Category: Glasses

Polorized vs Gradient Sunglasses

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What’s the difference between polarized sunglasses and gradient sunglasses?

Let’s describe each type of sunlens first:
Polarized lenses are typically solid and dark in color. An additional layer is added to the lens to block out glare from horizontal surfaces such as the hood of a car, the water, and the snow. We recommend adding an anti-reflection coating to the back surface to eliminate all reflections providing the most comfortable vision outdoors. The frame featured to the left is a Calvin Klein sunglass, it can be purchased with plano (no prescription) polarized lenses or with a prescription.

A gradient lens is darker on the top and lighter on the bottom. This design is ideal for reading outdoors, and/or leaving the sunglasses on for days that are not as bright. The density of the darkest part of the lens and the color can be varied to accommodate for each individual’s preference. The Gucci frame featured here can be made with a solid polarized lens also.

This year, a lens combining the attributes of the polarization and the gradient tint became available. The color of the lens and lens materials are limited, but we are very excited to expand your sunlens choices. Lani with gradient polorized lenses The Lani by Maui Jim is an example.

Westside Optometry will be featuring all the Maui Jim Sunglasses at our Fall Eyewear Event, Saturday September 15th.

more information

 

Visual Stress and Technology

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A study published by the New York Times in 2009 revealed adults are exposed to screens – TV, cell phones, computers, etc. – roughly eight and a half hours on any given day.

Even the smallest uncorrected prescription can cause problems at the computer. This is especially true if you happen to be far-sighted or have astigmatism, due to the excessive focusing required to maintain a clear image.
Dry eyes and poor tear quality can cause blur and eye discomfort. We tend to blink less often when viewing the computer allowing the tears to evaporate.

Some solutions to eyestrain at the computer or with other digital devices  include a correction specific for the task. For example, a pair of computer glasses designed with optimal correction at the distance to the digital display and including appropriate coatings and tints to reduce strain and improve efficiency.

Reducing glare from overhead lights and windows will minimize squinting. Simply adjusting the screen position, closing window blinds and decreasing the wattage of a desk lamp will reduce glare. To see an earlier post with more details click here.

UV Damage and Your Eyes

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Most people (79%) know the importance of sun protection for the skin, but only 6% know how important it is for the eyes.
Studies from all over the world have shown that Ultraviolet (UV) damage due to chronic exposure to UV light is a factor in many diseases of the eye. Some of these conditions include pterygium ( a growth on the cornea), cataracts (clouding of the lens) and possible age-related macular degeneration (a condition causing decreased vision).

  •  No amount of UV exposure is healthy for the eyes.
  • The eye is the only place where internal tissues of the body are directly exposed to environmental UV.
  • UV damage is cumulative and often irreversible
  • Almost half of your UV exposure occurs when you are not in full sun and less likely to wear sunglasses or protection.

There are several things to consider when selecting sunglasses. The glasses should be comfortable and provide complete UV protection. More than one pair may be indicated; the sunglasses you wear running to the store, will be different than the pair you use for golf or boating. The style of frame and type of lens vary to the task.

The staff at Westside Optometry can help you make the best decisions to maximize your UV protection and maintain good eye health. They are very excited about a new lens that becomes polarized as it darkens.

Itchy, Watery Eyes

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girl with allergies

I hope this is the peak of the allergy season and the air clears soon. There are a lot of people suffering from itchy watery eyes. Besides locking yourself indoors or wearing goggles to avoid the cause of seasonal allergies there are a few things you can do.

  • Wear sunglasses outdoors to minimize exposure to wind
  • Start using an allergy drop with mast cell inhibitors to reduce the allergic response. At your next visit to Westside Optometry we can write a prescription and make recommendations.
  • Rinse your eyes with cool, sterile saline. This soothes and rinses out allergens.
  • If you wear contact lenses, consider switching to glasses temporarily. Pollen and irritants stick to the lens creating more time for the eye to react to them. The glasses will create a barrier between the eye and wind too.
  • Do not rub your eyes! This will only create more of a reaction and cause swelling. Instead put ice cubes in a washcloth and gently rest on closed eyes to soothe them.

Allergies are so common in Petaluma, I wrote about them in April, Eye Allergies. If you suffer all year long, I have more information about indoor allergies such as dust and animal dander, too.  Your Eyes and Allergies

 

How do I take care of my new glasses?

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Caring for your Glasses

You have carefully selected the best lens materials and designs to fit in a stylish frame, it is important to take good care of your new eyewear.

  • Remove glasses from your face with two hands
  • Never place glasses lens side down, it is best to put them in their case when not wearing them
  • Clean glasses with water and a little oil-free soap. Wipe them with a clean cloth or a cloth especially designed for your lenses
  • Do not leave glasses on the dashboard of your car. (It gets too hot for the frame and any coatings on the lenses)
  • If your glasses start to slide or feel lopsided  on your face, come by the office for an adjustment

Evatik

GLARE

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glarePeople suffer from 4 types of  glare: distracting, discomforting, disabling and blinding. Distracting glare is caused by reflections on eyeglass lenses. This can be eliminated with anti-reflective coating. At Westside Optometry, we recommend this type of non-glare coating on the back side of sunglasses also.
Discomforting glare is caused by everyday light conditions that cause squinting and eye fatigue. Tinted or photochromic lenses will reduce this type of glare.
Disabling glare occurs when excessive, intense light reaches the eyes. The effects of disabling glare can cause long-term eye damage. Good sunglasses with maximum ultraviolet protection eliminates disabling glare.
Blinding or reflective glare comes from light reflected off smooth, shiny surfaces such as water, sand, snow or wet roads. A polarized sunglass is the ideal solution for blinding glare.

Glare is a problem during the day and night. It bothers people working at a computer, driving on the freeway and fishing on a boat. Don’t squint and suffer any longer, let us eliminate the discomfort of glare with appropriate glasses.

Why is Driving at Night so much harder than Driving during the Daytime?

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Even with the longer days of spring, driving at night is still challenging.
When you are behind the wheel of a car, your eyes are constantly on the move – looking at vehicles ahead and to the side, reading  traffic signs, checking your rear view mirror, and shifting your gaze inside and outside your vehicle in order to check the speedometer, look at your global navigation system, or change a radio station.
During darkness these tasks can become even more difficult for some drivers. According to a nationwide survey 32% of the drivers say they have difficulty seeing all or most of the time while driving in the dark.
Low light levels cause the pupil to dilate, which can accentuate existing focusing problems and result in blurred vision. Wearing the best distance correction will minimize this vision problem. At Westside Optometry we also recommend a non-glare coating to eliminate reflections from annoying headlights.

Dry eyes will effect your vision when driving at night also. If the tear layer is uneven, thick or thin, the quality of vision is negatively impacted. I compare this phenomena to the windshield and wipers. Every blink is like the windshield wiper across the windshield, in the case of the eye, the eyelid wipes across the cornea. If the windshield is dry, the wiper makes it smeary. You can resolve this by squirting water on the windshield and wiping again. If the eye is dry, vision gets smeary and sometimes there are not any tears to clear it up. I recommend applying a drop of artificial tear solution before starting to drive at night.
When you do not see well you have to get closer or drive slower, and if you do not account for that need, you are at risk of causing accidents.

Glasses vs. Contact Lenses

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What are the differences between glasses and contact lenses?

Eyeglasses

  • Side (peripheral vision) is compromised.
  • Possible reflections off the eyeglass lenses.
  • Weight on nose, pressure on sinuses.
  • Glasses fog up with change in temperature.
  • Glasses are a distraction during sports.
  • Eyeglasses do not have windshield wipers and get speckled in the rain.

 

Contact Lenses

  • More natural vision, correction right on the eye.
  • Field of view is full, especially important for driving and sports.
  • No weight on face or frame slipping down nose.
  • Contacts match everything you wear.
  • Can wear non-prescription sunglasses.

There are similarities between glasses and contact lenses too:

  • Both require careful handling and cleaning to maintain the best vision.
  • Both can correct astigmatism.
  • Both are affordable, when you consider that you wear glasses or contact lenses every single day, the amount you spend on them is far less than for any other item in your wardrobe. Add in the importance to the quality of your life and they are invaluable.

Spring Eyewear Event

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Westside Optometry Spring Eyewear Event

Saturday, March 10th
10-2:00pm

Featuring our Newest Classique Collections

Lisa Loeb Eyewear
FYSH
KLiik
Evatik

Stop by to enter a raffle for a featured frame and other prizes

Kids and Glasses

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Over the winter holiday we saw a lot of kids and fit a lot of “first pairs of glasses.” It is a thrill for everyone at Westside Optometry to see a child’s face light up when he or she puts on the glasses for the first time. Usually, she is a little surprised at the new vision, but a smile quickly follows as she tries to look at everything, running to the window, picking up magazines, and especially looking in the mirror.

Because children mimic what they see, I encourage parents to set a good example and attitude about how to wear and care for the new glasses. Here are some suggestions:

  • Use both hands when taking glasses off to protect the hinges.
  • Do not try to bend any part of the frames. If the glasses feel too tight or loose, bring them to our office for adjustment.
  • Never place your glasses anywhere they can be stepped or sat on.
  • Do not let anyone play or try on your glasses.
  • Keep your glasses in their case when you are not wearing them.
  • Clean your glasses with water and a soft cloth, not your shirt.

If your child plays sports, remember that regular glasses do not provide protection from injury. Make sure your child wears the right kind of sports safety eyewear at all times when playing sports.