Skip to main content
search

Our Blog

Apr 04
Love0
Lubbock Eye Doctors, Your Local Optometrists

Top 5 Myths About Contact Lenses

By Computer Vision Syndrome

There are plenty of benefits to having Contact lenses over prescribed glasses. However, due to concerns created around unproven rumors and myths, many people still choose glasses over contacts. 

Glasses are effective in providing you with solutions to your vision problems, but some things contact lenses do better. In sporting activities that require fast, dynamic movement, glasses can be hard to keep on your face. Glasses have frames or lenses that don’t give you a full field of vision, and contact lenses don’t fog up or get water on them when it rains. 

Contact lenses have revolutionized our ability to give a more natural feeling solution to many of our client’s vision issues, so why don’t more people wear them? To help understand the truth behind some of those detrimental myths, we’ve compiled a list of the most common among them. 

Myth #1: You’re Too Old To Wear Contacts

Contact lenses have a much broader range in age use than most people think. Not only are adults wearing them, but many teens and preteens have switched from glasses to contact lenses. So there is almost no age limit beyond the ability to take care of your contact lenses. 

Contacts now have the option for varifocal and bifocal lenses, which means that people with different prescriptions can wear them. So whether you’re reading or driving, contact lenses can help. 

Myth #2 Contact Lenses Are Too Expensive

When contact lenses first arrived, they were a costly investment, but that was four decades ago, and the evolution of the contact lens has made them less expensive today. You can now buy daily disposable pairs for under a dollar a day. 

It’s always a good idea to make sure that you’re ordering contact lenses to help you with any stress your vision may be causing you. So ensure that you’re ordering the correct prescription before you order them online, and make sure you’re ordering them from a reputable online seller. 

Myth #3 Contact Lenses Can Get Stuck Behind Your Eye

Whenever something new comes out, there is always some irrational fear that has no evidence to back it up. In this case, it’s the idea that a contact lens can get caught behind your eye. To put it bluntly, there is no physically possible way for a contact lens to move behind your eye. The shape of your eye and how your eyelids function ensure that nothing can move beyond the front of your eye. Can you imagine how much dust would be back there if this were possible? You’d have to do a spring cleaning of the back side of your eye every year. 

Myth #4 Contact Lenses Are Uncomfortable

Contact lenses may have been thick and clunky once upon a time, but years of research and development have made contact lenses virtually unnoticeable. Today’s contact lenses are thin and soft, and you’ll quickly forget they are there once they’re in your eye. 

For some people, the initial part of putting your contact lenses in may be a bit frustrating, but with guidance from your doctor and practice, the process will become more manageable and less burdensome. 

Myth #5 Contact Lenses Can Get Stuck To My Eye

Contact lenses enjoy moisture, so when your eye dries out, it may feel like it is beginning to adhere to your eye. That’s not the case, though. The lens is just drying out due to a lack of moisture. Simply apply a few rewetting drops to your eye, and the sensation will quickly disappear. 

Find The Perfect Contacts Today

Eyes of Lubbock is here for all your vision needs. Contact lenses help people with all sorts of vision problems get back to their daily lives by improving their ability to see what’s right in front of them. Call Eyes of Lubbock Today to see if contacts are right for you. 

Mar 15
Love0
eyeglass prescription

What You Should Know About Your Eyeglass Prescription

By Eyeglasses, Prescription

Today, we are delving into the fascinating world of eyeglass prescriptions. If you wear glasses or are considering getting a pair, understanding your eyeglass prescription is essential for optimal vision and eye health. Let’s explore what your prescription means and why it matters.

1. Decoding the Numbers

Your eyeglass prescription may look like a series of cryptic numbers and abbreviations, but fear not – it’s relatively straightforward once you know how to read it. Here’s a breakdown of the common components:

  • OD (oculus dexter) and OS (oculus sinister): These Latin terms refer to the right eye and left eye, respectively.
  • Sphere (SPH): This indicates the main part of your prescription, representing the lens power needed to correct nearsightedness (indicated by a negative sign, like -2.50), farsightedness (positive sign, like +1.75), or astigmatism.
  • Cylinder (CYL): This is the degree of astigmatism present. It can be a positive or negative value or sometimes be marked as “SPH” if no astigmatism correction is needed.
  • Axis: If you have astigmatism, the axis value specifies the angle at which the cylinder power should be oriented.
  • Addition (ADD): This is an additional power for reading glasses. It is used to correct presbyopia, a natural age-related condition that affects near vision.

2. Regular Eye Exams are Crucial

You might be tempted to use old glasses or buy ready-made reading glasses without an eye exam, but this can be risky. Your vision changes over time, and an outdated prescription can cause eye strain, headaches, and even worsen your eyesight. Regular eye exams, at least once every two years or as your eye doctor recommends, are crucial for maintaining healthy vision and updating your prescription as needed.

3. Prescription Accuracy and Lens Quality

Obtaining an accurate prescription is only the first step toward clear vision. The quality of your eyeglass lenses matters just as much. Your eye doctor can help you choose the right lens material, coatings, and design for your lifestyle and visual needs.

  • Lens Materials: There are various lens materials available, such as standard plastic, high-index, polycarbonate, and Trivex. Each has its advantages, like thinner profiles or impact resistance, so discuss your options with your eye doctor.
  • Anti-Reflective Coating: This coating reduces glare and reflections on your lenses, providing clearer vision, especially during night driving or computer use.
  • UV Protection: Harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can damage your eyes. Ensure your eyeglasses offer 100% UV protection to shield your eyes from UV radiation.

4. Trust the Professionals

Regarding your eye health, don’t take chances with online retailers offering cheap glasses without a valid prescription. Optometrists at Eyes of Lubbock are trained professionals who consider various factors when determining your prescription, such as your eye health, lifestyle, and specific vision needs. They provide personalized care and recommendations tailored to your unique requirements.

5. Adjusting to Your New Prescription

It’s normal to experience an adjustment period when you start wearing new glasses or update your prescription. Give yourself a few days to adapt to the change, and if you’re still experiencing discomfort or vision problems, consult your eye doctor. Small adjustments can be made to optimize your vision and comfort.

Remember, your eyeglass prescription is more than just a set of numbers – it’s the key to clear vision and maintaining the health of your eyes. Schedule regular eye exams, trust your eye care professionals, and invest in quality eyeglasses to enjoy the world through sharper and clearer lenses.

We hope you found this blog informative! If you have any questions or need to schedule an eye exam, please visit us at Eyes of Lubbock. Your vision is our priority!

Mar 01
Love0
Lubbock Eye Doctors, Your Local Optometrists

Why is Nutrition Important for Your Eyes?

By Uncategorized

Many people don’t make a connection between what you eat and eye health, but the two things are not independent of each other. Healthy nutritional choices can prevent or lessen many eye issues. 

Wholesome eating habits are a common factor for many of our patients with healthy eyesight, proving that a diet with good nutritional value does promote better vision. 

What Should I Eat for Healthy Eyes? 

When you start thinking about healthy eating options, your mind might lean toward dieting, but that’s not what we are talking about here. You can find many nutrients we need to have adequate eyesight in the foods we already eat. Zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, and the essential fatty acids that help with healthy eyes exist in everyday eats. 

So what’s the problem? Why are we not getting the nutrients we need? Because we aren’t eating these common foods in their unprocessed form. Box dinners, take-out, and fast food may contain some of the ingredients that have the nutritional elements our eyes crave, but they’ve been over-processed, deep-fried, or saturated in grease and oil, leaving our bodies with nothing to absorb. And while this isn’t an article to dissect your eating habits, we think it’s important to note before going forward that eating these foods as close to fresh as possible will give you the best chance at increasing the overall health of your eyes. 

Zinc

Zinc has many beneficial effects on your body, but the most important for your eyes is its ability to help bring Vitamin A from your liver to your retina. Vitamin A produces melanin, which helps prevent cataracts from forming, and cloudiness from occurring. It also improves your ability to see at night. Without Zinc, your eyes won’t receive this necessary vitamin, and your eyes can become susceptible to severe problems. 

Foods with zinc include: 

  • Shellfish
  • Seeds 
  • Nuts
  • Lamb 
  • Beef

Vitamin C 

Vitamin C is prescribed for many things, including building your immunity. It becomes trendy during cold and flu season, but you shouldn’t wait until then to start incorporating foods with it into your diet. Vitamin C is a crucial component of collagen production. Recent eye studies suggest that collagen production in the eyes can reduce the chances of developing glaucoma. It helps to keep cataracts from developing in the eye. 

Foods with vitamin C include:

  • Citric Fruits
  • tomatoes
  • Bell Peppers
  • Broccoli
  • Kale

Vitamin E

Vitamin E plays an essential role in your body’s fight against disease. It eliminates harmful molecules in your body called free radicals. Although these molecules are generally created within the body, they must be disposed of before they can build up inside living tissue. Vitamin E does this and does it well. As free radicals build up, they infect living tissue and can create severe problems, including problems within your eye. Ensure you include foods high in Vitamin E to prevent free radicals from spreading. 

Foods with vitamin E include: 

  • Sunflower Seeds
  • Avocados
  • Almonds
  • Fish
  • Oils
  • Peanuts

Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids are not only good for you, but they are also the easiest to eat because they taste good. Omega-3s and Omega-6s support many body parts, including your heart and brain, but they also help with vision development and retina health. Eating fatty acids is essential to the overall vision and eye care. 

Foods with fatty acids include: 

  • Fish
  • Nuts
  • Seeds
  • Oils 
  • Eggs
  • Milk

A well-balanced diet can ensure that many of these vitamins are easily accessible to your eyes. It’s easy to craft meals around many of these foods, and doing so will ensure that your eyes stay healthy for years to come. 

Schedule an Eye Exam

Eating a healthy diet can help alleviate and reduce the risk of some eye issues; however, some eye problems are unavoidable. Whether these issues are caused by genetics or other health factors, they require more than a balanced diet to address. In these cases, checking in with your eye physician for an annual screening is always a good idea. Consistent check-ups can ensure that potentially severe eye problems are caught before they get a chance to become a significant issue. Call Eyes of Lubbock today, to schedule an eye exam and keep your eyes healthy and strong.

Feb 01
Love0
Lubbock Eye Doctors, Your Local Optometrists

Computer Vision Syndrome – What Can You Do About Eye Strain?

By Computer Vision Syndrome

It’s easy to say that the average person spends more than twenty-five percent of their day in front of a screen. Whether it’s work, entertainment, or passive viewing, it’s hard to unplug ourselves from the digital world. As Americans, we average more than 7 hours a day looking at a screen. That’s just shy of a third of our entire day. With these impressive and slightly concerning numbers presented, it’s not hard to see how an issue resulting from prolonged exposure to digital surfaces might originate. 

What is Computer Vision Syndrome? 

Computer vision syndrome or digital eye strain refers to a condition in which vision problems and eye discomfort become apparent after staring at a screen for extended amounts of time. These problems can compound when paired with preexisting conditions such as farsightedness or astigmatism.

Although most of these issues are temporary and tend to resolve after a short absence of screen viewing, some symptoms may become recurring and even worsen over time. Computer vision syndrome symptoms include dry eyes, eyestrain, blurred vision, neck and shoulder pain, and headaches. 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, setting your screen aside and focusing on something further away might be a good idea. The 20-20-20 rule is an excellent guideline when dealing with prolonged screen exposure. Take a break every 20 minutes to stare at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will allow your eyes to relax and take a break from the strain of staring at something close on a brightly illuminated screen. 

What Factors Contribute to Computer Vision Syndrome? 

From the symptoms above, you might be able to assess that your eyes may not be the only victims of CVS. Your screen is a primary contributor to the condition, but the screen itself is not the only cause. 

  • Where your computer screen is located can support or reduce the development of computer vision syndrome. An improperly placed screen can cause neck and shoulder pain to occur. Screens that are placed at a low level can also create eye fatigue. 
  • Poor lighting or overly bright screens can also create vision problems if your eyes are subjected to them for too long. 
  • The glare from outside light sources can make viewing things on a screen more difficult and cause eyestrain as your eyes focus on what’s on the screen while navigating around the glare. 
  • Inconsistent breaks from looking at the screen can cause eyestrain. Not allowing your eyes to refocus now and again can make eye fatigue set in. 
  • Although it might seem common sense, blinking is necessary when facing a screen for long periods. Blinking helps to moisturize your eyes, and not doing so will dry them out quickly. 

How can I prevent CSV? 

While some factors at work may be unavoidable, many of the significant variables that cause CSV can be neutralized by proactive responses. Simple steps can be taken to keep your vision strong and your body pain-free. 

Don’t Ignore Pre-Existing Conditions

Pre-existing vision problems can become more significant when ignored in front of a screen. If you have minor issues outside of work that don’t require corrective lenses, the use of corrective lenses inside the workplace should be considered. With so many other variables attacking the integrity of your vision for 8 hours of the day, that mild farsightedness might become more extreme.

That slight astigmatism might flare up into a more substantial impairment. We use our eyes a lot during the day, but what we ask our eyes to do during work hours is usually exponentially more than what we ask them to do outside work. Consider using corrective lenses to alleviate some of the strain on your vision.

Make Your Workspace Comfortable and Efficient

Low lights, screen tinting, indirect light, screen positioning, and body support throughout the day are all things we should think about when we work. The more comfortable our body is, and the more support it has, the less strain we will face at the end of the day. The same is true for our eyes. Low lights, indirect light, and screen tinting will help to reduce screen glare and allow your eyes to focus without the annoyance of glares on your screen. 

Take Frequent Breaks

When you’re working hard behind a screen, pulling yourself away for a moment may be hard to let your eyes readjust. While the effects of not allowing your eyes to refocus may not be apparent immediately, by the end of the day, your eyes will feel the strain. Adapting the 20-20-20 rule is an excellent first step to ensuring your eyes stay rested and focused. Getting up to adjust your posture and walking around will also help you overcome Computer Vision Syndrome. 

Get the Eye Care You Need from Eyes of Lubbock

When it comes to eye health throughout the workday and even in our leisure moments, being conscious of the amount of time we spend in front of a screen can go a long way in ensuring our eyes stay fit and healthy.

Suppose you’re having issues refocusing your eyes or experiencing symptoms of blurred vision due to fatigue at the end of the workday. In that case, an eye exam might be beneficial to rule out any other compounding ailments. Eyes of Lubbock is ready to help you get your eyesight back to normal. Give us a call to schedule your appointment today!



 

Jan 03
Love0
Lubbock Eye Doctors, Your Local Optometrists

How to Prevent Glaucoma

By Eye Exams

The older we get, the more maintenance our bodies seem to require. Our efforts to maintain a simple balance of health and enjoyment from life become less straightforward. We find ourselves giving in to the advice we previously ignored and seeking easy solutions to nagging issues. Our joints hurt. Our muscles ache. We can’t hear. We can’t see. 

At Eyes of Lubbock, we can help with at least one of those matters, and with regular eye exams, we can address potential problems before they become an issue. 

What is Glaucoma? 

The leading cause of Blindness in adults over 60, glaucoma is a disease associated with damage to your eye’s optic nerve caused by a buildup of fluid in the front part of your eye. The liquid creates pressure that pushes back on the optic nerve, killing the fibers and creating irreparable gradual “blindspots” within the eye. 

Two types of Glaucoma, rather than a solitary condition, define the disease. 

OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of the disease. With this type of glaucoma, vision is gradually lost due to fluid buildup. No pain is usually associated with open-angle glaucoma, and vision loss may not be perceived until later. Due to the gradual loss of vision deterioration, it’s essential to have regular eye exams that monitor eye pressure. These exams will help to maintain healthy vision and prevent extraneous optic nerve damage caused by prolonged fluid pressure. 

ANGLE-CLOSURE GLAUCOMA

Angle-closure glaucoma or closed-angle/narrow-angle glaucoma can lead to an emergency and needs to be addressed immediately. This type of glaucoma occurs when a person’s iris is too close to the drainage angle in their eye, blocking the drainage angle and causing fluid pressure to rise quickly. An acute attack like this needs immediate treatment, or blindness can occur. 

Who is at Risk of Glaucoma? 

While almost anyone over 60 is susceptible to glaucoma, The following groups have a higher risk. They should consider regular eye exams to be proactive against the onset of glaucoma. 

  • People over 40 who are of African, Asian, or Hispanic heritage
  • People who use long-term steroid medications
  • People with high blood pressure or diabetes
  • People with poor circulation or have frequent migraines
  • People with a family history of glaucoma

If you fall within any of the above categories, consider calling an eye expert today for an eye exam. Glaucoma is not a curable disease, but catching symptoms early can help you slow and, in some cases, prevent vision loss. 

How Do I Prevent Glaucoma? 

Even though there isn’t a cure for glaucoma, your sight can still be preserved, and vision loss can be prevented or even slowed if the symptoms are found early enough. You should tell your doctor if you are at higher risk of glaucoma to make sure a complete eye exam is administered. During this exam, the ophthalmologist will check your eye pressure, inspect drainage angles, check for optic nerve damage, and test blindspots in your vision. 

While the test is a good indicator of whether or not you have or are susceptible to glaucoma, the effectiveness of treatment depends on how well you communicate with your doctor and follow their treatment plan. 

Most treatment plans consist of eye drops and frequent visits to your ophthalmologist. The eye drops are medicated to reduce eye pressure and relieve strain on the optic nerve. Other treatment plans include laser surgery to treat the disease. In these cases, the surgery helps correct the drainage angle so fluid can flow out more efficiently. When the pressure is relieved, so is potential damage to the optic nerve. 

These treatments can bring back any amount of vision that has already been lost, but they can prevent further sight deterioration. The sooner that symptoms are identified, the sooner treatment can begin. 

Eyes of Lubbock know how strong your vision is to you. Glaucoma is a silent sight killer, and it’s essential to be diagnosed before it affects your ability to perform everyday tasks. If you are worried about the possibility of glaucoma affecting you, call Eyes of Lubbock today to get a complete eye exam scheduled today!

Close Menu