Eye Safety

Home Eye Safety Tips

December 12, 2018 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

Believe it or not, eye injuries are quite common. Your eyes are a very vulnerable part of the body and it’s important to protect them. Whether you’re at home, outdoors, or at work, it’s crucial to take safety precautions when it comes to your eyes. Read on to discover eye safety tips you can use at home.

Use Eye Protection

Rule No. 1 of eye safety, use eye protection. Yard work and home improvement projects can be dangerous to your eyes. Debris and dust can fly into your eyes and injure them even under the safest circumstances. Protect your eyes with safety goggles to prevent shards of eye-safetywood, dirt, or chemicals from injuring them.

Pay Attention to Warnings and Instructions

Many everyday household products, such as bleach, cleansers, and detergents, are all harmful to your eyes. To keep your eyeballs safe, be sure to read instructions carefully and avoid touching them when managing chemicals. Do not mix harsh cleaning products—the combination can pose a risk to your eyes. For additional protection, where chemical grade safety goggles.

Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands does not just protect you from illness, it also keeps your eyes safe from harmful chemicals. Rubbing chemicals into your eyes can cause painful and damaging effects. Be sure you wash your hands after working around the house.

Pay Attention to Your Surroundings

Flying debris and even tripping can cause eye injuries. For eye safety, make sure you have adequate lighting and clean surroundings. For example, if you’re about to mow the lawn, inspect for loose branches or pieces of metal in the yard. These objects can injure your eyes if sent airborne. Be sure to have plenty of lighting when working on home projects, especially ones that involve tools and sharp materials.

If you injure your eyes or just want additional tips to keep them safe, connect with an eye doctor at Valley Eyecare Center. Be sure to book an appointment with one of our talented eye doctors today. Call us at 602-955-2700 or schedule your next appointment online.

Filed Under: Eye Health, Eye Safety

What to Do If you Scratch Your Eye 

October 17, 2018 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

You probably know basic first aid, but do you know first aid for eye scratches? Your eyes do a great job of protecting themselves with eyelashes and fast reflexes, but accidents still happen. Here is everything that you should know about eye care for eye scratches.

What happens when you scratch your eye?

Most eye scratches fall into the category of corneal abrasions, or scratches to the outer layer of the eye. Corneal abrasions are usually mild and heal in just a couple of days. However, the cornea plays a large role in your vision by focusing light as it enters you eye, so if a corneal abrasion were to scar, it could cause blurry vision or an increased sensitivity to light. If you have a corneal abrasion, you might feel as if there is something large in your eye. Other symptoms include redness, tearing, blurry vision, light sensitivity, or a dull ache.

If you think you’ve scratched your eye, you SHOULD: Rinse your eye gently with clean water or a mild saline solution. This can flush any remaining foreign objects out of your eye. Follow this by blinking repeatedly. If redness and pain continue after you clean your eye, seek your eye doctor. They will be able to assess the degree of the scratch and prescribe eye drops to promote fast healing.

If you think you’ve scratched your eye, DON’t: Whatever you do, don’t rub or touch your eye as you might be tempted to do. This can make the abrasion much worse, and touching your eye will not actually help remove any foreign objects. Your eye can do this much better on its own. If you normally wear contact lenses, wear your eyeglasses instead until your eye has healed.

The best way to take care of corneal abrasions is to avoid getting them! Still, if you do scratch your eye, follow these eye care tips in order to ensure that your eye heals quickly and without lasting impact. Book your appointment with your Valley Eyecare Center eye doctor. Call us at 602-955-2700 or schedule online today.

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

Why Decorative Contacts Are a Scary Idea 

October 10, 2018 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

With Halloween fast approaching, you might be considering using decorative contacts to change your eye color for some dramatic costume. If that’s the case, think again. Many decorative contacts are incredibly dangerous. Here is everything that you need to know about decorative contacts and eye safety.

All of the risks of decorative contacts— Decorative contact lenses are overseen and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and for good reason. Although decorative contact lenses simply change the look of your eyes and do not correct your vision, wearing decorate lenses can cause serious damage to your eyes if you did not obtain the lenses with a prescription or worn incorrectly. Possible risks include: redness, pain, scratches on the top layer of your eye (corneal abrasions), infection, decreased vision, and even blindness.

Proper decorative contact lens safety— Yes, you can still buy decorative contact lenses from your eye doctor or even the internet. However, it is absolutely essential that you only order lenses from a company that is FDA approved and requires an actual, eye doctor verified prescription. If the company does not request or verify your prescription, they are breaking federal law and are probably selling you illegal (and dangerous) contact lenses.

The bottom line on decorative contacts and eye safety— Even if it seems like there are a lot of cheap or convenient decorative contacts out there that you feel like would just perfectly augment your Halloween costume, don’t sacrifice your eye safety. Never, ever buy contact lenses without a prescription. Visit your eye doctor right away if you notice any pain or redness after wearing any type of contacts, and closely follow the directions for cleaning, disinfecting, and wearing any type of lenses.

Don’t let fashion interfere with your eye safety and health! Book your appointment with your Valley Eyecare Center eye doctor. Call us at 602-955-2700 or schedule online today.

Filed Under: Contacts, Eye Safety

I Think I Have a Broken Blood Vessel in My Eye. What Should I Do? 

August 1, 2018 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

If you look in the mirror and notice that the normally white part of your eye has turned red, don’t be alarmed. A broken blood vessel is a tiny injury that will heal quickly. Here is everything you need to know about broken eye blood vessels.

What happens- Sometimes, a small blood vessel in your eye breaks just underneath the conjunctiva, or the clear surface of your eye. As the conjunctiva cannot absorb blood quickly, the blood is trapped there, and part of the eye turns red. This minor injury is also known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage.

Symptoms- You probably will not even realize that one of the tiny blood vessels in your eye has broken until you look in the mirror and notice that the normally white part of your eye is red. A subconjunctival hemorrhage should cause no change in vision and no severe pain. You may feel a mild scratchy sensation on the surface of the eye.

Probable Causes- A broken blood vessel usually occurs without causing actual harm to your eye. As little as a strong sneeze or a cough can break one of the blood vessels in your eye. Other causes can be rubbing your eyes or an incident of blunt trauma, such as an object directly hitting your eye.

What you should do- Health complications from a broken blood vessel in the eye are rare. If you have recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhages or experience other bleeding in the area, see a doctor. A variety of health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and blood-clotting disorders, can aggravate the problem and make further steps to reduce the risk of frequent subconjunctival hemorrhages necessary. For regular prevention, simply be gentle with your eyes.

A broken blood vessel in your eye is usually nothing to worry about! To consult a professional opinion and discuss specific eye care needs, book your appointment with your Valley Eyecare Center optometrist. Call us at 602-955-2700 or schedule online today.

Filed Under: Eye Health, Eye Safety

5 Eye Safety Tips

July 3, 2018 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

Even in the most ordinary of circumstances, there are many things that can threaten the health and safety of your eyes. Here are 5 tips basic eye safety to help you keep your eyes healthy and happy.

1. Wear sunglasses

Direct exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation can damage your retinas and increase your risk of developing harmful and even dangerous eye conditions, such as cataracts or macular degeneration. Wear sunglasses with UV protection when you are in the bright sunshine, and never (ever!) look directly into the sun.

2. Consider protective eyewear

Wear eye protection, in the form of goggles or safety glasses, when operating tools and machinery, working with chemicals, or doing any other activity that might involve the risk of something hitting or entering your eyes. Exercise caution when touching your eyes— always stop and think before just rubbing your eyes, and then thoroughly wash your hands before letting them anywhere near your eyeballs.

3. Rest your eyes

Make sure to take frequent eye breaks from your computer screen to avoid digital eye strain. At least once every 20 minutes, look away from the screen and focus on a distant point for around 20 seconds. Adjust your computer screen settings so that the brightness matches the lighting in the surrounding room and the text is a comfortable size for your eyes. Constantly straining your eyes can have unpleasant symptoms such as burning or itching eyes.

4. Maintain a healthy diet

Nutritious foods with plenty of vitamins and minerals will optimize your long-term eye health. Studies also show that exercising regularly is beneficial to your eyes.

5. Schedule regular eye exams

A routine, comprehensive eye exam is critical to the health of your eyes. The early detection of a vision impairment or eye disease is paramount for optimal treatment. Eye exams are also essential for the detection of other health issues beyond just your eyes. Just because you think that you can see just fine is not a total guarantee that your eyes are healthy.

Learn more tips for ensuring optimal eye safety, discuss your personal eye care needs, or schedule your regular eye exam today! Book your appointment with your Valley Eyecare Center optometrist. Call us at 602-955-2700 or schedule online today.

Filed Under: Eye Care Tips, Eye Safety

What Is UV Protection and Why Do I Need It?

February 8, 2018 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

We’ve all heard about the importance of UV protection with sunglasses and our skin, but what is it, and why do we actually need to take it into account? These four tips will help you to understand what UV is and how to avoid it.

Sunglasses and UV Protection

Understanding UV radiation and why you need protection—UV stands for ultraviolet, and it is the radiation from the sun that can damage not only your eyelids or cornea but also your skin if it is exposed to the sun for too long. UV rays come in two forms, UVA and UVB, and they can also contribute to the development of cataracts or growths on the eye.

Protect your eyes with UV-blocking sunglasses—You should look for sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays in order to keep your eyes safe from the potential damage UV would cause. It is important to note that the color of the lenses does not indicate its level of UV protection. You must get sunglasses that specify that they protect your eyes from UV rays.

Have multiple pairs of sunglasses—In Arizona, it’s almost always sunny, even in the winter! It is best to never be without your sunglasses, so we recommend having multiple pairs. You can have a pair at home, at the office, and in your car.

Prescription UV-blocking sunglasses are available—If you want the UV protection of sunglasses without losing your vision, come into Valley Eyecare Center for prescription sunglasses! We’ll help you to find the perfect style for you!

Sunglasses are an important aspect of keeping your eyes safe and healthy! To learn more about UV protection, 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 Health, Eye Safety, Sunglasses

Women’s Eye Health

November 1, 2017 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

Did 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

3 Tips to Prevent Eye Injury

October 4, 2017 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

Did you know that thousands of eye injuries occur each day? You may not think about your eye safety very often, but 90% of eye injuries could have been prevented with proper eye care and safety eyewear. Eye injuries can be extremely dangerous yet are easily prevented with the proper precautions. Learn more about how to properly care for your eyes to prevent injuries.

Prevent Injuries with These Eye Care Tips

Indoor safety is important in the home—Since workplaces often have many strict eye safety regulations, the home is actually the most common place that our patients get eye injuries. Inside your home, make sure that hallways are well lit and that you have railings on any stairs, as you or a guest could easily trip and potentially cause harm to the eyes.

Take caution when undertaking projects such as gardening and home improvement—We all love to fix up our homes, but you should take care to never let paints, pesticides, or fertilizers get near your eyes, as these substances have harmful chemicals in them that can damage your vision. Make sure that your eye care is maintained by taking a few precautions the next time you start a weekend project.

Be safe when you clean your house—Sometimes a deep clean is all your house needs to be spruced up, but make sure that when you clean it, you do not mix chemicals or use any intense chemicals without the added safety of goggles or safety glasses. Read all warnings and instructions provided from manufacturers about cleaning solutions and be sure to follow them, as they can be quite dangerous if used improperly.

Maintaining proper eye care starts in the home. Make sure to prevent against some of the most common eye injuries by following tips from our experts at Valley Eyecare Center. To learn more about our eye care tips, or to schedule an appointment with one of our optometrists, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.

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

Treating a Scratched Cornea

August 30, 2017 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

Did you know that a scratched eye is one of the most common eye injuries? A healthy cornea is essential for optimal vision, so if you accidentally scratch your eye, it is important that you see your eye doctor as soon as possible. Put your eye care first and learn more about scratched corneas!

Eye Care Tips for Scratched Eyes

What causes a scratched cornea? A scratched cornea can be caused by anything from paper to makeup brushes, and these can inflict significant pain to your eye. You may be more at risk for getting a scratched cornea if you suffer from dry eye, especially when you awaken from sleep.

Do contact lenses protect the eye from corneal abrasions? No, unfortunately, contact lenses do not protect your eyes from scratches. In fact, if you wear your contacts too long, or if you wear a damaged pair of contacts, you may have an increased risk of scratching your eye.

What are the symptoms of a scratched cornea? A corneal abrasion can be very painful and can feel as if you have a rough object in your eye. Other symptoms include redness, tearing, light sensitivity, and headaches. Schedule an appointment with your eye care professional if you think you scratched your eye.

How is a scratched cornea treated? Treatment depends on the severity of each case, but minor scratches can be treated with drops to moisten the eye, which will make it feel more comfortable as it heals. More severe cases may require antibiotic ointment that will decrease scarring and inflammation. While you have a corneal abrasion, you should make sure to wear eyeglasses instead of contacts so that your eye has a chance to heal.

Keep your eyes healthy and safe by making sure that your eyes are properly hydrated. To learn more about corneal abrasions, or to schedule an appointment with one of our eye care specialists at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.

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

Firework Safety Tips

July 3, 2017 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

eye-safety At Valley Eyecare Center, we love the Fourth of July! Celebrating Independence Day is one of the most important holidays of the year. Whether you celebrate by hosting a barbecue for friends and family, or whether you celebrate by setting off a few fireworks of your own, it is important to maintain proper eye safety throughout the holiday.

Firework Eye Safety for the Fourth of July

Perform a little research—Make sure to read all the cautionary items about the fireworks you purchase so that you are familiar with the safety features and how to properly set off the fireworks. Also, be sure to look up any laws and regulations about fireworks in your area, as some areas do not allow fireworks to be set off due to the low humidity in Arizona.

Wear safety glasses—When you get ready to set off your fireworks, your eye safety is of utmost importance. Wearing safety glasses will protect your eyes from the heat of the fireworks and will also protect against anything that sparks from setting it off.

Make sure to find an open area—When you set off fireworks, you want to make sure that you have plenty of room so that nothing will spark or start a fire. Keep fireworks away from any cars or buildings.

Dispose of spent fireworks—If you have a firework that won’t light, don’t try to re-light it. This can be dangerous, especially if your face is near the firework. Simply put it to the side and dispose of it later. Once your show is complete, make sure to properly dispose of the fireworks. Make sure to wet them down and place them in a metal waste bin that is not close to any buildings.

We wish you a Happy Fourth of July! To learn more about firework eye safety, or to schedule an appointment with one of our optometrists at Valley Eyecare Center, call (602) 955-2700, or visit our website.