JUNE: Cataract Awareness Month

 

Cataract is the world’s leading cause of blindness, accounting for approximately 42 percent of all cases of blindness in all nations. In the United States, more than 25 million Americans are estimated to have cataract. THE RISK OF CATARACT IS HIGHER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THE DISEASE.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens, which blocks or changes the passage of light into the eye. The lens of the eye is located behind the pupil and the colored iris, and is normally transparent. Vision may become blurry or dim because the cataract stops light from properly passing through to the retina. Generally, a cataract does not cause pain, redness or tears.

Risk factors for cataracts include:

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

Most cataract cases in the United States are in older adults, but children may also develop pediatric cataracts. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, cataracts in a child can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired (develop after birth). Without treatment, cataracts in young children can cause poor development of the visual pathway between the brain and the eye, leading to vision impairment. Therefore, diagnosing and treating cataracts early in children is critical to promoting normal vision development.

Although cataract is the world’s leading cause of vision loss, it is an eye disease that can be treated successfully with access to quality eyecare services. We strongly encourage everyone to educate themselves on cataract and what services are available to see clearly today and in the years to come.”

How To Prevent Cataracts?

Being outside in the sun may feel great, especially in the summer, but you need to protect your eyes. UV rays from the sun can lead to the early development of cataracts as well as other damage to your eyes

Some steps you can take now to protect your eyes and slow the progression from the formation of cataracts is:

•  wear UV blocking sunglasses 
• take nutritional supplements, 
• quit smoking, and 
• learn your family health history
• wear a wide-brimmed hat

We understand how precious your vision is, and one thing that can help keep your eyes healthy is a comprehensive eye exam at least once every year. It’s difficult to stress how vital annual eye exams are. Still, when it comes to detecting and diagnosing cataracts, they make a difference—seeing your eye doctor once a year allows them to monitor cataract progression and take action once cataract surgery becomes necessary.

Schedule your family’s eye exams today to get started with monitoring the health and risks for their eyes. 

(909)596-6756  2443 Foothill LaVerne CA 91750 

(909) 982-0100  1637 Mountain Ave Upland CA 91784

www.drboyeroptometrist.com

UV Safety Awareness Month

Studies show that long-term exposure to bright sunlight may increase the risk of cataracts and growths on the eye, including cancer.

One day can still do damage 

If your eyes are exposed to excessive amounts of UV radiation over a short period of time, you will likely experience photokeratitis. Like a "sunburn of the eye," photokeratitis can be painful, with symptoms including red eyes, a foreign body sensation or gritty feeling in the eyes, extreme sensitivity to light and excessive tearing....potentially resulting in temporary blindness in just a few hours. Fortunately, these symptoms are usually temporary and rarely cause permanent damage to the eyes.

Overexposure Over time

The longer the eyes are exposed to solar radiation, the greater the risk of developing cataracts, eye cancer, pterygium (surfer’s eye) or macular degeneration later in life. It is not clear how much exposure to solar radiation will cause damage. So, whenever you spend time outdoors, wear a wide-brim hat as well as quality sunglasses that offer UV protection.

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.
• Have lenses that are perfectly matched in color and free of distortion and imperfection.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors in bright sunlight, consider wearing wraparound frames for additional protection from the harmful solar radiation. Don't forget protection for children and teenagers. They typically spend more time in the sun than adults. 

Also, certain contact lenses can provide additional UV protection, which is why it is so important to visit your optometrist when renewing your prescription—to ensure your contacts are the right fit for your lifestyle and level of sun exposure, which is something that so-called “online vision tests” cannot provide.

Don’t forget indoor risk

Artificial sources of UV light such as welding machines, tanning beds and lasers can also pose serious eye health issues. As part of your annual comprehensive eye exam, be sure to talk to your doctor of optometry about any indoor risks—as well as your outdoor activities in all seasons—so that your level of UV exposure can be assessed and the appropriate UV absorbing glasses and/or contact lenses prescribed for your individual needs and ongoing protection. 

Our Dr.’s can provide you with best and most up-to-date information on protecting your eyes. 

Call for an appointment today. (909) 596-6756  2443 Foothill LaVerne CA 91750 or (909) 982-0100  1637 Mountain Ave Upland CA 91784

www.drboyeroptometrist.com

$100 Rebate *

VSP Members Get Up to a $100 Rebate* on a Pair of Glasses!Getting a rebate on your perfect pair of glasses has never been easier. Purchase a Featured Frame Brand and an eligible lens enhancement from a VSP® PremierProgram location and qualify for up to a $50 rebate. Get up to a $100 rebate if your perfect pair of glasses includes a pair of eligible progressive digital lenses. (909) 596-6756 2443 Foothill LaVerne CA 91750 (909) 982-0100 1637 Mountain Ave Upland CA 91784 www.drboyeroptometrist.com Call our office today for an appointment 

 

Can I get sunglasses in my contact lenses?

Yes! Transition lenses are now available in contact lenses. Vistakon has partnered with Transitions to create Acuvue Oasys contact lenses with Transitions. 

Oasys is the number one contact lens in the world. It is a proven 2 week disposable lens that provides excellent comfort, vision and now with Transitions, filters out harmful UV rays and protects the eye from bothersome glare. These lenses darken outdoors in the sun and then lighten up when you walk inside so they can be worn all day long. 

If you’re interested in contact lenses that have Transitions sun lenses come on in. We have free trials and they could be a great option for you.

Easily make an appointment at Drboyeroptometrist.com

Watch how ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions™ works

Come in and try these new contact lenses out with a pair of free trials at www.drboyeroptometrist.com

Introducing ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions™

Lenses are not a replacement for sunglasses.

Light - while essential for sight - is also challenging for the visual system to cope with. Nearly two-thirds of people (64%) admit to being bothered by harsh or bright lighting conditions on a daily basis.

The coping mechanisms adopted when light becomes troublesome include shading or averting the eyes, turning down the brightness of digital devices and turning off room lights. Actions which are certainly inconvenient, and for some behaviors such as squinting, have the potential to cause visual discomfort.

Introducing ACUVUE^® OASYS with Transitions™

Ten years in development, ACUVUE^® OASYS with Transitions™ is a first-of-its-kind light-responsive contact lens that combines the proven senofilcon A material with a photochromic additive copolymerized homogeneously throughout the lens matrix.
ACUVUE^® OASYS with Transitions™ seamlessly adapts to balance the amount of indoor and outdoor light entering the eye, including filtering blue light* and blocking UV rays.

• The lens blocks up to 15% of light indoors, mainly in the high energy visible (HEV) range, and up to 70% of visible light at full activation.
• It begins to darken as soon as it is exposed to sunlight, is dark in 45 seconds, and fades back within 90 seconds.
• In objective measures of functional vision, ACUVUE^® OASYS with Transitions™ has been shown to deliver significant improvements in both the partially-activated (outdoor state) and inactivated states (indoor state) over the leading reusable contact lens.
• In subjective clinical evaluations, ACUVUE^® OASYS with Transitions™ has been shown to be superior in multiple indoors and outdoors performance metrics over the leading reusable contact lens.
• Among those with a preference, ACUVUE^® OASYS with Transitions™ was preferred over the leading reusable lens. 

Come in and discuss if this lens is right for you with Dr Boyer today... Click on our website to call or schedule an appointment.

The Contact Lens That Knows Light

When the light gets too bright, these contact lenses can filter it. Ask us how you can #SquintlessSeeMore with NEW ACUVUE^® OASYS with Transitions^TM
These lenses are not a replacement for sunglasses.
See Safety Info: https://www.acuvue.com/important-safety-information