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

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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.

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 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.

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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.

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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.

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

High-Quality Prescription Lenses

In our stores, you’ll find that there are many choices of lenses and we understand it can be a bit overwhelming to know which lenses are right for you and your lifestyle. If you don’t know which lens option is right for you that’s okay, we are here to help. Below are a few brief descriptions of lenses so you can get a better idea of your options before you visit us for your appointment. Scheduling An Eye Exam

Lens Prescriptions:

Single Vision: Lenses that help correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These lenses are one power edge to edge and help with one visual need. They also help defend against digital eye strain so your eyes stay relaxed, comfortable and healthy.

Bifocal: Lenses that are prescribed to correct two fields of vision which are divided by a line that sits horizontally across the lens. The top portion of the lens is used for distance, while the bottom portion of the lens is used for near vision. With bifocal lenses, you can enjoy reading without straining your eyes.

Trifocal: Trifocals help correct the intermediate area by adding a second small lens segment above the near vision segment. This results in a total of three power zones The intermediate segment allows the wearer to see things about 18-24 in from the face like the computer screen or the car dashboard.

Progressive lenses: Progressive lenses provide a smooth transition from distance through mid to near vision. Progressive lenses give you the most natural vision correction at all distances. With progressive lenses, you can look up to see clear across a room and far in the distance.

Lens Materials

Plastic: Plastic lenses are a good "basic lens" for entry level prescriptions (below -2 diopters). It is inherently more scratch insistent than Poly, and are also better for tinting.

Polycarbonate (Poly): Poly is 10 times more impact-resistant than plastic or glass lenses and they provide 100% protection from the sun's harmful UV rays. They are the preferred material for children’s glasses, sunglasses, and sports eyewear.

HI-Index Lenses: Hi-Index lenses are thinner and lighter than regular plastic lenses. Their slim appearance reduces the magnified "bug-eye" look that conventional lenses cause in strong farsighted prescriptions.

Upgrades:

Tints: Light conditions can change considerably though out the day and tinted lenses can relieve the burden that these lighting contrasts can have on the eyes. Tints provide natural vision and color perception, even in glaring or diffuse light. Whether you are indoors or outdoors, tints can reduce glare, improve contrast, and enhance depth perception to match your lifestyle. Use the guide below to choose the ideal lens tints for you.

• Yellow or Orange: heightens contrast in overcast, hazy, low-light conditions. Filters blue light for sharper focus
• Ideal for cycling, hunting, shooting, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, indoor basketball, handball, racquetball, tennis.
• Amber, Rose, or Red: Heightens contrast in cloudy and sunny conditions but can cause significant color imbalances
• Ideal for cycling, fishing, hunting, shooting, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, water sports.
• Amber, Copper, or Brown: Blocks blue light and enhance contrast and visual acuity. Useful in improving contrast on grass and against blue skies.
• Ideal for cycling, fishing (especially in waters with grassy bottoms), golf, hunting, skiing, water sports.
• Green: heightens contrast (minimally) while preserving color balance
• Ideal for Baseball, golf
• Gray: reduces overall brightness while preserving 100% color recognition
• Ideal for outdoor sports in bright sunlight

HD: Offers a sharper and a 40% wider field of vision in all lighting conditions. HD lenses provide more clarity and precision because they are digitally customized to fit your eye and vision needs.

Anti-scratch: No lenses are 100% scratch proof, however there is an option to treat lenses with a scratch-resistant coating so that they become more resistant to scratching and will last longer.

Anti-Reflective (A/R) coatings: A thin coating placed on lenses helps eliminate glare from eyeglasses and provide better vision for night driving and more comfortable vision for reading and computer use.

Photochromic: These light-adaptive lens are clear when you are indoors but darken when activated by the sun's UV rays outdoors. This added protection helps defend the eyes against over-exposure to UV radiation.

Polarized:Polarized lenses have a filter that permits only vertical light rays to pass through the lens thus blocking glare from horizontal rays that are produced by flat surfaces. Blocking these horizontal rays makes your vision crisp and clear, reducing eye strain. Most polarized lenses offer UV protection for your eyes as well.

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.)

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