Why Summer Is The Most Dangerous Season For Contact Lenses

Why Summer Is The Most Dangerous Season For Contact Lenses

If you wear contact lenses to correct your vision, you probably only think about them twice a day: In the morning when you’re putting them in, and at night when you’re taking them out. It’s important to realize that there are lots of environmental factors that put your lenses at risk, however, especially in the summer. As you prepare for warmer weather, keep these eyecare warnings in mind. Swimming Swimming in a chlorinated pool can dry your contacts significantly while keeping them on in an open body of water dramatically increases the risk for infection and contamination by waterborne organisms. If you don’t already wear disposable lenses, you may want to ask your Vision Care Centre doctor about purchasing a few pairs for the summer. Then, after you go swimming, just toss the lenses and put them in a clean pair! Air Conditioning When you’re hot and sweaty, air conditioning feels great on your skin, but it’s actually very hard on your contacts. Air-conditioned environments are extremely dry which can make contacts extremely uncomfortable. The solution is to carry around a bottle of contact-approved rewetting drops that will help your eyes maintain a healthy level of moisture. Seasonal Allergies Many people battle seasonal allergies, but did you know that your contacts could be making symptoms worse? Allergens and pollutants in the air can settle on the lenses. When allergies strike, we often run our itchy, watery eyes for relief. This only agitates the debris on the lenses and makes everything worse look at this now. Keep a pair of backup glasses handy and swap them for contacts on days...
3 Questions To Ask When Choosing Prescription Sunglasses

3 Questions To Ask When Choosing Prescription Sunglasses

If you wear glasses on a daily basis, the summer sun creates an inconvenient problem. Although high-quality sunglasses are necessary to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. It is very hard to wear two pairs of glasses at once! Some people opt for sunglasses that fit over regular glasses, while others choose clip-on options. Sadly, neither of these options is very convenient or stylish. The best option is a pair of prescription sunglasses that can be swapped for your regular glasses in high-light situations. Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for a pair. What Type Of Lens Do I Need? People who only need a single-vision lens have a larger variety of frame options to choose from. However, if you require bifocals or trifocals, your Vision Care Center doctor may recommend a deeper frame for a larger viewing area at all distances. Do I Have Skin Allergies? We often think about allergies when it comes to food and medicine, but it’s important they be considered when choosing sunglasses as well. Patients who are sensitive or allergic to certain materials should ask about a hypoallergenic frame such as all plastic, nickel-free metal, stainless steel, and/or titanium. What Will I Primarily Be Doing In These Glasses? Will you be driving, looking at a phone or computer screen, or participating in outdoor activities like running or hiking? If you’re going to be active, look for durable frames with anti-scratch lenses. If glare from traffic or a screen may be an issue, consider asking your doctor about anti-reflective coating options. Now that you know some of the most...
What Your Eyes are Trying to Tell You: Warning Signs Telling You to See Your Optometrist

What Your Eyes are Trying to Tell You: Warning Signs Telling You to See Your Optometrist

Many people when they catch the flu they go to the doctor, so why do individuals who experience changes in their vision neglect to see their local eye doctor? Just like getting your regular physical with your M.D., seeing your optometrist for yearly check-ups or with a change in symptoms is imperative to eye health. Consider these warning signs as crucial indicators to get an eye exam. 80-90% of the population suffers from tension headaches. Some of these headaches can be reduced, if not resolved with a simple vision check. Even if your vision seems normal to you, your correction could be minimal but just enough to aggravate tension headaches. If your M.D. can’t figure out your headaches, give your eye doctor a chance to resolve the problem. The narrowing of your field of vision or blind spots is an immediate indicator that something is markedly wrong with your vision. The narrowing could be an early indicator of glaucoma which can lead to blindness. Blurring or clouding in your vision is potentially an early indicator of cataracts. Both systems should be immediately addressed. Immediate action can slow the progression of both diseases. Lastly, see your eye doctor promptly if you have blind spots in your vision. In conjunction with diabetes, blind spots or floaters could be indicators of diabetic retinopathy which left untreated can lead to blindness. If your diabetes is under control the likelihood of acquiring diabetic retinopathy is greatly reduced. Your eye doctor can even provide valuable information regarding the state of your diabetes by examining your retina, leading to better disease management. An optometrist is an...
Choosing the Right Eyeglasses for Your Face Shape

Choosing the Right Eyeglasses for Your Face Shape

Choosing the right pair of glasses is a big decision. You’ll wear them most of the time and be seen with them. In many cases, your glasses become an extension of you and part of your style, which means choosing the perfect pair of glasses is paramount. Your face shape influences the type of prescription eyeglasses that will look best on you and flatter your features. We’ve broken down the four main face shapes with the dos and don’ts for you. Square A square face is characterized by a broad forehead and a strong jaw. The proportions of your face will be equal in width and length. The ideal glasses for you will be round or oval. They will also have darker colors to help add contrast to strong facial features that tend to come with a square face. Heart Individuals with a heart-shaped face will have a broad forehead but a smaller chin. This face type traditionally lends itself to high cheekbones as well. Oval and round shape frames also work well for this face shape but look for thin and light-colored frames, so they don’t overpower your delicate chin. Oval An oval face is the most common and versatile face shape for eyeglasses. It’s characterized by a subtly curved jawline that is slightly smaller than the forehead width. With this face shape, you have the pick of the litter. Both oval and square-style frames will work well for you so pick something that makes you feel great! Round Full cheeks with a wide forehead and rounded chin characterize the round face shape. A round face can make...
Helping You See All Year Round

Helping You See All Year Round

Let’s face it, you wear glasses. Not only that but you have a vision problem, like many astigmatisms, that cannot be corrected with contact lenses. Or maybe you have dry eyes and contacts rub you raw. But summer is coming, and you don’t want to take your next beach vacation or sit by the pool and have to make the choice between not being able to see with just regular sunglasses or being blinded while wearing your prescription lenses. Prescription sunglasses are the perfect solution and help to protect your vision. When you spend time in the sun, your eyes are exposed to both UV-A and UV-B rays that can damage your vision over time. Individuals who participate in outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and watersports are further prone to damage from the rays reflecting back off the snow and water. Just like you would never wear your sunglasses indoors, why would you use your regular prescription glasses outside? Even if you aren’t a die-hard snowboarder, simply driving to and from work without sunglasses can cause discomfort. Squirting can blur your vision and make it hard to see the car turning next to you or the pedestrian crossing the road. This could easily be resolved with your prescription for an excellent pair of sunglasses. Make an appointment with your local optometrist to get your prescription checked and then visit the optician to try on a variety of sunglass options. Always check that your lenses will block 99-100% of the damaging UV rays. At Vision Care Centre in Langley, BC, we offer our patients a wide variety of designer...