Yearly Archives: 2020

Did you know that the Great Salt Lake is the largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere? Or that brine shrimp are so plentiful in the lake that they feed millions of birds that pass through our state during their migrations as well as support a commercial harvest? Or that Utah has five national parks?

If you’re looking for something to do this summer, why not plan a Utah staycation exploring the state’s diverse landscapes and ecosystems? Here are some great ways to enjoy our beautiful state!

1. The Great Salt Lake is one of many different areas to explore. Find interesting things to do and see at this link.

2. Grab a couple of fishing poles and enjoy the bounty of Utah’s waterways. While there are plenty of trophy-level fishing spots within minutes of the region’s cities, they’re tucked into natural escapes far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. (Just make sure to get a fishing license before you go!)

3. Explore Utah’s mountain ranges. You can walk, hike, camp and/or simply enjoy some breathtaking beauty. Go to this link for a list of the state’s mountain ranges and what to see and do in each one.

4. How many state and national parks have you seen in Utah? You’ll find a list of them at this link.

5. Love dinosaurs or have a fan of dinosaurs in your family? There’s something to please everyone in Utah, including those who are interested in epic dinosaur adventures and exploring prehistoric and extinct ecosystems.

6. Utah’s 27 state and national scenic byways are great ways to see the state’s diverse beauty. There’s 2,200 miles of scenic byways that connect Utah’s five national parks, 43 state parks, seven national monuments, two national recreation areas and more than nine million acres of national forest land.

Whatever you end up doing this summer, all of us at Utah Eye Centers wish you a safe and happy experience.

Of all the reasons to keep a close watch on diabetes, here is our favorite: Your eyesight may depend on it. Did you know that 30.3 million people, or 9.4% of the U.S. population, have diabetes? If you have diabetes, you’re at risk for diabetic eye disease. That is the umbrella term for what can happen to your eyes if you have diabetes, especially if you don’t keep it under control. It includes cataracts and glaucoma, but the most common disease is diabetic retinopathy. It’s a leading cause of blindness in the United States.

Diabetic retinopathy is blood vessel damage in the retina, which is located at the back of the eye. The early stages of diabetic retinopathy usually don’t have any symptoms; later stages often result in vision changes and ultimately can lead to vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy can happen whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Those who also have high blood pressure are at higher risk, as are those who have had diabetes for a long time. So what can you do? Follow your doctor’s instructions for controlling your blood sugar and get regular eye exams.

If a problem is detected, Utah Eye Centers has Retina Specialists on staff. For patients to see the best results, however, our specialists need to treat retina disease in the early stage. That’s why yearly eye exams are so important.

Diabetes also can make you more likely to develop several other eye conditions:

• Cataracts. Having diabetes makes you 2 to 5 times more likely to develop cataracts, especially at a younger age.
• Open-angle glaucoma. Having diabetes nearly doubles your risk of developing a type of glaucoma called open-angle glaucoma.

Remember, diabetic eye conditions may not have any symptoms at first. But detecting them early can help you take steps to protect and preserve your vision and have the greatest odds of success. If you have diabetes, it’s vital to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Need an appointment? Give us a call at (801) 476-0494

Did you know that Utah is No. 1 in the country for volunteering? About 51 percent of Utah residents volunteer their time to nonprofit organizations, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. That’s significantly higher than the national average of about 30 percent.

In all, Utah’s volunteering efforts are valued at $3.2 billion. In addition to donating time, nearly two-thirds of Utah residents also give some amount of money to charitable organizations each year. However community service is measured, Utah is No. 1 among all states and Washington, D.C.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, many organizations in Utah continue to need help serving people in need. To find an organizations that needs volunteers, go to UServeUtah. Organizations would like volunteers to sign up in advance so they can be prepared to ensure the safety of staff and other volunteers. (Of course, anybody who feels sick, shows symptoms of COVID-19, or has been in close contact with another person who has tested positive for the virus should not leave their house to volunteer.)

Volunteers provide essential services and benefits in their communities. That includes everything from delivering meals to those who are homebound to serving as volunteer firefighters and in disaster relief efforts, to cleaning up waterways, green spaces and neighborhoods. Professionals donate their time as well; doctors and nurses volunteer in free clinics and disaster areas and financial professionals lead financial literacy workshops in communities, for example.

The volunteers themselves benefit, too. Studies show that volunteering boosts the volunteer’s mood, self-esteem and even physical fitness. By keeping volunteers in regular contact with others and providing a sense of purpose, volunteering can help combat depression and feelings of isolation. One study found that people who volunteer every month are 7 percent more likely to describe themselves as “very happy,” while those who volunteer every two to four weeks are 12 percent more likely.

Joining a volunteer organization is an excellent way to become a part of your community, and families can be strengthened by volunteering together. Helping others in the community teaches children important community values and shows them how good it can make them feel to make a difference in someone’s life. Many volunteer activities, such as neighborhood or environmental clean-ups, require physical activity that helps volunteers stay physically fit. Why not get your exercise and help others at the same time?

Our eyes help us to see the world around us. They make it possible for us to drive, read the written word and observe the beauty of Mother Nature. They’re also incredibly durable. However, they aren’t invincible. Here’s a closer look at three bad habits that can cause damage to your eyes over time. The good news? They are easy to avoid.

Not wearing sunglasses. Every time you go outside, your eyes are exposed to the sun’s powerful rays. These rays don’t just damage your skin, they can negatively impact the health of your eyes as well. Protecting your vision is as easy as wearing a quality pair of UV-blocking sunglasses. Make sure to wear your sunglasses on cloudy days as well; UV rays are always present. We can help you select a great pair that will provide the protection your eyes need.

Staring at electronic screens. Modern work involves spending long periods of time looking at electronic screens. Whether you’re writing emails to colleagues or using a smartphone to catch up on the latest news, all of that screen time causes strain. There’s actually a name for this condition: computer vision syndrome. If your job requires you to work at a computer for lengthy periods of time, make sure to take frequent breaks and look away from your workspace whenever possible. Be aware of how much time you spend looking at screens each day and make sure you allocate time to give your eyes a proper break.

Sleeping with your contacts in. No matter which kind of contacts you wear, follow all usage guidelines and recommendations. It’s vital for keeping your eyes healthy. There are many people who either forget to take their contacts out when they sleep or don’t think sleeping in contacts can damage their eyes. Not following best practices when wearing contacts can do serious damage to your eyes. We can help you with proper care and wear of your contacts.

Have any vision concerns? We’re here to help. And don’t forget, if it’s time to schedule your annual eye exam or stock up on contacts, contact the team at Utah Eye Centers today: (801) 476-0494.

Do you know what to do if an earthquake starts while you’re at home, while you’re driving or while you’re at work? Is a doorway one of the best places to be in an earthquake? If you’re in a building, should you run outside? Do you have a plan to reconnect with your loved ones who are at work, home or school?

The 5.7 magnitude earthquake that rattled the Wasatch Front, the state’s largest since 1992, has put a spotlight on earthquake safety and preparedness. Earthquakes can happen at any time of the year and occur without warning. And many people don’t know the best ways to prepare for and stay safe during an earthquake.

Read this informative guide for some of the best ways to protect yourself and your family during a seismic event. You’ll learn a number of facts that could save your life! What you do before an earthquake also matters, of course. You’ll want to identify the potential hazards in your home that could cause injury or death during those terrifying seconds of an earthquake and take steps to reduce your risk of injury (check out injury attorney from Louisville). It is always best to check attorneys for auto injuries and take their advice.

Another important task is developing a family emergency plan. It’s a great way to better prepare all members of your family, and it’s easy to put one together. Here’s a guide to creating one. As part of that plan, you’ll want to make arrangements for contacting one another and reconnecting if separated. You’ll also want to establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.

In addition to creating a family emergency plan, here are some of the most important steps to take to prepare for an earthquake:

• Fasten heavy items such as bookshelves, pictures and mirrors securely to walls and away from beds, couches and anywhere people sit.
• Have your water heater and other heavy appliances secured. Have a professional install flexible fittings to avoid gas and/or water leaks.
• Make sure every member of your family knows what to do when an earthquake starts. Discussing ahead of time helps reduce fear and uncertainty, particularly for younger children. Pick safe places in each room of your home, workplace and/or school. A safe place could be under a piece of furniture or against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases or tall furniture that could fall on you.
• Practice periodically how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On by participating in a ShakeOut earthquake drill. Review earthquake preparedness with each member of the family periodically as well
• Store weed killers, pesticides and flammable products securely in closed cabinets with latches and on bottom shelves.
• Check at your workplace and your children’s schools and day care centers to learn about their earthquake emergency plans. If you need any contacts, for your plumbing needs, click on the link to find out!
• Have a plan for your pets.

Vision exams are extremely important for children and teen-agers. They provide an opportunity to catch and correct vision problems early and prevent eye-related learning issues at school. At Utah Eye Centers, we’re proud to have Dr. Michael Bullard on our team. He is the only certified pediatric ophthalmologist in Northern Utah, dedicated to eye issues involving children. He and his team are great with children of all ages and have treated a wide variety of eye problems and conditions, including:

Amblyopia. This condition occurs in early childhood and is commonly known as a lazy eye. Symptoms can include a wondering eye, eyes that may not appear to work together, or poor depth perception.

Strabismus. This eye problem is caused by a nerve injury or a dysfunction of the muscles controlling the eye. This will cause a misalignment of the eyes which will make one of the eyes turn inward, outward, downward, or upward. Dr. Bullard treats kids and adults for strabismus.

Nasolacrimalduct Obstruction. This is the obstruction of tear ducts, which leads to an excess of tears. Its most common cause is the failure of the membrane at the end of the tear duct.

Utah Eye Centers is the leading provider of vision care along the Wasatch Front. Our mission is to provide each patient with a successful and memorable experience through personalized patient care and extraordinary service. We provide a full ophthalmic practice, offering general, retina, pediatrics, cosmetic and refractive care. Our doctors are dedicated to reducing the visual impairments patients experience through prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Our nationally ranked surgeons have been performing refractive surgery for more than 20 years using the most advanced technology. We are the only practice in Northern Utah to offer our cataract patients with the CATALYS precision laser.

We have convenient locations in Bountiful, Ogden, Orem and Salt Lake City, where our experienced doctors and staff offer comprehensive vision examinations. Each location has a full service, state of the art ophthalmic practice where we provide a broad range of procedures and use advanced diagnostic technology and vision correction products to properly treat and enhance your vision quality.

Are you taking good care of your eyes? Protecting your eyes and keeping them healthy depends a lot on you. Here are three simple ways to boost your eye health and protect yourself from eye injury and infection:

Wear eye protection. According to the information provided by lawyers In Rosemead based personal injury attorneys, did you know that about 90 percent of sports-related injuries affect eyes? You can protect yourself from injury by wearing eye protection appropriate for the sport you’re participating in. Despite all the precaution, if you still get hurt, you can contact https://www.sweetesq.com/ lawyers for medical claims and legal assistance. Wear sunglasses when you’re outside and goggles in the winter if you’re skiing, sledding or snowboarding. Eye injuries can happen at work, too. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that about 2,000 U.S. workers each day sustain job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment. The Orange County law firm estimated that proper eye protection can help prevent many on-the-job and sports-related eye injuries. Eye protection also should be worn when using chemicals or power tools such as drills or chainsaws.

Wash your face at bedtime. Makeup, if left on overnight, can be harmful to your eyes. Instead of sleeping with your makeup on, remove it by washing your face every morning and night. If you wear contacts, follow all recommendations and rules regarding when and how you wear them. Getting enough sleep is important for eye health, too.

Ask us about vitamins and supplements. A healthy diet can go a long ways to helping your eyes stay healthy. Some research suggests that supplements could boost eye health as well. For example, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study conducted by the National Eye Institute showed that antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene may help reduce the risk of vision loss from advanced age-related macular degeneration in some, but not all, people with this disease.

Talk to us about eye health at your next eye exam or checkup. We’re here to answer your questions!

You’re staring at one right now. Chances are, you look at them for the majority of your waking hours. We can’t get away from them as more and more creep into our everyday lives.

We’re talking about screens. You know, the tiny smartphone screen you check social media on. The big screen you watch your favorite shows and sports on. The one you use to check your email, do your work, keep track of calendars, budgets, family, friends … oh my! There are screens in our cars. To order food. To tell time. There are screens everywhere.

Research from the Nielsen Company shows that adults in the United States spend more than 10 hours each day using screens on devices such as tablets, smartphones, personal computers, multimedia devices and TVs. Yikes! How can you keep your eyes happy and healthy with all of this screen time? Here are some tips:

Take a break. Make sure you blink regularly to keep your eyes lubricated, which in turn helps prevent fatigue. And don’t forget to take a break from staring at the screen, too. Look at anything else for at least 20 seconds for every 20 minutes of screen time to give your eyes a much-deserved rest. Try gazing into the distance every now and then to give your eyes a break from looking up close at a screen.

Turn it off. Put away your phone for an hour when you’d normally use it. Turn off the TV before getting ready for bed. If you spend a lot of time during the day on screens, limit screen time on nights and weekends. Consider reading books instead of e-books, for example. Simple changes can have some big benefits to your eyes.

Reduce brightness. Reducing the brightness on any screen and making sure that the screen is not the only source of light in the room also can lessen the strain on your eyes.