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Pros and Cons of Gas-Permeable Contact Lenses

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Gone are the days when the only choices to correct vision impairments were glasses or contacts. Thanks to advancements in technology, we now have several different options for types of contacts. Daily wear or extended wear? Spherical or toric? Soft or gas-permeable? Whether or not you choose daily wear or extended wear depends on how often you use contacts, your lifestyle, and personal preference. Your optometrist will help you determine whether or not you need toric lenses to correct astigmatism or spherical lenses to correct myopia or hyperopia. However, the choice of whether or not you should choose gas-permeable contact lenses isn’t as clear-cut as the other options. Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of gas-permeable contact lenses to help make your decision a bit easier.

Remember that this article is just a starting point. You should consult with your optometrist before making a final choice.

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Myopia vs. Hyperopia

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According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 94 percent of Americans age 12 and older have good vision, but the remaining six percent, or 14 million, are visually impaired. Are you one of those 14 million? When you go to your optometrist’s office for the first time to receive an eye exam, you might hear words like myopia and hyperopia. Keep reading to learn more about myopia vs. hyperopia so you can better understand your eyes.

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How Do Glasses Work?

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Were you a curious child who never seemed to run out of questions for your parents? Why is the sky blue? What happened to dinosaurs? How do glasses work? Although we aren’t scientists or paleontologists, we can help with the question about glasses. So keep reading to entertain your inner first-grader and learn exactly how these small pieces of glass and meticulously crafted frames improve many people’s quality of life.

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Eyes of Faith

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At Heffington’s, we’ve been providing our neighbors in southwest Missouri with top-quality eye care, affordable eyeglasses and contacts, and excellent service for more than 40 years, but we are not content to rest on our laurels. We’re always looking for top-notch products that will help us match the diverse needs and distinctive styles of our customers, so we are delighted to now offer frames from Eyes of Faith. [Read more…] about Eyes of Faith

What Happens During an Eye Exam

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Your eyes contain some of the hardest-working muscles in your body. You might take your eye health for granted, but keeping those muscles in good shape is key to maintaining your quality of life. That’s why regular eye examinations are an important part of your annual health routine. If you’ve never had an eye exam before, the idea can be intimidating – after all, no one wants a doctor poking around in the sensitive area around their eyes. However, eye exams typically make for a quick, completely painless, and very informative visit. If you’ve never had your eyes examined – or it’s been a few years since your last appointment – learn more about what happens during an eye exam so that you can go into your check-up with peace of mind.

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Symptoms of a Cataract

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Although it’s true that you might not see as well at age 70 as you did at age 7, you shouldn’t write off vision problems as just a normal part of aging. According to the National Eye Institute, cataracts affect more than half of American adults over 80 years old. Keep scrolling to learn about the symptoms of a cataract, and contact your optometrist today if you have trouble seeing.

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What Causes Astigmatism?

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If you’ve been diagnosed with astigmatism, you’re not alone. According to the American Optometric Association, most people have some degree of astigmatism. Astigmatism is an irregular curvature of the eye’s cornea or lens that disrupts the refraction of light rays. A healthy eye should have a round shape similar to a basketball, while an eye with astigmatism has a shape more like a football. Slight astigmatism usually doesn’t affect your vision, but in more severe cases you might experience blurred or distorted vision and need corrective lenses or surgery. So what causes astigmatism?

Chances are, it’s nothing you’ve done, so be wary of anyone who tries to convince you that it’s because you sit too close to the TV or read in dim light for too long. We’ve broken down two of the common causes of astigmatism so you can better understand the condition.

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Eye Complications from Diabetes

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Diabetes affects more than just your blood sugar levels; unfortunately, it can also damage your eyes. There are several different types of eye complications from diabetes. So if you are diabetic, protect the health of your eyes by keeping your insulin levels in check and consulting your doctor if you notice any changes to your vision or eye health. Scroll down to learn how diabetes affects your eyes and how to spot signs of these complications before your vision is permanently affected.

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Benefits of Polarized Lenses

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Most people know that too much sun exposure is bad for the skin, but did you know that your eyes are also vulnerable to sun damage? In fact, extended exposure to the UV radiation generated by the sun has been linked to many eye issues that can negatively impact a person’s vision, including cataracts, macular degeneration, pterygia, pingueculae, and photokeratitis. A quality pair of sunglasses can provide invaluable protection, and the many benefits of polarized lenses make them an especially good choice. [Read more…] about Benefits of Polarized Lenses