Monthly Archives: July 2023

Even if you take good care of your eyes, you’ll probably experience some common eye problems and irritations from time to time. It can be common to wake up with red or itchy eyes or to have days when your eyes just feel irritated. If you use a computer for work most days or are suffering from allergies, these issues can become more common.

Here are some pretty common irritants that can cause dry, itchy, irritated eyes:

Lack of sleep: The effects of not getting enough sleep can be pretty negative. Not getting enough sleep can result in redness at the very least, dryness, and general irritability of your eyes. If you cannot get enough sleep, try putting a cool compress on your eyes for a few minutes or using a moisturizing eye drop!

Dry air: We live in a dry climate. Dryness and dust in the air can also cause irritation, so moisturizing eye drops can help. Use them two or three times a day to keep your eyes moist. In addition to sleeping with a humidifier, you can keep it running during the day.

Allergies: Most people experience some seasonal eye-watering and itchiness during allergy season, or when they’ve been exposed to an irritant, such as pollen, mold, pet dander, and dust. Over-the-counter medications can be taken to control allergies during peak season. If you feel your allergies creep up, take one for a few days. It is also possible to purchase over-the-counter eye drops for allergies.

Skincare products: Have you forgotten to take off mascara before bed, or has your sunscreen run into your eyes? Most over-the-counter products are safety tested and won’t cause lasting damage, but can still cause irritation. Make sure to remove all makeup before bed to prevent irritation and if you get any skincare product in your eyes, simply flush your eyes with cool water for a few minutes.

Using devices: When you stare at the computer (or any electronic) for extended periods of time, your eyes can become tired. Take periodic breaks from your computer to avoid this. Take twenty seconds every twenty minutes to look at something at least twenty feet away for twenty seconds. This is often called the 20-20-20 rule.

Rubbing your eyes: Try not to rub your eyes or touch them without washing your hands first. If you must, wash your hands before rubbing your eyes. You can also use a warm or cool compress to soothe irritated eyes.

A good eye doctor will have someone in reception that is knowledgeable enough to let you know when you need to come in if you have any questions. However, if you experience pain or changes in vision with the above symptoms, then you know to call to schedule an appointment. You should usually be able to see your doctor the same day to see what’s wrong and find out what’s going on.

Do you have questions about your vision, how to prevent eye damage, or need to talk through an issue? Utah Eye Centers is happy to assist you.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 6.8% of children younger than 18 years in the U.S. have a diagnosed eye and vision condition. Nearly 3% of children under 18 are blind or visually impaired, which means having trouble seeing even when wearing glasses or contact lenses.

If you suspect your child needs glasses or contact lenses, don’t wait to visit the eye doctor. Luckily, if you don’t have the chance to see the eye doctor regularly, elementary schools must report aggregate vision screening annually to the state’s health department. Here’s how poor vision impacts learning in children:

1. Poor focus issues

If your child cannot see the whiteboard or read the pages of the book in front of them, chances are they will get discouraged and lose focus quickly. The longer this problem goes on, the more likely your child will struggle with test scores and regular classroom communication, which could have a long-term impact on their confidence.

2. Poor hand-eye coordination

Since children in the U.S. school system are encouraged to be active, gym classes and regular recess activities are required. Kids with vision problems are more likely to suffer poor hand-eye coordination, which can lead them to miss out on the benefits of regular exercise and team sports.

The sooner your child is set up with a pair of glasses or contact, the better because regular exercise increases academic performance and motor development in classrooms across the U.S.

3. Poor self-confidence

Confidence-building activities in developmental years are critical to a successful academic experience that eventually leads into adulthood. When children are more confident in their intellectual abilities and receive positive reinforcement, they are more likely to succeed in school. However, if they are in a situation where they feel inadequate to their peers due to their vision problems, they’ll likely struggle to reach their full potential in the classroom.

Contact us to schedule your first pediatric eye appointment by visiting our website or calling 801-476-0494. Our pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Bullard has a long track record of success and looks forward to seeing you! During your visit, all of your child’s needs will be considered, and your case will be treated as unique. Expect to leave with an official diagnosis and treatment plan.

What is the best way to correct your vision? Should you wear eyeglasses, contacts, or LASIK? You’ll want to consider your lifestyle, your comfort, and your budget when choosing between these three options.

Eyeglasses, for instance, offer some advantages over contact lenses, such as:

– You don’t need to place them directly on your eyes to wear them, so you’re less likely to get eye infections and irritations.

– Both glasses and contacts, however, are affordable vision correction options. Glasses can be less expensive over time than wearing contact lenses, which need to be replaced regularly.

– Contact lenses need to be replaced more frequently than glasses.

– With so many great styles to choose from, glasses can be an extension of your personality as well as a great fashion statement.

As far as contacts go, check out these advantages:

– As contacts conform to the curvature of your eye, they provide an unobstructed view of the world around you.

– While playing sports or exercising, contact lenses can be more convenient. Glasses can be damaged or lost.

– People can’t even tell that you’re wearing contacts most of the time.

– Unlike glasses, contacts won’t fog up in cold weather or steam up while you cook.

LASIK, or laser in-situ keratomileusis, is another popular vision correction surgery that can help those with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. To perform LASIK, your cornea, the clear front portion of your eye, is reshaped to focus light on the retina at the back of your eye. Although not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery, many people with nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism can undergo the procedure.

What types of issues can be corrected by LASIK? Here are some examples:

– Being able to see nearby objects but having difficulty seeing distant objects

– Having trouble seeing nearby objects but being able to see distant objects

– Having moderate astigmatism, which causes overall blurred vision

LASIK surgery does have an upfront cost, but its big advantage is that you no longer have to wear glasses or contact lenses.

We can help you determine the vision correction method that is most appropriate for you after a thorough eye exam. Contact us today to schedule an appointment: (801) 476-0494