Protect your eyes during this popular summer activity

It’s mid-summer, which means we will be spending more time in the water. If you will be participating in water sports, such as rowing, snorkeling, or even fishing it is important to be extra cautious about what goes near, or in your eyes.

Pink eye – although not a serious condition, is highly contagious and more common than you may think. Also known as conjunctivitis, pink eye is when the white part of the eye gets swollen and appears red. There are three types of conjunctivitis; viral, bacterial, and allergic.

The conjunctiva (hence the name) is the thin, filmy membrane that covers the inside of your eyelids and the white part of your eye.

When the blood vessels in this area become irritated and swollen, they cause your eye to appear red. This irritation is typically caused by a bacterial infection, allergies, or even symptoms from the common cold.

Here are five tips to help minimize your chances of getting pink eye this summer:

Suit up – When swimming, wear activity appropriate goggles to protect yourself from bacteria in the water. 

Remove your lenses – Never share your contact lenses with others and remove them before submerging or playing in water of any kind to avoid trapping bacteria between your eyes and lenses. 

Scrub! – Frequently clean surfaces you use often with an appropriate antiseptic cleaner and avoid rubbing or touching your eyes before washing your hands thoroughly. 

Keep to yourself – Do not share personal care items that come in close proximity to the eyes. 

Wash – In the case that you are near others who show symptoms of pink eye, be preventative by thoroughly washing hand with hot water.

If you are experiencing a sensitivity to light, a burning or scratchy feeling, redness, and/or a pus-like discharge in or around the eye, you may have pink eye. Book an appointment with one of our Doctors of Optometry for diagnosis, and to help clarify which of the three types of conjunctivitis you may have for appropriate treatment. Please give us a call at 604.553.3900 or visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com to book an appointment.

What to Look for When Buying Sunglasses

Help protect your vision from dangerous UV rays by wearing the best sunglasses for your eyes.

The weather is heating up, and we’re sure most of you can’t wait to finally be on the beach with your toes in the sand and the sun at your back. Today's post will shed some light on the best ways to protect your eyes for the summer.

We all know how important it is to shield our skin from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays by applying sunblock to our exposed skin.

Much like our skin, your eyes are extremely sensitive to the sun’s UV rays too, and it’s just as important to protect your eyes from the sun, as it is your skin. Any amount of continual contact with harmful UV radiation may cause eye damage.

Exposure to harmful UV radiation, even in just a small period of time, could actually result in photokeratitis, also known as sunburn to the eye, resulting in pain, blurred vision, or even temporary vision loss. If the eye is exposed for a much longer period of time, threatening eye diseases such a cataracts or macular degeneration could occur.

The Right Amount of Protection 

The obvious answer on how to avoid getting UV rays in contact with your eyes is to wear sunglasses. But not all sunglasses are created equal.

When shopping around, look for sunglasses that have a UV protection of 100 percent. Surprisingly, the amount of UV protection is unrelated to the color and darkness of the lens. A light colored lens may provide the same UV protection as a darker lens.

To best protect your eyes make sure to select sunglasses that have a shade of UV 400. A UV 400 protection, will block out any and all harmful UV light from entering your eyes with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers.

Also, remember to wear your sunglasses even when you’re in the shade. Although shade reduces the UV ray exposure, your eyes may still be exposed to UV rays reflecting off of other surfaces.

Sunglasses Size and Material

Choosing the size of your sunglasses is just as important as picking the proper lens protection. Sunglasses that offer side protection are more likely to block out dangerous UV light from entering your eyes through the side and back of the glasses.

Oversized or wrap around sunglasses offer the best coverage for the soft tissues inside and outside of your eyes.

Not only will the size of the glasses protect your eyeballs, but they also will protect your eyelids, which are very sensitive and easily susceptible to skin cancer when exposed to harmful UV rays.

Glass lenses offer the best protection because the material is a natural UV protector. However, a much more common lens is a coated plastic lens, which can potentially offer just as much protection for your eyes.

Wearing Sunglasses in the Winter

When most people think of sunglasses, they automatically picture the summer. But wearing sunglasses in the winter months is just as important.

UV rays reflect off snow, which can nearly double the harmful UV rays your eyes are exposed to. Don’t neglect your sunglasses in the winter!

Maintain a Healthy Vision

It’s important to maintain healthy vision by always properly protecting our eyes. Sunglasses give us the best protection for our eyes no matter the season.

Need help picking out the right pair of sunglasses? Call us at 604.553.3900 or visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com!

Relax and see better – stress and our eyes

The eyes are the window to your soul, and when your soul is relaxed your eyes are too. Maintaining a healthy level of stress can be difficult during this day and age, with pressures of work and the constant presence of online and social media. These high stress levels may be taking a toll on your eyes, resulting in the following eye conditions:

Myokymia: Otherwise known as eye twitching. A condition that drives many of us nuts, comparable only to the hiccups or an itchy mosquito bite. Stress is a leading cause of involuntary eye twitches, often caused by lack of zzz’s or too much screen time. Twitching should disappear on its own, but only with a bit of repose.

Blurred Vision: When we’re in stress mode, our body may react as if we’re facing danger, causing our pupils to dilate. This dilation allows more light to enter the retina with the hopeful outcome that you’re able to better judge the situation. On the flip side, excess light may also cause blurry vision.

Dry Eyes: When experiencing high levels of stress, our body also goes into full protection mode. One of the results of this natural defense is the thickening of blood flow to shield us from potential injury. This makes our heart pump harder to get blood circulating to our extremities, thus lowering the amount being sent to our eyes. A decrease in blood flow to the eyes results in dry, irritated peepers.

Not only can stress have these effects on your eyes – they can also make you look physically unwell. Stress causes lack of sleep, which in essence causes fluid to pool below your lower eyelid area, resulting in the frustrating under eye bags that are difficult to hide. Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep and reduce the amount of time spent on digital devices before bed, to reduce stress and to keep those eyes beaming.

For more information or to book an appointment, please visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com or call us at 604.553.3900.

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Risks Associated With Sun Exposure

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is an invisible component of sunlight that is most commonly known to cause sunburns and skin cancers. While some UV is filtered by the ozone layer, increasing amounts are reaching the earth as the ozone layer steadily diminishes. Because exposure to UV is cumulative, direct contact with sunlight for even short periods of time can cause several long-term eye health problems, many of which begin symptom-free.

To help reduce UV radiation damage to your eyes, consider the following tips:

• Beware of high sources of UV exposure in the workplace. The Canadian Center for Occupational Health & Safety indicates examples of workers at potential risk from exposure to UV radiation including outdoor workers, construction workers, paint and resin curers, plasma torch operators, welders, farmers, food and drink irradiators, hairdressers, laboratory workers, lighting technicians, lithographic and printing workers and police.
• Recognize sources of man-made ultraviolet radiation. Examples include various types of UV lamps, arc welding torches and mercury vapour lamps. In dental and medical practices, UV radiation can be used for killing bacteria, creating fluorescent effects, curing resins and phototherapy. Sun tanning booths also use UV radiation.
• Wear sunglasses, prescription or safety glasses with anti-UV coatings. Sunlight is by far the greatest source of UV radiation.

Exposure to its UVA and UVB rays, as well as man-made sources of UVC rays, can lead to long-term eye damage including:

• Age-related macular degeneration
• Cataracts
• Eyelid skin cancer
• Premature age spots around the eyes
• Tissue growths on the surface of the eye including pinguecula and pterygium, of which the latter can encroach on the corneal axis

If you wear corrective contact lenses, consider wearing UV-blocking contact lenses for an added layer of UV protection. Sunglasses are important, but aren’t always enough. Depending on the frame size, shape and position, as much as 45 per cent of UV rays can still reach the eyes of people wearing some sunglasses. Contact lenses with UV protection are an effective way to block light that gets in the sides and protects from harmful UV radiation reaching the cornea and into the eye. Not all contact lenses offer UV protection so check with your doctor of optometry to find out which ones are right for you.

Recognize symptoms of UV eye damage, including immediate pain, inflammation of the cornea and an aversion to light. UV burns are commonly known as welder’s flash, snow blindness, ground-glass eyeball, or flash burn, depending on the UV source. Should you experience these symptoms, see your doctor of optometry right away.

While the symptoms listed above indicate eye damage caused by UV exposure, many long-term problems caused by UV exposure are symptom-free. To learn about the UV damage your eyes may already have, visit one of our doctors of optometry for a thorough eye examination. Please visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com for more information. 

Munch on these seasonal snacks and protect not only your eyes - but your overall health!

Summer is upon us, and that means more fresh fruits and vegetables are in season. It’s a great time to head outside and enjoy a picnic, or host a backyard BBQ – and it’s easy to make sure your meals are chock-full of nutrients that are good for you!

When we think about eating healthy, we might not think about the benefit foods can have on our vision and eye health. Our eyes are vascular, so much like your heart they rely on arteries to transport oxygen and nutrients. A healthy diet low in trans and saturated fats (a Mediterranean diet if you will) helps maintain healthy blood vessels, which keeps your eyes happy and healthy.

Below, we have identified six foods that you can incorporate into your daily diet that will keep your eyes and whole body healthy:

• Greens – Leafy greens such as spinach and kale, contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that are stored in the macula (part of the retina that acts as a natural sunblock from damaging light). By blocking blue light, which can be harmful to the retina, and helping to detect contrast, this powerful combo can help improve vision and make it last long term.
• Tomatoes – They’re packed with carotenoids, which include lycopene (an effective cancer-protecting antioxidant) and Vitamin C, helping to give power to this vision protecting fruit. When these antioxidants are found in the ocular tissues, research shows it helps prevent light-induced damage to the retina and other areas of the eye.
• Eggs – One egg a day keeps the eye problems away! In addition to being loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin, eggs pack a natural punch of Vitamin D, which can reduce your risk of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). They’re also rich in cysteine and sulphur, two components of glutathione, a protein that acts as an antioxidant for the lens of the eye and have also been found to protect fromcataract
• Fish – The fatty kind! Salmon for example is full of good for you omega 3 fatty acids, a proven aid in the prevention of AMD and a tool to help you battle dry eyes. If you’re not a fan of salmon – tuna, cod, haddock and sardines also contain these fats which are important for cellular health.
• Nuts & Seeds – These are full of Vitamin E, a vitamin essential to the cells in our eyes. By consuming one handful or an ounce of almonds or sunflower seeds, you’re getting about half your daily dose. For kid friendly options, peanut butter and wheat germ work just as well.
• ‘Orange foods’ – Carrots, yams, sweet potatoes, apricots, etc. – all packed with beta-carotene, which is converted by the body to Vitamin A. This antioxidant resists stress damage to the lens of the eye, helping in the prevention of cataracts and AMD.

For an added bonus, prepare your meals using olive oil when you can. It’s free of trans-fats, low in saturated fat and helps prevent the development of AMD.

By taking care of your whole body – your eyes will directly benefit. Book an appointment with one of our Doctors of Optometry at www.visionsourcenw.com to learn more.

Comprehensive eye exams can test vision, help save lives

May is Vision Health Month, and local doctor of optometry, Dr. Stephanie Strawn of Stickle and Strawn Optometry, is urging Okanagan residents to make eye exams part of their preventative health-care routines.

“Comprehensive eye exams can serve as early detectors for a number of potentially serious health conditions, ranging from diabetes and high blood pressure to certain forms of cancer,” says Dr. Strawn.

Studies show that among Canadians who don’t have regular eye exams, more than half chose to skip a visit with their optometrist because they believed they had good vision. This is despite the fact that even with good vision, eye exams can help detect eye diseases and underlying conditions that may show signs in the eyes including brain tumours, aneurysms, autoimmune disorders, thyroid disease, sickle cell disease, liver disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological or brain disorders.

“A comprehensive eye exam does much more than test your vision, it is an important part of maintaining your overall health,” says Dr. Strawn.

Comprehensive eye exams provide optometrists a close-up look at your blood vessels, your optic nerves, and many other complex eye structures, all of which may contain clues to conditions that could pose a serious risk to your health.

“Brain tumours, for example, can cause loss of peripheral vision or can damage the nerves that control eye muscle function, resulting in symptoms such as abnormal eye movements or double vision,” says Dr. Strawn. “During an exam, your doctor of optometry would examine the optic nerves, and test peripheral vision and eye muscle function, which can often be the first sign of a brain tumour.”

The exams conducted by a doctor of optometry are much more than a sight test or screening test, which only measure how well you see. A comprehensive eye exam looks at the overall health of your visual system, and helps to identify underlying health conditions that can show early signs in the eyes.

“Think of it as a physical for your eyes,” says Dr. Strawn, “Through a series of tests and procedures, optometrists can help detect conditions before other physical effects are noticed, allowing them to work closely with other primary health care providers to improve patient outcomes.”

Given the potential of an eye exam to protect, not just your vision, but your overall health, routine exams are recommended for people of all ages. BC doctors of optometry recommend adults have an eye exam every two years, and annually for those over 65. Children should have their first exam between six and nine months, their second eye exam between the ages of two and five, and annually after starting school.

To book an appointment with one of our Doctors of Optometry, please visit us online at www.visionsourcenw.com or call 604.553.3900.

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Surviving Allergy Season

Spring has officially arrived which means allergy season is here – or quickly approaching. If you’re amongst the 8 million Canadians (one-quarter of the country) that has seasonal allergies, you’ve probably experienced some form of itchy, red, dry, or watery eyes.

Seasonal allergies are caused by the high pollen released by trees, grass, outdoor moulds, and ragweed. They begin in the spring, peak in the summer, and can last as late as fall.

Most of us know when seasonal allergies strike because we start to experience mild to extreme discomfort in our eyes, but have you ever wondered what’s actually causing our eyes to react? Dr. Marino Discepola from McGill University’s Department of Ophthalmology explains:

“When an allergen affects us, it binds to receptor cells called mast cells… we have 50 million of them in a mucous membrane on the surface of our eyelids called the conjunctiva.

When mast cells in the conjunctiva come into contact with an allergen, they release a chemical called histamine, which stimulates the nerves in the eye, making it itchy and watery. The eye is trying to remove the allergen, not realizing that it is harmless.

The release of histamine also causes dilation of the blood vessels on the surface of the eye, which makes your eyes red.”

Most allergens are seasonal, which in most cases last between four to six weeks.

Here are the best -and safest- ways to manage your eyes this allergy season:

• Get in the habit of checking your local pollen forecast, which provides you with a daily outlook on the types and severity of pollen in the air.
• Pick up over-the-counter eye drops, or speak with your local eye doctor about prescription eye drops if discomfort persists.
• Place cold compresses on your eyes, this can help relieve the itching sensation.
• Despite temptation, DO NOT RUB YOUR EYES, as this will only make your eyes worse and can potentially cause long-term damage.

If you’re experiencing persistent eye discomfort as a result of seasonal allergies, be sure to book an appointment with one of our optometrists at Vision Source New Westminster to discuss your options.

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