Score Big on Safety

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As a parent you do your best to protect your children. They eat their veggies, get plenty of rest and wear a helmet when they ride their bicycle. But what about protecting their eyes?

Now that your kids are out of school for the summer, they will be taking part in a wide range of sports and outdoor activities. Eye injuries can be devastating. Basketball, for instance, is one of the leading causes of injuries because of blows from fingers and elbows.

As well as abrasions of the cornea, sports injuries can include internal bleeding and retinal detachments which can lead to serious vision loss. Patients who have sustained eye injuries are also at a greater risk for developing glaucoma at some point in their life.

Student athletes of all ages need to wear sport-specific protective eye wear that’s been properly fitted by an eye care professional.

Eyeglass lenses made from polycarbonate materials provide the greatest level of impact protection and can withstand shattering or cracking when hit by a ball or other projectile traveling at high speeds.  

Properly fitted protective eye wear won’t hurt athletic performance and may save your child’s sight. Even if the school or sports league doesn’t require eye protection, parents need to ensure their children wear eye protection at all times.

Parents – don’t slow your children down. Instead, help them understand the importance of eye safety while they dribble, pitch, swing, kick or spike. They can have fun and stay safe!

Summer time, any time

Summer break is the perfect time to bring your children in for a thorough eye examination. It’s never too early. Even if your child doesn’t display any signs of vision trouble, the Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends infants have their first eye exam by the end of their first year, and toddlers by age three. Early diagnosis of a vision development disorder will allow for early intervention.

 

Book your annual eye exam with a Doctor of Optometry at
eye-bar optical in Sherwood Park Today. 

This article is courtesy of Eye Recommend: eye-bar optometrists, opticians & eyewear specialists is a member of Eye Recommend, Canada's Vision Care Professionals, helping doctors help their patients since 1997. We are proud to be able to help Canadians attain optimal eye health.

What is the harm in extending the life of my contact lenses?

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Extending the life of your contact lenses is kind of like driving a car at 250 km per hour.  For a while, if everything goes smoothly, there is no indication of trouble.  However, if something starts to go wrong, it can go wrong in a major way very quickly. 

Some complications that can occur are:

  • Allergic Reaction – protein build-up on the lens can cause discomfort, itchiness, dry eyes and intolerance to contact lens wear.
  • Conjunctivitis – accumulated protein attracts bacteria which can easily lead to conjunctivitis.  Symptoms include redness, burning, itching, tearing, light sensitivity, blurred vision and mucous discharge.
  • Corneal Edema (swelling) – Extended contact lens wear decreases the oxygen supply to the cornea and can cause increased fluid in the cornea. It can cause blurred vision and halos around lights.
  • Neovascularization – The cornea normally doesn’t have any blood vessels. When it is deprived of oxygen (by over wearing contact lenses), the body responds by growing new blood vessels, hoping to increase oxygen to the cornea. This abnormal blood vessel growth can interfere with vision. The new vessels are also weak and can hemorrhage and cause blindness.
  • Corneal Abrasion/Corneal Ulcer – Again, due to the lack of oxygen, the surface cells on the cornea become weak and easily damaged.  Corneal abrasions or corneal ulcers can form causing very serious infection and complications that can lead to blindness.

These complications can be caused both by wearing a contact lens too long in a day (or overnight) or by not replacing your lenses according to your optometrist's recommendations.  Either way, the eye is subject to less oxygen and more irritation and bacterial growth.  The blurred vision, pain, light sensitivity and potential scarring can be greatly reduced or eliminated by responsible contact lens wear.  If any of these symptoms occur, remove your contact lenses immediately and get checked by your optometrist.

*Image found here

Prevent vision loss with Vitamin E

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Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant for the body. In particular, it plays an important role in eye health by preventing age related macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness in people over 55 years old). Studies show that it can reduce the progression for those who have AMD, and also prevents the formation of cataracts. 

Delicious sources of Vitamin E include nuts, vegetable oils, sweet potatoes, and salads.

*Image credits: salad, sweet potatoes, nuts.

Vitamin C for Healthy Eyes

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Vitamin C (aka ascorbic acid) is a major player in eye health. It maintains lens transparency, prevents cataracts, and fights against age-related macular degeneration. The retina needs to be surrounded by vitamin C to protect itself from free radicals and promote healing if damaged. Our bodies do not naturally create vitamin C when needed, so including this in your diet is a critical part of keeping your eyes (and virtually all cells in your body) functioning properly.

Excellent sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits, peppers, cantaloupe, tomatoes, and broccoli. There are many tasty vitamin C supplements available from the drug store, too.

*Image credits: broccoli, tomatoes, citrus fruits.

health: Is It Time to Quit?

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Smoking is a leading contributor to many serious eye health conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, dry eye, vascular eye disease and optic neuropathy. Smoking contributes to early atherosclerosis which results in pre-mature hardening of the arteries throughout the body and reduced blood flow to the eye.

To help reduce your risk of sever vision loss in the future, it may be time to consider quitting or at least reducing how much you smoke on a daily basis. With your permission, your eye-bar optometrist can sign you up for the free AlbertaQuits Helpline by Alberta Health Care. The AlbertaQuits Helpline will pair you up with a smoking Cessation Counsellor who will guide you through the process and act as a resource. They will help you with quitting methods and aids, how to handle withdrawal symptoms, stress management, cravings, preventing weight gain, and getting through temporary relapses.

To learn more about this program please visit AlbertaQuits.ca.

Eat your way to healthier eyes

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You know the age-old idea of eating carrots to maintain healthy eyes? Well, there is a reason for it. Beta-carotene is an important anti-oxidant that keeps eyes working correctly, and happens to be responsible for the orange color of carrots and other produce. Beta-carotene is converted to Vitamin A in your body which is used in the process of converting light into the actual images you see, and keeping your cornea moist. 

This antioxidant is easy to find: carrots, apricots, cantaloupes, peaches, blueberries, sweet potatoes, winter squashes, and most of the dark green leafy vegetables.

*photo credits: carrots, peaches, winter squashes.

It’s a Dog’s Life!

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3 years ago I made an impulsive decision to drive to Saskatchewan and get a dog.  So far I have no regrets, in fact this has turned out to be one of the best decision of my life.  My dog has managed to restore balance to my at times chaotic and overworked life. She is always the first one to greet me when I get home at night and hyperventilates out of excitement, which is both cute and kind of scary.

Medically, pets can provide substantial health benefits for their owners. Pets help reduce stress, increase personal fitness and act as an anti-depressant by putting a smile on their owners face. Pets also provide someone to talk to when no one else will listen.

Over the past few years my dog has taught me a number of valuable life lessons, which I try to live up to.

  1. Get excited when you see your family, friends and co-workers
  2. Take time for a nap
  3. Play each and every day
  4. Go for a walk
  5. Routine is ok
  6. Treats are ok, sometimes
  7. Drink plenty of water
  8. Your body language says a lot
  9. Stay curious
  10. Forgive and forget quickly
  11. Life is short
  12. Talk to your neighbour

If dogs are not for you, then consider getting a cat like Dr. Bakelaar or a whole bunch of fish like my friend Pete. Good medicine doesn’t always have to come in the shape of a pill.

eye-bar optometry in Sherwood Park - Eye Exams, Contact Lenses, Emergency Visits & Ophthalmology Referrals