Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley on Benefits of Sleep

It is around this time of year that students settle back into school. Classes are in session, and studying and socializing are in full swing. We at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley are getting a lot of students, some who are of high school age, and others who are enrolled at nearby Berkeley University, stop by for their yearly check-ups in mid-February. With that in mind, we would like to offer up a little advice…

The secret word of the day is ‘sleep.’ This is a tricky topic, especially for young people. This is understandable, to some extent. This is the age where they want to prove their invincibility. Staying up all night – partying, hanging out, or even for more serious reasons such as pulling an all-nighter to study for exams – is something that young people do. Further accentuating the problem is that sleep is seen as uncool. On a recent web search, we found numerous listings of the phrase ‘sleep is for wimps.’ This is indeed an uphill battle.

But sleep, like eating, is a necessary function of living. We must sleep (at some time, even when nobody else knows about it), in order to stay alive. One aspect of survival that we are weighing in on is how lack of sleep affects vision (what a surprise). If you forego sleep, you risk getting blurred vision. If your eyes twitch for no apparent reason, it may be on account of a lack of sleep. This are called eye spasms. (We don’t even like the sound of that.) Your eyes may even experience pain because the optic nerve is not getting the proper blood supply. Dry eye, popped blood vessels, and in some extreme cases, non-sleepers may run the risk of suffering from glaucoma.

The answer to avoid such worries is of course, to rest up. According to EyeHealth Northwest, the human eye must have five hours of sleep per night to replenish properly. (That’s not to say you only need five hours of sleep. It is recommended that everyone should get at least eight hours of sleep per night.)

So, the next time you’re feeling tired at night, but feel you HAVE to go out, take a breather and treat yourself to some sleep. Your eyes will be better for it, which in turn will make your overall health better.

Oh, before we forget, if you wear contact lenses, remember to take them out before you tuck yourself in to bed. Otherwise you’ll really have dry eyes!

Site for Sore Eyes wishes you pleasant dreams tonight!

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley and February Fun

Did those who celebrate have a nice Valentine’s Day? Whether you wish to continue the holiday into the weekend, or are simply looking for something new and interesting, we at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley have some suggestions of what’s brewing in Berkeley. February may be the shortest month of the calendar year, but there are many events and happenings – even at the halfway point.

Looking to mix some laughs with your love? Then reserve tickets tonight at the Berkeley Black Repertory Group Theater for their one night performance of Love & Laugh, presented by GoBaby Productions. Remember, this is shows tonight only, and only those of you who read this blog today will have the chance to see it. Call (510) 316-8047 for tickets.

For those who are single, seek a chance on romance at the Blue Jean Ball Singles Dance, taking place on Saturday night, February 16 (i.e., tomorrow) at Spengler’s Banquet Ballroom of Spengler’s Fresh Fish Grotto. True to the title of this event, dress informally (but neatly), in your coolest pair of blue jeans. And while we are on the topic of casual appearances, and since this is a vision-based blog, you can feel perfectly at ease wearing your eyeglasses if you choose to bust a move. Before the dance cards fill up, reserve your space by calling (510) 925 4392.

If you’re in a transcendental frame of being, you still have a couple of Sunday nights to visit the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, for the “Integrating Body, Breath, and Mind, Free Lecture Series. (Yes, free, as in you don’t pay anything.) For more information, call (510) 809-1000. This could give you more of an idea of that connection of “the eyes being the windows to the soul.”

We conclude this list with an event that you can imagine is a personal favorite of us opticians. Beginning Thursday, February 21^st, the Kala Gallery presents “Actual Scale,” a group exhibition which examines visual contrasts in everything from sculpture, video and photography, among others. This promises to be an optical symphony (to coin a phrase), and, if we may say, serve as a reminder to appreciate what our eyes are capable of seeing, processing, and understanding. Find out more by calling (510) 549-2977.

Quite a lot going, isn’t there? For a list of more events, visit San Francisco Chronicle, and discover everything the town of Berkeley has to offer (and within only a two-week period, at that).

Regardless of whether you choose to see a play, go dancing, or visit an exhibit, remember that events like these are vision-centered. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, keep your prescription up to date. Even though some of the happenings listed above are taking place within the next couple of days, make it a point to schedule an eye exam in the near future.

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley Provides Six Reasons Why Sunglasses Make the Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift

With only a week left before Valentine’s Day, you may find yourself wondering what gift you should buy for your significant other. Well, look no further than Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley because we’ve already got the answer for you – and if you actually think about it, it’s a fairly obvious choice:

The perfect Valentine’s Day gift is a brand new pair of chic, dependable sunglasses.

Why sunglasses?  Here are six good reasons:

1)      You want a gift that’s trendy, something that’s fashionable, something that will make him/her look sexy and cool and even somewhat mysterious (but in a good way). Honestly, who doesn't look better with sunglasses on?

2)      Sunglasses give you confidence – it’s a simple fact. When you’re wearing sunglasses, no one can see your eyes, but you can see theirs, and that gives you the upper hand. Anonymity feels good, especially when it’s achieved with a socially acceptable fashion accessory.

3)      You can wear them just about anywhere, while doing just about anything: walking, running, swimming, or barbequing. Whoever said “You can’t wear sunglasses indoors or at night” has clearly never been to a college dance party at midnight. Let’s be real: if anyone knows how to look cool, it’s college kids.

4)      Buying your significant other a nice pair of sunglasses shows that you, the gift-giver, are cool. Neckties are way too formal, and chocolates are way too ordinary. But a pair of sunglasses says, “I know what you want. I know what’s cool. I’m not some boring gift-giver. You can count on me.”

5)      Does your significant other drive a car on a regular basis? Have you ever tried to drive down the freeway on a sunny day in San Francisco? Good luck getting anywhere without a pair of sunglasses! On a bright, sunny day, every car in your immediate area is a huge mirror, reflecting the sunlight directly into your eyes from every imaginable angle. Sunroofs will do no good here; your only option is to squint or go blind.

6)      Ultraviolet is one of the highest energy forms of light, and high intensity exposure can be hazardous. Lack of protection can lead to photokeratitis, pterygium, and pinguecula formation. We won’t go into the specifics of these diseases, but if they’re hard to pronounce, then they’re probably bad. If you care about the health and well-being of your loved one, you should give some serious thought to protective eyewear.

As you can see, sunglasses are simply the perfect Valentine’s Day gift if you want your significant other to be cool, classy, confident, and pinguecula-free.

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley Counsels on Wise Buys for Health

We all know that certain single days of the year get recognition. Halloween is October 31^st, Christmas is December 25^th, and in two weeks it will be Valentine’s Day. Were you aware, however, that entire months are devoted to particular subjects, causes, and benefits? Apropos of this, Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley would like to salute Wise Health Consumer Month on this first day of February.

Sponsored by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, the focus of Wise Health Consumer Month is finding the best deals and values when shopping for health-related products. This is not as easy as it sounds, because if you buy bargain-priced items, your wallet may be healthy but you could short-change yourself.

Weighing money against quality when it comes to eye care is particularly tricky, since eyeglasses, contact lenses, prescription sunglasses, and other vision-related products are not particularly cheap. If you do an online search for “prescription vs. drugstore glasses,” for instance, you will get many answers from just as many forums and panels. Consider some opinions on Ask MetaFilter. One person posted that using drugstore eyeglasses was like wearing magnifying glasses; things look bigger, but there is a loss in focus. (A trip to a professional optician is in order for this individual.) Another said that his wife needed glasses and was recommended to get the drugstore brand – by her eye doctor, it should be noted. (Lucky lady – she has very minor trouble with her vision.)

The moral of this week’s blog is: find out what is right for you. The first step is checking out how healthy your vision is. Make an appointment for an eye exam. This is the least costly part of eye care health, and may save you a lot of trouble (not to mention money) in the future. The results of this exam will determine if your vision is fine, if you need to get glasses, or if your current prescription needs upgrading. (Don’t skimp on this! Make the investment to get a professionally crafted pair of lenses, with a sturdy, reliable frame.) If money is a concern, find out if there are any payment options, and don’t forget to check your newspaper or the web for any coupons or discounts your local optical store may have. If you’re one of the lucky ones who is not in need of eyeglasses, congrats and count your blessings that you have 20/20 vision! But don’t ignore the importance of that yearly eye exam. That “ounce of prevention” will save you not only money, but the health of your eyesight.

So, as Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley welcomes the month of February, follow the wisdom of Wise Health Consumer Month, and make an extra effort at balancing your health and your finances, so that both will stay equally healthy and strong.