Let freedom ring: The USA turns 243 this year. You’re hopefully gearing up for an exciting holiday weekend full of picnics, barbecues – and, of course, spectacular fireworks shows. We know, we know – practicing good eye care may be the last thing on your mind this weekend. However, fireworks eye injuries are a serious concern this time of year. Avoiding fireworks eye injuries will help you celebrate the holiday safely and ensure you’re able to enjoy many holidays to come.
Scratched Cornea Symptoms
We’ve all been there: You’re walking down the street, and a gust of wind sends debris flying straight into your eye. Sure, it’s uncomfortable – but is it something that could impact your long-term eye health? Yes and no. There’s a chance that you have experienced a corneal abrasion, otherwise known as a scratched cornea. Corneal abrasions are extremely common eye injuries, and they’re usually treatable. Resulting from damage to the top layer of the cornea, corneal abrasions can cause significant discomfort and disrupted vision. When left untreated, a corneal abrasion can lead to prolonged vision problems, which is why it’s essential to recognize scratched cornea symptoms and treat them immediately.
Why Sunglasses Are Important
How often do you wear sunglasses? According to the Vision Council, one in four Americans rarely or never wears sunglasses. If you’re shrugging at that statistic, you clearly don’t understand why sunglasses are important for the health of our eyes. Although they’re often categorized as fashion accessories, sunglasses play an important role in protecting our eyes from dangerous UV rays. Whether you’re driving, sunbathing, picnicking, or going for a walk, you should be wearing sunglasses if you’re out during daylight hours.
What Causes Eye Floaters?
Have you ever seen small dark spots floating along in your vision? What you’re seeing could be eye floaters. Like Mona Lisa’s eyes, eye floaters seem to follow your eye movements. However, these small dots dart away when you try to look directly at them. What causes eye floaters? While the cause can be harmless, like the natural aging process, in some instances the situation is more serious. Keep reading to learn more about the common causes of eye floaters, and be sure to contact your eye doctor if you’re experiencing this vision problem.
Causes of Red Eyes
Sometimes the redness of your eyes may surprise you. One minute you’re washing your hands, and the next minute you barely recognize your own face in the mirror. Other times, red eyes come with irritation. With all that itchiness and aggravation, you know that your eyes will be red before you see your reflection. If the redness persists for more than a day or your eyes feel painful, consult your optometrist. The causes of red eyes vary by case, and while it’s likely nothing to worry about, a professional can help you determine why your eyes are so red and irritated and how you can soothe them.
Why Am I Seeing Spots?
Are you wondering, “Why am I seeing spots?” You’re not alone. After all, we’ve all probably stared at a lamp a little too long or accidentally caught a glimpse of the sun. When you close your eyes after one of these episodes, you might notice spots, and these spots usually disappear within a few minutes. But in some cases, seeing spots is actually a sign of a larger health issue.
How to Clean Your Glasses
Most people who wear glasses are all too familiar with the annoyance of oil and dirt buildup on their trusty pair. Although glasses have been around for centuries, inventors have yet to create a smudge-proof pair. If your idea of cleaning your glasses is using the end of your shirt and whatever liquid you have around, you’ve got it wrong. Dirty lenses are easy-to-fix nuisances, but there is certainly a right way and a wrong way to wipe off your glasses. Learning how to clean your glasses can keep your lenses crystal clear and in the best shape possible.
Tips for Putting in Contacts
There is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to putting in contact lenses. If you have an intense blink reflex or an aversion to putting your hands near your eyes, you might find it especially hard. So before you begin, check out our tips for putting in contacts. Even if you’ve been wearing contacts for years, you might find it helpful to review these tips to refresh your memory.
Pros and Cons of Transition Lenses
Most of the time, glasses are amazingly convenient. Unlike contacts, you don’t have to worry about a lens falling out or scratching your eye. Glasses are easy to put on during a rushed morning, and they can add style to an otherwise simple ensemble. However, we can’t ignore one area in which traditional glasses lenses fall short: bright sunlight.
When the sun is shining in your eyes, you can’t wear sunglasses on top of prescription eyeglasses. You can only reach for a pair of prescription sunglasses or a clip-on sun visor to attach to your frames. It can be hard to keep track of an expensive pair of prescription sunglasses, and not everyone loves the look of a clip-on sun visor, but it’s dangerous to expose your eyes to harmful UV rays for the sake of convenience, cost, or good looks. Enter transition lenses. This type of eyeglass lens darkens when exposed to sunlight. Learn the pros and cons of transition lenses, so you can decide if they’re a worthwhile purchase for you and your eyes.
Types of Bifocal Lenses
What do lightning rods, swimming fins, and bifocals all have in common? Ben Franklin invented all three! When Franklin’s eyesight deteriorated with age, he became both nearsighted and farsighted. He didn’t like the trouble of switching between two different pairs of eyeglasses, so he came up with an invention that he called double spectacles. He simply took the lenses from both of his glasses, sliced them horizontally, and combined them on a single pair of frames. When he wanted to see up close to read, he looked down. When he wanted to see far away, he looked up. Since then, other inventors have enhanced Franklin’s work. Now there are different types of bifocal lenses to choose from.
