Combating Eye Allergies

March 10, 2014 by coavision
   
It’s that time when we spring ahead and lose one hour of precious sleep.  As we set our clocks forward, we should also keep in mind that spring is literally just a few weeks away.  Many of our trees start branching out and flowers start blooming in magnificent colors.  As an allergy sufferer, I view spring as a time of burgeoning new life on one hand and of the dreaded allergies on the other.

For my patients with known seasonal eye allergies, I pre-treat them with anti-allergy eye drops from a class of medication called mast cell stabilizers.  In an ideal world, I like to initiate the anti-allergy therapy about one month before the time that their allergies would have set in.  Mast cell stabilizers work by preventing the body from releasing histamines from mast cells that cause the itchy, watery, red, puffy irritated eyes.  For those patients that have a new onset of eye allergies, immediate relief is what they are probably looking for so I turn to my combo medications that contain both antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers. Antihistamines as the name denotes, blocks histamines from attaching to key sites and activating the course of allergies.

Here are some helpful tips I share with all my patients:

• Apply cold compresses on top of closed eyelids. This will shrink down blood vessels and limit the circulation of histamines that cause itching and other eye symptoms.
• If you are a contact lens patient, clean your contacts well. You may want to switch to daily disposables to reduce pollen accumulation. Use anti-allergy eye drops that require once a day instillation. Wear glasses if the allergy is bothersome.
• Wash your hair at night to eliminate all the pollen that collected during the day and to prevent coming into contact on the pillow while sleeping.
• If you own a pet, bathe him more frequently to reduce pollen that is stuck on him. Best to keep your pet strictly indoors or outdoors to prevent transporting pollen into the house and on you.
• Avoid drying clothes or bed sheets naturally outdoors as the pollen can adhere to these items.
• Plan outdoor activities early in the morning and late in the evening as the pollen count is the lowest at these times.
• Pick vacation spots that have low pollen counts such as the beach.
• Get your daily pollen forecast on www.pollen.com. See what is floating around in your neighborhood or place of work.

As a “seasoned” (no pun intended) allergy sufferer, I am ready to combat the upcoming 2014 allergy season.  Are you?  Please make sure you plan ahead and make an appointment with your optometrist.

~Judy Tong, OD, FAAO
California Optometric Association
http://eyehelp.org
http://www.coavision.org

FRAME SHOW featuring BEVEL - SAVE THE DATE!

Uptown Eyecare & Optical invites you to an exclusive trunk show & styling event featuring BEVEL,  on Saturday May 3rd, 2014!

More details about the trunk show:
* Saturday May 3rd, 2014,  from 9am - 3pm
* Our ABO-certified opticians will help you with your frame and lens selection
* RSVP for the event on our website
* 25% off a complete pair of glasses on Bevel frames purchases
* Multiple pair discounts: 35% off a complete pair of glasses
* Outside valid prescriptions are welcome and appreciated

What is a trunk show?
Generally speaking, a trunk show is a giant sale. Frame representatives carry their full line of frames in the trunks of their cars as they travel from optical shop to optical shop. The frame purchaser at a particular shop only selects the frames they want to carry in their store.

During a designer trunk show, or frame show,  we invite one or two of the most interesting frame vendors to show their entire line of frames in all colors, sizes and shapes. This is the time of the year we offer our best discounts and our patients have a much larger than normal selection of frames.
We will be serving light refreshments and the whole Uptown EyeCare staff will be all dressed up wearing BEVEL frames! We look forward to seeing you there!

How do I RSVP? 
To RSVP, please go to our website and send us your name and email address as your confirmation that you will be attending the frame show. We will have a special drawing one week prior to the event for those who RSVP for a chance to win 50% off a new pair of BEVEL frames and lenses! RSVP by April 25th 2014  if you would like to be included in the drawing. The winner must have a valid prescription, be present & purchase on the date of the frame show.


Tell me more about BEVEL.. 
Based out of Kansas City, Bevel brings a clean, classic sophistication to our wide collection of eyewear. This line offers phenomenal spectacles that fit people with petite faces, as well as those who need a bigger frame.

Bevel is committed to maintaining a classic but minimalist esthetic, using truly high-quality materials. Form, function and quality are the bedrock of this stunning collection & they are constantly seeking innovation so Bevel glasses look, fit, and perform better.

As one of the very few USA based high end optical companies, Bevel continues to forge it’s own path to success both in the United States and internationally through it’s collection of bold and beautiful eyewear designs.

http://www.bevelspecs.com/

New Transitions Lenses are here!

Transitions Optical developed Transitions® Signature™ VII lenses to be more responsive in more situations by testing them in over 200 real-life conditions representing more than a thousand scenarios combining various temperatures, weather conditions and geographies. Read here to know more about the new and improved Transition VII lenses: 

 

What is Transitions® Signature™ VII and how is it different/better?

Transitions® Signature™ VII is the latest and most balanced photochromic lens from Transitions Optical. Transitions® Signature™ VII is more responsive in more situations, being more reactive to indirect light and darker especially in warmer conditions – while at the same keeping excellent clarity indoors and fast to fade back.

How are Transitions® Signature™ VII lenses different to Transitions® XTRActive™?

Both are clear lens replacements. Transitions® Signature™ VII is our most balanced lens to date having a high degree of indoor clarity and with improved outdoor darkness and responsiveness on hot days. It is available in a broad range of lens designs and materials in Grey and Brown. XTRActive™ goes darker outdoors, darkens moderately behind a car windscreen and has a slight residual tint indoors. It is available in Grey.

What’s new and different about the darkness of Transitions® Signature™ VII lenses?

Transitions® Signature™ VII lenses are darker than Transitions® VI™ lenses in average and hotter temperatures. When measured over 1000 times in 200 different situations Transitions® Signature™ VII Brown lenses were shown to be on average 21% darker than Transitions VI and Grey 15% darker. As the most balanced Transitions lens to date, Transitions® Signature™ VII lenses will provide even more visual comfort, glare reduction and enhanced contrast than any Transitions lens previously available. They are also darker in situations when the wearer is not directly facing the sun, which is key as wearers avoid looking into the sun.

Are Transitions® Signature™ VII lenses compatible with premium anti-reflective coatings?

Absolutely. Transitions® Signature™ VII lenses are compatible with all premium AR coatings and hardcoats.
In fact, Transitions® Signature™ VII lenses are even clearer than regular clear lenses when a premium
AR coating is applied. For added flexibility, if necessary, the hardcoat on Transitions® Signature™ VII l
lenses is easily removed in a laboratory prior to AR or proprietary hardcoat application.

Can Transitions® Signature™ VII lenses be tinted?

Yes, but we do not recommend it as tinting will compromise the clarity of Transitions® Signature™ VII
lenses which are virtually as clear as regular clear lenses indoors and at night. If a pre-tint is required
your patient might choose to consider Transitions Performance Sunwear and Transitions adaptive
sunwear lenses as they are specifically designed for outdoor activities.

Are Transitions® Signature™ VII lenses limited to any particular spectacle frames? 

Absolutely not. That’s one of the benefits of Transitions lenses – they are suitable for virtually any
frame designed for mounting prescription lenses.

In what colours are Transitions® Signature™ VII lenses offered?

Transitions® Signature™ VII lenses are available in Grey or Brown tints. Both tints have been optimised
for better color consistency, providing further improved aesthetics and enhanced vision.