Years ending in Zero: your eyes from birth to senior ... When you are born your eyes are still developing; evolving. An infant can only see clearly at a distance of only one foot. Of course this is just the right distance to see mom and dad’s faces while being held or fed. Infants are attracted visually to bright colors and contrasts. The infant's vision is about 20/400 (can see an object at 20 feet which a person with normal vision could see at 400). Over the first six months this will improve to about 20/60. Over the coming months infants should respond by tracking moving objects and making eye contact. Because a child’s eyesight approaches full development by the age of three; having an eye exam is important to detect any visual problem. If you notice eyes crossing or doesn’t seem to respond to colors, track movements, or make contact; schedule the eye examination sooner.

Eye Health = Eye Safety....  an often overlooked essential part of eyeglasses for some prescriptions is adding an anti-reflective coating. Just an expensive add on you say? What if I explained that with an anti reflective coating on your lenses; it is the difference between seeing 20/20 versus 20/30. You wouldn't have to live day after day with the eye fatigue associated with computers, whiteboards, and lighting. And I could demonstrate that your eyes recover a full 5 seconds faster from headlight glare with anti reflective coated lenses. That means your improved reaction time can help you stop your vehicle 20+ feet sooner. Take a minute to examine our display to learn if you would benefit from an anti-reflective coating when I next visit your office

Implantable telescope (IMT) is now available for people over age 75 with profound vision loss due to AMD. The IMT is about the size of a pea and takes the place of the eye’s crystalline lens. The magnification it provides allows central images to be projected onto healthy perimacular areas of the retina instead of the macula alone, where breakdown of photoreceptors and loss of vision has occurred. This helps reduce the 'blind spot' and allows the patient to distinguish and discern images that may have been unrecognizable or difficult to see.

 7 steps for Healthier Eyes in 2011.   Eliminate visual stress: reducing the stress on your eyes can be achieved by removing the effects of glare and make sure your eyeglasses have the best optical product for your job’s visual demands. The wrong eyeglass prescription can reduce your productivity by as much as 20%. A study in the United Kingdom discovered 35% failed a basic eye test.  Keep your eyeglasses always fitting properly to maximize the prescription. Lubrication: computer use reduces blinking by as much as 75% making your eyes drier. Dry eyes contribute to blurred vision and eye infections Cooler outside temperatures and warmer inside temperatures dry out the atmosphere lowering your eyes moisture level. Natural tear eye drops (not "get the red out" type drops) help the eye maintain proper moisture levels and are not habit forming. Proper Rest: the human eye requires at least six hours of rest in order for you to see clearly, proper contact lens function, and adequate eye moistness. Know the 7 Warning signs of a vision problem .  Protect your eyes: From the elements such as dryness caused by effects of wind, with sunglasses against the low angle of the winter sun and summer's intense sky, hazards around the house such as when using power tools or household chemicals. More people are injured at home than on the job. Vitamins: discuss with your doctor these supplements to prevent eye disease. Cataracts: A daily multivitamin reduces the risk of cataracts by 25%. Vitamins C and E, along with leafy vegetables like spinach, also reduces your risk of developing cataracts. Macular degeneration: Lutein, a plant pigment, is found in leafy vegetables such as spinach. Reduced levels of Lutein in the eye have been reported in patients with macular degeneration. Bausch & Lomb has developed a vitamin supplement Ocuvite for patients with macular degeneration. Glaucoma: A brisk walk regimen, vitamin B 12 and magnesium may help reduce pressure inside the eye. Diabetic retinopathy: Magnesium and vitamin C may slow the onset. Annual eye health examinations a yearly eye checkup can ensure your eyes work at their best level of performance and last a lifetime for the leading causes of diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure are first detected in the eyes

Scratches

Unfortunately scratches on prescription safety lenses are not totally avoidable. The best way to avoid scratches is to prevent them form occurring in the first place. Simple preventive steps like storing your glasses in a protective case when not worn, wet the lens before cleaning, dry the lens with a clean cloth (or an approved tissue from a lens cleaning station) and employing a supplemental face shield/visor when necessary. The problem with scratches is they are not only bothersome; but can pose a hazard to the employee.

Scratches problems: Protection and Performance ... Scratches on lenses pose two problems for the safety of the employee. The first is the most obvious. When the lens surface is scratched; its ability to withstand an impact and not shattering is compromised. The second problem is scratches reduce the clarity of the prescription lenses which can reduce the performance of the employee. And when people have a trouble seeing through their glasses; they tend to bend, lean, and tilt their heads which affect their overall musculoskeletal health.

O If when examining the lens scratches you observe the scratches tend to go in a circular fashion in the center of the lens; the lens was probably not wet when it was cleaned. The proper method to clean lenses should be reviewed with the employee.

- `~ If your lens examination reveals short scratches indiscriminately placed on the surface you should consider an optional protective device like a flip up face shield. The lens is being bombarded with flying debris.

If you observe scratches longer than 3mm; there is a high probability the lens was dropped.

Best way to clean lenses ... When cleaning prescription lenses the first step is to wet the lens surface. Water, a lens cleaning solution, or soap and water will remove dirt and debris quite effectively from the lens surface. Most scratches can be traced to either wiping the lens dry or using a cloth (or shirt tail) that contains abrasive materials. Avoid applying household cleaning products like window cleaners, acetone, and paint remover as they contain chemicals which fog the lens and damage the coatings on the lens.

Scratches on lenses can be polished out …. NO. Prescription ophthalmic lenses are required to maintain a 2mm thickness for high impact polycarbonate lenses and 3mm thickness for glass, CR39, and high index materials. Polishing results in a decreased thickness yielding a higher risk of shattering. In addition, the lens front surface is a custom molded on multimodal lenses (bifocals) and can not be resurfaced. Polishing is usually reserved for large telescopic lenses or special optical systems.

My recommendations for replacing lenses: If you hold the lens up to a light and are unable to see through the lens due to scratches: replace it! If any part of the lens has chipped or the surface is pitted: replace it! If cracks are visible in the lens: replace it!

After a prescription safety lens is scratched; its protective capacity is compromised. Avoiding scratches is the best prevention. You can use the Risk Assessment on our website (www.wecare4eyes.com/hazard assessment.htm) to determine those employees at a higher risk of incurring scratches. When in doubt the lens which is scratched should be replaced. An option to consider for those employees whose work exposes lenses to more scratches is our scratch warranty. The scratch warranty for high impact polycarbonate and CR39 lenses provides for the replacement of the lenses (single vision or bifocal) at no charge once in a one year period. The small cost for the warranty protection is minimal compared to replacing bifocal lenses. For more information regarding this warranty option; please contact our office at 708-686-5266