How Do I Properly Care for My Lenses?

One of the most important pieces of information you need to have if you are going to ditch your glasses is how to clean, store, and inspect your lenses. You will want to know what the appropriate replacement schedule is and what types of products you should use for cleaning, rinsing, rehydrating, and soaking. All solutions are not created equally and some have been shown to have adverse effects on optometric patients, so be sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations.

How Can I Wear my Lenses Safely?

Be sure to ask your eye doctor about how to wear your contacts. Critical information you will need to have is the maximum length of time you should wear the lenses per day. During what activities (swimming for example) would you NOT want to wear your lenses? At what point, if any, should you opt to wear your glasses instead? Are you able to sleep in your lenses? This last question is difficult because many newer lenses do not present a safety issue if you sleep in them, but eye doctors still encourage you to remove them nightly anytime possible. Removing your lenses at night allows your eye to receive oxygen, which can be somewhat limited by wearing contacts.

Are They Safe?

Many patients who have only had experience with glasses worry that the lens will make its way behind your eye or get stuck in your eye socket somewhere. You may also need to know if your eye will be damaged if one of your lenses tears, or if your vision will get worse if you wear them instead of glasses. Another common question is if a foreign object or debris entering your eye can blind you. There are many myths about wearing contacts, but there are also many cautions around their use.

Eye doctors meet new contact lens patients every day and understand your concern about wearing them. Do not hesitate to ask your optometrist about the ins and outs of your new lenses and how you can be a responsible contact wearer.

Cornea
The cornea is the clear coating that protects the internal components of the eye and allows light to pass into the eye for image reception. It is also responsible for the first level of focus. Corneal scratches and abrasions are frequently treated by eyecare professionals, and the cornea is the part that contact lenses and laser surgeries must alter to correct vision problems.

Iris
Whether you’ve got beautiful baby blues, are a brown-eyed girl, or have mischievous green sparklers, the colorful part of your eye, or iris, helps control how much light enters your eye. Did you know that each person’s irises are as unique as his or her fingerprints? The shades, colors, and patterns are never exactly the same between individuals.

Pupil
The black circle in the center of your eye is your pupil. It constricts and expands to allow light passage. In a dark room, the pupil opens wide to let you see well with low light. In bright sun, it shelters the eye’s components by becoming as small as it can.

Lens
Directly behind the pupil, your lens helps to further focus your eye and allow you to see things as they approach you.

Retina
Imagine an inside lining to the back of your eyeball, and that is the retina. This structure translates the light and color from the images around you into electronic signals. A serious condition that can cause you permanent vision loss or blindness is called Retinal Detachment, an eyecare emergency where this lining separates from the eye and must be surgically reattached.

Optic Nerve
Last but not least, your magical optic nerve takes the electronic signals from your retina and transmits them to your brain. Your brain then “sees” the image. The optic nerve is very vulnerable to harm from maladies such as glaucoma, which can be common for diabetic patients.

Amazing things happen within your eyes. In minuscule fractions of a second, light is transformed into beautiful images in your brain. Protecting your eyes should be a top priority in all that you do. Consult your Phoenix eye care professional for more interesting facts about your eyes!

Vision Issues

LASIK works best on eye care patients who are nearsighted or have blurry vision due to an astigmatism, which is an irregular curvature of your eye’s cornea. During the LASIK procedure a small slit is made in the flap that covers the eye, then the cornea is reshaped and the flap repositioned. Nearsighted people see immense improvement because of the way their cornea is shaped due to the nearsightedness. Farsighted patients will experience some improvement but usually not to such an exceptional degree.

Health Status

LASIK is recommended for people who are in average to good health. If you have an existing eye disease, or know that you have a history of poor wound healing or problems with Diabetes, LASIK may not be a fitting solution for you.

Continuous Vision Changes

For most patients, the yearly optometrist exam results in less prescription changes as they get older. When you’ve gone for a few visits without a significant change, that may be the right time for LASIK. If you are still experiencing rapid fluctuations in your vision, you should wait. An optometrist typically will not perform LASIK on someone under 18 as they are still experiencing significant changes.

Expense

Though contacts and glasses are a routine expense that you expect if you have vision issues, they are expenses that occur on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis rather than all at once. LASIK can be costly but is not the type of procedure that you’d want done at a bargain basement doctor. Many reputable LASIK doctors will offer financing options, and that is the direction you should investigate rather than deals that seem “cheap.”

Specific Occupations

For a handful of careers, refractive procedures are restricted. For those in a field such as aviation or the military, be very sure that you would be permitted to continue working after a LASIK procedure.

LASIK makes it possible for many patients to wake up with crystal clear vision, without contacts or glasses. If you think LASIK may be a solution for you, talk to your Phoenix optometrist today.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are from the radiation emitted by the sun. UV rays can also be produced by tanning beds, lasers, and specialized equipment such as welders. Ultraviolet radiation is dangerous and commonly associated with skin cancer, but is also the culprit for various eye diseases.

Photokeratitis

Imagine the worst sunburn possible, then imagine that on the surface of your eye. Photokeratitis is exactly that: Sunburn of the eye. Redness, burning, tearing, and a feeling of grit in your eye are all symptoms of this painful condition. Wearing sunglasses any time you are outside is a critical strategy for promoting eye safety.

Cataracts

Ultraviolet radiation contributes to the development of cataracts as you age. Your eyes, like a camera, have a lens which can become cloudy over time. Light has more difficulty entering the eye, reducing your vision. Colors and contrast diminish and tasks such as driving become difficult and dangerous.

Macular Degeneration

Lining the rear interior of the eye is your retina, which receives the image after it passes through the eye’s lens. The retina then transfers the information to the optic nerve. The part of your retina that is responsible for the central part of the image, like the face in a portrait, is called the Macula. Ultraviolet radiation promotes Macular Degeneration, in which deposits build up on the macula and cause degradation of the image and eventual loss of vision. Macular Degeneration currently has no cure and can only be slowed once it has started.

Eye Skin Cancer

Just as any other area of your skin that is exposed to ultraviolet radiation can suffer skin cancer, so too can the delicate skin of the eye area. The prevention is again the right pair of sunglasses and a hat with a brim. As a cosmetic aside, these eye safety tactics can also help you avoid pesky lines and wrinkles in those areas.

Ultraviolet radiation can destroy your vision. Even on shady days, UV rays are still present and should be on your mind. Protect your sight now to enjoy clear vision for many sunny summers to come.

1. Become informed with the proper name of the Vision insurance company.

Often times, the name of your Vision insurance plan is not the same name as your medical carrier. Although, you may only be issued a card for your medical plan, an entirely different insurance company may be administering your vision benefits. Some Vision carriers don’t give out separate identification cards, leaving you unsure of what insurance company information you should give when calling to set up an appointment. For example, your medical benefits may be through Blue Cross Blue Shield or Aetna, while your Vision may be through VSP or Eyemed. If it is an available option, you can call your vision benefit administrator and request a card, print out one from their website, or just simply write down the name of it on the back of your medical/dental insurance card. Giving the proper name of your vision benefits administrator helps the office staff to collect your accurate co-pays and gather your proper benefits to ensure that you are getting all the benefits that you are entitled to.

2. Know the difference between a funded benefit plan and a discount plan.

A funded benefit usually offers the eye health exam at a low co-pay and gives an allowance amount for you to use toward glasses or contact lenses. For example, you may be entitled to $200 you can use toward glasses within the calendar year. Since a benefit plan offers the most savings to you, the benefit is usually only offered as a one time use throughout the year (depending on the benefit frequency). Besides the savings, another upside to a benefit plan is the extended coverage that may be offered for unique situations. For example, coverage for early replacements of lost glasses or medically necessary eyewear for certain eye conditions, such as Keratoconus.

A discount plan usually has a lower premium, so in turn, offers lower savings at time the time of your visit. It guarantees you a percentage off the practice’s retail price for exams and eyewear. For example, you may be entitled to 20% off retail price of exam and 30% off retail price of glasses.  On the other hand, most discount plans don’t put a cap on how often you can use these discounts throughout the year. Knowing the difference can help you calculate your savings from the actual benefit versus your savings from the higher/ lower premium.

3. Know your vision benefit frequency.

Find out if your benefits are reset every calendar year, or by last service date.  Also, unlike most medical insurance plans, Vision plans often don’t require you to meet a deductible. So, the benefit frequency doesn’t necessarily follow that of your medical plan. Knowing this will help you better plan out how to make the most of your benefits and allowances.

4. Know your physician network for both Vision and Medical.

A routine exam is what you will use your vision benefit for. However, a visit to treat pink eye, glaucoma testing, and even cataract surgery would be considered medical. Although it may seem absurd, the physician that may be on your Vision panel of doctors may not always be within your medical network panel. So be sure to coordinate accordingly to minimize any out of pocket expenses, should you ever need to have a medical eye visit.

** This is not an exact quote of the insurance plans named above. Each plan is subject to their own contracted amounts. Please check with your insurance plan for an accurate benefit quote.**

1. Beta Carotene

The reason that carrots are highly touted to youngsters is because they are rich in Beta Carotene. This powerful antioxidant helps prevent major eye issues such as Cataracts and Macular Degeneration as you age. Sweet potatoes are another food that is rich in Beta Carotene, and you’ll also find this antioxidant in spinach.

2. Vitamin C

Another amazing antioxidant, vitamin C, supports the collagen in your body. Your cornea is comprised of collagen fibers so vitamin C intake is very beneficial to the health of that important eye structure. You may equate fruits with vitamin C but you may not realize that veggies such as raw broccoli and peppers are very high in the vitamin. Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and spinach are additional veggies high in vitamin C. Children’s eye care specialists know the likelihood of your child voluntarily eating these foods may be minuscule, so you may need to get creative or sneaky.

3. Lutein

Age Related Macular Degeneration and cataracts can steal your sight as you age, but lutein is a vitamin that combats both diseases. Lutein is a substance found in the pigment of your eye, and is theorized to help filter light and prevent sun damage within your eye. Lutein-rich vegetables are kale, spinach, corn, broccoli, and squash and are most effective when part of a high fat meal, such as with red meat.

4. Vitamin E

Yet another vital antioxidant, Vitamin E protects your eyes from a thing called a free radical, which is a byproduct of your metabolism known to damage healthy cells. Nuts, especially almonds and sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, and some enriched cereals are a good source of vitamin E. A diet rich in Vitamin E also helps in the fight against cataracts and macular degeneration.

Children’s eye care specialists recommend giving your child’s vision a healthy and strong foundation by incorporating as many of the foods above as your child will tolerate. For picky eaters, consult your child’s eye doctor for advice on supplements that will fill in the dietary gaps.

Normally occurring eye floaters are painless, harmless, and generally do not obstruct your vision to any severe degree. These little dots, lines, and squiggles are caused by small particles of protein in the eye’s vitreous humor, or the gel-like component that fills the eyeball. When light strikes these particles in a certain way, it makes them visible to you. This phenomenon is often more prevalent when you are looking at something bright white or a very strong light source. Other than the amusement they provide when they scurry away as you try to look directly at them, you may not pay them much attention. Some symptoms that accompany eye floaters can signify a serious condition, however, and should send you to an optometry specialist.

Increased Floaters

If suddenly you notice that the number of eye floaters you are experiencing has increased dramatically, you may be heading for Retinal Detachment. This condition is when your retina has begun to separate from its proper seat in the back of your eye. You must act quickly if this is occurring since your doctor of optometry needs to surgically reattach the retina before permanent vision loss happens.

Flashes of Light

Patients who experience flashing lights or odd visual patterns along with pain may be having retinal detachment, migraine headaches or visual migraines. Regular migraines can be very painful and may sideline you for days at a time with nausea, vomiting, throbbing pain, sensitivity to light and more. A visual migraine is more likely to be limited to the visual disturbances alone and usually are not painful.

Eye Pain

Eye floaters should not cause you any degree of pain. The presence of pain could indicate a more serious condition such as an eye tumor, eye strain, irritated soft tissue within the eye, sinus problems, or other conditions. Any time you have eye pain, it is worth a call to your optometry specialist to be safe.

Floaters should not be an issue that causes you concern unless you have other symptoms or conditions that accompany them. Any time you notice changes in your eye health, contact your Phoenix optometrist for a diagnosis.

1. Plan ahead

The best tactic in the war against allergy season is to plan ahead. If you need allergy medication, start taking it slightly before the season begins for the most effective treatment. This helps your body prevent the inflammatory response from typical allergens in the first place. Once your body starts to react, it can be hard, if not impossible, to get the inflammation under control.

2. Cleanliness

Washing your face after you’ve been outside, and showering before bedtime will rinse away pollen and dust on your skin and hair. Keep dogs and cats bathed and as clean as possible to prevent them from bringing allergens into your home. While impractical to bathe them daily, try a special allergy solution that is wiped on the animal, minimizing the effects of their dander. Consult your eye care or allergy professional for more details on these products. Vacuum carpets well and wipe down surfaces regularly to minimize the amount of pollutants inside your home.

3. Using your HVAC

During allergy season (and really, any other time of year), it is critical to replace your HVAC system filter monthly. Be sure to purchase a filter designed to remove most allergens, and set a reminder that will let you know it’s time for replacement. Air filters cannot effectively remove pollutants if they are clogged and dirty. Keep your windows closed and use your cooling system rather than allow wind to blow dust and pollen into your house.

4. Natural Help

Rather than using chemicals and medications, you can opt for homeopathic cures. Herbs and foods that naturally fight inflammation, saline as part of your eye care routine or in a method called nasal irrigation, and even acupuncture have been shown to help allergy sufferers immensely without the potentially dangerous side effects of allergy medications.

Rather than being in misery this spring, there are plenty of ways you can reduce the severity of your suffering. Talk to your Phoenix eye care professional before the season begins to ensure that you are comfortable even though the world is in bloom.

1. UV Rays

Whether it is from the sun or from a tanning bed, Ultraviolet (UV) rays are incredibly destructive to your eye health. You can sunburn the surface of your eyes, a painful condition called Photokeratitis. Overexposure to UV rays causes cataracts, macular degeneration, and cancer of the eye.

2. Failing to Wear Sunglasses All Year

While you may not think you need sunglasses in winter, the truth is that UV is just as much of a hazard in the winter months. For those involved in snow sports, winter can be even more dangerous since the snow reflects UV rays back into your eyes. The best sunglasses to wear are polarized lenses with UV blocking certification, worn every day.

3. Work Accidents

It takes mere seconds to put on your safety glasses while working on a vehicle or using power equipment, but many people skip this step to the serious detriment of their eye health. A flying piece of debris, dripping chemicals or rust that falls from your car can cause blindness and eye injury in a split second. Always wear your safety glasses when involved in these types of tasks.

4. Sports Injuries

As with working hard, playing hard often results in eye damage. Whether you are involved in contact sports or seemingly harmless activities, wearing sports goggles is always a good idea. This can save you from a poke to the eye, a broken orbital bone, scratches to the eye or worse.

5. Complications from Diabetes

Possibly the most devastating disease to your eye health, Diabetes can cause retinopathy, which slowly erodes your sight. It is silent and painless; many patients do not realize they have a problem until they have lost much of their sight. To prevent retinopathy’s advancement, control your blood sugar and see your optometrist regularly. The doctor can detect these issues at their early stages before you even notice a change.

Your eye health is vulnerable and should be protected at all costs. Talk to your eye doctor about your lifestyle and how you can best care for your vision at any age throughout your lifetime.

Monitor Blood Sugar
Diabetic Retinopathy occurs when high blood glucose, common in diabetics, weakens the blood vessels of the eye. Sooner or later, the vessels weaken to the point that they leak into the retina, obscuring vision. Scar tissue can also result from the bleeding, degrading the situation further.  Keeping blood sugar under control reduces the stress on your eye’s blood vessels.

Keep Blood Pressure Contained
Like high blood sugar, high blood pressure has a detrimental effect on your vision, and is frequently experienced in tandem with a glucose problem. High blood pressure, or hypertension, can make the weakened and vulnerable eye vessels burst. Hypertension damages many parts of the body, but is especially dangerous to your vision when accompanying diabetes.

Alcohol and Smoking
Consumption of alcohol has a dramatic effect on blood glucose, plus can cause weight gain and additional diabetic issues. This raises the chance of diabetic retinopathy substantially. To reduce the chance of diabetic retinopathy, exercise, eat quality foods, avoid alcohol and tobacco. If you are overweight, consult your doctor for nutrition advice, as your diabetes may be much improved with diet and weight control.

Regular Optometrist Visits
If you are a patient with diabetes, you most NOT miss your regular appointments with the optometrist. Diabetic Retinopathy is so gradual that you may not realize you are losing your sight until significant loss has occurred. During your routine exam, your optometrist can detect minuscule changes before you have obvious symptoms and help you prevent advancement of the disease. The eye doctor will apply drops to your eyes to dilate them at least once yearly. This is painless and helps the doctor visualize any changes in eye health.

Diabetic patients are at risk for extremely dangerous conditions that can rob you of your quality of life in many ways. Your vision is precious and once lost can never be replaced. Be sure to schedule and keep regular eye exams, and contact your eye doctor any time you notice a change in your vision.