Yearly Archives: 2019

Let’s talk about blue light. As we spend more time on digital devices, we are exposed to blue light more than we ever have been before. You may have heard news reports about digital eye strain or your ophthalmologist may have even cautioned you to check your exposure. If you have questions about blue light, we are here to help.

1. What is blue light? We all remember learning in elementary school that there is a spectrum of color for sunlight. If you aim a beam of light through a prism of glass, you’ll see the white light divide into all the colors of the rainbow. Blue light is a natural part of the sun’s light. It has the shortest wavelengths and the most energy. It is also artificially produced by digital devices like computer screens, tablets, phones and other electronics.
2. How does blue light affect your eyes? Your eyes are naturally good at filtering light. Less than one percent of UV radiation makes it the cornea of your eye, but blue light is a different story. This wavelength can penetrate to the retina at the back of the eye. Research has shown that too much blue light can damage your retinas and cause other eye conditions like macular degeneration.
3. Can you get too much blue light exposure? We don’t know how much blue light exposure is too much. Studies have shown that blue light does contribute to digital eye strain. It causes that annoying feeling you get after a long day of work at the computer when your eyes are itchy, sore and generally worn out. Blue light reduces contrast, which makes it harder for your eyes to focus, and causes this strain.
4. How can you protect your eyes? Watch how often you are using electronics (especially in the evening hours when exposure can throw off your circadian rhythm), and how close you hold your devices to your face. If you spend a great deal of time with digital tools, talk to your eye doctor about blue light glasses. These glasses have a special anti-reflective coating that helps reduce glare from digital devices.

Blue light isn’t bad for you, in the right amounts. If you are ready to take charge of your eye health, talk to your eye doctor about managing your blue light exposure. You can start simply by taking a break from screens a few minutes every hour, limiting your electronic use in the evening and spending more time outdoors. All of these tips are great ways to start taking care of your eyes from our digitally overloaded world. If you need more help, come and see us!

Do you ever wake up with red, itchy eyes, or just have a day where you feel like your eyes are dry and irritated?

Most of us have experienced one or all of those symptoms. It’s pretty common to have irritated eyes now and again, due to all sorts of normal things. Here’s a list of pretty common irritants that will lead to dry, itching, irritated eyes.

• Allergies: pollen, mold, pet dander, and dust are common culprits. Most folks experience some seasonal eye watering and itchiness during allergy season, or when they’ve been exposed to an irritant.
• Lack of sleep: When you miss out on enough shut eye, you sometimes see pretty negative effects. Not getting enough rest can lead to redness at the very least, dryness, and general irritability of your eyes.
• Skincare products: Did your sunscreen or moisturizer run into your eyes? Did you forget to take off mascara before bed? Most over-the-counter products are safety tested and won’t cause lasting damage, but still can cause irritation.
• Rubbing your eyes: When you rub your eyes or touch them without washing your hands first, you can introduce irritating germs. Try not to rub your eyes, when you can.
• Staring at a computer most of the day: Some people find this causes eye strain.
• Dry air: We live in a dry climate. Dryness and dust in the air can cause irritation, as well.

So, what can you do? First, we recommend home care. You can use drops, warm compresses, and take it easy when your eyes are irritated. Be sure also to wash your hands before rubbing your eyes.

But also know that if you have any questions, you should always feel free to call an eye doctor. A good one will have someone in reception that is knowledgeable enough to let you know when you need to come in.

However, if you’re experiencing pain or changes in vision with the above symptoms, that’s when you know to call to schedule an appointment. Your doctor should usually be able to get you in on the same day to see what’s going on, and help you find the right answers.

Have questions about your vision, how to prevent eye damage, or need to talk through an issue? Please reach out to us at Utah Eye Centers! We can help you to examine your options. We look forward to meeting with you!

Do you know when to schedule an eye exam? Do you know what symptoms warrant a visit? Should you bring a friend to drive you home? Today we answer all of those questions, and more.

When your vision is good and you’re feeling healthy, it’s tempting to put off a visit to see an ophthalmologist. But in general, you should be scheduling a visit every 1-2 years, depending on age and risk factors, symptoms, and whether or not you wear glasses or contacts to correct your vision. So, what should you expect when you get there?

Your eye doctor will give you a comprehensive vision check and eye exam. He or she will run tests for glaucoma and cataracts, and look for signs of degeneration. The doctor will ask questions about your medical history to know if you have any risks for eye-related conditions, such as those that often accompany diabetes, and will want to know if you’re taking any medications for the same reason.

Sometimes your eye doctor will find it necessary to dilate your eyes to conduct a more thorough check. She or he will use eye drops that open the pupils, and will shine a light into the eye to get a better look at the blood vessels and nerve in the eye. It doesn’t hurt, but it will leave your vision temporarily cloudy.

That’s when you don’t want to drive. If you think you’ll need your pupils dilated, bring a friend to drive you home or plan to spend a little extra time in the waiting room for the dilation to wear off.

Still not sure if you should schedule a visit? The following milestone are the guiding signs to lead you to schedule an appointment:

• You can’t remember the last time you went to see an eye doctor
• You have difficulty seeing street signs in the dark, or other trouble driving at night and in the early morning
• Your eyes feel dry, red and itchy constantly, or you’re seeing “floaters” in your vision, spots, or flashes of light
• You notice any vision changes, or that your eyes feel strained easily

Have questions about your vision, how to prevent eye damage, or need to talk through an issue? Please reach out to us at Utah Eye Centers! We can help you to examine your options. We look forward to meeting with you!

Is eye strain a disease? No. What we think of as eye strain is a set of unpleasant symptoms that can often be avoided. But we should take note when we experience eye strain, because the condition may give us clues about our vision and overall eye health.

So, what causes eye strain? The condition is brought on by periods of intense focus and use of vision. It can be caused by long periods of reading small print, lots of time looking at computer screens, long drives, and very dark or bright conditions.

How do you know if you’re experiencing eye strain? Take note of these symptoms:

• Headache
• Blurry vision
• Feelings of eye dryness and scratchiness
• Doubling vision
• Other general discomfort

For the most part, eye strain is a normal part of life. Think of your eyes in the same way you would your muscles. Overuse leads to fatigue, right? But we mentioned that there are times you should take note, because your eye strain might be providing clues about your health.

Eye strain can be brought on more quickly due to refractive errors in your vision, when your eyes aren’t working together to focus properly, or if you have other developing eye and vision problems. In those cases, think of your eye as a weak muscle that tires more quickly. That’s when eye strain is telling you to see a doctor. Getting glasses can reduce eye strain, by improving your vision so that your eye doesn’t have to work so hard.

If you’re experiencing eye strain regularly, take a break! Then give us a call. A full vision checkup will tell you if you need to make corrections that will help you see better, and reduce strain.

Have questions about your vision, how to prevent eye damage, or need to talk through an issue? Please reach out to us at Utah Eye Centers! We can ‘shine a light’ on your options. We look forward to meeting with you!

It’s a fact. Fun in the sun can lead to damage to your vision, if you don’t take the proper care of your eyes and vision. Too much sun can cause eye damage, including macular degeneration, cataracts, photokeratitis, and more. So, what can you do?

First, it helps to know that the risk isn’t limited to bright spring and summer days; your vision is also at risk when harmful UV rays are reflected off water and snow during the fall and winter months. That means that you need to protect yourself year round. Whatever your preferred outdoor activity, you need to take a few simple steps to prevent lasting, preventable damage to your vision.

Here are three things everyone must do to prevent eye damage:

1. Seek shade. This really does make a difference! Just as you would avoid a sunburn to your skin, you can avoid damaging your eyes. Wearing a hat, shielding your eyes with your hands, and avoiding direct sun during the brightest times of day will help protect you from harm. (It’s not the best, but it’s better than no protection.)
2. Wear sunglasses and/or contacts. You want to find sunglasses that block the full spectrum of UV rays, including UVA, UVB, and UVC. (UVB rays are those that are thought to cause the most damage, but you want to completely limit your risk.) If you need prescription lenses, you can get your sunglasses or contacts made to limit UV spectrum rays.
3. Develop good habits early. Know that sun damage is cumulative. Repeatedly spending time outside without proper eye protection is just what leads to the cloudy vision due to cataracts and other damage that adds up.

Have questions about your vision, how to prevent eye damage, or need to talk through an issue? Please reach out to us at Utah Eye Centers! We can ‘shine a light’ on your options. We look forward to meeting with you!