Different Focal and Coating Options for Ophthalmic Lenses

How It's Made: Ophthalmic Lens

site-AtHutQ — Mon, 08 May 2023 14:25:29 GMT

Ophthalmic lenses are used in optical glasses to correct or enhance the vision of the wearer. They correct visual impairments and refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism in people, so they can better see far and/or near objects.

You can learn a lot more about nearsightedness and farsightedness by reading our article on the subject, 'Difference Between Nearsightedness and Farsightedness' by clicking here. (Please link blog of same title here)

Each ophthalmic lens, required to overcome these refractive errors, is made in an optical laboratory at an ophthalmic lens manufacturing facility. Let's discuss how it's made in an optical laboratory, at a top manufacturing facility, and what the process entails.

How It's Made: Ophthalmic Lens

Ophthalmic lenses are made to order depending on the needs of the user. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how complex machinery and computerized systems at a top optical laboratory are used to produce custom ophthalmic lenses.

Cast Molding

The process begins by injecting the raw material of the lens, like monomer, into a mold, or cast. The material is then hardened by precise heating and the surface of the resulting product is ground and cleaned for a clean and smooth finish.

Grinding & Polishing

The lens goes through a rough grinding and cutting process in 'generators'. This process only roughly grinds down the surfaces to create curves, according to the user's specifications.

The ophthalmic lens is then put into a separate machine, which uses diamond blades to accurately and precisely grind the lens as per the user's requirements.

Next, the lens is polished, shined, and cleaned to remove any elements or substances.

Inspections

The lens is then inspected for external and optical precision and surface accuracy to see if it can proceed to the next step. If the lens passes the inspection it is moved along in the process.

Tinting (Optional)

If the lens requires tinting, or coloring, of any kind, then they go through the tinting process. The lens is tinted as per its coating specifications and inspections are made using high-quality meters and the skills of experienced technicians.

Coating

Coating can only be done in a clean room because the humidity and temperature need to be controlled. The lens goes through an ultrasonic cleaning process and coated with hard coating liquid and then hardened.

It is cleaned again with ultrasonic cleaning and the required multi-coating is done to prevent tainting, watermarks, or increased or decreased refractions.

Edging (Optional)

Depending on the requirements from the store where the order was placed, the lens can be edged to form the shape of the glasses they will be fitted into. This is done on a computerized scraping machine. Often stores will do this process themselves if they have the equipment.

Quality Check

Lastly, the ophthalmic lens goes through a final inspection where optics, exterior, tint, and coating are all checked using testing equipments, and technicians give it a final approval before packaging them for delivery to the store.

Conclusion

Ophthalmic lenses are a product of precise machine work, testing, and inspection by skilled and experienced technicians. They go through strict processes and are only allowed out of the optical laboratory and manufacturing facility after the approval of testing equipment and technicians.

If you want to learn more about ophthalmic lens and how they’re made or require the best ophthalmic lenses for your business, visit our website today.

What Happens in a Complete Eye Exam?

site-AtHutQ — Tue, 02 May 2023 13:20:11 GMT

Complete eye exams are important, even for healthy people with perfect eyesight.

While not as regular as your typical eye exam, you should get a complete eye exam every few years, depending on your age. Children and teenagers can get their eye exam every five years. Young adults can get an eye exam every three years, and people aged 40-64 can get them every two years. Seniors over 65 should get an eye exam every year.

Regular testing helps avoid any high-risk problems with your eyesight and overall eye health. You can learn more about it by reading our article "Regular Eye Exams by Age." (Please link article of the same name here)

But, what exactly is a complete eye exam, and what happens during one?

What Happens in a Complete Eye Exam?

Complete eye exams are different from your cursory vision test, where you have read differently sized letters on the Snellen eye chart from behind a distant line. A complete eye exam is a thorough examination of your eyesight and eyes.

It generally takes up to 2 hours to go through a complete eye exam, and here is what you can expect.

Family & Medical History Review

Your medical history and that of your family can have an impact on your eyesight. Your lifestyle also affects your eye health, and these things are all discussed and recorded to assess any risk factors to look for in the future.

Vision Test

In this test, you stand 20-feet away from the standard Snellen chart and are asked to read letters, numbers, and symbols. This test is done while covering one eye and then with both eyes open.

Refraction Test

If you have perfect vision, a refractive test is done to identify any refractive errors, like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and other relevant eye conditions.

Diagnostic Tests

Ophthalmologists use several tools to conduct diagnostic tests, like autorefractors, retinoscopes, and phoropters. The tests give the numbers needed to prescribe the correct ophthalmic lenses, which correct problems with your eyesight and give you as much clear vision as possible.

Focusing & Teaming Tests

These tests allow ophthalmologists and optometrists to correctly identify how well your eyes focus on things and how well they work together as a team.

Eye Health Tests

Last but certainly not least, the anatomy of your eyes is checked through different tests like:

· Slit Lamp Test
This test tells any signs of aging inside and outside your eyes. It also indicates eye problems, like retinal detachment, macular degeneration, cataracts, and more.

· Tonometry Test
This test is for detecting glaucoma. Early detection helps avoid future blindness.

· Pupil Dilation Test
Your pupils are dilated to check the insides of your eye. This test requires you to avoid sunlight for a few hours till your pupils return to normal functionality.

Conclusion

Complete eye exams are important and can help detect many eye conditions and diseases early on. Early detection helps prevent severe problems and slow down any eye condition you may have, to give you longer lasting and healthy eyesight.

You should get them at the mentioned intervals to avoid any problems with your eyesight and overall eye health.

If you want to learn more about what happens in a complete eye exam or want the best ophthalmic lens solution for yourself or your business, please visit our website today.

Causes of Worsening Astigmatism

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 17:30:02 GMT

Astigmatism is one of the common refractive errors that many people suffer from.

Refractive errors occur due to the inability of the eye to correctly focus light on the retina. This can happen in different ways and for many reasons. A common experience of people with astigmatism is worsening astigmatism.

Let's discuss the causes of worsening astigmatism in some detail to give you a better idea of how this happens and what you should do about it.

What Exactly is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a refractive error and a minor eye condition that occurs when the curvature of your cornea or eye lens is not symmetrical. Typically, astigmatism is present at birth and may continue to worsen as you grow older.

However, you can also develop it at any time in your life. The condition results from the abnormal shape of one's cornea or lens. Astigmatism causes the light entering your eyes to focus at multiple focal points instead of directly on your retina

; this results in distorted or blurry vision.

The cause of astigmatism is unclear. Still, a person with astigmatism can manage its symptoms by using the correct ophthalmic lenses. Astigmatism can easily be detected in an eye exam, and you should always speak to your ophthalmologist or optometrist regarding any eye problems.

Causes of Worsening Astigmatism

As with most refractive errors, the problem with astigmatism is that it can get worse over time. Here are the main causes of worsening astigmatism.

· Aging

Sometimes astigmatism gets worse as you age, there is no known reason for this, but we know that it happens. Regular eye exams can keep it in check, and your prescription ophthalmic lenses can be updated to manage vision problems caused by worsening astigmatism.

· Additional Refractive Errors

Developing other refractive errors like nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), or presbyopia (age-related farsightedness) will worsen your astigmatism.

· Additional Eye Conditions

Your astigmatism can also worsen if you suffer from other eye conditions like keratoconus . Keratoconus is an uncommon eye condition that thins your cornea or eye lens and gradually bulges it out in a pyramid shape.

It causes further blurred vision and sensitivity to light and glare, which can contribute to severe astigmatism. It also increases the possibility of sudden changes in your eyesight.

Conclusion

While ophthalmic lenses are the best option for any refractive error, including astigmatism, worsening astigmatism may require further treatment depending on what is causing it.

Whether you suffer from refractive errors or not, it is always best to get regular eye exams to keep your vision and eye health checked. Moreover, we recommend getting a complete eye exam every few years

; this ensures early detection of eye problems, vision loss, or degradation like worsening astigmatism.

If you want to learn more about the causes of worsening astigmatism or want the best ophthalmic lenses for yourself or your business, please visit our website today.

Common Ophthalmic Surgeries

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 05:30:02 GMT

Vision problems are very common, and there are many ways to address them. While the use of ophthalmic lenses is the easiest way to correct vision problems, there are also ophthalmic surgeries and procedures that can fix problems or improve vision so you may not need ophthalmic lenses anymore.

Let’s discuss some common ophthalmic surgeries to give you a better idea of what they are and what problems they fix.

Common Ophthalmic Surgeries

Here are some of the most common ophthalmic surgeries and procedures.

· Cataract Surgery

Cataracts are cloudy regions in the lens that make seeing clearly difficult for patients. Surgeons typically fix cataracts using tiny tools to remove the cloudy lens from the eye and replacing it with a clear, artificial lens.

· Retinal Surgeries

Retinal surgeries are ophthalmic surgeries for the retina, and they are often used in conjunction to overcome retinal problems. The most common ones are:

Ø Pneumatic Retinopexy
A small, temporary air bubble is injected into the middle of your eyeball to push the retina back into place before applying other treatment to hold your retina in place.

Ø Pars Plana Vitrectomy
This procedure is performed to remove and replace the vitreous humor (the eyeball’s gel). The surgeon makes an incision and insert a vitrectomy probe for cutting the gel and removing the broken part of fluid by using a suction tool.

Ø Scleral Buckle
Surgeons place a scleral buckle, which is a minute and flexible band around the sclera (white part of your eye) forever. The band gently pushes the sides of your eye toward your retina to help reattach it over time.

· Refractive Surgeries

Refractive surgeries address refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. They often eliminate the need for ophthalmic lenses. The most common of these surgeries is Laser-assisted in situ Keratomileusis or simply LASIK.

It involves a laser light to correct the shape of the cornea and fix refractive errors. A common alternative to LASIK is Photorefractive Keratectomy or PRK, which fixes refractive errors in adults with thin corneas or dry eyes.

· Corneal Surgeries

Corneal surgeries are surgeries for the damaged cornea of your eyes. Depending on the severity of the damage to the cornea, the doctor may suggest complete or partial transplant of the cornea. This transplant requires healthy donor tissue, typically from the eyes of a deceased person.

Other common corneal surgeries include Corneal Inlays, which is when a device is surgically implanted in the cornea to treat presbyopia or age-related farsightedness.

· Glaucoma Surgeries

Glaucoma damage can’t be reversed but glaucoma surgeries can help prevent vision loss and further damage. Surgeons commonly perform a trabeculectomy in which a small opening is made in the eye under the upper eye lid to drain excess fluid.

Conclusion

These were just some common ophthalmic surgeries and there are many others, including ones that are similar to the mentioned ones. There are also many different surgeries that achieve the same outcome for patients with slight variations.

We can discuss them another time. For now, if you want to learn more about common ophthalmic surgeries or want the best ophthalmic lenses for yourself or your business, please visit our website today.

How to Clean Your Eyeglasses Correctly and Safely

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 20:31:52 GMT

Grease, grit, and dirt are eyeglasses’ most annoying enemies. They can cause headaches and eye strain and are a bacteria-thriving source. These bacteria can reach your eyes and nose and pose health threats. Cleaning your eyeglasses should not be a need-basis action but a part of your daily eyecare routine. It is recommended to clean the lenses of your eyeglasses at least once every day and the frame once a week. Let us see how to clean eyeglasses safely and effectively.

Wash Your Hands and Dry Them

Wash your hands thoroughly with dishwashing or lotion-free soap and dry them with a lint-free, clean towel before cleaning your eyeglasses.

Rinse Your Eyeglasses

A gentle stream of tap water can remove debris and other dust particles from your eyeglasses. The removal of these particles is important as they can scratch your lenses when you rub-clean them. There are some eyeglass lens coatings that can get damaged from hot water, so it is best to use room-temperature water.

Apply Lotion-Free Dish Washing liquid

Put a tiny drop of dishwashing liquid onto each lens of your eyeglasses. Make sure you use a very small amount as most dishwashing liquids have high concentrations. Make sure the liquid is lotion-free. You can apply the liquid onto your fingertips instead as well.

Gently Rub the Lenses and the Frame

Rub the lenses from both sides and all parts of the frame. Do not forget to clean the frame temples and the nose pads. The area where the frame meets the edge of the lenses is also an important one as skin oils, debris, and dust often accumulates in these parts.

Rinse the Eyeglasses

Rinse the frame and the lenses of the eyeglasses with clean water. If there is any soap left, the lenses can get smeared, or the skin contact with the frame can cause irritation.

Gently Shake Your Glasses

Give your eyeglasses gentle shakes to do away with much of the water on the lenses. Recheck them carefully to see if they are fully clean. If not, repeat the process.

Dry Your Eyeglasses

Take a dry, lint-free, and clean towel and use it to dry your lenses as well as the frame. It is recommended to use a dishtowel that has not been washed with a dryer sheet or a fabric softener. Make sure there is no debris trapped in the fibers of the towel, as they can scratch your lenses. You can also use a lint-free microfiber cloth.

Some people build a tolerance for blur and have personal hygiene standards or are engaged in an occupation that keeps them from cleaning their eyeglasses. This can compromise the health of your eyes and negatively impact your vision. Following the above-mentioned tips can help your glasses last longer and perform their function in an efficient manner. Therefore, all eyeglass wearers should know how to clean eyeglasses as maintaining a crystal clear vision is an imperative eyecare component.

When Should an Individual Have a Cataract Surgery?

site-AtHutQ — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 15:53:10 GMT

You have probably heard a lot about cataract formation in the eye. A cataract is one of the most common eye disorders. It is the formation of a film all over your eyeball that makes it difficult for you to see. A cataract is the clouding of a usually clear lens. Cataracts are much of a problem later in life for a person because the cloud-like substance forms due to age and the amalgamation of eye fluid.

The worst thing about cataracts is that medical science is yet to develop a non-invasive cure for this disease even though it’s a prevalent condition. The only therapy or treatment available involves cataract eye surgery.

When Should You Go In For Surgery?

It’s necessary for the timing of the cataract to be proper. A cataract will not be removed as soon as it appears. People can have cataracts for a very long time without posing any significant vision problems. If you find that the cataracts are not providing a hindrance in your life in any way, you don’t need to remove the cataract from your eye.

However, suppose an individual finds a great hindrance due to the cataract and the blurred vision, making it extremely difficult for the individual to know where they’re going. In that case, it may be time to reconsider their surgery. People also have hobbies that require them to have perfect vision. If an individual finds that the work they’re doing is not up to par due to the hindrance caused by surgery, you can consider the idea of cataract surgery.

If the individual has cataracts in both eyes, surgery can be trickier. You will find that if both eyes have to undergo surgery, the surgeries have to be a couple of weeks apart.

How Much Time Needs to Pass After Cataract Develops for Removal?

A cataract is not a film that needs to mature before its removal. In the past, a cataract patient would have to wait for a particular duration before removing cataracts from the eye. However, due to the advancement in medical technology, you can now remove the cataract from your eye at any point in time.

If you let the cataract develop for a very long time, it can lead to a hardening of the tissue, which could cause problems later in life. It can also cause inflammation and increase intraocular pressure, leading to glaucoma and other issues. Thus, to avoid an insane amount of problems, it’s beneficial for you to deal with cataracts at the right point in time to save yourself from any complications that may arise in the future due to cataracts.

Final Thoughts

A person who has developed cataracts should get their cataracts eye surgery done when it starts to hinder their vision seriously. This eye condition is one you would want to get rid of as soon as it starts to affect your quality of life. Many people don’t quite understand what signs they should look out for. We recommend you go to an eye doctor the moment something seems off. If you have an eye condition, regular check-ups also help.

Treatment of Amblyopia

site-AtHutQ — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 15:47:16 GMT

Amblyopia is one of the leading causes of blindness in children. Diagnosing Amblyopia is especially necessary earlier into the child's age. Thus, you will find that the earlier you diagnose the disease, the easier it is for you to find a treatment for it.

Amblyopia can be relatively difficult for people to deal with. You must understand the treatment procedures for the condition once you or a loved one has contracted it. The way to diagnose this disease is by frequent screenings in children aged three to five years old.

In the article below, we'll discuss all the ways we can treat Amblyopia.

Treatment of Amblyopia

Treatment for Amblyopia can include one or more of the following treatments. The treatment methods are patching, atropine eye drops, and optical penalization of the unaffected eye, so there's a measured visual development in the eye. The doctor can only start treatment once you fix any refractive eye errors.

Atropine 1% eye drops.

The treatment includes Atropine, which can be measured at 1% of Atropine. These eye drops tend to block parasympathetic innervation to the ciliary muscles and the pupil, which are responsible for the focus and vision of the eye. Atropine is better suited for far-sighted eyes because if you remove the ability to accommodate these eyes, the child can easily focus on objects much near to you instead. The goal of Atropine drops is to create a visual improvement using a greater fixation on the objects which are nearer and closer to you.

Another way to therapize this condition is by using a Bangerter filter instead. You can apply this adhesive to your eyeglasses instead. This option is generally used for older children instead of younger ones who want to make sure that things are less noticeable.

Patch Therapy

Many doctors recommend Patch Therapy. This process involves the placement of a patch on your stronger eye so you can build stronger muscles in your evenly weaker eye. After making the first few diagnoses, it can have amazing effects on younger children.

The treatment can help with the conditions of Amblyopia by training your brain to use the eye with the weaker vision on its earliest instinct. This measure allows for the vision to develop normally in the eye. For this therapy to be effective, you must place the patch in a doctor-recommended way.

Optical Penalization

Optical penalization of the eye is a great alternative to the occlusion of the eye to stimulate visual development in the eye. It involves spectacle corrections, using which doctors can treat the affliction in the eye. Optical penalization involves cycloplegia by the Atropine drops and further correction using the corrective eyewear for the patient. Other agents use cycloplegic agents for the correction of Amblyopia.

Final Thoughts

If you're wondering about all the treatments that you can undertake to fix a lazy eye, you should likely know that there are many. However, some of the easiest ones are physical treatments like patching and Atropine drops.

Symptoms and Causes of Amblyopia

site-AtHutQ — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 15:42:20 GMT

Lazy Eye or Amblyopia is a condition in which one eye has reduced vision due to improper development in the early stages of a child's life. The weaker or lazy eye can travel inwards and outwards depending on how the lazy eye transpires.

Lazy Eye develops in the formative years of a person's existence. Therefore, identifying the symptoms and causes early on is important. Early detection helps in managing the issue better.

In the article below, we'll discuss the symptoms and causes of Amblyopia.

Symptoms of Amblyopia

Signs that your child has Amblyopia are the following:

1. An eye that may wander inwards or outwards. Generally, our eyes follow a straight trajectory. They are not prone to moving inwards or outwards of their own volition.

2. Eyes that don't appear to be working in tandem. Our line of sight works because we see things as they happen. Normal eyes tend to focus on things at the same time.

3. Inaccurate perception of depth. If you find that your child or someone around you falter on stairs or cannot decipher just how much water is present in a glass, that's something to look out for.

4. Squinting or shutting a single eye. If your child is often squinting and one eye or the other is closing, they might have Amblyopia.

5. Tilting their head. If your child has to tilt their head to make sense of their vision, it may cause concern.

6. Abnormal results of vision screening tests. Perhaps the clearest sign of Amblyopia is that the results come back positive.

Causes of Amblyopia

Once you're aware that Amblyopia is the problem, you can look into its causes to prevent a further generation from encountering it. The causes of Amblyopia are as follows:

1. Muscle imbalance. The most common cause of Amblyopia is the presence of an imbalance in the muscles that help focus the eye. The imbalance may cause the eyes to move erratically in different directions.

2. A deviation between the sharpness of vision in the eyes. There's a notable difference in the prescription in each eye. It may mean nearsightedness in one eye and then farsightedness in the other. There may also be some astigmatism that can result in a lazy eye. It can be corrected using contact lenses and corrective glasses.

3. Deprivation. There may be a problem with one eye that's causing you to have cloudier vision than others. Deprivation amblyopia can generally occur in infants, and it requires you to get urgent treatment to prevent further vision loss. It can be the worst kind of Amblyopia as well.

There are many risk factors associated with the diagnosis of Amblyopia. These risk factors include the following:

1. Premature Birth

2. Smaller size at birth

3. A consistent family history of lazy eye

4. Disabilities with development

Final Thoughts

You need to know the causes and symptoms of Amblyopia or lazy eye. Knowing the causes and symptoms will help you identify the conditions as soon as possible to conduct treatment at the earliest. It could be the difference that your child needs.

Types of Ophthalmic Lenses

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 21:52:37 GMT

You may be thinking about purchasing lenses for your glasses People wear corrective lenses to improve their eyesight, but there are other options available such as ophthalmic lenses, that you may prefer to use in your glasses instead. When it comes to buying glasses, there are so many options available that optometrists can easily assist you in correcting your vision problems. The assortment of glasses provides variety, but it also makes things more complicated.

When you're buying the perfect pair of glasses, you may not be thinking about it a great deal. However, we learn that the right lens and frame are essential in making you feel more like yourself. You have to ensure that the lenses you choose fit the type of person. You must ensure that the lenses you select complement your lifestyle and personality.

Numerous factors influence the type of lenses you will wear, such as coating, curvature, composition, and focalization. In the following article, we will look at a few different ophthalmic lenses and what they can do.

Ophthalmic Lenses Types

When picking a lens, you must focus primarily on functionality compared to aesthetics. However, with how eyewear is transforming, the aesthetic implications of an eyeglass are just as important. Back in the day, optometrists would create lenses from fragile glass. However, now there are many materials that you can choose from. The distinctions in ophthalmic lenses are based on categories that we have mentioned below.

Material

1. Plastic

Plastic is one of the most economical lenses as it is a readily available material that can be used to develop lenses. The plastic lenses have superior optics and offer superior vision correction, especially when it comes to minor ones.

2. Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is a polymer, which produces lenses that are lighter, thinner, and have a lot more strength than regular lenses. These lenses are better if you need more intensive correction without being bulky.

3. Trivex

Trivex is a light and thin material that is a lot harder than plastic, and it even protects against harsh UV rays. The material can handle any heavy impact, which is why if you're active, then Trivex may be the best option for you.

Curves

Ophthalmic lenses come in several shapes, but there are three main shapes:

1. Concave

These lenses curve inwards. If you're someone who struggles with nearsightedness, then the doctor will recommend these to you.

2. Convex

To treat farsightedness, your doctor will recommend that you wear these glasses. The focus on the outward curve enables you to focus on your surroundings significantly.

3. Cylindrical

Some people suffer from corneas that are deformed. Cylindrical lenses help fix this condition, also called astigmatism.

Focal Options

Before bifocal lenses were introduced, people had to buy different glasses for each issue. Now, one pair of glasses hold all the answers. s

1. Single Focus Lens

These are for people who suffer only from farsightedness or nearsightedness.

2. Bifocal Lenses

These are for people who suffer from farsightedness and nearsightedness.

3. Trifocal Lenses

Optometrists might prescribe a trifocal lens with three different focal points for someone suffering from various vision conditions.

What Are the First Signs for Development of Glaucoma?

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 21:48:52 GMT

Glaucoma is the number one cause of blindness in adult humans over 60. However, Glaucoma can affect people of any age. People are generally not aware of the signs that come with contracting Glaucoma because there aren't a lot of warning signs present. The best way to know if you have Glaucoma is through having regular eye exams.

How Do You Know When You Have Glaucoma?

This disease is constantly changing, and it has very few warning signs. However, you can't simply ignore the disease as you may become blind without treatment. Glaucoma occurs due to massive pressure on the optic nerve resulting in significant damage. As the pressure mounts, it can lead to a loss of vision and eventually blindness if it is not treated or monitored properly.

There are different types of Glaucoma, but open-angle Glaucoma is the most common type. It is difficult to recognize since the early symptoms are non-existent until peripheral vision is lost. If you have Glaucoma, chances are you may lose vision in patches and experience blind spots more often. You have to be careful to prevent Glaucoma as any vision loss incurred due to Glaucoma is not reversible.

What are the First Signs of Glaucoma?

One of the most important things to note in Glaucoma is that it may appear seemingly out of nowhere. However, there are signs which inform us about its presence. If you start developing any of the following symptoms, it will do you well to seek immediate help:

1. Loss of Peripheral or Side Vision.

Peripheral vision allows us to see from the side of our eyes without having to move our heads. If you find that your field of vision is becoming restricted, such as being unable to look sideways without moving your head, then you should get tested for Glaucoma.

2. Seeing Halos Around Sources of Light

If you can see glares when you shouldn't or if you can see rainbow-colored circles in lights, it could be a sign of Glaucoma. Similarly, if you think you're unusually sensitive to light, it could also be a precursor to Glaucoma.

3. Vision Loss

If you can see one minute and can't see in the very next, then there may be some vision loss that you have to deal with.

4. Redness

If you think your eyes are turning red and you're facing extreme headaches, then it may be a sign of infection or acute Glaucoma.

5. Eyes that Look Hazy

If you're young and you find that you're having trouble seeing clearly, then it's probable you're developing Glaucoma.

6. Nausea and Vomiting

You may also find that severe eye pain causes an adverse reaction in your body, manifesting as nausea or vomiting.

7. Eye pain and Head Pains

In angle-closure Glaucoma, you may find that the Glaucoma is developing quickly and all too suddenly. You may be losing your vision altogether, which may come with many eye and head pains.

What Is Diabetic Macular Edema and How Can It Be Treated

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 21:46:36 GMT

With the extensive use of computer screens in this day and age, it's not surprising to have eyesight problems. However, the issues arise when these problems start negatively affecting your life. The most apparent cause of diabetic macular edema is an uptick in blood sugar levels. In diabetic people, too much blood sugar can rupture and deteriorate fine blood vessels. As a result, tiny pustules may emerge from the vessel walls and fill the retina with fluid or sometimes even blood. With nowhere to go, the fluid may create swelling in the central part of the retina, leading to severe eye problems and even blindness.

Diabetes is at the core of this problem as people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes may be prone to developing this disease. Thus, if you want to prevent this disease from taking over your life, you must maintain a healthy blood sugar level, even if it is a manageable condition.

What is Diabetic Macular Edema?

Diabetic Macular Edema is a complication that occurs in diabetic patients. If you have diabetes, you are at greater risk of developing edema that could harm your sense of vision. The complication occurs due to the filling of fluid in the macula of your eye. The macula is the part of your eye that lets you zero in on the fine details of an image. It's central to the retina, which is why it's so necessary to the eye's vision.

This condition tends to develop over time, so there are many ways for you to prevent it. There are also ways that you can treat it once it develops. However, early detection is necessary, so you don't damage your eyes severely.

Treatment for DME

There are many effective methods for DME. One of the significant preventative steps is going for regular eye exams, but there are other methods available to assist in the prevention and early detection of DME.

Laser Therapy

As the name suggests, this therapy involves using a laser. Doctors will also conduct this in a clinical setting where they can shoot your eye with bursts of the laser. It uses small, pointed lasers to target the various damaged areas in the eye. Shooting lasers can create caps on the leaks if you have damaged or leaky vessels to prevent them from affecting your vision.

Injections

There are two types of medication that you can be injected with: anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor medicines or steroids. Each group has a variety for your doctor to choose from. Your ophthalmologist will know the right dosage for your condition, so you can rest easy.

Your doctor will administer these medications using a fine needle, which doesn't hurt. Both the anti-VEGF and steroid injections are effective for helping the eye heal. They reduce the amount of fluid leaking into the eye and reduce swelling. Steroids, however, can increase the risk of cataracts later in life, which is why doctors recommend it if the anti-VEGF injections don't work.

How to Prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 21:44:42 GMT

It's no secret that age has degenerative effects on all organs, including the eye. As people get older, there is a degeneration in the tissues of their eyes which makes them lose their sense of vision, amongst other things. You may not think that there is a way to prevent it, but there are a few careful steps that you can take to prevent yourself from going blind. In the article below, we will discuss age-related macular degeneration and how you can prevent it.

What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Age-related Macular Degeneration or AMD is an eye disease. It gets increasingly worse over time. This disease comes with serious consequences as it is the primary cause of people above the age of 60 losing their vision. There are two types of age-related macular degenerations, dry and wet, which affect the eye. The central portion of your eye is called the macula, and due to age and constant function, it starts to wear down, known as macular degeneration. The main victim of this degeneration is the retina, which creates rods and cones, also known as light receptors, resulting in the deterioration of r vision.

Since this disease is likelier to occur when you're older, they call it age-related macular degeneration. Only an extreme form of the disease can result in blindness, which is also rare. Primarily it results in severe vision problems later in the game.

How to Prevent it?

Once you contract Age-Related Macular Degeneration, it's unlikely that you'll be able to cure it. The absence of a cure makes it even more important to take measures to prevent it. We have listed some methods of prevention below.

1. Anti-angiogenesis Drugs

These drugs are used to stop the creation of blood vessels and leaking of the blood vessels, so the macula is not protected from further damage. Many people who take these drugs have regained their lost vision to a degree.

2. Laser Therapy

This procedure is clinical. A licensed doctor will shoot small lasers into your eyes to destroy abnormal blood vessels that affect your vision.

There is also another kind of laser therapy that is known for being more precise, called photodynamic laser therapy. This therapy involves the doctor injecting the patient with a drug called verteporfin. Verteporfin is light sensitive, and it's injected so it can be absorbed by rogue blood vessels. The doctor will then shine a light on the eye, which will cause the abnormal blood vessels to deteriorate due to the presence of the medicine.

3. Low Vision Aids

These devices can be used to make smaller objects seem more significant. These are specialized electronic systems that see with greater clarity, making them ideal for assisting people undergoing macular degeneration to make the most of their remaining vision.

There are also other treatments available for age-related macular degeneration. However, the most important thing to note is that they're experimental, which is why there should be more emphasis on preventative measures when it comes to this disease.

How Do UV Rays Affect Your Eyes?

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 21:40:51 GMT

It is common knowledge that our skin gets impacted by ultraviolet light. But what most people do not know is that UV rays damage our eyes as well. Of all the tissues found in our body, the ones that constitute our eyes are some of the most sensitive ones. This causes UV rays to present in the sunlight or in some other artificial light sources to penetrate them and harm our eyes and consequently our vision.

What is Ultraviolet Light?

UV rays are so high in energy that they are not visible to the naked eyes. This high energy volume makes them damaging to our vision. UVC, UVB, and UVA are three different categories of UV rays that vary in magnitudes of the harm they cause to the eyesight but are linked with vision loss, photokeratitis, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

Risk Factors of UV Rays

Here are some of the risk factors of ultraviolet light:

Altitude

If you live in a region that is located at high altitudes, you are at a higher risk of receiving damage from exposure to UV rays.

Geographic Location

People who live in areas that are closer to the equator are at a higher risk of receiving more damage from UV light.

Medications

Ultraviolet rays harm the people who are consuming control pills, tranquilizers, or diuretics more than the ones that are not.

Time of Day

From 10 am to 2 pm, the UV rays are more damaging than they are during the rest of the day.

Precautions to Mitigate Damage from UV Rays

You can keep yourself protected from damaging radiation of the ultraviolet light by following the following instructions:

l Wearing contacts that are UV-blocking can efficiently protect your eyes and vision from the harmful effects of UV rays.

l Wearing protective eyewear, like sunglasses during the daytime, regardless of if the sun is out or not, is an effective way to keep your eyes protected from UV radiation. UV rays can easily penetrate clouds. Make sure you opt for sunglasses that wrap around and are made up of polycarbonate. Polycarbonate sunglasses and protective eyewear is capable of blocking UVB and UVA radiation up to 100%.

l Staying away from artificial light sources that emit UV rays.

l Making sure you regularly visit an ophthalmologist or eye specialist to get a comprehensive eye exam conducted allows you to get identified of any UV-related damage that your eyes or vision might have. Early discovery offers an opportunity for treatment before much damage has been done.

Almost 80% of all UV rays damage occurs to people who are below 18 years of age. Therefore, it is vital to protect children from getting exposed to damaging ultraviolet light. Following the above-mentioned tips can protect your vision and eyesight from the harmful UV rays that sunlight and some other artificial light sources possess.

What are the Options for Digital Eye Strain Relief?

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 21:38:05 GMT

Digital eye strain occurs when you've been looking at a screen for too long and develop symptoms that may affect your vision or cause headaches. In the age of computers, many people will go through digital eye strain because they view screens or are in front of computers for work. However, you must take some steps when you feel like staring at the computer for so long affects the quality of your life and your vision.

In the article below, we’ll discuss some of the options you have available to you for digital eye strain relief.

1. Treatment

There is no effective treatment that will completely cure you of digital eyes strain. The best option you have is to make sure you’re taking certain steps each day to reduce the strain on your eyes. You can make a change to your environment. Sometimes people are asked to start wearing glasses since there may have been an uptick in the power they need to see with. Ophthalmologists may also prescribe eyeglasses when people want to conduct certain activities, such as working on their computer or reading.

Most doctors also suggest that their patients take breaks once an hour to let their eyes focus on distant objects.

2. Home Solutions

One of the major reasons for facing digital eye strain is that you're not using your digital device in the correct environment. Here are some of the things you can adjust.

a. Lighting

Whenever you’re on the phone or the computer, you may find that adjusting the lighting to be dimmer will give your eyes a little break. Eyes are trained to receive photons. The brighter the light, the more photons the eye has to receive; this can be a lot for the eyes to process. If you're watching something on the television or your laptop, you should opt for dimmer lights. Your eyes don't have to take in so much information when lights are dimmer.

b. Take Breaks

You must take breaks so your eyes can adjust to the world around you. Seeing something like a computer screen at close range is not good for your eyes and can increase the amount of strain on it.

c. Reduce Time On Screens

There are many ways that you can limit screen time. New smart devices like smartphones come with a built-in timer that can restrict the amount of time you're spending on your phone. If you have children, make sure you don't let them spend too much time in front of screens as this could cause much more permanent damage for them.

d. Apply Artificial Tears

Your eyes may be experiencing strain because they're extremely dry. Artificial tears are an over-the-counter product that can help alleviate your dry eyes. Our doctor will evaluate and recommend the best eye drops for you. Therefore, you should also consult them before you make a decision.

e. Make Your Environment Better

When we say make the environment better, we are not just asking you to adjust the room lighting but also use products that will reduce the glare on your screen. You can also purchase a humidifier so your surrounding aren't dry and your eyes don't get strained from the dryness.

What Is Diabetic Retinopathy and How to Prevent it?

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 21:35:05 GMT

Many problems occur because of diabetes. One of these issues is diabetic retinopathy. These complications affect the eyes due to a higher sugar level in human beings. It can cause damage to blood vessels and the light-sensitive area at the rear of the eyes.

Diabetes can cause many health problems for the affected person, and you must be aware of all that might go wrong when you have diabetes. In the article, we’ll discuss Diabetic Retinopathy and how to prevent it.

Define Diabetic Retinopathy

It is a disease that alters your vision. It can cause a significant amount of damage to your blood vessels and the light-sensitive tissues at the posterior surface of your eyes. It may affect your vision to a certain extent. In the most extreme cases, it can lead to blindness in human beings. Mild cases of Diabetic Retinopathy might not even manifest as symptoms.

It’s a condition that occurs due to Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes in human beings. The progression of this disease is likelier if you have had the disease of diabetes for a very long time and if it‘s not something you‘re making any attempts at control.

Symptoms

The symptoms of the disease can manifest in the following ways:

· Spots or dark string in front of your eyes

· Blurred vision

· Fluctuating vision

· Dark spots in your eyesight

· Vision loss

Methods of Prevention

There are many ways for you to prevent it. You would require eye inspections regularly, solid control of your blood sugar and blood pressure. You would also need early detection to ensure that you don‘t have severe vision problems and so you can prevent vision loss.

For patients with diabetes, you can take the following measures to ensure that you don’t develop an extreme case of Diabetic retinopathy.

· Supervise Diabetes

You should get your work in and eat healthy foods. You should also make exercise a regular part of your day. You should get at least 120 minutes of exercise during your routine every day. If you’ve been asked to take any oral medication or insulin, then make sure you’re doing so routinely.

· Keep an eye on Your Sugar Level

You should check and maintain a record of your sugar level regularly. You must also try your best to ensure that this level is well within its limit. The presence of a blood sugar level that is more or less than the range can be concerning.

· Refer to your doctor often and ask him about a Hemoglobin Test

The glycosylated hemoglobin test or A1C test tells us about the average sugar in blood you have maintained over the past three or four months. The ultimate goal for people who have diabetes is 6-7%.

· Maintain Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

You must eat healthy foods and ensure that your exercise regularly. By eating healthy foods, you can keep your cholesterol under control.

· Quit Smoking

Smoking increases complications related to diabetes.

· Notice Changes in Vision

Diabetic retinopathy can cause significant changes in vision, so you should do your best to ensure that you go to the doctor as soon as you notice any changes.

Bloodshot Eyes: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 21:32:28 GMT

When the blood vessels in your eyes rupture, they give the white of your eye a pinkish or reddish color. This condition is called bloodshot eyes, and it is common in children and adults alike. In this article, we will look at some of the symptoms and causes of bloodshot eyes and how it is treated.

Symptoms of Bloodshot Eyes

Some of the symptoms that people with bloodshot eyes undergo include:

l Sensitivity to light

l Blurred vision or having difficulty in seeing

l Discharge of water from the eye

l Discharge of other substances from the eye

l Pain in the eye or the area surrounding the eye

l Dryness of the eye

l Itchiness in the eye

l Burning sensation

l Irritation in the eye

Causes of Bloodshot Eyes

There are a number of factors that can cause bloodshot eyes. Some of them are:

l Too much consumption of alcohol

l Too much reading in dim or poor light

l Not allowing your eyes to take enough rest

l Spending too much time reading a book or looking at a screen

l Not getting adequate sleep

l Scratching of the eyeball

l Poking of the eyeball

Some other causes of bloodshot eyes include:

Allergies

Watery and itchy eyes and sneezing, etc., are common in people who have allergies. These things can cause bloodshot eyes by frequently irritating them. Most of the allergens, such as mold, smoke, perfume, debris, and pollen, can also cause bloodshot eyes by aggravating the eyes.

Dryness

Eyes need to maintain their moisture, and they do it by extracting moisture out of the air and getting it from the body. When they are deprived of it, they lack the lubricant that helps maintain their clear vision, and they tend to tear up. This makes the membranes and blood vessels in the eye stretch, and they might tear apart.

Infections

When the membrane that protects the surface of the eye or eyelash follicles get inflamed, it can cause infections in the eye. The symptoms of bloodshot eyes caused by infection include fluid excretion as the eye produces it to protect from foreign substances. A single bloodshot eye is more likely to have been caused by infection than an allergy. Infections that can be causes of bloodshot eyes include pink eye or conjunctivitis and blepharitis.

Treatment of Bloodshot Eyes

The most common forms of treatment of bloodshot eyes include:

l Eye drops

l Oral medications (common for bloodshot eyes caused by allergy)

l Eye creams

l Antibiotics

It is important to follow general eye health and eye care best practices to prevent bloodshot eyes from affecting your vision. Some extreme cases of bloodshot eyes can even cause blindness if they are not treated in time. It is important to consult a doctor or an ophthalmologist as soon as you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms of bloodshot eyes. It is also best to keep away from the causes of bloodshot eyes by protecting your eyes from different kinds of allergens, dust, and smoke, etc.

What to do If Your Eyesight is Getting Worse?

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 21:29:19 GMT

It is a common misconception that a worsening vision is a health aspect that once cannot improve. If your vision is getting weaker, it is an indication of a problem (or problems) with your eyes that need to be addressed. By acting in a timely manner and with the help of an opthalmologist, you can not just stop your eyesight from getting worse but improve it as well. The key is to keep a careful and frequent check on the health of your eyes to determine the present condition and identify when and if their health diminishes.

How to Tell if Your Vision is Deteriorating

Some of the most common eye health issues and conditions that people get affected with today include presbyopia, astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness. Be on a lookout for the following symptoms that usually indicate a deterioration of the eyesight:

l Burning or itching sensation in the eyes

l An abnormal discharge from the eyes

l Persistent floaters emerging

l White spots on the pupils

l The color of the iris changes

l Frequent or constant redness in the eyes

l Swollen eyes

l Unusual or painful sensitivity to light

l Halo effect around lights

l Blurriness of vision

l Hazy or double vision

l Regularly occurring pain around or in the eyes

l Severe pain in or around the eyes

Treatment of Deteriorating Eyesight

Good vision is a blessing that almost all day-to-day activities require. We strongly recommend consulting your doctor or an opthalmologist as soon as you experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms. General eyesight and vision health best practices are extremely important to learn and practice as well. Here are some tips that can prevent your eyesight from getting weak and may improve your vision by strengthening your eyes.

Give Your Eyes Adequate Rest

There is no denying that mobile devices offer great utility to all of us in our lives. However, exceeding moderation in anything can be harmful, and so is the case with screens. Using tablets, computers, or mobile phones for extended periods causes strain in the eyes. This can cause damage to your eyesight if you do not allow the strain to be released by giving your eyes a break every now and then. Shut your eyes every hour or so and gently massage them with your temples.

Leverage the 20-20-20 Rule

Here is a little exercise that provides your vision with a little resting time. While you are working on a computer or are constantly looking at something up close, look at an object that is 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes.

Ensure a Nutritious Diet

Making sure you are consuming a healthy diet that is nutrition-balanced is a sure-shot way of improving not just your vision but your overall health as well. Allowing yourself consumption of zinc, vitamins E and C, fatty acids, and omega-3 fatty acids can strengthen your vision and reduce the risk of getting affected by eye-related conditions and problems.

It is also good to keep up with the knowledge of the diagnosis, causes, symptoms, and treatment of different vision problems. Make sure to consult any eyesight issue that you experience with your doctor or an eye specialist. Routine visits to an opthalmologist are a great way to stay up-to-date on your vision health.

What is Conjunctivitis? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 21:26:11 GMT

Conjunctivitis or pink eye is an eye infection that is common in adults and children alike. It can be caused by one or more of several different factors, including viruses, bacteria, irritants, and allergens. The coronavirus that causes Covid-19 can also cause Conjunctivitis. The specific cause of the infection determines its treatment path, which can include comfort care, pills, ointments, and eye drops.

What is Conjunctivitis?

Pink eye is a condition that inflames or reddens the conjunctiva, which is the tissue that lines the outer coating of your eye and the inner surface of your eyelid. The primary function of the conjunctiva is to keep the eyeball as well as the eyelid moist. Conjunctivitis can occur in both eyes simultaneously or in a single eye at a time. The former of the two is usually due to a virus.

Causes of Conjunctivitis

When the conjunctiva gets inflamed, the eye tends to get reddish, making it more visible. The most common cause of Conjunctivitis is different viruses, including the common cold. Pink eye can also be caused by bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus. Another cause of pink eye is certain irritating substances. These can be pool chlorine, smoke, debris, cosmetics, or shampoos, etc.

Allergens, such as pollen or molds and a foreign object in the eye, are also common causes of Conjunctivitis. The infection can also be caused by sexually transmitted infections or a blocked tear duct.

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

There are several symptoms of Conjunctivitis. They include:

l Swollen lids of the eye

l Higher-than-usual sensitivity to light

l Blurred vision

l Itchiness in the eyes (it is more common in Conjunctivitis caused by allergens)

l Tears coming out of the eye

l Redness or pinkness on the inside of the eyelid or in the white of the eye

l Thick discharge that is yellow in color and tends to crust over the lashes (it is more common when a pink eye is caused by bacteria)

l Gritty feeling in the eye

l White or green liquid discharge from the eye

l Burning of the eye (it is more common when Conjunctivitis is caused by irritants or chemicals)

Treatment of Conjunctivitis

The treatment of Conjunctivitis depends on what caused it in the first place. If it is caused by bacteria, antibiotics are usually the most effective remedy for the infection. If it is a virus that has caused it, all you can do is care for your eye to relieve symptoms and let the infection run its course. Antihistamines are the go-to treatment of Conjunctivitis that is caused by allergens.

If the case of Conjunctivitis is mild, it is likely that your doctor will not prescribe any treatment for it. The usual eye and vision care practices and good hygiene not only relieve the symptoms of Conjunctivitis but prevent its spread as well. However, the infection is not to be taken lightly as some pink eye cases can permanently damage your vision if left untreated. Remember to consult a physician or an eye specialist as soon as you observe any of the symptoms of Conjunctivitis.

How to Stop Glasses From Fogging up While Wearing a Face Mask

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 21:22:52 GMT

While face masks are crucial for the protection of oneself and others from Covid, people who wear glasses find it hard and annoying when fog disrupts their vision. It is a problem that prevails in colder environments as the warm breath condenses on the glasses. How do you carry out basic routine tasks without having to rid either your face mask or your eyeglasses? Here is how.

The first way of achieving the milestone is disallowing your breath to reach the glasses so condensation cannot take place on them. When the top area of a mask leaks your breath, it not only reaches your eyeglasses and impairs your vision through a fog but increases the chances of your breath reaching other people as well, posing health safety risks.

You can physically block the air using one of the following ways:

How to Block Your Breath From Reaching Your Eyeglasses

Most masks come with a seal that is designed to serve the exact same purpose. However, almost all of them fail to do their job. A metal nose piece, however, works wonders and fulfills the requirement effectively. However, it does cause people to look at you a lot, and some even giggle or smile, which can feel a little embarrassing. Professional surgery masks are a better alternative, but some people might find them a bit expensive.

The other way you can achieve clear vision with a face mask and eyeglasses on is by not letting condensation happen. You can do that with the use of chemicals. Getting a coating on your glasses of a substance that decreases the surface tension of water to disallow fogging is a sure-shot way of doing away with the problem.

P.S. It is highly recommended that you check with your eye specialist first before putting anything on your eyeglasses. If there is already a coating of some sort on them, it might get damaged.

Another way to ensure fogging does not happen is to keep your glasses crystal clear. Wash your lenses with water and soap, and condensation will not have a host to form on. Without dirt and oil, condensation cannot take place, and you can enjoy fog-free vision (for as long as dirt and oil do not accumulate again). Wiping your glasses with a piece of cloth is not as effective for this purpose because it does not clean the glasses of dirt and oil as well as water and soap do.

There are many anti-fog sprays available in the market that you can use. Some of them are not as effective as they claim to be, but they still do the job to some extent.

Conclusion

Keeping your glasses clean is not just good for battling fogging but for your eye health as well. If you cannot frequently wash your glasses with soap and water, check with your eye doctor for an application of chemical coating. If they do not allow for that, go for a combination of a mask with a solid metal piece to close off air passage and the use of an anti-fog spray to tackle the little air that does reach your eyeglasses.

How Do Multi-focal and Bifocal Contact Lenses Work?

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 21:18:37 GMT

Multi-focal and bifocal contact lenses are a perfect choice for people who are affected by presbyopia. These lenses rid you of the need to switch eyeglasses or lenses for your near and farsightedness needs.

What is Presbyopia?

Many people experience a change in their vision after they cross the age of 40. One of the most common of these changes is the formation of a condition that makes it difficult for an individual to focus on things that are up close to them. It is a natural and gradual phenomenon and is known as presbyopia or short arm syndrome.

How do Multi-focal and Bifocal Contact lenses Help With Presbyopia?

Multi-focal and bifocal contact lenses work for both near and distant vision. They correct the vision by providing you with multiple focal points. The ability of these lenses to accommodate more than one prescription makes them a popular and effective choice for people with vision problems. Bifocal contacts have focal points for near as well as farsightedness, while multi-focal lenses have an additional intermediate focal point as well. Multi-focal and bifocal contact lenses are also useful in correcting astigmatism.

Types of Multi-focal and Bifocal Contact Lenses

All bifocals are multi-focal, but not all multi-focal are bifocal. The multi-focal lenses have a range of powers (like progressive eyeglasses) through which they cater to vision issues of multiple distances. There are lenses that offer intermediate, near, and far vision simultaneously or at the same time, and there are multi-focal contacts that allow you to switch between powers with the movement of pupils.

Multi-Focal Lens Designs

Aspheric lenses hold both near and far powers on their central areas. They allow the eyes to ignore objects that are placed far from you when you focus on the near objects and vice versa. You can find aspheric designs in most of the soft disposable lenses available in the market.

Concentric or annular lenses have the near focal points on the center while the distant ones are on the outer ring area, or it can be the other way around. The former type works better for people with large pupils, while individuals that have small pupils are better off with the latter kind. Soft and RGP lens materials commonly use concentric designs.

Segmented lenses are bifocal and have a separation line on them that segments near and far vision correction. The users of these lenses benefit from their distance power when they are looking straight and the near power when their eyes are looking through the part below the segment line. These lenses are made of RGP material and are smaller than soft lenses, making it a difficult task to find the line on them. You can get these lenses custom-made with an additional segment for your intermediate vision needs. The third segment is a small one that is shaped like a ribbon.

Multi-focal and bifocal contact lenses are a great choice if you suffer from presbyopia. With the advancement in technology, you do not have to wear eyeglasses with a clearly-visible line on their center.

What is a Lazy Eye? Symptoms and Treatment of Lazy Eye

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 21:16:09 GMT

What is a Lazy Eye?

Amblyopia or commonly known as lazy eye, is a condition that develops when in the early life of a person, the visual development gets affected by an abnormality. Amblyopia causes reduced vision in one eye. The most common age of the development of a lazy eye is between 0 to 7 years of age. It is rare for the lazy eye to affect the vision of both eyes, but the condition is the leading cause of affected vision among children. It is crucial to diagnose it early so that the treatment can prevent long-term vision problems.

Amblyopia can be caused by developmental disabilities, genetics, physical weakness at the time of birth, premature birth, deprivation, or imbalance in the muscles that position the eyes.

Symptoms of a Lazy Eye

The following are some common signs and symptoms of a lazy eye:

l Tilting of the head

l Shutting or squinting of an eye

l Difficulty in perceiving depth

l Both eyes have poor coordination or misaligned movement

l Outward or inward wandering of an eye

If a kid or person affected with lazy eye takes a vision screening test, it is most likely that the results of the test will be abnormal. It is important to remember that there are certain cases in which none of the above-mentioned symptoms of a lazy eye appear, and the condition only gets evident with an eye exam.

Treatment of Lazy Eye

It is common for children not to notice an abnormality when they have a weak eye as the brain, and the unaffected eye compensates for the decreased vision. When the lazy eye is diagnosed, an eye specialist might suggest the following treatments for it:

Glasses

A prescription for glasses is usually the first remedy eye doctors opt for in the treatment of amblyopia. They ask the affected individual to wear them constantly so that their effectiveness against the condition might be evaluated. There are cases when glasses correct lazy eye, and no more treatment is needed.

Phacoemulsification or Cataract Surgery

If the cause of amblyopia is cataract, removing the cataract through surgery corrects it most of the time.

Occlusion or Eye Patch

Another therapy for lazy eyes is through the use of an eye patch. The stronger eye is covered with a patch, so the brain only receives information from the weaker eye. When that happens, the brain cannot ignore it and works to improve the vision. This is an effective remedy for enhanced vision, but it does not improve the poor movement of the eye.

Treatment of lazy eye includes certain exercises, medication, and surgeries as well. It is crucial to notice your kids for the symptoms of a lazy eye and take them for routine visits to the eye specialist as well, so the condition does not worsen or becomes long-term.

What are the Main Causes of Astigmatism?

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 21:08:31 GMT

Astigmatism is a fairly common vision problem that hinders clear sight by rendering it distorted or blurred. When a person has (usually at birth) an irregularly shaped lens or cornea, their near and distance vision gets affected. The regular shape of an eye is completely round, reflecting the light evenly to all angles. However, astigmatism causes the shape of the eyeball to be egg-shaped. This causes the light to get bent in an uneven manner, and the affected person is unable to see clearly.

The condition, however, is generally treatable, and it has clear symptoms upon which one should see a doctor or an eye specialist straight away.

Symptoms of Astigmatism

If any symptoms of astigmatism appear, it suggests that the condition has gone past its mild stage. The symptoms may include:

l Halos and starburst patterns

l Glare

l Unclear vision at night

l Eye irritation or discomfort

l Eyestrain

l Headaches

l Feeling the need to squint the eyes to be able to see clearly

l Distorted, fuzzy, or blurred vision

Causes of Astigmatism

Images are made when the light that enters the eye gets refracted or bent onto the retina by two structures that have curved surfaces. The first is the cornea, which is the front surface of the eye, and the second is the lens, which is an inner part that controls the focus of the vision by changing its shape. When there is a problem in the shape of the cornea, the resulting imperfection is called corneal astigmatism. And when it is the lens that is irregularly shaped, the condition is known as lenticular astigmatism. Here are the main causes of astigmatism:

l Eye surgery

l Eye injury

l Genetics

l Corneal diseases, like keratoconus

The most common of these causes are genetics, as astigmatism is often present at birth. The symptoms usually develop as the affected person grows in age. Keratoconus is an eye disease that renders the shape of the cornea thinner and shaped like a cone. There are many studies that indicate that watching TV from close distances or reading in low light does not cause or aid the condition.

Blurred or distorted vision caused by astigmatism may occur more towards a specific direction and can be diagonal, vertical, or horizontal, depending on the shape of the refractive surface. It may also occur in combination with hyperopia or myopia.

l Hyperopia or farsightedness occurs when your eye is shorter than the regular size, and its cornea is curved very little. It makes nearby objects seem blurry as the light does not come to a focus on the back of your eye.

l Myopia or nearsightedness occurs when your eye is longer than the regular size, and its cornea is curved too much. It causes the light to be focused in front of your retina, resulting in blurred distant objects.

As soon as you notice one or more of these symptoms, get your eyes tested by an eye specialist. Although the causes of astigmatism may be beyond our control, we can get its treatment started as soon as possible to avoid further eye and vision damage.

Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Cataracts

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 21:04:31 GMT

The retina is a layer that lines the back wall of the eye and is made up of nerve cells. When the lens of the eye focuses the incoming light onto the retina through clear tissues, the light gets converted into nerve signals that present information to the brain. A cataract is a condition when the clear tissue of the lens of the eye gets clouded. It is a common disorder that is a part of aging but, more often than not, benefits from treatment.

Here are some symptoms and signs of the condition:

Symptoms of Cataracts

Usually, a cataract starts with a small area of the lens getting clouded. It renders a part of the vision blurry. With time, it grows bigger and can make the overall vision of the eye dull or blurred. Other than the blurriness, the vision may also experience some changes in its color tones, and you may notice a brownish or yellowish cast. If left untreated, it can hinder the eye’s ability to distinguish between different colors, especially shades of purple and blue.

Some other symptoms of cataracts include:

l Frequent changes to your contacts prescription

l Double vision

l Halos around lights

l Sensitivity towards strong lights, including sunlight

l Poor night vision

Causes of Cataracts

The lens contains water and protein that are arranged in a specific order to keep the lens clear. When the proteins start to clump together, they start to cloud the vision. Some direct and indirect causes of cataracts include:

l Corticosteroid drugs

l Smoking

l Eye surgery

l Eye inflammation or injury

l Diabetes

l Excessive sunlight exposure

l Old age

l Excessive alcohol consumption

l Radiation treatments

l High blood pressure

l Genetics

Although rare, there are cases of people developing cataracts during childhood or being born with them. Trauma and some uterus infections can also cause a cataract.

Diagnosis

There is a variety of vision and eye tests that ophthalmologists and optometrists use to diagnose cataracts. Dilating the pupils of the eye with a few drops of liquid allows an eye doctor to examine the structure of the interior of your eye clearly. Some common eye exams used to perform a cataract diagnosis are:

l Retinal exam

l Slit-lamp exam

l Visual acuity test

Treatment of Cataracts

The only solution for a complete reversal of a cataract is surgery that replaces your eye lens with an artificial one. However, surgery is not necessary after the diagnosis, and factors, such as the level of the condition and your general health, are taken into account before a decision is made. There are no medications to reverse or slow cataract development. However, there are a few steps you can take to slow the spread of the disorder. They are:

l Using magnifying devices to perform certain tasks

l Using brighter lights

l Wearing anti-glare sunglasses

l Keeping your contacts prescription up-to-date

Cataracts can develop in both eyes simultaneously or in one eye at a time. Cataracts grow worse as they progress and can affect daily activities. It is important to visit an eye specialist as soon as you notice signs or symptoms related to the condition.

Causes of Diplopia (Double Vision)

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 20:58:51 GMT

Diplopia, commonly known as double vision, is a condition that causes a person to see two images of a single object. It is an eye health issue that is treatable by catering to the problem causing it. There are a number of different causes of diplopia, some being serious while others are minor. The two types of diplopia are monocular diplopia and binocular diplopia.

The altered field of vision can also cause the affected person to experience vertigo or nausea. Increased sensitivity to sounds or lights, headache, eye pain, visual changes, and eye strain are also common symptoms of diplopia.

Causes of Diplopia

Here are some of the causes of diplopia:

Cornea Problems

The clear layer in front of the eye is called the cornea. Its main function is to focus the light coming from the outside into the eye. If and when the surface of the cornea gets distorted for reasons such as scarring, eye infection or injury, herpes zoster, shingles, dry eyes, or astigmatism, it may result in double vision.

Brain Problems

The eyes transmit visual information to the brain through nerves. If the areas of the brain that receive and process this information are affected by an injury or illness, they can cause double vision. Some of these brain conditions include:

l Stroke

l Trauma

l Bleeding

l Infections

l Migraine

l Severe headache

l Brain tumor

l Brain aneurysm

Nerve Problems

The potential causes of diplopia include certain problems with the nerves. Some cranial nerves serve as a bridge between the brain and the eye, which allows for the movement of the eyes and visual information processing. When these nerves are negatively affected by certain conditions, a person can experience double vision. These conditions include:

l Multiple sclerosis

l Myasthenia gravis

l Guillain-Barre syndrome

l Diabetes

Muscle Problems

The eye socket is home to six different muscles that are responsible for allowing the eye to rotate or move right, left, up, and down. A weakness, paralysis, or other issues with these extraocular muscles can negatively affect eye movement. The problems with these muscles include:

l Strabismus or misaligned eyes

l Grave’s disease

Lens Problems

The lens of the eye works with the cornea to direct the incoming light and focus it onto the retina. The shape of the lens changes during focusing, and it is situated behind the pupil. If the lens gets impacted by a disorder or condition, it can cause double vision or diplopia. The most common lens problem is cataracts.

It is crucial to see an eye specialist or doctor as soon as one experiences any symptoms of the condition. The double vision can be intermittent or constant, same or changing, at far or at the near vision, in one eye or both eyes, oblique, vertical, or horizontal. The symptoms include:

l Eye weakness

l Pain with eye movements

l Pain around the eye

l Misalignment of the eyes

l Nausea

l Headache

l Ptosis or droopy eyelids

As soon as the cause or causes of diplopia are discovered, the treatment for the condition should begin. Sometimes, diplopia can clear up on its own as well. However, the treatment or prescription will depend on your particular case.

Lifestyle Activities, Personality, and Eyeglasses

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 20:34:10 GMT

The first thing that people notice in you is your face. For this reason, your eyeglasses are a real part of your identity. Your eyewear can make you look style-conscious, decent, youthful, fun-loving, serious, sophisticated, and conservative. Different lifestyle activities call for different styles of eyeglasses. Let us see how you can go about choosing eyewear that suits your personality as well as the different activities you engage in.

Business People Eyeglasses

Different professions get benefited from different types of perceptions of a person. But to instill confidence and trust among colleagues and clients, conservative frame colors and shapes work best.

l Not unusually shaped.

l Plastic, stainless, or titanium materials

l Traditional colors, like black, gray, brown, silver, or gold

l Classic shapes, such as almond, rectangle, or oval

Eyeglasses for Fashion and Creative People

Large and thick plastic frames that are modern and unique bring out the fashionista side of you. Blue, red, and violet frames are popular among such people, and multi-colored laminates are also a good option. Vintage and retro frame styles also look cool and give out an aura of creativity.

Students’ Eyeglasses

Regardless of which subject you are studying or which profession you are pursuing, college is a time when one develops their identity and, well, show off their style. Your individual personality plays a more important role in choosing your eyeglasses for your student years rather than your lifestyle. One can choose to express themselves through their eyewear and can go for intellectual styled glasses or retro, geeky, sober, or unique looks.

Glasses for Sporty People

How do you feel about wearing dress shoes to the gym? The same is the case with indulging in sports activities while wearing your office glasses. The three eyeglasses factors to keep in mind while choosing eyewear for athletic activities are safety, comfort, and performance. You can get a casual sports-suggestive eyeglass frame or sports eyeglasses, or sports sunglasses. You can go for a wraparound style with bright colors. Your active lifestyle needs and sports vision offer you a wide range of options for your eyewear.

Busy People’s Eyeglasses

Whether you are a busy parent, a hard-working student, or an individual who does not have an inclination or time to keep yourself up-to-date with the latest fashion trends, soft rectangular and oval frame shapes can prove to be functional as well as stylish. You can amplify the style effect with interesting colors, recognizable designer logos, or jewelry-like metal accents.

Glasses for Seniors

The time to wear old-fashioned and stodgy eyewear is long gone, even for people who are over 50. Giant metal frames tend to show your age and dominate your handsome face. Cat-eye and soft rectangular shapes can offer seniors a fresh and youthful appearance. To add life to the face, frames with a high-gloss finish do wonders.

For every way of life, there are eyeglasses available that suit it. We prepare ourselves from head to toe in order to adjust ourselves for different environments and activities but skip our eyes. While choosing eyeglasses, you should keep in mind your personality, lifestyle activities, productivity, and overall health.

Dominant Eye Applications

site-AtHutQ — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 18:00:02 GMT

You may have heard of the term dominant eye. If not, you can read our quick blog post on it, titled "Find Your Dominant Eye" (please link blog of the same title here), to learn all about it. You can even perform a simple DIY test to find yours.

Once you know which eye is your dominant eye, you may want to know the practicality of the dominance of one eye over the other and why the test is performed.

Today, we will discuss a few dominant eye applications to help you better understand its function and importance.

Dominant Eye Applications

Finding your dominant eye helps you perform better in several activities, and the following are just some typical applications.

· Photography

You need to know which eye is your dominant eye when you photograph with a DSLR camera. This is because you will be able to adjust the frame better by using your dominant eye to look through the viewfinder.

On the other hand, if you use your non-dominant eye, you may find that your photographs are slightly out of frame or displaced. Your dominant eye helps you get a more accurate preview of the frame and photo before you snap it.

· Targeting/ Shooting

You may already know if you are right-handed, left-handed, or ambidextrous. However, performing a dominant eye test and discovering your dominant eye can help you improve your targeting skills for various shooting applications.

For example, if you are right-handed but your dominant eye is on the left, you may have trouble targeting moving objects with a rifle or crossbow; this is referred to as cross dominance. Your dominant eye and hand are on different sides.

Having this knowledge will help you better adjust your targeting and improve your shooting skills.

· Sports

Most batting sports, like baseball or softball, require the use of your dominant eye as you turn your head so your dominant eye can see the position, speed, and rotation of the approaching target. Knowing your dominant eye will help you position your head properly for a better shot.

You will also be able to perform better in sports like golf by making adjustments if you have cross dominance. You will need to use your dominant eye to align shots properly and visualize them before you make contact with the golf ball.

Knowing your dominant eye also helps you adjust your body and head accordingly for shots. It is always better to consult an eye specialist in sports to understand your dominant eye applications in the specific sport you play.

Conclusion

These are just some of the most common applications of your dominant eye. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the importance and function of your dominant eye and why performing a test for it is equally important.

If you want to learn more about dominant eye applications or about acquiring the best ophthalmic lenses for yourself or your business, please visit our website today.

How to Increase Revenue in Your Optical Store

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 20:29:33 GMT

To boost your sales and clientele of an optical store and increase revenue, it is crucial to transform your business into a brand that people implicitly trust. Promotions and advertisements are a good way to attract new customers to your store, but you need to take measures to sustain your repeating customers as well. Home delivery is also a vital service that you should offer so that the customers who do not live in the same area can purchase your products with ease. Adding an area for glass-centering and vision-checking, and accepting payments through debit and credit cards are also important facilities.

Here are a few tips that can help you increase revenue in your optical business.

Variety of Frames

Different people have different tastes, and if you offer a wide range of frames, more customers will find utility in your store. You need to stock an exhaustive variety of frames with different styles, brands, sizes, and purposes. You should cater to people of all ages and all financial levels. Also, keep yourself up-to-date with trends. Having a variety of frames to offer will not only increase customer satisfaction but will allow you to cross-sell.

Variety of Lenses

Astigmatism, bi-focal vision, and other vision complications are on the rise, and people want to go for eyeglass lenses that help them see better. Customer requirements pertaining to the industry have shifted a lot in the last decade or so, and people are learned enough to demand lenses that help them better their quality of life. Thus, it is mandatory for you to have a variety of lenses with different features and recommend them to your customers based on the lifestyle or profession they have. Offer scratch-resistant, anti-fog, lightweight, anti-glare, light-filtered, and other different types of lenses in your shop.

Lighting and Mirrors

Customers coming back to return the frames after you have cut the lens and fit into it is the most annoying part of running an optical store, isn’t it? You can avoid that from happening by installing ample mirrors and lighting so that the customers are able to look at every minute detail of the frames. You should also offer to take pictures of your customers with glasses on and showing them for an even closer examination.

Window Display

How will a customer know that you have a great collection of eye solutions and frames until they walk into your shop and examine all the frames carefully? By embellishing your stock on the window display. Whatever space you have for your window display, you need to utilize it smartly and efficiently. Attractive displays and prominent offers look inviting and welcoming. Also, glass doors are much more effective than all other ones.

Customer satisfaction leads to loyal and long-term customers and recommendations. You can increase revenue in your optical store by great amounts by following these tips.

Symptoms of Ocular Migraines

site-AtHutQ — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 18:00:02 GMT

If you have ever experienced ocular migraines, you know they can be painful and often disabling. If you do not know what ocular migraines are or have never experienced them, you may want to learn their symptoms in case they happen to you.

Today, we will explain ocular migraines and their symptoms to help you identify them better if they happen to you or a loved one.

What Is Ocular Migraine?

An ocular migraine is described as a migraine that causes visual symptoms or disturbances (aura) with or without other symptoms of a migraine, like a headache.

While many people may experience migraines with aura, they do not always experience it with every migraine they get. An ocular migraine without aura is simply a typical migraine. However, a migraine with aura but no pain or headache is still an ocular migraine.

This is sometimes referred to as a “silent” migraine, and they are quite rare but become more common as you age.

You must not confuse ocular migraines with retinal migraines because many confuse them for each other. However, they are both different conditions with different prevention and care. Retinal migraines cause headaches and intense blind spots or temporary blindness in one eye, typically for less than an hour.

Symptoms of Ocular Migraines

Below, we have listed the symptoms of an ocular migraine. Please note that they can manifest differently in individuals and can vary between the following.

· A blind or bright spot that emerges in the center of your vision and expands up to half of your field of vision.

· Experiencing temporary flashes patterns like zig-zag lines, stars, or others

· Nausea

· Vomiting

· Impaired motor skills

· Slurred speech

· Sensitivity to light and sound

· Numbness or tingling on one side of your body

· Severe throbbing or pulsating pain in one or both sides of your head

· Pain that exacerbates with activity

These symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, and you may even experience a silent migraine that usually causes some of the visual symptoms but no pain or headache.

The visual symptoms of ocular migraine can be disabling and frightening. Fortunately, they are temporary, and most of them do not last very long. However, unfortunately, the non-visual symptoms like severe pain may last between a few hours to a few days.

An aura typically occurs right before or during the migraine and lasts between 15 to 30 minutes. It is not uncommon for the aura to occur before you even experience any pain or headache from the migraine.

Conclusion

Ocular migraines can become a problem because they are disabling and often painful. Either way, they interfere with your routine. Everyone experiences a headache or migraine now and then. However, the best thing to do if you experience visual symptoms, vomiting, or unbearable pain is to consult a doctor.

They will likely prescribe the right medication to resolve ocular migraine symptoms.

If you want to learn more about the symptoms of ocular migraines or want to source the best ophthalmic lenses for yourself or your business, please visit our website today.

Anti-Fog Coating for Eyeglass Lenses

site-AtHutQ — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 20:25:40 GMT

Covid-19 prevention demands us to wear masks most of the time. It is crucial for the safety of our health, but it comes with a problem for people who wear eyeglasses. It causes fog on their eyeglass lenses and interferes with clear vision. Anti-fog coating for eyeglass lenses is an effective way of keeping the potentially dangerous fog away from eyeglass lenses.

Some other activities that allow for the fog to appear on our lenses include:

l Working out in a gym

l Exercising and playing sports

l Opening a steamy dishwasher or a warm oven

l Transitioning from a cold environment to a hot one

l Taking a warm bath

l Sipping a cup of a hot beverage

l Cooking over a hot stove

Anti-Fog Coating

Anti-fog coating on your eyeglass lenses eliminates the problem of fogging by preventing the condensation of moisture on eyeglass lenses. It is not restricted to the material of the eyeglass lenses and can be applied to polycarbonate, plastic, photochromic, high-index, and other kinds of eyeglass lenses.

Before the lenses are cut to fit into the frame in an optical lab, they are applied with anti-fog agents (chemicals) that minimize surface tension. It helps the water on the lenses to take the form of non-scattering films instead of droplets.

If you do not face the problem of fogging on a continual basis, you also have the option to get an optifog activator. It is a liquid with anti-fogging properties, and you can apply it to both sides of your eyeglass lenses and wipe them with a microfiber cloth. This will spread the liquid on the whole lenses and will keep them fog-free for up to seven days. Different anti-fog sprays and pastes are also available that work in the same way. You can use most of these products for mirrors, windows, and face shields as well.

Different Anti-Fog Options

There are many different anti-fog coating options that you can opt for for your goggles, sunglasses, or eyeglasses. The different options cater to all budget levels, and it is better to evaluate your environment and requirements before making a purchase. If the atmosphere you live or work in is plagued with lens fogging, you should go for premium anti-fog solutions.

Whether you are purchasing factory-coated anti-fog eyeglass lenses or an anti-fog spray, paste, or liquid, you will come across many different brands offering them. It is vital to read up on each and the pros and cons they offer. Eyeglasses that have an anti-reflective coating on them should not be applied with anti-fog liquids of some brands.

Anti-fog coating for eyeglass lenses is great for all eyeglass wearers, especially professionals that are engaged in professions that face emergencies, such as doctors, firepersons, and security workers. A blurred or fogged vision is also not good for the health of your eyes and can cause headaches. People who live in colder climates face eyeglass fogging issues and can benefit from anti-fog coating to a great deal.

Hand-Eye Coordination Games for Kids

site-AtHutQ — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 05:30:02 GMT

Kids have developing bodies, and although their eyes and vision develop quickly, their eyes still go through a process of development that goes on till they reach up to 20-years of age.

A great way to ensure healthy development is to promote hand-eye coordination games for kids. They may not avoid the need for ophthalmic lenses or fix vision problems. However, they can help keep the eyes engaged as your child develops.

Additionally, it improves dexterity, visual-motor integration, reading/writing skills, physical activity, sports skills, and social skills in kids.

Hand-Eye Coordination Games for Kids

Here are a few excellent hand-eye coordination games for kids that will benefit their overall healthy development.

· Batting Practice.

Hang a ball using a net and rope, and let your child use a bat to toss it around. If there is more than one child, they can play push and catch, another fun game that promotes healthy hand-eye coordination.

· Roll/Pass the Ball

Simple ball passing is an excellent hand-eye coordination game that helps kids focus on the ball and move their hands accordingly. If your kids are too young to pass the ball, they can sit on the floor and roll the ball to each other; this is easier for younger kids but has the same effect.

· Toss and Catch

This is a great solo hand-eye coordination game for almost any age; still, team play is highly recommended. Kids learn to focus on the ball as they toss it in the air and improve hand-eye coordination as they catch it when it comes down.

· Wall Bounce

If your kids have enough catching experience, wall bounce can be extremely fun. Ask your kids to toss and bounce a ball against the wall and then catch it. They will learn how force and distance are relevant and improve their catching skills.

You can even make it competitive by keeping count of who can maintain the longest streak without missing a catch.

Conclusion

Hand-eye coordination games are important for your kids’ development, and they teach them important life skills as well. While they will not fix refractive errors, they can help promote fun, physical activities in kids who use ophthalmic lenses for refractive errors.

Lack of physical activity is a serious problem in kids that use ophthalmic lenses. Through the mentioned games, they will learn and get better at an early age, and this will help them gain confidence and get more involved in extracurricular and sports activities in school and beyond.

If you want to learn more about hand-eye coordination games for kids or about the best ophthalmic lenses for yourself, your kids, or your business, please visit our website today.

Swimming and Eye Safety

site-AtHutQ — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 13:16:40 GMT

Swimming in the summers is a common family activity. Kids love it, and adults get a good workout while beating the heat.

However, you and your family must be aware of eye safety before you jump in the pool or lake.

Hence, we have come up with swimming and eye safety to help protect your eyes from the irritants and dangers present in pools and bodies of water.

Swimming and Eye Safety

Here are a few things you should know about swimming and eye safety.

· Harmless Eye Irritants

You may not know this but pools are commonplace for eye irritants. If you ever felt irritation, stinging, or a burning sensation when you open your eyes in public pools, you have felt eye irritants. In pools, they are the result of chloramine, which is a common pool compound.

Chloramine is formed when chlorine reacts with contaminants in the water. These contaminants can be dirt, bacteria, oils, or even urine. While this may seem repulsive and unhygienic, chlorine is an excellent killer of contaminants and bacteria in pools so there is no need to worry.

Another cause of eye irritants in pools is the pH balance of the water. These eye irritants are not severely problematic and only cause temporary irritation. You can wear eye goggles to avoid these irritants altogether.

Just make sure they fit you and form a proper seal to protect your eyes.

· Do Not Wear Contacts Lenses Underwater

If you suffer from a refractive error like nearsightedness or farsightedness, options like prescription goggles or ophthalmic goggles are present to help you see better underwater.

However, it is never a good idea to wear your ophthalmic contacts or contact lenses underwater. While it may seem like a good idea to wear contacts under normal goggles, it is highly discouraged because it involves some severe risks.

Wearing contact lenses while swimming is like having Petri dishes on your eyes for microorganisms in water. While chlorine kills the most harmful contaminants and microorganisms in water, there are always a few that remain.

The remaining ones are not harmful on their own. However, if they find a warm, moist environment, they will gestate and multiply. Hence, your contacts that act like Petri dishes make the perfect environment for them to thrive.

Microorganisms like acanthamoeba are present in all bodies of water, and while they are not harmful on their own, they can do serious damage if you are wearing contacts underwater.

They lead to acanthamoeba keratitis , which damages your cornea severely and can even cause permanent visual impairment or blindness.

Moreover, contacts are not designed to be worn underwater; they may shrink and irritate.

Conclusion

A better option is to wear ophthalmic lenses (prescription glasses) in water instead. They will help you see better underwater and avoid damage to your cornea. However, you may end up losing them, so we advise you to wear them with a strap or fastener.

If you want to learn more about swimming and eye safety or the best ophthalmic lenses for yourself or your business, please visit our website today.

Find Your Dominant Eye

site-AtHutQ — Sat, 07 Aug 2021 13:11:08 GMT

You may have heard or read the term "dominant eye" but what exactly does it mean? Do you have one eye that performs better than the other? Or is it just for people who wear ophthalmic lenses for weak eyesight?

Let's discuss what dominant eye means and how you can find your dominant eye with a simple DIY test.

What Does Dominant Eye Mean?

Almost everyone has a dominant eye, or ocular dominance, regardless of whether they have weak eyesight or not. The term refers to the eye that provides a nominally higher degree of contribution to the part of your brain responsible for vision.

This "dominant eye" helps your brain better understand the location or distance of objects in your field of vision. People with perfect eyesight and completely healthy vision have a dominant eye that is simply the preferred or leading eye.

However, the term is also used to describe the normal or functional eye of people who suffer from conditions that cause dysfunctional eyes.

So, how can you tell which eye is your dominant eye?

Find Your Dominant Eye (Sighting Test)

Here is a step-by-step DIY test that will help you determine which of your eye is your dominant eye.

1. Focus on a distant object (8-10 feet away) with both your eyes open.

2. Extend one of your arms out with a finger or the thumb in an upright position and place it in front of that object. Do not worry if your finger or thumb seems partially see-through; this is perfectly normal.

3. Now close one eye at a time, or you can use your other hand to cover one eye at a time.

4. The eye that keeps your finger or thumb over the object while the other eye is closed is your dominant eye.

Congratulations, you now know which eye is your dominant eye.

You have just performed what is known as a sighting test. While sighting tests are simple to perform and typically give an accurate result, they are not a hundred percent correct. There are a few non-visual factors that may affect the results of sighting tests.

Some experts argue that non-sighting tests give more accurate results.

Non-Sighting Test

A non-sighting test involves keeping your eyes open and separately introducing visual stimuli to both your eyes using specialized optical devices. Due to the complexity of non-sighting tests and the expertise and equipment needed to perform them, not everyone can get tested.

These resources are normally only available in research labs and specialized vision clinics.

Conclusion

The easy-to-perform, DIY sighting test explained above is perfectly capable of accurately identifying your dominant eye. Most people will find their dominant eye through simple sighting tests. However, if it seems like that there is no dominance at all, then it is likely that both eyes are dominant.

Hence, each eye is dominant for particular visual tasks, and they both take turns to perform more accurately and powerfully.

If you want to learn more about how to find your dominant eye, more DIY tests, or about ophthalmic lenses for yourself or your business, please visit our website today.

Hyperopia Vs. Presbyopia

site-AtHutQ — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 17:25:14 GMT

Refractive errors like nearsightedness and farsightedness are very common, and there is a high chance that you may end up with a refractive error at some point in your lifetime.

Refractive errors cause the light entering your eye to either focus in front of your retina (nearsightedness) or behind your retina (farsightedness). A nearsighted person develops blurry vision, and a farsighted person cannot focus on far or near objects.

Other refractive errors include astigmatism and presbyopia.

Sometimes people suffer from hyperopia (farsightedness) and presbyopia simultaneously. Both of these conditions affect near vision and have similar symptoms, which means it can be confusing to understand which one you are experiencing.

Let's discuss hyperopia and presbyopia in some detail to give you a better understanding of what they are and what differentiates them.

What Is Hyperopia?

Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, affects children and adults of all ages. It makes focusing on nearby objects difficult for a person. It is caused by either an irregular corneal curve or the inability to focus the light that enters the eye correctly.

What Is Presbyopia?

On the other hand, presbyopia is an age-related condition that firms your eye lenses as you age. It commonly happens to middle-aged or older adults and can cause blurry vision due to the firming of the eye lenses.

Refractive errors like these are not severe eye health problems, and most people have them. They can easily be corrected by using the right ophthalmic lenses. Therefore, you can easily overcome vision problems from both hyperopia and presbyopia by using prescription ophthalmic lenses.

Hyperopia Vs. Presbyopia

Hyperopia lets you correctly see distant objects but not nearby objects. Light can pass into your eye; however, the lack of focusing ability focuses it behind your retina. People with hyperopia experience symptoms like:

· Burning sensation in the eyes

· Frustration when trying to focus on objects close to your face for too long

· Eye strain while reading, writing, or doing tasks that require near vision

· Feeling tired from reading, writing, or doing tasks that require near vision

Nearly 14.2 million adults in the U.S. above the age of 40 are farsighted.

Ophthalmic lenses benefit people with hyperopia by correcting vision through a positive, convex lens that focuses on the retina instead of behind it; this allows them to focus on a nearby object easily.

Similarly, symptoms of presbyopia include trouble viewing details up close, blurry vision, and eye fatigue when focusing on close-up tasks. However, since it is an age-related refractive error, people with jobs that require constant focus on nearby objects have a high chance of developing presbyopia

; this is the main difference between hyperopia and presbyopia.

Aging results in presbyopia, whereas hyperopia can be hereditary or happen as a result of your lifestyle.

Your age has little to no control over hyperopia, while presbyopia develops in most people after 40, which is why many adults require reading glasses past this age.

Presbyopia can also be treated with ophthalmic lenses like reading glasses. Since there is no cure for this condition, the best option is to manage your symptoms by using prescription ophthalmic lenses.

If you have both hyperopia and presbyopia simultaneously, your vision may be more impaired than if you had just one. However, the solution remains the same, prescription ophthalmic lenses to overcome the symptoms and vision problems.

Conclusion

Hyperopia and presbyopia have similar symptoms and effects on your vision, but they result from different factors. The good news is that you can manage both with the use of prescription ophthalmic lenses.

Always get regular eye exams to detect refractive errors early and consult your ophthalmologist or optometrist for the right ophthalmic lenses.

If you want to learn more about hyperopia and presbyopia or want the best ophthalmic lenses for yourself or your business, please visit our website today.

Early Signs of Myopia in Children

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 21:11:00 GMT

Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common visual impairment that often starts early on.

Refractive errors, like nearsightedness and farsightedness, hinder your ability to see clearly. However, nearsightedness is the most common of any refractive error caused by the length of the eyeball or problems with the cornea.

Over 40 percent of Americans have myopia. It typically develops at an early age, worsens through one’s teenage years, and stabilizes near adulthood. Detecting early signs of myopia in children and getting appropriate ophthalmic lenses to address the issue can play a key role in the future of their eyesight.

Myopia in Children

Many children hide their vision problems to avoid having to wear ophthalmic lenses. Some back-to-school physicals may include basic eye exams. However, your child's myopia can change over a year between these exams.

Myopia results when the shape of your child's eyeball changes, and the light entering it focuses in front of the retina instead of focusing on it. This causes far-away objects to look blurry, while nearer objects are easier to focus on.

We do not fully understand or have a definitive answer as to why myopia happens. However, we know it can be inherited from a parent. Myopia can be very subtle in children and often difficult to identify. However, vision problems typically start between the ages of 6 and 12.

Regular eye exams are important at this age, and there are some early signs of myopia in children, which you can look out for.

Early Signs of Myopia in Children

Here is how you can tell your child has myopia, especially if they are not eager to get ophthalmic lenses.

· Frequent Headaches

Your child may complain about frequent headaches - a common sign of myopia.

· Holding Things Close to the Face

Your child may hold a tablet, book, or any object with written text closer to their face than usual to get a clear view.

· Decline in Performance

Often myopia in children, who hide their problems, leads to worsening school grades and athletic performance. Many children will even withdraw from these activities because they find it difficult to focus on things.

· Sitting Closer to Screens

Similarly, they may sit closer to the TV or monitor to get better visuals.

· Squinting While Reading

Your child’s myopia may cause them to squint more than usual while they read things that are relatively far away or smaller.

· Watery Eyes

Your child may experience excess watering in their eyes for no apparent reason.

· Rubbing Eyes

They may even rub their eyes frequently throughout the day.

Conclusion

If your child exhibits these signs, chances are they are nearsighted, and you should get an eye exam done to eliminate the possibility. If they do have myopia, early detection, regular eye exams, and the use of ophthalmic lenses can help address their problem and avoid further degradation of their eyesight.

Regular outdoor activities are also recommended because daily exposure to natural light is linked to protecting against worsening myopia in children.

If you want to learn more about early signs of myopia in children or the best ophthalmic lens solutions for your child or business, please visit our website today.

Difference Between Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, and Opticians

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 20:59:23 GMT

You may have often heard someone mention going to an optician or an ophthalmologist and wondered what they meant.

Many people often use the terms ophthalmologist, optometrist, and optician interchangeably, and this can also be confusing. While they all work in the field of optics and may seem similar, there are clear distinctions between these professionals.

Let's discuss these professions, what they do, and why you may need them to clear out any misunderstandings you may have about them.

Difference Between Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, and Opticians

Here are brief explanations of ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians to help you understand the difference between these professions.

· Ophthalmologists

An Ophthalmologist is a medical doctor with a full medical degree and specialization in eye surgery. They are licensed professionals who perform surgical eye procedures on patients who need them. They go through an extensive residency program in ophthalmology to become an Ophthalmologist.

They can test, diagnose, and treat all eye problems. However, their training will dictate the extensive eye surgeries they can perform. A fully-trained ophthalmologist is capable of performing any eye surgery.

An ophthalmologist has the highest level of education, training, and overall expertise in eye care.

· Optometrists

An optometrist, also known as an ophthalmic optician, is a primary health care specialist, trained to diagnose ocular diseases, abnormalities, vision issues, and injuries. An optometrist is a health care provider for routine eye care.

They study a specialist program in optometry, which includes clinical training, to become optometrists. You may visit them for routine eye exams, diagnosis of eye problems, prescriptions for visual aids, medical treatments, and minor surgical procedures.

They can prescribe ophthalmic lenses and medication to treat most eye conditions. While they are licensed to perform some eye surgeries, they cannot perform major eye surgery or treat serious eye conditions like an ophthalmologist.

· Opticians

An optician is a professional who provides ophthalmic lenses to patients and fits them in frames for use. They are the customer service representative in an optometrist's office or ophthalmic lens store.

An optician does not need a formal degree; however, training, certification, or an associate's program in ophthalmic dispensing is typical. Ophthalmologists and optometrists can also certify an optician through apprenticeship under their practice.

You may visit them for routine eye care and examination, adjustment, and refilling of prescription ophthalmic lenses. They can also impart eye care education; however, they cannot examine, diagnose, or treat any eye diseases.

Conclusion

Hopefully, the descriptions provided here help you understand the difference between ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians, what they do, and how they can help you. While you can visit an ophthalmologist for all the things you would visit an optometrist or an optician for, they are mostly focused on eye surgery and eye diseases.

Unless you need extensive eye surgery, have serious eye problems, or have been recommended to an ophthalmologist, you can get most of your eye care solutions from optometrists and opticians.

If you want to learn more about the difference between ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians or the best ophthalmic lens solutions for yourself or your business, please visit our website today.

Difference Between Nearsightedness and Farsightedness

site-AtHutQ — Thu, 20 May 2021 14:21:36 GMT

Visual impairments are very common, and many people using ophthalmic lenses (glasses) either have nearsightedness or farsightedness. Some using these lenses have astigmatism and other visual impairments; however, nearsightedness and farsightedness are the most common reasons for using them.

But what exactly are they, and what is the difference between nearsightedness and farsightedness? As you can probably guess by their names, they are both opposites of each other, and today, we will discuss them in detail to help you understand the difference better.

Nearsightedness

Nearsighted people can see objects that are close by but have difficulty focusing on faraway objects. This results in blurry vision when looking farther away and can prove detrimental to performing everyday tasks, such as driving.

The medical name for nearsightedness is myopia, and it occurs by an out-of-shape cornea or when the shape of the eyeball is longer than usual from front to back. When light enters the eye, the lens focuses the light on the retina , a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye, which allows us to see.

The longer shape of the eyeball with myopia means that this light is focused too far ahead of the retina, resulting in blurry vision when looking at faraway objects.

Farsightedness

Farsighted people can see objects clearly that are far away but have trouble focusing on nearby objects. This issue can be very problematic because, without the use of ophthalmic lenses, a person’s vision remains blurry, and tasks like reading, writing, and most everyday tasks become difficult.

The medical term for this is hyperopia, and it results in light from nearby objects focussing far behind the retina because the eyeball is too short from front to back or the cornea is out of shape. However, extreme hyperopia results in objects at all distances appearing blurry and out of focus.

Difference Between Nearsightedness and Farsightedness

Nearsightedness and farsightedness are not ‘eye diseases’ as most people believe; they are actually ‘refractive errors’ caused by slight abnormalities in the eyes. These refractive errors are caused by either the unusual shape of the eyeball or the cornea.

The main difference between these refractive errors is that they are complete opposites of each other; however, this is not all. Firstly, mild cases of farsightedness may not even affect your eyesight and only cause you headaches when you focus on nearby objects for longer, like when reading or working.

Moreover, children with hyperopia are typically born with this refractive error, and it improves itself as they grow and their eyeballs lengthen and develop as well. Conversely, nearsightedness is typically developed during childhood, worsens through teenage years, and stabilizes nearing adulthood.

Myopia also nearly always affects your eyesight while causing symptoms like headaches and eye strain. There are also statistical differences between nearsightedness and farsightedness; only 10 to 15 percent of Americans are farsighted while over 40 percent are nearsighted.

Conclusion

While the two refractive errors are opposed to each other, there are also differences in their development and statistical probability. Myopia or nearsightedness is almost 4 times more common than hyperopia or farsightedness.

Luckily, one similarity is that most cases of these refractive errors can be fixed easily by using the right ophthalmic lens.

If you want to learn more about the difference between nearsightedness and farsightedness or want to get the best ophthalmic lenses for yourself or your business, visit our website today.

Foods That Improve Eye Health

site-AtHutQ — Thu, 13 May 2021 14:18:10 GMT

Eye health is an important part of our overall health.

We can and should do things to protect our eyes and maintain a healthy vision for as long as possible. Wearing ophthalmic lenses to correct refractive errors, sunglasses with UV coatings to prevent excessive exposure, and reducing screen time are all recommended.

However, you can also eat foods that improve eye health. Let's discuss the foods you can eat to improve your eye health and the longevity of healthy vision.

Foods That Improve Eye Health

Here are some of the best foods that improve eye health and you can easily find them all at your local stores.

· Carrots

No list of foods that improve eye health can miss out on carrots and neither does ours. We have all heard how healthy carrots are for the eyes, and this is because carrots are packed with beta-carotene , which is an essential precursor for vitamin A.

However, carrots are not the only veggies that contain beta-carotene. Foods like pumpkins and sweet potatoes also contain healthy amounts of beta-carotene and are highly recommended to improve eye health.

We suggest you incorporate these foods into your diet and consume at least 4 to 5 servings of beta-carotene foods a week to maintain good eye health.

· Green Veggies

Many green plants contain Zeaxanthin and Lutein, which are carotenoids (pigments) that protect them from excessive exposure to the sun and its UV rays.

These carotenoids are also found in the macula of the human eye and help prevent or slow down diseases like age-related macular degeneration , which can be accelerated due to excessive UV exposure.

The carotenoids increase the efficiency of macula , which, in turn, acts as an in-built UV protector for our eyes. Veggies, like orange bell peppers, kale, and spinach, are packed with Zeaxanthin and Lutein and should be regularly consumed to improve the function of the macula.

· Fish & Nuts

Fish and nuts rich in Omega-3 fatty acids are excellent foods that improve eye health. The Omega-3 fatty acids in these foods are known to prevent dry eyes, especially in people who develop computer vision syndrome (CVS) problems.

If you are constantly exposed to screens, whether because of your job or hobbies, it may do you well to keep your eyes hydrated, and eating Omega-3 rich foods can help with that. Fish, like sardines, tuna, and salmon, and nuts like walnuts are all rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.

Regular consumption of these foods will keep your eyes hydrated and even give you the numerous other health benefits of consuming healthy Omega-3 fatty acids.

Conclusion

Eating healthy should always be a priority no matter what ailments you may or may not have. The mentioned foods that improve eye health also have plenty of other health benefits, and you should incorporate them into your diet, even if you have perfect vision.

Those who have visual impairments or eye problems should specifically target these foods in their diet to improve their eye health.

If you want to learn more about foods that improve your eye health, visual impairments, ophthalmic lenses, or the best ophthalmic lenses for your business, please visit our website today.

Importance of Eye Exams

site-AtHutQ — Thu, 06 May 2021 14:09:08 GMT

Vision, or sight, is often considered by many as the most important of the five senses.

Generally speaking, vision does seem like the most important sense, which makes our eyes the most important sensory organ.

Many people believe that the ability to see is the most important of all human senses, and most scientists agree. This importance is evident in the complexity of human vision compared to those of other land animals, who mostly use their sense of smell as the primary receptor.

Human vision is so complex that often our brains will adapt to our deteriorating vision to compensate for visual impairments, tricking us into thinking that our vision is fine. However, this may not be the case, and we need to get regular eye exams to make sure our vision is maintained long-term.

Importance of Eye Exams

Naturally, eye exams can detect refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism , but they can do more than just this.

· General Health

Eyes are excellent indicators of our general health, and doctors can spot health problems, like high cholesterol and blood pressure, lupus, and diabetes by examining the eyes. These health problems can be caught early through eye exams to start treatment and avoid serious complications later on.

· Eyes & Vision

The importance of eye exams cannot be understated, especially if we want to maintain healthy vision throughout our lives. Eye problems, like age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma , can become very problematic if left unchecked, which is why regular eye exams are so important.

Moreover, people with refractive errors or other visual impairments should get regular eye exams to ensure that their vision is not deteriorating further. They need to get an eye exam annually or any time symptoms, like eye fatigue, headaches, blurry vision, or dry eyes, are experienced.

· Perfect Vision

Most people who have perfect eyesight or think that they do should also get regular eye exams. This precaution helps them ensure that their healthy vision is maintained, they have not developed health or eye problems, and that their brains are not tricking them into thinking they have perfect vision.

Conclusion

Whether you wear ophthalmic lenses (please link blog titled 'What Is an Ophthalmic Lens' here) or not, if you are not getting regular eye exams you may unknowingly be damaging your eye health and vision. More importantly, you may have health problems, which you are not aware of, and eye exams can help identify these problems.

Once again, the importance of eye exams cannot be understated, and you should get annual eye exams if you suffer from existing eye problems or visual impairments. If you do not have any symptoms, visual impairments, or eye problems, doctors recommend getting regular eye exams based on your age:

· Ages 20 to 39: Every 5 years

· Ages 40 to 54: Every 2 to 4 years

· Ages 55 to 64: Every 1 to 3 years

· Ages 65 and up: Every 1 to 2 years

This is simply because your vision changes over time due to factors, like aging, medications, and general health, which we can discuss in detail in another article.

For now, if you want to learn more about the importance of eye exams, or you want to get the best ophthalmic lenses for your business, please visit our website today.

What Is an Ophthalmic Lens?

site-AtHutQ — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 14:58:53 GMT

Whether you are an individual who needs eyeglasses, an optical lab professional or the owner of an eye care store, you should learn about ophthalmic lenses from the best. Which is why we have come up with a comprehensive description of ophthalmic lenses, what they are and what they do.

What Is an Ophthalmic Lens?

An ophthalmic lens is simply a lens made to correct visual impairments in individuals whose focal points inside eyes do not let light hit their retina correctly. The light either hits the front of the retina, or it hits behind the retina, causing near and farsighted visual impairments.

This can cause them to have blurry vision when looking at things in the distance or things up close. Some individuals suffer from both, near and farsightedness, while some may suffer from astigmatism. Astigmatism is the deformation of the cornea that results in similar visual impairments.

An ophthalmic lens can correct all these visual impairments.

How Do Ophthalmic Lenses Work?

The purpose of ophthalmic lenses is to correct the focal point, allowing light to correctly hit the retina. These lenses achieve this through their curved design. The curved design on ophthalmic lenses adjusts and positions the focal point to let the light hit the retina at precisely the correct spot.

This makes it much easier for individuals with near and farsighted visual impairments to focus on their desired view. While this is the basic function of ophthalmic lenses, there are also other additional features that can be tailored to someone's individual needs.

What Is an Ophthalmic Lens Made of?

Typically, an ophthalmic lens is made of either of the four materials mentioned below.

· Plastic

A plastic ophthalmic lens is the most economical option out of all the mentioned materials. It features optimal visual correction and offers superior optics to the user. They are widely used because of their cost-effective nature but since they are made of plastic, they are prone to scratches and scuffs.

These are best for people with minor visual impairments, who may not actively be using them all the time.

· Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate ophthalmic lenses are an excellent option because they are thinner, lighter and far more durable than plastic variants. This makes them great for individuals with strong visual impairments because they provide optimal visual correctness without added thickness and weight.

The fact that polycarbonate ophthalmic lenses are practically unbreakable makes them the best choice for kids and adults with an active lifestyle.

· High Index

This is a new material for ophthalmic lenses that is revolutionizing the industry. This is because they are exceptionally thin and durable, which makes them lightweight, comfortable and long lasting. Most importantly, however, they offer great clarity to the user.

Which is why they are recommended for individuals with severe visual impairments. The only drawback is that high index ophthalmic lenses are relatively more expensive than the rest, which is expected given their superior nature.

· Other Materials

There are other materials used to make ophthalmic lenses as well such as Trivex - a urethane-based pre-polymer. These materials produce superior quality ophthalmic lenses because they are strong alternatives that provide effective, lightweight and clearer solutions.

Conclusion

Ophthalmic lenses are the best wearable solution for individuals with astigmatism or near and farsightedness, which is why they are highly recommended by optometrists and eye specialists. Always consult an osteopathic or medical professional before opting for any type of lenses.

If you want to learn more about what is an ophthalmic lens, or you want the best ophthalmic lens solutions for yourself or your business, please visit our website today.

How to Properly Clean Your Ophthalmic Lens Glasses

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 22:49:36 GMT

If you regularly wear glasses, then you are no stranger to dirt, grease or sand getting stuck on your lenses.

While dirty glasses are highly irritating, they also pose various other risks. Dirt on your glasses can and does harbor a variety of bacteria that you do not want anywhere near your eyes, nose or face. Which is why keeping your glasses clean is very important.

Moreover, ophthalmic lens glasses that have dirt or grease on them can even cause eyestrain and headaches if you do not regularly clean them. This is because they obstruct your vision and frequently cause your eye lens to adjust and change focus.

Let's discuss how you can properly clean your ophthalmic lens glasses to maintain their function and hygiene to the maximum.

How to Properly Clean Your Ophthalmic Lens Glasses

When it comes to cleaning your ophthalmic lens glasses, we highly recommend that you at least do a light cleaning of your lenses every day and a thorough cleaning of lenses and frames every week.

Your daily lens cleaning routine should be a habitual task that takes no more than 30 seconds. All you need are 2 items:

· A piece of microfiber cloth
This is typically provided with the purchase of any ophthalmic lens glasses or you can buy one. They are beneficial for cleaning lenses because they do not cause scratches or smears while cleaning.

· A cleaning solution
Regular lotion-free dish soap can be a good cleaning solution, although, special lens cleaning sprays are the best option. This is because they are safe for cleaning polycarbonate ophthalmic lenses and protect the various coatings on your ophthalmic lenses.

Related: You can learn more about the various ophthalmic lens coatings by clicking here (please link blog titled 'Different Focal and Coating Options for Your Ophthalmic Lenses' here).

Ophthalmic Lens Cleaning Procedure

Here is an easy step-by-step ophthalmic lens cleaning procedure that you should practice on a daily basis. Make sure your hands are clean before the procedure to ensure minimal cross contamination from your hands to the lenses.

1. Place your ophthalmic lens glasses under warm running water to remove dirt and other elements. If you have hard or harsh running water in your home, try using distilled water for this step.

2. Gently wipe down your lenses using the microfiber cloth.

3. Spray cleaning solution on both sides of the lenses. If you use lotion-free dish soap, then dab a single drop on each side and rub it over and rinse completely.

4. Dry your ophthalmic lens glasses by shaking off excess water. You can even use canned air for this step if you want to avoid watermarks and streaks after drying.

That’s it, your ophthalmic lens glasses should be sparkling clean, and you should have no trouble using them the entire day.

Conclusion

Cleaning your ophthalmic lens glasses is very important, especially if you regularly use them to correct severe visual impairments. Make it a habit to clean them every day, preferably in the mornings to ensure a germ-free, eyestrain-free and headache-free day.

If you want to learn more about how to properly clean your ophthalmic lens glasses or you want to learn about the best ophthalmic lens solution for yourself or your business, please visit our website today.

Types of Ophthalmic Lenses

site-AtHutQ — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 13:38:30 GMT

Visual impairments can really impact the quality of life for any person.

Those individuals who suffer from visual impairments have a somewhat different view of life, which is quite literal in many severe cases. Thankfully, modern science and technology has helped us solve these problems through ophthalmic lenses.

What Is an Ophthalmic Lens?

An ophthalmic lens is a focal lens made to correct visual impairments in those who have issues with their focal point incorrectly hitting light on their retinas. These visual impairments cause the focal point to hit light either in front of the retina, or behind it, resulting in near or farsightedness.

Ophthalmic lenses can correct these visual impairments and can even correct astigmatism , which is the deformation of the cornea that results in eyestrain and headaches due to blurry vision, similar to the mentioned visual impairments.

The types of ophthalmic lenses can be divided into three categories, relating to solving these three visual impairments.

Types of Ophthalmic Lenses

There are numerous ways that a lens can be grinded to create shapes and, typically, three shapes are commonly used in ophthalmic lenses to correct the mentioned visual impairments. These include:

· Convex

These ophthalmic lenses are curved outwards, giving a rounded shape to the lens. The round nature of this lens helps to bring the user's immediate surroundings into focus and capture the details that would otherwise be blurred due to farsightedness.

Patients that suffer from farsightedness cannot correctly focus on objects close to them because the entering light creates a focal point behind their retina. Convex ophthalmic lenses help correct this issue by bringing the focal point on the retina and allowing nearer objects to be seen clearly.

· Concave

Concave ophthalmic lenses, as the name suggests, are caved inwards, creating a rounded cave-like shape on the lens. This concave shape helps bring farther objects into perspective for those patients who suffer from nearsightedness.

Nearsightedness in patients brings the focal point of light entering their eyes in front of their retinas, which makes it difficult for them to see objects that are far away. The inward shape of concave ophthalmic lenses can correct this issue by moving the focal point back on the retina.

· Cylindrical

Cylindrical ophthalmic lenses are shaped like a cylinder to help correct focal points for patients who suffer from astigmatism. Patients suffering from astigmatism have an astigmatic cornea, which is deformed and has mismatched curves unlike normal corneas.

It cannot correctly project the light to bring the focal point on the retina, instead, the deformed cornea projects the light at different focal points, causing blurry vision at all distances. A cylindrical ophthalmic lens helps compensate for this by counteracting the uneven curvatures of astigmatic corneas.

Conclusion

Whether a patient suffers from nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, the right type of ophthalmic lens can help correct their visual impairment. This is especially true for correcting blurry vision caused by astigmatic corneas, whose sufferers are at the most disadvantage.

There are also other variants of ophthalmic lenses that are differentiated by their focalizations and coatings. You can read all about them by clicking here (please link blog titled ' Different Focal and Coating Options for Ophthalmic Lenses'.

If you want to learn more about the types of ophthalmic lenses and what they do, or you want to get the best ophthalmic lenses for yourself or your business, please visit our website today.

Different Focal and Coating Options for Ophthalmic Lenses

site-AtHutQ — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 13:26:09 GMT

When opting for an ophthalmic lens to correct visual impairments, it is best to understand the different focal and coating options for ophthalmic lenses available to you.

The different types of ophthalmic lenses vary in their focalizations and coatings that make them beneficial to their user's individual needs.

Here are the different focal and coating options you will find in most ophthalmic lenses.

Different Focal and Coating Options for Ophthalmic Lenses

Most ophthalmic lenses can be focalized and coated as per the user's individual needs. Let's discuss these different focal and coating options for ophthalmic lenses to better understand their purpose and the right options for your use.

Focalizations

The different focalizations of ophthalmic lenses allow to correct a variety of visual impairments with a single pair of lenses.

· Single Focus

Single focus lenses are used to correct the visual impairment of individuals suffering from a single type of visual impairment, like near or farsightedness.

· Bifocals

Bifocal lenses correct two visual impairments by dividing the lens into an upper and lower half. The upper half is for nearsightedness and lower half is for farsightedness. User can use the upper half to focus on farther objects and lower half to focus on nearer objects.

· Trifocals

Individuals that suffer from a variety of visual impairments are typically prescribed trifocal lenses to correct them all with a single pair of lenses. Trifocals require some getting used to by their users because they are divided into three different sections.

· Progressives

Progressive ophthalmic lenses are a modern solution to bifocals and trifocals. Unlike traditional bifocals and trifocals that have visibly defined lines on the lenses that separate their functions, progressive lenses get rid of these lines.

This makes for a seamless lens that can be used to correct up to three visual impairments without the unappealing lines that separate different functions.

Coatings

Coatings add a variety of different benefits to any pair of ophthalmic lenses. There are 4 common types of coating that are typically available.

· Anti-Glare

This coating helps avoid any reflections or glare through the lenses that may distract clear vision. Most importantly, it diminishes any halos around light sources.

· UV Protection

Similar to sunblock for your skin, this lens coating prevents eye damage from the harmful UV rays of the sun.

· Anti-Scratch

This lens coating makes it difficult for your ophthalmic lenses to get scratched or scuffed.

· Photo-Chromic

This coating turns any ophthalmic lens into a transitional lens that darkens in the light and lightens in the dark based on your surrounding light saturation.

Conclusion

It is always best to fully understand the options available to you and these are the different focal and coating options for ophthalmic lenses you will find. You can select the focalization and coating of your ophthalmic lenses as you please, you can have two pairs of single focus or a bifocal with UV protection.

It is all up to you as long as they help improve your vision and ease of use. Always consult a medical professional or specialist before opting for any of the different focal and coating options for ophthalmic lenses.

If you want to learn more about the different focal and coating options for ophthalmic lenses, or you want the best ophthalmic lens solutions, please visit our website today.