March is Save Your Vision Month! Save Your Vision Month is promoted by the American Optometric Association in order to provide awareness of the importance of regular eye exams and maintaining eye health.
Many of us tend to take our good vision for granted and often fail to be proactive about caring for the health of our eyes. Until our vision starts to fade or bother us, it’s easy to put our annual eye exam off another year or fail to be mindful of our eye health altogether.
And it’s not JUST about your eye health! Many non-eye related health issues can be found during an eye exam, including hypertension, STIs, high cholesterol and diabetes. According to the American Optometric Association’s 2020 Eye-Q survey, 1 in 5 Americans has been diagnosed with a non-eye related health issue by an eye health professional.
In honor of Save Your Vision Month, Berkeley Eye Center would like to remind all our readers of the importance of having an annual eye exam in which the doctor not only checks your vision and prescription but also checks the health of your eyes.
We’ll also be sharing a few tips to maintain your eye health and Save Your Vision!
Sun Protection
While many of us wear sunscreen to protect our skin, we often fail to recognize the importance of protecting our eyes.
UV radiation from the sun can damage not only the skin of your eyelids, but also the clear outer parts of the eye-the cornea and conjunctiva. Exposure to UV rays also contribute to certain types of cataracts. Berkeley Eye Center encourages Houstonians to protect their eyes both from sunlight and computer screens. We offer solutions for all your sunglasses needs.
Choosing Sunglasses
Look for sunglasses that block 99% of UVB rays and at least 95% UVA rays. Select a sunglass that sits close to your face and hugs it. This will provide maximum protection from damage that can occur from all angles. A dark lens does not mean the lenses have ultraviolet protection. Look on the label to ensure that your sunglasses provide this protection before making a purchase.
Protect your eyes from glare. Whether you’re behind the wheel, swinging a golf club or riding a bike, glare can interfere with your vision and cause eyestrain. Even while wearing a hat you are at risk of ultraviolet radiation reflected off buildings, roadways, water and other surfaces. It is important to wear sunglasses anytime you may be exposed to UV rays or glare.
Computer Eye Wear
How many hours a day do you spend on a computer? Staring at a computer screen for long periods of time may result in a visual stress condition.
If you are suffering from blurry vision, tired eyes, eyestrain, headaches or dry eyes, you may be experiencing Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). CVS is a repetitive visual stress condition recognized by the American Optometric Association. According to the AOA, an estimated 125 million Americans suffer from symptoms related to CVS, and the National Safety Management Society reports that seven out of 10 Americans will experience negative effects related to CVS.
Solutions to CVS
- GUNNAR digital performance eyewear. Specialized tint and coating minimize screen glare and reduce high energy visible light found in typical computing environments to speed visual recovery.
- Essilor Anti-Fatigue Lenses & Essilor Computer Lenses.
- Frequent breaks. Every 20 minutes stare off in the distance 20 feet for 20 seconds.
- Proper lighting to minimize glare and reflections on the monitor.
Visit Berkeley Eye Center to learn about all your sunglass and computer eyewear options. We offer a large selection of prescription and non-prescription eyewear. Call 713-526-1600 to schedule an eye exam or schedule online.