As you might expect, this is taking a toll on our eyes. We were given these two amazing machines called eyes, but like other things, we have to take care of them. Staring at screens, especially small screen within three feet of our eyes can cause visual fatigue. Have you ever had that feeling at the end of the day as if your eyes are burning, or you want to just rub them for a minute? That is most likely from strain and fatigue. The majority of people over the age of 45 are now wearing some type of glasses to help them read. This can be single vision readers, lined bifocals or trifocals, or no-line “bifocals” (these are really multi-focals).

But what about those of us that are in the 18 to 45 year old demographic? We don’t need reading glasses…or do we? Our high level of use of digital devices has led to the identification in recent years of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). This is caused by long periods of uninterrupted use of computers, cell phones, tablets, etc. Symptoms include dry eys (from not blinking enough), headaches, blurred vision, and neck and shoulder pain.

There is a new lens design available that helps reduce or eliminate the symptoms of CVS, known as an anti-fatigue lens. This lens is for those non-presbyopic people who don’t yet need bifocals, those who are just starting to feel as if their arms are getting too short to read comfortably, and really anyone else who reads for extended periods of time. These lenses are designed to be your primary pair of glasses.

You have your regular distance prescription in what is essentially a single vision lens. The difference is the bottom of the lens has a +0.60 diopter bump in the power which magnifies whatever you are reading just slightly. Most often, this is not even something you would really notice, though it can be more easily detected by tilting you head back and looking at a far away object through the bottom of the lens. This extra power helps alleviate the eye strain throughout the days allowing your eyes to be more relaxed and helping to maintain clearer vision.

If you spend a lot of time reading or working on the computer, consider asking your optometrist or optician about these lenses. They might save you a few headaches and let you get a little more reading or work done! You can also call or email us if you have more questions.

Your vision insurance benefits expire on December 31, 2011. If they are not used by the end of the year you forfeit them. So as it has been said, “Use it or Lose It”! Many patients confuse vision insurance with medical health insurance. The fact is, the two are not the same. Vision insurance covers a “once a year” eye examination, an eye health screening and benefits for contact lenses or eyeglasses.

Medical Health Insurance recognizes that your eye is a “body member” like any other part of your body, subject to disease from various medical conditions. A few of the many conditions are diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. Medical Insurance plans like Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare, Aetna, United Healthcare and Cigna, to name a few, cover medical eye care and treatment by an optometric physician like Dr. Consor for conditions like dry eyes, eye allergy and eye conditions related to diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. Numerous diseases of the body can damage the inside of the eye. Did you know that diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness? Many medical plans include a preventive annual diabetic eye wellness examination for FREE.

If your medical insurance deductibles have been met or you haven’t used your vision care plan benefits, this is a good time of the year to visit the Eye Doctor.

Use any remaining account dollars in your Health Savings or Flexible Spending accounts. HSA and Flex Plans can be used for eye exams, prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses and medical eye care.

So, how do you win the sunglasses? Go to the picture of the dog wearing sunglasses on our Facebook page by clicking here, were we have selected a point on the photo. Then, tag yourself anywhere in the photo! Whoever gets closest to the selected point, wins. Be sure to “like” us so that you will be notified when the winner is announced on our page. How easy is that?

On May 23rd, we will select the winner and announce it on Facebook. Whoever is tagged closet to the winning spot will be able to come in and choose, in person, ANY sunglass we currently have in stock. What’s the catch? There must be at least 50 tags in the picture! (Staff…you are NOT eligible) You may tag your friends, coworkers, or anyone else that you think might want to win, as long as there are 50 people tagged before May 23rd.

Since not everyone will win, we are going to offer 20% off all sunglass frames during the month of May you for anyone who participated in the contest as encouragement to protect your eyes this summer. You only get one set of eyeballs so take care of them!

As always, if you are buying prescription sunglasses or any pair of prescription eyewear as a second complete pair, you’ll receive $100 off of single vision or $125 off progressive pairs when you purchase a complete pair.

If you have any questions, let us know! Good luck! We’ll see you on Facebook.

Be sure to share this page with friends using the links below!

Orthokeratology is for people of any age who are nearsighted with a prescription of up to -5.00 diopters of power and minimal astigmatism. The procedures can be performed on practically anyone of any age, as long as their eyes are healthy. Ortho-K holds particular appeal for people who participate in sports, or who work in dusty, dirty environments that can cause problems for regular contact lenses. Because Ortho-K offers similar benefits to LASIK, it’s also appealing to adolescents and teens, which are not eligible for lasik. The majority of “Ortho-K” patients can expect 20/20 vision during the day as long as they wear the retainer lens the majority of nights while sleeping. Discontinuing lens wear altogether allows your corneas to gradually regress to their original shape or close to it. “Ortho-K” is Comfortable and pain free. EAVB_SBZWQTKAJE

Our office embraces the new GDX technology for the early detection of glaucoma. The GDX nerve fiber layer scanning technology in less than 90 seconds painlessly scans the optic fibers that degenerate in glaucoma. This screening allows Dr. Consor to see the pattern and thickness of nerve fibers in the back of the eye and compare them again normal results. Thinner than normal fibers indicate glaucoma may be present long before any vision is lost. This means the doctor will have more time to treat the disease which is always a good thing!

Contact our office to determine if you are at risk of developing glaucoma. We have a list of patient demographics for which we suggest the screening. This screening is conducted during our comprehensive eye health exam for a VERY minimal charge.

1 Additional information on Glaucoma.

Just like the filter on my camera, polarized lenses filter out glare in your sunglasses. “But I don’t notice glare?”, you may say.  Really? Have you ever been driving on a day when there is a lot of moisture in the air and the sky is grey? Even though the sky is completely cloudy , you still feel the need to squint. You aren’t being affected by bright light, but by the glare! As the light travels through the air it hits the water molecules in the air and fractures, producing copious amounts of glare. A pair of polarized lenses will minimize this and make driving MUCH more comfortable!

But we see far fewer rainy days than we do sunny days around Dallas. Moisture isn’t the only thing that produces glare. How about concrete? I doubt you commute to work through a grass field, and even if you do, I suspect it isn’t on foot. You are going to be subjected to glare from street signs, cars, windshields, buildings and many other reflective surfaces. A flash of light can seriously affect your vision for five or ten seconds. At sixty or, let’s face it Dallas drivers, eighty-five miles per hour, you are covering a lot of ground with impaired vision. That is a lot of time for something to happen with serious consequences.

Polarized lenses are also great for sports. They will cut the glare for skiing, improve contrast for reading contours while playing golf, and help you see through the surface of the water while fishing. Here is a great site that shows different colors of lenses. Click on each one for a demo of the lens and a list of which activities each color is useful for. The most common two colors are gray and brown. Once you venture outside of those colors, availability will be significantly limited.

The photos below shows the same scene. I took the first picture of a Koi pond fed by a stream. After I checked the picture I realized I had forgotten to attach my polarized filter. I screwed it on and took another shot. Notice how the picture on the left is harsh, and you can barely tell there are fish in the photo? The photo on the right was taken with the polarized lens which greatly reduced the glare from the surface of the water.

Have you tried polarized lenses? What has your experience been? Leave a comment and let us hear from you. We will also answer your questions if you leave one in the comments.