Six Steps to Good Eye Health

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s easy to take our eyesight for granted. But good vision isn’t a guarantee. Protect your vision by making smart decisions every day with these quick tips:

1. Watching lots of movies? Sit at a distance equivalent to at least five times the width of your TV screen.

2. Include eye healthy foods in your meal Foods containing vitamin C (papayas, red bell peppers, kiwi, strawberries, oranges) or antioxidants such as lutein and beta-carotene (carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, kale, broccoli) can help reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

3. Get regular…with your eye exams! There is no better way to protect your vision than an eye exam, as many eye diseases have no easily detectable symptoms. The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends children have their first eye exam between ages six and nine months, and annually after that. Adults should have eye exams every two years, or at the direction of their optometrist.

4. Take 20. Take a 20 second break from your computer screen every 20 minutes and focus your eyes on something at least 20 feet away.

5. Protect your baby blues (or greens or browns). Wear proper protective eyewear when undertaking major indoor or outdoor work, and wear sunglasses outside even when the sun isn’t shining – UV rays are harmful to your eyes year round.

6. Have the conversation. If you have eye irritation from allergies, inflammation, infection or injury, don’t assume it will go away on its own. Unusual visual symptoms can require treatment to resolve, or, in some cases, indicate a more serious vision problem. For eye care emergencies, be sure to ask your optometrist if emergency appointments are available – it’s often faster than going to the ER.

Did you know? Anyone can book an appointment with a Doctor of Optometry without a referral. Contact us at 604.553.3900 or visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com.

Can Contact Lenses Make You Look Younger?

I've never been a particularly vain person, but if I were forced to name my best attribute, the answer would be easy: my green eyes. Probably due in large part to the fact that only 2 percent of the world’s population has them, they've always seemed rather special. Hey, I may be showing a few signs of aging—some fine lines here, some less-than-perfectly-taut skin there—but at least my green eyes will always be pretty. Right?

Wrong! Apparently even my actual eyeballs aren't fresh and youthful anymore. OK, that might be a bit of an overreaction, but I did have one of the world’s shallowest existential crises after trying out Acuvue’s new Define line of contact lenses. Launched this month in Russia and widely available here by April 2015, these “enhancing” lenses don’t just add a small, tasteful bit of color; they’re the first name-brand contacts to also darken the limbal ring. That’s the dark outer border of the iris—and it apparently becomes increasingly less distinct and more washed out as we age. This sounds like no big deal, yet a study done at the University of California at Irvine showed that people (of either sex) were definitely perceived to be more attractive when they had darker limbal rings. In the photo above, the model is wearing one of the Define lenses on her left eye and her right eye is bare, if you'd like to get all judge-y for yourself.

Earlier this month, I got the chance to be the first non-Acuvue person in the U.S. to wear Define lenses. (Not exactly on par with being, say, the first woman in space, but possibly the one time I’ll be making history, so I just want to throw that in there.) And guess what? They look great. One-day disposables, they're available in three inscrutably named options. The “Sparkle” lenses added definition plus the tiny touch of aqua my eyes apparently needed to be a truly striking green; the “Shimmer” version made them more khaki and enhanced my limbal rings to the point where they almost looked too intense. The third version, "Shine," is even darker—more appropriate for brown eyes, so I skipped that one. (The model above is wearing one of the Shimmer lenses.)

I wore the Sparkle lenses for a few weeks, and I was particularly interested to see if anyone else noticed the change. I can't say that Define lenses will get you any catcalls on the street (“hey, nice rings”), but I did get a few unsolicited compliments from friends and colleagues. Unlike earlier colored contacts, these were natural and flattering (no violet or neon blue going on here). But did they make me look younger? That was the big question, and I’m not sure I have an answer. But I can say this: While I didn’t suddenly look 25 when I popped in the lenses, I did feel like I looked older when I took them out. (Sigh.)

For more information on these contact lenses or to purchase, please call 604.553.3900 or visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com!

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Digital Eye Strain Report 2015

On average, more than nine in 10 adults (93.3 percent) spend more than two hours each day using a digital device, with more than six in 10 adults (60.8 percent) spending five or more hours on digital devices each day. Whether it's for work or play, using computers, smartphones, tablets and e-readers TV or video games, all that time can take a toll on the eyes and lead to digital eye strain.

Digital eye strain is the physical discomfort felt after two or more hours in front of a digital screen and is associated with the close to mid-range distance of digital screens, including desktop and laptop computers, tablets, e-readers and cell phones. On average, a person going through his or her daily routine blinks about 18 times per minute. However, spending significant amounts of time staring at a screen causes blink rates to reduce, resulting in dry, itchy or burning eyes.

Adults with computer-oriented jobs feel the strain most acutely. A 2014 study found that office workers who spend significant time in front of computer screens and experience eye strain undergo changes in tear fluid similar to people with dry eye disease, creating a physiological change.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DIGITAL EYE STRAIN?

• Red, dry or irritated eyes
• Blurred vision
• Eye fatigue
• Back and neck pain
• Headaches

WHAT CAUSES DIGITAL EYE STRAIN?

Digital eye strain is not caused by one isolated event or behavior. Irritation and discomfort can be the result of many issues. Digital devices often feature small print and pixelated images that can be difficult to read and cause our eyes to strain in order to focus. We may also be using the devices improperly by holding them at the wrong angle or too far from our eyes. Blue light, also referred to as high-energy visible (HEV) light, is another cause of digital eye strain. It is emitted by digital devices and increases eye strain more so than other colors that have a longer wavelength. Digital eye strain can also be exacerbated in adults who wear prescription eyewear. This is because the corrective lenses they wear are oftentimes not intended for viewing the mid-distance range of computers and electronics.

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