Prevent Dry Eye this Winter

January 19, 2018 By Leave a Comment

The humidity is always lower in the winter, so it’s easy to find that your skin has become dry. Just like your skin, your eyes can dry out and so might suffer from dry eye more easily in the winter than in other months.

Solving Dry Eye

Dry-EyesRecognize the symptoms—Suffering from blurry eyes after reading something on the computer, feeling as if you have something gritty in your eyes, or having excessively red eyes can all be signs of dry eye.

Eat a healthy diet—Foods that are rich in vitamins A, C, and E are all great for your eyes. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are most often found in oily fish like salmon, can also increase the moisture in your eyes. Also, make sure to drink plenty of water to make sure that your eyes are hydrated.

Wear sunglasses—Sunglasses not only protect your eyes from the damaging rays of the sun but also protect your eyes from the wind, which can dry out your eyes. Make sure to pack sunglasses wherever you go!

Avoid wearing contacts all day—If you regularly wear contacts, they may cause dry eye if you’ve been wearing them too much during the week or during the day. If your eyes feel dry, try switching to regular eyeglasses for a while to see if this helps your eyes.

Invest in eye drops—Either over-the-counter eye drops or prescription eye drops can help to hydrate your eyes if they have been feeling dry or itchy.

Look away from screens—Spending a lot of time in front of the computer can cause dry eye. Make sure to follow the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes you spend looking at a screen, focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Preventing dry eye is simple! To learn more about our dry eye treatments, or to schedule an appointment with an optometrist at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.

Filed Under: Eye Conditions, Eye Exams, Eye Health

Make Eye Care a Priority in 2018

January 3, 2018 By Leave a Comment

eye-careYour eye care is always a top priority at Valley Eyecare Center, but how can you make it a priority in your daily routine and in your health plan? Follow these simple tips to make sure that your eyes are healthy for the year ahead.

Eye Care Tips for Optimal Health

Never leave the house without sunglasses—It may seem obvious since we are in Arizona, but sunglasses are an essential item in your daily eye care routine. No matter the season, you should wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the harsh UV rays from the sun.

Wear goggles if you are cleaning with harsh chemicals—Don’t just put gloves on when you use chemicals like ammonia and bleach. You should also wear goggles or protect your eyes with other eyewear to make sure you don’t get any of these chemicals into your eyes.

Spend less time on electronics, or use them with your eyes in mind—A common New Year’s resolution is to spend less time on electronics so that you can spend more time with those around you. Making this change in your routine may also lead to better eyesight, as you may experience eye strain from looking at screens more than you should. To make sure that your vision is not impacted by screens and blue light, follow the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes you spend looking at a screen, focus on something that is 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Schedule an eye exam—There’s no better way to check on the status of your eyes than by coming in for an eye exam. This appointment can help to determine the optimal plan for you to maintain optimal eye health in the year to come. Whether you think your prescription has changed, or whether it’s just time to examine your eyes, it is important to make sure that your eye care is a priority.

Make your eye care a priority throughout 2018! To learn more about these tips, or to schedule an eye exam at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.

Filed Under: Eye Care Tips, Eye Exams, Eye Health

Winter Break: Schedule an Eye Exam

December 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment

children's-eye-examScheduling children’s eye exams over winter break is always a great idea since your kids are home for the break and do not have school or other activities going on. Make sure to bring in your children for an eye exam before or after the new year!

Children’s Eye Exams for Winter Break

How do you know if your child needs an eye exam? Since your child may not be able to voice directly that he or she needs an eye exam, there are a few signs that you can look for to see if an eye exam is necessary. If your child has complained of headaches, has lost interest in reading, or has underperformed in school, these could all be signs of a visual impairment, so bring your child in for a children’s eye exam may be necessary to get your child back on track academically.

Why is a children’s eye exam important? According to the American Optometric Association, nearly 80% of learning is visual, so if your child isn’t seeing well, this can affect his or her performance in school. Vision can also affect a child’s ability to focus on certain tasks, especially those that require hand-eye coordination in sports or other activities.

Is a vision impairment common in children? Yes, about one out of four kids has a vision impairment. Some kids may grow out of the vision problem, but some kids may not, so it is important to keep coming in for children’s eye exams because as your child grows, his or her vision can change.

While your kids are out of school on break, it is important to make sure that their health and wellbeing is taken care of. To schedule a children’s eye exam with one of our optometrists at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.

Filed Under: Children's Vision, Eye Care Tips, Eye Exams

Eye Care Plan for 2018

December 20, 2017 By Leave a Comment

eye-care

With the approach of the new year, it’s important to begin making plans for the future. Since many New Year’s resolutions revolve around better health, make sure that your eye care is a priority!

Eye Care Tips for the New Year

Eat right for your health and for your vision—Make sure that you eat a balanced diet, and eat the proper amount of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E can also help to improve your vision by preventing vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Make sure to eat plenty of green, leafy vegetables and oily fishes like salmon.

Wear sunglasses, no matter the season, for optimal eye care—UV rays are damaging to your skin and eyes, so it’s important to cover up your arms, legs, and face. Although the sun’s rays are most intense during the summer, the reflection with clouds during the winter can amplify the damaging effects of UV rays during the winter, so you should wear your sunglasses any time you’re out and about, regardless of what the temperature is outside.

Give your eyes a break from electronics—Your eyes can suffer from eye strain if you look at electronics at all hours of the day. We recommend the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes you spend looking at a screen, spend 20 seconds focusing on something that is 20 feet away.

Visit your eye doctor—Regular eye exams are crucial to maintaining optimal eye health. Eye exams can also help to catch certain eye diseases or problems that have no symptoms, so you should make sure to come into Valley Eyecare Center for a regular eye exam.

An eye care plan for the new year can help to make sure that you are healthy throughout 2018. To learn more about our eye care tips, or to schedule an eye exam with an optometrist at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.

Filed Under: Eye Care Tips, Eye Exams, Eye Health

Do’s and Don’ts for Contact Wearers

December 13, 2017 By Leave a Comment

contactsKeeping your contacts in their best condition is important! If you wear contacts, make sure to follow these simple tips!

Tips for Maintaining Contacts

Do:

  • Wash your hands before touching your contacts or your eyes
  • Clean your contacts after you wash them
  • Clean your contacts if you drop one of the lenses
  • Blink often to keep your contacts clean
  • Update your prescription annually
  • Remove your contacts if your eyes are dry
  • Carry a storage case unless you need to take your contacts out during the day, and keep a pair of eyeglasses handy so that you can switch if needed
  • Replace contact solution after it has been open for a month
  • Close your eyes if you use hairspray—this product may leave residue on your lenses!
  • Apply makeup after you put your contacts in, and remove lenses before removing your makeup
  • Consult your optometrist if you are concerned about your vision

Don’t:

  • Wear contacts if your eyes are itchy, irritated, red, or dry
  • Use the wrong chemicals to clean your contacts
  • Mix up your lenses—to avoid this, make sure to pick an eye and always put your contact lens in the selected eye first
  • Rub your eyes vigorously
  • Leave your contacts out in the heat
  • Share cosmetics, especially ones around the eye
  • Apply eyeliner to the inner eyelid, as this can touch your contact lenses
  • Touch your eyes without washing them first
  • Take many naps with your contacts in

Maintaining your contact lenses doesn’t have to be difficult, but it will take some getting used to if you are new to wearing contacts. To learn more about our tips about wearing contacts, or to schedule an eye exam with one of our optometrists at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.

Filed Under: Contacts, Eye Care Tips, Eye Exams

3 Ways to Improve Your Vision

December 6, 2017 By Leave a Comment

eye-exam

Improving your vision doesn’t have to be difficult. Of course, an eye exam is crucial to improving your eye health, and an optometrist can also tell you more about the state of your eyes to create a targeted eye care plan for you. Improve your vision by following these tips!

An Eye Exam Can Improve Your Vision

Eat right for your vision—Vitamins and minerals aren’t just great for your overall health. They can also help you to maintain good eye health. Make sure that you’re eating plenty of vitamins A, C, and E, as well also minerals such as copper and zinc. Foods that contain these vitamins and minerals include dark leafy greens, egg yolks, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and carrots.

Get an eye exam—Nothing can tell you more about the state of your eyes better than getting an eye exam. At your eye exam, an optometrist at Valley Eyecare Center can also help you to form a customized plan to improve your vision based on your individual needs. Whether you want contacts or eyeglasses, your vision will be improved by an eye exam!

Get plenty of rest—Nothing quite tires our eyes more than not getting enough sleep. Sleep also allows your eyes to rest, repair, and recover, so if you aren’t getting enough sleep, your vision may be affected. If you have been working a lot, make sure to rest your eyes every once in a while, especially if you are in front of the computer.

Put your eye health first this winter by coming in for an eye exam! To learn more about improving your vision, or to schedule an appointment with an optometrist at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.

Filed Under: Eye Care Tips, Eye Exams, Eye Health

Child Friendly Eye Exam

November 15, 2017 By Leave a Comment

eye-examAs a parent, there’s nothing more important than your children. Did you know that up to 80% of your what your child learns is obtained visually? In order for your kid to have the best chance to learn, he or she needs to see well, and an eye exam can help to improve your child’s chances of learning.

Eye Exams for Children

Do you know if it’s time for your child’s eye exam? Below, we’ve listed a few indicators that could signify that your child is in need of an appointment at Valley Eyecare Center.

  • If your child has been squinting or rubbing his or her eyes to see better, there is a good chance that your child is having a hard time focusing. And if focusing at home is an issue, your child is probably also having a difficult time focusing at school, so it may be time for an eye exam.
  • Does your child complain about headaches or dizziness? An occasional headache or dizzy spell doesn’t necessarily mean that your child has a vision problem, but if these symptoms have been occurring more frequently than usual, this may be a sign that your child is having trouble seeing properly and should come into our office for an eye exam.
  • If your child typically enjoys reading but has stopped or no longer reads as much as he or she used to, this may also be an indicator that reading is becoming difficult because of a vision problem.

Your child’s vision is important for his or her academic success! At Valley Eyecare Center, our optometrists offer child-friendly eye exams that are tailored to your child’s needs. To learn more about our eye exams, or to schedule an appointment with an optometrist at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.

Filed Under: Children's Vision, Eye Exams

Women’s Eye Health

November 1, 2017 By Leave a Comment

eye-healthDid you know that men and women have different reactions to some of the most common eye problems? Because women typically live longer than men, women tend to develop eye conditions that occur later in life. Learn more about the differences between men’s and women’s eye health.

Eye Health for Women

Women are more likely to have vision problems—Approximately two-thirds of people who are visually impaired are women. These impairments can range from astigmatism to blindness, and women seem to be the most affected by any visual impairment.

Women are more susceptible to eye diseases—Women face an increased risk of developing dry eye, age-related macular degeneration, and cataracts. Women with diabetes also face a higher risk of developing age-related eye conditions.

Hormones play a role in your eyesight— Taking care of your hormones is important not only for your overall health but also for your eye health! Although many experts are still searching for why women have increased risks for developing certain vision problems, hormones are thought to play a factor. For women in particular, estrogen levels can influence the severity and the intensity of dry eye.

Vitamin D helps your eyes—Many women find that as they get older, they have to change their vitamin intake. As you age, you may find it harder to get the proper amount of vitamin D, and many women often suffer from a deficiency of vitamin D, even if they may not know it. A lack of vitamin D can also lead to vision problems.

Women’s eye health is extremely important! In addition to diet and exercise, coming in for a regular eye exam can also help to ensure that your eye health is in its best condition. To learn more about women’s eye health, or to schedule an appointment with an optometrist at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.

Filed Under: Eye Conditions, Eye Exams, Eye Health, Eye Safety

Ocular Conditions

October 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment

eye-examHave you recently noticed a change in your eyes or your vision? Although some ocular conditions may be more obvious to treat, others may not have any visible signs or symptoms. To make sure that your eyes are in their optimal condition, make sure to come into Valley Eyecare Center for a regular eye exam!

Eye Exams Discover Eye Conditions

Low vision—Low vision is a condition in which a person loses a certain amount of eyesight. Everyday tasks can become difficult to complete with this ocular condition. Although most people who have trouble seeing can regain their vision with medication, surgery, glasses, or other options, people with low vision cannot regain their sight and will experience permanent vision loss.

Color blindness—Despite its name, color blindness does not mean that you are actually blind; you simply have a deficiency in the way you see color. Although seemingly obvious, some people do not know that they are color blind until they receive an eye exam that tests for this condition. The most popular form of color blindness is red-green, in which these two colors are often confused for each other.

Cataracts—A cataract is generally categorized as a clouding of the eye’s lens, which lies directly behind the pupil. Cataracts are most often found in people who are 50 years or older. About half of the population suffers from a cataract by the time they are 65 years old. Discovered by an optometrist during an eye exam, cataracts can be treated through a surgery that will restore your vision.

Glaucoma—Glaucoma is a condition that increases pressure within the eye, and it can eventually cause a gradual loss of vision. Although there is no cure for glaucoma, your optometrist may recommend certain eye drops to help you maintain your current level of vision.

Make sure that your eyes in proper health by coming in for an eye exam! To learn more about ocular conditions, or to schedule an appointment with an optometrist at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.

Filed Under: Eye Conditions, Eye Exams, Eye Health

Eye Care Tips from Our Staff

October 18, 2017 By Leave a Comment

eye-careThe best advice comes from those you trust, especially those you trust with your health and well-being. This week, we’re talking to a few of our optometrists at Valley Eyecare Center to find out their best advice for all of your eye care needs.

Eye Care Tips from the Experts at Valley Eyecare Center

Eye exams are for everyone—Dr. Eric Clyde wants all of his current patients and prospective patients to know that eye exams are of the utmost importance. Everyone—even children who have passed their eye exams in school—needs to have an eye exam every year. Even if you believe your prescription has not changed, you should still come in for an eye exam to make sure that your eyes are in their top condition.

Protect your eyes with sunglasses—Sunglasses are crucial, especially since we live in sunny and bright Arizona! Dr. Lindsey Clyde recommends 100% UV protected eyewear to protect your eyes and decrease the chances of developing eye diseases later in life. One of the best eye care tips is to always have sunglasses with you so that your eyes are shielded from the harsh rays of the sun.

Be careful with contact lenses—Dr. Peter Ryan highlights the importance of using your contacts only as directed. Make sure to never wear them past the recommended schedule, and remove your contacts when you are sleeping, as your eyes could suffer from long-term problems and infections if you wear them too long. If your contact lenses cause you to be in pain, remove them immediately and call your eye care professional as soon as you can.

Your eye care is our top priority! To learn more about our tips from the experts, or to schedule an eye exam with one of our optometrists at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.

Filed Under: Eye Care Tips, Eye Exams, Eye Health
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