Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley Sets Up for the Super Bowl

A good part of the nation will be tuned in to the Super Bowl this Sunday night, and some of the staff of Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley will be included in that large percentage. Even those who are not big football fans will have their attention on this annual sporting event. Great plays and touchdowns, eagerly-awaited commercials, and the half-time show by a famous musician and band (this year it’s the Red Hot Chili Peppers) all contribute to the electricity and excitement of this one night.

As the anticipation builds for Sunday’s big game, we’re reminded of a blog from last September that detailed the importance of eye protection in sports, and the measures athletes must take to ensure that their vision is as safe and sound when they leave the playing fields as when they marched on to it. The vision requirements for professional sports are obviously different and more demanding, but remember that some lucky kids who play for fun today…may one day be the next NFL star. Considering that 90% of sports-related eye injuries are preventable, contact lenses or plastic or shatter-resistant eyeglasses are a must for any athlete, regardless of whether they are professional, student or amateur.

And let us not forget the audience. If anyone reading this who has the good fortune to attend the game on the East Coast, be sure to have your glasses freshly polished and at the ready (particularly if you happen to be sitting way, way (…waaayyy) back in the stands. Like most of the country, if you are watching from home, keep your glasses or contacts clean. (If your eyes are very sensitive, consider keeping a small bottle of eye drops on hand. One side effect of all the spicy foods that are served at Super Bowl parties is their tendency to make your eyes red, or eyeglasses steam up – and you don’t want to risk missing that super play.)

With that, we end this short and sweet blog on a festive note. We have some shopping and setting up to do for Sunday night as well.

Enjoy the game!

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley 'Likes' the "Glasses for Noah" FB Page

Many of us have been here at one point. You are sitting in class, squinting and straining your eyes to see the board. You might even have asked your teacher if you could sit closer to the front of the classroom to see. After a while, you probably admitted to yourself that you might need to go to the eye doctor and get a pair of glasses.

Picking out glasses was always something of an arduous task. You probably wanted a fun, thick-rimmed frame or a colored frame, and your parents probably picked out a more conservative, round, wire frame (or even wire framed aviator glasses if you grew up in the 80s and early 90s!). The end result of your trip to the eye doctor was that you were petrified to go to school and wear your glasses in front of the other kids. Unless you were seriously blind, you probably avoided wearing them at all costs.

Surprisingly enough, the stigma around wearing glasses has changed over the past few years. For the most part, lenses have become more stylish and have even turned out to be a great fashion accessory. Children who are in grade school, however, will still encounter those “bullies” who will make fun of them for having to wear glasses. That is exactly what four-year-old Noah Fisher was afraid of when he got his first pair of glasses.

Noah kept telling his parents that he didn’t want to wear his glasses because “everyone will laugh at him.” His parents were saddened about this, so they set out to show Noah that glasses are actually pretty cool. They set up a Facebook page and urged people to send in pictures of them wearing glasses to show Noah that lots of people from all over the world wear glasses. If you haven’t heard about this yet, check out the “Glasses for Noah” Facebook page.

The response was incredible! Within a matter of weeks, “Glasses for Noah” went viral and people from all over the world were sending in pictures and videos of themselves, their family and friends, famous actors, superheroes (and even their pets) wearing glasses. Today, the page is just shy of 90,000 “Likes” with countless numbers of photos still rolling in.

We here at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley would also like to reaffirm that glasses are cool. People even wear glasses – that have no prescription – as a fashion accessory (because they are clearly jealous of the rest of us who have to wear glasses). Visit Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley if you are still wary about getting your first pair of glasses, and the staff of optometrists and opticians will show you that in the end, they are actually pretty great.

Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley Examines the 2014 Eyewear Trends

When it comes to fashion and the latest trends, the first things we usually think of are clothes and shoes. There is a lot more to maintaining a fashionable wardrobe, however, than just clothes and shoes. When putting together your outfits for this year, don’t forget about adding some of the hottest accessories; particularly when it comes to eyewear.

There are a few different looks this year that are coining some pretty interesting names. The first look on our list is the “Instagram look.” These glasses are characterized by the late social media craze, combined with a bit of 1970s appeal. This look is all about the lens-tinting. Rosy or gold-tinted lenses are growing in popularity, along with glasses that have a sepia-tone gradient. Confused as to which sunglasses might fit this look? Just think of the different filters that avid Instagrammers slap onto their pictures. If the tinting of the lenses draws any similarities to these filters, chances are you will be sporting the Instagram look. Sun wear and optical specs that reminisce of yesteryear with bubbly shapes, wooden frames or tortoise print will also fit perfectly with this style.

This next look pairs angular cuts, geometric shapes and neutral colors to the…can you guess? It is the “Mathematical look.” Mathematical look glasses have sleek, yet shapely designs. Designers such as Marni and Chloe have emphasized triangular or hexagonal shapes in this year’s lenses, while others such as Emporio Armani and Optic Nerve have chosen to concentrate on overstated brow bars. Additionally, the brand names of XOXO and Roberto Cavalli have also included black and white patterns and prints on their glasses to incorporate the mathematical feel.

The next look that is on the list is perfect for the spring and summer months. Aptly named, the “Aquatic look” (which goes perfectly with the orange lip that is showing up all over the runway) features bright blues, teals and turquoises. The Aquatic look even dips into eyeglasses, as companies such as Prodesign and Scott Harris are showcasing the “floating lens effect” in their minimalist blue-tinted specs. This look can be worn in many different ways – whether you are planning a day on the boat, a trip to the vineyards, or accenting your tux at a wedding.

The final look you need know about for 2014 is the “Garden look.” Probably the most fun and recognizable, the Garden look is characterized by earthy green colors and vibrant pinks that evoke spring growth, complemented by floral prints and whimsical butterfly-shaped silhouettes. Pulling off the Garden look isn’t so much about the shape of the rim – but the design. Whether they are aviators, wayfarers or cat eyes, make sure your lenses have a touch of bright color, a floral pattern, or even sparkles and studs. If your glasses make you think of spring growth, a garden party, or even just blooming flowers – you’ve done it!

Don’t worry, though; you aren’t alone in your quest to pull off these 2014 eyewear trends. The eye care specialists at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley are more than qualified to help you find the perfect glasses to fit any of these looks. They will even help you find the right shape and color of glasses that will look best on you (depending on the shape of your face and the tone of your skin). Make an appointment at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley today and come see us!

Know About Glaucoma Awareness Month from Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley

First, we at Site for Sore Eyes Berkeley wish all of our readers a happy and healthy new year in 2014 (with particular emphasis on ‘healthy.’)

As the title of this week’s blog tells you, January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, and while this subject has been covered before, a reminder (or refresher) article never hurts. And…there is an exciting and revolutionary development going on that those who suffer from glaucoma will indeed want to know about. What is it, you ask?

A general definition and description of glaucoma is when the human eyeball experiences increased pressure, which results in a gradual loss of sight. The insidiousness of this condition is that there are no early warning signs. There are no symptoms; one feels no noticeable pain, and it is possible to lose up to 40% of vision before anything is noticeably wrong. And, sadly, once a portion of eyesight is gone, it is gone for good, and cannot be regained.

Here are some other facts and figures:

·      According to the National Eye Institute, reportedly over four million people in America suffer from glaucoma. The Glaucoma Research Foundation states that just over half of this number is over the age of 40.

·      People in the African American and Latino population are at higher risk of suffering from glaucoma.

·      Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness, but it is the first and foremost cause of preventable blindness (please note the word ‘preventable’).

We asked you to keep in mind the word ‘preventable,’ and that is the one and (as of now) only method of battling glaucoma. There is no cure, but there is the chance of preventing this condition through the early detection that only a comprehensive eye exam can provide. A yearly eye exam, that requires little time and no stress and no strain, makes all the difference in maintaining the health of your vision. That old cliché that begins “an ounce of prevention…” never had a more powerful or relevant parallel than having your vision checked.

And now, we focus on that revolutionary development regarding the treatment of glaucoma.

Although the loss of vision cannot be fully restored, those suffering from glaucoma will soon have a breakthrough method of administering medicine to maintain their remaining eyesight. Just over one month ago, researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced that they were on the threshold of perfecting a new type of contact lens that is specifically geared toward dispensing controlled doses of latanoprost (a medication for glaucoma) for as long as one month at a time. This change from the at times awkward and unsteady application of eye drops to having medication already in place will truly be a welcome change.

It remains to be seen as to whether this new phase in the treatment of glaucoma is a one-shot deal, or an indication of positive changes never before imagined in the world of eye health. In the meantime, we speak for all professionals in the optical field when we ask that you help us in helping you. It’s the New Year. If you’ve been relaxed about having your eyes checked, make a New Year’s resolution to yourself today and make an appointment.