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Summer is a time to break out the sunglasses and protect your eyes from UV rays. It is also a time to shine a little light on your favorite fashion trends. It can be difficult to choose which frame shapes are best for your face, so here is our guide to choosing the right sunglasses.

Oval Face

An oval face is characterized by balanced features and a chin a little narrower chin than the forehead. It is a beautiful blank canvas for selecting frames — you can wear almost any style confidently. Embrace the opportunity to play with a variety of textures, colors and angles that’ll spotlight your best features. Wide frames, bold looks and full coverage are great for you. Choose frames that are equal to or larger than the widest part of your face. Have fun with textures and shapes to suit your personal style, and choose sunglasses that cover your eyebrows and cheekbones.

Round Face

A round face is defined by a soft, circular shape where the width and length are nearly equal. Round faces have youthful features that pair well with contrasting geometric eyewear. Shop for striking rectangular shapes, and choose thinner frames that add length to your rounded face. Angular lines will sharpen soft features and balance your overall shape. The ideal eyewear should lack curved features while emphasizing sharp angular lines that will help elongate your face and make it look thinner and sharper. Frames with a contrasting bridge color or material will also help widen your eyes.

Heart Face

A heart-shaped face has a broader forehead and narrower jawline and chin. Heart-shaped faces feature high cheekbones (lucky you) and a well-defined narrow chin. Go for a playful look with frames that are wider than your forehead, and choose thinner temples to enhance the symmetry of your face. Choose frames slightly wider than your forehead, and keep in mind that bottom-heavy frames will balance out a pointed chin.

Square Face

A square face typically features strong, well-defined angles in the forehead, cheeks and jawline. They are generally the same length and width across the face. These angles are complemented and softened by round and oval shaped frames. Work those angles with thin, curved frames, and don’t be afraid to experiment with cat-eye and semi-rimless styles. Seek rounder, thinner frames to soften angular features. Play with semi-rimless frames to balance your jawline. Choose a frame wider than your cheekbones.

At Eye Center, Inc., we have 3,000+ frames in stock and can always order your dream shades from a designer we carry. Come in to our Cortez, Manatee or Parrish offices to try on sunglasses and choose the right ones for your face!

With summer in full swing, the beach is calling, boating season is upon us, and the threat from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays has reached a peak. The sun supports life on our planet, but its life-giving rays also pose dangers.

Excess sun exposure can put you at risk for short- and long-term eye problems. This is true for people of all ages, year-round. Fortunately, prevention is simple. Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet radiation. But how do you know if your sunglasses are qualified for the task?

When shopping for sunglasses, always look for a tag or label that says 100% protection against both UVA and UVB or 100% protection against UV 400. UV protection is the essential piece you need to look for in a pair of sunglasses. Darkness, color and price tag do not indicate the strength of UV protection. Even inexpensive sunglasses can offer adequate protection.

If you no longer have the tag for your favorite pair of shades, take them to an optical shop like our Cortez location. Any shop that has a UV light meter can test your sunglasses.

There is no doubt about the negative impact of the sun’s rays on your eyes. UV rays can burn the cornea and cause temporary blindness in a matter of hours. Like a “sunburn of the eye,” photokeratitis can be painful. Symptoms include red eyes, a gritty feeling in the eyes, extreme sensitivity to light and excessive tearing. These symptoms are usually temporary and rarely cause permanent damage to the eyes.

Long-term sun exposure is linked to more serious eye disease, such as cataracts and eye cancer. A lifetime of exposure also likely increases progression of age-related macular degeneration, a condition that can cause blindness.

To provide adequate protection for your eyes, sunglasses should:

• block out 99% to 100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation
• screen out 75% to 90% of visible light

If you spend a lot of time outdoors in bright sunlight, consider wearing wraparound frames for additional protection. Wearing a hat with a broad brim has also been shown to significantly cut exposure to harmful rays.

Don’t forget protection for children and teenagers. They typically spend more time in the sun than adults. This is the time of year to get outside and enjoy Florida! Just keep the future bright and protect your sight. At Eye Center, Inc. we offer a wide selection of prescription and non-prescription sunglasses that meet these qualifications. Come in a grab a pair today!

Red, white, blue… and eye injuries, too! Your eye health care team at Eye Center, Inc. would like to remind you that the safest way to enjoy Fourth of July fireworks is by sitting back and letting the professionals put on a great show.

Fireworks contribute to thousands of injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms each year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Naturally, more fireworks occur during the time surrounding the Fourth of July.

In 2016, an estimated 7,600 fireworks-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments surrounding the 4th of July period. Males accounted for 61% of fireworks injuries and 31% of fireworks injuries were to children under age 15. The head, face and ears were injured in 20% of these cases.

Fireworks have gone hand-in-hand with celebrating 4th of July since before the Declaration of Independence was even signed. John Adams envisioned fireworks as a part of the festivities. In a letter to Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776, he wrote that the occasion should be commemorated “with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

We agree that fireworks should remain a staple of the celebration forever more, but there are precautions you can take to prevent injuries. The best defense against kids (and grown-up kids, too) suffering severe eye injuries and burns is to not let children play with any fireworks, even if his/her friends are setting them off. Sparklers burn at 1800º Fahrenheit, and bottle rockets can stray off course or throw shrapnel when they explode. Aside from leaving it to the professionals, the best defense against a Fourth of July eye injury is to wear protective eyewear.

If an accident does occur, minimize the damage to the eye. In the event of an eye emergency:

• Do not rub the eye. 
• Do not apply pressure to the eye itself. 
• Do head to the emergency room.

Be safe and aware of the risks this Fourth of July. We want you to have fun, and avoiding an eye injury is the best way to keep spirits high and enjoy your celebration!

 

Cataracts are inevitable. A cataract is something we’re all likely to experience, and at Eye Center, Inc. we are here to guide you through the treatment process. A cataract slowly develops over many years. It’s not dangerous or life-threatening, and there is a simple procedure to correct the problem.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which bends or refracts the passage of light into the eye. The lens of the eye is located behind the pupil and the colored iris, and it is supposed to be clear. The lens helps to focus images onto the retina – which transmits the images to the brain. When a cataract forms, your vision may become blurry or dim as the cataract prevents light from properly passing to your retina. It’s like you’re looking through a dusty car windshield.

Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over age 40 in the United States. More than half of all Americans have cataracts by the time they are 80 years old, and they are the principle cause of blindness in the world. However, cataracts can also occasionally be found in young people or even newborn babies.

What causes cataracts?

The exact cause of a cataract is unknown. Most often, a cataract is simply a natural part of getting older. As you age, your likelihood of developing a cataract increases. There are several possible contributing factors for cataracts, such as:

• Intense heat or long-term exposure to UV rays from the sun
• Events before birth, such as German measles in the mother
• Certain diseases, such as diabetes
• Inflammation in the eye
• Long-term steroid use
• Hereditary influences
• Eye diseases
• Eye injuries
• Smoking

Generally, a cataract does not cause tears, redness or pain. The following problems may indicate that you have a cataract:

• You have double vision, ghost images, blurred vision, or the sense of a “film” over your eyes.
• You change eyeglass prescriptions often and the change does not seem to help your vision.
• Lights seem too dim for reading or close-up work, or you are “dazzled” by strong light.
• You may also be able to see the cataract in your eye. It could look like a milky or yellowish spot in your pupil.

Why do cataracts cause blurred vision?

Your eye works like a camera. A camera needs a lens to focus on an image. But if the lens is dirty or cloudy, the camera can’t take a clear picture. The same occurs with your eyes. Your eye lens focuses rays of light on the nerve tissue at the back of your eye (the retina). The retina then transmits a clear image to your brain. But when a cataract clouds your eye’s lens, light rays don’t pass through as well and the retina cannot transmit a good picture.

What are the types of cataracts?

Age-related – 95% of cataracts are age-related, usually after age 40.

Congenital – These are present at birth, usually caused by infection or inflammation during pregnancy; possibly inherited.

Traumatic – Lens damage from a hard blow, puncture, cut, chemical burn or intense heat may cause cataracts.

Secondary – These cataracts are caused by eye infection, eye disease, some medicines, or diseases such as diabetes.

Cataracts usually form in both eyes but at different rates. They can develop slowly or quickly, or progress to a certain point and stop getting worse. As a result, you may notice gradual changes to your sight rather than an immediate, significant difference.

When is it time to get surgery?

Each year in the U.S., more than two million cataract surgeries are performed. Cataract surgeries are successfully performed without any complications in over 95% of cases. Nonetheless, it’s natural to have concerns and questions about the procedure.

Cataract surgery is your choice, and Eye Center, Inc. is here to guide you in the decision-making process.

When you reach a point where you are unable to do all the things you want to do while wearing your glasses, it is likely time to consider surgery. If you decide to have surgery, we will work together with you as a team to determine the best treatment plan — the one you are most comfortable with.

It is not advisable for individuals to have cataract surgery if the follow scenarios apply:

• cataracts have not prohibited you from doing the things you want/need to do
• your vision will not improve with surgery due to other eye problems
• glasses or contact lenses can provide satisfactory vision
• you are not well or fit enough for surgery
• you do not want surgery

At Eye Center, Inc. we will work with you to determine the best treatment plan for your cataracts. Give us a call today to make an appointment!

 

Dry eye is a chronic condition that requires long term maintenance and affects more than three million people per year. The risk of developing dry eye increases with advancing age, and women have a higher prevalence of dry eye compared with men.

The first step in treatment is usually daily, consistent use of a doctor recommended artificial tear. Fortunately, many people do quite well with an appropriate artificial tear drop, dosed between two and four times per day.

When that isn’t enough however, there are other treatment options available, and now Eye Center, Inc. offers a screening test informing us which treatment is most appropriate for an individual patient’s dry eye.

InflammaDry

The lack of correlation between clinical signs and symptoms of dry eye disease makes diagnosing and treating patients a challenge. Inflammation is often present before the clinical signs of dry eye. InflammaDry is the first and only rapid result, in-office test that helps us diagnose the TYPE of dry eye a patient is presenting. And the type of dry eye is very important in the specific treatment plan.

InflammaDry identifies elevated levels of MMP-9, an inflammatory marker that is consistently elevated in the tears of patients with dry eye disease. All other dry eye tests measure tear production and stability. Using a simple 4-step process, InflammaDry recognizes elevated levels of MMP-9, to identify patients that may otherwise be missed with other dry eye testing methods.

Using direct sampling microfiltration technology, InflammaDry accurately identifies elevated levels of MMP-9 protein in tear fluid samples taken from the inside lining of the lower eyelid. In four simple steps, InflammaDry test results are achieved in just 10 minutes, aiding in the diagnosis of dry eye before the patient leaves the office.

InflammaDry provides highly accurate results: 85% sensitivity, 94% specificity.

Basically, a positive result means a patient has dry eye due to inflammation, and a negative result means a patient has dry eye due to other factors.

Why is this important? Depending on the InflammaDry results, the next treatment in the Dry Eye therapy hierarchy varies. Punctal plugs (tiny plugs of silicone inserted into the tear duct, keeping our tears from draining too quickly) are beneficial for patients whose tears are evaporating and draining too quickly, whereas medications like Restasis or Xiidra (medication strength drops which work the the immune system to suppress inflammation) are more appropriate for patients who test positive for inflammation.

Dry eye causes a scratchy sensation or the feeling that something is in the eye. Other symptoms include stinging or burning, episodes of excess tearing that follow periods of dryness, discharge, pain, and redness in the eye. People with dry eye may also feel as if their eyelids are heavy and may experience blurred vision. If you are demonstrating any of these signs, please call us to schedule an appointment for an InflammaDry test!

April is Sports Eye Safety Month. It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy the outdoors while keeping in mind the importance of your vision. Eye Center, Inc. encourages you to take safety into your owns hands and make your eyes a priority.

More than 40 percent of eye injuries are related to sports or recreational activities. But almost all (literally about 90%) eye injuries can be prevented by simply wearing protective eyewear!

Annually, about 30,000 people in the U.S. go to an emergency care center with a sports-related eye injury, according to a study in JAMA Ophthalmology. Three sports account for almost half of all injuries: basketball, baseball and paintball.

Basketball is the leading cause of injuries in males, followed by baseball/softball, and air or paintball guns. For females, baseball/softball is the primary reason for eye injuries, followed by cycling and soccer.

The type and severity of sports-related injuries varies. Corneal abrasions and bruises on the lids are less significant, while retinal detachment and internal bleeding can be vision-threatening. Any sort of blunt force trauma also puts someone at higher risk for developing glaucoma in the future. Annual eye exams are a simple way to monitor this closely. And as with any injury, the sooner you seek medical attention, the better.

About one-third of sports-related eye injuries happen to children. Kids will be kids, but as adults, we can do our best to keep them healthy and safe. Follow these tips to save vision at any age:

• Glasses won’t cut it: Throwing on a pair of regular prescription or nonprescription glasses doesn’t always cut it. They can shatter when hit by flying objects. If you do wear prescription glasses, try sports goggles over top to protect both your eyes and frames.
• Wear proper eye protection: For basketball, racquet sports, soccer and field hockey, wear glasses with shatterproof polycarbonate lenses.
• Put on your helmet: For baseball, ice hockey and lacrosse, wear a helmet with a polycarbonate face mask or wire shield.
• Throw out old gear: When your eye protection is damaged or yellowing with age, it’s time to throw them out. Wear and tear may cause them to become weak and less effective.
• Know the standards: Choose eye protection that meets American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards.

There are certain daily tasks that can cause eye damage but people don’t normally think to use safety glasses. For example, sunglasses or protective glasses should be worn while mowing the lawn and performing overhead work, like landscaping, dusting and painting.

Eye Center, Inc. offers prescription and nonprescription sports goggles for adults and children with polycarbonate lenses. Also available are safety glasses with an ASTM approved frame and protective side shields for adults and children with polycarbonate lenses. Visit Eye Center, Inc. today or call us at (941) 756-2020 to learn more about protective eyewear for sports.