products at this office! The prints and colors can't help but make people happy! Every now and then Vera Bradley (from The McGee Group) will release a few patterns that contribute to breast cancer research.

The McGee Group, who manufacturer the frames has been involved with the Vera Bradley Foundation since 2006. They donate a portion of the proceeds of all Vera Bradley eye wear sales to the foundation. The cause of finding a cure for breast cancer is very close to the hearts of those at McGee Group. For Jenny Lynn McGee, the wife of CEO Wayne McGee, passed away from breast cancer in 2008.

The Vera Bradley foundation was established in 1998. They have this far raised nearly $15 million for breast cancer research. All of the proceeds fund a team of researchers at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center. 

Every year Vera Bradley will release a special print, dedicated to the breast cancer awareness. Some newer prints include: Twirly Birds Pink, Tea Garden and newest to the collection, Ribbons.

Adrian, Cassie and Lillian highlight the Priscilla Pink Vera Bradley color to make a sweet “pretty-in-pink” statement, but also to take a stand against breast cancer.  The 2012 Vera Bradley Breast Cancer Awareness collection features sunglasses in Priscilla Pink, highlighting the fight to end breast cancer that is close to the hearts of the McGee Group and Vera Bradley. 

Must be the Evolution of Demention

When I throw the words; minimal, durable and light-weight, what do you picture? Is it a mouse the with the strength of the hulk that is microscopic in size? Although it sounds crazy, these descriptions can all be in one product. The Silhouette eyewear has been around for many years, delivering extraordinary features of unique frame design. 

What is nice about the silhouette frames is the distinctiveness of the frame design puts it in first place ahead of it's competition. Most designer frames like to cake on the logo so everyone knows what you are wearing. Silhouette resembles a fashion appeal to the optical industry. It is so minimal that the logo does not need to be plastered on every bit of the frame. 

 

Silhouette places their craftsmanship first by conducting great amounts of research and development strategies. Each Silhouette is a technical masterpiece of it's own, being individually assembled one by one.

Some people like the Silhouettes for the 100% rimless frames that creates a cosmetic appeal of "invisible eyewear". Others like the comfort of having no extra weight on their face, eliminating soreness and headaches. 

If they sound boring to you...think again. They also create colorful lines that offer you the same rimless effect, but also gives you a pop of color to be bold. Silhouette also has a newly released children's collection through SPX Art. You can also customize Silhouette to be taylor made for you! If you like a certain temple design but would like a unique lens shape or want to add more lens for your bi-focal, you can! It's all up to you how you want it to look! 

We have all of the tools to repair or adjust your frame if needed. You would not need to use the warranty much because these frames are very durable being they are made of pure titanium and SPX material. 

Fall For Fall Eyewear Prints!

Now that spectacles have become part of your daily fashion, thanks to nerdy being cool. I want to bring you up to speed with the forecasted fall trends in the fashion industry. The amazing thing is, these prints and colors have already made their way to the optical side!

Here are some examples of what to look for with trendy fall eyewear:

Snow White:
Clear and white frames have been peeking up here an there, but with the white fascination that seems to be going on at runway shows, frames with a neutral but bold statement could be the key!

Gone Fishing (or hunting):

Plaid is a very fun print this season. Also including dark red and orange tones. You could wear a solid colored shirt with your new plaid glasses and make a statement!

Lastly but certainly not least is the style of the world traveler! This look combines many textures and prints for a universal feel. Try out a frame like this one that has a solid front and an Aztec printed temple design! You could rock the turquoise or go more neutral with a brown

Other big fall colors are navy and burgundy. You could even have eyewear with secondary fall colors like plum and marigold!

Why purchasing glasses from your eye doctor vs a 1 hour optical

In today's society we are subjected to things being quick and easy for us. don't have time to cook dinner...go to a drive through, only takes one minute to get your McDouble. the same concept seems to be happening in the optical world. It seems easier to take your prescription to an optical in a mall, pick out what you want, and shop for an hour until they are done. although the idea seems effortless, it may not be so easy later on for you. What cost you only an hour one day, may end up costing you more time and money to get those spectacles to fit you and make them clear.

I have noticed that just like online shopping, online glasses shopping is just as popular. Pretty soon we will have people purchasing prescription eyewear from E bay. Let's hope not! 

We get a lot of questions as to why our pricing is higher than Lens Crafters and why it takes up to two weeks for their new glasses to arrive. These are very great questions. I would not say that our prices are high. We have many selections of both lenses and frames that range from basic to technologically advanced products. We like to work with our patients to find what they are looking for to fit their price range. We also are in connection with a few labatories that have the latest, cutting-edge technology to make the lenses perfect for the patient. The products we use offer great warranties, and able us to remake if we need to update the Rx in 30 days. We also offer a one year warranty for your frame. Most one hour places will only warranty a broken frame within 90 days. 

Another big difference is the training behind the optical staff. Most 1 hour places teach their employees about the corporate aspect of optical versus the technical information behind it. Our Opticians got through intensive training for six months. To be fully trained takes almost a year. We constantly have frame manufactures and lens specialists coming into our office to train us on the newest products. We even have great labs that work with us one on one, teaching us how to properly adjust glasses, repair them and help fix vision problems on patients. Our staff is also trained on taking precise measurements for patients with high prescriptions and bifocal, trifocal and progressive wearers.

One hour businesses set every patient up with the same type of lenses. Here, we make sure that your lenses are 100% custom to fit your visual needs. We will ask you a series of questions about your lifestyle, so your lenses will fit you perfectly. 

Something I thought was cool is that at an optician working for a eye care provider is more likely to stay with their job versus an employee at a 1 hour optical. This means if you have a favorite frame, lens or have a broken frame, chances are the optician you worked with a year ago will still be there to help you!  

Your eyes is a good thing to consider when choosing where to purchase your glasses. Remember...you can always get a hearing aid if you loose your hearing, dentures if you loose your teeth. But if you loose your vision, you can not get that back!