Is Too Much Screen Time Bad for Kids?

You check in to say good night to your son only to find he is playing "Fortnite" in bed.

Or your daughter is busy texting when she is supposed to be studying.

Children and their phones are inseparable today, and all that reading and playing games on their handheld devices may be harming their vision.

To reduce screen time, some parents ban phones at the dinner table. This applies to both adults and children. And in some homes, playing games or texting must stop two hours before bedtime.

To put a hard stop on screen time, some moms and dads set time limits on their children's daily device use. For example, when a total of two hours of screen time has been reached, no more texting, game playing or YouTube watching.

Definition of "screen time"

 "Screen time" refers to the amount of time a person spends staring at the digital displays of computers, tablets (iPads, for example) and smartphones.

According to The Vision Council, 72 percent of American parents report their children routinely engage in more than two hours of screen time per day. And it's very likely most kids actually spend significantly more time staring at screens than their parents think they do.

As kids grow, their screen time tends to grow with them. And even very young children these days are spending a significant amount of time each day staring at screens. According to Common Sense Media, young children in the U.S. spend the following amount of time each day using digital devices:

• Kids under 2 years of age: 42 minutes per day
• Kids ages 2 to 4: 2.5 hours per day
• Children ages 5 to 8: nearly 3 hours per day

Read more HERE

 Pearle Vision-Roswell
10775 U.S. Hwy 9
Roswell, GA 30076
770-998-9656 Pearle Vision-Roswell

Eye Twitching: 8 Causes and Remedies

What is eye twitching?

Eye twitching — which actually is twitching of an eyelid — is common and harmless.

Most eye twitching lasts only a few minutes, but sometimes an eyelid twitch can persist for days or longer. If you have an eye twitch that doesn't go away relatively quickly, see an eye doctor.

The medical term for eye twitching is myokymia.

If you experience eye twitching that doesn't go away, this could signal a serious neurological condition affecting the eyelid — such as blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm. These relatively rare conditions are more obvious and severe than common eye twitching and should be evaluated immediately by an eye doctor.

What causes eye twitching?

Triggers of eye twitching include:

• Stress
• Fatigue
• Eye strain
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Dry eyes
• Nutrition problems
• Allergies

If you experience eye twitching, take a close look at this list and note which of these potential triggers might apply to you. Sometimes, making minor changes to your diet and lifestyle can significantly reduce your risk of eye twitching or help make an eyelid twitch disappear.

Read more HERE

Pearle Vision-Roswell
10775 U.S. Hwy 9
Roswell, GA 30076
770-998-9656 
Pearle Vision-Roswell 

How Many Pairs of Glasses Do You Need?

 

How many pairs of eyeglasses do you need? That depends on your vision needs, your vision insurance, your budget – and even your fashion sense.

Most people get prescription eyeglasses to correct their vision, but other specialty eyewear includes computer glasses to reduce digital eye strain, polarized sunglassesto reduce glare and block harmful ultraviolet rays, readers to help you see up close, and ski goggles and sports glasses for when you’re on the slopes or riding your motorcycle.

So, how many glasses do you need?

“There are a lot more options available than there were before,” says Clifford W. Brooks, OD, FAAO, of the Indiana University School of Optometry. “But people don’t consider specialty eyeglasses because they don’t recognize that they would be helped by them.”

Meet some people who have more than one pair of spectacles — and in one case nearly as many glasses as some people have shoes.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are more than just a fashion accessory. Sunglasses are your first line of defense to protect your eyes against the damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun.

“No matter the season or the location, people should protect their eyes with good quality sunglasses that block out UV light,” says American Optometric AssociationPresident Samuel D. Pierce, OD. “Even prescription glasses can be made with tints and full UV protection.”

But fashion appeal is important, too — because it's often what drives a sunglasses purchase.

Bob Matsuoka of New York City is a sunglasses devotee. “They are like shoes for me!” He stores a couple of dozen non-prescription pairs in a repurposed cigar humidor, ready to pop on over his contact lenses for everyday wear.

“If I see a nice pair of sunglasses, I tend to get them. They’re an expression of personality and fashion — nothing practical about them,” he says.

Matsuoka’s spectacles collection also extends to several more functional pairs of shades for his outdoor activities. Two pair are side-shielded to block the wind when he’s riding his electric skateboard, and he has three sets of snowboarding goggles.

Read more HERE

 Pearle Vision-Roswell
10775 U.S. Hwy 9
Roswell, GA 30076
770-998-9656 Pearle Vision-Roswell

Happy Mother's Day!

 

Pearle Vision-Roswell
10775 U.S. Hwy 9
Roswell, GA 30076
770-998-9656 
Pearle Vision-Roswell

Nutrition For Healthy Eyes

Research suggests that antioxidants and other important nutrients may reduce your risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Specific antioxidants can have additional benefits as well; for example, vitamin A protects against blindness, and vitamin C may play a role in preventing or alleviating glaucoma.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids appear to help the eye in a variety of ways, from alleviating symptoms of dry eye syndrome to guarding against macular
 damage.

Eye Benefits Of Vitamins And Micronutrients

The following vitamins, minerals and other nutrients have been shown to be essential for good vision and may protect your eyes from sight-robbing conditions and diseases.

Incorporating the following foods in your diet will help you get the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of these important eye nutrients. Established by the Institute of Medicine (National Academy of Sciences), the RDA is the average daily dietary intake level of a nutrient sufficient to meet the requirements of nearly all healthy individuals in a specific life stage and gender group.

While the RDA is a useful reference, some eye care practitioners recommend higher daily intakes of certain nutrients for people at risk for eye problems.

Read more HERE

Pearle Vision-Roswell
10775 U.S. Hwy 9
Roswell, GA 30076
770-998-9656 
Pearle Vision-Roswell

Corrective Eye Surgery Basics

Until contact lenses were popularized in the 1950s, eyeglasses for at least the past seven centuries had been the only practical way to correct refractive vision errors.

Now, several modern approaches to corrective eye surgery range from laser reshaping of the eye's surface in procedures such as LASIK and PRK to surgical insertion of artificial lenses to correct eyesight.

In LASIK, PRK, and similar procedures, laser energy reshapes the curvature of the eye's clear front surface (cornea) to alter the way light rays enter the eye. Artificial lenses surgically inserted into the eye also can refocus light rays to sharpen vision.

The Evolution of Corrective Eye Surgery

Over the past 25 years, surgical techniques, tools, and procedures for vision correction have evolved rapidly.

Radial Keratotomy (RK), used in the United States primarily during the 1980s, involved cutting spoke-like incisions to flatten the eye's surface mainly to correct nearsightedness.

But results, especially long-term, created problems for some individuals. Significant glare, regression, fluctuating vision, and other side effects such as night vision problems were common in patients who had RK for higher prescription strengths, while such side effects were less frequent in patients with lower prescriptions.

RK is now virtually obsolete as a primary vision correction procedure for these reasons and because of advances in laser vision correction procedures.

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) was the first successful laser vision correction procedure used to remove (ablate

) tissue directly from the eye's surface to change the curvature of the cornea. PRK, also known as surface ablation, was performed outside the United States during the 1980s and received FDA
 approval in 1995. PRK is still commonly used, but LASIK (see below) is by far the most popular laser procedure today.

However, PRK has made somewhat of a comeback in recent years because of studies indicating that PRK and LASIK produce similar outcomes. Also, nerve regeneration in the eye's surface appears to take place faster with PRK than with LASIK following a procedure, which could have implications for reducing dry eye and other complications that might occur until the healing process is complete.

Because PRK is a surface procedure, there also is no risk of surgical flap complications. PRK does not involve creating a thin, hinged flap on the eye's surface, as occurs with LASIK. PRK also appears to be a safer procedure in cases when a person's cornea may be too thin for LASIK surgery.

Recent technological advances have given eye surgeons better methods of creating thinner flaps in a predictable way, meaning that people with thin corneas now might be candidates for a LASIK procedure.

However, you probably should consider a different type of vision correction procedure if you have a thin cornea and high degree of myopia that would require extra ablation to reshape the eye.

Read more HERE

Pearle Vision-Roswell
10775 U.S. Hwy 9
Roswell, GA 30076
770-998-9656 
Pearle Vision-Roswell

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day Tip: Wash your clothes only when necessary, use cold water and line dry.

Let's work together to make the world a better place! 

Pearle Vision-Roswell
10775 U.S. Hwy 9
Roswell, GA 30076
770-998-9656 
Pearle Vision-Roswell

10 Warning Signs Of Age-Related Eye Problems

Regular eye exams are the very best way to avoid vision problems, even as you grow older. If you haven't had an eye exam in over a year, schedule a visit with an eye doctor near you.

Being aware of certain warning signs also can help you take appropriate steps to maintain your eyesight, particularly if vision symptoms occur suddenly. In many cases, such as with a detached retina or rapid onset of glaucoma, prompt intervention is essential to avoid or minimize permanent vision loss.

While many eye problems can occur at any age, they often are more common in older individuals. Unfortunately, aging also increases your risk for certain types of sight-threatening eye conditions that can lead to blindness.

10 Signs And Symptoms Of Eye Problems

The following signs and symptoms can indicate a medical emergency or an urgent condition that could cause significant vision loss over time. In most cases, you should see your eye doctor as soon as possible if you experience:

1. A flood of spots and floaters in your field of vision. Usually, eye floaters are due to a benign, age-related condition called vitreous detachment
   
   
   . This occurs when the eye's gel-like interior liquefies and separates from the retina, the light-sensitive inner lining of the back of the eye. 
   
   But a sudden onset of spots and floaters also can be caused by a serious, sight-threatening tear or detachment of the retina. If you suddenly see a shower of spots and floaters, visit your optometrist or ophthalmologist immediately.
2. A sensation that a dark curtain has settled across your field of view. This could be caused by a retinal detachment, which occurs when the retina separates from the underlying layer of nourishing blood vessels (choroid
   
   
   ). If the retina is not reattached within hours, vision loss can be permanent.

Read more HERE

Pearle Vision-Roswell
10775 U.S. Hwy 9
Roswell, GA 30076
770-998-9656 
Pearle Vision-Roswell

Toys And Eye Safety

Choosing the right toys for eye safety is a concern for every parent.

Children are born with an immature visual system that needs to be stimulated in order to promote normal infant vision development. The good news is nothing stimulates a child's vision more easily than a toy. But it's important to choose toys that are safe.

Keep in mind that most childhood accidents occur at home, many with toys. Children spend a great deal of time playing with their toys, so you need to make sure those toys are safe for overall health as well as eye safety.

Usually when toys are not safe, it's because they are not age-appropriate for the child.

How To Size Up Toys

Hand-in-hand with age appropriateness is making sure the toy is developmentally appropriate. Smaller pieces can be found in toys labeled for children age 3 and up. If your 4-year-old stills likes to put things in her mouth, these toys are not developmentally appropriate for her.

Toy size also is important. If a toy is large enough not to fit into a child's mouth but can be manipulated into a smaller size, put the toy away until your child is older.

Make sure your child's toys are sturdily constructed so they won't break or fall apart with reasonable play, and double-check that any paints or finishes are non-toxic and not likely to peel or flake off.

Stuffed, plush toys should be machine washable, and, for younger children, made without tiny pieces to pull off, such as buttons or ribbons.

Avoid toys with sharp or rough edges or pieces. Make sure long-handled toys — such as a pony stick, broom or vacuum — have rounded handles, and closely supervise toddlers with such toys.

More On What Toys To Avoid

Avoid toys that shoot objects in the air — such as slingshots, dart guns or arrows — for children under 6, and closely supervise any child playing with such toys. If your older child plays with a chemistry set or woodworking tools, provide him or her with safety goggles.

Read more HERE

Pearle Vision-Roswell
10775 U.S. Hwy 9
Roswell, GA 30076
770-998-9656 
Pearle Vision-Roswell

Dry Eye Treatment: Getting Relief From Dry Eyes

Dry eye syndrome is a chronic and typically progressive condition. Depending on its cause and severity, it may not be completely curable. But in most cases, dry eyes can be managed successfully, usually resulting in noticeably greater eye comfort, fewer dry eye symptoms, and sometimes sharper vision as well.

Because dry eye disease can have a number of causes, a variety of treatment approaches are used.

The following is a list of dry eye treatments that are commonly used by eye doctors to reduce the signs and symptoms of dry eyes. Your eye doctor may recommend only one of these dry eye treatments or a combination of treatments, depending on the cause(s) and severity of your condition.

Also, some eye doctors will have you complete a questionnaire about your symptoms prior to initiating dry eye treatment. Your answers to this survey are then used as a baseline, and the questionnaire may be administered again after several weeks of treatment to evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen treatment approach.

Successful treatment of dry eyes requires that you are willing to follow your eye doctor's recommendations and that you use the products he or she recommends consistently and as frequently as directed. (If you don't have one yet, please click here to find an eye doctor near you.)

1. Artificial Tears

For mild cases of dry eyes caused by computer use, reading, schoolwork and other situational causes, the best dry eye treatment may simply be frequent use of artificial tears or other lubricating eye drops.

There are many brands of artificial tears that are available without a prescription. The challenge with using artificial tears is not lack of product availability — it's the confusing number of brands and formulations available to choose from.

Artificial tears and other over-the-counter (OTC) lubricating eye drops are available in a wide variety of ingredients and viscosity ("thickness").

Artificial tears with low viscosity are "light" and watery. They often provide quick relief with little or no blurring of your vision when you apply them. But often their soothing effect is very short-lived, and sometimes you must use these drops very frequently to get adequate dry eye relief.

On the other hand, artificial tears that have a high viscosity are more gel-like and can provide longer-lasting lubrication. But typically these drops cause significant blurring of your vision for several minutes immediately after you apply them. For this reason, these drops often are not a good choice for use during your work day or when you need immediate clear vision for tasks such as driving. Instead, high-viscosity artificial tears are recommended only for bedtime use.

Read more HERE 

Pearle Vision-Roswell
10775 U.S. Hwy 9
Roswell, GA 30076
770-998-9656 
Pearle Vision-Roswell

Tips For Coping With Vision Loss

 

Many age-related eye changes that affect vision can be addressed with practical solutions. For example, adding a bit of extra lighting can help with activities such as reading recipes and tinkering with garage projects.

In fact, after about age 60, you may find you need additional illumination for most tasks performed indoors or in darker conditions outdoors. This is because your pupil no longer opens as widely as it once did to allow light to enter. This means less light reaches your retina where vision processing occurs, reducing your ability to see clearly.

To help offset this problem, you might consider:

• Installing task lighting underneath kitchen cabinets or above stoves to help illuminate work areas.
• Making sure you have enough lighting to brighten work surfaces in your garage, sewing room or other areas where you need to see fine details.
• Asking your employer to install additional lighting, if needed, at your workplace.

Also, make sure you have regular eye exams that include critical tests for older eyes to rule out potentially serious age-related eye diseases that may affect your vision. Your eye doctor also can advise you about the best vision correction options to reduce the effects of normal age-related declines in near vision, color vision and contrast sensitivity.

Read more HERE 

Pearle Vision-Roswell
10775 U.S. Hwy 9
Roswell, GA 30076
770-998-9656 
Pearle Vision-Roswell

Black Eye FAQ

A black eye (or "shiner") occurs when fluids collect in the tissues surrounding the eye after an injury near the eye.

Technically speaking, a black eye is a bruise or discoloration caused by broken blood vessels under the surface of the skin. Like other bruises, a black eye typically is accompanied by swelling.

Similar to bruises elsewhere on the body, a black eye usually is caused by blunt force trauma — a non-penetrating injury caused by impact. But there can be other causes as well.

What Is A Black Eye?

The clinical term for a black eye is periorbital hematoma. Though more difficult to pronounce, this medical term more accurately describes the condition — it is a collection of blood (hematoma) located in the tissues around, not inside, the eye (periorbital).

Any blunt force trauma to the eye socket or areas around it can damage small blood vessels under the skin and cause them to leak, leading to the development of a black eye or "shiner."

(The origin and meaning of the slang term "shiner" to describe a black eye is unknown. Some dictionaries say the term originated around 1904. It might have developed because the skin overlying a black eye sometimes can appear shiny. Another theory is that a black eye sometimes appears as though a person has applied a smudge of "black" used to shine shoes around his or her eye.)

Read more HERE

Pearle Vision-Roswell
10775 U.S. Hwy 9
Roswell, GA 30076
770-998-9656 
Pearle Vision-Roswell

Vision and the Athlete

Written by Troy Bedinghaus, OD for Very Well Health

Healthy eyes and vision are extremely important for optimum sports performance. For an athlete, vision is much more than simply seeing clearly. Several important vision skills can affect how well you play your sport. Vision is key to top performance in many sports. If you want to play at your best, it is essential to make certain you are seeing your absolute best. A complete eye exam by a board-certified optometrist will reveal any vision problems that could be hindering your performance. If a problem is discovered, your doctor will be able to recommend options to help you see your best.

Visual Skills for Sports

Several visual skills are important for improving your game in all sports. An eye exam can help to determine certain skills that you may need to improve upon. An optometrist specializing in sports vision can help you find ways to improve the following valuable skills.

• Dynamic Visual Acuity: Visual acuity refers to the clarity of your vision. Dynamic visual acuity is how clearly you see objects that are moving quickly. If you play a sport with a fast-moving ball, such as tennis or soccer, you need to be able to clearly see the ball while you or the ball is moving fast. Athletes with good dynamic visual acuity have an advantage in sports like these.
• Visual Concentration: While playing your sport, it's easy to be distracted by things that are going on around you. It is natural for your eyes to react to anything that happens in your field of vision, even if you're concentrating on your game. Visual concentration is the ability to screen out distractions and remain focused on the ball or the target.
• Eye Tracking: Eye tracking is the process of measuring either the point of gaze (where one is looking) or the motion of an eye relative to the head. When you are playing a sport with a fast-moving ball, you need to be able to follow objects without moving your head much, as doing so throws your body off balance and slows you down. Eye tracking helps you maintain better balance and react more quickly.

• Eye-Hand-Body Coordination: Eye-hand-body coordination describes the way in which your hands, feet, and body respond to the information transferred through your eyes. Most sports rely heavily on timing and body control.
• Visual Memory:  In many sports, an athlete needs to process and remember a fast-moving, complex picture of people and things. This is known as a visual memory. An athlete with good visual memory seems to always be in the right place at the right time.
• Visualization:  Visualization is a cognitive tool that involves using imagination to realize all aspects of an object, action or outcome. Picturing yourself swishing a three-pointer or hitting a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway can actually help you do it. Visualization is mentally seeing yourself performing well in your mind while your eyes are concentrating on something else, such as the ball.
• Peripheral Vision:  Peripheral vision, or side vision, is the ability to see objects and movement outside the direct line of vision. When a basketball player sees his teammate out of the corner of his eye, he is using his peripheral vision. Increasing your ability to see action to the side without turning your head is important in every sport, as not all of the action takes place right in front of you.

• Visual Reaction Time:  Visual reaction time is the speed with which your brain interprets and reacts to an action. All sports require a quick visual reaction time. For example, if your arms don't swing at the ball as soon as it crosses the plate, you're probably going to get a strike.
• Depth Perception: Depth perception is the ability to judge the distance of objects and the spatial relationship of objects at different distances. In sports, depth perception enables you to accurately judge the distance between yourself, the ball, your opponents, teammates, boundary lines and other objects.
• Color Vision:  Color vision is the process by which your eyes detect color. Your ability to detect different colors and shades is important in certain sports such as football.

Eyeglasses to Boost Performance

Sports eyewear, or eyeglasses that are made specifically for an athlete, can have a profound effect on an athlete's performance. Sports specific eyewear is becoming increasingly popular among athletes. Being able to see clearly on a sunny day can massively improve your performance in many outdoor sports. Polarized lenses help to eliminate annoying glare from the sun. You’ll see everything you need with sharpened vision. Plus, you’ll be protected from all the harmful UV with a good pair of sunglasses. Also, specific tint colors will improve contrast in order to allow you to see certain colored balls quicker and easier.

Eye Protection for the Athlete

All athletes, and especially those in certain high-risk sports, need to consider eye protection when playing their game. Every year, thousands of children and adults suffer sports-related eye injuries. However, nearly all eye injuries can be prevented with proper protective eyewear. An injury to the eye can be serious. The most common types of eye trauma that can result from sports injuries are blunt injuries, corneal abrasions, and penetrating injuries. As with any eye injury, it is important to seek care from a doctor.

Many people believe that wearing regular eyeglasses during sports will protect their eyes. However, the lenses of regular eyeglasses can shatter upon impact by a ball, which could lead to a penetrating injury. All sports goggles and glasses should be made with polycarbonate lenses. Polycarbonate lenses are much stronger than regular lenses. Each sport has a certain type of recommended protective eyewear, determined by ASTM International (a global standards developer). High-risk sports that require protective eyewear include basketball, baseball, hockey, football, lacrosse, fencing, paintball, water polo, racquetball, soccer, and downhill skiing.

A Word From Verywell

Achieving your personal best in your chosen sport depends on your motivation and devotion. But remember also that your eyesight plays a huge factor in your overall athletic performance. Sports eyewear is becoming more and more popular among an athlete's list of equipment. However, your clarity of vision and visual skills are the most important factors in enhancing your game.

 Pearle Vision-Roswell
10775 U.S. Hwy 9
Roswell, GA 30076
770-998-9656 
Pearle Vision-Roswell