You’ve got your hat, gloves, scarf, and boots to protect you from the harsh winter elements, but what’s protecting your eyes? Winter weather can strain your eyes, causing discomfort and affecting your vision. During the colder months, the air is dry, and the glare from sunlight reflecting off snow can overexpose your eyes to ultraviolet light. So before you hit the slopes or head out to shovel the walk, take a few minutes to think about winter eye safety.
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Some amount of deterioration is expected as we age. It’s normal to lose bone density and muscle mass as well as have some sagging and wrinkles. You might not be able to stay up all night and function the next day as you did in your youth, or you might have to give up spicy foods. Unfortunately, some sensory deterioration is also expected. That said, there are things you can do to maintain bone and muscle strength and minimize the progression of lines and wrinkles, and in many cases, you can also stave off vision loss as you age. According to the National Eye Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the risk for eye disease increases with age, but there are steps you can take to prevent vision loss. The first thing you need to do is understand the most common eye issues related to aging.
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Picture yourself enjoying a day outdoors, lounging in the sun, or playing with your dog. Suddenly, a strong wind comes, and some debris makes its way into your eyes. You blink, and they begin to water. While you went to remove the debris from your eye, your eyes themselves began the process immediately, thanks to tear production. Tear production is one of the most basic functions of your organs of sight, and it occurs for an important reason.
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Did you know that lack of sleep can affect your vision? After a long night with too little sleep, you’ve probably experienced eye twitching, spasms, and puffy eyes. You’re not alone. Nearly one-third of all nights of sleep in America are “terrible.” On average, people need 7 hours of nightly sleep for optimal health but get only 5.5 hours. That’s over 100 million Americans suffering from lack of sleep. Yet lack of sleep can cause more than twitchy eyes. You need good sleep to keep your eyes in top-notch working condition. Let’s explore how sleep and vision are related – and how you can use sleep to keep your eyes healthy.
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Spring is around the corner. That means no more gray skies or cold weather. It is the advent of summer! And when summer arrives, it is time for fun in the sun. Pool parties. Barbeques. Lots of sunlight. More outdoor time also means more air exposure. Sunshine, temperature, and storms all affect air quality. During heat waves, air quality can be at its lowest – especially during wildfire season in states like California or Idaho. Now, you might think air quality only affects your lungs. It doesn’t. It affects your eyes too. Because they are extremely complex and delicate, human eyes are fragile. They are just as vulnerable to air quality as your lungs. That might sound scary, but have no fear! In this post, we’ll show you how air quality and eye health are related and how to keep your eyes healthy.
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Your eyes are your literal windows to the world – so it’s crucial to take proper care of them. However, many people suffer from various eye conditions, such as dry eyes. This can cause discomfort, stinging, and burning, leading to more serious issues down the line when left untreated. It also can be chronic. To manage dry eyes, you need to familiarize yourself with the condition and its symptoms.
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In a world of virtual learning, smartphones, and nearly round the clock access to screens, eye strain is a real thing. That is why many people prefer dark mode. This is a setting offered on many cellular devices and now browsers on desktops. Dark mode, or dark themes, basically invert the color schedule. This makes the text light and the background dark. The default, light mode, is dark text with white or light background. It might seem new to us, but actually, computers started out with a dark mode default. Still, many believe this will help with computer eye strain. But, does it? Let’s talk about some misconceptions.
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Office ergonomics are commonly associated with back/neck, and hand/wrist health. Yet, proper desk ergonomics is also beneficial to the health and comfort of your eyes. Nearly 80% of U.S. jobs are considered desk-bound or sedentary. Now, with the pandemic even more people have been required to work from home. Because of this shift, there is less walking and more sitting. While office ergonomics might have been considered by your employer, not many apply it to their home office.
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Though it may seem like a minor inconvenience, dry eye is a significant health issue in the United States. In fact, an estimated 16 million people are reportedly diagnosed with dry eye disease, or DED, nationwide. And, according to a National Health and Wellness survey, almost 6 million people experience DED symptoms but are not formally diagnosed. So, if millions of people are suffering from symptoms, what can we do to combat the disease? And, what causes dry eye in the first place?
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In the midst of the current COVID-19 crisis, urgent and routine eye care is essential. At Looking Glass Optical, the health and safety of our patients is our main concern. And, we understand the apprehension and caution that many may feel about re-entering a doctor’s office during this time. However, we want to assure our patients of the strict hygiene and safety precautions being implemented today.
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