Monthly Archives: July 2012

sunflower

Are Your Sunglasses Doing Their Job?

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In: Eye Health comments

Summer plans may be cooling down, but temperatures are still rising!  That big yellow thing in the sky is hitting temperatures of over 100 degrees here in Arizona.  Before you set off to buy a new pair of styling shades, let us fill you in on a few quick facts to help you find a pair most beneficial for your eyes.

Sunglasses help protect your eyes from a few different sunrays, including Ultraviolet rays (UVA) and UVB rays.  Here’s what you need to know about these potentially harmful exposures:

UVA

  • Ultraviolet rays remain at the same intensity all year long. Regardless of the season, these rays mean business!
  • UVA rays cause more damage to our bodies than UVB rays.
  • Even short exposures to UVA rays while commuting to or from work can cause noticeable damage.
  • Many doctors say that it only takes around nine moderate doses of UVA rays to experience a noticeable change on our bodies.

    • UVB

  • UVB rays are also known as “tanning rays.”
  • These rays are strongest in northern hemisphere’s summer months orwhen sections of the Earth orbit closest to the sun.
  • UVB rays are only strong enough to penetrate the very top layer of our skin.Now that you know the basics, don’t forget these additional facts when shopping for a new pair of sunglasses:
  • Choose a pair that is 99-100% both UVA and UVB protected.
  • Avoid sunwear referred to as “cosmetic.” It won’t give you the protection you need from the sun.
  • Larger lenses > smaller lenses (they protect more of your eye)
  • Wearing tinted glasses doesn’t necessarily protect you from the sun’s rays. In the same token, clear lenses can offer UVA and UVB protection. Stop by your local Nationwide Vision Center, and we will help you find a pair that works best for you.

    • Now that you know the secrets to picking out a fully-protected pair of sunglasses, double check your current pair and make sure your lenses are doing their job.  Remember too that although hats are recommended in sunny weather, you should still wear your sunglasses for true eye protection.

    Photo by: Dave-f

    Crayons

    Your Back To School Checklist

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    In: Random comments

    No matter how much we try and deny it, fall is just around the corner. That can only mean one thing…a brand new car! If only that were true, right? The beginning of fall means the time has come to pull out those planners and start checking off the necessary things you need to get ready to go back to school.

    Before returning to the classroom, one of the most important things to do is to get a routine check-up at the doctor.  While basic sports physicals and checkups do a great job at checking overall health, one thing they lack is a comprehensive eye exam.

    Getting a comprehensive eye exam will ensure your eyes are healthy and working properly.  During a comprehensive eye exam you can expect the doctor to run a series of tests:

    Confrontation Visual Field Test: Your doctor will ask you to cover one eye and look straight ahead to test your eyes basic central, and peripheral vision.

    Light and Dark Test: He or she will shine a bright light in one or both eyes and watch them dilate and constrict, in order to test how well your eyes react to light and dark.

    Eye Pressure Test: Your doctor will check your eye pressure by putting a small drop of anesthetic into your eye, and then a fluid called fluorescein.  This test only lasts a couple of seconds and you won’t even feel it!

    Dilated Fundus Test: He or she will dilate your eyes using special drops, which will allow your doctor to look into your eyes using a larger window and check for disease.  Your eyes will remain dilated for about an hour, so it is important to wear sun glasses until the drops wear off since your eyes being extra sensitive.

    A comprehensive eye exam is not the only important thing to check off your back to school checklist. Also make sure these few things are checked off and ready to go:

    • School supplies
    • Sports physical
    • Rides/transportation
    • School clothes
    • Healthy meals and snacks

    Click here to schedule your annual eye exam today!

    Photo By: jonathangarcia

    carrots

    Carrots and Your Eye Health

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    In: Eye Health, Health and Wellness comments

    So you’re saying that if I eat a bunch of carrots I’ll have perfect vision?  Not exactly, but eating carrots does improve your vision in some ways, thanks to the large amount of Vitamin A they contain.

    Carrots are rich in what we call beta-carotene, an important precursor to vitamin A. Although keeping your vitamin A levels up may not increase your vision to a perfect 20/20, but it can help to convert the light that enters your eye into nerve signals which allows you to see better in lower light (dark) situations. On the other hand, extreme deficiencies in vitamin A can have detrimental effects on your vision, including blindness.

    Carrots aren’t the only vegetable or food that contains a high source of beta-carotene.  Other orange-colored foods such as mangos, pumpkins, cantaloupes and sweet potatoes are also great sources of beta-carotene.  Fruits and veggies aside, this nutrient is also prevalent in dairy products such as milk and cheese, as well as egg yolks and liver.

    Like other nutrients such as fat, sodium, cholesterol, etc., be careful how much beta-carotene-rich foods you eat.  Since beta-carotene is a pigment, it may cause your skin to become orange.  This hasn’t proven to be harmful, but we recommend consulting a doctor if this happens to make sure you’re consuming a balanced diet.

    Photo by: ccharmon