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Women-At-Greater-Risk-of-Age-Related-Eye-Health-Problems

It’s crucial to take care of your eyes at any point in life, but more so as you get older. It’s common knowledge that men and women are prone to developing common eye disorders and diseases with advancing age. However, research shows that the latter group may be at higher risk.

Let’s look at how age affects your eyes, how to maintain healthy vision for women, and why regularly visiting an ophthalmologist in Fresno (or your local area) is so important.

Women and Eye Health: What the Research Says

According to a study by Prevent Blindness, AMD or age-related macular degeneration is more common among women than men, as are glaucoma and cataracts. There are also more cases of visual impairment or blindness in American women over the age of 40 than men in the same age group.

However, women generally seem to be unaware of the threat:

  • Fewer than 10% of women in America know that they are at a higher risk of developing vision loss than men.
  • A whopping 86% of them believe the risk of permanent vision loss is equal for both men and women.
  • In addition, 5% of women believe the risk is higher for men than it is for women.

Top 5 Reasons for Early Vision Loss in Women

Here’s why women could develop low vision earlier than men:

  • Longevity – According to the statistics, women usually have a longer lifespan than men. Many eye diseases, including AMD, glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy, are related to advancing age.
  • Hormones – Women experience serious hormonal fluctuations more frequently than men, especially during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. Hormonal changes have been linked to dry eye and other vision problems.
  • Lifestyle – Eye health is affected by lifestyle choices such as obesity, nutrition, exercise and smoking. While these factors are not limited to women, obesity and poor diets are on the rise among the adult female population.
  • Socio-Economic Factors – Early detection and treatment of eye problems are often key to preventing vision loss, but various social or economic factors affect access to quality eye health care for women.
  • Medication – Women generally take more prescription and non-prescription drugs than men. Many of these can lead to vision changes, e.g. birth control pills and medication for hormone replacement.

Precautions and Tips to Prevent Eye Conditions

Here are some eye care tips to help you maintain better vision and eye health:

  • Eye Tests – Visit an ophthalmologist for regular checkups, especially during pregnancy. Get a full dilated eye exam if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes and are pregnant or planning a baby.
  • Quit Smoking – Smoking seriously damages your health, and it can double the risk of AMD. It also makes you more prone to developing cataracts, which can only be corrected with eye surgery.
  • Use Protection – Eye protection, that is. Sunglasses with 100% UV protection and wide-brimmed hats can reduce sun damage, but also use protective eyewear while swimming, using tools or playing sports.
  • Cosmetic Safety – Make sure your face, hands and brushes are clean while applying eye makeup, and don’t ever share makeup or use expired products. Also ensure your hands are clean while putting in or removing contact lenses.
  • Healthy Food & Exercise – Eat a balanced diet with plenty of antioxidant and Omega-3 rich foods for healthy eyes. Regular exercise will also help you maintain eye health and reduce the risk of diabetes-related vision loss.

We want you to enjoy healthy vision all your life, so follow our tips above and make an appointment with InSight Vision Center for a dilated eye exam today!

Eyes-a-crucial-window-to-your-physical-health

Did you know that your eye health is a crucial indicator of your overall health? Ophthalmologists can through a comprehensive eye examination reveal a lot more about your physical health than just vision problems. Read here to know how.

  • Cloudy Eye
    Cloudy eyes are symptoms of cataracts which causes clouding of the lens inside the eye. This condition can be corrected with a cataract surgery. Generally, older people develop cataracts. However, if young people develop cataracts it may be an indication of either diabetes, tumors or any side effects of certain medications.
  • Blurred Vision
    Blurred or unclear vision may be a sign of diabetes. If it isn’t controlled well, it may further result in diabetic retinopathy – a condition in which tiny blood vessels in your eyes leak certain fluids and blood.
  • Abnormal Blood Vessels in Retina
    If you suffer from high blood pressure, the minute blood vessels in the retina twist and kink. In a condition called as A-V nicking, the retinal veins develop dents in their normal shape. This indicates a high risk of a deadly stroke.
  • Sudden Instances of Blurry Vision
    Abrupt loss of vision may be a sign of irregular blood flow to your eye or your brain. Even if your vision goes back to normal quickly, it might still be a warning sign of the initial phase of a migraine or a stroke. Immediate medical attention is advisable in such cases so as to prevent any serious damage to your health.
  • Yellowish Eyes
    Yellowish eyes and skin are indicative of jaundice. This means you may have liver problems caused by increased levels of bilirubin produced by your liver when it is damaged or inflamed. Chronic alcohol abuse, infection, cancer, improper dietary habits are some of the common reasons for liver damage.
  • Night Blindness
    If you are experiencing difficulty in seeing in low light like at night, you may be suffering from night blindness. It may be indicative of cataracts or poor vision which may be corrected with the help of prescription glasses. It may also indicate a deficiency of Vitamin A in your body. Add superfoods that are rich in Vitamin A to your diet such as carrots, spinach, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, etc.
  • Dry Eyes
    Various factors are responsible for causing dry eyes – hormonal changes, environment or the amount of time you spend staring at digital screens. If you spend hours staring at your laptop, smartphone or any other kind of digital screens, your eyes are at a greater risk of developing digital eye strain. Your eyes become dry, irritated and red if you don’t blink for a long time. Certain forms of arthritis are also linked with dry eyes.
  • White Spots on Cornea
    Those who wear contact lenses are at a greater risk of developing corneal ulcers. White spots on the cornea are one of the most prominent symptoms. As a contact lens wearer, your risk of developing white spots on your cornea increases if you often sleep with your contacts on. Ask our vision experts about Lasik eye surgery. It is an almost painless vision correction surgery which will help you see your best without the hassles of prescription glasses or contact lenses.

Your eye doctor can help you determine more about your physical well-being than just the right set of prescription glasses or contacts. Most symptoms which affect your eyes and physical health may be visible to you, but there are some which can only be identified by an eye doctor. In a nutshell, your eyes reveal a lot about your overall physical well being. Hence, it is crucial that you get your eyes checked periodically.

We at InSight Vision Center in Fresno, CA are more than happy to help you with any eye health-related problems or queries. Give us a call to schedule an appointment for a comprehensive eye check up today.

A majority of us are guilty of ignoring sore and irritated eyes. While the ‘staying fit’ wave has engulfed most of us, eye health remains the most neglected aspect of our physical fitness. Sore, painful and red eyes may all be indicators of a more serious problem other than mere eye strain. They may be indicators of the Dry Eye Syndrome.

Dry eye syndrome is a condition whereby the tear ducts don’t produce enough tears to retain the normal level of lubrication. This eye health issue is related to dehydration because the eyes lose their ability to make tears. An adequate and consistent layer of tears on the surface of eyes is vital for the normal functioning of your eyes. If neglected for long, this may turn into a chronic syndrome.

Let’s understand the various symptoms, treatment options and how you can prevent this eye health issue with the help of some simple yet effective tips.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

  • Sore Eyes
  • Pain and irritation in the eyes
  • Burning or a constant urge to scratch
  • Redness
  • Light sensitivity
  • Watery eyes
  • Blurred vision
  • Problems in wearing contact lenses

Treatment Options

Here are some of the dry eye treatments which your eye doctor might prescribe:

  • Use of OTC artificial tear solutions can help manage mild cases of dehydrated eyes. Choose preservative-free solutions as they contain minimal additives which can irritate your eyes. It is however the least effective of all the dry eye treatments and you may need to supplement it with additional options to completely treat dehydrated eyes.
  • Conserving tears is another treatment option which can help reduce the symptoms of dry eyes. The tear ducts are blocked temporarily or permanently depending on the severity of your case to retain the available tears in the eyes for a longer period thus reducing the dryness in your eyes.
  • You may also be prescribed eye drops which boost tear production.
  • If you are suffering from ocular surface inflammation, your ophthalmologist might prescribe ointments, warm compress, eye drops, eyelid cleaners or lid massage which helps reduce the inflammation.

Tips for Prevention

Here are some simple yet effective tips to help prevent your eyes from drying out.

  • The simplest solution is to drink plenty of water. This will avoid dehydration and in turn keep your eyes from drying out.
  • Make a conscious effort to blink more frequently. This is crucial especially for those who work with digital screens. Blinking less results in or worsens the dry eye syndrome.
  • Take frequent breaks while working on digital screens for long hours. Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 seconds look away from your screen and look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This will help protect your eyes from digital strain.
  • Always wear good quality sunglasses when stepping out in the sun. This will protect your eyes from dry winds and harmful UV rays. Give preference to the wrap-style frames as these will give maximum protection against wind, dust and any other irritants which may cause or make the dry eye syndrome worse.
  • In terms of nutrition, you can add fish such as salmon and sardines to your diet. The nutrients in fish oil can help relieve dry eyes.
  • Make it a point to clean your eyelids when you wash your face before going to bed. You can use a warm compress or pre-moistened eyelid wipes available in the market to clean away the bacteria that may cause meibomian gland problems which leads to the dry eye syndrome.
  • Those who wear contact lenses need to be more careful as it may be difficult to gauge whether the dry eye condition is causing contact lens discomfort or the lenses are causing dry eyes. So, if you are wearing contacts and experience dry eyes, its best to discontinue wearing them while your eye treatment is in progress. You can also ask your eye doctor for Lasik eye surgery. It’s an almost painless vision correction surgery which helps you see your best.

If you too are experiencing blurred vision or other symptoms of dry eye since long now, get in touch with us at InSight Vision Center in Fresno, CA, today. Our team of professionals will help you with every query and vision related problem you might have.

great eye health

Your organs tend to get weaker and lose their functionality as you age, and eyesight is no exception to this rule. As you grow older and your eyesight weakens, it becomes susceptible to infections, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degenerative eye diseases. Though we’re aware of this fact, what we don’t realize is that our habits also affect our eye health significantly. Here are 10 simple changes you must make in your daily routine if you want to improve your eye health: Continue reading 10 Changes You Must Make in Your Routine for Great Eye Health

A healthy vision is essential for the development of every child. A weak vision or eye problems will affect a child’s learning ability and personality, in addition to changing his/her ability to tackle school work. The next time you take your child for a health check-up, make sure you include eye tests too.

Here are a few common eye problems in children:

Amblyopia

Also known as ‘lazy eye,’ amblyopia is poor vision in an eye that appears to be normal. Crossed eyes and different refractive errors between both eyes cause amblyopia. It should ideally be treated before the age of 8, after which it can cause irreversible visual loss in the affected eye.

Strabismus

Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object. If detected early, the vision can be restored by patching the properly aligned eye, forcing the misaligned eye to work. It can be corrected through surgery or specially designed glasses too.

Refractive errors

When the shape of the eye doesn’t refract the light properly, images will appear blurred. Refractive errors can also cause amblyopia. Common refractive errors include:

  • Nearsightedness: Also called myopia, nearsightedness is poor distance vision when you can’t see things that are at a distance.
  • Farsightedness: When you have trouble seeing close objects, it’s called farsightedness or hyperopia.
  • Astigmatism: This causes an imperfect curvature of the front surface of the eye, which makes the objects appear either ‘stretched’ or ‘shrunk.’

Prevention is better than cure, so it’s best to catch problems when they are in their nascent stage and prevent eye problems before they happen. Here are a few essential tips for helping your child develop and maintain healthy vision:

Watch for Warning Signs

A child may not recognize eye problems, so look out for signs of vision impairment. Visit an eye doctor if your child is squinting, rubbing eyes excessively, closing one eye, or tilting their head while reading or watching TV, sitting too close to electronic screens or holding books closer than usual, etc.

Encourage Proper Eye Care

Help your little one develop good eye care habits at a young age. Teach them to wash their hands often and avoid touching or rubbing their eyes. Wearing protective eyewear, especially while playing sports, working with tools, and swimming, is another good habit.

Avoid Digital Eye Strain

Children have started using digital screens as much as adults. Digital eye strain can cause a plethora of eye problems. Try and delay your child’s exposure to digital screens or keep them restricted to educational purposes. Try and limit the use of digital screens, especially at night.

Schedule Regular Eye Exams

You should take your child to see an eye doctor regularly even if they don’t seem to have eye problems or their school conducts vision screenings. In most cases, symptoms of eye disease or vision problems don’t become apparent right away, and school eye tests may not be thorough.

Upgrade Their Diet

Ensure that your kid is eating a balanced diet. Nutrition is crucial for eye health, especially vitamins A, C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids.
A balanced diet boosts vision development, as well as preventing obesity and obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, which can affect eye health.

Send Them Outdoors

Playing outdoors instead of being stuck to the TV or computer can help your child’s vision in more than one way. First, it reduces near point stress and digital eye strain. Second, exposure to differing proximities and colors in natural light helps kids develop and exercise their visual senses.
Just make sure they wear sunglasses with 99-100% UV protection outside since excessive UV exposure can lead to eye damage.

Get Protective Eye Wear

Sports are fun, but they can also expose your child to all manner of injuries, especially eye injury. Please encourage them to wear protective goggles or helmet-mounted face shields during contact sports, as well as swimming goggles to protect against chlorine and germs when they’re in the pool. If your child has other hobbies such as wood shop, get the right eyewear to keep them safe.

Encourage Proper Rest – Your child may spend most of their time hitting the books or working on the computer when the school year gets underway, but they need proper rest too. For healthy eyes, please encourage them to sleep well, step outdoors for fresh air and exercise, take frequent breaks while reading and using digital screens, and blink often. If their eyes get enough rest, there’s a lower risk of eye strain, dry eye, blurred vision, headaches, backaches, and more.

Can LASIK Surgery Help Children with Vision Problems?

Many parents wonder whether LASIK eye surgery is safe for children and whether it offers any benefits for developing eyes. Eye surgery should only be performed after your child turns 18, especially elective vision correction procedures such as LASIK.

Mostly this is because a child’s vision may change as they grow, countering the effects of laser eye surgery. In severe cases of vision deterioration, however, LASIK surgery could help your child enjoy clear eyesight and normal development. An experienced eye doctor can help you determine if this is the right choice.

If you want to schedule a comprehensive eye exam for your child or a consultation for LASIK in Fresno, contact Insight Vision Center today!

Why is Diabetes Awareness Necessary?

Did you know diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States?
According to the 2017 Diabetes Statistics Report released by the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), there are about 30.3 million people with diabetes that equals to almost 9.4% of the US population. The numbers for pre-diabetes indicate that 84.1 million adults (33.9% of the adult U.S. population) have pre-diabetes, including 23.1 million adults aged 65 years or older.

Why Is It So Important To Detect Diabetes Early?

It is important to treat diabetes as soon as possible, because if it is left untreated, diabetes can result in a host of other problems, one of those being permanent blindness. It increases the risk of contracting other eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma as well. When detected in time, with the help of appropriate treatment and care, the risk of vision loss and other related diseases can be reduced by almost 95%.

Why Eye Exams Are Important For People Suffering from Diabetes?

Many a times, underlying health conditions are often detected through eye exams, thus making regular eye exams extremely important. One of the most common misconceptions about eye exams is that your eye doctor is only testing your sight. However, that isn’t always the case. An eye exam allows the doctor to assess your eyes and identify irregularities. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, it becomes all the more important to get routine eye exams as it can reduce your chances of facing vision-related problems in the future.

What Type of Eye Exam Should I Undergo?

You must get a comprehensive eye exam, where the doctor not only tests your sight, but also checks your eyes for abnormalities such as retina fluid or blood drops. This type of eye exam is done using a high-powered microscope to examine the tiny structures inside your eyes, which also include a closer look at your blood vessels, optic nerves, and other complex eye structures to check for damage due to diseases like diabetes. By analyzing these sections of your eye, your eye doctor will then be able to gauge the overall health of your eyes and provide additional consultation options depending on the results.

How often should I have my eyes examined?

While it is advisable to get your eyes checked every two years, you may need to increase the frequency depending on your personal medical history. For instance, people over 40 are particularly susceptible to developing eye conditions such as glaucoma. Apart from regular eye check-ups, you must also make it a point to visit your eye doctor if you face any vision-related problems.

Take Action Now

So, this November, as a part of National Diabetes Month, the eye doctors at Insight Vision Center in Fresno, California urge you to make a pledge to get regular eye exams and encourage your friends and families as well, so we can all work together and help raise awareness against diabetes. By encouraging people to get regular eye exams, not only will you help them protect their vision, but also help increase awareness about the disease and its impact. If you want to schedule a comprehensive eye check-up for you and your family, simply call us on +559-449- 5050 to book an appointment right away!

According to a study conducted by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in three people with diabetes, who are older than age 40 already, have some signs of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss in people with diabetes. Studies also found that patients with diabetes are also twice as likely to develop Glaucoma and cataracts. This happens because elevated sugar levels in your body lead to a higher amount of blood glucose, thus putting your eye at risk. If you are suffering from diabetes, then you must take a look at the following methods and protect yourself and your vision from the ill-effects of this disease:

  1. Control Your Blood Sugar
    A spike in blood sugar can affect the shape of your eye’s lens, causing blurry vision, and once the blood sugar level stabilizes, it goes back to normal. However, you must be vary of such rises in blood sugar levels as it can damage the blood vessels in your eyes. You can keep a check on your blood sugar levels by taking the A1C every 3-4 months to determine how well-controlled your diabetes has been during that period.
  2. Maintain Your Blood Pressure
    If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, there is also a high chance of suffering from high blood pressure. High blood pressure is also harmful too your eyes, as a rise in blood pressure around your eyes can also cause blood vessel damage. In fact, the combination of high blood pressure and the presence of high blood sugar can seriously affect your vision. So, take all the necessary precautions to keep your blood pressure in check to avoid any long-term damage to your vision.
  3. Change Your Lifestyle
    With diabetes comes the need to control your diet and regulate the kind of foods you eat. And considering the risk diabetes puts to your health, a lifestyle change is required. In order to contain the effects of diabetes on your body and your eyes, follow a nutrient rich diet regime that can provide you with all the necessary vitamins and supplements to keep your health at its best. And to further the benefits of your diet, be sure to complement it with some simple exercises. This will automatically boost your cardiovascular health, thus ensuring your blood vessels are well-protected.
  4. Schedule Comprehensive Dilated Exams Annually
    Scheduling regular comprehensive dilated eye exams is the most important thing you can do to protect your vision against diabetic eye diseases. Since many eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy have no visible signs in its early stages, such eye examinations work as important tools for disease prevention and control. During the exam, your eye doctor will carefully examine the retina and optic nerve of your eye for signs of damage. And by carrying out this exercise regularly, your ophthalmologist will be able to immediately identify signs of damage, allowing him to begin treatment accordingly.Apart from this, you can also make a note of your vision on a daily basis. This way if you notice anything out of the ordinary, you can quickly schedule an eye exam and receive the necessary help. If you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes, you will have some vision abnormalities as the medication you are taking affects the glucose levels in your body, thus impacting your vision. However, if you are facing prolonged bouts of blurred vision, it might be a signal for help. Vision issues faced during your diabetes treatment can be contained by ensuring regular check-ups and eye exams.

    If you have been facing any vision related side-effects, call InSight Vision Center Fresno, CA on +559-449-5050 to contact our team of professionals and schedule your eye exam today!

According to Blindness America, in its report titled “Vision Problems in the United States: Prevalence of Adult Vision Impairment and Age-Related Eye Disease in America”, women are more prone to vision problems than men. The report states that women are at higher risk for eye disease after the age of 50, especially:

  • Glaucoma
  • Cataract
  • Diabetic Retinopathy
  • Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

According to Prevent Blindness:

  • Women form the majority of Americans over 40 with visual impairment or blindness
  • 25% of women have not had an eye exam in at least 2 years
  • 5% of women believe men are at greater risk of permanent vision loss
  • 86% believe the risk is equal for men and women
  • Less than 10% understand that they are at greater risk

To protect your eyes and reduce the risk of vision loss, here are 7 eye care tips for women:

  1. Understand Potential Risks – Obesity, diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, and thyroid problems increase the risk of eye disease. Know your family’s medical history. If vision loss, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts or glaucoma are common, you may have inherited these problems. Exercise regularly and get regular medical checkups if you’re overweight, since obesity can lead to diabetes and other conditions that affect eye health.
  2. Get the Right Nutrition – A balanced diet plays an essential role in women’s health, but certain foods are known to boost eye health as well. For instance, spinach, kale, broccoli and other dark green leafy vegetables are loaded with lutein. This antioxidant may help protect against AMD, the leading cause of blindness. Other antioxidants such as vitamin C, E and A, minerals and Omega 3 fatty acids are also essential for eye health.
  3. Wear Protective Eyewear – Your eyes are extremely delicate, so it’s essential to protect your eyes from excessive UV exposure, accidents and other damage. Wear sunglasses that block out 99-100% of both UVA and UVB rays, to reduce the risk of cataract and eye tumors. You should also wear protective eyewear to avoid eye injury while playing sports, swimming, cleaning with strong chemicals, or working with sharp tools.
  4. Care for Contact Lenses – A lot of women prefer to wear contact lenses instead of glasses, usually for aesthetic reasons or comfort. If you’re a contact lens wearer, follow a proper routine for cleaning, removing and replacing your lenses. Poor hygiene or over-wearing lenses can cause corneal scarring, which may lead to blindness. You can also opt for Lasik refractive surgery to get rid of both glasses and contact lenses permanently.
  5. Be Careful with Makeup – If you use eye makeup regularly, remove it at the end of the day. Sleeping with makeup on can clog your tear ducts or trap dirt and bacteria, leading to scratches, eye disease, and a host of other problems. Using eyeliners, mascaras and eye shadows past their expiry date can also cause eye irritation, allergic reactions and eye infection, so throw away old makeup and avoid sharing cosmetics with others.
  6. Watch for Vision Problems – Hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause can also affect your vision. For instance, water retention can cause a change in your number or power, as well as puffy eyelids or dry eyes when you’re pregnant. Dry eyes are also common during menopause, along with redness or heaviness in the eyes or eyelids. Be aware of changes that may occur as you get older, and get a checkup if you face any problems.
  7. Get an Eye Exam Regularly – A comprehensive eye exam can help you prevent eye disease, eye infection and even vision loss, since early detection and treatment keep minor problems from turning into serious health concerns. Dilated eye exams may help with early detection of diabetes, high blood pressure and other medical conditions as well. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, get an eye exam every 1-2 years, and annually after the age of 50.

Women are caregivers, often looking after the family’s wellness before their own. However, it’s equally crucial to care for your own vision and health, so you can continue to care for your loved ones. Head to InSight Vision Center for a comprehensive eye exam today!

In the excitement of the much awaited solar eclipse make sure you don’t forget the one thing that you’ve grown up listening to – Do not look at the sun with your naked eyes. This solar eclipse is no exception to the rule so if you plan to catch a glimpse of the rare event taking place on August 21, here are 7 tips to keep in mind:

  1. Sunglasses, color films, media X-ray films, floppy disks, and smoked glass should never be used for viewing a solar eclipse as none of these options offer any protection against harmful UV radiation.
  2. You can use a telescope or binoculars to project the sun’s image on a screen while avoiding the side-mounted finder scope.
  3. You can also buy eclipse glasses at a local welding supply store but be sure to check that the glass grading meets the safety requirements set by the ISO.
  4. If you happen to live in the path of the solar eclipse, you can safely witness it with your naked eyes at the moment of totality when the moon blocks the sun completely.
  5. Those of you who do not wish to take any risk can view the event from the comfort of your couch while it is being streamed live on your TV screen.
  6. If you normally wear glasses do not remove them to put on your eclipse glasses. Instead, wear your eclipse glasses over your normal eyeglasses or you can also hold them in front of your regular glasses.
  7. If you are into a lot of DIY, an alternative method is using a pinhole projector where you stream the sunlight from a small pencil hole onto a makeshift screen. Make sure you do not look at the eclipse through this pinhole but only at the partially eclipsed sun on the projector screen.

Eclipse blindness is not a myth so do not risk your lifelong healthy vision when viewing a grand solar phenomenon for a few seconds. You pair of sunglass definitely won’t protect you against the harmful UV rays and infrared light. In order to educate people on the perils of unsafe viewing practices and how to view this captivating celestial occurrence safely, two experts – Dr. Eric Poulsen and Dr. White have made a few recommendations. Read them in detail here and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience safely:

https://abc30.com/amp/safety-solar-eclipse-fresno-total/2311505/

While technology is great, the devices we rely on for everything might be exposing our eyes to dangers like blurred vision, retinal damage and digital eye strain. Adults and children alike are using computers, smartphones, tablets, TVs, video games, Fitbits, GPS devices and other gadgets on a daily basis. However, staring at backlit LED screens, especially at night, has a negative impact on vision and causes digital eye strain. In certain cases, the symptoms of eye strain are a manifestation of an underlying eye condition so it is important that you know them and receive timely treatment.

Digital Eye Strain Symptoms

  • Dry or watery eyes
  • Itchiness and burning sensation
  • Blurred vision
  • Frequent headaches
  • A painful shoulder
  • Aching back
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Increased sensitivity to light

6 Frightening Outcomes of Using Digital Devices on Eye Health

The potential outcomes of overexposure to digital devices include:

  1. Digital Eye Strain (DES) – This is a term used to describe problems with vision or eyes that are caused by using computers or digital devices for two hours or more daily. Symptoms include eye strain, headaches, redness, dry eye syndrome, blurry vision and neck/shoulder/back pain. It occurs due to screen glare/position, decreased blinking, and poor posture.
  2. Texting-Related Issues – Continuous texting can also cause vision issues, including dryness, eye strain, fatigue, headaches and perhaps even myopia or nearsightedness. This happens because of holding a phone too close to the eyes, not blinking enough while staring at a phone screen, and squinting or straining to read text displayed in small fonts.
  3. Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) – CVS is becoming a common problem for those who stare at digital screens for long periods without blinking, from too close, or at uncomfortable angles. It can cause symptoms such as eye strain, headaches, trouble with focusing, dry eyes, double or blurred vision, light sensitivity, and burning, itchiness or watering in eyes.
  4. Tension Headaches – Using digital devices for too long can lead to tension headaches, which are caused by extended eye strain. Screen glare and high contrast between dark-colored text and bright screens are usually to blame. Your eyes need to work much harder while focusing on the screen, leading to muscle spasms near the temples.
  5. Retinal Damage – High Energy Visible Light (HEV) is the blue/violet light emitted by digital devices with LED screens. It lies at the blue end of the color spectrum, and direct exposure may contribute to retinal damage. This can affect your central vision and cause macular degeneration or make age-related macular degeneration (AMD) worse.
  6. The Risk of Cataracts – There may be a link between blue light from digital devices and an increase in cataract development. While more studies need to be conducted in this regard, there is cause for concern. Doctors report that some patients in their mid-30s are showing cataracts with the same level of cloudiness normally seen only in patients over the age of 70.
  7. Ocular Migraines – Sitting in front of the TV screen for several hours, playing games on a hand-held device, reading e-books under fluorescent lights or working on a computer for extended hours can trigger ocular migraines. Also known as retinal migraines, ocular migraines usually accompany flashing dots, nausea, sensitivity to flashing lights, temporary blindness, wavy lines, and may or may not accompany a throbbing headache.
  8. Dry Eyes – Working on the computer screen for longer hours often results in irritated and dry eyes. Other symptoms of dry eyes include increased sensitivity to light and blurred vision. If left untreated, dry eyes can adversely impact your eyesight so it is very important to protect eyes from the computer screen with anti-glare eyewear.

Who Is At Greatest Risk of Vision Issues?

Children using digital devices on a frequent and regular basis face a higher risk of vision-related issues, since their eyes are still developing. They do not have the natural defense against blue light found in adult eyes as a result of the lens yellowing with age, which keeps blue light from efficiently penetrating and reaching the retina.

Millennials who have grown up using digital devices, students, and people working on computers all day are also at a higher risk of eye strain, especially if they do not follow proper eye care practices.

Top 10 Ways to Prevent Digital Eye Strain

Here are 10 preventative measures that can help protect your eyes from damage

  1. Avoiding glare helps prevent eye strain, so use an anti-glare screen or coating on devices that you use often.
  2. Follow the “20-20-20” rule – look away from the screen every 20 minutes, at something 20 feet away, for 20 seconds. You can also massage your eyes periodically for lasting eye strain relief.
  3. Keep your phone as far from your eyes as possible, but at a distance where you can still comfortably read without straining.
  4. Adjust the brightness on your digital display so it matches the brightness of the area around it.
  5. Position yourself at an arm’s length from the computer screen, with the screen just below your eye level.
  6. Take frequent breaks to rest your eyes. Stretch, go outside or take a nap – whatever works for you!
  7. Get an eye exam regularly to help nip any eyesight or eye health issues in the bud, before they get worse.
  8. Make a conscious effort to blink more frequently, since this keeps your eyes clean and lubricated.
  9. Place a light source behind you instead of behind the device, so your eyes don’t have to work so hard to adjust.
  10. Wear glasses with an anti-reflective coating while using any digital device for prolonged periods of time.

Are you experiencing any of the digital eye strain symptoms stated above?

Schedule a consultation at InSight Vision Center to combat the negative effects of digital eye strain while preventing it from progressing and inviting other problems.

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Main Office

  • 1360 East Herndon Ave., Suite
    #103 & 201 Fresno, CA 93720
  • Phone:  (559) 449-5050

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  • 7015 N. Chestnut Ave., Suite
    #101 Fresno, CA 93720
  • Phone:  (559) 492-3547

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    Madera, CA 93637
  • Phone:   (559) 674-2020

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