Healthy Aging Month 👵🏼

 

Like any other part of your body, your eyes age as you get older. In honor of Healthy Aging Month, here are a few tips to help keep your eyes healthy as you age.

Aging is a process that brings many changes. Vision loss and blindness, however, do not have to be one of them. There are several simple steps you can take to keep your eyes healthy for the rest of your life.

One in six Americans age 65 and older have a vision impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. The risk of eye disease increases with age, yet many older adults neglect to see an optometrist for care. We want to bring attention to taking care of our eyes as we age, by recognizing Healthy Aging Month, and to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of vision loss - and steps to help seniors take care of their sight.

• Get regular eye exams                                        Comprehensive eye exams are recommended on a regular basis for adults and those who frequently use computers. *For those 65 and older, as well as those with family history of eye disease, it is advised that you visit your eye doctor more frequently. We have two convenient locations and hours to see you.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet.                                           Loading up on fruits and vegetables can help keep your eyes healthy and disease free. Dark, leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and collard greens, which are good for your overall health and well-being, are especially good for eye health. Eye health benefits also come from eating fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.
• Know your risk factors 
  As you age, you are at higher risk of forming age-related eye diseases and ailments such as AMD, cataract, diabetic eye disease, dry eye, and glaucoma. Having a family history of eye disease also puts you at higher risk. And being heavy or obese increases your risk of forming diabetes and other systemic conditions that can lead to vision loss. If you are having trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your doctor.
• Use protective eyewear                                                          Put on protective eyewear like goggles, safety glasses, face shields, and eye guards when playing sports or doing activities around the home and encourage your family and close friends to do the very same. Most protective eyewear lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times sturdier than other plastics. Our office sells protective eyewear. 

One of the most common changes to your vision as you age is an increased difficulty in performing near-vision tasks, like reading and close work. This is known as presbyopia, the worsening of vision that occurs with age. As you age, the lenses in your eyes thicken and lose their elasticity, and the muscles surrounding the lenses weaken. 

• Did you know that you should have a baseline comprehensive eye exam at least by age 40?

While vision loss and blindness are not a normal part of aging, some vision changes such as losing focus, having trouble distinguishing between colors such as blue and black, and needing more light to see well are common. These changes can often be corrected with contact lenses or glasses and improved lighting.

Visit our offices today and get a comprehensive eye exam 

(909) 596-6756  2443 Foothill LaVerne CA 91750 

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

www.drboyeroptometrist.com

SPECIAL VSP OFFER ON LASIK-limited time

 

Special offer for all VSP INSURANCE members. 

Save $1,000 + Extra Savings On 

Custom LASIK and PRK!

*FREE LASIK Consultation

*Special Financing Available

*Lifetime Commitment on LASIK

Call today for a FREE consult at one of our offices. (909)
596-6756 2443 Foothill LaVerne CA 91750 (909) 982-
0100 1637 Mountain Ave Upland CA 91784 
#drkennethboyerOD #drbrianboyerOD 
www.drboyeroptometrist.com

 

August- Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month

 Amidst all the hurrying and scurrying to get the school year started on the right foot, it’s important not to lose sight of the role healthy eyes play in a young person’s learning experience.

That’s why August has been designated as Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month.

Vision Should Be A Top Priority 

Good eyesight and eye health are especially important for the development of young children, and staying on top of vision concerns should be a priority for parents because it’s not always possible for children to realize when their eyes are not healthy.

Statistics show one out of 20 children between the ages of 3 and 5 has a serious eye problem that could result in permanent vision impairment if left untreated. Yet, 4 out of 5 preschoolers do not receive routine eye screening.

Common And Severe Eye Conditions

At Dr Boyer Optometry, we encourage you to include a comprehensive eye exam in your child’s back-to-school prep. Our kid-friendly optometrists can detect common refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, as well as more severe eye conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), ptosis (drooping of the eyelid), and color deficiency (color blindness).

Fall Sports Injuries

The beginning of school also means the beginning of fall sports and other activities that could lead to eye injuries.

Every year, 42,000 Americans suffer a sports-related eye injury, with children making up the majority of those cases. You can help prevent your child from being part of that statistic by following a few basic safety rules:

• All children should wear the recommended protective eyewear while participating in sports or recreational activities.
• Children should only have access to age-appropriate toys and avoid toys with sharp or protruding parts.
• Keep cleaning supplies and sprays out of the reach of children.
• Teach the proper handling of or altogether avoid projectile toys like darts, bows and arrows, or airsoft/BB guns.

Regardless of how COVID-19 affects the upcoming school year and sports season, now is the perfect time to tackle your kiddo’s eye health. And who knows, “really cool glasses” might end up being your kid’s favorite item on their back-to-school shopping list!

Come see us at either of our two convenient offices. Call for an appointment 

(909) 596-6756  2443 Foothill LaVerne CA 91750 or

(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

Holiday Hours July 2021

In observance of Independence Day Weekend our offices will be closed 

Saturday July 3rd.

Regular business hours will resume on Monday

(909) 596-6756  2443 Foothill LaVerne CA 91750 (909) 982-0100  1637 Mountain Ave Upland CA 91784 #drkennethboyerOD #drbrianboyerOD #4thofjuly

www.drboyeroptometrist.com

 

Firework Eye Safety Month

Americans spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually on consumer fireworks, which cause more than 9,000 injuries a year. With the Fourth of July holiday just weeks away, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is reminding the public that fireworks are not toys but incendiary devices that can cause devastating eye injuries. (909) 596-6756  2443 Foothill LaVerne CA 91750 (909) 982-0100  1637 Mountain Ave Upland CA 91784 #drkennethboyerOD #drbrianboyerOD #upland #ranchocucamonga #laverne #sandimas #fireworkeyeysafetymonth www.drboyeroptometrist.com

 

Eye Strain

 You probably use screens for just about everything -- to work, to relax, or just to keep up with daily life. If your eyes feel dry and tired, your vision is blurry by the end of the day, or your head, neck, and shoulders ache, all that time with your digital devices might be to blame.

If you change how you use smartphones, computers, tablets, and other screens, you can keep from straining your eyes.

Why Do Screens Cause Eyestrain?

Normally, we blink about 15-20 times a minute. That spreads tears evenly over your eyes, which keeps them from getting dry and irritated. But researchers have found that people blink less than half as often when they’re reading, watching, or playing on a screen. Also, the contrast of text against the background, the glare, and flickering from digital screens can be hard on your eyes.

Prevent Digital Eyestrain

No, you don’t have to cut out all screen time. But a few changes to how your use your devices can be easier on your eyes.

• Make sure your computer screen is about 25 inches, or an arm's length, away from your face. The center of the screen should be about 10-15 degrees below eye level.
• Cut glare by using a matte screen filter. You can find them for all types of computers, phones, and tablets.
• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
• Take a longer break of about 15 minutes after every 2 hours you spend on your devices.
• Use artificial tears to refresh your eyes when they feel dry.
• Try putting a humidifier in the room where you most often use a computer or other device.
• Make sure the lighting in the room you’re in is bright enough. You don’t want your device to be brighter than the surroundings.
• If you wear contact lenses, give your eyes a break by wearing your glasses.
• Get regular eye exams. You might need to use a different pair of glasses when you’re working on a computer.

(909) 596-6756  2443 Foothill LaVerne CA 91750 

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

www.drboyeroptometrist.com