Category: Sunglasses

New Light Weight Frames

Karen Griffith

Aspire2

[heading centered=”yes” margin_bottom=”no”]New Light Weight Frames at Westside Optometry[/heading]We are very pleased to have the latest brand of eyewear from Clearvision Optical. Aspire Eyewear was created with a thin and lightweight “memory plastic” material. Aspire frames offer a “barely there” feel and fit.
We have 9 styles each in 2 different colors. Half men and half women and some crossover. There are different architecturally inspired temple designs in both stainless steel or TR-90 (light-weight and flexible plastic material).

[heading centered=”yes” margin_bottom=”no”]Features of Aspire Eyewear[/heading]

  • Almost 50% lighter than a regular plastic frame
  • 22% lighter than a typical titanium frame
  • Adjustable nose pads
  • Almost 50% thinner than typical acetate frames
  • Three colors for each model, including translucents and fades
  • Screwless hinges

We have the ophthalmic collection on display and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the sun collection.

Aspire_1

 

 

Mahalo Mothers

Karen Griffith

MJ Mother's Day 2015

Mothers day is coming soon and a pair of Maui Jim Sunglasses is the perfect way to show mom your appreciation. Westside Optometry has doubled their sunglass inventory. The glasses are available with and without prescription.

[heading centered=”yes” margin_bottom=”no”]What’s so great about Maui Jim Sunglasses?[/heading]

  • Waterproof and Oleophobic Coating – Waterproof to shed water and snow. Oleophobic to repel grease and make smudges and fingerprints easier to wipe away on both sides of the lens.

    MJ mavericks
    Mavericks
  • Anti-Reflective Treatment – Blocks reflected light and annoying glare from behind to provide a clear view and eliminate eye fatigue.
  • Clearshell Scratch Resistant Treatment – Lenses perform better and last longer with the added durability of this treatment on both sides of the lenses.
  • Color Enhancing Lens – Maui Jim’s optically correct, distortion-free lenses feature patented lens treatments or rare earth elements to infuse views with color.
  • Polarizing Film – Eliminates reflected glare from any flat, smooth or shiny surface for a cleaner, crisper view. Makes it possible to see below the surface of the water.
  • Unmatched Protection – Wipes out 99.9% of glare. Blocks 100% of UV rays.

Benefits of Ultraviolet Light

Karen Griffith

Usually I am preaching the dangers of Ultraviolet (UV) exposure, and I will do a bit of that, but there are some benefits to sunshine. Sun and the Eyes
Vitamin D – Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods. It is produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from the sun strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. It is  essential for maintaining bone health. Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium in the gut to enable normal bone growth and maintenance. It may also protect against the development of cancer, autoimmunity, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, type I and II diabetes and infectious disease. Although vitamin D can be obtained through vitamin supplementation, most people in the world derive their vitamin D from sun exposure.
Low vitamin D levels may increase the chance of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a minimum exposure to UV light may be necessary for the production of vitamin D. (this does not mean it is OK to stare at the sun). UV exposure should be moderate; too much and the risk for AMD increases, as does the risk with too little UV.
PterygiumThere are acute effects on the eyes from too much sun exposure such as photokeratitis (a sunburn on the surface of the eye). Long-term UV exposure can cause cataracts and pterygium (a growth on the white of the eye). Wearing sunglasses when outdoors is a simple way to prevent over-exposure of UV light to the eyes.

The amount of protection from sunglasses varies depending on the material of the lens and added coatings. For maximum protection look for lenses that block 90% of UVA and 99% of UVB.
Currently, the UV index can be used as a rough guide for knowing when the skin and eyes need protection. Sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 8 or more appear to block vitamin D producing UV rays. Because we typically do not apply sufficient amounts of sunscreen or cover all exposed skin, synthesis of vitamin D probably occurs. The maximum amount of exposure needed to maintain normal vitamin D levels is 30 minutes twice a week. For some people 5 minutes twice a week is adequate. Again moderation, more is not better.

 

 

Fall Eyewear Event

Karen Griffith

CV kids 2014

Come one, Come all for the Westside Optometry Fall Eyewear Event
Featured this year is the entire Clearvision Collection and Maui Jim sunglasses. Clearvision includes frames for the whole family:

CH 1025 2014
Ellen Tracy, Cole Haan, BCBG for women
Izod, Marc Ecko for men
Jessica McClintock, Izod and Dilli Dalli for children
Included in each line are sunglasses too.

Ellen Tracy Suns 2014

The festivities are Saturday, September 6th at our office
320 Petaluma Blvd South in downtown Petaluma
10:00 – 2:00

Look for the Maui Jim tent in the parking l

MJ 2014
There will be refreshments

Too Much Sun can be Dangerous for Eyes

Karen Griffith

Corneal Sunburn

If the eyes are exposed to excessive amount of Ultraviolet (UV) radiation over a short period of time, “sunburn” called photokeratitis can occur on the surface of the eye (the cornea). This condition Sun and the Eyes may be painful and includes symptoms such as red eyes, a foreign-body sensation or gritty feeling in the eyes, blurry vision, excessive tearing and extreme sensitivity to light. Photokeratitis is also called snowblindness because it occurs often when enjoying winter sports where the light is reflected from the snow. It is usually temporary and rarely causes permanent damage, but can take days to heal.
 Premature Aging
Ongoing exposure to UV radiation, however, can cause serious harm to the eyes and age them prematurely. Research has shown that exposure to small amounts of UV radiation over time increases the chance of developing cataracts, macular degeneration and eye cancer.

 Prevention
Whether it’s cloudy or sunny, summer or winter protect your eyes from the sun’s rays in order to decrease the risk of eye diseases and disorders.
A good rule of thumb to follow is to wear sunglasses, glasses or contact lenses with UV protection, apply sunscreen and wear a hat to protect the eyes and tissues around them.
And don’t forget your children, their eyes are more susceptible to damage from UV.
A good way to monitor eye health, maintain good vision and keep up-to-date on the latest UV protection is by scheduling yearly comprehensive eye exams.

Do you have Cataracts?

Karen Griffith

June is cataract awareness month.

cataract

Here are some of the clues that you might have cataracts?

  • Vision is cloudy or blurred
  • Vision is discolored
  • Vision is impaired at night and there is more glare
  • Vision is double in one eye

A cataract is the clouding of the lens of the eye. The proteins in the lens discolor and clump causing blurry and obscured vision. Age is the leading cause, but certain medications can speed up the process also. Two contributing factors that you can control are protecting your eyes from UV damage by wearing sunglasses, and to stop smoking.

For more details about cataracts click here.

Eyes on the Road

Karen Griffith

On the Road

As summer approaches, millions of California drivers will hit the road for family vacations, ball games, barbecues, and beach parties. Many will have their car checked out to ensure it is in good working order before embarking on a major trip. However, not many drivers will even think about having their eyes checked as well. Not surprisingly, a driver’s vision guides 90% of driving decisions, so good eyesight is essential for road safety.
Having the proper vision skills and/or prescription is important for many reasons:
Distance Vision
Adequate distance vision acuity is imperative for judging distances and reaction time when driving. Poor distance vision increases the risk of making unreliable judgements with potentially disastrous results – even the simplest reactions take 0.4 seconds, so if distance vision is poor, signs or objects may not be seen until it is too late to react safely.
Peripheral Vision
Good peripheral vision allows drivers to survey the area without looking away from the road. This includes early recognition of cross-traffic, pedestrians, animals, signs, and changes in flow of traffic. Impaired peripheral vision can result in the driver failing to react to a hazard on the far left or right, failing to stop at a stoplight suspended over an intersection, weaving while negotiating a curve, or driving too close to parked cars.
Night Vision
Safe night driving requires the ability to see low contrast objects and in low light conditions. Impaired night vision can result in tailgating, failing to steer when necessary (since it is difficult to see low contrast features such as edges or irregularities in the road surface), and recovery from glare of oncoming headlights.
Glare
Glare refers to the disruption of vision due to veiling luminance. Important visual skills for drivers are glare resistance – the extent to which the driver can still see critical objects while facing a steady source of glare (setting sun, headlights), and glare recovery – rapidity with which the driver’s functioning vision returns to what it was before the glare was encountered. If these skills are not adequate, the driver can miss curves, strike an animal or pedestrian, or crash into slow moving or stopped vehicles.
Besides regular optometric exams, additional tips for good vision while driving include:

  • Always wear sunglasses when driving to reduce glare – especially in sunny California!
  • Keep headlights, tail lights, windshields and eye glasses clean.
  • Keep side and rear view mirrors adjusted correctly to increase your field of vision and reduce glare from headlights.
  • Always wear glasses or contact lenses if they have been prescribed for driving use.

Regular optometric exams are especially important for senior citizens who drive. Visual ability decreases with age, and certain skills lessen with age-related eye diseases such as glaucoma, which narrows peripheral vision , and cataracts, which increases sensitivity to glare.

Schedule your eye exam before you hit the road.

Caring for your Glasses

Karen Griffith

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

eye glass care

  • 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

UV Protection for Children

Karen Griffith

Babies, children and young adults have more transparent lenses in their eyes and more sensitive skin on their bodies. As a result, they are more susecptible to the adverse effects of overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. The negative effects of cumulative UV light exposure may not show up until later in life.
At 20 years of age, the average person has received 80% of their life’s UV exposure. This is why it is critical to protect our children’s eyes from the sun, beginning from their birth and continuing throughout their childhood.

For 13 Reasons Children should wear sunglasses, click here.

babiator boy

Westside Optometry has Babiator  sunglasses for infants and children. These sunglasses, designed especially for kids, come in 2 sizes and 10 colors. They have an amazing guarantee for loss and breakage.

 

Why Polarized?

Karen Griffith

Most of us wear sunglasses to reduce glare and brightness. Polarized sunglasses cut the glare and deliver sharp vision, 100% UV protection, and less eyestrain.

MJ Kipahulu

How do polarized lenses work?
When glare-causing light is reflected from surfaces, such as a flat road or smooth water, it is horizontally polarized (as opposed to light that is scattered in all directions). This experience creates a visually taxing and sometimes dangerous intensity of light called glare.
Polarized lenses are equipped with a special filter that blocks this type of intense reflected light to reduce glare effectively.

At Westside Optometry we offer prescription polarized sunglasses in your choice of frame, and whatever lens type you need, progressives, bifocal or single vision. We also feature Maui Jim sunglasses which are available with or without prescription with several choices of lens color. All of them are polarized. The Kipahulu is pictured above.