Adjust To Your New Prescription

February 22, 2016 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

Have you just gotten a brand new prescription of glasses from your optometrist and felt as if it is not the one for you? Most of the time, your prescription is the perfect one for you but it takes a while to adjust. Keep reading to find out just how you can adjust to your new prescription!

Ways to Get Rid of Transition Pain

If you feel a headache coming on every time you put on your new prescription glasses, it is possible that you are straining the eye muscles surrounding your face too much.

With every new prescription, there are new reactions received from your eyes. To ease the straining phase your eyes go through, follow these critical steps:

As soon as you wake up, put on your glasses newly prescribed by your optometrist. Waking up to your new lenses will accustom your eyes to them.
It is okay to remove your glasses every once in a while to give your eyes a break for a couple of hours. However, it is recommended to keep the eye glasses on as it will deduct from the adjustment period.
Take painkillers if the pain is truly unbearable. Over-the-counter medicine like Advil or Aleve would work perfectly on the surrounding muscles of your eyes. Sometimes, taking painkillers diminish the transition issues completely.

If the Latter Does Not Work

If more than a couple weeks have gone by and the headaches, pain, and straining are still present, contact your optometrist about any concerns regarding your new prescription. It is less likely that the problem is with the actual prescription but it is possible. However, if the headaches are not as severe, time will most likely heal.

For more information about prescription glasses or to schedule an appointment with one of our optometrists, visit our website.

Filed Under: Eyeglasses, Prescription

Eyecare Center for Phoenix Families

December 29, 2015 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

Maintaining healthy eyes requires regular vision and eye health exams. However, finding an eye care provider that is right for you and your family can be challenging. If you are looking for an eyecare center with Optometrists that are experienced in all areas of vision care, keep reading to find out what our friendly staff at Valley Eyecare Center can offer you.

Comprehensive Eye Exams – During a comprehensive eye exam, our Optometrists at Valley Eyecare Center can determine what prescription you need for glasses or contact lenses, check for common eye diseases, and ensure that your eyesight is in good shape and that your eyes are working as they should.
Management of Glaucoma – Although incurable, we can help you manage Glaucoma by offering surgery, pills, and eye drops. The goal of any treatment is to prevent loss of vision, as vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible. If detected early, there is a high chance that loss of vision would not happen.
Ocular Allergies – Some people with ocular allergies suffer from itchiness, and although some do not, it is the main cause of discomfort. Others can experience a stinging sensation and sleepiness that causes the rubbing of eyes. Symptoms also involve swelling of the lid, sensitivity to light, heavy sensation on the lids, redness, etc.
Age Related Macular Degeneration – Although no cure is yet available, age related macular degeneration treatments can aid in the prevention of vision loss or subdue the advancement of the disease.
Eyeglass Guide – Eyeglass Guide will help you better comprehend the many lens choices we have for you. This tool will take you through a survey of questions about you, your lifestyle and your specific eyeglass needs. Once you have reached the end, you will receive eyewear suggestions specifically tailored to meet your requirements.

We look forward to serving you at Valley Eyecare Center. For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our Optometrists, visit our website.

Filed Under: Contacts, Eye Allergies, Eye Care Tips, Eye Exams, Eye Health, Eyeglasses, Prescription

Why Is My Vision Blurry?

November 25, 2015 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

Blurry vision is the loss of sharpness of eyesight and can be caused by a few different factors. The most common causes are reflective errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. However, blurred vision can be a symptom to health conditions that are much more threatening to your sight. Find out which are the most common causes of blurred vision and if you are in need of an eye exam.

Myopia

Myopia, also known as Nearsightedness, is a refractive error that can cause blurry vision in one or both eyes. This condition can also lead to squinting, headaches and eye strains. During an eye exam, an eye doctor can tell you what methods might improve your condition.

Hyperopia

Hyperopia, also known as Farsightedness, is a condition in which objects from far away are clear opposed to objects close-up which become blurry. This eye condition can be managed with prescription glasses or contacts.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism happens when the cornea has an odd shape and light rays don’t come through a single focal point leading to unclear vision. Similarly to Hyperopia and Myopia, Astigmatism can be corrected with prescription glasses, contacts or surgery.

Dry Eyes

Symptoms of dry eyes can include blurred vision. Artificial tears can help but it is important to see your eye doctor in case your condition requires further care.

Cataracts

Symptoms for cataracts include cloudy vision and may be mistaken for a more simple vision issue. This condition can develop as one ages , if eye lens tissue is injured or due to genetic disorders. See your eye doctor as soon as possible to get the proper treatments for this condition.

Pregnancy

Due to hormonal changes in the body, the shape and thickness of the cornea can change, leading to blurred vision. Your eye doctor can give you an accurate diagnosis and treatments to the condition during a comprehensive eye exam.

At Valley Eyecare Center, we can determine the cause of your blurry vision with a comprehensive eye exam. Call 602-242-6888 or visit our website to schedule an appointment.

Filed Under: Cataracts, Eye Conditions, Eye Exams, Eye Health, Prescription

Do Cheap Reading Glasses Cause Eye Damage?

October 13, 2014 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

You can find them just about anywhere these days: cheap reading glasses, sometimes for as little as a dollar each. They may be a cheaper alternative, but are they really an adequate substitute for a proper eye exam and prescription lenses?

Not really.

While claims that these cheap glasses can permanently damage your eyesight are overblown, they’re still not a good solution. Their overall poor quality can cause headaches or more vision trouble while wearing them.

Problems With Cheap Reading Glasses

1 – They’re “One Size Fits All”

Is your head the exact same shape and size as everyone else? Of course not. Everyone is built differently, and even minor differences (such as the width of your eyes) can drastically affect how well the lenses work. You might get lucky and find a pair that just happen to fit your head well, but a real optometrist can guarantee a proper fit.

2 – They’re Rarely Well-Made

Dollar-store lenses have very poor quality control. In repeated surveys they’ve shown to have significant differences from well made prescriptions. The strengths may be different, or they have different focal points. These can cause blurry vision, double vision and eye strain headaches. Even worse, such subtle differences are almost impossible to detect while in the store.

A proper eye exam guarantees lenses that exactly match your vision needs.

3 – They Only Magnify

Cheap glasses cannot correct for any vision problems besides those that can be solved with magnification. They cannot fix astigmatism, myopia or other common problems which can be corrected with prescription lenses.

Dollar Store Glasses Are Rarely Worth It

Cheap reading glasses are only good as an alternative backup pair, which are only used for short periods of time. If you just need to throw on a pair to read a label,that’s fine, but they are very likely to cause problems with more extensive use.

If you need reading glasses, it’s much better to get a proper eye exam. It ensures you get lenses that best fit your face, and provide the exact vision correction you need! Contact your eye doctor today.

Filed Under: Eye Health, Eyeglasses, Prescription

Which Contact Lenses Are Right For Me?

July 30, 2014 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

So, you’re interested in contact lenses for yourself or your children? They can be an excellent investment for people who want discrete vision correction. Most people never know when you’re wearing contacts, and there are even options that change the appearance of your eyes as well.

Today, there are several different types of contact lenses on the market. But how do you know which is right for you?

Choosing The Right Contact Lens For You

1 – Rigid Gas Permeable

RGP, or “hard” contact lenses, are the oldest style of contact lens still in use. These carry with them many of the drawbacks associated with contact lenses: They’re a bit less comfortable to wear, they have to be taken out at night, and they have to be cleaned daily.

There are two main benefits to RGPs: First, they work with any sort of eye or vision problem. Second, because of their rigidity, they can in some cases prevent progressive vision problems by encouraging the eyeball to hold its shape.

2 – Soft Contacts

Soft lenses conform to the shape of your eye, making them more comfortable and easier to wear for extended periods. Some soft lenses can be worn for up to a week straight, even while asleep, without being removed. Their shape-changing comfort, however, means they cannot slow vision loss like RGPs can.

These are a good “all around” option, especially for children who may have trouble dealing with RGPs.

3 – Disposable Contacts

Disposable lenses are almost always “soft” lenses. These are the most expensive option on the market for eye wear – costing about $1-$2 per day – but also offer the most convenience.

These are excellent for people who only occasionally wear contacts, such as for formal appearances. However, be careful. Because disposables are meant to be thrown out, their edges wear down quickly and can become dangerously sharp.

4 – Bi- or Tri-Focals

If you need multiple lenses, you can still get contacts! Depending on your needs, optometrists have several options. You could get contacts with the traditional “over / under” style of lens. Or, in special cases, a patient might get two different lenses, creating a “far-sighted eye” and a “near-sighted eye” that, together, combine into a single clear image in their brain. (With a little adjustment.)

There are plenty of options! Talk to your Phoenix Optometrist for more information on what contacts might be right for you.

Filed Under: Contacts, Eye Conditions, Eye Exams, Prescription

How to Take Care of Your Contacts

November 5, 2012 By Valley Eyecare Center Leave a Comment

Contact lenses are a great alternative to glasses however proper care needs to be taken while using them. In order to extend the life of your contact lenses it is essential that you are acquainted with the following tips of proper eyecare and lens maintenance.

Get your pair of contact lens after having your eyes checked by an eyecare specialist. While many advocate computerized eye tests, it is best to get the correct prescription for lenses from an ophthalmologist.
Always wash your hands with warm water and soap before handling your lenses. Dry them using a clean towel. Ensure that there is no residue of soap left on your hands as residue of soap can stick on to the contact lens and cause not just pain and irritation but may also lead to blurred vision.
Different lenses are designed to be worn for different durations of time. Wear your lenses only for the prescribed time and never sleep with them on.
Eyes are the most sensitive anatomy of the body and tend to get dry easily when contact lenses are worn. This leads to itchiness and redness of the eyes. Use saline or a re-wetting solution to keep your eyes well lubricated.
Opt for daily contact lenses if feasible as they are linked to lesser infections than extended wear lenses and are also more comfortable to wear.
Remove your lenses before you sleep and avoid wearing them overnight even if they are extended wear lenses. Wearing lenses for a long time increases the risks of contracting an eye infection.
Use lens cleaners and eye drops as prescribed by your eye doctor. You may need to try out different samples to ensure you are not allergic to the solution.
Clean the case that you store the lenses in, after each use in hot water and allow it to dry. Replace them once every 3-6 months.
Disinfect your lenses before every use. Never clean lenses with saliva as this will lead to eye infections.

For any doubts or queries with regard to eyecare, or use of your contact lens, do not hesitate to contact your eye doctor.

Filed Under: Contacts, Eye Health, Prescription