Protecting your eyes from Blue Light emitting devices

Currently there are several  studies revealing the dangers of blue light emitted from digital devices as well as LED lighting. It has been stated that 90 percent of Americans use digital devices for at least two hours every day. Also, as many as 60 percent of people use a device for more than five hours per day. While being connected is a part of everyday life, all of this screen time means you’re probably experiencing computer vision syndrome, or digital eye strain.

• 67% people in their 30's  spend 5 or more hours each day on digital devices. Children are not much better, about 33% of them use a digital device 3 or more hours each day!

• 92% millennials use a secondary screen while watching the TV screen (for 3/4 of them, it's a smartphone)!

• 87% people in their 20's use 2 or more digital devices simultaneously!

• 73% adults under 30 have the highest rate of digital eyestrain symptoms. This mammoth stat is no surprise given how much of a millennial's day if spent with their eyes fixated on a computer, tablet, or smartphone screen!

• Millennials watch 3x as much TV online as do older viewers. Millennials also like to binge-wathc TV show, often on a computer!

• Nearly 80% of parents report being "very" or "somewhat" concerned about the impact of digital devices on developing eyes!

• Nearly 90% of patients do NOT talk to their eyecare professional about their digital eyestrain discomfort!

Digital eye strain is the physical discomfort you feel after sitting in front of a screen for too long. You can feel symptoms in your eyes, including blurred vision and red, dry or tired eyes, and in other parts of your body, such as back pain, sore neck and headaches. And, while you’re staring at the screen, you’re also exposing your eyes to light sources that emit harmful blue light, which is the high energy waves found between 415-455 nanometers (blue-violet light).

Blue light is everywhere, but it isn't all bad. Beneficial blue light helps regulate the sleep/wake cycle and also plays a role in basic functions of the human brain such as alertness, memory, emotion, and cognitive performance. Harmful Blue Light, on the other hand, comes from sources like smart phones, computer screens, tablets and fluorescent lights, and yes, the sun. Long term-exposure to Harmful Blue Light has been linked to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness for adults over age 50.

There is something you can do to protect your eyes and it’s as simple as visiting your optometrist to learn about new lenses designed to address modern vision needs. Even if you don’t have any vision issues, we have new innovatively designed lens options to prevent digital eye strain and reduce your exposure to Harmful Blue Light by at least 20 percent, through a feature called blue filter treatment. This feature is either built into the lenses, or as part of an Anti-Reflective treatment.

Here at Uptown EyeCare and Optical, these are just a few of the available features we offer, Essilor's Eyezen™+, Crizal® Prevencia™, Shamir's Glacier Blue™ UV  as well as HOYA’s Recharge™.  All of our ABO-certified opticians would be happy to explain the benefits of protecting your eye health from blue light damage. Consider these advanced technology features next time you are investing your money into a new pair of eyeglasses and don't take digital eyestrain for granted so it does not take a toll on your eyes, and your eye health!

Uptown Staff Trivia 2016 #6

#6 TRIVIA:

Interesting fact about Sarah, our resident Certified Optometric Technician: She was born in our Nation’s Capitol, Washington D.C. It is one of her favorite places to visit, especially in the spring when the “Mall" is covered in cherry blossoms, with some of the best museums in the world just steps away!

Uptown Staff Trivia 2016 #5

 #5 TRIVIA: Did you know...

... that Dr. Mercer got married at Timberline Lodge in the middle of a blizzard? Both Dr. Mercer and her husband, Jeff, are avid skiers and wanted a wintery wedding. Little did they know that they would get married on a record snowfall day! But everyone got there and had a great time, with great skiing the next day as a bonus!

Check out all the activities Timberline Lodge has to offer here: http://www.timberlinelodge.com/

Uptown Staff Trivia 2016 #4

#4 TRIVIA: Where is Dr. Friberg originally from, you may ask?  *SLOVAKIA* !

Slovakia is a small country of about 5.42 million people in the heart of Europe. Bratislava is the capital city of Slovakia - situated on the Danube River, it was historically known as the capital and coronation town of the Hungarian Kingdom, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the 16th century. Bratislava is located about an hour north of Vienna, Austria and its a place where Dr. Friberg was born and raised. Bratislava, along with her family cabin in the middle of the Low Tatras (also called the "Small Alps"), are her favorite travel destinations. She travels there on a yearly basis to visit her immediate family, relatives and friends.

To learn more about the magical city of Bratislava, click here: https://www.visitbratislava.com/

To see more wonders of this "Little Big Country", click on the video below:  

A country of lush forests and mountains surrounded by blissful countryside, Slovakia is a land rich with historical and cultural treasures. Travel to the center of Europe and explore castles, mountains and unknown treasures in one of Europe's most overlooked travel gems. With host Pat Uskert and Slovak guide Mila Kissova, watch this beautifully made documentary: https://www.amazon.com/Slovakia-Treasures-Europe-Pat-Uskert/dp/B01HFYZSD2/ref=sr_1_1?s=instant-video&ie=UTF8&qid=1469943787&sr=1-1&keywords=slovakia 

And finally, explore and get lost in Dr. Friberg's photography of her hometown, Bratislava:  

Bratislava, The Capital of Slovakia - St Martin's Cathedral and the Danube River

Old town Gate to Shops

Old Town Homes

Main Square in Bratislava

Bratislava, Historic Center

Summer Concerts in Bratislava, Main Square

Shops in Bratislava, Historic Center

Children's Art near Children Museum, Bratislava

Danubiana, Modern Art Museum

Danubiana, Modern Art Museum on the Danube River

Historic Center of Bratislava

Bratislava and its Castle and St. Martin's Cathedral

Artwork in Old Town Bratislava

Presidential Palace, Bratislava

Large Bookstore in Bratislava - similar to Powel's

Old Town Bratislava

Uptown Staff Trivia 2016 #3

 

#3 TRIVIA: Did you know ...

... that while Gary Lee took a hiatus from his optical career some time ago, he operated an antique store in Multnomah Village as a small business owner for 6 years?

He also explored and embraced his adoration of history and culture by visiting eight separate countries around Europe. Which countries did he visit you may ask? Romania, Hungary Greece, England, Ireland, Italy, Austria and Germany.
 


Here are some of his photos from Europe:

Burano, Italy

Gondolier in Venice, Italy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Street Artist in Venice, Italy

Organ grinder in the City Park, Budapest

Amphitheater in Delphi, Greece

The Great Market Hall in Budapest

Statuary on the Buda Castle grounds, Budapest

Statuary on the Buda Castle grounds, Budapest

Street cafe' cats, Delphi, Greece

Chain bridge crossing the Danube, Budapest

The Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Uptown Staff Trivia 2016 #2

#2 TRIVIA: Did you know...

... that our ABO-certified optician, Allison, loves to hike and is inspired and awed by nature? She also enjoys nature photography! Here are a few of her photos:

 

Uptown Staff Trivia 2016 #1

Due to popular demand, we are bringing you new trivia about our Uptown Staff.  Hope you find these little tid-bits about our optometrists, opticians and technicians interesting as well as entertaining.

#1 TRIVIA: Did you know.....

... that Dr. Friberg's  family grew by one new member this past month? No, you did not miss any new baby announcements, don't worry! At the beginning of July, the Fribergs added a new 2-month old baby guinea pig to their family of four. Her name is "Nutty Nutmeg Cinnamon Friberg"! Nutty is an American short-hair white-crested cavy, which means she has a single white rosette placed precisely and neatly in the middle of her forehead. She is super cute! In the past 3 weeks, she has fallen in love with all sorts of veggies that the family feeds her on a daily basis, she has been held and petted by over 15 kids from the neighborhood and she has grown by 3 oz already! She should triple her weight in 12 more months and be full grown at 8 inches and 1.5 pounds!

Happy Summer! Vision tips for kids!

Happy 1st day of summer! 

When I was a kid, I never went to camps. As a graphic designer, my mom worked in the evenings and spent taking care of us, kids, during the day. We visited grandparents, spent endless days drawing and playing, and we spent at least a month, or sometimes more, at our mountain cabin. Today, however, summers are different. Most parents work full time and kids have more structure. Today kids are less likely to roam free like I did as a kid. They are more likely to go to soccer or dance camp one week and then science camp and guitar camp later. Even if children don’t go to camps, the hobbies and habits of kids today are very different. So with all these changes our children are facing, I thought it would be helpful to write up some helpful tips for children:

 

Limit Device Use

At home and in car, there is a lot of downtime. Do not let this time get filled in with device use by default. No matter how old your child is, they are at risk of eyestrain and related vision problems if they spend too much time on handheld devices such as phones, tablets, and video games. A good recommendation is to limit device use to no more than 20 minutes at a time, then at least a 5-minute break. And, yes, it is possible to read too much, too, so this also is a good recommendation for books. Try to listen to a book on tape next time you are heading out to the beach or to the mountains.

 

Sunglasses and sunscreen

Unlike when I was a kid, parents are much better about protecting their kiddos from the sun. Keep in mind that this includes sunglasses. Just like skin can be sunburned, eyes can be sunburned with too much sunshine in one day. And even without sunburn, the UV and blue light from the sun can cause eye disease like cataracts and macular degeneration later in life. So many sure your kids have sunglasses that fit and they use them. More info about kids and UV can be found here from the CDC.

Outside time

With all of the precautions needed for sun protection, it is tempting to just stay inside all the time. But that is a mistake, too. Many scientific studies have shown that children who spend more time outside are less likely to develop myopia (nearsightedness) than those that don’t. We do not entirely understand why, but much research shows it’s true. So if the kids are not outside for sports or in the pool, make sure the get some outside time in the form of a walk after dinner or walking the dog. More on this from myopiaprevention.org.

 

Sports glasses for sports

If your child plays any ball sports or full-contact sports, in many cases regular glasses can actually be more dangerous to wear because they are not designed to resist impact. Glasses can break and injure children. Read more about this at AllABoutVision.org.

 

Careful with pools

Speaking of eye protection, consider goggles for swimming. You might keep your pool maintained properly, but not everyone does. And public or water park pools may have much higher levels of chlorine. This can be irritating, causing red, light-sensitive eyes. And one of the (unnecessarily) best kept secrets are prescription swim goggles. They are not expensive and come in a variety of prescriptions, colors, and sizes.



Stay safe and have fun this summer! School will be here before you know it!

Spring Allergies and Your Eyes

Spring has officially begun, which means that longer days, sunnier days, and days in which we will be spending more time outside are just around the corner! Although I can’t wait for the warmer weather to ensue, there is one thing that I can do without during this season… ALLERGIES! This is one of the worst times of year for red, itchy, scratchy, and watery eyes. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology estimates that allergies affect up to 30% of adults and 40% of children in the US, with most people experiencing eye allergies in addition to the common symptoms of sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose. If you are someone who tends to be affected by allergies, here are some things you should know to keep your eyes white, happy, and healthy this spring.

What Causes Eye Allergies?

There are several triggers that can result in an allergic reaction affecting the eyes. These most often include outdoor allergens such as pollens from grass, trees, and weeds. Depending on the area of the US that you live in, different allergens present during different times of the year. There are also indoor allergens that can cause redness, itching and watering of the eyes. These include such things as pet dander (usually from cats), dust mites, and mold. Several other irritants can cause symptoms of eye allergies such as cigarette smoke and perfume.

Like all other types of allergies, eye allergies start when your immune system identifies an otherwise harmless substance as an allergen. When this occurs, your immune system will overreact to the allergen and cause cells within the tissue of the eye to release chemicals such as histamine, which results in your eyes itching, watering, and becoming red and swollen.

Tips For Preventing Eye Allergies

Try to identify substances that cause your eyes to itch and avoid known allergens as much as possible.

• If you find yourself being allergic to outdoor allergens, reduce your time spent outdoors when pollen counts are the highest (typically mid-morning and early evening). Also, when you are outside, be sure to wear your sunglasses. This will act as a barrier for the allergens to reach the surface of your eyes.
• There are also steps you can take to keep outdoor allergens out of your home while indoors. Keep windows closed and utilize air conditioning. Don’t use window fans as they can draw in allergens from outside. Also be sure to keep your air-conditioning filters clean.
• If mold is an allergy trigger for you, you should know that high humidity conditions allow mold to grow. Make sure that you keep high-humidity areas of your home particularly clean (such as the kitchen, bathrooms, and basement), and consider a dehumidifier in these more moist places.
• If your allergy symptoms flare up when around animals, be sure to keep pets out of your bedroom (and off of your bed) so that you can sleep in an allergy-free room. Also make sure that you consistently wash your hands after touching a pet and avoid rubbing your eyes.
• If you are someone who has identified dust as an allergen, you can cut down on your exposure to dust mites by washing bedding frequently, and use allergen-reducing covers for your bedding and pillows.

 

Treating Eye Allergies with Eye Drops

Even if you are able to identify substances that cause eye allergies to occur, and try to avoid them as much as possible, there are likely still many instances where you will feel itching and discomfort of your eyes. When this occurs, eye drops are a great way to help treat your symptoms.

• Artificial tears are a great way to help temporarily relieve discomfort associated with eye allergies. These help wash any potential allergens from the eye and add moisture. If you also take oral medications for allergies, you should know that these medications dry the eyes out and can actually make eye allergy symptoms worse!
• In addition to artificial tears, placing a cold compress over the eye can be very soothing for people experiencing itching and swelling of the eyes because it causes contraction of the blood vessels in the area.
• There are also several over-the-counter and prescription medications that help reduce redness, itching, and watering of your eyes. It is recommended that you seek care from your optometrist before purchasing any of these drops so that it can be confirmed that the irritation that you have is due to allergies (and not some type of infection). The optometrist will also be able to determine which type of drop is best suited for you and your particular symptoms.
• See your optometrist before your symptoms get out of control. Allergic reactions can be similar to an avalanche. At first it starts out as a trickle, and then all of a sudden you get bombarded with symptoms. It is much easier for to get treated early, because after the allergic cascade (or avalanche) has started, there is much more to deal with and it is much more difficult to get the back on track!

With the tips above, you should be able to enjoy the spring weather without having to worry about your eyes!


- From COA, 2016 -